Northern Illinois Weekender - 100320

Weekender NORTHERN

ILLINOIS

YOUR GUIDE TO ARTS & LEISURE IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2020 • ShawLocal.com

FALL FAMILY FUN Fill your autumn with outdoor adventures / 5

SOCIALLY DISTANT Luxury cabins near Starved Rock promise secluded getaways / 3

TIME TO MAKE THE DOUGHNUTS Apple cider doughnuts are a fall favorite

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An expert taster shares favorite finds to consider adding to your own wine racks.

Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, October 3, 2020

By JAMES NOKES

Photos provided

Whitecliff vineyards include the Marlborough region in New Zealand.

Unusual climate sets New Zealand vineyards apart

K

el Dixon knows New Zealand has a calling card when it comes to wine recognition.

“There’s no doubt sauvignon blanc was the front door,” said Dixon, the winemaker at Whitecliff. “The growth of sauvignon blanc has been monumental. In the last five years, it’s gone from strength to strength. Pinot has become a tack on to that, and it’s gone gangbusters since.”

Because excellent kiwi sauvignon blanc usually can be bought for under $20 and pinot noir normally less than $30, the wines are not only a great value but are incredibly interesting when it comes to their flavor profile and mouthfeel.

Ideal climate conditions that are dry with mountain and maritime influences allow winemakers to take advantage of a huge diurnal shift. Fruit in the vineyard retains its acidity with cooler nighttime temperatures and doesn’t over ripen during the day.

For Dixon, it’s the key to sauvignon blanc in Marlborough and is something winemakers across the world try to copy. It’s what allowed the Whitecliff sauvignon blanc 2019 ($16) to feature not only tropical fruit, papaya and fresh-cut grass flavors, but a gunmetal

minerality that added verve to the wine.

“Nowhere can you emulate what Marlborough has with that diurnal variation,” Dixon said. “They’re Kel Dixon trying to manipulate the vines and do what we are. You can’t change that climate. We have clear crisp days and temperatures that fall down at nighttime. It’s pretty cold at harvest; it’s about [32 degrees].”

When reached via phone, it was early in the morning in New Zealand, but thoughts of sauvignon blanc caused a specific crave for Dixon.

“I want a bowl of oysters with it even though it’s only 9 a.m.,” he joked.

“The Whitecliff style is one of the racier in Marlborough,” he added.

“We’ve got more mineral components and not just simple tropical fruit.

The range of flavors are from grassy to papaya. That’s something we’ve always had with our style, a more mineral vein. I think that contributes to the point of making us different – an extra little bit of zing. It’s important to get that. Once you’ve got a little acid

running, you get a mineral lift. [It goes with] any fresh fish, sashimi, oysters and shellfish, but with the run of acid, it [also] helps to pair with creamy dishes – chicken pasta, creamy rich crayfish. The acid eats through the cream.”

After a solid first impression, the Whitecliff pinot noir 2019 ($20) offered an earthier wine with wet straw, truffle and black cherry flavors.

“Pinot noir has to have a range of flavors and expressions,” Dixon said.

“The jammier ones that are very ripe … miss the intensity and primary backing of the fruit spectrum. There’s almost a brambly texture that comes through. One of the key things with pinot is there be a little vein of acidity that pulls the structure through.”

Values are abundant in New Zealand, and the Spy Valley sauvignon blanc 2019 ($15.99) has petrol, kiwi and fresh-cut grass aromas with a grapefruit kick on the finish. It’s a great value and another food-friendly wine.

The Spy Valley pinot noir 2018 ($23.99) had black pepper, leather and cinnamon stick on the nose, with raspberry, plum and bay leaf flavors. The spicerack finish lingered on.

“Wines from any region general-

ly have an underlying style; but as winemakers, we have our own ‘Spy’ style,” winemaker Wendy Stuckey said. “This comes from knowing our vineyards intimately and as winemakers knowing how to treat each and every parcel of fruit respectively to showcase its individual flavor and characteristics. This provides us with a style we can call our own.”

With wide distribution, the Kim Crawford line of sauvignon blanc and pinot noir offers an accessible introduction to New Zealand. Take it a step further and find Loveblock at a wine store, restaurant or higher-end grocer. After Crawford sold his eponymous winery, he started Loveblock, and the pinot are fantastic. The

Loveblock Central Otago pinot noir 2018 ($27) was driven by herb notes, wet

earth, mushroom and black cherry flavors.

Food friendly and affordable, New Zealand sauvignon blanc and pinot noir are great for a weeknight dinner or special occasions.

• James Nokes has been tasting, touring and collecting in the wine world for several years. Email him at jamesnokes25@yahoo.com.

STARVED ROCK COUNTRY

3 SHAW MEDIA Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, October 3, 2020

Dedicated to growing the awareness of everything the Starved Rock area has to offer

Peace & Quiet

Ryan Searl - rsearl@shawmedia.com

Luxury cabins near Starved Rock promise secluded fall getaways

By RYAN SEARL

E

rsearl@shawmedia.com

scape to comfort and seclusion at one of Starved Rock Country’s most scenic and serene lodging destinations, Kishauwau’s Starved Rock Area Cabins.

Perched above the beautiful Vermilion River and conveniently located less than 10 miles from Interstate 80, Kishauwau’s Starved Rock Area Cabins lodging brings guests close to nature while providing all the comforts and amenities of home.

In light of COVID-19 and social distancing, everyone is looking for a fall vacation destination that’s safe and secluded. Kishauwau Cabins has gone above and beyond, taking many added precautions to try to make sure guests can enjoy a safe and relaxing getaway among the vibrant autumn colors.

Because the more than 17 family-friendly luxury cabin units are spread apart across the large property, you and your family will get to enjoy a soothing respite, surrounded by towering trees and rolling grass hills,

perfect for a picnic or game of catch.

Various cabins are sized to host anywhere from a single couple – popular for anniversaries and getaways – to larger families and groups. You’ll even find four dog-friendly units, so you won’t have to board Fido during your stay.

One such dog-friendly model, The Winnebago Cabin, can sleep up to three

adults (or two adults and two children).

Like all cabins at Kishauwau, it features a covered porch, grill and a personal outdoor fire pit, perfect for roasting marshmallows and trading stories.

Kishauwau Cabins are four-season units, capable of keeping guests comfortable all year round. For the colder months, all cabins include furnace heating, as well as indoor wood stoves

or gas fireplaces, ensuring a cozy temperature in even the fiercest of Illinois’ fall and winter weather.

Kishauwau Cabins is going to great lengths to make sure you can enjoy a vacation with peace of mind, knowing everything is clean and comfortable.

Upon your arrival, you’ll have the choice of opting for a no-contact checkin or you simply can visit the mask-required office. Each cabin sports ample disinfectant wipes and a full kitchen area, perfect for preparing meals right on-site.

As the colors start to change in Starved Rock Country, and the demand for socially distant outdoor recreation is at an all-time high, there’s never been a better time to take your family on a secluded cabin vacation and just unplug for a while near Starved Rock State Park.

Fall reservations for this hidden gem are quickly filling up, so book your stay early at Kishauwau’s Starved Rock Area Cabins at 901 N. 2129th Road in Tonica.

For more information on the cabins, visit www.kishauwaucabins.com or call 815-442-8453.

Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, October 3, 2020

SHAW MEDIA

4 STREAMING THIS WEEKEND

Photo provided

This image released by LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions shows Julianne Moore as Gloria Steinem (from left) and Bette Midler as Bella Abzug in a scene from “The Glorias.”

Mariah Carey, Gloria Steinem, ‘South Park’ on tap

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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ere’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.

Movies

“The Glorias”: Julie Taymor’s film, based on Gloria Steinem’s 2015 book “My Life on the Road,” is a biopic with verve and flair. The legendary feminist leader is played by four different actresses (Julianne Moore, Alicia Vikander, Lulu Wilson, Ryan Kira Armstrong) across four stages of her life. Sometimes they meet each other. But the multitudes of Steinems aren’t just a deconstructionist trick.

The feminism embodied by Steinem is an expression of women everywhere, Taymor suggests. Traversing America in time and place, “The Glorias” finds her everywhere. It debuted Wednesday on Amazon Prime.

“Dick Johnson Is Dead”: Kristen Johnson was a veteran documentary cinematographer when she made one of 2016’s very best films, “Cameraperson,” a collage of footage captured over her 25-year career that dug into the relationship between subject and filmmaker. Johnson’s latest, on Netflix, is a playful eulogy to her father as she slowly loses him to Alzheimer’s.

That may sound dark, and it is. But “Dick Johnson Is Dead,” made with love and gallows humor, is as much about life as it is death.

“The Boys in the Band”: Mart Crow-

ley’s 1968 play has an important place in the history of American theater.

One of the first productions to put the lives of gay men front and center, it sparked a sensation by dramatizing the joy and pain of its out-of-the-closet characters over one night in New York, during a party with an uninvited guest. This film, on Netflix, is adapted from the starry 2018 Broadway revival, with Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer and Andrew Rannells.

(There was also a 1970 movie adaptation by William Friedkin.) As an artifact from a pre-Stonewall past, it takes on an elegiac aura of tribute, with its very successful cast members honoring an earlier, less liberated generation.

– Film Writer Jake Coyle

Music

Mariah Carey has pulled from her rich vault to compile a new album called “The Rarities.” Made up of songs recorded between 1990 – the year she dropped her multi-hit, self-titled debut album – and 2020, the album features previously unreleased songs and rare B-sides, some even from recording sessions for her top-selling albums like “Emotions,” “Music Box” and “Day Dream.” The release of “The Rarities” is tied to “The Meaning of Mariah Carey,” the pop icon’s newly released memoir.

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK have cracked the Top 40 with “How You Like That” and the Selena Gomez-assisted “Ice Cream,” two tracks from their new album. “The Album,” which also includes a collaboration with Cardi B, features eight songs that fuse trap, pop and dance sounds. The group, made up of JISOO, JENNIE, LISA and ROSÉ, came on the music scene in 2016 and have collaborated with Dua Lipa and appear on Lady Gaga’s latest album, “Chromatica.”

Queen + Adam Lambert have performed more than 200 shows together, and now are releasing their first live album. The idea came after the rockers had to cancel their tour because of the coronavirus pandemic and wanted to find a way to please their die-hard fans. “Queen + Adam Live Around the World” was released Friday, and the 20-track set includes concert highlights from around the world personally selected by Roger Taylor, Brian May and Lambert.

– Music Editor Mesfin Fekadu

Television

If laughter is good medicine, then it’s “South Park” to the rescue. The animated series from Trey Parker and Matt Stone took on the coronavirus with an hour-long episode, “The Pandemic Special,” which debuted at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Comedy Central.

The kids return to school to find the anxiety-inducing new normal evidenced in their teachers and socially distanced classroom. Meanwhile, Randy deals with his alleged role in the viral outbreak that has the town of South Park on defense. We’re on edge – the new season start date has yet to be announced.

How about a trip to Paris with Lily Collins for company and Darren Star (“Sex and the City”) as tour guide?

“Emily in Paris,” a 10-episode romantic comedy that debuted Friday on Netflix, stars Collins as a marketing executive who’s transferred to the City of Lights to revamp a newly acquired company’s social media strategy. Emily, of course, is not all work, with “intoxicating adventures” and romances – plural! – promised, along with envy-inducing fashion. Ashley Park, Philippine Leroy Beaulieu and Lucas Bravo co-star.

Influential women have made it to the White House, if not yet the Oval Office. The CNN series “First Ladies” examines the tenure of six presidential spouses: Michelle Obama, Jackie Kennedy, Nancy Reagan, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lady Bird Johnson and Hillary Clinton. Interviews, archival footage and re-creations of events combine for what CNN calls a “bold revision” of how the women have been portrayed and what they contributed. The sixpart series begins at 9 p.m. Sunday with an extended episode on Michelle Obama, with subsequent episodes airing on consecutive Sundays.

– Television Writer Lynn Elber

By SIOBHAN CONNERS

S

For Shaw Media

chool might be taking up your kids’ weekdays, but weekends are still fair game! When the homework is finished and the fall weather is too good to be ignored, here are a few family-friendly activities to fill up your weekend calendar.

FARM FUN Johansen Farms Children’s Zoo and Pumpkin Patch 710 W. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook A dmission: $9.95 weekdays, $14.95 weekends and Columbus Day You’re sure to find the perfect pumpkin at Johansen Farms – in the past, they’ve had more than 25,000 to choose from. The fall festival runs through Oct. 31 and offers everything from a pumpkin patch to a petting zoo to games. Plus, parking is free.

Dollinger Family Farm 7420 E. Hansel Road, Channahon Admission: Free

Photos provided

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Like many other public farms, Dollinger Family Farm has a pumpkin patch and expansive gift shop. Autumn is a colorful time to visit the famed Morton Arboretum. Waterfalls are a highlight at Starved Rock State Park. This year will be brightened by the Virtual Glass Pumpkin Patch, comprised of hand-blown artwork available for purchase through The Morton Arboretum.

Like many other public farms, Dollinger Family Farm has a pumpkin patch and expansive gift shop.

Weekends are chock-full of events. But make note for future reference that unlike other farms, it also offers Revolutionary War reenactments on the weekends, with those living history programs returning in 2021.

OUTDOOR SPACES Starved Rock State Park 2678 E. 875th Road, Oglesby Starved Rock’s waterfalls, canyons and views of the Illinois River make it a must-visit location. There’s no shortage of things to do: In addition to hiking, fishing and picnicking, you also can take a trolley ride or boat cruise. If you’re looking to stay the night, the Starved Rock Lodge and its cozy cabins are open for business.

The Morton Arboretum 4100 Route 53, Lisle A dmission: Adults $15, seniors $13 and children $10, discount prices on Wednesdays; advance timed-entry passes or tickets are required.

With over 100 rare and endangered tree species on its campus, The Morton Arboretum is a beautiful place to explore on any day. It also offers a mix of in-person and online events throughout fall. The annual Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum, which runs from Nov. 20 to Jan. 3, is

perfect if you’re already counting the days until the holiday season. This year, Illumination will be a drive-thru event. If you want to enjoy the arboretum from the comfort of your living room, check out the Glass Pumpkin Patch to purchase hand-blown glass pumpkins online from Oct. 14 to 18.

Silver Springs State Park 13608 Fox Road, Yorkville There’s no better time to experience the great outdoors, and Silver Springs State Park is an inviting place to do so.

The titular silver spring never freezes, making it an appealing spot for fishing and canoeing. If you’re up for a little

THE KITCHEN SINK

open weekends, and tickets must be purchased in advance this year. The grounds are open for self-guided tours on days the museum is open.

Illinois Railway Museum 7000 Olson Road, Union Admission: $11 adults, $9 seniors, $8 children

H.I. Lincoln Building 136 N. Elm St., Franklin Grove A dmission: Free to see the building, $4 for music

If you have a future engineer in your family, the Illinois Railway Museum might be the perfect way to spend a Saturday or Sunday. Executive Director Nick Kallas says about three-fourths of visitors are families. The Illinois Railway Museum has the largest collection of historic railway equipment in America. The museum currently is

Who doesn’t love an open mic?

There’s a third Friday of the month event at the H.I. Lincoln Building in Franklin Grove. Sign up for a 15-minute set and play the genre of your choice. Refreshments will be for sale during the program. Scheduling is subject to change, so confirm the event before heading over.

backpacking, there’s also a youth group camping area off the beaten path.

5 SHAW MEDIA Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, October 3, 2020

FAMILY FUN

From state parks to museums, fill your fall with outdoor escapades

Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, October 3, 2020

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APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUTS DOMINATE FLAVORS OF FALL

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ne of the tastiest temptations of autumn is to stop by a local orchard to pick something special – apple cider doughnuts – the quintessential flavor of a crisp fall season. We’ve compiled a guide to some of the top taste-bud pleasers across the region, many based on closely held family recipes tested over time.

DeKALB COUNTY Honey Hill Orchard 11783 Waterman Road, Waterman 815-264-3337 www.honeyhillorchard.com Jonamac Orchard 19412 Shabbona Road, Malta 815-825-2158 www.jonamacorchard.com

DuPAGE COUNTY

KENDALL COUNTY

Sonny Acres 29W310 North Ave., West Chicago 630-231-3859 www.sonnyacres.com

Keller’s Farmstand 2500 Johnson Road, Oswego 630-219-8194 www.kellersfarmstand.com Woody’s Orchard 3223 Creek Road, Plano 630-247-9300 www.woodysorchard.com

KANE COUNTY Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard 42W813 Reinking Road, Pingree Grove 847-464-5952 www.goebbertspumpkinpatch.com Kuipers Family Farm 1N318 Watson Road, Maple Park 815-827-5200 www.kuipersfamilyfarm.com Windy Acres Farm 37W446 Fabyan Parkway, Geneva 630-232-6429 www.windyacresfarmstand.com

Stade’s Farm and Market 3709 Miller Road, McHenry 815-675-6396 www.stadesfarmandmarket.com

PUTNAM COUNTY Boggio’s Orchard & Produce 12087 Highway 71, Granville 815-339-2245 www.boggiosorchardandproduce.com

McHENRY COUNTY

WILL COUNTY

All Seasons Apple Orchard 14510 Route 176, Woodstock 815-338-5637 www.allseasonsorchard.com Cody’s Farm & Orchard 19502 River Road, Marengo 815-568-7976 www.codysfarm.com

Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm 13341 W. 151st St., Homer Glen 708-301-3276 www.pumpkinfarm.com Bronkberry Farms 18061 S. Bronk Road, Plainfield 815-436-6967 www.bronkberryfarms.com

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By PAM OTTO

Taking interesting dives into the natural world around us, Pam Otto opens new avenues of exploration.

Red-tailed hawk squawks about independence

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ertain signs of fall are unmistakable. The changing colors of the leaves, the masses of migratory geese. And the persistent, almost petulant, calls of young red-tailed hawks being asked – more like told – to leave the family territory and strike out on their own.

I can remember the first time I watched this behavior. It was several years ago, as I was waiting for a busload of school kids to arrive for their first field trip of the fall. A juvenile redtail was sitting at the top of an oak tree, screaming his head off, while his parents piped in with additional scolding screams from the sky.

And I do mean scream. The call of the redtail, variously described in field guides as a raspy, descending cry or “keee-eer” sound, is synonymous with birds of prey. (Fun fact: Hollywood often uses the sound of a redtail to represent any raptor, including the bald eagle – whose calls, in real life, include a wimpy, high-pitched whistle. Next time you hear what you think is a dog’s squeaky toy up in a tree, take a look; it might just be our majestic national symbol, peeping like a pipsqueak.)

(Fun fact No. 2: Some blue jays do a spot-on imitation of a redtail keee-eer.

When you hear the sound, see if you can put your eyes on the source to determine whether it’s an actual hawk or a blue jay pretender.)

As determined as Junior was to dig in his heels, or I guess talons, and stay put, Mom and Dad were equally set on getting their offspring off on his own.

The woods where the pair had raised their young could only support so many hawks, and the time had come for their little pride and joy to head off and find a territory of his own.

The bickering, if you want to call it that, kept on for several days, from various parts of the woods. And then one morning, all was quiet. I caught a glimpse of one of the mature redtails later on that day, and saw both the male and female frequently throughout the following winter. But I haven’t any idea where their vocal youngster ended up; I doubt they do either.

However, I do know where one young redtail ended up – virtually on our doorstep here at Hickory Knolls.

It was an early spring when we first noticed him/her (I’m leaning toward female, given this bird’s considerable size; as is the case with most birds of prey, females are up to one-third larger than males). Having survived

Photo provided

A young red-tailed hawk reacts with dismay upon discovering the nest it obtained was empty. the winter, the young hawk already had beaten some pretty tough odds.

Typically, only one in three redtails makes it through their first year.

Although it was easy to tell by its plumage that our redtail was young – its tail feathers were banded, not red – we also could tell by its behavior.

Mature redtails have a certain finesse about them. They sit regally on a tree branch or light pole, intensely scanning their surroundings with their keen hawk eyes. They spot their prey, swoop down and, if luck is with them, swoop back up with a hearty meal. Easy as pie, without the toilsome crust and no baking required, and so, so cool.

Our redtail, however, was anything but. She was clumsy; she was awkward. But she also was unwavering in her will to survive. She picked through leaf litter in the gutters on the roof. She scavenged worms from the cracks in the sidewalk. And she dili-

gently scraped away at the flattened rodent out on the driveway, intent on gleaning whatever grams of protein remained.

One day young Red made an especially bold move and flew full-bore toward our west-facing lobby windows.

A robin had made a nest on one of the sills, and I’m sure our youngster anticipated an easy meal of eggs or warm hatchlings. Wings and talons spread, she stopped within inches of the thick glass, plucked the nest from its niche and landed with it several feet from the building.

Her efforts, however, were fruitless, since the nest was brand new and, alas, empty. I don’t think the hawk could quite believe her rotten luck. She stared into the nest, with first one eye and then the other, for several minutes. The look on her face said it all: “Phooey!”

But it became a different story.

Well into her second year, our redtail

still popped up in some surprising locations – a 6-foot-tall arbor in the community garden plots was a favorite perch. But her demeanor was one of a hawk who was starting to “get it.” No longer having to make due with earthworms and teensy roadkill, Red took careful stock of the plentiful prey in the gardens. Mice, voles, even 13-lined ground squirrels were all fair game.

I hesitate to project, since the mortality rate for second-year redtails is still 40%. But I like to think that in a year or two, our Red would be screaming, letting us know that fall is here.

But rather than protesting unwanted independence, she would be encouraging her own young to take wing and begin lives of their own.

• Pam Otto is the outreach ambassador for the St. Charles Park District.

She can be reached at 630-513-4346 or potto@stcparks.org.

SHAW MEDIA Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, October 3, 2020

GOOD NATURED

Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, October 3, 2020

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Family reunions, single family vacations or romantic couples getaways

fect The Per Social ing Distanc

!

Getaway

“Super. Super. Super Nice!! Perfect Getaway. Cabins are clean and comfortable. Staff is spot on. So Relaxing. Can’t wait until our next visit.”

-Brian

Open All Year with furnace heated cabins.

Wood stoves or gas fireplaces make them cozy.

Enjoy off season rates from Dec. 1st - Mar. 30th.

Our gorgeous cabin rental property sits just a 10 minute drive from Starved Rock &

out Our Ask Ab NDLY E DOG FCRabIins

Matthiessen State Parks. We have 17 cabins in varying sizes spread throughout 65 acres of wooded property. Each cabin offers central air and heat, full kitchens, personal outdoor bonfire pits, picnic tables, and grills. Kishauwau Cabins was built by and is still operated in the same family for over 30 years. Come enjoy the quiet getaway that Kishauwau Cabins offers and plan your next trip today.

KishauwauCabins.com LET’S CONNECT

Kishauwau’s Starved Rock Area Cabins • 901 N. 2129th Rd. • Tonica, IL • 815-442-8453 SM-CL1821040