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YOUR GUIDE TO ARTS & LEISURE IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2020 • ShawLocal.com

BRING ON THE BUBBLY

Toast the new year with sparkling wine / 2

FRESH START

Kick off 2021 with a socially distant adventure hike / 3

COUNTDOWN TO 2021 Plenty of ways to celebrate the new year / 5

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

Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, December 26, 2020

By JAMES NOKES

Photo provided

Scott MacFiggen, owner of Sosie Wines, samples soon-to-be sparkling rosé.

Let’s make a sparkling toast to 2021

M

ore work was needed to introduce a sparkling wine to the Sosie portfolio.

There’d be change in the vineyard; less ripeness is needed; and harvest for fruit used in a sparkling wine would happen earlier.

There’s new equipment and a different routine in the cellar. While it is more laborious, Regina Bustamante loves sparkling wine, and the winemaker in Scott MacFiggen couldn’t help but make his wife and business partner happy.

“My wife was the biggest impetus because she loves sparkling wine,” MacFiggen said. “We did a little bit of research into it. We thought we’d need crazy equipment. But it’s gotten a lot easier in the last four to five years.

Small custom crush facilities have popped up with the right equipment for triage and dispersion.”

The Sosie “First Things First” Sparkling White Wine 2018 ($30) is 100% Roussanne and from Bennett Valley in Sonoma Valley. The following sparkling wines can be the first beverage of 2021, enjoyed as an homage to the accom-

plishments of the past year or raised in a toast to hopefully say good riddance to the brutal year that was 2020.

Made in the traditional method, First Things First had tart green apple, brioche and yeast flavors, there were grapefruit and lemon rind on the finish. The mouthfeel and effervescence were spot on for a maiden voyage into the category.

“It was amazing to learn all the challenges involved,” MacFiggen said. “How experienced sparkling winemakers approach and think about them; there’s a fair amount of chemistry when you’re doing a second fermentation that’s under pressure.

I’m glad we did it, and it’s something we are going to continue.”

Even though MacFiggen used the traditional method, there was a California twist he had to put on the wine.

“I’m not a big fan of the traditional pick early and make the wine all about yeastiness,” MacFiggen said. “I wanted to bring in something from California and insisted on a riper style. We still had an early pick, but to the point where there is phenolic flavor.”

It’s a low-dosage, brut-styled sparkling wine, there’s very little sugar, yet some fruit flavors carry through.

Another cool climate wine is the

Bottega Gold Venetian Prosecco ($39)

from the Valdobbiadene hills in northern Italy. Made from 100% glera, there’s vibrant acidity, white flowers on the nose and flavors of green apple and Bosc pear. The metallic gold bottle is a striking presence and, like the wine, is a definite conversation starter at any table.

Whether it’s prosecco or sparkling wine, northern Italy has offered great value – as they’ve over delivered for their price point. From Trentodoc, in the shadow of the Dolomites, is Mon-

fort Rosé ($26).

Its pink hue is almost orange in the glass it’s so lightly colored, but the streamlined, subtle flavors are awesome. There are impressions of strawberry, but it’s the soft, warm red apple that comes through with a creamy mouthfeel.

Also in the sparkling rosé category is Mumm Napa Brut Rosé ($24), the go-to sparkling rosé in my house. There’s

parts of a case that was a birthday present to my wife, still waiting to be opened. There’s red fruit aromas and strawberry, raspberry and cherry flavors.

Whether it’s uncorked for the ball dropping at midnight as 2020 mercifully gets kicked into the history books or for a dinner earlier in the evening, there’s a celebration in every glass. This year, let’s take a moment to celebrate we’ve made it this far and hope the light at the end of the tunnel is finally an opening to a new start.

“With bubbles, there’s a little party going on when you open the bottle,” MacFiggen said. “It’s not the same experience as a still wine. There’s all this activity in the glass, and you get these beautiful bubbles. There’s a little head on the glass and a pop with the cork, all those are special moments.”

Let’s toast to a healthy serving of special moments in 2021.

• 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, December 26, 2020

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

Shaw Media file photos

Welcome in the brand new year with a Jan. 1 hike at Dayton Bluffs. Trail experts will be on hand at the starting point to help people plan their optimum routes.

Kick-start new year with an adventure hike

By RYAN SEARL

rsearl@shawmedia.com Dayton Bluffs Preserve, one of Starved Rock Country’s hidden gems, invites people to begin 2021 with a socially distant hike on Jan. 1 at this beautiful and secluded park.

While no guided hikes will be offered this year to ensure proper distancing, trail experts from Friends of Dayton Bluffs still will be on-site to answer all your questions and help you start your New Year’s Day experience on the right path.

The landscape’s medley of wild prairie, thick forests, bubbling creeks, pioneer history and indigenous American lore makes Dayton Bluffs one of the most exciting parks in the region.

Ring in 2021 with a nature hike between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Jan. 1. Because it will be a bit different than previously held first-day hikes, Friends of Dayton Bluffs members will not lead groups, but instead will be stationed in the parking lot to answer any inquiries and to suggest trails based on your time availabil-

ity and walking proficiency.

These experts on Dayton Bluffs will be able to provide background on the many artifacts that have been discovered at the park, the history of the pioneer cemetery located just to the north of the preserve, the glacial formations that carved out the region, and the ongoing restoration efforts that have turned a disused tract of land into one of Starved Rock Country’s best natural attractions.

Dayton Bluffs can be found at 2997 Illinois Route 71, just north of Ottawa. The wilderness area can be explored from sunup to sundown, seven days a week. Come soak in the scenery, and catch glimpses of wildlife including deer, as well as turkey, bald eagles and dozens of other types of birds fluttering in the prairies and woodlands.

No preregistration is required, and smaller groups are encouraged. Hikers should wear masks and practice proper social distancing while on the trails and in the parking lot.

For more information, head to theconservationfoundation.org and click the “explore” tab.

Dayton Bluffs Preserve is a wilderness area just waiting to be explored.

Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, December 26, 2020

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Image provided

Stars of Broadway and television team up to present families the gift of a joyful holiday musical set at Santa’s workshop.

‘The Nice List’ a sweet treat for families

H

o, ho, ho has Santa ever delivered – in the form of a cheerfully engaging, full production musical titled “The Nice List.”

Just 40 minutes long, it is a free, virtual experience starring Broadway and television actors, all directed by the well-known Alan Muraoka of “Sesame Street” fame.

The one-act plot is timely and clever. Santa would like to go check on his festival and mall ambassadors to make sure their “jingle bells are shining” among other requisites. His head elf, Chestnut, convinces Santa to go, which would, of course, leave Chestnut in charge. Mayhem ensues as Chestnut convinces the whole North Pole to adopt modern technology and go virtual.

Chestnut puts elves Crumpet and Raisin in charge of the Naughty and Nice List, but Crumpet already is overworked, and grumpy Raisin only has experience with reindeer. Chestnut’s plans backfire, and soon all the gifts are piling up because Crumpet

REVIEWS Regina M. Belt-Daniels starts putting children on the Naughty List for minor infractions (boogers), and soon only eight kids make it to the Nice List.

In the meantime, Santa’s virtual-teleconferencing check-ins from Paris, Venezuela, the Philippines and around the globe (a clever way for audiences to learn about other customs) elicit Chestnut’s pretense that nothing is going wrong, which inadvertently makes Santa feel unneeded and not missed at all. But don’t worry – understanding and empathy come to the rescue and lead to a delightful sugarplum of an ending.

This is an energetic, flawless, joyful group of talents. With great skill, Telly Leung of “Aladdin” and “Allegiance” fame plays the toy influencer Chestnut, the head elf “destined for

IF YOU VIEW ■■ WHAT: “The Nice List” musical ■■ COST: Free, 40-minute virtual experi-

ence

■■ INFO: NiceListMusical.com and on

YouTube

greatness.” In Chestnut’s words, he’s “jingletastic!”

Julia Mattison, known to many for her role in “Godspell,” is an upbeat, swamped Crumpet, who learns a hard lesson. Her co-manager of the Naughty and Nice List is Ann Harada (“Avenue Q”), and she is the perfect crabby, naughty elf. I just wish Don Darryl Rivera (Gumdrop), Nick Kohn (Fruitcake) and Jennifer Barnhart (Cookie and Comet) were utilized as more than supporting ensemble. Their entanglements with the mayhem and Christmas spirit are too short. And they’re so talented.

But be still my heart. It is that voice and the appearance of James

Monroe Iglehart as Santa (he of the Tony Award-winning role of Genie in “Aladdin”) that sooth and solve all the dilemmas. He commands his scenes and provides such a happy finale with his song, “Always a Holiday.” What a cast!

Brian Hemesath’s costumes are lavish and oh so perfectly Christmas.

Kathy Fabian’s scenic design abounds with toys and North Poleness. Each character’s separate on-screen cell is surrounded by snowflakes – told you this was a full production. Gary Adler’s original music and Phoebe Kreutz’ book and lyrics are peppy, cheerful and totally engaging from beginning to end. Highly recommended, this is truly a classic holiday family event full of warmth, heart, humor and charm.

• Regina Belt-Daniels hopes she made it onto Santa’s Nice List this year. She’s been involved with theater since the first grade and looks forward to continuing in the future.

2021

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n what’s likely to be a nostalgia-free farewell to 2020, and with everyone eager for better days, here’s a collection of events to put a bright stamp on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. For the non-virtual attractions, double-check availability before heading out.

AT THE MAC New Philharmonic 2 p.m. Dec. 31 to Jan. 3 $50 per household AtTheMAC.org, 630-942-4000 Uncorking a Viennese-style New Year’s Eve concert with effervescent waltzes and musical surprises will be the professional New Philharmonic based at College of DuPage, gone virtual this year with orchestra and guest vocalists. Or go rockabilly with a livestreamed broadcast of “Presley,

Perkins, Lewis & Cash: A Million Dollar Christmas,” available through Jan.

3. Visit the McAninch Arts Center website to view a range of shows.

GREAT OUTDOORS

variety of outdoor activities available. Cook County Forest Preserve District offers suggestions for relaxation techniques at fpdcc.com/ renew-and-rejuvenate-this-winter.

LIGHTEN UP Illumination The Morton Arboretum in Lisle Prices vary; mortonarb.org With tickets in high demand, Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum has been extended until Jan. 10. Other displays continuing to brighten the holiday season are La Salle’s Celebration of Lights; Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch in Pingree Grove; Brookfield Zoo’s Holiday Magic; Holiday Lights at Mooseheart; and Larsen’s Light Show in Kane County, with varied end dates.

ORDERING OUT Starved Rock Lodge in Oglesby www.starvedrocklodge.com The dining room at Starved Rock Lodge may be closed to indoor dining, but it will offer its takeout specialties daily right through the holidays.

THEATER “It’s a Wonderful Western Springs Life” Through noon Jan. 9; $10 donation; www.theatrewesternsprings.com

The Theatre of Western Springs presents “It’s a Wonderful Western Springs Life,” chapter 1, a digital play for the holidays by its adult “The Nutcracker” ballet performers plus participants in Through Jan. 1; $26; Raue Center For The the Children’s Theatre of Western Springs. The show is a funny, Arts, Crystal Lake; www.rauecenter.org Engage Dance Theater presents a heartwarming tribute to the classic virtual production of “The Nutcrack- holiday movie, written by TWS Executive Artistic Director Eddie er” for Raue Center On-Demand.

Sugarman. Featuring a cast of more than 100, the play was filmed on the streets and in the parks and businesses of Western Springs.

Salute to Sinatra concert from

DANCE

MUSIC GREATS Group hikes 9 to 10 a.m. Jan. 1 at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, 37W700 Dean St., St. Charles Arcada Theatre in St. Charles Free; advance registration required at 630- Jan. 1; $20; www.arcadalive.com 444-3190 or programs@kaneforest.com The Arcada Theatre will present

A peaceful hike in crisp winter woods is offered for all ages; group sizes will be limited to 10 people.

Across the region, forest preserve districts are emphasizing the mental and health benefits of getting out into nature and trying out the

style. Also on Jan. 1, the Batavia Fine Arts Centre offers a virtual concert, “The Greatest Piano Men”; visit www.bataviafineartscentre.org.

a prerecorded concert celebrating Frank Sinatra’s recent 105th birthday. It was filmed live at the Arcada with 28 local celebrity artists performing 22 of Sinatra’s hits, ending with an all-artist performance of “My Way” done “We Are The World”

FOR THE KIDS Virtual Noon Year’s Eve Party DeKalb Public Library 11 a.m. to noon Dec. 31; Free; dkpl.org/ event/virtual-noon-years-eve-party The library in advance offers bags of goodies including crafts, confetti and a few extra surprises

to take home for the virtual party, which promises plenty of stories, jokes, crafts and music to keep you entertained until just before noon, when the event’s traditional countdown to the new year begins.

ART IN CLAY Clayworkers’ Guild of Illinois Annual Holiday Sale Old Courthouse Arts Center 101 N. Johnson St., Woodstock facebook.com/www.oldcourthouse artscenter.org It’s a final show at the space. For details on the Clayworkers’ Guild of Illinois, email LacyLadyClay@ gmail.com or call 815-321-9475.

ALPINE FEST Buffalo Creek Brewing, 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove Dec. 31 to Jan. 2; inclusive package option Dec. 31 www.buffalocreekbrewing.com Buffalo Creek Brewing is putting on different Alpine Fest events with live music and food trucks on Jan. 1 and 2, noting its European-inspired Biergarten provides an outdoor, socially distant winter wonderland to ring in 2021 with family and friends.

Open daily, the Alpine Biergarten offers six stocked fire pits, patio and barrel table heat lamps, sheepskin seat covers, twinkle lighting and holiday decor on two acres. In addition to the Dec. 31 inclusive packages, the patio will be open to the general public on New Year’s Eve without admission. The Jan. 1 and 2 festivities begin at noon each day with no admission charge.

SHAW MEDIA Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, December 26, 2020

Celebrations count down to brand new year

Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, December 26, 2020

SHAW MEDIA

6 STREAMING THIS WEEKEND

‘Soul,’ Tom Hanks’ ‘News of the World,’ ‘Bridgerton’ on tap

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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

Movies

To some, a night out at the movies is synonymous with the holiday season, normally the busiest and most festive time for moviegoing. This year, there are still a handful of notable movies arriving in cinemas – Paul Greengrass’ “News of the World,” with Tom Hanks; Emerald Fennell’s jolting, subversive “Promising Young Woman,” starring Carey Mulligan; and Italian filmmaker Matteo Garrone’s “Pinocchio,” with Roberto Benigni as Geppetto. But with more than half of U.S. theaters closed, two of the biggest movies of the year – “Soul” and “Wonder Woman 1984” – will be going straight to streaming.

Pete Docter’s “Soul,” the latest from Pixar, premiered Friday on Disney+.

Unlike “Mulan,” “Soul” will be available to subscribers at no additional charge. It’s one of the best family films of the year, and a worthy metaphysical companion piece to Docter’s “Inside Out.” A middle-school band teacher and talented jazz musician (Jamie Foxx) gets the big break he’s always wanted, but fate intervenes, and “Soul” travels to both the afterlife and a “before” life to contemplate some very big questions about fulfillment and regret, while working in some terrific music scenes and a cat.

Also arriving Christmas Day is “Wonder Woman 1984,” Patty Jenkins’ sequel to her barrier-breaking 2017 film. It premieres on HBO Max in the first of a parade of Warner Bros. films to stream through 2021. With Gal Gadot returning, “Wonder Woman 1984” fast-forwards from 1918 to the “greed is good” decade. The Associated Press called it “spirited, purposeful and blessedly lacking in grandiosity” in a sequel that again positions Wonder Woman as “a moral and muscular counterweight to ego-driven male misdirections, steering history through the repeating pitfalls of megalomaniacs intoxicated by power.”

– Film Writer Jake Coyle

Theater

If you yearn for theater this holiday season, head over to Broadway On Demand, the theater-focused streaming platform. There’s a oneman production of “This Wonderful Life” in which actor Rob Johansen recreates more than 30 characters from the film at madcap speed, as well as the reading of a new play, “The Santa Hat,” starring Ed Asner, Michael Urie, Gregory Jbara and Lucie Arnaz.

There’s also Shoshana Bean celebrating the season with a brand new holiday special, “Sing Your Hallelujah,” filmed live at New York City’s famed Apollo Theater.

Broadway veterans Rebecca Luker and Sally Wilfert celebrate Christmas with their new album, “All the Girls.”

The duo are calling it “a celebration of womanhood,” and it includes songs

by Stephen Sondheim, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Fred Ebb & John Kander. The album, from PS Classics, is adapted from the stage show of the same name, showcasing the singers’ personal bond. It’s ready to stream.

– Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy

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Television

Shonda Rhimes’ first scripted series for Netflix is “Bridgerton,” and it’s being described as if “Downton Abbey” mixed with “Gossip Girl.”

Based on Julia Quinn’s romance novel series, it centers on the romantic entanglements of English society’s upper crust and has a multiethnic cast and an anonymous gossip columnist – voiced by none other than Julie Andrews. The first season debuted Friday.

Gritty reboots of beloved kids’ literary characters take another step with “The Hardy Boys.” The series follows brothers Joe (Alexander Elliot) and Frank Hardy (Rohan Campbell) as they spend the summer in a small town and look into the suspicious circumstances around their mother’s death. The TV-PG series comes on the heels of The CW’s “Riverdale” and “Nancy Drew.” “The Hardy Boys” began at the top of the month but it’s not too late to investigate.

– Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy

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By PAM OTTO

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

Naturalist’s unusual DIY ‘gift’ idea jells Part of this column originally ran in December 2012, long before hand sanitizer would become the must-have item it is today. If you find you’ve got an ounce or two to spare, this craft is a great way to put some of that surplus to use. It’s also a great way to put a smile on someone’s face while saying goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021.

Good news, Good-Natured procrastinators! Even though the holiday season is upon us, there’s still time to handcraft a gift for that special someone on your list.

Combining some of the very best elements of nature itself, along with a dash of stylish individuality and 70% ethyl alcohol, this clever creation lets you say, “I care about you and your interests and want to help you share them, even if, at times, they have caused people to recoil and/or run and hide. Merry Christmas!”

Better still, it’s the sort of homemade gift anyone can make. No need for hard-to-source supplies, awkward glue guns or tedious, repetitive production steps. All you need is a small vial or jar and lid; hand-sanitizer gel; and a dead bug.

These simple materials, brought together and heated ever so slightly, are guaranteed to yield results so exquisite, so stunning, so Martha Stewart-esque, you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it yourself. Or why you’ve never thought to leave the cap off your bottle of sanitizing gel, just to see what might crawl in.

Step one: Procure a vial other than the one in which the hand sanitizer currently resides. Helpful hint here: Think small. That quart-size mayo jar you’ve been saving for goodness knows how long is a little large for this purpose. Unless, of course, you have an abundance of hand sanitizer.

Or dead bugs.

Step two: Wash, rinse and dry the vial, making sure to remove any water droplets lurking inside.

Step three: Fill the vial two-thirds full with hand sanitizer.

Step four: Add dead bugs and, using a probe or skewer, arrange in a pleasing fashion. (Note: Entomologists recommend against the use of freshly killed insects, as their bodily fluids can react with the hand sanitizer and cause the gel to dissolve. So all those bugs you’ve been meaning to remove from the windowsill? Go for it.)

(Note part deux: The gel also is an ideal medium for small or delicate objects like dragonfly wings and the

Photo provided

First prepared in 2012, the cast exoskeletons of a periodical cicada (from left) and an annual cicada are preserved for posterity in a vial filled with hand sanitizer. tiny bits you or someone you know extracted from an owl pellet. Think shrew jawbones, vole scapulae – you get the picture.)

(Note part trois: Alas, it doesn’t work so well with the scaled wings of butterflies and moths, nor the furry bodies of bees and certain spiders.)

Step five: Place a small saucepan on a stove burner and add about 1 inch of water. Stand the uncapped vial upright in the water and heat to a simmer. Cook gently until all bubbles in the sanitizer have risen and dissipated.

Step six: Remove from heat and let cool. Top off the vial with more sanitizer, making sure you don’t add more bubbles in the process, and twist the cap on tightly. Add a bow (optional) and ta-da! Your one-of-a-kind gift is complete.

The concept of containing bugs in viscous fluid, actually a way of preserving insects for use in classroom

activities, isn’t new. In fact, several entomologists have likened the result to insects encased in amber – fossilized tree resin formed millions of years ago.

This most recent incarnation, using hand sanitizer as the protective agent, seems to have surfaced about 20 years ago. It was then that an entomologist working at a pest control firm encountered fruit flies inside an uncapped bottle of hand sanitizer. Apparently attracted by the fluid’s sweet smell, the insects had crawled in and become trapped – and preserved – inside the container.

Intrigued, the bug scientist began experimenting with different types of hand sanitizer and different species of insects. He found little difference in clarity and preservative quality between brands; he also concluded that, in general, the process works better for adult insects than for juveniles.

Other entomologists have since deter-

mined that dried insects work better than those that are still, um, moist.

This gift-giving season, take a stroll around the perimeter of your home, paying particular attention to overhangs where spider webs may hold desiccated treasures. Basements, with their masses of dried millipedes and sowbugs, are good sources too, as are the sills between your interior and exterior windows.

(Naturalists’ desks are probably the best places of all, but good luck stealing the bugs away without the naturalist noticing.)

Measure out some hand sanitizer, repurpose some bottles with tight-fitting lids, and you’ll be on your way to creating a charming new holiday tradition. No humbugs allowed!

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

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

SHAW MEDIA Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, December 26, 2020

GOOD NATURED

Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Saturday, December 26, 2020

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WOODHAVEN LAKES Private Recreational Campground

So Much to See. So Much to Do.

Hiking Trails. Woodlands. Nature. Lakes. WiFi. Pools. Crafts. Movies. Fitness Center. Prairie. Deer. Pavilions. Arcade. Mini Golf.

Day Camp. Tennis. Basketball. Live Music. Theme Activities. Fireworks. Painting Parties. Open Markets. Social Events. Volleyball.

Shuffleboard. Teen Dances. Car Show. Paddleboats. Sledding. Farmers Markets. Night Hikes. Campfires. Fishing. Tournaments.

Pickleball. Acoustic Nights. Wine & Cheese Social. Road Rally. Golf Outing. 5K/3K. Haunted House. Canoing. Anything That Floats.

Horseshoes. Petting Zoo. Wagon Rides. Aqua Zumba. Playgrounds. Karaoke. Family Fun Night. Coffee Hour. Clubs. DJs. Scavenger Hunts. Kayaking. Tug of War. Food Fairs. Picnics.

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