style & culture
december 2009/january 2010
Wrap it Up
THROW A COCKTAIL PARTY
visitshoremagazine.com THE TIMES
nwi.com
4.95
Believe in Magic Join the Addams Family Be Your Best Self
INCLUDING Joe Paolocci Puts Up a FRONT Jeremy Gantz on MIDWEST CASTLES Jose Ramirez FINDS TRUE HAPPINESS
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contents
DECEMBER 2009/JANUARY 2010
163
Do You Believe in Magic?
BY CLAIRE BUSHEY
A secret history of the magic land, complete with supernatural conjuring and predictions for the Lake Michigan area.
photograph by KEN CARL
63
51
Wrap It Up! BY SHARON BIGGS WALLER
You may not think you can be green and look sharp, but gift wrap that is creative and original is the way to be ecological.
VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM
54
The Producers BY KATHRYN MACNEIL
60
2009 in Review BY RICK KAEMPFER
The Addams Family is destined to be as immortal as the Von Trapps, in a musical about a family’s inevitable morph forward. PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD HELLYER
We may not have had much money this year, but we sure learned how to communicate. A look back on 2009—it definitely made a fleeting impression. style & culture
71
The Cocktail Party BY JANE DUNNE
What goes with a martini or Manhattan? Colorful homemade hors d’oeuvres—and deviled eggs with crispy bacon, of course.
december 2009/january 2010
MhWf _j Kf
THROW A COCKTAIL PARTY
Believe in Magic Join the Addams Family Be Your Best Self
INCLUDING Joe Paolocci Puts Up a FRONT Jeremy Gantz on MIDWEST CASTLES Jose Ramirez FINDS TRUE HAPPINESS
4
contents
DECEMBER 2009/JANUARY 2010
26
35 32
82
30 36 Shedd Aquarium Gala 38 Blue Green Gala 39 Buchanan Non-Pareil/ American Cancer Society Gala 40 Grant Park Music Fest Gala 41 Epicurean Classic 42 Smooth Jazz at South Shore 43 La Rabida Lawn Fete/ Krasl Concours
HOUSE & GROUNDS
SHORELINES 19
20
22
24 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM
26
INTRO
The writer and producer of a series of hit plays featuring the wit and wisdom of nuns, Vicki Quade ventures into radio.
LISTEN
A budding opera star from Portage via Vegas, waits in the wings at Opera New York.
SHAW THOUGHTS
The family and friends who never forgot Jim Lindemann of Bridgman, who gave his life for his country in Vietnam almost 40 years ago.
CULTURE NUT
Joseph Paolucci puts up a great FRONT in Buchanan, Michigan, and Steve Robinson monopolizes classical music in Chicago.
MOTORING
General Motors’ Buick and Cadillac want your attention, Santa’s muscle cars, and Lexus goes green.
30
INTERVIEW
82
His English wasn’t the best, he had little training and a night job, but Jose Ramirez persevered and ended up creative director at Vanis Salon & Day Spa.
32
WHERE TO GO
Castles are scarce, but magnificent, and found in the most unusual places in Indiana and Michigan.
34
GREEN NOTES
35
HEALTH CLUB
Baseball fans going green by recycling materials from old baseball stadiums, and avoiding the waste of gift wrapping. The inspirational story of Jodi Davis, who walked her way to good health and now helps to heal others.
Heritage Home
BY JULIE DEAN KESSLER
English and Dutch influence frame the eight themed Christmas trees in the holiday-friendly Hoeksema home.
LAST RESORT 96
Reduce, Reuse, Regift BY JOE DURK
Regifting is a common practice, but is it a wise one?
HOTSPOTS 46 74 88 94
Essential Events Bite & Sip Shore Things Shorecast
8 Publisher’s Letter 10 Editor’s Letter
photography courtesy of [clockwise, from top left] JODI DAVIS, NATALIE BATTAGLIA/THE TIMES, GM CORP, ROBERT WRAY, ROBERT WRAY
CLICKS
6
7
july 2009
publisher’s
letter
T
his fall has been jam-packed with meetings, events, soccer games, more meetings and more events all surrounding a visit from my grandchildren Christian, Anna and Joshua with their parents Michelle and Dr. David Mueller. Julie and I also had a quick visit from our oldest daughter Brooke with her boyfriend ryan (we really like him).
visitshoremagazine.com
As hectic as it has been, I was pretty proud of a commitment I made to myself early this fall to attend every one of my daughter Shay’s senior year soccer games. I made all but one and was late for two others, which was NOT an easy feat to accomplish—and by the way, Shay was selected to the East-West Indiana All-Star soccer game. And if it weren’t for cyberspace, I doubt if I would have made it to all Shay’s games or been able to share those experiences with family and friends. Cyberspace allows me to be at all these benefits, chamber meetings, awards receptions, strategic planning sessions all the while managing the media business at hand and yes, staying in touch with the family. More than ever, folks seem to be bent on stepping up, meeting the challenge and moving ahead and the sooner, the better. Our relentless focus in strengthening our brands, partnering with clients across multiple platforms and growing our niche audiences continues at an accelerated pace. Last year at this time we introduced a new distribution program which more closely targeted our readers in the Lake Michigan area: it must have succeeded, because our subscriptions doubled and Shore magazine had its most successful and prosperous year by far. If you haven’t subscribed yet, I encourage you to visit our website and sign up at visitshoremagazine.com so you won’t miss an issue of Shore. And, if you are already a subscriber, but want to reference an article you read back in September
about Bill Wellman and Valparaiso University’s famous Kissing Bridge, for instance— you will find it on page 32 of the October/November issue online. You can also join 20,000 other readers who have signed up for a free subscription to the Shorelines e-newsletter— delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning—and the hundreds of others who are part of the Shore fan community on my.nwi.com, Facebook and Twitter and get updates throughout the day. Shore Contributor Rick Kaempfer was asked to reflect on 2009 and give us his perspective on what happened. Of course, we expected a tongue-incheek look at talk show hosts or financial bailouts. Instead, Rick pointed out that this was the year we came together and connected like never before. I couldn’t agree more. And this year, though I may be posting photos from my iPhone, I will be sitting by the fireplace at home in Northwest Indiana during the holiday season. As my friends and family are well aware, I love the changes in the weather that come along with Thanksgiving and Christmas here. Nothing is more fun than a family project of putting up the lights outside while Julie is cooking up some nice treats inside . . . hopefully chocolate chip cookies. Enjoy celebrating your life and good health as this year draws to a close. Have a blessed 2010—and we will see you in January with our outlook on what’s happening in the world of great eating. BILL MASTERSON, JR.
8
editor’s
letter
R
eviewing the most recent 525,600 minutes, I expected to come up with a chronicle of bittersweet moments, hopes and dreams deferred, or at least postponed. But that wasn’t how it worked out: 2009 was a year of surprises, opportunities, brand new ideas and a welcome revival of some old ones—like saving money. A shining example of this was an auction item a couple of board members dreamed up for South Shore Arts’ main fundraiser back in June: a mystery dinner in a private home.
0 visitshoremagazine.com 1
Chef Gary Sanders (Bartlett’s, Miller Bakery Café)—along with his wife Chef Nicole Bissonnette (Bistro 157 and Bistro at the Venue in Valparaiso)—donated his services as chef, caterer and sommelier for ten lucky guests, delivered and picked up by (donated) limo. Dan and Dana Dumezich of Schererville won the dinner at the auction and hosted the evening in October for their friends Dave and Mary Lasco, Bob and DeAnna Morgan, Bill and Debbie Ciesar and Sajiv and Reena John. Speaking as one of the servers— along with a half dozen board members including Colleen Reilly, Heather McCarthy and Executive Director John Cain and significant others in tuxes—the guests were quite tolerant and understanding of certain professional lapses. Grand Rapids Art Museum’s director of marketing and public relations, Kerri VanderHoff, just finished with helping to host ArtPrize, and is gearing up for the centennial year at the GRAM, located in the spectacular LEED-gold certified building that is just two years old. Shore is cosponsoring a kickoff event this New Year’s Eve at the museum and we were all happy to learn that Open Water no. 24, Ran Ortner’s first-place-winning painting, will be on display for the party and through January 31, 2010. The big show at the GRAM is Calder Jewelry and there is also a Whistler and American Impressionist exhibit in addition to the museum’s
permanent collection. Last year on New Year’s Eve, the museum stayed open to 12:30 a.m., with 20,000 people on the front steps to welcome 2009. This year, the GRAM is expecting an even bigger crowd with three dinner seatings and packages for members and non-members. (See the details on our inside front cover.) Not only is it a wonderful party for adults, but, as Kerry says, the GRAM is a family-friendly venue and if you are just looking for a great place to hear music and dance the general cover charge is $10. Welcome everyone and welcome 2010. Last year, I reminisced about Christmases past when I carefully chose books for people that I had already read, that I thought they would enjoy as much as I had. And I tried to take a more thoughtful attitude throughout the year, making every dime and every minute count. There are so many more opportunities to share in tough times and sharing is just so much better than merely giving things away. Keep in mind that the whole world can change, so many wonderful things can happen in a year. May 2010 be everything you want it to be: as full of joy and hope as the DoRe-Mi dancers in Antwerp and Oprah on Michigan Avenue. We will return next year with a delicious guide to good eating; in the meantime, check in via the Shore website and e-newsletter. Pat Colander
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style & culture
Publisher Bill Masterson, Jr. Director of Product Development Christopher Loretto 219.933.3243 cloretto@nwitimes.com Senior Account Executive Lisa Tavoletti Illinois/Indiana/Michigan 219.933.4182 ltavoletti@nwitimes.com Account Executive Mary Sorensen Michigan 616.451.3006 msorensen@nwitimes.com Traffic Manager Tom Kacius Pre-press Specialists Maureen Benak Rhonda Fancher Tracy Hanson Advertising Designers Dave Annable Ryan Berry Mark Fortney Jeff Olejnik Kathleen Stein
Published by Lee Enterprises The Times of Northwest Indiana Niche Division 601 W 45th Street Munster, Indiana 46321 219.933.3200 Michigan/Indiana Sales 1111 Glendale Boulevard Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 219.462.5151
New Subscriptions, Renewals, Inquiries and Changes of Address: Shore Magazine Circulation Dept., 601 W 45th St, Munster, IN 46321, or 800.589.2802, or visitshoremagazine.com Reprints and Permissions: You must have permission before reproducing material from Shore magazine.
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Single copy price is $4.95. One-year subscriptions $20 (8 issues) Two-year subscriptions $25 (16 issues) Three-year subscriptions $35 (24 issues)
volume 5 / number 8
Editor / Associate Publisher Pat Colander 219.933.3225 pcolander@nwitimes.com Art Director Joe Durk 219.933.3277 jdurk@nwitimes.com Managing Editor Julia Perla 219.933.3353 jperla@nwitimes.com Assistant Managing Editor Kathryn MacNeil 219.933.3264 kmacneil@nwitimes.com Designers April Burford, Matt Huss Online Editor Ashley Boyer Contributing Editors Jane Ammeson Heather Augustyn Lois Berger Sue Bero Robert Blaszkiewicz Christy Bonstell Claire Bushey John Cain Laura Caldwell Donna M. Chavez Tom Chmielewski Juli Doshan Jane Dunne Rob Earnshaw Jeremy Gantz Terri Gordon Dave Hoekstra Seth “tower� Hurd Jim Jackson Rick Kaempfer Lauri Harvey Keagle Julie Dean Kessler Mark Loehrke Joey Marburger Sherry Miller Virginia Mullin Andy Shaw Fran Smith Megan Swoyer Sharon Biggs Waller Contributing Artists and Photographers Lloyd DeGrane Jennifer Feeney Richard Hellyer Callie Lipkin David Mosele Johnny Quirin Gregg Rizzo Christina Somers Robert Wray
Shore magazine invites readers and writers to submit ideas, comments and feedback through email at feedback@visitshoremagazine.com or the post office at Shore Magazine, 601 W 45th St, Munster, IN 46321, or 1111 Glendale Blvd, Valparaiso, IN 46383.
contributors KEN CARL’s photography is a spinning compass of personal work, travel-related assignments, events and weddings. These are all constant works in progress, “as are my website, portfolio, learning the guitar, deciding what movie to see . . .” he says. According to Carl, the foundation of his photography is structured from humanity— who we are and how we live where we are. One recent assignment, photographing the Magic Cabaret, challenged his creativity. [See the photos on page 63.] “I had to blend illusion with the elusive where facts are not to be in evidence,” Carl says. “Fun!” PHILIP POTEMPA is a daily entertainment and food columnist for The Times and a regular online and print contributor for Shore. Twice a month, his online blogging column, “Of Notoriety with Philip Potempa” at visitshoremagazine. com, keeps readers “in the know,” from play and restaurant openings to premiere parties and red carpet movie screenings around Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Catholic “to the core”— and since “the habit” of his beat is reporting on celebs and notable names from near and far—he found it a “blessing” to do an interview with Vicki Quade [page 19] about her latest show Saints & Sinners at Chicago’s Royal George Theatre.
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MOLLY WOULFE is an awardwinning reporter who joined The Times in 2000 after a 10-year stint as arts and entertainment writer in Copley News Service’s Chicago Bureau. She graduated from St. Mary’s College and earned her master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. She has been riveted by some operas, fallen asleep at others. “When it’s good, the combination of music, emotion and spectacle is breathtaking,” Woulfe says. “When it’s bad, I’d rather be watching the Cubs.” She was impressed by soprano Patricia Labus Vital’s drive, commitment and work ethic while researching “The Making of a Soprano” in this issue of Shore [page 20]. Woulfe, lost without projected supertitles, recently saw Faust at the Lyric Opera and is looking forward to The Merry Widow.
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shorelines listen | shaw thoughts | culture nut | motoring | interview | where to go | green notes | health club
>> intro <<
Heaven-sent Stage Great Vicki Quade Takes On the Radio World
more shore
Read Vicki Quade’s secrets of theater success at visitshoremagazine.com
PHOTOGRAPH BY SUZANNE PLUNKETT
Tickets for many of Quade’s shows at the Royal George Theatre are $30, but group and student rates are available at 312.988.9000 or nuns4fun.com.
DECEMBER 2009/JANUARY 2010
Charge!, giving audiences a taste of some important commentary about today’s faith, values and religion’s influence on the world, delivered with humor and grace. Then, it was Sunday School Cinema in 2007, which let sister introduce audiences to the best and worst movies as reviewed by the ever-sharp nun wit. All of these shows are still running with performances at the Royal George Theatre (1641 North Halsted Street, Chicago)—proof that when something works, it really works. Quade unveiled her newest one-woman nun show Saints & Sinners in September. Now Quade is working with WGN Radio host Jerry Agar and comedians Tim Slagle (who lives in Dyer, Indiana), Ken Savara and Dobie Maxwell to create a talk-radio parody called You’re On the Air, which will open this fall at the Royal George Theatre, in addition to performances at Center for the Performing Arts at Governors State University in University Park, Illinois. The show will be directed by Cecilie Keenan. “I had appeared on Jerry’s radio show a few times and we just started talking about putting together a new show about radio industry, the markets and even the call-ins on shows,” Quade says. “And then one meeting and six hours later, we basically had the entire concept for our show.” Quade also credits her family for support, including her sons David and Michael White and daughter Catherine White. “I bounce a lot of ideas off my kids and they are great for feedback,” Quade says. “Humor runs in the family.” —PHILIP POTEMPA
19
“A
fter I first wrote Catechism and Mary Pat Donovan donned her habit for the first couple of performances, we really wondered if we would even be able to attract audiences to do those first twelve performances during the six-week stint we were committed to doing,” says Vicki Quade, the writer and producer for Late Nite Catechism, which is closing in on a two-decade run in Chicago. “I can remember Mary Pat finishing her first show and looking at me straight in the eye and asking ‘Is this really funny?’ Then, after about three weeks, we knew we had something here that worked and would be around for a while.” In addition to ticket sales, Quade’s production also has raised more than $2 million in just the first ten years, all for direct donations to convents and nuns around Chicago. Next, in 2005, Quade created Put the Nuns in
shorelines >> listen <<
The Making of a Soprano Every job is a high note for Portage grad Patricia Vital
S
0 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 2
he was in her mid-teens when she saw Phantom of the Opera, starring Robert Englund—aka Freddy Krueger—as the madman haunting a Paris opera house. Patricia Labus Vital can’t recall if “Freddy” was dreamy or screamy. She’s still swooning over “The Jewel Song.” Singer Nancy Fontana rounded and polished each note like a rare pearl. The Faust aria “was amazing,” Vital says. “A gorgeous piece.” Vital was hooked on opera. One CD later, the Portage High School student was belting “Una Voce Poco Fa” from The Barber of Seville around the house. Parents Jerry and Gayle Labus “were stunned and ecstatic,” her mother says. They knew their daughter had a good voice, and was always game for a church solo or school show. “But when that power came out, it was exciting,” says Gayle, of Crown Point. For Patricia, a self-described average student, music became a creative and emotional outlet. “I never excelled at anything, but music made sense to me,” she says. Fast-forward to present-day New York. The 1994 PHS grad, who moved to the Big Apple last year, remains upbeat. Persistence is the key to success. “Just being here has helped me focus,” says Vital, 33, honing her skills with Opera New York. “The closer I get to being a possibility, the more confidence I have in my voice.” A one-time member of Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus, Vital, who grew up in South Haven and Portage, spent a year at Indiana University Northwest then studied at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She took off for Las Vegas in 2000, parlaying singing gigs at casinos into a slot with the Young Artists Program at Opera Las Vegas. Roles included Frasquita in Carmen and Musetta in La Bohème. Her five-year plan to make it-or-bust stretched to eight years when she married actor Jerome Vital. When two friends decamped to New York to study with voice coach Judith Fredericks, Vital turned to her husband and said, “‘What do you think?’ He said, ‘Okay,’” she says, laughing. The couple relocated last year, and Vital began studying with ONY cofounder Fredericks, too. No prima donna, the Hoosier with the three-octave range balances secretarial
work with voice lessons, Italian lessons and auditions. No job is too small; she belongs to one ensemble that performs free at nursing homes. A recent triumph was singing the role of Ophelia in an ONY-Old Vic all-Shakespeare concert. “It was my first mad scene,” Vital says. “It was a blast.” The road to divahood is precarious; talent, training, timing and management are essential. Competition is fierce, especially in the recession. For every Kathleen Battle, Renée Fleming or Elizabeth Futral, 1,000 sopranos are waiting in the wings.
Y
et there are still chances to crack those elite circles, more so in smalland medium-sized companies. “More than ever before, the singer really needs to have everything together—a solid vocal technique, expertise in style and languages, versatility and specificity as an actor,” says Lyric Opera dramaturge Roger Pines. “Having a beautiful voice is definitely not enough! There has to be an individual quality about the voice, with the quality of having something to say, something to The closer ‘communicate’ to the I get to audience, being a that makes possibility, that singer the more memorable.” That bodes confidence well for Vital, I have in a coloratura my voice. soprano. These rare operatic gymnasts can trill a string of high notes at top speed. Her hero, Beverly Sills, might smile, but Vital developed her rapidfire delivery as a tot, playing Smurf and Strawberry Shortcake LPs at high speed and mimicking the voices. She’s an ace at “slow” speed, too. Her whole career is “hysterical,” Vital chuckles. Yet she knows the score. “Keep your nose to the grindstone, and stick with it,” she says. “You may not become famous, but you’ll get jobs.” —MOLLY
WOULFE
PHOTOGRAPH BY JOSEF VITAL
Taking the fear out of wisdom teeth removal
“
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shorelines devastated Bill and he was never the same. It took the heart out of him.” Jackie named her own son Jim because “I wanted to keep him alive with my kids.” And she remembers her fear of a new draft lottery when the Iraq War began in 2001. Her Jim was still young enough to serve but “there was no way I would’ve let him go.” And it’s not just her son. “I don’t think that any war is worth one life because it never, ever goes away.” Jim is the only son of Bridgman to die in Vietnam, and he is remembered on a plaque outside the Bridgman Library that includes the basic information. And a line that took my breath away when I noticed it for the first time a few weeks ago: “You are not forgotten.” The plaque was suggested by Jim’s high school classmates, who wanted a lasting tribute to their Bridgman buddy. “He had a lot of good friends,” his sister Jackie recalls, “and that got it started.”
>> shaw thoughts <<
Parallel Paths
Fate defined by a draft lottery
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ou are not forgotten.” I never met Jim Lindemann. But I think I would’ve liked him. Because everyone else did. And we had a lot in common. Born two weeks apart in the summer of 1948. Popular guys who graduated from high school in ’66. Off to college and then dropping out, buffeted by the winds of change in the ’60s. And fathering daughters—the ultimate gift to dads. But that’s where the parallel lives end. In a crushing finality. When fate dealt Jim the cruelest of hands. And I pulled an ace. I’ve been blessed with a full life that includes a wonderful wife and three daughters, who’ve grown into strong, successful women. The clock ran out on Jim after he and Char had Chris, who can’t remember her dad because she was only six months old when he was killed in Vietnam. They were from Bridgman, I was in Chicago, and it was April of 1970—the same month I was breathing the ultimate sigh of relief when the country’s first draft lottery—a life-and-death game of roulette, with dates of birth on the outside of the wheel—gave me a high enough draft number to virtually guarantee I would never be called. I can still remember the panic I felt as lottery day approached. How I measured an old pitching injury to see if my arm was bent enough for a deferment. Not quite. Others took enough drugs to feign insanity in front of their draft boards. A few made life-altering decisions by fleeing to Canada. As it turns out, I didn’t have to. But my wife Mary, who was an on-and-off girlfriend back then, remembers fearing that I caught a draft-eligible low number instead of 341, which meant that I’d never be called. Unfortunately, the lottery came too late for Jim, who was drafted the previous year, when the escape routes were limited. And that, in the immortal words of the great American poet Robert Frost, made all the difference. Jim’s sister Jackie remembers the fateful day they got the knock on the door that every GI’s family dreads. “It’s been 39 years and it’s still hard to talk about,” Jackie recalls. “I think of Jim every day. It’s something you never get over.” Jim’s father, Bill, owned a grocery on Lake Street in Bridgman, and he was crushed by the loss of his only son. “It was so sad,” retired Bridgman librarian Marilyn Roth recalls. “It really
W
e live in the shadow of war every day. When we read about a new book detailing the cover-up that followed the friendly fire death of former NFL football star Pat Tillman in Afghanistan. Or when President Obama presents his first Medal of Honor to a soldier who left cover three times in an attempted rescue of a wounded colleague. Or when we notice the plaque outside the Bridgman Library. The mourning never ends for those who lose loved ones. Jim’s widow Char, whose second husband died from a fatal illness last year, is described as one of the most friendly and outgoing people in Bridgman. But she doesn’t want to be interviewed for this story. “She can’t talk about it right now,” sister-in-law Jackie explains. And Jackie advises me not to call Char and Jim’s daughter Chris, who still lives in Michigan. So I don’t. I remember Vietnam by visiting the Memorial on the Mall whenever I’m in Washington. It bears the names of all 50,000-plus victims of our most unpopular war. In the order they died. Jim Lindemann is somewhere in the middle, where the black granite is the highest. My oldest daughter lives two miles from the memorial and works as a lawyer at the White House. Serving a president who inherited two unpopular wars. We talk once or twice a week because she’s incredibly busy. But every conversation ends with the same words from each of us: “I love you.” I cherish the same ritual with her two younger sisters. Those are words that Jackie and Char and Chris probably say, too. When they think of Jim. But there is no comforting echo. No one to return life’s three most important words. He took the road I didn’t have to travel. And that, as Frost reminds us, made all the difference. —ANDY SHAW
ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID MOSELE
shorelines >> culture nut <<
Steve Robinson ON HIS CLASSICAL MUSIC MONOPOLY
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hicago needs Steve Robinson!” emphatically declares Chicago music philanthropist Rose Ann Grundman. Even Chicago area folks who may not immediately recognize his name have many reasons to agree. How does one begin to describe someone of the caliber of Steve Robinson, executive vice president for radio and project development at Window to the World Communications (WWCI), the parent company of 98.7 WFMT, Chicago’s only classical radio station, and WTTW 11, America’s mostwatched public television station? Well, for starters, how about acknowledging Steve as an energetic, creative producer and distributor of programs, broadcaster, musician, business manager, accomplished grant writer and fund raiser, music competition judge, board member of community organizations, innovative leader and entrepreneur. Oh, and a genuinely friendly, nice guy and family man. What else might one want to know about this multitalented man? Who is he? Steve tells of how he has loved music as a passion since the sixth grade. While working on his degree in music education from Boston University, and working nearly full-time at their FM station, WBUR, he experienced the performance side of music as a conductor and musician. After graduation, while serving as senior music director and development director of WBUR, he also produced programs with different themes six days a week, was an announcer, and created a call-in show about high fidelity called Shop Talk. Years later, the program morphed into a program you may have heard . . . Car Talk. When Steve arrived in Chicago in August 2000, the new WFMT was already a world-class station. He described his vision as, “Just don’t screw it up!” Today, it’s clear that he didn’t. In the process of expanding programming and the station’s reach nationally and internationally, he also doubled the yearly net income of the station within 3 to 4 years. In addition to the successful pledge drives, WFMT has received seven consecutive grants from the National Endowment for the Arts for its flagship national program, Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin. When we asked Steve about the secrets to the success and uniqueness of WFMT, he had two responses: 1) Unique sound. Commercials, for instance, are all read live by the announcers. No jingles! 2) Live performances from the station, often showcasing soloists from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Also, “We broadcast live from other venues locally and as far away as Salzburg, Jerusalem and South Africa.” What is Steve Robinson’s long-term goal? “Simply to make 98.7 WFMT the best classical music station in the world, while contributing to the local community.” He appears to be well on his way. —VIRGINIA MULLIN
more shore
Read more about Steve Robinson at visitshoremagazine.com
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BIG BOX Between the anonymity of one-size-fitsall gift cards and the cultural mass of the annual December march to the malls, a key component of the holiday gift-giving process seems to have been left behind— the beauty of seeking out, or better yet just happening upon, that special something that seems uniquely suited to the individual for whom it is intended.
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Perhaps the answer lies in a place like FRONT Gallery, a compact storefront along a revitalized stretch of arty retail neighbors in downtown Buchanan that showcases colorful furniture, vibrant décor pieces, and an array of unique gift items, almost all imported from Europe. In other words, not exactly the kind of merchandise likely to be comparison-shopped among various chain outlets. “It’s the type of place where you can find things that you won’t find anywhere else,” explains proprietor Joseph Paolucci. With a home in nearby Camp Madron and an abiding belief that Buchanan’s distressed business district deserved a shot at greatness, Paolucci and his partner Tom Hitchcock opened FRONT in the summer of FRONT 2008. The shop is less a Galler y 207 full-time occupation than Buchan E Front St an, M a passionate hobby for 269.695 ich. .0230 Paolucci (a Chicago corporate attorney by trade), a fact that doesn’t at all diminish his commitment to providing shoppers in Buchanan with an alternative to the malls and warehouse stores. Because while not everyone who wanders into FRONT may know someone who needs, say, a Taschen book or a piece of Richard Schultz furniture—the notion of “need,” in fact, in relation to any of the merchandise at FRONT being difficult to argue, even for an attorney—it’s certainly the kind of place that lends itself to browsing, discovering and considering rather than simply checking recipient names off of a list. “We just want to provide a beautiful aesthetic and a different point of view,” Paolucci says, “and to show people that there really is some renewed activity and a real sense of pride in Buchanan.” —MARK LOEHRKE
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shorelines >> motoring <<
santa’s Muscle Car Workshop There, a team of highly trained technicians serve as NASCAR team owner Jack Roush’s elves to transform a factory GT Mustang into a Roush. The company holds several hundred stock Mustangs built at the Flat Rock, Michigan, assembly plant at their facility. Consumers visit one of 485 Roush authorized Ford dealers that work with a Roush regional sales manager to place an order for the color, striping and performance options available with Roush Series Mustangs. Roush builds the car to customers’ exacting specifications, then bills the dealer. The Roush 427R is a throwback to the ’60’s Muscle Car era, packed with a
GOING GREEN WITH LEXUS
435-hp engine linked to a short-throw manual shifter ($410) and performance exhaust system ($710) that serves up a “means business” exhaust note unlike any on the street. Price for the Roush 427R conversion
Toyota’s premium brand Lexus scores its fourth win in the luxury hybrid vehicle segment with the 2010 Lexus hs 250h.
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The newcomer is the first in the Lexus hybrid product line to be built as a dedicated luxury gasoline-electric hybrid that does not share a same model fueled by gasoline only. The front-wheel drive 2010 Lexus HS 250h comes in Base and Premium models with styling that blends the family resemblance of the Lexus IS and ES models together with subtle hybrid badges to declare owners’ “green loyalty.” Advanced
is around $14,000. Small money for a one-of-a-kind performance car made to order for the discriminating buyer. For more information, visit roushperformance.com. —JIM JACKSON
technology abounds with HS’s navigation system touch controller mounted on the center stack that looks and acts like a computer mouse to allow the driver to execute routine vehicle functions without having to sift though layers of operations to reach an end-result. HS comes powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine teamed with a 40-hp electric motor/generator for 187 hp directed by a continuously variable transmission. Fuel economy gears up to combine city and highway mileage of 34 mpg. The 2010 Lexus HS 250h arrives at area dealers this season base priced at $34,200. Stepping up to the HS 250h Premium model with larger wheels and more packaged content raises the price to $36,970. —JIM JACKSON
photography [top] courtesy of Jeff Cohn; [bottom] Lexus Division/ToyoTa MoTor saLes usa
While most of us look to the North Pole for our Christmas gifts, sports car enthusiasts, particularly die-hard Mustang fans, turn to Roush Performance Products in Livonia, Michigan.
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shorelines
2010 Buick LaCrosse
>> motoring <<
The General’s new Look
new Grip on youth
G
eneral Motors’ Buick and Cadillac brands in particular have raised the bar of consumers’ attention for 2010. Buick’s reinvention comes in the shape of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, carrying a youthful face-lift that takes years off the look of the previous model. For 2010, LaCrosse becomes the brand’s agship aimed squarely at the fortysomething import car buyer who demands quality craftsmanship, amenities and performance from their vehicle. LaCrosse offers that and value, priced under $28,000, with more standard content than competitive sedans in the mid-size segment. LaCrosse interior’s fit and finish is superb with warm wood accents and soft touch surfaces that pamper five occupants in a luxuriously appointed cabin. An available oversized power sunroof gives front and back seat passengers a sun-filled ride. At night, a soft ice-blue sliver of light creases the width of the instrument panel. The subtle glow is also seen on the center console gauge cluster and area illumination. The 2010 Buick LaCrosse comes with either a 3.0- or 3.6-liter V-6 engine or 2.4-liter four-cylinder that achieves 30 mpg highway fuel economy. Each is mated with six-speed automatic transmissions. All-wheel drive is available on the 3.6 model.
model has crossed the line into a younger audience, reducing the age of the average Cadillac buyer by 20 years, placing the Cadillac brand into the hands and driveways of younger families eager to drive an upscale brand without the upscale price. Cadillac springboards off the sedan’s youthful vitality with the rear-wheel drive CTS Sport Wagon. The new-wave wagon offers the same design and technical features as the CTS sedan but with twice the cargo capacity. Now it all can fit with 25 cu-ft of carrying capacity. Need more room? Folding the second row at expands the load volume to more than 53 cu-ft. A special cargo management system helps contain unruly content in the storage well with cleats that fit into a recessed oor rail. The 2010 Cadillac Sport Wagon includes a 3.0-liter V-6 for 270 hp or optional 3.6-liter with 304 hp, managed by a six-speed automatic transmission. Both powertrains come available with all-wheel drive. Price for the new Cadillac wagon starts at $40,655. —JIM JACKSON
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Cadillac hauls More Luxury
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t has taken Cadillac more than 100 years to bring to market a model that for decades was commonplace across America’s roads—the station wagon. This model year closes that gap with the arrival of the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon. Cadillac CTS sedan and “V” Series performance
2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
photography courtesy of GM CorP
Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, so too is General Motors after bankruptcy. Doing “business as usual” for the century-old corporation takes a new turn as the automotive giant drives a leaner and more purpose-directed business into today’s marketplace. The company has pared down from eight to four models to concentrate on building vehicles people will notice. Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC remain. General Motors has also whittled its product line from 78 to 34 nameplates.
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FUN TO DO THIS WEEKEND? Shore’s own Joe Durk and Julia Perla talk about what’s going on in the Lake Michigan area, in the Shore Weekender video every Thursday. visitshoremagazine.com / nwi.com
WEEKENDER
with joe & julia
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december 2009/january 2010
shorelines >> interview <<
JOSE RAMIREZ
The story of how he changed his life and found true happiness
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ow did you get started in your career? It was hard. I didn’t speak English well, so I had to push myself to become more proficient in the language. And I knew how to do hair from working in my mother’s shop, but I needed a license to get a job. A friend introduced me to Chris Valavanis, the owner of Vanis, and I talked to him about my dreams, and he told me what it would take to become a stylist. That same day I went to the beauty school and signed up. About a week later Chris offered me a job at the front desk. I was a disaster! But I was not afraid, because I wanted to work at Vanis. There was so much potential to grow there. The days were long because I had to work on my English, go to beauty school, work at Vanis and wait tables at Café Borgia at night. But you see, I wanted it that bad and I didn’t care what it took to get me there. After I graduated, I went through Chris’s apprentice program at the salon, and then got my own station. I’ve been creative director for five years now. What does a creative director do? We have a big hand in educating the stylists. I’m on hand in the salons to answer questions and help in any way. I’m very passionate about education and Vanis is all about that. Stylists have to go to beauty school first and then take three basics phases at the salon before they get their own station. Then they take advanced
Your hairstyle is the first thing people notice when they look at you. It’s your growing glory, after all. Finding a great stylist is a personal mission that’s fraught with bad haircuts, awful permanents and unlovely hair color. Everyone wants that stylist that can take one look at you and instantly come up with your quintessential haircut, the style that you’ve been waiting for all your life. Jose Ramirez, creative director at Vanis Salon & Day Spa—overwhelmingly voted the Best Salon & Spa in the Lake Michigan area—is one of these rare creatures. He’s a stylist who is passionate about his work, and treats every client as though he or she is his sole customer. • Jose greets his 12:30 client, settles her at his station, and asks what she likes about her hair and what she dislikes. Listening intently to her answers while sizing up her hair’s texture, he instantly comes up with solutions. He offers several options and talks about how she can recreate the look at home. You can see the relief in the client’s eyes. Here is someone who understands. Here is someone who can make her hair look beautiful. • Jose was born in León city in the state of Guanajuato in Central Mexico. León is well known for leather goods, shoes and handbags. Jose’s father was a shoemaker and tried to get his son to become a cobbler, but 14year-old Jose hated leatherwork and preferred to hang out in his mother’s hair salon, trying out ’80s Flock of Seagulls hairstyles and weird hair colors on his friends. But it never crossed his mind to be a hairstylist until he came to the United States in 1986 to visit some friends. After dividing his time between Mexico and America, Jose saw his brother successful at his mother’s shop and was inspired to take his love of hairstyling seriously, and in the United States.
PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT WRAY
Enjoy the Views Experience the Luxury training where they do a makeover on a live model. We help them try different techniques and point out what they need to work on.
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s there any specific cut you love? No, because what I love about hair is that it changes. You can’t get caught up in doing the same thing over and over. Fashion changes in clothes and so it does with hair. I love that whole circle, like incorporating a ’70s look into a more modern feel. In Vanis, stylists do both cut and color; no one specializes. And I love that, because it gives us the most freedom to express creativity.
What is your favorite part of the day? Every day is different, and I’m glad because that would be boring. I love working with people and making them look beautiful. It makes them happy. And it makes me happy. —SHARON BIGGS WALLER
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How do you choose a look for people? For example, a soccer mom doesn’t want an edgy look. You have to be careful. But you can give a soccer mom something edgy but you make it more classic. A younger person can have the same cut but make it a little more edgy. We take into consideration facial features, what you do for work, what type of hair you have, and what texture. You have to be honest, too. Sometimes people will show us a picture, and if it’s not possible I have to tell them. After all, I want to give them a good haircut.
www.hartsfieldvillage.com
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Is there a stylist in the industry that you admire? I remember seeing Toni and Guy [of TIGI] on stage at the Midwest Beauty Show many years ago. And I was so impressed. I thought, I really want to be like that. Their style was amazing. It was like . . . wow. They were very forward-thinking. I ended up selling my beloved motorcycle so I could go to their academy in Milan, Italy, for a twelve-day course. It was the experience of a lifetime. For me it opened up so many doors. I go every year to TIGI’s World Release New York to see the hair collection and get ideas.
shorelines
>> where to go <<
The Medieval Midwest
CASTLES ALONG THE LAKESHORE
Castle. The word conjures up visions of moats and drawbridges, princes and princesses, stone walls topped with turrets. Above all else, it’s synonymous with medieval Europe, full of competing fiefdoms. The word—descended from castrum, Latin for “fort”— does not conjure up images of Indiana and Michigan, two quiet kingdoms far from the world’s battlefields. And yet there are a handful of castles tucked away in the region, the result of a few ambitious Americans with extra cash to plow into eccentric dreams.
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Within a few hours’ drive of each other in southern Michigan and northern Indiana, three “castles” are open to the public—as bed and breakfasts and for tours, weddings and other special events. Built between 1895 and 2000, they span a century, but could all be comfortably visited in a weekend castle junket. Some historians and architecture critics might argue about whether all the buildings really should be considered castles. Let’s grant their owners the label; they certainly look more like medieval forts than another “custom made” home in another cookie-cutter subdivision.
Henderson Castle
Henderson Castle
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erched on the highest point of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Henderson Castle offers guests 37-mile views in all directions, according to Peter Livingstone-McNelis, who owns and operates the bed and breakfast with his wife. The 114-year-old building’s rooftop hot tub, one of the $2.25 million worth of renovations made during the
photography [this page, top] by NATALIE BATTAGLIA/THE TIMES, [this page, bottom] courtesy of HENDERSON CASTLE, [opposite page] courtesy of BEYER CASTLE
Meyer’s Castle
HENDERSON CASTLE
100 Monroe St Kalamazoo, Mich. 269.344.1827 hendersoncastle.com
PUBLIC ENEM S CONFIDEN JOHNNY DEPP,IE MICHAEL MANTINAL: AND ME
BEYER CASTLE
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—JEREMY GANTZ
You’ve read the Shore magazine cover story and in-depth diary of an actor on location in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana with a mega-movie star and a famous director. And you’ve seen the critically-acclaimed hit movie. NOW READ THE BOOK by a principal player, who just happened to be a writer: 76 pages, 45 photos and the story behind the shooting. Pre-order only, available 4-6 weeks. ORDER ONLINE AT VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM
BY DONALD G. ASHER
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JOHNNY DEPP, MICHAEL MANN AND ME
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DECEMBER 2009/JANUARY 2010
doors,” Beyer says. last 30 years, makes The 5,000-square-foot those views a bit more castle, which sits on accessible. 15 wooded acres, took That’s not all the MEYER’S CASTLE the South Bend native nearly 11,0001370 Joliet St and former restaurant square-foot castle, Dyer, Ind. cook three years to which is on the 219.865.8452 meyerscastle.com build. Nine years after National Register of its completion, he still Historic Places, lives in it, along with offers. The entire scores of bed and property, open to breakfast guests each year. the public since 2005, can be rented “I’ve seen lots of houses be built, and out for weddings, corporate meetings I didn’t want mine to look like the typical and other private events, and it also box house that everyone else builds,” hosts murder mysteries each month Beyer explains, noting that his home and houses an art gallery. is modeled on 14th-century European “We get people calling, saying, ‘I styles. “It’s been a fun art project that’s didn’t know there were castles in North lasted ten years.” America,’” Livingstone-McNelis says. Beyer, who doesn’t advertise his “For one hundred years, people just bed and breakfast, isn’t clamoring for admired this place. But now they can a constant stream of visitors. But he’s experience it.” confident that his castle offers guests “the closest feel for being in a real Beyer Castle European castle” around. And “the early seventy miles to the price of one night’s stay is far cheaper southwest, in South Bend, than paying for a ticket to fly to Indiana, Beyer Castle occupies Europe,” he drolly notes. a very different spot—on a tract of “swampland” on a “mostly deserted” road, just where Meyer’s Castle builder, architect and owner Jeff Beyer eyer’s Castle in Dyer, wanted it. And it has the most classic of Indiana, may not have a all castle elements. moat and drawbridge, but “I strongly feel it is a prerequisite it can boast an Argentine that if you build a castle, it must have restaurant. Not something a moat and a drawbridge and secret you associate with medieval Europe, of course, but then, the history and owners of the sprawling property are as unusual as the castle itself. It was constructed Beyer Castle in the Jacobethan revival style—with Indiana limestone cut to fit exact specifications—by businessman Joseph Meyer between 1929 and 1931. “There was always talk of the mysterious home in the hills. One time, I saw a sign in the front that said ‘For Sale,’ says Sergio Urquiza, who emigrated to the United States from Argentina when he was 15. “My wife fell in love with this place.” The couple bought the property, which had been neglected for decades, from the Meyer family in 1987. Twentytwo years later, Meyer’s Castle has become a popular wedding destination for Chicagoans. “I feel this home belongs to the area, the country. After I pass on, this place will still be here,” says Urquiza, who is 65. “In a way, I am just a housekeeper.”
exclusive PUBLIC ENEMIES CONFIDENTIAL:
20700C hippewaA ve South Bend, Ind. 574.288.3351 beyercastle.com
shorelines Let Barbie Loose Jeff Langbehn has spent the last decade trying to rescue an American icon from her bondage. • “Barbie is still wired with twist ties into a cardboard box wrapped in cellophane and put into another bag for you to take home. Why?” Langbehn says. “We need to put more pressure on retailers but especially on the manufacturers to stop this.”
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he executive director of the Lake County Solid Waste Management District started the “Let Barbie Loose” campaign in 2000, aimed at raising awareness about the excess waste generated during the holiday season. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generate an extra 1 million tons of waste annually between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, up 25 percent from the standard 4 million tons. That’s enough trash to fill 10,000 rail cars. Discarded Christmas cards alone would fill an entire football stadium. Langbehn likes to tell the story of purchasing a bottle of cologne for his wife and being upset with all of the
green gifts for baseball fans
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excess packaging. He removed everything he didn’t want—shrink wrap, cardboard box, bubble wrap, etc., telling the clerk he really only needed the bottle—paid and left, leaving the waste behind. “On Christmas morning as you unwrap your gifts, if you just take all of the wrapping and packaging and put that on one side and put all of the gifts on the other side you’ll see that the actual gifts are only about one tenth of the size,” Langbehn says. “It’s a time for giving gifts, not waste.” Langbehn is a proponent of wrapping gifts in other gifts. In his family, inexpensive fleece blankets secured with bungee cords are the wrap of choice. Other reusable items like towels, T-shirts, scarves, gloves, linens, reusable tote bags, lunch bags and purses are also good options. “If everybody just decided they’re going to still wrap 75 percent of their packages but use reusable items to wrap their other gifts, we’d reduce the excess waste by 25 percent,” he says. “People are more excited anyway, because they get more presents. It can be really easy, inexpensive stuff. It just takes a little more effort. You’re doing it for yourself, your kids and your grandkids, too, because let’s face it. We only have a finite amount of space here.” In the end, it all comes down to being good stewards of the planet. “If you have one suit, you don’t go out and play in the mud in it,” Langbehn says. “We only have one Earth. Why would you want to trash it? And you can’t rely on your neighbor, your school system, your government or your boss to make it right. You have to do it.”
f you have someone on your gift list this holiday season who spends the winter staring out the window waiting for the first crack of the bat at spring training, one catalog has an eco-friendly solution for you. Uncommon Goods, a socially conscious catalog company out of Brooklyn, New York, offers a host of products for baseball lovers with a green twist. Customers can get earrings, bracelets, necklaces, cuff links and pens handmade from old stadium seats from Comiskey Park, Wrigley Field and Tiger Stadium, among others. Bottle openers made from gameused Major League Baseball bats are also available. The catalog offers a host of other stylish, eco-friendly items, including wine and beer glasses made from recycled windshields, floor mats and baskets created from recycled flip-flops, recycled wine barrel items for the home and bracelets, necklaces, coasters, bowls and mirrors crafted from old vinyl records. Uncommon Goods works with the Forest Stewardship Council, working to minimize their impact on the earth’s resources by encouraging people to shop their online catalog. Those who do receive the paper catalog get a booklet made from 30 percent post-consumer recycled waste and Forest Stewardship-certified forests, which are harvested in a sustainable manner. View the Uncommon Goods catalog at uncommongoods.com.
—LAURI HARVEY KEAGLE
—LAURI HARVEY KEAGLE
photography [far left] by JOE DURK; [left and top] courtesy of UNCOMMONGOODS.COM
>> green notes <<
Jodi’s Sample Menu BEFORE
Breakfast: Two pieces wholewheat toast with low-fat peanut butter and no-sugar blueberry preserves; coffee with artificial sweetener and skim milk Morning Snack: Low-fat oatmeal raisin granola bar
>> health club <<
A Walking Miracle inMi chigan
photograph courtesy of JODI DAVIS
Even at the early age of 10, Coloma resident Jodi Davis knew she was overweight. Her family members were all thin, except for one aunt, who would be the person Jodi long blamed for her weight issues. The verbal jabs from Jodi’s grandfather regarding her weight didn’t help, either. “I ended up eating more to try to ease my pain,” she says. Throughout her teen years, Jodi continued to gain weight, despite repeated attempts at several diets. Later, she married and had three kids. Being a stayat-home mom took a toll on her waistline. Every night, after the kids went to bed, Jodi felt the need to treat herself to something indulgent and would take to snacking, particularly enjoying chips and dip. “I ended up weighing close to 300 pounds,” Jodi says. Around that time, her husband’s cousin—who was only in her early 40s—died of obesity-related heart issues. That’s when the reality of obesity struck a chord with Jodi. “When I saw her 17-year-old son crying over her casket, it hit me,” she says. “I kept thinking, ‘She has no second chance.’ I thought of my three kids crying over my casket and thought, ‘Nope. No way.’” And that’s when her journey toward weight loss began. “I knew how to eat better but this time I was going to do it the right way,” Jodi says. “No more diets.” Jodi’s plan was plain and simple. She ate three healthy meals a day, which totaled about 1,200 calories. “I didn’t journal, I didn’t count every single calorie. I just ate what was smart.” She included snacks throughout her day too, but healthy ones. “I went from chips and dip to low-fat microwave popcorn . . . I had to have something before bed every night because that was my weakness. So I had low-fat pretzels dipped in mustard.” But the main factor in Jodi’s weight loss was walking. “You know, in 25 years of dieting, I never focused on exercise,” she says. “When you’re 300 pounds, the thought of exercise is not appealing. Plus, I couldn’t afford to join a gym. But I needed
to be there for my kids, needed to put them before food. So I started walking because it was free, fun, and I could do it anywhere, anytime.” Every single day, Jodi walked a mile and a half, which took only 22 minutes, but she did walk briskly. “I used to pretend my house was burning and my kids were inside,” she says. “I know that sounds weird but my kids were my life.” That was all the motivation she needed to keep walking, usually along Paw Paw Lake in Coloma, Michigan, on the pier of Silver Beach in St. Joseph, or up the dunes. After 16 months, Jodi lost 162 pounds. “And it cost me nothing.” That’s what Jodi wishes people will learn from her story, that there is no excuse to keep one from getting fit. Can’t afford a gym? Walking is free. Snowing outside? Jodi has a treadmill now, but before that she would “crank up the music, put on my pedometer, dance, run around the room, and play with my kids. I just kept moving, kept my flow” until she walked as many steps as she would have if she had gone outside. “If it’s raining, use an umbrella. If it’s cold, put on a sweater.” Jodi is now a walking advocate for Blue Cross/ Blue Shield in Michigan, who sponsors her website, walkytalk.com. She helped one man lose 230 pounds, and she has been a guest on the Today show and Oprah.. People are attracted to her simple, nofrills weight-loss plan that has clear and visible results. “My motto is: walking works. It took me 22 minutes a day. That’s less time than a sitcom. When you have that determined feeling on the inside, it makes you walk faster.” —JULIA PERLA
Lunch: Salad with many fresh vegetables (tomatoes, green peppers, sliced mushrooms, bean sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower) and a few sunflower seeds; ranch dressing on the side (Don’t pour directly on salad.); slice of flaxseed bread (no butter) and iced tea with fresh lemon Afternoon Snack: A dozen low-fat pretzel sticks and green tea on ice Dinner: Skinless chicken breast (prepared in slowcooker) with onions, potatoes, celery, and baby carrots; spray butter and low-fat sour cream on potato for a little flavor at mealtime; ice water or green tea with dinner Evening Snack: Low-fat microwave popcorn with tall glass of water with fresh lemon
shedd aquarium gala, chicago • blue green gala, south haven • buchanan non-pareil, buchanan • american cancer society gala, merrillville • grant park music fest gala, chicago • epicurean classic, st. joseph • smooth jazz at south shore concert, michigan city • la rabida lawn fete, chicago • krasl concours, st. joseph 1
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deep blue shedd aquarium gala chicago photography by bob carl and brenna hernandez
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Shedd Aquarium’s annual gala went swimmingly, raising approximately $600,000 through the generosity of more than 750 of Chicago’s philanthropic leaders, for the aquarium’s education and conservation efforts. A highlight of the event was a tour of the newly renovated Oceanarium and a viewing of the new multi-species mammal show. 4
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1 Sonya Scott, Lewis Stevenson and Theresa Dau 2 Bill Kurtis and Donna LaPietra of Mettawa 3 James and Maxine Farrell of Lake Forest 4 Brett and Dontrey Hart of Chicago 5 Cindy Rourke of Glenview, Angie Campolo of Winnetka, Robin Doerge of Winnetka and Katie Mangan of Winnetka
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6 Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cole of Chicago 7 David and Paula Epstein of Chicago 8 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jordan of Chicago 9 Ann and Bruce Piller of Chicago
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all clicks compiled by sue bero
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sailing on
blue green gala | south haven photography courtesy of cottage home
The Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven has no worries about staying afloat, thanks to its generous supporters, 200 of whom helped to raise more than $20,000 during the recent Cottage Home Blue Green Gala, which showed how sustainable lakefront living helps â&#x20AC;&#x153;Keep it Blue by Making it Green.â&#x20AC;?
1 Cleo Miller and Elizabeth Wright of South Haven
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2 Brian Bosgraaf of Hudsonville with Patti Montgomery of Bangor 3 Cheryl Wood and Eva Ticknor 4 Guy and Barbara Calhoun of South Haven 5 Jack and Terry Caveney of Naperville 6 John Raven and Cindy Hainer of Holland
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fall flair
buchanan non-pareil | buchanan
T U M M Y
T U C K
photography by gregg rizzo
The streets of Buchanan were alive with art, jazz music by Greta Pope, shopping, dancing, life-sized scarecrows and more.
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1 Chris Kennedy and Robert Freedman, both of Buchanan 2 Deborah and Dave Musser of South Bend 3 Clark and Tracy Baugher of Buchanan
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3 Chicago’s “absolute leading surgeon” -Dr. Phil
mystery trip
american cancer society gala | merrillville photography by robert wray
The ACS gala, held at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, allowed 160 guests to sample worldly cuisine and participate in auctions.
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Go her Go e e for de d tailis
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www.ccosmediccclinic.com This procedure removes excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and tightens the abdominal muscles.
1 Margaret Taylor of Crown Point 2 Tim and Sharon Mannion of St John
This reduces a protruding abdomen. Consultation will involve a thorough discussion of the risks and benefits of the procedure as well as an exam,
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which will aid in Dr. Platis informing
Dr. Platis
210 East 86th Place | Merrillville, IN 46410 | P: 219-795-1255 58 East Walton | Chicago, IL 60611 | P: 312-377-3333 www.cosmedicclinic.com Dr. Platis has also been featured on: 20/20. NBC5 Chicago, WBBM Fox News Chicago and WGN
december 2009/january 2010
you how he will perform your procedure.
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3 Otis and Delores Cobb
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BEFORE
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strike a chord
grant park music fest gala | chicago photography by abby emo of john reilly photography
A masked ball could not hide the generosity of some 300 Grant Park Music Festival supporters, who contributed $170,000 to the organization’s efforts to bring world-class music programs to the city. They enjoyed Divertimento!—the festival’s 75th Season Gala, themed around Chicago’s Venetian Night celebration—as well as food, drink andfi reworks.
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1 Michael and Gina Domka with Danielle Day and Tony Loquercio 2 Fred Brandstrader and Jacqueline Griggs 3 Loretta and Sven Asmus
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4 Sally Jo Morris and Petro Petropoulos 5 Heather Jane Johnston and Olga Markoff 6 Eric and Arin Reeves
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foodie faves
epicurean classic | st. joseph photography by gregg rizzo
The 6th Annual Epicurean Classic moved to a new home in St. Joseph this year from Traverse City and accomplished its mission of showcasing the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agricultural products, artisanal foods, wine and beers along with celebrity chefs and food lovers. A portion of the proceeds go to the fight against breast cancer.
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1 Brooke and Ed Stubelt of Stevensville
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2 Gail and Randy Lueth of St. Joseph 3 Jonathon Schuler of Los Angeles with Jessica Schuler of Kalamazoo 4 Melody Prather and Chris McQuillan, both of St. Joseph 5 Marie Chantal Dalese of Traverse City with Elizabeth Fogarty of Chicago
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6 Tyanna Weller of St. Joseph with Kevin McCray of South Bend
PRESENTED BY VALPARAISO COMMUNITY FESTIVALS & EVENTS AND THE MEMORIAL OPERA HOUSE
SPIDER SALOFF
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h liday jazz CONCERT
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7:30 pm Thursday, December 10 MEMORIAL OPERA HOUSE 104 INDIANA AVE, VALPARAISO
Memorial Opera House Box Office 219-548-9137 mohlive.com
december 2009/january 2010
TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR $20:
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jazz attack
smooth jazz at south shore concert michigan city photography by gregg rizzo
One of the Midwestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top jazz events offered a cool night of entertainment, a serene view of the lake and most importantly, a boost to three area charities. Michigan Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Smooth Jazz concert drew some 3,000 guests to the Washington Park shoreline. Featured were performers Rick Braun, Richard Elliott and Jonathon Butler.
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1 Jeff and Maggie Schwartz of Elkhart 2 Kathy Budak of Michigan City with Pat Williams and Liz Hapke of LaPorte 3 Rick Braun 4 Patrick Webb of LaPorte and Maria Sackett of Fortaleza, Brazil 5 Mary Ryan of Munster and Gail Dedrick of Schererville 6 Kathleen Ann of LaPorte and Dennis Michael of Lowell 7 Naoko Mazanoy and Kevin Kaminskas of LaPorte
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lace and pearls la rabida lawn fete | chicago photography courtesy of la rabida
The popular annual fundraiser for La Rabida Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital featured fashion, music and food by famous Chicago chefs.
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1 Chef David Siano and Chef Don Zajac 2 Dee Robinson Reid, Fred Siegman and Brenda Wolf 3 Jean Ann Cronin with Daniel and Susan Real
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classic event krasl concours | st joseph photography by gregg rizzo
Krasl members and car enthusiasts enjoyed cocktails and appetizers amid the 80-plus classic cars and motorcycles on display.
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1 Al and Barb Brotherton of Lansing, Mich. 2 Linda Gorman and Joe Abela of Livonia 3 Tom and Donna Tuls of Holland
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special advertising section
essential EVENTS
HAPPENINGS HAPPENINGS 52 EXHIBITIONS 46 EXHIBITIONS 55 47 FILM 56 PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE 48 INTEREST 56 50 INTEREST 58
Nov 18-Jan 3 Christmas and Holiday Traditions around the World Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park 1000 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids. 888.957.1580. meijergardens.org
This annual celebration includes more than 40 international trees, 300,000 lights, tantalizing ethnic cuisine, live entertainment, horse-drawn carriage rides, luminaries, Santa and more. Returning this year is a 50-piece Santon display from France, along with three festive displays honoring Chinese New Year, the Muslim celebration of Eid ul-Fitr, and the unique illumination traditions from the Philippines known as Parols.
CALENDAR COMPILED BY JULI DOSHAN
happenings Indiana
Nov 14-15 Holiday Home Tour, 11am-5pm Sat, 1-5pm Sun, Michigan City. 219.872.4499. michianahumanesociety.com. Get in the early holiday spirit with refreshments, wine tasting and raffles at this holiday home tour. Local florists, designers and homeowners provide beautiful holiday décor in seven private beach-area homes and for a selfguided tour. Nov 21 8th Annual Holiday Shopping Spree & Craft Show, 10am-3pm, Kahler Middle School, 600 Joliet St, Dyer. 219.865.2505. townofdyer.com. This show offers the perfect way to do some holiday shopping with over 100 venders, while avoiding the mad rush at the mall. Past vendors have included Avon, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Mary Kay and the Longaberger Company. Nov 28 Christmas Craft Show, 2100 Willowcreek Rd, Portage. 219.762.1675. Christmas décor, handmade wearable art, unique holiday gifts, jewelry and pottery will be available at one of the finest craft shows in the area. Children can visit with Santa and attend a Christmas jewelry class. Admission is free but canned good items for the Portage Food Pantry will be accepted.
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Dec 4 Holly Days and Live Nativity, 5-7pm, downtown Valparaiso. popcornfest.org. Valparaiso commences its holiday season with this free family event, which offers caroling, a live nativity scene, hot refreshments, carriage rides, holiday shopping and Santa riding into town on a fire truck. Dec 5 Hammond Holiday Parade, 10am, parade starts at Gavit High School, 1670 175th St, Hammond. 219.853.6378. gohammond.com. Kick off the holiday season by watching or participating in this fun event that features the Jesse White Tumblers and area high school bands. Call or visit the website
for parade route and to register to participate. Nov 20: Entry deadline. Dec 5 Holiday Art Walk, 11am-5pm, downtown South Bend. 574.233.8400. circaartsgallery.com. Visitors can immerse themselves in a creative urban shopping experience as they explore ten galleries on the Colfax Avenue and Lincoln Way West Arts Corridors. Dec 5 Washington Park Official Holiday Lighting Ceremony, 4-6pm, Washington Park, 6 on the Lake, Michigan City. 219.873.1506. michigancityparks.com. With more than five million bulbs, this holiday tradition is the largest free drivethrough light exhibition in the Midwest. Dec 5-6 Christmas Candlelight Tour of Historic Homes, 4-8pm Sat, 1-5pm Sun, downtown LaPorte. 219.324.5087. visitlaportecounty.com. Beautiful holiday décor, created by area florists and designers, is on elegant display at this tour of private homes in LaPorte’s historic district. The event also includes a carriage ride, musical entertainment and refreshments. Dec 6 Sinai Forum, Elston Middle School, 317 Detroit St, Michigan City. 219.785.5697. sinaiforum. org. This organization has been presenting its annual series of relevant and compelling speakers for more than 50 years. The final presentation of this season is called “Creativity and Risk Taking” and will be given by legendary dancer, choreographer and author Twyla Tharp. Dec 12 Winter Market, 11am-9pm, Crown Point Civic Center, 101 S East St, Crown Point. 219.662.3290. This brand new event, an offshoot of the Annual Farmers’ Market, offers holiday crafts, homemade jams and food items, seasonal coffees, local honey, artisan soaps and more. Visitors will be able to view festive decorations and lights in Crown Point aboard a trolley ride, which begins at dusk.
Dec 13 Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis, 8am registration, Purdue University Calumet, FRC Building, 2300 173rd St, Hammond. 312.372.2080. hammondjinglebellrun.kintera.org. A 5K course will greet runners and walkers young and old at this special holiday event. Participants can tie jingle bells to their shoelaces, wear festive costumes and join in the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to prevent, control and cure arthritis in the true spirit of giving. This year’s race will honor 14-year-old twins Brandie and Brianna Lorenzen, who have been living with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis for most of their lives. Jan 23 7th Annual Gardening Show, 9am-4pm, Porter County Expo Center, 215 E Division Rd, Valparaiso. 219.465.3555 ext 21. pcgarden.info. Sponsored by the Porter County Master Gardeners Association, this show features presentations by regional and local gardening experts, a seed and bulb exchange, a gardening photo contest, a juried plant show, more than 50 exhibitors and vendors of gardening products, and more.
Michigan
Nov 21-Dec 13 Mistletoe Market, South Haven Center for the Arts, 600 Phoenix St, South Haven. 269.637.1041. southhaven.org. More than 50 local artists will provide their homemade, one-of-a-kind creations at this market, which will feature greeting cards, jewelry, pottery and photography. Nov 27 Saugatuck’s Sparkle 2009, 7pm, Wick’s Park Gazebo, Water St, Saugatuck. 269.857.2613. saugatuck.com. Saugatuck’s holiday season kicks off as more than 500,000 lights are illuminated in this annual ceremony. Attendees look forward to visits with Santa, free refreshments and the sounds of carolers at this festive event. Nov 28 Downtown Holiday Homecoming, downtown Niles. 269.687.4332. nilesmainstreet.org. Watch the lighting of the tree and enjoy carriage
photograph by WILLIAM J. HEBERT
The information presented in Essential Events is accurate as of press time, but readers are encouraged to call ahead to verify the dates and times. Please note that Illinois and most Indiana events adhere to central time, and Michigan events are eastern time.
Nov 30 Luminary Festival, dusk-9pm, downtown St. Joseph. sjtoday.org. Downtown St. Joseph is aglow with the holiday spirit as 800 luminaries adorn the area. Shoppers may take advantage of seasonal activities, such as free horsedrawn trolley rides, holiday musical entertainment and refreshments from downtown merchants. Dec 5 Reindog Holiday Parade, noon, downtown St. Joseph. sjtoday.org. This unique Christmas parade—complete with bands, carolers and whimsical floats—will bring a smile to spectators’ faces, as costumed pets and their owners escort Santa into town. Dec 31 2009 New Year’s Eve Parties, Amway Grand Plaza, 187 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids. 616.744.2000. amwaygrand.com. JW Marriott, 235 Louis Campau NW, Grand Rapids. 616.242.1479. ilovethejw.com. A joint New Year’s Eve party is taking place at two Grand Rapids hotels—the Amway Grand and the JW Marriott. Guests of either of these hotels—or the Downtown Courtyard—have access to both parties. Amway Grand’s party is of the classic variety, while the JW Marriott hosts an ’80s theme. Jan 15-17 6th Annual Hunter Ice Festival, downtown Niles. 269.687.4332. nilesmainstreet.org. This popular event pays tribute to the Hunter Brothers Ice and Ice Cream Company. The festival features ice sculptures, world-class ice-carvers, an ice creamtasting tent, kids’ activities and more.
Illinois
Nov 26 State Street Thanksgiving Day Parade, 8-11am, State St from Randolph to Congress, Chicago. chicagofestivals.org. More than 400,000 visitors are expected to line the route for this annual televised event, which features marching bands, equestrian units, floats, performance groups, celebrities and everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving parade staple: enormous helium balloons.
Dec 31 New Beginnings 2010 Bash, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 2233 S Martin Luther King Dr, Chicago. 312.567.1234. mccormickplace.hyatt. com. Make a new kind of resolution on New Year’s Eve at this unique, recordbreaking event, which will feature the world’s largest gathering of couples renewing their commitments to each other. Throughout the night, guests and their families will be treated to dinner, dancing, the renewal ceremony and a New Year’s Eve toast. Jan 13-17 Chicago Boat, RV & Outdoors Show, 2-9pm Wed, 11am9pm Thu-Fri, 10am-9pm Sat, 10am5pm Sun, McCormick Place—North Building, 2301 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. chicagoboatshow.com. Now in its 80th year, the largest show in the Midwest features more than 350,000 square feet of the latest models and accessories. Highlights include a Power Boat Docking Challenge, a 40-foot-long Texas Bass Tank, Discover Boating Center, Huck Finn Trout Pond for children and an accessories pavilion. Jan 28-31 15th Annual Strictly Sail Chicago, 11am-8pm Thu-Fri, 9am-7pm Sat, 9am-4pm Sun, Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago. 312.595.5700. strictlysail.com. More than 20,000 sailing enthusiasts are expected at the largest indoor sailboat show in the country, which features the latest sailboats, gear and accessories, as well as seminars, interactive displays and special events.
exhibitions Indiana
Through Nov 17 Anne Frank—A Private Photo Album, Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 101 W 2nd St, Michigan City. 219.874.4900. lubeznikcenter.org. Featuring photographs taken by Otto Frank, this traveling exhibit gives viewers an opportunity to see rare glimpses of the Frank family and their struggles to survive the Holocaust. Also, Nov 21-Jan 10: Permanent Collection of Prints. Jan 4-Mar 7 Markings—Koo Kyung Sook, Snite Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame. 574.631.5466. nd.edu/~sniteart. The work of Korean artist Koo Kyung Sook comes to the Snite Museum of Art, showing off his markings on mulberry paper. The set of six prints was made by applying photographic developing solution over photographic paper, and then the artist lying atop the fabric. The movement of Sook’s body then made unique impressions. Also, Jan 17-Feb 28: The World of Piranesi.
Michigan
Through Jan 3 Lynn Chadwick—In Contact, Frederik Meijer Gardens
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Winter Wonderland: Peppermint Relief Scalp Therapy, Reflexology Foot Treatment, Warm Stone Massage, and Peppermint Mocha & Lunch
per person reg. $205.00 for $155.00
Mistletoe Kisses: 2-Peppermint Mocha Wraps, 2-Candy Cane Soaks, 2-1 Hour Massages, and Peppermint Mochas & Lunch per couple reg. $349.00 for $299.00
Bring Joy: 1 Hour Massage, Custom Blended Facial, Warm Stone Pedicure, and Peppermint Mocha & Lunch per couple reg. $200.00 for $150.00
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For advertising opportunities contact: Munster office 219-933-3200 Crown Point office 219-662-5300 Valparaiso office 219-462-5151
DECEMBER 2009/JANUARY 2010
Dec 3-6 One of a Kind Show and Sale, noon-9pm Thu, 11am9pm Fri, 10am-7pm Sat, 10am-5pm Sun, 8th Floor, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago. 800.677.6728. oneofakindshowchicago.com. Chicago’s most exciting holiday shopping show and fine art and craft festival, the One of a Kind Show features original work from more than 500 juried artists and artisans from across North America. Works include unique paintings, sculptures, glass works, photography, ceramics,
Dec 12, 19 Victorian Christmas Tour, 9-11am, Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, 951 Chicago Ave, Oak Park. 708.848.1976. gowright.org. As part of the Family Fun Day events, Victorian Christmas Tours highlight the beautifully decorated Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio and the 12-foot Christmas tree that adorns Wright’s famous playroom. Following the tour, visitors are invited to enjoy the festive ambience with music and free hot chocolate.
Our Christmas Gift To You:
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Nov 28 Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony, parade 12:30pm; Santa 1-3pm; Tree lighting 6:30pm, New Buffalo. newbuffalo.com. The Holiday Parade with Santa begins at Harbor Grand, travels down Whittaker Street with floats created by residents and businesses, and ends at the New Buffalo Fire Station. After the parade, children can see Santa. The tree lighting ceremony, with caroling and hot chocolate, takes place at the corner of Whittaker and Mechanic Streets as luminaries decorated by New Buffalo Elementary and St. Mary of the Lake School students light up the streets.
jewelry, wearable art and furniture. All proceeds from ticket sales on Thursday benefit Children’s Memorial Hospital.
destination: VALPARAISO/LAPORTE
rides, entertainment and shopping as the city of Niles celebrates the beginning of the holiday season. Nov 21: Decorate Downtown.
essential EVENTS & Sculpture Park, 1000 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids. 888.957.1580. meijergardens.org. The first American retrospective exhibition of British sculptor Lynn Chadwick is only in Grand Rapids. Featuring more than 40 sculptures and five lithographs, Chadwick’s lifetime of work displays a fascinating evolution of personal images through a powerful series of abstracted human figures, animals, birds and imaginary beasts. Also, through Jan 3: Henry Moore—Master Printmaker. Through Jan 10 Speed Bump—The Comic World of Dave Coverly, Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts, 314 S Park St, Kalamazoo. 269.349.7775. kiarts. org. Original daily and Sunday “Speed Bump” cartoons from Dave Coverly reveal the truths of human experience, from the workplace to family life and beyond. Also on view at this free exhibit will be illustrations from fellow Ann Arbor resident Jim Tobin. Nov 22-Jan 1 Focus on the Figure— Flatwork by Leslie Adams and Sculpture by Multiple Artists, Dar Davis Gallery & Gallery II, Krasl Art Center, 707 Lake Blvd, St. Joseph. 269.983.0271. krasl. org. Leslie Adams’s renowned portraits of women will be on display. Known for her ability to capture each woman’s individual personality, Adams will show her new paintings and charcoal drawings alongside sculptures from Michigan artists.
Illinois
Through Dec 19 With Malice Toward None—The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition, The Newberry Library, 60 W Walton St, Chicago. 312.943.9090. newberry.org. To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the Library of Congress has created this exhibition to allow the public a glimpse of some rare Lincoln artifacts. Letters, books, photographs and speeches combine to chart Lincoln’s growth from a prairie statesman to the 16th president of the United States. Also, through Feb 15: Honest Abe of the West. Through Jan 3 Playing with Pictures— The Art of Victorian Photocollage, Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago. 317.443.3600. artic.edu/ aic. This exhibit will look at the history of the Victorian photocollage. These compositions, made with photographs and watercolor paints, had a unique flare for their time, and continue to show forwardthinking imaginations today. Also, through Jan 3: James Castle—A Retrospective; Nov 7-Jan 31: Apostles of Beauty—Arts and Crafts from Britain to Chicago.
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Through Feb 14 Italics—Italian Art between Tradition and Revolution, 1968-2008, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago. 312.280.2660. mcachicago.org. This ground-breaking exhibition strives to examine the revolutionary art production and experimentation of more than 80 artists who have worked to create thoughtprovoking dialogues across generations and cultures. Also, through Jan 10: Liam Gillick—Three perspectives and a short scenario; through Jan 31: Daria Martin— Minotaur. Through Mar 28 The Nature of Diamonds, The Field Museum, 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. 312.922.9410. fieldmuseum.org. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but men and women alike will be able to examine the unique properties of this gem in its natural state. Ancient
manuscripts, compelling multimedia and evocative exhibits will help visitors explore the many facets of diamonds and be dazzled by breathtaking pieces from Cartier, Fulco di Vedura and works from Tiffany & Co. designed by Frank Gehry and Elsa Peretti. Also, through Feb 28: Bunce Island—A British Slave Castle in Sierra Leone.
performance Indiana
Blue Chip Casino, 777 Blue Chip Dr, Michigan City. 219.879.7711, 888.879.7711. bluechipcasino.com. The Stardust Event Center at Blue Chip Casino, with its 1,200 seating capacity, is perfect for concerts and theater productions, while its two lounges showcase local bands and performers from across the country in a more relaxed, casual environment. Dec 12: Wynonna—A Classic Christmas Tour. Chicago Street Theater, 154 W Chicago St, Valparaiso. 219.464.1636. ctgonline. org. Now in its 55th season of bringing live theatrical entertainment to the greater Northwest Indiana region, the CST presents a variety of plays and musicals each season, in addition to regularly scheduled theater classes for both adults and children. Nov 20-Dec 6: Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka. DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Campus. 574.631.2800. performingarts. nd.edu. The state-of-the-art, 150,000-square-foot facility, newly opened in 2004, is host to some of the world’s most celebrated artists. In addition, its stages showcase student, faculty and community performers, as well as the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, Southold Dance, the Notre Dame Symphony, the South Bend Civic Theatre, and more. Nov 18-20: Flamenco Vivo!; Nov 22: Stefon Harris and Blackout; Dec 6: Boston Brass—A Stan Kenton Christmas; Jan 21-23: L.A. Theatre Works presents The RFK Project. Footlight Players, 1705 Franklin St, Michigan City. 219.874.4035. footlightplayers.org. This community theater group has been entertaining audiences in Michigan City for more than 50 years with its productions of dramas, comedies and musicals. Dec 4-6, 10-13: Greetings! Horseshoe Casino, 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond. 866.711.7463. horseshoehammond.com. World-class gambling and top-name entertainment combine to create an unprecedented experience at this 350,000-squarefoot casino. The Venue, the casino’s 90,000-square-foot entertainment facility, hosts some of the hottest Chicagoland entertainment. Nov 21: Notis Sfakianakis; Nov 26: Bosco Wong and Ella Koon; Dec 3: Flo Rida; Dec 5: Bob Saget; Dec 18: Boney James. The Memorial Opera House, 104 E Indiana Ave, Valparaiso. 219.548.9137. memorialoperahouse.com. As the name suggests, this renovated, 364-seat building—with red, white and blue stained-glass windows—was built as a living memorial to the Civil War veterans of Porter County. Built in 1893, the theater has a rich history as a venue for musical and dramatic performances, including appearances by John Philip Sousa and the Marx Brothers. Dec 4-6, 11-13, 18-20: Scrooge, The Musical. The Morris Performing Arts Center, 211
N Michigan St, South Bend. 574.235.9190, 800.537.6415. morriscenter.org. The home of the Broadway Theatre League, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and the Southold Dance Theater, the 2,560seat Morris Performing Arts Center has enraptured audiences in the heart of downtown South Bend for more than 75 years. Nov 20: Bob and Tom Comedy All-Stars; Dec 5-6: South Bend Symphony Orchestra presents “Home for the Holidays”; Dec 12-13: Southold Dance Theater, The Nutcracker; Dec 18: Jerry Seinfeld; Jan 9: South Bend Symphony Orchestra presents “Scottish Fantasy”; Jan 29-30: The Drowsy Chaperone. Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, various venues, 219.836.0525. nwisymphony.org. Conducted by the charismatic Kirk Muspratt, this professional orchestra performs concerts that range in atmosphere from the whimsical pops series to the edifying and inspirational maestro series, many of which offer pre-concert discussions with the conductor an hour before the concert. Nov 29: Sing-Along Messiah; Dec 10: Holiday Pops. Star Plaza Theatre, I-65 & US 30, Merrillville. 219.769.6600. starplazatheatre.com. With 3,400 seats arranged in two intimate seating levels, the theater consistently hosts premier performers year-round. With its convenient location in the heart of Northwest Indiana’s shopping and dining district and its proximity to the adjoining Radisson Hotel, the Star Plaza offers a total entertainment package to area theatergoers. Nov 27: George Jones; Dec 2-3: Indiana Ballet Theater presents The Nutcracker; Dec 4: Darius Rucker; Dec 5: Patti LaBelle; Dec 6: Julio Iglesias; Dec 11: Will Downing and Jeffrey Osborne; Dec 13: The Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Show; Dec 31: Damon Williams’s New Year’s Eve Comedy Bash; Jan 30: Salute to the 60s. The Theatre at the Center, Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.3255. theatreatthecenter.com. This theater, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago, has the distinction of being the only professional equity theater in Northwest Indiana, and showcases the artistry of professional actors, musicians and designers from throughout the Midwest. Through Dec 20: The Christmas Schooner. Towle Community Theater, 5205 Hohman Ave, Hammond. 219.937.8780. towletheater.org. To honor its mission of nurturing and celebrating local talent in the arts, the Towle Community Theater presents exhibitions, theatrical productions and musical performances in the heart of downtown Hammond. Nov 27-29, Dec 4-6, 11-13: Fabulous 50s Christmas.
Michigan
The Acorn Theater, 6 N Elm St, Three Oaks. 269.756.3879. acorntheater.com. The 250-seat Acorn is home to a carefully reconstructed, rare Barton Theater Pipe Organ and boasts bistro tables and occasionally offbeat entertainment options. Nov 20-21: James Lee Stanley and Pamela Stanley; Nov 28: Katie Todd Band; Dec 11: Sam Stryke Christmas jazz trio; Dec 12: Tom Wopat; Dec 19: Christmas at the Acorn. Box Factory for the Arts, 1101 Broad St, St. Joseph. 269.983.3688. boxfactoryforthearts.org. The Berrien Artist Guild has converted an old box factory into a multidisciplinary arts resource, housing galleries, studios, an art shop and a café.
Visitors also can take advantage of the Box Factory as an entertainment venue, attending stage performances by singers, musicians, poets and actors. Nov 21: Bryan Lubeck; Nov 28: Anne Hills; Dec 5: Mark Ficks and Ten Minute Warm-Up; Dec 12: Fiddler’s Congress; Dec 19: Mr. Edd. Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids. 616.454.9451 ext 4. grsymphony.org. Recognized as one of America’s leading regional orchestras, this Grammy-nominated symphony provides the orchestra for Opera Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Ballet Company. The orchestra’s eight concert series with performances designed for young children through adults feature a wide range of repertoire. Nov 20-21: Thanksgiving Spirit; Dec 3-6: Fifth Third Holiday Pops; Dec 22: A Celtic Christmas with Cherish the Ladies; Dec 31: Behind the Mask—Rotary New Year’s Eve Concert; Jan 8-9: Scottish Visions; Jan 15-17: Ann Hampton Callaway Sings the American Songbook; Jan 28-30: Voices of Light. The Howard Performing Arts Center, Andrews University, Berrien Springs. 269.471.3560. howard.andrews.edu. This $14 million acoustically superior auditorium provides a spectacular performance venue for university orchestras and choirs, community music groups and visiting musicians. Nov 21: Symphony Orchestra Concert; Dec 4: Welcome Christmas; Dec 13: Old Fashioned Carol Sing; Jan 30: Jaci Velasquez. Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, various venues. 269.349.7759. kalamazoosymphony.com. Founded in 1921, this outstanding ensemble entertains the Kalamazoo area with a classical subscription series, annual holiday presentations, chamber orchestra concerts, free summer park concerts and various educational programs. Nov 20: Sacred Seasons; Dec 12-13: The Nutcracker; Jan 16: Tchaikovsky’s Fifth; Jan 29-30: Winter Evening. The Livery, 190 5th St, Benton Harbor. 269.925.8760. liverybrew.com. As its name suggests, the Livery is a former horse stable, residing in the Arts District of downtown Benton Harbor. Not content to just offer its twelve taps of microbrew, an outdoor beer garden, an appetizing soup and sandwich menu, and a coffee bar, the Livery is also a venue for an eclectic variety of musical performances. Nov 20: Harper; Nov 25: Greensky Bluegrass. Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St, Saugatuck. 269.857.2399. sc4a.org. This not-for-profit arts center hosts high-quality arts programming year-round. Activities and events include art exhibits, classes and workshops for adults and children, and both intimate smaller performances for up to 50 people in their performance studio and larger performances in the Bertha Krueger Raid Theatre. With 412 seats arranged in only 13 rows, it retains the intimacy of a small venue. Nov 28: Thanksgiving Comedy Break with the Bawdy Bard!; Dec 12: Swinging the Holidays with Edye EvansHyde. Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, various venues. 269.982.4030. smso.org. This versatile orchestra offers a traditional Mendel Mainstage Series, small ensemble works in the Around Town Series, and the Performing Artists series, which showcases a wide range of styles with guest artists. Dec 12: Amahl and the Night Visitors; Dec 31: A Tribute to Benny
West Michigan Symphony, Frauenthal Center for Performing Arts, 425 W Western Ave, Muskegon. 231.727.8001. westmichigansymphony.org. With eight pairs of concerts a year, the West Michigan Symphony has played a leading role in the region’s cultural community for almost 70 years. It has helped bring a renewed vitality and life to the center of Muskegon and with it, the historic Frauenthal Theater, a 1,729-seat venue with extraordinary beauty, excellent acoustics and sight lines. Nov 20-21: ¡FIESTA!—Lighting Fire with Fire; Dec 1112: Holiday Pops—Yuletide Spectacular.
Illinois
Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E Parkway, Chicago. 312.902.1500. auditoriumtheatre.org. A National Historic Landmark and a mainstay of Chicago architecture and theater since 1889, the Auditorium continues to provide unparalleled ballet performances and a variety of artistic productions. Nov 20-21: Handel’s Messiah Rocks; Nov 24-29: The Ten Tenors; Dec 4: Miracle Near State Street 11—The Fray; Dec 11-27: Robert Joffrey’s The Nutcracker; Jan 16-17: Too Hot to Handel—The Jazz-Gospel Messiah; Jan 19-24: Annie. The Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W 111th St, Chicago. 773.445.3838. beverlyartcenter.org. Founded in 1967, this institution has enjoyed more than 30 years of exposing Chicago’s South and Southwest Sides to a comprehensive program of cultural enrichment, including the performing arts, education, film and fine-art exhibitions. The center recently moved into a new, 40,000-square-foot facility, an arts complex that houses a 410-seat mainstage, a dance studio, art gallery, classrooms, café and gift shop. Nov 25: Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater and the Smiley Tillman Band; Nov 28: The Buckinghams Christmas Show; Dec 19, 26: Dysfunctional Holiday Revue; Dec 20: A White Christmas Holiday Revue; Dec 31: New Year’s Eve Bash.
Centre East, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie. 847.679.9501. centreeast.org. The Centre East presents an outstandingly diverse selection of multi-genre entertainment for audiences of all ages in its state-of-the-art facility. Dec 12-13: The Civic Ballet’s The Nutcracker; Dec 19: The Klezmatics Woody Guthrie’s Happy Joyous Hanukkah!; Dec 26: Aga-Boom; Jan 21-24: The Capitol Steps; Jan 30: Bob Woodward. Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, 800 E Grand Ave, Chicago. 312.595.5600. chicagoshakes.com. Prominently located on Navy Pier in Chicago, this venue mounts renowned productions of the plays of William Shakespeare, as well as works from distinguished American and international playwrights and directors. The theater’s mission to reach out to younger audiences is well accomplished with its offerings of children’s productions and student matinees. The architecturally dynamic structure, new in 1999, houses both an engaging, 500-seat courtyard theater and a 200-seat black box theater. Through Nov 22: Richard III; Jan 6-Mar 7: Private Lives; Jan 23-Mar 7: Short Shakespeare. Chicago Sinfonietta, Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 2205 S Michigan Ave, Chicago. chicagosinfonietta.org. In its pursuit of “Musical Excellence through Diversity,” the Chicago Sinfonietta—the official orchestra of the Joffrey Ballet— presents compelling, innovative works, often by composers and soloists of color. Dec 16: Holiday Concert; Jan 17-18: A Dream Unfolds—Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Chicago Theatre, 175 N State St, Chicago. 312.462.6300. thechicagotheatre.com. The Chicago Theatre has been a prototype for area theaters since 1921. With its lavish architecture and an elegant stage, the Chicago Theatre seats 3,600 and stands seven stories high. Nov 19-Jan 3: Banana Shpeel—A New Twist on Vaudeville by Cirque du Soleil. Court Theatre, 5535 S Ellis Ave, Chicago. 773.753.4472. courttheatre. org. The Court Theatre is a not-for-profit, professional regional theater that is located on the campus of the University of Chicago. Its mission to “discover the power of classic theater” is realized in its intimate, 251-seat auditorium. Through Dec 13: The Mystery of Irma Vep; Jan 14Feb 14: The Year of Magical Thinking. The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, 1306 S Michigan Ave, Chicago. 312.344.8300. colum.edu/ dance_center. One of Chicago’s leading showcases for national and international contemporary dance, and home of Chicago’s longest-running modern dance company, the Dance Center also focuses on challenging Chicago and the Midwest with guest artists, instruction
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DECEMBER 2009/JANUARY 2010
Broadway in Chicago, various venues, Chicago. 800.775.2000. broadwayinchicago.com. A joint venture between the two largest commercial theater producers and owner/operators in the U.S., Broadway in Chicago offers the finest of professional stage productions in multiple theaters, all residing in Chicago’s lively Loop. Auditorium Theatre, 50 E Parkway. Jan 19-24: Annie. Bank of America Theatre, 18 W Monroe. Through Jan 10: Jersey Boys. Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W Randolph. Through Dec 13: Young Frankenstein; Dec 15-Jan 3: In the Heights; Jan 19-31: Dreamgirls. Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre, 24 W Randolph. Through Jan 10: The Addams Family. Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N River Rd, Rosemont. Jan 19-24: Mamma Mia!
The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University, 1 University Pkwy, University Park. 708.235.2222. centertickets.net. The Center for Performing Arts is celebrating 11 years of promoting cultural enhancement on the South Side of Chicago through world-class performing arts productions and arts education. Dec 12: Salt Creek Ballet in The Nutcracker; Jan 17: Teatro Lirico D’Europa presents Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus; Jan 23: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago; Jan 30: Harmonious Wail.
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Van Andel Arena, 130 W Fulton, Grand Rapids. 616.742.6600. vanandelarena. com. Ranked second on Billboard Magazine’s 2003 Top 10 Arena Venues for its size, this $75 million 12,000-plus capacity arena offers world-class family shows, concerts and sporting events to the increasingly popular Grand Rapids area. Nov 23: Radio City Christmas Spectacular; Jan 2: Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
destination: HOMEWOOD
Goodman; Jan 15: Peter Soave.
essential EVENTS and community outreach. Jan 22-23: Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan.
New Year’s Eve Gala 2010; Jan 2: The Fab Four.
Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place, 175 E Chestnut St, Chicago. 312.642.2000. drurylanewatertower.com. This newly built venue offers state-of-theart entertainment in a 549-seat auditorium. Committed to producing the finest plays and musicals from Broadway and beyond, Drury Lane is also located in the midst of the shopping, sightseeing and nightlife of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile to give visitors a full city experience. Through Dec 6: Beethoven, As I Knew Him; Nov 22-Dec 14: Peter Gallagher—Don’t Give Up On Me; Dec 9-20: Monsieur Chopin; Dec 23-30: George Gershwin Alone; Dec 31: The Great American Sing-Along.
Pegasus Players Theater, 1145 W Wilson Ave, Chicago. 773.878.9761. pegasusplayers.org. Located in one of Chicago’s most historical entertainment destinations, this not-for-profit theatre company strives to produce the highest quality artistic work and to provide exemplary theatre, entertainment and arts education at no charge to people who have little or no access to the arts. Through Nov 22: Ten Square; Jan 7-31: The 24th Annual Young Playwrights Festival.
The Goodman Theatre, 170 N Dearborn St, Chicago. 312.443.3800. goodmantheatre.org. Since 1925, the Goodman Theatre has provided entertainment to the Chicago area; however, a new, state-of-the-art twotheater complex was completed in 2000— 75 years to the day after the dedication of the original—and resides in the vibrant North Loop Theater District within walking distance of fine hotels and restaurants. Through Nov 29: High Holidays; Nov 20Dec 31: A Christmas Carol; Dec 11-20: New Stage Series; Jan 16-Feb 24: Hughie/ Krapp’s Last Tape. Harris Theater, 205 E Randolph, Chicago. 312.704.8414. harristheaterchicago.org. Now in its fifth season at its home in the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, this modern state-of-theart theater guarantees that the audience will enjoy a wide variety of performances in an intimate setting. Nov 19-21: Chicago Human Rhythm Project; Nov 23: Twice through the Heart; Nov 28: Thodos Dance Chicago featuring “Fosse Trilogy”; Dec 3-6: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Winter Series; Dec 9: Holiday Pops; Dec 17: The Lakeside Singers—In the Frosty Air; Dec 20: The Apollo Chorus of Chicago—Messiah. Lyric Opera of Chicago, Civic Opera House, Madison & Wacker, Chicago. 312.332.244 ext 5600. lyricopera.org. The world-class Lyric Opera enraptures audiences with its spectacular artistry, performing in one of the most unique theaters in the world. The recently refurbished Civic Open House not only is an elaborate treasure on the inside, but it is architecturally distinctive as well, shaped like a throne facing the Chicago River. Through Nov 23: Ernani; Nov 22-Dec 12: Katya Kabanová; Dec 5-Jan 16: The Merry Widow; Jan 10-29: Tosca; Jan 23-Feb 22: The Elixir of Love. Oracle Theater, 3809 N Broadway, Chicago. 773.244.2980. oracletheater. org. This totally revamped theater strives to provide physically compelling and conceptually innovative productions. By weaving media through their performances, Oracle artists are committed to helping the audience explore and discover through original theatricality and collaboration. Jan 23-Mar 6: The Castle.
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The Paramount Theatre, 23 E Galena Blvd, Aurora. 630.896.6666. paramountarts.com. The Paramount Theatre is an opulent historical landmark that boasts superior acoustics and luxurious seating, and offers an array of celebrity entertainers, world-class Broadway shows, challenging cutting-edge performances, and respected comedians. Nov 27-28: The Wizard of Oz; Dec 5: The Nutcracker; Dec 6-7: A Christmas Carol; Dec 19: American Stars in Concert for the Holidays; Dec 31:
Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E Main St, St Charles. 630.584.6342. pheasantrun.com. Acclaimed throughout Chicago and the Midwest for its entertainment, Pheasant Run Resort features theater at its new Mainstage and Studio theaters, comedy at Zanies Comedy Club, and live music, entertainment, art exhibits and shopping at its own version of Bourbon Street. Through Dec 27: Plaid Tidings; Nov 20: Kevin Nealon; Dec 31-Jan 1: New Year’s Eve Celebration. ShawChicago, 1016 N Dearborn, Chicago. 312.587.7390. shawchicago.org. This non-profit theater company’s mission is to present the plays of George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries at no cost to its audience. Dec 18-21: Mid-Winter’s Tales ’09. Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N Halsted, Chicago. 312.335.1650. steppenwolf.org. The Chicago-based cast—recently joined by William Petersen—is an internationally renowned group of 42 artists, committed to the art of ensemble collaboration. Now in its 34th season, Steppenwolf continues to fulfill its mission by offering intriguing performances and taking artistic risks. Dec 3-Feb 7: American Buffalo; Jan 21-May 23: The Brother/Sister Plays. Victory Gardens Theater, various venues. 773.871.3000. victorygardens.org. As one of the country’s most respected midsized professional theater companies, this Tony Award-winning theater is dedicated to serving playwrights and producing world premiere plays. Programs include five mainstage productions with emphasis placed on the development of an ethnically and culturally diverse community of arts. Dec 2-27: The Snow Queen; Jan 22-Feb 28: Blue Door.
interest Indiana
The Brauer Museum of Art, Valparaiso University, US 30 & Sturdy Rd, Valparaiso. 219.464.5365. valpo.edu. Located in the interdisciplinary VU Center for the Arts, this gem of a museum holds a significant collection of 19th- and 20thcentury American art—including works by Frederic Edwin Church and Georgia O’Keeffe—as well as art of world religions and Midwest regional art. It is home to the largest known exhibit of Hudson River School painter Junius R. Sloan, and hosted a retrospective exhibit of paintings by pioneer Indiana Dunes painter Frank V. Dudley in 2006. The Snite Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Campus. 574.631.5466. nd.edu/~sniteart. Widely considered one of the top university art museums in the U.S., the Snite Museum holds more than 21,000 works representing a wide range of world art history periods. Among the exceptional pieces are a collection of Rembrandt
etchings and an exhibit of Northern Native American Art. Educational community outreach is a focus of this university museum, and is accomplished through workshops, tours and a docent program. The South Bend Regional Museum of Art, 120 S St. Joseph St, South Bend. 574.235.9102. sbrma.org. This 3,000-square-foot gallery focuses mainly on the works of regional artists from Indiana and the Midwest from 1800 to the present. Included in this group are the early Indiana Impressionist painters, also known as the Hoosier School. Display and creation of art are linked through classes and workshops, where both children and adults can learn techniques in all media: drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, stained glass, jewelry, photography and textiles.
Michigan
The Grand Rapids Art Museum, 101 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids. 616.831.1000. gramonline.org. The Grand Rapids Art Museum just unveiled its new building in the fall of 2007, and is the first art museum in the world to be certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Its glass walls, natural light, and reflecting pool further illustrate the fusion between the indoors and outdoors. With its impressive permanent collection as well as changing exhibitions, this 125,000-square-foot facility is truly a gem in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. The Holland Museum, 31 W 10th St, Holland. 616.392.9084. hollandmuseum. org. The Holland Museum houses permanent exhibitions that illustrate the community’s transformation from an early settlement to a thriving city. Four new galleries containing 17th- through 19thcentury Dutch paintings and decorative arts recently opened in 2007. Within a few blocks, visitors will also find the Cappon House Museum and the Settlers House Museum, magnificently preserved and restored environments of a common worker’s family and Holland’s first mayor. The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 314 S Park St, Kalamazoo. 269.349.7775. kiarts. org. Founded in 1924, this museum is dedicated to encouraging the appreciation and creation of art through its exhibits, educational programs and the Kirk Newman Art School. In its ten galleries, the KIA shows temporary exhibitions and art from its permanent collection, which consists of nearly 4,000 works that emphasize 20th-century American art. Educational opportunities include the weekly ARTbreak lecture, Sunday Funday for families, Art & All That Jazz (featuring live music), Senior Day and the ARTworks Interactive Gallery for kids. The Krasl Art Center, 707 Lake Blvd, St. Joseph. 269.983.0271. krasl.org. The museum’s permanent collection is devoted entirely to the medium of sculpture, with an eclectic mix of riveting contemporary pieces displayed in an outdoor sculpture exhibit. Accordingly, the Krasl Art Center hosts the Biennial Sculpture Invitational exhibition, attended by talented sculptors worldwide. The museum’s four galleries also display traditional fine arts from local artists and traveling exhibits, and the Gallery Shop provides a supportive outlet for contributing artists to sell their unique works of all media. South Haven Center for the Arts, 600 Phoenix St, South Haven. 269.637.1041. southhavenarts.org. Conveniently located in the heart of South Haven’s bustling
downtown, this art center—housed in a 1905 building reflecting Neoclassical Revival architecture—promotes community appreciation for the arts in varied and numerous ways. In addition to housing exhibitions of all media and styles, the center hosts talks, workshops, musical concerts, classes for all ages, art fairs, auctions and benefits.
Illinois
Architecture Tours, Chicago Architecture Foundation, various sites and times, downtown Chicago. 312.922.3432. architecture.org. Intimate views of one of the most architecturally recognized cities in the world can be obtained when tourists and locals alike embark on one of the many narrated tours offered by this nonprofit organization. All types of architecture are embraced, as worldfamous skyscrapers are glimpsed by river boat; bungalows, churches and Frank Lloyd Wright homes are viewed by bus or Segway; and significant downtown landmark buildings are observed the oldfashioned way: on foot. The Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago. 312.443.3600. artic.edu. Founded in 1879, this museum and school now houses a world-renowned collection representing more than 5,000 years of global artistic expression, from Ancient Greek and Egyptian sculptures to contemporary installation art. Inside the landmark building, which is flanked by two bronze lions, art lovers of all ages can view the familiar works of Picasso, the Dutch Masters and the Impressionists—or the unexpected masterpieces of photography, arms and armor, miniatures, textiles and architecture. The new Modern Wing, opened in 2009, is a not-to-be-missed, world-class gallery of recent works. The Field Museum, 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. 312.922.9410. fieldmuseum.org. This internationally recognized museum of natural history has a collection of more than 20 million biological and geological specimens and cultural objects, assembled to illustrate the past, present and future of the earth, its plants, animals, people and their cultures. In addition to its worldclass natural history library, the museum is also home to Sue, the world’s largest T. rex fossil. The Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago. 312.280.2660. mcachicago.org. Located in the heart of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, the Museum of Contemporary Art exhibits more than 6,000 objects that illustrate trends in art from 1945 to the present. All forms of media are represented, from the traditional paintings, sculptures, works on paper, and photography, to the more challenging video, film, installations and performances. The MCA Store on site is not to be missed, with its curious collection of books, jewelry, toys, stationery and home/kitchen accents. For more events and destinations, please go to visitshoremagazine.com.
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Make the wrapping part of your gift. If you’re giving bath or kitchen accessories, wrap them in a large towel and secure with a ribbon. “If you’re giving a gift to a child, place the gift in a themed storage container, such as princess or cars, that can be used as storage in a child’s bedroom,” says Nancy Hoerdemann, gift giving expert and author of the website GivingbyGert. com. “For the person who has everything, put a small momentous gift in another gift-type bag, such as a traveling jewelry bag or a wallet or a handbag.”
Traditional bows are nice, but Roy Krizek, co-owner of the Schoolhouse Shop in Furnessville, Indiana, says you can use other items, too. “I like taking silk flowers and leaves, which you can find in craft stores, clipping off the parts that I like, and sticking them on the package with double-sided tape,” Roy says. “You can put one straight in the middle or all over the package. A silk flower that’s attached with a clip is also a good choice. The person can reuse it on another package.” Other choices include pine cones, sticks of cinnamon, ornaments and small toys.
Fabrics the Japanese art of wrapping with cloth has become so popular that the Japanese Minister of art created a how-to page on the government website. the Furoshiki technique has 14 ways of wrapping including the sao tsutsumi, the padded carry wrap, and the suika tsutsumi, the watermelon carry wrap. (see source list for Furoshiki instructions.) Paste extra or leftover fabric over gift boxes, says Kim Carlson, eco-expert and founder of earthsmart Consumer. “scarves and bandannas work great too,” she says.
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reenies cringe at the idea of wrapping paper that goes straight into landfills. Not all wrapping paper is recyclable. Gold and silver foil paper, for instance, is not. Instead, look for paper that’s made from recycled paper and post consumer waste printed with soy-based ink. “Before disposing of commonly tossed items, stop and rethink them. Can it be made more attractive, repaired or crafted into something else?” Kim says. For instance, to wrap small items, cut the picture out of an old Christmas card, paste it over the top of a paper egg carton and tie it with a fabric ribbon. The pictures on Christmas cards can also be cut out and reused as gift tags. “I like the look of brown paper wrapped with white cord,” says Reena People often want to give a gift to business clients Kazmann from the online company during the holiday season, but with postage, Eco-Artware.com. “You could also tie packaging, and weird-shaped objects that are the package with some colorful raffia. nearly impossible to wrap and ship, things can All of this is recyclable. It sounds odd, quickly get out of hand. “I have a customer who but you can reuse wrapping paper sends gifts to 50 clients each year,” Roy says. by smoothing on the wrong side “He has several price levels—$15, $25 and a few with a cool iron. You can wrap a custom packages that are hand-delivered. we gift in old sheet music, newspaper, came up with a way to keep gifts in his budget, architect’s drawings and children’s drawings.” Customize brown or including shipping. I use priority-mail boxes that white paper using festive stamps charge a set fee for a certain weight. we choose and soy-based ink. quality over quantity and usually go with a theme. Gift Bags Gone Green is an For instance, last year we did a ‘winter warming’ innovative Valparaiso-based company theme of soup mixes and crackers. to make the that creates gift bags from vintage gift more festive we included a jingle bell that and designer material. “I’ve always rang when they shook the package.” loved using gift bags, but not all are
Business Gifts
GIFt boXes Gift baskets are a relic of the ’90s. Although the basket was reusable, much of the packaging was not. Roy prefers to use boxes instead of a woven basket. “I like to use a recyclable box filled with full-sized items, because you want the gift to look substantial and not full of wrapping material,” he says. “The box also keeps the cost down. Glue Dots or double-sided tape can hold everything in place. When creating a box, think about the person. Do they love to cook? Do they love Italian food? Try to come up with a theme. You can make the present festive by attaching an ornament to the tallest item.”
recyclable because of the plastic they use to make the bag shiny,” says coowner Polly Rossi, who started the company with her husband, Frank, last year. “Our bags are made here at our home or at a company that employs disabled adults. The idea is that you regift the bag. Each bag has a passport tag where you can write where the bag started out and what city it’s going to.” The company offers five sizes, ranging from a small bag that can hold a CD or jewelry to an extra large that can hold a large robe. They also have a wine bottle bag and can customize any size for special orders.
Keep everything together in an inexpensive toolbox or tote bag. Rolls of gift wrap can be held together by a large rubber band. • Cellophane tape and lots of it. Desk dispensers make it easier to work one-handed. • A good pair of scissors for paper and another for fabric. • Glue Dots and double-sided tape are useful for sticking on bows, silk flowers and name tags. They also are great for gift baskets and boxes. The larger, tackier versions help keep the gifts in place. • Fasteners: pipe cleaners to seal fabric material or bags underneath bows • Wrapping cloths: tulle, scarves, vintage textiles, small blankets • Paper: plain, printed, brown paper, butcher paper, old comics and newspaper • Package decorations: pine cones, silk flowers, hair bows, ornaments, bows, ribbon (raffia, cloth, paper) • Gift bags: cloth, colored, brown or white paper; wine bottle bags • Ink stamps for decorating plain wrapping paper or bags • Gift tags and old holiday cards • Reusable boxes: ready-made and decorated, cookie/tea tins, wooden cigar boxes, Japanese bento boxes • Plain boxes: robe and shirt boxes, paper egg cartons
SCHOOLHOUSESHOP.COM gift shop based in Furnessville, Indiana
YOUTUBE.COM/ECOARTWARE instructions on how to wrap with newspaper
REPRODEPOT.COM OR WARMBISCUIT.COM vintage fabrics and sundries
GIFTBAGSGONEGREEN.COM Valparaiso-based eco-friendly reusable gift bags company
FUROSHIKI.COM instructions for Japanese gift wrapping—you can also purchase bento boxes, cloth and accessories here
BOAKART.COM/WRAP/WRAPART.HTML how to wrap with remnants and household items
GLUEDOTS.COM sticky fasteners
ECO-ARTWARE.COM reversible fabric wrap and unique wrapping techniques
GREENFIELDPAPER.COM OR EARTHLOVEN.COM sell recycled post consumer waste wrapping and gift cards printed with soy-based ink
WORDS BY
Kathryn MacNeil
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Joe Durk
Musing about musicals with the team behind The Addams Family
4 VISITSHOremaGaZIne.cOm 5
What do the Addams Family and musical theater have in common? Well, for starters, they are both enduring, entertaining and evolving . . .
Michael Leavitt [left] and Stuart Oken are fascinated by the macabre characters in The AddAMS FAMiLy. According to Oken, “Art tries to not be sentimental, but it does embrace sentiment. Sentiment is easier to approach if you’ve got something kind of acerbic and edgy and dangerous that it plays against. I think these characters are never going to be accused of being terribly sentimental and yet, they love really passionately, their children, each other . . . so in some odd way, I think they are really wonderful theatrical characters: they’re not whimsy characters, they’re very rock solid.”
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december 2009/january 2010
It seems like a simple question:
What is your favorite musical . . . ut even for casual fans of musical theater, the answer is more complicated than it seems. Is it one of the beloved classics (The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma) that introduced many of us to this world of compulsive lyric memorization and overzealous singing in the car? Or is it the angsty, genre-shattering rock opera (Jesus Christ Superstar) that indelibly defined the coming-of-age years of a generation—and still blares from iPods almost 40 years after the original double album was released? Or maybe it’s the polarizing 2007 Tony awardwinning production (Spring Awakening) that made going to the theater thought-provoking, edgy and unpredictable again? WheTheR The APPeAL of these singular soundtracks is based on nostalgia, social connectivity, artistic stimulation or simply the joy of great entertainment, the timeless songs and stories of our favorite musicals have undeniably captured the collective imagination of American audiences—and, according to the genre’s biggest fans, musical theater is here to stay. I am sitting in an upstairs lobby at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre, visiting with producers Stuart Oken and Michael Leavitt, briefly back in town from New York, where they have been overseeing rehearsals for their newest endeavor, The Addams Family musical, starring Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth. Although the venerable venue is uncharacteristically quiet and dark, there are signs that something intriguing is underway. The ground floor lobby is littered end-to-end with crates, and tangled webs of cords and equipment clutter the ornate auditorium and stage. The pre-Broadway world premiere of The Addams Family is scheduled to play here on November 13, 2009, through January 10, 2010, and on this late September afternoon, the busy producers are finally able to catch their breath. “This happens to be a time when we’re in the middle of rehearsal,” Oken explains. “We got off to a good start, the actors are wonderful and the score is working. We’ve done all of our testing, and now for these five or six weeks, we’re not micromanaging anything. We bring our artists to the point where they’re doing the work at the highest level they can do. Then, as it gets closer to being in front of an audience—and during previews—we’ll be involved in the creative conversations every day.”
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The AddAMS FAMiLy MUSiCAL Nov 13, 2009-Jan 10, 2010 Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre 24 W Randolph St, Chicago 800.775.2000 theaddamsfamilymusical.com broadwayinchicago.com
photography [far right] courtesy of BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Producer Stuart Oken is quick to sing the praises of the cast and creative team of The Addams Family: “I think it’s important, because that team is what has allowed the vision that we’re talking about to come forward. It’s their show.”
eavitt and Oken both started their careers in Chicago and, despite going on to helm award-winning productions both on and off-Broadway—Leavitt went on to become president of Fox Theatrical, and Oken spent nine years at Disney Theatrical—they have remained true to their deep Chicago roots with Elephant Eye Theatrical, the production company in which they are partners. So when the matter of where to hold the out-of-town tryouts for the Broadwaybound Addams Family came up, it was a no-brainer. According to Leavitt, “There’s no question, Chicago’s one of the great theater towns in the world. In terms of pre-Broadway, it’s had its ebb and flow, but it’s back with a vengeance. I think Broadway in Chicago is very, very highly regarded nationally and internationally as a great organization that can support a show prior to Broadway, so I think things are at a very high level right now.” OKeN AGReeS. “One of the problems with tryouts is that if you want to do four weeks of previews and then have a four-week run, you can’t do that in a city if they can only handle a four-week run. I think there are really only a handful of cities in America that can handle this. And the Chicago theater community is one of the best in the world. I think the audiences in Chicago are as sophisticated as the New York audiences, and in some cases more so, because in New York, more of the audience is made up of tourists.” But a major world premiere doesn’t just happen overnight. “It started in 1938,” Oken says, “when Charles Addams actually made the first drawing of what became the characters of the Addams Family. People sometimes don’t know that before there was a film and a television show, there was an artist named Charles
REGARDING NATHAN LANE (GOMEZ): “The writers actually called him personally to come in and read it for us, because they felt, well, if Nathan Lane reads it and it’s not funny, it’s probably not funny.”
THE SUPPORTING CAST: “Besides Nathan and Bebe, we’ve got Carolee Carmello, Terry Mann, and Kevin Chamberlin. All three of them have had two Tony nominations, so we’ve really got a wonderful ensemble.”
Northwest Indiana fans: they’re creepy and they’re kooky.
T
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he Addams Family is singing and dancing on stage in Chicago, but another variation of the scary clan—from Northwest Indiana—was spotted riding the roller coasters and strolling the streets of Disney World. Attending the Disney Halloween party at Epcot’s Annual Food & Beverage show in October—and doing so while dressed as the frightening family—were Horseshoe Casino Chief Rick Mazer (Gomez), his wife, Aria (Wednesday), and their friends Jeff and Lyn Clark (Lurch and Morticia) and Dr. Dan Bade (Uncle Fester). “Addams Family was a no-brainer,” says Lyn, whose maiden name is Adams. Her Morticia costume was in her closet one week after they agreed to go. “Nice dress, mysterious, and in charge,” she says. “My kind of girl!” The simple answer as to why Lyn’s husband Jeff transformed into Lurch? His 6-foot-4-inch frame. “We started attending the Disney Halloween party in costume two years ago as characters from the movie Braveheart,” Jeff says. “When you have Disney cast members laughing, pointing, and other guests taking pictures, you want to try to outdo your last theme. “We’re still talking about how ‘Jasmine’ swooned over Rick’s costume, but that’s another story.” Bade says he likes Uncle Fester because in the original series the actor portraying him, Jackie Coogan, was
the comic relief. “I am naturally an extrovert so the character fits,” Bade says. This marked Bade’s first Disney Halloween party, and it was one of the “coolest” characters he’s ever dressed up as. “I had a batterypowered light bulb which lit when placed in the mouth,” he says. Bade said the gang was well received. “Gomez had a cigar that lit when removed from his pocket,” he says. “Morticia had rose stems and Wednesday had a Marie Antoinette doll.” Aria was Wednesday because she’s the smallest of the group and “Thursday was taken.” Aria says the costumes were easy, although it took awhile to find the headless doll prior to the trip. “We chose the Addams Family because we had a natural Uncle Fester and Lurch,” she says. The gang, all from St. John, shares the same love for holidays, family and fun, says Lyn. “I’m a kid at heart and love that I am allowed to dress up,” she says. “My favorite moments are the kids that see grown adults dress up.” Lyn and Jeff once attended a Princess and Pirate party at Disney as Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean) and Queen Elizabeth. At the party there was a 4-year-old boy, also dressed as Sparrow, sitting next to Jeff. The boy couldn’t stop staring at the older version of himself. “Jeff told him he had the better sword and I told him he would make a great date,” Lyn says. “The smile was worth all the money in the world.”—ROB eARNShAW
Addams who drew over 100 cartoons using these different characters. He was one of the leading New Yorker illustrators during that period. It was 30 years after he started that it was first sold to television, so with that in mind, it’s iconic; it’s one of those ideas that are kind of wonderful.”
THE SCORE: “Perhaps the most delightful surprise, I think, is that people haven’t had a chance on Broadway yet to hear the music and lyrics of Andrew Lippa. This guy is such a wonderful theater composer that it’s just a thrill to bring his work to Broadway for the first time.” DIRECTORS/DESIGNERS: “Julian Crouch and Phelim McDermott work in comic macabre; their language is also puppetry and masks, so they’re anything but conventional artists. [And from puppeteer Basil Twist] you’re going to see things that happen in a way that is more clever and theatrical than literal.” THE STORY: “The guys who wrote Jersey Boys, Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, wrote the book, and these are two quintessential New Yorkers . . . They’re like Charles Addams the New Yorker; they dealt with New York neuroses.”
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OKeN CONTiNUeS, “I think it’s also hard to adapt stories when the audience knows the story really, really well. But in our case, we had characters that people knew, but it didn’t have a particular story, so our ability to tell a story that could be surprising and delightful made it that much more of a theatrical mystery. “This is really a family story, about the way characters in a real family relate to each other, and much less about the Addams’ quirkiness—it’s there, but it’s not the reason for the show. What we chose to do was to put a fracture into the family, a seminal moment. Wednesday’s grown up. She’s ready to have her own life. We just threw a natural family evolutionary idea into the story and then tried to watch each member of the family grapple with what it meant to watch their lives changing around them. “One of the most difficult parts about this show was figuring out what makes Gomez Addams sing. But at the end of the day, I think it was just about trying to actually reduce that bigger-than-life idea to He loves his family the same way we love our family. It’s just that they live in a kind of inverted world. What is joyous to me is maybe horrible for them.” Leavitt adds, “They are like us, except for this inversion. I think everybody can connect to someone in the family. Everybody loves the passion between Gomez and Morticia, and everybody has an Uncle Fester—or is one. Beyond their iconic nature, there’s something about it that’s real . . .” . . . Which just may explain the decades-long fascination that audiences have had with this macabre collection of characters—a fascination that, from the looks of things, is destined to continue as these characters morph from TV to film to the musical stage. Which brings us back to that simple question: What’s your favorite musical? Oken takes a stab at the answer: “I grew up memorizing every lyric to every Charles Addams, an American cartoonist known for his black show from Oscar Hammerstein forward. I just lived inside of it. It was the humor, created the series of only theater I ever wanted to do or be a part of. It’s a universal language. We Addams characters who became kind of loosely say it’s one of the two indigenous American art forms, one the basis for multiple live-action being jazz and the other being musical theater. It seems to contain a certain television series, cartoon series and motion pictures. magic that stands on its own, and has survived the test of time. I can’t say one favorite musical, but I love Gypsy and My Fair Lady; I love Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George . . .” Leavitt picks up his train of thought: “. . . and I’d have to say My Fair Lady and West Side Story. I live about a mile away, and whenever I walk down my block, I start singing, ‘I have often walked down this street before’ [a lyric from My Fair Lady], and it literally brings back the whole show to my mind. “The more people live on their computers, they say that ten years from now you’ll be able to do everything you want from your television. There was a fear that it would start killing live events, but the opposite is happening. There’s something distinct about being in a room that moment that you hear a song get nailed in the moment it happened; it just takes your breath away. So I think the future of theater and musical theater is going to be a strong one, and I think that people want that more than ever. That connection, being together next to each other at a live event, is really unique.” Oken concludes, “All I can say is that I love it, it’s what I do, and I’m grateful that audiences haven’t stopped loving it. And if we give them work that’s special, they come.”
THE KIDS: “Krysta Rodriguez, who plays Wednesday, and Wesley Taylor, who plays her boyfriend Lucas, are young, but they’re fantastic. I mean, they could potentially steal the show themselves.”
december 2009/january 2010
photography [right] courtesy of BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
t’s no coincidence, of course, that a vehicle like The Addams Family has a built-in audience. Oken admits, “If you’re doing a Broadway musical that’s opening on Broadway directly, people had better know something about it, so that when they hear more, they pay attention. It’s a harder time today. That’s just the reality of our economic times. But we knew in this world of jukebox musicals and revivals, our focus was to do new-book musicals with new scores. Many jukebox musicals are good. Mamma Mia certainly is a big success, and Jersey Boys is great stuff. There’s a new show that’s just opened in San Francisco at Berkeley called American Idiot—based on the Green Day record; none of that’s new music, but they’ve done something new with it theatrically. People are going to be excited about it, and they should be. It’s not like that isn’t worth doing, it’s just not what we wanted to do.”
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BY RICK K
AE M PF
E R
0 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 6
Is it possible to live more than one year in a single calendar year? In 2009, we tried our best. We changed the way we communicate with each other, the way we consume media, and the way media consumes us. Not bad for a single yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work.
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If someone had time-traveled from 2007 to 2009, they wouldn’t have understood a single word of this on-air conversation between MSNBC’s Norah O’Donnell and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) from March of this year. O’DONNELL: Are you Twittering now? Is that what I hear? GRASSLEY: Well, you tweet when you Twitter, and the answer is: you can be one of my followers. O’DONNELL: I’ll tell you what: you can be one of my followers, too, Senator. I tweet, too. GRASSLEY: I’m going to meet with a bunch of Twitterers in Iowa during the Easter recess as well. We’re going to have a, I guess you call it a Tweet-in?
Twitter’s popularity exploded in 2009. Eighteen million American adults accessed Twitter every month, an increase of over 200 percent in just one year. Twitter didn’t just creep into American society. It leaped. But Twitter wasn’t just changing America in 2009; it was also changing the world. During the aftermath of the Iranian presidential election in June, when disputed winner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei effectively threw the international media out of the country, average everyday Iranian citizens tweeted their defiance, and kept the world informed. Most experts didn’t see it coming. Mitchell Kazel is the director of broadcast journalism resources and facilities, and an assistant journalism professor at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign). He was among the Twitter skeptics. “A few months ago I might have compared Twitter to the passing ‘CB radio’ fad,” he says. “Now I’m not so sure. It certainly has the potential to spread information, and misinformation, like wildfire.” As Kazel implies, Twitter can be a double-edged sword. Ask NFL receiver Chad Ochocinco. He was ordered to stop tweeting when the NFL discovered that he was planning on tweeting during games. You have to draw the line somewhere.
Going Tubing
A
nyone that watched the 2009 Emmy Awards is aware that at least one industry takes the increasing popularity of online video seriously: the television industry. Emmy host Neil Patrick Harris made several jokes about it, leading to uneasy laughter in the auditorium. Television is right to be scared. According to the Nielsen Rating service, the number of people watching online video grew 10 percent over the last year, the number of video streams increased by 41 percent, and the total number of minutes engaged with online viewing grew 71 percent. Those numbers show no sign of reversing anytime soon. Eric Patrick is an Emmy award-winning animator who is now an assistant professor of radio/television/film at Northwestern University. How seriously does he take this trend? He created what he believes to be the country’s first academic course on viral videos.
“The whole notion of having a RadioTelevision-Film department is becoming increasingly antiquated each year,” he says. “Unlike my generation, current students have intimate relationships with all sorts of screens. They watch postage stamp size versions of Coen brothers’ films on their iPod, they watch eyewitness videos and current events as they’ve been filtered through the online video. I feel that the study of new media is critical for preparing our students to be innovators in the future of the moving image, whatever form that takes.” But do all these changes signal the death of television? Patrick won’t go that far. “I don’t think we can talk about the death of television anymore than VHS tapes marked the death of Hollywood,” he says. “Each new medium gives us new ways of interacting with the world and new ways of interfacing with the rest of the media landscape. Certainly web video will have some sort of impact on television, but beyond that, I think TV is secure for the time being.” They’re just acting insecure.
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GET OUTTA MY FACEBOOK While Twitter was growing at an amazing rate, its social networking cousin Facebook also had a 2009 to remember. In one year, the number of users on Facebook tripled to an astounding 300 million. That’s approximately the equivalent of every man, woman and child in the United States. The explosion has come from an age group that nobody expected to leap into the technological world—the 35+ crowd. Many of them were initially drawn to Facebook to keep an eye on their kids, but soon discovered its many charms. South Bend resident Anita Stratton fits into this category and her experience is pretty typical of the 35+ crowd that joined Facebook in 2009. “I quickly realized that this was a tool to keep in touch with friends that I no longer see,” she says. “Especially those from high school. We all converse on Facebook regularly now. I have also ‘friended’ several long-distance cousins whom I haven’t seen since we were all children. Basically, that keeps me coming back. But I refuse to Twitter. I’m not getting hooked on that, too!” Famous last words.
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nce you’re into Twitter, Facebook and online video, of course, you’ll need something that will allow access to all of them every second of every day. Smart phones (phones allowing access to the web) have become commonplace. In 2008, they made up 17 percent of the market. By the summer of 2009 that figure had gone up to 23 percent. Of course, one of the most popular smart phones is the iPhone. In 2009, the iPhone App Store exploded in popularity. In March there were 30,000 apps available. By summer, it had grown to 50,000. That number is now over 75,000. Randall Cross is president of Ethervision, an iPhone application development boutique. He recently created his first top 100 app called RC Heli, an indoor racing app. Needless to say, with over 150,000 developers working on apps, that’s no small accomplishment. “If you’ve thought of a great app idea you can bet ten other people have thought of the same idea at the exact same time,” he says. “The secret is to be faster, better and smarter than everybody else. Polish it off with some appealing branding and a smart, grassroots marketing campaign and you just might have a winner on your hands. Otherwise, your app disappears in the sea of 75,000 and you dust off and get on the horse and try the next idea.” Giddyup.
One of a Kindle When Amazon introduced the Kindle in 2007 it was greeted with skepticism. But Kindle solved one of the biggest problems with earlier e-books. People enjoyed the experience of holding a book in their hands, and Kindle mimicked the experience, while allowing that one little book in your hand to be thousands of books at once. By the end of the first quarter of 2009, e-book sales accounted for 10 percent of all book sales; about 4 million out of the 38 million books sold. Stephen King even released his novella Ur exclusively as an e-book for Kindle. “I do think that electronic books will eventually replace almost all printed material,” predicts George Rawlinson, publisher of Can’t Miss Press in Elgin, Illinois. “It’s inevitable. It’s part of our technological progression. We’re in the middle of a revolution. We now have unprecedented access to information. But even for people like me, people who have been around the block, the news isn’t all bad. What is publishing about, after all? It’s about spreading information. It’s sharing information and entertainment and enlightening. That’s not going away. Books aren’t going away, either. They’re just being formatted differently. Kindle is a tool of change. Others are coming.”
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THE ANTICHANGE Maybe all this change in 2009 has something to do with the incredible popularity of something that never changes: vampires. In 2009 vampires were everywhere, including bookstores (nearly every major publisher has at least one), movie theaters (Twilight), network television (Vampire Diaries), and pay cable television (True Blood). Paige Wiser is the television critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, and a devoted vampire fan. She explains this phenomenon for those of us who just don’t get it. “It’s the ultimate teen girl fantasy, and the ultimate hickey, too,” she says. “What’s cooler than dating a high school senior? Dating a hot young-looking guy with centuries of experience that is more interested in necking than taking your virginity. It’s dating a bad boy, taken to the extreme. And if you have a fear of commitment, no problem—of course it’s not going to work out with a vampire! It’s the old, ‘It’s not you, it’s my blood lust’ breakup. All the best love affairs are doomed.” But they never actually die. And just like the vampires themselves, this vampire craze is not going to be dying anytime soon. That’s just as well. After all this change in 2009, we can all use the rest.
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By Claire Bushey
december 2009/january 2010
m e n ta l notes from the s u p e r n at u r a l
Today’s Chicago magicians include David Parr [upper right], P.T. Murphy [right] and Neil Tobin [below], who is the president of the Chicago chapter of the Society of American Magicians.
4 visitshoremagazine.com 6
It was a Wednesday night, which meant P. T. Murphy and David Parr were on stage at the Greenhouse Theater Center, dressed in dapper black and pinstripes and conjuring for the audience a secret history of Chicago. The magic words? Names. Names like the New York Lounge and the Ivanhoe and Schulien’s, nightspots where, during the 1950s and ’60s, a person could get a drink and watch a card trick right at the bar. Their weekly show, Magic Cabaret, is inspired by those days when Chicago was a capital of magic. The railroads brought the magicians to the city. For the entertainers working the vaudeville circuit, the city was a convenient hub, an easy jump-off point to the next gig. At various points Chicago was home to Harlan Tarbell, author of a correspondence course still considered one of the definitive works on magical technique; Josef “Joseffy” Freud, a violinist, electrical engineer and magician, whose act included a talking skull; and August Roterberg, a businessman who introduced the practice of publishing magic books for magicians, rather than mainstream audiences. Traveling magic shows stopped in the city in the 1920s and ’30s, the “golden age of magic,” according to Neil Tobin, president of the Chicago chapter of the Society of American Magicians and performer of the longest-running magic show in town, Supernatural Chicago. The shows sold out venues that seated thousands. “The way people go to a Broadway musical now . . . that’s what people used to expect from a traveling magic show,” Tobin says. Magic moved from the stage to the bar in the 1950s and ’60s, where a unique style of close-up magic developed. Matt Schulien, owner of the North Side bar that bore his name, used to do a trick that epitomized Chicago bar magic, a style Tobin described as practical, smart and guaranteed to wow. Schulien would ask a patron to pick a card, which he’d take with his big, clumsy-looking hands and shuffle back into the deck. He’d kibitz for a bit, and then pull a card out of the deck. The wrong card. A couple more tries, and there was a crowd to watch the magician screw up, with jostling elbows and people craning
their necks to get a look. Schulien would knock over a beer. And as the beer turned the white tablecloth translucent, there, underneath, would be the patron’s card. Another notable on the scene was “Heba Haba Al,” the bartender at the New York Lounge, who got away with murder because he looked like somebody’s grandfather. He’d buttonhole a woman and tell her to write her initial on a sugar cube, which he’d place beneath a glass. Magically, the letter would appear on the woman’s hands, elbow, shoulder, then on other barflies. Next Al would send her to the bathroom to look for one on her hip. “He’d give it a small amount of time,” says Tim Felix, owner of Midwest Magic, one of the country’s biggest magic shops, and a first-rate raconteur. “Then he’d reach up, get a microphone that went to a loudspeaker that went to the bathroom, and he’d say, ‘No, honey, just a little lower.’ And you’d hear her scream, and the bar would erupt.” agic has migrated from the bars back to the stages, now in more intimate venues. There have been other changes too, most significantly a push since the late 1970s to return to magic a sense of meaning. Chicago resident
photography courtesy of [this page, top and left] KEN CARL, [this page, far left] NEIL TOBIN, [opposite page] THE AMAZING KRESKIN
veryone used to go to the new york Lounge, the magician said, and smiLed, as if remembering.
a
mazing that mentalist Kreskin, at age 5, was inspired by a comic book character. The spell was cast by author lee Falk’s mustachioed “Mandrake the Magician,” costumed in top hat and scarlet-lined flowing cape. “he’s a magician but has telepathic abilities and hypnotic powers and solves crimes. i wanted to be like him.” I almost feel that famous hardy handshake through the phone, he sounds that passionate. his first magic trick was deft sleight-of-hand. “performing for the neighborhood, I took a penny, covered it with a handkerchief, and . . . it vanished!” scoffing at the thought it was hidden in-between his fingers, he explains that, in present-day shows, his mind-reading mettle’s tested attempting to locate a million-dollar check hidden in the audience. he must find it. or he isn’t paid. he always does. he’s hocus-pocused his way from mysto magic toy sets to a degree in psychology to appearing on Johnny Carson shows, to being the model for the 2009 movie The Great Buck Howard, produced by tom hanks (released on DVD september, 2009). as a boy, he read every book in the children’s section of the library and now boasts 9,000 tomes in his personal collection. he absorbs a novel in 20 minutes, scans six newspapers a day (14 minutes each), and peruses every Christmas card he sends or receives. (after years on his card list, after a personal response to a holiday letter, I believe.) With heightened skills in hypnosis, mind-reading, and understanding human behavior (foretelling president obama’s win a year before the election), he’s often asked about new Year divinations. hence his latest book, Kreskin’s Predictions for 2010. We too asked Kreskin to share some of his predictions, about our local area and the united states in general . . .
by sherry miLLer
MiChiGaN // Despite budget cuts, the “pure michigan” ad campaign, featuring golfing, shops, lakes, snow-skiing, and spokesmen/actors Jeff Daniels and tim allen, is extraordinarily successful. the auto industry “finds new ways to do things.” hybrid cars increase. Boasting outdoor recreation, spectacular sunsets, and tax incentives, midwest movie-makers build a new hollywood. illiNOis // entrepreneurs create income, setting aside cute tables for private dinners in their own homes. With parents working more, daycare offers night-care, available at irregular hours. iNDiaNa // Kreskin worked closely with Indiana police and state investigator, John Kleiman, to help solve crime. he taught classes about “tuning in.” Indiana police departments will expand, become bigger and better. not depending solely on electronic devices for protection, entire blocks will band together in support against crime. MiDWesT // It will rebound the strongest after the recession. GeNeral // the lottery will establish smaller pots, allowing more million-dollar winners. hOW aBOuT The 2012 eleCTiON? // “If obama doesn’t run a second time, it’s because of one of two women.” hillary Clinton? he won’t commit yet.
MENTAL NOTES his signature’s t.a. kreskin. “the amazing kreskin” is trademarked. an idealist or realist? “i’m a free-thinker, so i’m both. i love that question.” his i.Q.? “whatever it is, it isn’t the reason for my success. i love what i do.” kreskin plays the piano and includes it in his shows. he was excused from jury duty because he claimed he can tell when someone’s lying. his favorite holiday is christmas. his family thought he’d become a priest. in his 70s, he jogs every day. he ends conversations with “to be continued.” he’ll retire “ten days after i pass away.”
back in the heyday of Chicago magic, the roster of magicians and illusionists included [top left to bottom] howard Thurston and harry houdini, Jack gwynne, Pascu, Thurston and okito.
Neil TobiN
SuPerNATurAl ChiCAgo 7:30pm Friday nights Excalibur nightclub 632 N Dearborn St Chicago $25, including two free drinks supernaturalchicago.com
Neil Tobin uses magic to embellish stories of Chicago’s haunted past.
P.T. MurPhy aNd david Parr
MAgiC CAbAreT 7:30pm Wednesday nights The Greenhouse Theater Center 2257 N Lincoln Ave Chicago $20, no one under 13 admitted magic-cabaret.com P.T. Murphy and David Parr re-create Chicago’s old-time magic scene with stories of the city’s history and tricks ranging from sleight-of-hand to the powers of the mind.
JeaNeTTe aNdrews, beNJaMiN barNes aNd roberT Charles
MAgiC ChiCAgo First Wednesday of every month City Lit Theater 1020 W Bryn Mawr Ave Chicago $20-25 magicchicagoshow.com
Eugene Burger pioneered this way of thinking about magic; his admirers refer to him as a magical philosopher. Magic can wake people up to the mystery of the universe they live in, he says. It rattles the foundation of rationalism. According to Burger, the wonder-worker’s role in society is to amaze, to give “people things they are in danger of forgetting in a technological society.” “The human heart cries out for magic,” he says. Most magicians don’t start their careers thinking about the needs of the human heart. Often they are attracted to magic because they relish the power of a secret. The classic story unfolds like this: A kid, somewhere between the ages of 7 and 13, gets a magic set. Kid becomes obsessed with magic set. Kid relishes the double-takes of grown-ups—the first taste of a magician’s power. The pros are the kids who never outgrew their love of magic, and “whether that’s a good thing or bad thing is for our therapists to decide,” P.T. Murphy jokes.
ut over time the magician’s source of enjoyment begins to change. Murphy sTeve Kellogg and David Parr touch 219.464.7183 on that evolution in one kelloggmagic.com of their show’s routines. Steve Kellogg is based in Valparaiso, Parr introduces Murphy, Ind., and performs at birthdays, who’s playing the role of banquets and parties. the carnival con man. He roN PasCu carries cups and balls, a 219.845.0349 trick at least 2,000 years old. As he leaves the ronpascu@yahoo.com stage, Parr tells the audience, “We hope this Ron Pascu is based in Hammond, evening you experience what you’ve been Ind., and is a master illusionist looking for—a real mystery.” and magician. Murphy reveals three red balls beneath the cups. He begins to swivel them around, and as he swivels, he talks. Did magicians kill magic? he asks. Did their focus on fooling people ultimately betray the art of astonishment? He picks up a cup to reveal that the ball beneath it a moment ago has vanished. Somehow it has jumped to another cup. Where are the balls? Murphy jeers at a man in the front row, challenging him to find them. The man guesses. He’s wrong. Murphy sneers; his con man persona has taken hold, and it’s nasty. The cups and balls are moving faster and faster. Where are the balls? What’s the matter? Can’t figure it out? I know, and you don’t. That’s not the point, Murphy seems to say. The slyness and superiority, the need to fool people, that isn’t magic. Magic is the split second when the world shifts and the impossible happens. The door in the mind swings open and reveals a vista unlike the routine drudgery of daily life. Murphy upends the cups, one, two, three. The red balls have vanished. Out onto the table roll an orange, a lemon and a plum.
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photography courtesy of RON PASCU
Every show is different, with the regular performers joined by magicians from around the city.
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style & culture
december 2009/january 2010
wINTeR weLLNeSS The ultimate stress management The surgery that could save your life
wINTeR weLLNeSS
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special advertising section
Saint Margaret Mercy Hospital
VITAL TRANSFORMATION
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s long as he can remember, John Karl has fought obesity. He tried every weight loss program available. Finally, carrying about 300 pounds on his six-foot frame became a health issue. “It came down to a point in my life that I needed to do something, and not short-term. I have significant diabetic familial history, and my dad passed away at age 61 from a massive heart attack,” says the 43-year-old Frankfort, Illinois, resident. A registered nurse for 20 years, Karl says his career brought him to Saint Margaret Mercy Hospital in Dyer, Indiana, where he started working in the Midwest Bariatric Institute with Jerry Cahill, M.D. Karl assisted in the operating room where the surgeon performed bariatric procedures to help patients tackle their obesity and lose weight. Finally this spring, Karl decided on gastric bypass surgery and underwent the procedure on May 18. Gastric bypass is one of several surgical alternatives patients can choose, says Dr. Cahill, who has performed more than 2,000 bariatric procedures. All are done via a laparoscopy, a minimally invasive procedure that uses small incisions through which the surgery is performed. In gastric bypass, the stomach is made smaller and food is allowed to bypass part of the small intestine. The person feels full more quickly, which reduces the amount of food and calories consumed. This leads to weight loss, especially in conjunction with the after-care program offered by the hospital staff. Other bariatric procedures include the Lap Band and the gastric vertical sleeve, Dr. Cahill says. The Lap Band system is a silicone adjustable gastric band that is placed around the top of the stomach, resulting in hunger control and a feeling of fullness that can lead to weight loss. The gastric vertical sleeve turns the stomach into a tube, Dr. Cahill says. Which procedure is used depends on the patient’s medical condition, he says. “All patients go through the preoperative process that includes medical education, nutritional counseling and behavioral and psychological evaluation,” he says. The after-surgery care is vital to the program, say Dr. Cahill and Karl. “We work with patients on their mental, physical, emotional and spiritual aspects after the surgery. This surgery is life-changing,” says Karl, who now is a role model for patients. “Bariatric surgery is a transforming process. It dramatically changes your dietary process,” Dr. Cahill says. “To what degree is very individual. The program gives patients a dietary framework that they can use.” There is also a metabolic component, including hormonal changes associated with bariatric surgery, the physician says. One of the major changes is in the patient’s blood sugar levels. In fact, bariatric surgery improves or completely eliminates diabetes, Dr. Cahill says. “Gastric bypass is the best option to transform diabetes,” he says. “A majority of patients are Type II diabetics and have hereditary obesity.” Obesity is, in fact, a major risk factor for diabetes. Patients at the Midwest Bariatric Institute range in age from 18 to 70, Dr. Cahill says. There are a few patients ages 14 to 18 who have had bariatric surgery because of massive obesity. These
patients have weighed 400 to 500 pounds before surgery, he says. “This is not cosmetic surgery,” Dr. Cahill says. “This is about living longer, and having a better quality and quantity of life. The goal is for a dramatic improvement in medical problems that were caused by obesity.” For John Karl, the results are “amazing,” he says. At his heaviest, he weighed 315 pounds and wore a size 52 pants. Less than six months after the surgery, Karl has lost 108 pounds and tips the scales at 188 pounds. And because he can wear a size 36 pants, Karl says he can finally “shop anywhere, in regular stores. Before, I had to pay extra for big and tall clothes. And I don’t have to ask a stewardess for a seat belt extender.” The surgery has also changed the way he lives his life, Karl says. “I was winded all the time walking upstairs. I’m an assistant scout master and now I can go to Colorado to camp with my troop,” he says. “Now I
can do things with my 14-yearold son and my 12-year-old daughter.” The Midwest Bariatric Institute at Saint Margaret Mercy and its physicians are in-network for many major insurance carriers. “The insurance specialists at Saint Margaret Mercy can assist you in navigating the insurance approval process,” says Kathy O’Donnell, program coordinator. “Patients who choose to pay for surgery themselves should contact the Midwest Bariatric Institute at Saint Margaret Mercy to discuss this option,” O’Donnell says. “We offer some of the most affordable self-pay plans in the Midwest.” To learn more about the Bariatric Surgery program at Saint Margaret Mercy or to schedule a consultation, contact O’Donnell at 219.852.2518. SAINT MARGARET MERCY HOSPITAL 24 Joliet St Dyer, Ind. 219.865.2141 smmhc.com
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Reverie Spa Retreat
STReSS NO MORe
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astern philosophy, unlike Western philosophy, sees no separation between the body, mind and spirit. These principles of holistic treatment are the focus of life at Reverie Spa Retreat in LaPorte, Indiana. Owner Beth Warren and her team offer complete spa treatments for men and women, including Ayurvedic treatments from India, body treatments such as hydrotherapy and seaweed spa body wraps, body massage, organic spa skin care from such lines as Naturopathica and Sundari, and manicures, pedicures, eyebrow tint, eyelash tint and more. Both day and overnight stays are available. “Our main purpose is to help manage stress,” Warren says. “When you learn to manage stress your emotional and physical state improves. This is why we have no televisions or phones in our rooms to remove the outside world. We use aromatherapy oils because the skin is the largest organ and absorbs the benefits. We have a biodynamic garden on our grounds so our meals here are truly from farm to table because your diet supports your immune system. Our services treat the balance of the body, designed to REVERIE SPA RETREAT work on the nervous system. Our 3634 N 700 W experience here is nurturing and it LaPorte, Ind. is an investment in your wellness, 219.861.0814 assisting your body to give it what it spareverie.com needs to heal itself.”
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wiNTER wEllNESS
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Reverie Spa Retreat
STRESS NO MORE
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astern philosophy, unlike Western philosophy, sees no separation between the body, mind and spirit. These principles of holistic treatment are the focus of life at r e v e r i e spa retreat in LaPorte, Indiana. r e v e r i e offers a complete spa experience for men and women, including balancing Indian Ayurvedic treatments, healing massage therapy, and organic skin care using Naturopathica and Sundari Products. Finishing touches include manicures and pedicures, eyebrow and eyelash tints, and waxing. Both day and overnight stays are available. Choose from four well-appointed rooms and enjoy chef prepared fresh foods cultivated from our on-site biodynamic garden and local farms. r e v e r i e cuisine is truly from farm to table! â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our main focus is helping people achieve balance in their lives through stress management. The experience here is nurturing and an REVERIE SPA RETREAT investment in your wellness, 3634 N 700 W assisting your body to give it LaPorte, Ind. what it needs to heal itself,â&#x20AC;? 219.861.0814 spareverie.com says owner Beth Warren.
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bite & sip
food feature
drinks in the living room
the cocktail party by jane dunne
71
december 2009/january 2010
P
eople have been mixing drinks for centuries but it wasn’t until the 20th century that “The Cocktail Party” (with the Slings, Fizzes, Sidecars, Toddies and Juleps of the 1920s and 1930s) became popular enough to be recorded in history. Before that time, people rarely drank at home, saving such libations for the corner tavern, the city club or the fancy restaurant. Prohibition changed all that. Wealthier people, through their favorite bootlegger, stocked liquor in their own cellars and began sharing drinks with friends safely at home. “Joe sent me!” and the possibility of a raid, was not for everyone! >>>
bite & sip
food feature
classic cocktails
one shaken, one stirred fter World War II, the Cocktail Party (or “Le Cocktail,” as they call it in Paris) became the thing for the upwardly mobile in America’s cities, New York being the spoke of the wheel. Out came the cocktail shakers, the gin martini, the Manhattan, and passed hors d’oeuvres. Remember Cocktail Franks? Rumaki? Crabmeat in Cherry Tomatoes and, later, Brie en Croute? The noted food author, James Beard, called such fare “dibs and dabs,” but guests literally ate them up and wanted more. They still do. All these years later, getting together for cocktails is still one of the most pleasant ways to entertain, whether for a group of your ten best friends or if you “fill the house and pay the caterer.”
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Here are a couple of cocktail recipes and some easy homemade hors d’oeuvres to make you shine over the holidays and beyond. Drinking responsibly is a given.
The Manhattan (1 drink)
The Ultimate Martini (1 drink)
1.5 parts bourbon (preferably Maker’s Mark) .5 parts sweet vermouth 1 teaspoon maraschino cherry juice
1/2 ounce dry high-quality vermouth 2-1/2 ounces gin (preferably Bombay Sapphire) 1 green olive or lemon twist for garnish
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the ingredients. Shake for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled, stemmed Manhattan glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and serve immediately.
Fill a cocktail pitcher (not shaker) with ice. Pour the vermouth over the ice, stir the ice around for a few seconds with a long-handled spoon and quickly discard the excess liquid. Then pour the gin over the ice and stir with a long-handled spoon for 20 seconds. (Don’t “bruise the gin!”) Strain into the cocktail glass and add the garnish. Serve ice cold.
It’s best to keep gin and vermouth in the refrigerator. Also, chill the martini glasses.
hors d’oeuvres Mango Pomegranate Guacamole (Makes 24) Spoon just a little guacamole on individual tortilla or plantain chips and arrange them on a platter. To herald the holiday season, pomegranate seeds will flash bright red against the guacamole’s cilantro-flecked green. Guacamole can be made 4 hours ahead and chilled, its surface directly covered with plastic wrap. Bring to room temperature and stir before serving. Trader Joe’s sells pomegranate seeds and cut-up mango slices in their refrigerated produce department. 4 ripe avocados (2 pounds total) 1 cup finely chopped white onion 2 fresh Serrano chiles, finely chopped (2 tablespoons), including seeds 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, or to taste 3/4 cup pomegranate seeds (from 1 pomegranate) 3/4 cup diced and peeled mango 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Green Goddess Dip (2 cups) This dip can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Serve with seasonal crudités. 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 4 anchovy fillets 2 medium shallots, coarsely chopped 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 2 garlic cloves, peeled 2 large ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and quartered 1 cup sour cream 1/2 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley 6 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Combine lemon juice, anchovies, shallots, vinegar and garlic in a food processor. Blend until shallots and garlic are finely chopped. Add avocado, sour cream, parsley, tarragon and basil; blend until almost smooth. With machine running, add olive oil through the feed tube in a thin stream. Transfer to a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Deviled Eggs with Crispy Bacon (Makes 24) 1 dozen extra-large eggs, purchased several days to a week ahead 2 teaspoons softened butter 2-3 teaspoons creamy Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon finely chopped chives 2 slices of bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled
Place the eggs in a large saucepan, cover with cool water and bring just to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Do not overcook. Immediately cool the eggs in a large bowl of ice water for 20 to 30 minutes, cracking the shells slightly against the sides of the bowl. Leave eggs in the cold water; refrigeration makes the whites tough. Shell and halve the eggs, removing the yokes. Put the yolks through a ricer, if you have one, into a large bowl, or mash well with a fork. Add the butter, mustard, chives and salt and pepper to taste. Either pipe or spoon the egg filling into the whites. Before serving, sprinkle each one with some of the crumbled bacon.
Blue Cheese with Rosemary Honey on Crackers (Makes 40)
ServeYourself Cocktail Platter Ideas
This is an easy, addictive hors d’oeuvre. Infuse the honey up to 24 hours in advance. Slice the blue cheese about 20-30 minutes after removing from the freezer. (It crumbles less when it is partially frozen.) Place the cheese on the crackers an hour in advance if you wish, and set aside. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with green onions just before serving. I like a mild cracker, like Bremner or Carr’s, with this hors d’oeuvre. 1 cup mild honey such as alfalfa or clover 4 sprigs fresh rosemary 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt 1 (10-ounce) block blue cheese, frozen 40 crackers 3 green onions (white and light green parts), very thinly sliced on diagonal
In a heavy small saucepan over low heat, stir together honey, rosemary sprigs and salt. Continue heating, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 15 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl, discarding rosemary. Cool slightly, about 3 minutes, before using. (Honey can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.) Cut blue cheese into 40 slices and arrange on crackers. Drizzle with honey. Sprinkle with scallions and serve.
Paté assortment with mustard, cornichons, blackberry preserves and toasts Hummus topped with toasted pine nuts, drizzle of olive oil, served with toasted pita triangles, red or yellow bell pepper strips and assorted olives
Other Nice Things to Pass Smoked salmon served on buttered brown bread Salted Marcona almonds Cheese straws Spicy whole cocktail-size salami, sliced and served on fresh cucumber Halved fresh figs wrapped in prosciutto
Roasted Shrimp Cocktail (24 to 30 shrimp)
2 pounds (12 to 15 count) shrimp 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Sauce: 1/2 cup chili sauce 1/3 cup ketchup 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Peel and devein the shrimp, leaving the tails on. Place them on a sheet pan with the olive oil, salt and pepper and spread them in one layer. Roast for 8 to 10 minutes, just until pink, firm and cooked through. Combine sauce ingredients and serve as a dip with the shrimp.
bite & SIP Abstract Café
3365 Willowcreek Rd, Portage, Indiana. 219.762.8466. abstractcafe.net. Lunch is served 11:30am-4pm Mon-Sat; dinner 4-9pm Mon-Thu, 4-10pm Fri-Sat. Chef/owner Ted Zych, a graduate of the Culinary and Hospitality Institute of Chicago where he earned the President’s Award, has created a menu whose influence is French American cuisine with a global finesse. “I use as many local producers as possible and when we can we also use organic,” Zych says. Specialties include pancetta-wrapped Diver scallops served with brown butter lobster risotto and accompanied with seasonal vegetables, and a classic Beef Wellington—filet mignon topped with mushroom herb tapenade wrapped in puff pastry and served with a wild mushroom au jus. All desserts are made in house. Zych creates a cake of the day such as his white chiffon layered cake with pomegranate and blueberry filling covered with a Chantilly whipped cream icing. Not to be missed is the bourbon pecan nut tart in a linzer cookie dough cookie.
The information presented in Bite & Sip is accurate as of press time, but readers are encouraged to call ahead to verify restaurant hours. Please note that Illinois and most Indiana restaurants adhere to central time, and Michigan restaurants are eastern time.
Indiana
BARTLETT’S GOURMET GRILL & TAVERN 131 E Dunes Hwy 12, Beverly Shores. 219.879.3081. eatatbartletts.com. Lunch and dinner served 11am10pm Mon-Sun. Bartlett’s is a new gourmet grill by husband-and-wife team Gary Sanders and Nicole Bissonnette-Sanders. Located in the heart of the National Lakeshore, Bartlett’s has a cozy but very modern ambience. The menu is an exceptionally creative take on upscale roadhouse-type food. Starting off the meal are appetizers such as andouille sausage corndogs and surf & turf potstickers, as well as family style offerings like Low Country spiced boiled peanuts and smoked venison sticks. Entrées include 5-hour pot roast, whitefish fillet and linguine bolognese, ranging in price from $10 to $20. The wine list is modest but well-crafted.
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BISTRO 157 157 W Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.462.0992. bistro157.net. Lunch is served 11am-2pm Tue-Fri; dinner 5-9pm Tue-Thu, 5-10pm Fri-Sat, 4-8pm Sun. Trained in Paris at Le Cordon Bleu, chef and owner Nicole Bissonnette-Sanders has created a menu of classics—like a decadent sautéed veal and gulf shrimp, a pork rib chop with apple horseradish ham, and an herb-rubbed roasted half chicken—combined with her own creative takes on nouvelle cuisine with a number of fresh fish selections. Desserts include black chocolate-infused confections that have become standard for fine dining, and also sorbets and ice cream made from fresh fruit. There are some treasures on the extensive list of bottle wines, and many solid choices by the glass. BUTTERFINGERS DESSERT SHOP 2552 45th St, Highland. 219.924.6464. 921D Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.4202. Food is served 9am6pm Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm Sat. Every day, Butterfingers prepares a selection of ready-to-heat-and-eat entrées, along with freshly baked breads and salads, all without preservatives. Butterfingers’ two pastry chefs, whose training hails from the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and Johnson and Wales
in Rhode Island, create an array of desserts, which includes beautifully decorated and delicious cakes, and an assortment of cookies and brownies, all of which have been satisfying dessert lovers for nearly twenty-five years. DON QUIJOTE 119 E Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.462.7976. Lunch is served 11am-2pm Mon-Fri; dinner 5-9pm Mon-Thu, 5-10:30pm Fri-Sat. Proprietor Carlos Rivero’s authentic Spanish cuisine, lively and friendly atmosphere, and conviviality with his return customers make this downtown Valparaiso restaurant a destination for Chicagoans and Michigan residents alike. The exciting menu features dozens of small courses, including a well-known classic paella with saffron rice and fresh-grilled seafood chunks. Grilled steaks and lamb and veal chops are abundant and cooked according to family recipes handed down for generations. The house specialty is a flan-textured vanilla cake. Lunch entrées average $15, dinner $25.
gambaristorante.com. Lunch is served 11:30am2:30pm Mon-Sat; dinner 5-9pm Mon-Thu, 5-10:30pm Fri-Sat. The former owners of the Venezia Bar & Grill and Venezia Café, Benito and Hilda Gamba, have combined their efforts into the grand Gamba Ristorante. Located in Merrillville, this restaurant is housed in an architectural masterpiece, which is hard to miss with its circular design and copper roof. Modeled after upscale restaurants in exotic European locations, the menu offers classic Italian cuisine. The risotto alla Milanese features Arborio rice with saffron, “just like in Milan,” and the wine room boasts storage space for 1,000 bottles. A banquet hall holds up to 200 people and looks out onto an open courtyard.
FLAT ROCK TAP 6732 Calumet Ave, Hammond. 219.852.5262. myspace.com/flatrocktap. Lunch and dinner served 11am-3am Mon-Sat, noon-midnight Sun. Live music, big burgers and 65 selections of beers make the Flat Rock Tap a must stop. Menu options include wings, pizza, a veggie burger and creative patties such as Wild West—a burger topped with barbeque sauce, cheddar cheese and fried onion rings or one loaded with bacon, cheddar cheese and ranch dressing. Also popular are the BLTs, a hearty meal with a pound of bacon (and some lettuce and tomato) served on Texas toast. As for the brew—well, the list is definitely diverse, going from Abita Purple Haze to Victory HopDevil. There are the traditional brews, such as several Sam Adams and Heinekens, and the more unique—Unibroue Éphémère and New Belgium Fat Tire. Enjoy the daily specials like Sunday’s half-priced Bloody Mary and Free Bears Halftime Buffet.
GAUCHO’S 597 US Hwy 30, Valparaiso. 219.759.1100. gauchosvalpo.com. Food is served 4-10pm Mon-Thu, 4-11pm Fri-Sat, noon-9pm Sun. The Twisted Martini lounge is open 4pm-midnight Tue and Thu, 4pm-1am Wed, 4pm-2am Fri-Sat. At Gaucho’s, diners enjoy delicious and unique cuisine invented by the Gaucho cowboys of southern Brazil, who provided meats for the people of Brazil with their famous “Churrasco” barbecue. At Gaucho’s, this centuries-old traditional feast is created tableside as servers bring such offerings as filet mignon wrapped in bacon, chicken parmesan, pork sausage, garlic-roasted turkey breast, merlot-marinated leg of lamb, and a variety of other meats, during Gaucho’s traditional Brazilian-style dinner experience for $34.95. Seafood selections on Wednesday and Friday—just $29.95—include crab legs, shrimp, tilapia, perch, tuna, mahimahi, salmon and clam strips, or add the meat selections for $45.95. All dinners include a 30item salad bar, Brazilian mashed potatoes, and fried bananas. The lunch menu offers a large selection of sandwiches and salads. Start or finish dinner in the Twisted Martini Lounge for cocktails, cigars and live entertainment in a modern, intimate setting.
GAMBA RISTORANTE 455 E 84th Ave, Merrillville. 219.736.5000.
GINO’S STEAK HOUSE 1259 W Joliet St, Dyer. 219.865.3854. 600 E
PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT WRAY
bite & SIP 81st Ave, Merrillville. 219.769.4466. ginossteakhouse.com. Dyer: 4-10pm MonThu, 4-11pm Fri-Sat, 11am-8pm Sun. Merrillville: 11am-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat, 11am-8pm Sun. The chefs at Gino’s, who have more than thirty years of combined experience, use only the freshest ingredients in their homestyle cuisine. Starters include traditional minestrone soup from a family recipe, salads with fresh, locally grown produce, and crusty bread with crocks of butter. The nine-ounce prime steak tops the menu and is itself topped with Roquefort cheese in its most popular rendition. All main dishes are served with the restaurant’s signature marinated peppers, and entrées include fish and lobster delivered daily. The dessert menu features créme brûlée and various cheesecakes, but the housemade tiramisu is the highlight—a rich blend of coffee, chocolate and cream cheese flavors. A premium selection of wine, beer and cocktails is available at the full-service bar, and there is a special children’s menu so the entire family can enjoy the dining experience. GIOVANNI’S 603 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.6220. Lunch is served 11am-11pm Mon-Thu; dinner 5-11pm Mon-Fri, 5-11:30pm Sat. This classic upscale Italian bistro is a local favorite, with charm, gracious service and an extensive menu. Innovative selections include a variety of appetizers, and specials are paired with recommended wine by the glass. A crab cake salad with fresh mozzarella and Bibb lettuce is a staple for lunch, and all entrées are accompanied by hot and crusty garlic Parmesan cheese rolls. You can indulge in a traditional multi-course Italian dinner or order by the item. For lighter fare, soups, sal-
ads and inventive individual pizzas are served with cheerful dispatch. Sumptuous dinners include a renowned veal rollatini with Parmesan, mozzarella and pine nuts, and grilled pork medallions in a sherry-wine sauce. The wine list is extensive but educational, and the desserts range from classic tiramisu to real Italian gelato. The cocktail menu is imaginative and ample. Lunch entrées average about $12, while dinners cost $18 to $25. HAMMER’S FOOD & DRINK 2134 E US Hwy 20, Michigan City. 219.879.0760. Lunch and dinner are served 11am-10pm Mon-Sat, 10am-9pm Sun. Ken “The Hammer” Larson opened Hammer’s Food & Drink in 1995 after graduating from Purdue University and completing his professional boxing career, the theme of which is displayed throughout the restaurant. Offering recipes that have been passed down through generations (his family owned the famous Red Lantern Inn Supper Club), the restaurant is quiet and elegant in atmosphere. The menu has a large number of choices, from traditional specialties to more modern adaptations. It includes hand-made pasta and pizza, steaks, lake perch and barbecued ribs. Highly recommended is the Italian beef. The average entrée ranges from $15 to $20. HARBOR GRILL 12 on the Lake, Michigan City. 219.874.2469. harborgrill.net. Food is served 7 days a week Memorial Day to Labor Day, 11am-closing. Proprietor Ed Arnold, who spent a half million renovating the former Michigan City Yacht Club, considers Harbor Grill primarily a seafood restaurant, but also offers a selection of steak, chicken and pork items. The
signature dish is oversized shrimp encrusted in Parmesan with a citrus wine reduction sauce. Other featured items include cedarplanked salmon and sautéed Zander perch, which is larger and meatier than lake perch. The renovated facility has a full bar and can handle a banquet for up to 250, and it is the only restaurant in the region that will fix your fresh catch by special permission of the state and health department. This is now the only public lakefront restaurant between Chicago and Benton Harbor. Entrée prices range from $18-$25 for casual fine dining and there is an extensive wine list. Arnold has added authentic nautical artifacts and says, “It’s almost like eating in a museum.” IT’S ALL GOOD CAFÉ 1600 119th St, Whiting. 219.655.5039. Open 7am-9pm Mon-Fri, 7am-10pm Sat. Thursdays are particularly busy at this bustling, recently opened café. That’s when kitchen manager Jim Dombrowski serves the day’s special—lamb sandwiches. “I take a boneless leg of lamb, marinate it overnight with garlic and seasonings and then slow roast it for five to six hours,” Dombrowski says. “It cooks until the meat falls apart and then we put it on Gonnella brand Italian bread.” Dombrowski uses all his own recipes for housemade items, which include the marinara sauce on the hot Italian meatball sandwiches topped with mozzarella cheese (Friday’s special sandwich) as well as soups and grilled chicken salad. For breakfast, order a specialty coffee and freshly made pastry. And be sure to save room for Dombrowski’s cookies such as chocolate chip, toffee crunch, peanut butter chunks and oatmeal raisin. The $6 price of a sandwich also includes pickle, chips and fountain drink.
JACK BINION’S STEAK HOUSE at HORSESHOE CASINO 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond. 866.711.7463. horseshoehammond.com. Restaurant is open 4-10:30pm Mon-Thu, Sun, 4-11:30pm Fri-Sat. The Horseshoe facility, a slice of Las Vegas on Lake Michigan, prides itself on customer service and consistently ranks first in every category, including fine dining. The tiered tables and luxurious booths at Jack Binion’s overlook an expansive, panoramic lake view, where the impeccably attired waitstaff helps you choose between the Australian lobster, pan-seared sea scallops and rich thick filets that just make you wonder if Dr. Atkins would really be all right with this. Pick the decadent cheesecake for dessert if you want the best of everything. It is more fun, though, to opt for a post-dinner cocktail and go play. Entrées are $35 on average. LIGHTHOUSE RESTAURANT 7501 Constitution Ave, Cedar Lake. 219.374. WAVE. cedarlakelighthouse.com. Dinner is served 4-10pm Mon-Thurs, 4-11pm Fri-Sat, 3-8pm Sun. Stunning water views through floor-to-ceiling windows is perfect for sunset aficionados and is just one more reason to stop at this recently opened restaurant nestled on the eastern shoreline of Cedar Lake. Executive Chef Ken McRae draws upon his 25 years of culinary experience in creating a menu with such signature dishes as steaks— offered blackened or Cajun style upon request and served at a sizzling 500 degrees for the ultimate in flavor—plus lake perch and Chilean sea bass. For more casual fare, offerings include burgers, salads and pastas. There’s an emphasis on local products from nearby farms and ice cream from Fair Oaks
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bite & SIP Dairy Farm. Bottles of wine are half price on No Whine Wednesdays. LUCREZIA 428 Calumet Rd, Chesterton. 219.926.5829. 302 S Main St, Crown Point. 219.661.5829. lucreziacafe.com. Lucrezia is open 11am-10pm Sun-Thu, 11am11pm Fri-Sat (subject to a one-hour change during winter months). Lucrezia has been a Northern Italian favorite since owners Michael and Nada Karas first opened it in the mid-nineties, in a historic downtown Chesterton building. Several years later, the couple renovated the William Barringer Brown Mansion just off the downtown square in Crown Point, continuing their fine dining tradition. (In fact, Lucrezia won a 2006 and 2008 ROSE Award for “Putting Porter County on the Map.”) Signature dishes include slow cooked Chicken Vesuvio, slow cooked chicken served in a rosemary garlic sauce with roasted potatoes and fresh vegetables, and roasted lamb shank braised in its own juices accompanied with roasted potatoes and braised red cabbage. Specials include veal medallions with mustard and mushrooms topped with a roasted brandy cream sauce. Not to be missed is the zuccotto, a sinful domed-shaped chocolate sponge cake filled with white chocolate mousse and pistachios and sauced with both chocolate and raspberry. Lunch entrées average $20, dinner $30. MILLER BAKERY CAFÉ 555 S Lake St, Gary. 219.938.2229. Lunch is served 11:30am-2pm Tue-Fri; dinner 5-10pm Tue-Sat, 4-8pm Sun. For two decades this famous stop on the Lake Michigan shore has introduced the gateway community to the beach, and to the versatile and eclectic menu. Part European, part New Orleans, and all clever. The lightly sautéed crab cakes and the signature molded polenta and pepper appetizer; wood-grilled steak with peppercorn sauce; salmon coated with a sweet tangy glaze; rack of lamb over garlic smashed potatoes; and cafe chocolate, a slab that tastes like the center of a truffle, are always on the menu. Selections of wines by the glass are as creative, and the waitstaff are connoisseurs of food and drink by hobby as well as trade. The bar has a complete martini and cocktail menu and frequently hosts live jazz on weekend nights. For a special occasion or telling secrets, reserve the very private table in the glass-enclosed wine cellar. A two-course lunch averages $18, dinner entrées $25.
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PIKK’S TAVERN 62 W Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.476.7455. pikkstavern.com. Lunch is served 11:30am3:30pm Fri-Sat, 11am-3pm Sun; dinner 5-9:30pm Mon-Thu, 5:30-11:30pm FriSat, 3-8:30pm Sun; Sunday brunch 11am2:30pm. The tavern identification in this case is used British-style to denote a community-neighborhood-family place with amply portioned, upscale comfort food like a hearty seafood chowder, a 10-ounce sirloin burger, Cajun fried shrimp po’ boy on a French roll, and an amazing list of brunch items, including a traditional apple pancake, crab cakes Benedict, prime rib hash, and a pepper and egg sandwich served on a baguette. The signature breakfast burger (7 ounces) is served on a buttermilk biscuit bun with cheese and hash browns. The fine-dining details like sensational seafood and steaks, fifteen housemade dipping sauces—roasted red pepper mayo, coconut chile, bernaise, chimichurri, wasabi and Berber barbecue, for instance—and martinis shaken table-side have drawn attention as well. This latest hot spot has not forgotten the traditions of its classy cousin Vinci on Chicago’s near north side and has the plank salmon, chicken alfredo and Vinci’s penne to prove it. Wine and microbrew lists round
out the menu. A very substantial lunch or brunch will cost about $20, and a complete dinner will cost an average of $30. SAHARA 1701 Franklin St, Michigan City, Indiana 219.871.1223; sahara-restaurant.net Lunch and dinner served 11am-10pm SunThu, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat. A cozy, casual bistro serving Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine in downtown Michigan City, the menu at Sahara reflects the traditional dishes of owner Moe Mroueh’s homeland. “I like to cook what I grew up eating,” says Mroueh, who isn’t afraid to add a defining touch to classics as he does with such menu items as feta-stuffed dates in a pomegranate reduction sauce, a cucumber Napoleon—slices of cucumber topped with housemade hummus and feta—and a Greek Isle Salad with the usual toppings of cucumbers, onions and feta with an added flourish of gyro meat. Those who want to graze can order one of the combination plates. Patrons are encouraged to linger and enjoy the music with a cold beer or glass of wine. STOP 50 WOOD FIRED PIZZERIA 500 S El Portal, Michigan City. 219.879.8777. stop50woodfiredpizzeria. com. Food is served 11am-10pm Fri-Sat, 11am-8pm Sun. Just north of US Hwy 12 and west of New Buffalo, this café enjoys a well-deserved reputation for authentic Italian pizza baked “Naples-style” in woodfired hearth ovens. Customers return again and again—it’s only difficult to find the first time. The recipes are traditional, and the ingredients are fresh daily. In addition to the Napoletana pizza, sandwiches and salads are available to eat at Stop 50, or you can get your snack or meal to go. Try the banana peppers stuffed with house-made sausage or a fiery tomato and goat cheese dip with hand-cut fried chips. Owners Chris and Kristy Bardol, who rehabbed the 50year-old beach community grocery store into a restaurant, stick to strictly locally grown food. Average entrée cost is $15, but you can make a satisfying light meal out of the generously proportioned starters at $8-$12. Now open is SodaDog, the Bardols’ newest venture, which specializes in authentic hot dogs and sausages and micro-crafted soda, all served via carhop service. SodaDog is located at 171 Hwy 212 in Michigan City. STRONGBOW INN 2405 E US 30, Valparaiso. 800.462.5121. strongbowinn.com. Food is served 11am9pm Mon-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat, 10:30am-8pm Sun. Bakery hours are 7:30am-7pm Mon-Fri, 7:30am-6pm Sat, 10am-5pm Sun. The menu at this classic institution still includes a wide variety of turkey selections, but with daily specials that include barbecued pork ribs, seafood choices, prime rib and other comfort foods, one would never guess that the bakery and restaurant started as a sandwich stand during the Depression. Many families have had Thanksgiving catered by Strongbow— the meticulously prepared traditional meal that can be ordered as take-out is virtually indistinguishable from that produced by a family team working in the kitchen for ten hours. Also, the bakery has exploded with a range of treats created daily, including cinnamon rolls, cakes, pies, brownies, fruit tarts, truffles, crème brûlée and strawberry napoleons. Lunch entrées average $8, and dinner is $18. T-BONES PIER 11 1111 Lakeside, LaPorte. 219.362.5077. pleastshore.com. Dinner only is served 3:30pm daily. This Italian steakhouse is carefully tucked into a cove of scenic Pine Lake, the newer of the two restaurants that are traditionally very popular with guests at
the inn as well as the summer folks who make LaPorte a home away from home. The spacious dining room is reminiscent of a traditional supper club, but a terrace overlooks the harbor and instead of being at a roadhouse, you are on the beach. As expected, the seafood hits a high standard; some of the recommended starters ($9) are sautéed blue crab and shrimp cakes, plump snails baked with Pernod garlic butter, oversized shrimp served martinistyle, and deep-fried calamari and mussels steamed in white wine. A range of salads, pizzas and pasta selections ($10) round out the lighter supper fare, but if boating, water-skiing and swimming make you hungry, this is the place to indulge in a Tbone, New York strip, filet mignon or flat iron steak grilled over a wood fire. Choice of sauces include Gorgonzola cheese, whiskey peppercorn, wild mushroom brandy or blueberry port. Likewise, the fish selections—which can be grilled or sautéed—include scallops, red snapper, salmon, swordfish, mahimahi, walleye and even a lobster tail that can be served with lemon dill butter, warm mango chutney or tomato garlic sauce. If you prefer ordering house specialties you can pick from sautéed beef medallions, duck breast, Chicken Roman, Chicken Saltimbocca, pan-seared Veal Limone or a slow-cooked Italian pot roast (average price $15). A light dinner will probably cost under $20 and a complete 4-to-6 courses will vary from $25 to $35. THEO’S STEAK & SEAFOOD 9144 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland. 219.838.8000. theoshighland.com. Lunch is served 11am-3:30pm Mon-Sat; dinner 3:30-10pm Mon-Thurs, 3:30-11pm FriSat, dinner all day noon-9pm Sun. A classic steak and seafood house, Theo’s also offers a great selection of chicken, pasta and veal dishes as well as such timeless culinary favorites as shrimp de jonghe, steak Diane, veal Oscar and oysters Rockefeller. Helping round out the menu are several Greek favorites such as saganaki (Greek cheese doused with brandy and flambéed tableside), a Greek country salad piled high with kalamati olives, feta, tomatoes and more, and grilled lamb chops marinated in kalamati olive oil and seasoned with oregano, garlic and lemon. For dessert, disregard the calories and go with the Death by Chocolate, layers of chocolate cake with a decadent mousse filling. TREE HOUSE RESTAURANT 3103 E US Hwy 12, Michigan City. 219.872.2877. treehouselongbeach.com. Lunch and dinner served daily 11:30am9:30pm. With its beach-like appeal and games for both adults and children, the Treehouse Restaurant and Barefoot Bar is the perfect summer hangout as well as a place to rekindle that warm weather atmosphere we so long for during winter’s gray days. The family-owned eatery earns its name because the bar is centered around an expansive tree. The atmosphere is total fun, with a softball field, sand box and volleyball court out back, old fashioned arcade games like Ms. Pac Man inside, and accented with all sorts of quirky memorabilia. The menu features sandwiches made from bread supplied by the Stevensville, Michigan, award-winning bakery, Bit of Swiss, and includes pulled pork simmered in housemade barbeque sauce, pizzas, burgers and salads. Besides the wine and beer offerings, there are also such specialty drinks as Long Beach Iced Tea and Vodka Lemo.
Michigan
THE 1913 ROOM and CYGNUS 27 at AMWAY GRAND PLAZA HOTEL Pearl & Monroe Sts, Grand Rapids. 1913 Room: 616.776.6450. Cygnus 27:
877.668.1675. amwaygrand.com. Lunch at 1913 is served 11:30am-2pm Mon-Fri; dinner 5:30-10:30pm Mon-Sat. Cygnus 27 serves dinner 5:30-10pm Tue-Sat; Sunday brunch 10:30am-2pm. The 1913 Room is the only restaurant to earn the coveted AAA 5-Diamond rating in the state of Michigan for its classic service, a fine list of wines, cordials and liqueurs, top quality steaks, baked goods and numerous specials. Creative menu-planning results in a daily lunch buffet of hearty soup, comforting vegetable and potato sides, beef, turkey and salmon on the carving block, and a sideboard of a wide-ranging cheese selection with smoked fish and garden vegetables for accompaniment. At the top of the hotel, the newly renovated Cygnus 27 features a breathtaking river view, an expanded “ice” bar, and an unusual dropped ceiling lit with rectangular boxes. Chef Werner Absenger’s menu is as innovative as ever, with wine and food pairings and off-beat contrasting flavors—a small plate of baby iceberg lettuce comes with green goddess dressing and Michigan cherry bread croutons, and a dozen escargot are served enveloped in a light, buttery sauce packaged in pastry. Featured main courses include a salmon Wellington, veal meatballs with pasta, smoked pork tenderloin, and marinated grilled chicken. Have dessert of chocolate cake with apricot glaze, apple cinnamon tiramisu or pecan pie à la mode served parfait-style, or adjourn to the mahogany and leather cocoon of the Lumber Baron Bar downstairs. There are more than 1,000 bottles in the Amway wine collection and dozens of port, cognac and dessert wine selections. Lunch entrées average $18 and dinner entrées $25. BENTWOOD TAVERN at MARINA GRAND RESORT 600 W Water St, New Buffalo. 877.945.8600. marinagrandresort.com. Lunch is served noon-3pm daily; dinner 5-10pm. This new bistro on the harbor is decked out with artistic lighting, an art deco style and an atmosphere that is casual but cool. The menu for the newest and hottest restaurant in Harbor country is entitled “Artisan Comfort Cuisine,” and it gets right to the point with simple items that are sensibly priced. Starters include housemade pub chips with onion dip and a polenta with triple mushroom ragout. There are frequent specials created by legendary Chef Jenny Drilon, including an appetizer pizza topped with mixed greens and fresh tomato blue cheese vinaigrette—only one of the luxurious dressings available. Entrées include hoisin-glazed barbeque salmon, brewmasters roasted chicken, mixed grill of lamb, shrimp and sausage and—an interesting departure—a Delmonico steak. Only three choices for dessert, but they are all winners: fresh fruit gratin, rhubarb crisp and chocolate cream pie. The wine and beer lists are also short and inspiring, with seven wines available by the bottle and the glass. The prices range from economical— about $15 for a lunch or light dinner—to a bargain at less than $25 for a complete dinner with a glass of wine. JIMMY’S BAR & GRILL 18529 LaPorte Rd, New Buffalo. 269.469.2100. jimmysbarandgrill.net. Lunch and dinner served 11:30am-10 pm Tue-Thu, Sun, 11:30am-11pm Fri-Sat. Both the food and the atmosphere at Jimmy’s Bar & Grill are designed with the intent of providing a relaxing atmosphere for its guests. The restaurant’s dark woods, soft Italian lighting, star-lit ceiling and waterfall behind the bar offer a soothing ambiance. The menu consists of diverse and flavorful foods. For starters, the portabella mushrooms—sliced and beer-battered and served with a garlic feta dressing—are a tasty option, or try the provolone cheese sticks
PORT 412 412 State St, St. Joseph. 269.982.0412. port412.com. Open for lunch and dinner 11am-10pm Sun-Thu, 11-2am Fri-Sat. Port 412 features two stories, including a rooftop patio with a view of Lake Michigan. The first floor is characterized by a lively bar atmosphere, while upstairs is a lounge with couches and brick interior. The top floor is also available for parties, wedding rehearsal dinners, and corporate events. “There’s nothing like it in St. Joe,” says Ryan Van Arkel, concierge manager. Lunches include starters like hearty crab bisque or spring greens and duck breast with orange ginger vinaigrette. Enjoy a Mediterranean portabella wrap or Cuban pork tenderloin sandwich served with homemade chips, fresh fruit, redskin potato salad, or coleslaw. Pizzas and small dishes such as crab cakes and antipasto are also featured. Dinner entrées include pan-roasted tomato ragu, duck breast with sweet plum glaze and stir-fry veggies, and pork tenderloin brochettes with soy ginger glaze. Steaks, chicken and seafood dishes round out the menu. Dessert selections include crème brûlée, chocolate Saint Germaine, and Black Star Farms sirius pear, along with ice wines and ports. The cocktail menu includes a generous selection of martinis, regional and international beers, whiskeys and scotch, and a full wine list.
SIX ONE SIX at JW MARRIOTT HOTEL 235 Louis Campau Promenade NW, Grand Rapids. 616.242.1500. ilovethejw.com/
TIM’S TOO ASIAN GRILL 511 Pleasant St, St. Joseph. 269.985.0094. timstoo.com. Lunch and dinner are served 11am-9pm Mon-Thu, 11am-10pm Sat, noon-9pm Sun. Tim Sizer’s new restaurant is a definite departure from Timothy’s in Union Pier, his legendary, swank seafood emporium along the beach at the Gordon Inn, though the collection of Asian-inspired selections have plenty of fresh fish that the chef proprietor is already so famous for in Harbor Country. The basic program to order stir-fry: you pick the vegetables, meat and noodles and the chef fries them together. The main course is creatively priced at $8.99 for lunch, and a second trip will only cost you $3 more. Dinner is $13.99 and $4 for a second trip. The house-prepared appetizers are where the buzz is right now, with favorites like sugarcane shrimp, wonton shrimp, and vegetable spring rolls. You can choose from 21 sauces to go with your meal, which are easily combined. (The menu suggests complementary pairings.) Also available are vegetarian and gluten-free foods and sauces. Musthave desserts include warm chocolate lava cake and assorted cheesecakes. Your choice for $7. Tim’s Too now has a full liquor license, and proclaims the largest Asian beer collection in St. Joseph. WILD DOG GRILLE 24 W Center St, Douglas. 269.857.2519.
DECEMBER 2009/januaRy 2010
SCHU’S BAR & GRILL 501 Pleasant St, St. Joseph. 269.983.7248. schulersrest.com. Food is served 11am-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am11pm Fri-Sat, 11am-9pm Sun. The restaurant tradition of Schuler’s goes back four generations in Michigan and continues with Schu’s Bar & Grill in St. Joe. Diners can enjoy a breathtaking view of Lake Michigan and cozy up to the handcrafted fieldstone fireplace. Good conversation and good food are all part of the experience at Schu’s, where the start of a tasty night includes Schu’s potato soup—the restaurant’s famous original soup served with cheddar cheese, bacon bits and diced scallions. Gumbos and a selection of distinctive salads, like the sweet chili shrimp salad, also make great starters before the hearty portions of pasta or a sizzlin’ rib eye steak. Also, try the terrific fall-off-the-bone barbeque ribs presented on a wooden plank with tangy molasses sauce served with crispy French fries. Schu’s is also a great place to stop for lunch. A homemade egg salad sandwich is made exceptional with shallots and a touch of tarragon topped with lettuce and tomato, or devour the salmon B.L.T. made with a generous sixounce portion of grilled salmon with crisp bacon, mixed greens and fresh tomatoes, topped with tarragon Dijon sauce and served with housemade chips.
dining. Breakfast is served 6:30am-noon Sat-Sun; lunch 11:30am-2pm MonFri, noon-2pm Sat-Sun; dinner 5-11pm daily. Bringing the best through the door on the front end is the hallmark of this brand-new luxury hotel, located in this Michigan town on a growth trajectory. The menu is simple, and Executive Chef John State—trained at Chicago’s Washburne School and a veteran of the legendary Lake Creek Inn in San Francisco wine country and the California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Orlando, Florida—uses a light touch on the high-quality, mostly local goods. Size, freshness and outstanding taste characterize the seafood. The mussels, oysters, salmon, tuna and scallops are cooked flawlessly and served in a variety of ways, including raw, grilled and poached in herb and broth combinations that coax out and mix perfect flavors. Locally produced poultry, particularly the duck breast, gets an excellent treatment with specially designed, hand-cut vegetable sides. Steaks, chops and filets are held to a high standard, and the wine pairings exceed expectations, even when the JW gets together with an executive chef who has worked in Napa. But the extras make the entire experience so memorable: the perfect martini with a choice of olives; spiced butter and cheese selections served with a variety of fresh-baked crackers and breads; a cheese plate presented with separate garnishes for each type and slice; and housemade desserts, including a thick, rich and dense crème brûlée in multiple flavors. Even the coffee is a treat, especially when complemented by an aged Porto. The architecture, spacious interior design, orchestrated and technically perfect lighting, and impeccable service combine to create an atmosphere that enhances the experience. Entrées average $25-$35. The specialty drink (the bar features a wall of blue Skyy Vodka bottles) and the wine list, like the menu, are high-quality and carefully chosen. Reservations are a very good idea; while the restaurant, Mixology bar and the atrium lounge fill the vast expanse of the first floor, at certain times on the weekends every seat is taken, and there may be a short wait.
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triple-dipped in garlic butter breading and served with a marinara sauce. There are plenty of salads and sandwiches, also Italian beef, buffalo chicken wraps, burgers and homemade thin-crust pizzas. For dinner, the Italian sausage served with sautéed green peppers, onions, artichoke hearts and portabellas is covered in marinara and mozzarella cheese and baked until golden brown. Also, try the lobster ravioli topped with a homemade vodka sauce or the homemade Louisiana crab cakes served with blackberry merlot sauce and Tracy’s Creole sauce. A kid’s menu is also available, as well as daily specials such as Mahi-Mahi or Chilean Seabass and drink specials.
bite & SIP 5-9:30pm Tue-Thu, 11:30am-10:30pm FriSat, noon-9:30pm Sun. Sam Kendall, coowner of the Wild Dog Grille, says their Italian-inspired cuisine, with a new-age twist, has been delighting the public ever since they opened their doors in June 2007. Start out with fresh spring rolls stuffed with crab meat and wrapped in a thin rice paper, or try the crab cake served with three dollops of Creole remoulade for a flavor enhancement. Another tasty option is the pesto spinach cheese dip served with flat breads fired fresh in the stone oven. Their trademark stone oven pizzas are fired in the best stone oven on the market for an old-world, thin-crust flavor. Fresh-cut steaks, such as the popular filet mignon and New York strip, are exceptional. Finish the meal with a vanilla panna cotta made from scratch from the chef’s family recipe, the Oregon berry cobbler or a key lime tart. The restaurant has a liquor license, and the owners pride themselves on offering a laid-back atmosphere with the quality of high-end restaurants. Prices go up to $25.95 for the filet mignon, with most selections under $20.
Illinois
33 CLUB 1419 N Wells St, Chicago. 312.664.1419. 33clubchicago.com. Food is served 11ammidnight Sun-Mon, 11am-1am Tue, 11am2am Wed-Fri, 11am-3am Sat. Set in the middle of Chicago’s Old Town, Jerry Kleiner’s new, stylish 33 Club evokes a post-Prohibition dining parlor. Revolving doors lead into a paneled ceiling and noisy bar area, but beyond is a soaring, considerably quieter mahogany-paneled dining room with a towering wall of glass shelves, tufted red ban-
quettes, geometric light boxes and flocked fabric (and comfortable) chairs that pop up in all Kleiner’s restaurants. There is also a grand staircase leading up to an open upper dining level. Chef Daniel Kelly’s straightforward menu is loaded with classics such as shrimp cocktail, oysters Rockefeller and Caesar salad. A hands-down winner is the light, crispy fried calamari, set off with French fried lemon slices and two dipping sauces. There is a memorable miso-glazed Chilean sea bass with five-grain rice, braised veal with morels served over a bed of egg noodles—and plenty of steak choices in a very large menu. Simple, reasonable desserts. Great service. Dinner nightly. Reservations necessary. 200 EAST SUPPER CLUB at the SENECA HOTEL 200 E Chestnut, Chicago. 312.266.4500. 200eastchestnut.com. Dinner is served 4-10pm Sun-Thu, 4-11pm Fri-Sat; order from the bar menu 4pm-midnight daily. Live entertainment 7-11pm Tue, 8:30pm-1am Wed-Sat. Located on a quiet corner of the Gold Coast residential area, this retro supper club has quickly established itself as a neighborhood hangout that doubles as a destination for out-of-towners who stay at the posh hotels such as the Ritz-Carlton and the Raffaello across the street. The menu is the creation of chef/owner Tony Navarro and his extended family, who have owned and operated Pasta Vino in Schiller Park for 30 years. Signature dishes from the family’s recipe collection include appetizers Melrose peppers stuffed with housemade Italian sausage and fresh assorted cheeses and its inside-out version called sausage Caprese; two special salads with sweet and savory combinations of marinated tenderloin, gorgonzola, fruit and
caramelized walnuts and “Nonni Theresa’s Italian Wedding Soup.” Rounding out the entrée specialty menu are linguini and clam, calamari and mussel sauce, an artichoke chicken and pasta dish, Italian sausage with sautéed tomatoes and vegetables cooked “Giambotta” style, special edition Rigatoni and Eggplant Parmigiana, and “Brickhouse Chicken,” a whole de-boned pan-seared chicken, seasoned and cooked under a brick. (This is a specialty designed for the late, great broadcaster.) Prices are very reasonable and average less than $10 for appetizers, soups, salad and sandwiches on the bar menu and less than $20 per average entrée. The wine list is a work of art with excellent choices at every level, from a satisfying Beaulieu Merlot for $8.50 per glass to a $95 bottle of Franciscan Magnificat Meritage or $100 Far Niente Chardonnay. Of course, there is an extensive classic cocktail menu and homemade tiramisu, but would you expect anything less? BALAGIO RISTORANTE 17501 Dixie Hwy, Homewood. 708.957.1650. balagio-restaurant.com. Lunch is served 11am-4pm Mon-Fri, noon to 4pm Sun; dinner 4-9pm Mon-Thur, 4-10pm Fri-Sat, 4-8pm Sun. Now in a new location, this popular Italian restaurant has changed its menu offerings, with many entrée prices now under $12.95. Some of the specialties created by chef/owner Mike Galderio include chicken scaloppini—thin breast cutlets quickly sautéed with white wine—Italian sausage and roasted red peppers served with braised escarole, and a salmon club sandwich with broiled salmon, crisp bacon, avocado, lettuce and tomato. There are also Galderio traditional family recipes like the chopped salad with chicken, salami and hearts of palm,
housemade marinara sauce and spaghetti and meatballs. There’s an extensive wine list as well as live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings. Private dining is available for any group from 10 to 200, either family style or custom designed. CIBO MATTO at THE WIT HOTEL 201 N State St, Chicago. 312.239.9500. cibomatto.therestaurantsatthewit.com. Lunch is served 11:30am-2pm Tue-Fri; dinner 5:30-11pm Mon-Sat. At the corner of State and Lake, in the heart of the Loop, a new and beautiful fine-dining restaurant offers sophisticated traditional Italian dining with a twist. Cibo Matto means “Crazy Food” but there is nothing off the wall here—just plenty of innovation by Chef Todd Stein in a setting with many seating options: a 12seat counter-height chef’s table overlooking the kitchen, cozy leather booths, or freestanding tables with views of the 2,000 bottle glass-enclosed wine tower. There are window tables with a western view and, above, a 30-foot ceiling fresco by prominent artist Todd Murphy. Start with a rabbit terrine served in two pancetta-wrapped slices over orange and white pureed carrots. Try the short ribs topped with gremolata and served with a flavorful ricotta-creamed spinach, or the perfectly grilled veal tenderloin. Fish, pastas and desserts are all amazing. Dinner nightly, reservations necessary. THE COURTYARD BISTRO 21 S White St, Frankfort. 815.464.1404. Food is served 11am-10pm Tue-Thu, 11am11pm Fri-Sat. The ambitious menu is inspired by the cooking of Italy, France and the American Southwest, but this south
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GIBSON’S STEAKHOUSE 1028 N Rush St, Chicago. 312.266.8999. gibsonssteakhouse.com. Food is served 11am-midnight daily; bar 11am-2am. The traditional fresh seafood and aged steak restaurant’s reputation for quality and service never varies, and the clientele is often as famous as the food. If you are going to have a martini once in your life, the front-room bar would be the right place. (You can also select food from a special bar menu or the dinner menu.) The same can be said for the mammoth portions of layer cake or à la mode desserts that are as daunting visually as they are gastronomically. Start the diet tomorrow, live like a rock star today— you can even choose which rock star from the autographed photos plastered all over the staircase walls. Though the Rush Street location is the flagship and standard bearer, there is another Gibson’s in Rosemont and related hotspots next door (Hugo’s Frog Bar) and a couple of blocks away at RL (Ralph Lauren), where a similar menu is the staple. Reservations are a must, unless you want to hang out in the crowd, which is plenty of fun too. The array of choices for wine and cocktails is dizzying and so are the portions; be prepared. Entrées average about $35, but you can go much higher. Be prepared to valet park—it just makes sense.
JENNY’S STEAKHOUSE 20 Kansas St, Frankfort. 815.464.2685. 11041 S Menard Ave, Chicago Ridge. 708.229.2272. jennyssteakhouse.com. Lunch is served 11am-3pm Mon-Fri; early bird dinner 3-5pm Mon-Fri; dinner 5-10pm Mon-Sat, 5-9pm Sun. The Courtright family has an impressive history and credentials in the culinary world of South Chicago and the nearby suburbs, and the Frankfort location is
THE PICKWICK SOCIETY TEAROOM 21 S White St, Frankfort. 815.806.8140. pickwicktearoom.com. Breakfast and lunch are served 8:30am-3:30pm WedSat, Sun noon-4:30pm. Food and beverages are part of the experience in this charming and comfortable shop/bakery/ restaurant, whether you are browsing antiques or just stopping for a minute as you work your way through the fascinating downtown historic community. But the tea is definitely special; Pickwick serves only Octavia Whole Leaf Tea, and a never-ending pot for two costs $5.50. The selections are wide-ranging, including black, oolong, green, white, herbal and every flavor from English breakfast to Rooibos & Roses. A thoughtful menu has a dozen luncheon combinations with salads, sandwiches, cheese plate, quiche, fruit and vegetables, and garnishes averaging about $7. Sides include green salad, fruit salad and soup. Pastries, breads and cookies can be combined or consumed individually. A popular choice is a scone with clotted cream and jam for $2.75. Choose from two dozen kinds of finger sandwiches such as ham and pineapple spread on a corn muffin, spinach and cheese on a filo triangle, or fig merlot spread with cream cheese on white. A dozen breads include chocolate tea and 14 kinds of homemade scones. Cookies— including madeleines, carrot oatmeal raisin, or cranberry hazelnut shortbread—are $.75 apiece or $8 per dozen. SMITH & WOLLENSKY 318 N State St, Chicago. 312.670.9900. smithandwollensky.com. Open daily 11:30am-11pm. Food is served in the Grill Room 11:30-1:30am. This big-city steakhouse is the most independentminded, high-quality chain on the planet. Perched overlooking the Chicago River at Marina City, its menu is as solid and dependable as jewelry from Tiffany’s or a Brooks Brothers suit. The menu includes simply grilled seafood and porterhouse for two when available. There are three 10-ounce lobster tails to choose from— South African, Tristan Island and Australian. Try not to miss the famous split-pea soup, although, as expected, it’s rich. Full dinners start at $25 and go up. Even though there are 450 tables and booths, reservations are strongly recommended.
DECEMBER 2009/januaRy 2010
GLENWOOD OAKS RIB & CHOP HOUSE 100 N Main St, Glenwood. 708.758.4400. Food is served 11am-9:30pm Mon, 11am-10pm Tue-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri, 4-11pm Sat, noon-9pm Sun. The Jarosky family has been serving a solid menu of steaks, chops, fresh seafood and vegetables for a generation, with specials that reflect newly popular items or vegetables in season. But the clientele returns again and again for the staples, which include Angus steaks and chops, sautéed fresh lake perch, oysters Rockefeller done à la Isabelle, and salads of crunchy iceberg lettuce with house dressing. Armadillo eggs—fresh jalapeño peppers stuffed with cheddar, fried and served with salsa and sour cream—are the ultimate in comfort food. Dinner entrées average $20; lunch entrées run in the $12 range.
just the most recent addition to the roster. The menu has scores of familiar and comforting staples like classic chicken Parmesan and a legendary Gambriliano Italiano with sautéed sausage, chicken breast, Vesuvio potatoes, peppers, zucchini, onions, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and white wine over fettuccine. The signature steak is an 8-ounce filet with garlic and bleu cheese, and you can have it with Jack Daniels sauce for an extra $2.50. Meals always include soup, potato, vegetable, bread and bruschetta, and the wine list is impressive and right on. Soup, early-bird and homemade specials change daily—Monday, for instance, you can get split pea soup, pot roast with potato pancakes, and Mama’s meatloaf—but even the regular selections are imaginative. Where else can you get a bottle of Dom Perignon with two surf-and-turf dinners for $235? Jenny’s will even text you drink special information—all you have to do is register. Prices average less than $10 for appetizers, soups, salads, wraps and sandwiches on the lunch menu, and the median price for steak is $20. Most other entrées come in at somewhat less; the sea scallops are $16.95, for instance. An 8- to 9-ounce prime rib at $10.95, a half slab of ribs at $9.95, and braised ox tails at $8.95 are just a few of the bargains on the early-bird menu.
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suburban bistro adeptly meets the challenge of its own making while getting results that delight both newcomers and regulars. Signature dishes include Santa Fe lasagna and artichoke ravioli on the Neapolitan side, and onion tart and gorgonzola-seared beef tenderloin are straight out of a sidewalk café near the River Seine in Paris. The martini menu is as innovative as the food, and the wine list is better than average with interesting possibilities for complementing the entrées. The seafood is very fresh and wellprepared with garnishes and light sauces, and main dishes are economical in the $9-$15 range. The atmosphere is always friendly and can range from celebratory for special luncheons on the weekends to cozy, romantic couple dinners in the evening. But it is the attention to detail at every level from customer comfort to the dessert selections and coffee service at the end of the meal that gets the repeat customers.
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THE ANNUAL SHORE HOLIDAY HOUSE
A CROSSCULTURAL CHRISTMAS
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Stately English design, traditional Dutch influence, and unabashed American patriotism are brought together in the St. John, Indiana, home of the Hoeksemas. Only three years old, the 5,000-square-foot house has the air of a landed estateâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;with some techno-savvy elements.
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At the holidays, there is a natural blending of old-world charm and upscale accoutrements. Christmastime may be the favorite season for Clair and Lynn Hoeksema—eight themed Christmas trees brighten various rooms and corners. The couple has enjoyed Northwest Indiana since moving here from South Holland, Illinois, in 1971 to join a closeknit community of Dutch friends. Clair so enjoyed the experience of renovating that first home in St. John that when it came time in July 2006 to build the couple’s dream home, “Clair and a nephew did most of the work,” notes Lynn, including all the electric wiring and electronics. Radiant heating is energyefficient and cozy for Midwest winters. Lynn, une dame d’un certain age, pitched right in, too. Underneath her quiet dignity are an irrepressible spirit and determination; she installed all ceramic tile in the kitchen, six baths, porch and the completely finished basement. Among her current projects is making the drapes for the great room windows. No small task, that: one huge window comprises nearly an entire wall. A fireplace is flanked by two large armoires that hold dish collections. Byers carolers—two of them Dutch—are favorites that >>>
BY JULIE DEAN KESSLER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT WRAY
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remind Lynn of her mother, who was always singing hymns. Music fills the air when family gathers in the large dining area, where a Christmas tree displays Delft ornaments. Christmas Day she serves a lavish brunch, thankful for the double oven, generous Corian countertops, large, black polished-granite island, and temperature-controlled wine storage. Turkish tiles add interest over the stove; Portuguese tiles brighten the breakfast bar area—a favorite place for Lynn to pore over her collection of more than 100 cookbooks. Ever ready for culinary adventure, Lynn bought a small blowtorch and produced crème brûlée for the family’s dessert in the formal dining room.
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Year-round patriotism is reflected in the red, white and blue-themed Christmas tree in Lynn’s office, an elegant, high-ceilinged space with a piano and plenty of room for three armoires. They hold a wide array of stationery and note cards, and display collectible figurines, including a selection of Norman Rockwell figures. Upstairs, with stairway lighted by a French chandelier, is a bedroom devoted to guests, with twin beds and wicker furniture for the couple’s nieces. A second guest bedroom has a four-poster bed and vintage, narrow secretary discovered in Jasper County, Indiana. A bridge walkway overlooking the great room leads to husband Clair’s office and sitting room, a favorite place to watch TV. And yes, there’s a Christmas tree here, too, with all manner of ornaments in a fishing motif. A walk-in attic makes storing the beloved Christmas decorations easier. The tree in the master bedroom is resplendent with gold and ivory-colored ornaments. In the master bath—Lynn did all the tile work on the walls here as well as the flooring—a big glass ginger jar holds ornaments, gold pine cones and candles. Outside this bath hangs a Hawaiian quilt Lynn made with the help of her mother-in-law; its stitched pineapples represent hospitality. “Everyone’s
Turkish tiles add interest at the stove [opposite, upper]; a “Blessings” message conveys the couple’s deep spirituality. A ginger jar [opposite, lower] holds Christmas ornaments collected from far and near. One of the eight Christmas trees is in the great room [this page, left], where the two armoires hold dish collections and the wall of windows at right lets natural light fill the room. Colorful Byers carolers [above] are tender reminders of Lynn’s beloved mother, who sang favorite hymns at home as well as at church.
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Downstairs in the finished basement, there’s a full kitchen, with butcherblock island, two refrigerators, dishwasher, pantry and storage closets, and two dining areas for festive meals. Last year, “Our New Year’s gang that’s been getting together for more than 40 years was here,” Lynn says. A long window seat holds air mattresses and pillows for younger family members, who enjoy the big game table and the library. Clair’s favorite is the movie theater, a cozy but ample space with seats he procured from a theater in Michigan. A Christmas Story, the tale from Northwest Indiana’s Jean Shepherd, plays for delighted family and friends every year. “Spirituality is important to us,” Lynn says; “Christmas is just one time in the year when we can show what is meaningful in our lives.”
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welcome,” Lynn says. Some changes to the original design were sudden inspiration: one bath was to be a closet, but Clair knocked out the ceiling, doubled the space, and added shelving; the extra space, Lynn says, makes everything easier to access.
One of Lynn’s holiday touches [opposite]: bright berries encircle the lamps of a chandelier over the dining table. A life-size Santa and tree [this page, above] greet guests in the foyer. Unusual ornaments [left] are tucked into one of the eight themed Christmas trees; next to it, an angel candleholder [far left] is part of the Hoeksemas’ Delft collection. The elegant but warm formal dining room [lower left] is bright with music and a Christmas tree when family members gather for a festive meal.
shore THINGS Sun Catchers
1348 119th St, Whiting, Indiana 219.659.6666 Tue, Thu 10am-8pm, Wed, Fri, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm As its name suggests, Sun Catchers is the place to go for stained glass. A large variety of stained glass décor items are available— either readymade or custom-designed—as well as florals, candles, and high-end bath and body products by CaswellMassey. The staff at Sun Catchers also host and teach occasional stained glass classes.
The information presented in Shore Things is accurate as of press time, but readers are encouraged to call ahead to verify store hours. Please note that Illinois and most Indiana businesses adhere to central time, and Michigan businesses are eastern time.
build Indiana
MARK SCOTT HOMES 15645 Embers Dr, Mishawaka. 574.259.9518. markscotthomes.net. Since 1988, this reputable builder has specialized in custom home building. Their portfolio consists of large, eye-catching exteriors and complex and detailed interiors. Mark Scott Homes prides themselves also on building environmentally friendly and energy-efficient homes. The staff consists of welltrained, experienced, detail-oriented craftsmen. MARUSZCZAK APPLIANCE 7809 W Lincoln Hwy, Schererville. 219.865.0555. Mon, Thu 8:30am-8pm, Tue, Wed, Fri 8:30am-5pm, Sat 8:30am-3pm. For nineteen years, Maruszczak has been selling and servicing major home appliances in the Munster area. Its broad inventory includes fridges, stoves, dishwashers, washer/dryers and more, made by virtually every brand in the market. The company is also factory-authorized to service everything it sells. SQUARE 1 BUILDERS INC. 56199 Parkway Ave, Ste 1, Elkhart. 574.389.8010. dreambuildlive.net. This company specializes in the building of lake homes, plus lakefront renovations, additions, teardowns and construction of outer buildings. Square 1’s lakefront home models can be viewed at the Baldwin Landing development.
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TRAINOR GLASS COMPANY 202 N Dixie Way, South Bend. 574.855.2380. trainorglass.com. Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm. Since 1953, Trainor Glass has specialized in commercial glass and glazing. Their state-of-the-art glass can be installed just about anywhere, from partitions, walls and doors, to the shower and bath. Trainor serves all of Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan.
Michigan
THE RENTAL BRANCH 3848 Niles Rd, St. Joseph. 269.429.3116. therentalbranch.com. What started as an equipment-
rental company is now expanding into the realm of decorative concrete. The staff here are trained to handcraft a variety of interior and exterior applications including vertical wall finishes, countertops, walkways, stamped concrete and stone wine cellars. Do-it-yourself workshops are also an option. WATER PLACE 188 W US 12, Ste 3, New Buffalo. 269.231.5153. Mon-Fri 9am-3pm, Sat 10am-3pm. The Water Place is a decorative plumbing and hardware products superstore. With whirlpools, faucets and cabinets, this has “everything you need for plumbing services.”
Illinois
BLINK APPLIANCES & KITCHENS 2717 Glenwood-Lansing Rd, Lynwood. 708.889.1860. blink.homeappliances.com. Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-3pm or by appointment. Specializing in sales, service, installation and parts for forty-nine years, Blink Appliances is affiliated with Brand Source, one of the largest buying groups in the nation. The knowledgeable sales staff has won national awards for its service and installation of quality appliances and cabinetry. M&M Locations in Crete, Downers Grove, Mokena, and Crown Point, Indiana. 800.830.2284. m-mcorp.com. This family-owned company is known for its roofing services but now offers residential interior remodeling, particularly for kitchens and baths and room additions. M&M offers a range of services, customizable to a client’s needs.
design Indiana
ARCHITECTURAL ACCENTS, INC. 9760 Indiana Pkwy, Munster. 219.922.9333. archaccents.com. Mon-Thu 7am-3:30pm. This architectural millwork shop specializes in one-piece curved wood molding and radius millwork. In addition to radius casings for windows and doors, Architectural
Accents can customize products for any shape and wood specie. BANTER FLOORS & MORE 12937 S Wicker Ave, Cedar Lake. 219.374.7360. banterfloors.com. Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-6pm, Tue, Thu 9am-8pm. For more than 20 years, Banter has specialized in residential and commercial flooring sales and installation. Materials include hardwood, laminate, vinyl, natural stone, slate, marble and carpet, as well as cabinetry and countertops. Other services available are carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning and interior design assistance. THE BEACH HOUSE 619 E 3rd St, Hobart. 219.942.0783. Tue-Fri noon5pm, Sat 10am-2pm. The 1,000-square-foot showroom at the Beach House features “beachy,” cottagestyle home furnishing and accessories in the store’s lower level. Custom orders are accepted. The store began as and still houses an upscale showroom of very current, high-quality, pre-owned furniture. CLOSET & CARPENTRY DESIGNS 1431 S Michigan St, South Bend. 574.239.1347. closetandcarpentrydesign.com. Available by appointment. This “one-stop closet shop” designs and manufactures anything related to storage and organization, including closets, bookcases, home offices and garages. A wide variety of products—from melamine to wood—are offered at all price ranges. Owner Mark Tepe and his staff work throughout the shoreline area, including Harbor Country and Chicago. FULL CIRCLE ART 1405 119th St, Whiting. 219.659.0901. Mon-Sat 10:30am-5pm. Artists and antiquers alike will appreciate the many features of Full Circle Art, including custom framing, fine art supplies, posters and a wide array of antiques. Art classes are also available, taught by owner Kathy Winsberg and other members of Whiting’s 119th Street Artists. HECHTS LANDSCAPING INC. 219.322.5296. hechtslandscaping.com.
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HERITAGE DRAPERIES 2224 US Hwy 41, Schererville. 219.322.8585. 18112 Torrence Ave, Lansing, Ill. 708.418.1177. heritage-draperies.com. Mon-Fri 10am5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. Heritage Draperies is Northwest Indiana’s first retail showroom featuring custom window treatments. Patrons of Heritage can see full-size working displays, rather than having to guess from a sketch. The inventory here includes fabrics, trimmings, hardware, hard coverings and shutters. INTERIORS BY DESIGN 2930 McKinley Ave, South Bend. 574.237.0099. interiors-by-design.net. Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm. This full-service interior design company features furniture, draperies, wallpaper, fabrics, carpet, area rugs, artwork and accessories. Many of Interiors by Design’s furniture lines show at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. NATURALLY WOOD FURNITURE CENTER 1106 E US Hwy 20, Michigan City. 219.872.6501. naturallywoodfurniturecenter.com. Mon-Thu 9:30am-6pm, Fri 9:30am-8pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun noon-4pm. For more than 30 years, Naturally Wood Furniture h as been selling quality furniture and accessories. A full Flexsteel Signature Gallery features more than 2,000 fabrics and leathers, lake and cottage styles from Capris Upholstery, and selections from Ashley and Millennium. The largest selection of lake/cottage accessories in the area— together with personal friendly service— makes Naturally Wood Furniture a destination store. TRIAD DESIGN ASSOCIATES 110 N Broad St, Griffith. 219.924.9755. triaddesignassociates.com. This design firm specializes primarily in commercial design, with services including space planning, furnishings, lighting and project management. Designers and space planners on staff have been professionally trained and are experienced in the latest technology.
Michigan
BAYBERRY COTTAGE 510 Phoenix Rd, South Haven. 269.639.9615. Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-4pm. One of South Haven’s most well-known shops, Gwen DeBruyn’s Bayberry Cottage features home furnishings and accessories which include furniture, wall décor, rugs, florals and bath and body products. Interior design services are also available, and items can be special ordered if not in stock.
NATURE’S WAY LANDSCAPING 1113 John Beers Rd, Stevensville. 269.429.1694. natureswayinc.com. Since 1976, this well-renowned, award-winning company has specialized in landscape design, construction and maintenance. Nature’s Way can also design and install walks, patios, driveways, retaining walls, waterfalls, and lighting. OLD WORLD CHARM 269.556.1803 or 269.208.7108. Artisan David Pierce Bennethum specializes in decorative finishes and custom painting techniques for both private and commercial clients. All materials are imported from Italy, and Bennethum uses primarily Italian techniques in his work, for the optimally elegant look. SAWYER HOME & GARDEN CENTER 5865 Sawyer Rd, Sawyer. 269.426.8810. sawyergardencenter.com. Open daily 9am7pm. The Sawyer Garden Center offers a large inventory of items for the garden, including annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees, plus a variety of high-quality lawn accessories. A large gift shop and gourmet shop—featuring produce, breads, sauces and cheeses—are also on site. SEA GLASS COTTAGE 402 Eagle St, South Haven. 269.639.1200. seaglasscottage.com. As its name suggests, this specialty shop features hundreds of collected sea glass items, along with a tasteful collection of beach-inspired home furniture and décor. Purses, jewelry, sunglasses and other accessories are also available here. TUSCAN POT 321 Water St, Saugatuck. 269.857.5550. tuscanpot.com. Mon-Thu 11am-5pm, Fri-Sun 11am-6pm. Artist Rachael Hirt creates custom handmade and handpainted Italian Majolica tiles for the kitchen, bath, garden and anywhere else a client desires. Hirt’s extensive inventory includes custom tiles, mosaics, tile and mosaic murals and dinnerware. Tuscan Pot also offers howto classes, as well as a selection of goods imported from Italy.
Illinois
ART 4 SOUL 18135 Harwood, Homewood. 708.206.1026. art4soul.com. Mon-Wed 10am-6pm, Thu-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-5pm. Patrons love the one-stopshop factor of this eclectic store, which offers jewelry, hand-crafted home décor items and personalized gifts, plus a paintyour-own ceramic studio and bead shop where customers can make their own jewelry.
drive Indiana
DORMAN GARAGE, INC. 1317 Lake St, LaPorte. 219.324.7646. dormangarage.com. With more than twenty years of experience, Dorman Garage specializes in classic car restoration. Aside from offering restoration services, there is also a large inventory of restored classic automobiles for sale.
december 2009/january 2010
CUSTOMS IMPORTS 430 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo. 269.469.9180. customsimports.com. Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm. This exotic gallery hosts a large, distinguished inventory of global art, furniture and antiques from India, Indonesia, China, Morocco and Vietnam. Dee Dee Duhn’s new showroom features teak root benches, textiles, Indonesian pottery, unique new furniture and an extensive mirror gallery. Claudia Labao’s Global Dreams jewelry—popular with the stars of Desperate Housewives—can also be found here.
FRONT 207 E Front St, Buchanan. 269.695.0230. Fri noon-6pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am5pm, or by appointment. This eclectic boutique offers bright and colorful tabletop accessories, home furnishings, paintings, sculptures, fashion, jewelry and books with a classic, modern viewpoint. Owner Joseph Paolucci handpicks the merchandise, which comes from all over Europe.
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Northwest Indiana’s largest landscaping companies, Hechts has expanded their services to include landscape renovation, new home landscape construction, retaining walls, paver brick walks, patios and borders, irrigation, and more. Free estimates are available.
shore THINGS LEXUS OF MERRILLVILLE 3957 US Hwy 30, Merrillville. 219.769.4545. lexusofmerrillville.com. Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-5:30pm. Lexus vehicles and customer-service focused sales teams can be found at this dealership, which features new and pre-owned vehicles—including luxury and sport sedans, SUVs and convertibles. Financing, vehicle services and parts and accessories are also available. MAXIM POWER SPORTS 5901 E 81st Ave, Merrillville. 219.942.0548. maximpowersports.com. Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-6pm, Tue, Thu 9am-8pm, Sat 9am3pm. This showroom, which spans more than 30,000 square feet, includes brands like Kawasaki, Polaris, Yamaha and Suzuki. It can suit multiple outdoor sporting needs, including street, dirt, watercraft and snow vehicles and gear. The parts and service departments are also helpful and knowledgeable. SCHEPEL AUTO GROUP 2929 W Lincoln Hwy, Merrillville. 866.724.3735. schepel.com. Mon-Fri 9am8pm, Sat 9am-5pm. This renowned auto dealer in Northwest Indiana offers new and pre-owned vehicles by Cadillac, Hummer, Saab, Buick and Pontiac. The experienced sales staff, plus the extensive online inventory, help consumers find the car most suited for their needs. Repair services are also available.
Michigan
RUSSELL’S FOREIGN CAR REPAIR 8754 US Hwy 31, Berrien Springs. 269.473.3088. This dealer alternative provides service, repairs and maintenance during the vehicle’s factory warranty and beyond. Russell’s Foreign Car Repair services all imported car makes, but specializes in upscale European and Asian vehicles.
eat Indiana
COSITUTTI MARKETPLACE cosituttimarketplace.com. The many gourmet products available at the Cositutti online store come directly from Italy—handpicked by owner Pam Marasco, who has traveled to Italy on a regular basis. All products are made only in the village of origin and include artisan pasta, Italian honey, olive oil, pesto and pure dark chocolate. GREAT LAKES CATERING 701 Washington St, Michigan City. 219.898.1501. greatlakescatering.com. With a combined 75 years of experience, father and son Ed and Matt Kis have formed one of the area’s leading catering companies. A full range of services is available for all kinds of events, including catered foods and beverages, bands, tents, tables and more.
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YE OLDE FUDGE SHOPPE 1452 119th St, Whiting. Mon-Thu, Sat 10am-5pm, Fri 10am-7pm. As an extension of Chrislove Collectibles, Ye Olde Fudge Shoppe caters to chocolate lovers. The shop offers more than 20 varieties of homemade fudge, including Oreo, mint amaretto, peanut butter and Dreamsicle flavors. Fudge can be shipped all over the U.S.
Michigan
KILWIN’S Multiple locations in Illinois and Michigan. kilwins.com. For more than 60 years, Kilwin’s has been a quality confectionery shoppe in northern Michigan, providing quality products and excellent services. Despite growing throughout the United States and changing ownership, they still use only the finest and
freshest ingredients in their hand-paddled fudge, custom chocolates and truffles.
give Indiana
ELQ EMPORIUM 1858 Indianapolis Blvd, Whiting. 219.473.9750. Mon-Thu 10am-7pm, Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 9am-4pm. ELQ Emporium is a tobacco shop where customers can select from the array of merchandise, including pipes, 36 cigar brands and such accessories as Xikar lighters and cutters. Cigar and pipe smokers can relax on the couches, play chess, sip on a cold beverage or watch TV. OPULENT VODKA opulentvodka.com. This award-winning vodka, made of a grain distinctively native to America, is fermented and distilled “five times for a purity of less than 1 micron,” according to the website, which also hosts an extensive list of cocktail recipes. RIBORDY LIQUORS 2 W Dunes Hwy, Beverly Shores. 219.871.1111. 1454 W Hwy 30, Valparaiso. 219.465.7507. This upscale liquor store features fine wines, top-shelf liquors, and import and craft specialty beers. Kegs and ice are also available. SCHOOLHOUSE SHOP 278 E 1500 N, Chesterton. 219.926.1551. schoolhouseshop.com. Mon-Sat 10am5pm, Sun 11am-5pm. This quaint collection of shops—located inside a schoolhouse built in the 1800s—features a wide array of gifts, antiques and home décor. Adelaide clothing boutique and the Magic Pantry—which features Marilyn’s Bakery products—are popular favorites at this shopping destination. WHITING FLOWER SHOP 1341 119th St, Whiting. 219.659.0326. whitingflowers.com. Mon-Sat 9am-5pm. Established in 1900, this reputable flower shop offers a large variety of floral styles, for an equally large variety of occasions. In addition to flowers, the shop carries a wide selection of giftware and collectibles, as well as plants.
Michigan
LAMBRECHT’S LIQUORS 2926 Niles Ave, St. Joseph. 269.983.5353. lambrechtsliquors.com. Mon-Wed 9am10pm, Thu-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun noon-9pm (noon-6pm Jan-Mar). Lambrecht’s features a comprehensive selection of wines, beers, spirits, cigars, pipes and tobacco products. Specialty items include beer and winemaking equipment and supplies and gourmet coffees and cheeses. Occasional tasting events and seminars are offered as well.
Illinois
NATHALIE’S INTERIORS & GALLERY 2009 Ridge Rd, Homewood. 708.647.1177. Mon-Wed, Fri 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-4pm. A wide array of gifts can be found here, including Vera Bradley items, Pandora jewelry, Thymes fragrances, dishware, baby gifts, All That Jazz statues, and art by Edna Hibel, along with an assortment of art prints.
heal Indiana
CENTER FOR OTOLARYNGOLOGY 9120 Columbia Ave, Ste A, Munster. 219.836.4820. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm or by appointment. Bethany Cataldi, D.O., specializes in ear, nose and throat surgery and facial plastic surgery. In fact, she is the only female facial plastic surgeon in Northwest Indiana
who’s been specifically trained in surgery of the face, head and neck. Dr. Cataldi’s expertise in such procedures exclusively ranges all spectrums, from topical treatments like skin peels, to hair removal, to full nasal construction. NORTHWEST ORAL SURGEONS 601A US Hwy 30, Schererville. 219.322.0501. 548 Ridge Rd, Ste G, Munster. 219.836.0004. northwestoralsurgeons. com. Drs. Joseph Lovasko, D.D.S., and Paul Wolf, D.D.S., are oral and maxillofacial surgeons whose services include oral pathology, corrective jaw surgery, wisdom tooth removal, dental implants and more. OBSTETRICAL & GYNECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, INC. 1101 E Glendale Blvd, Ste 102, Valparaiso. 219.462.6144. 3630 Willowcreek Rd, Ste 1, Portage. 219.364.3230. Available by appointment. The board-certified obstetriciangynecologists—Drs. Short, Strickland and Murphy—at this clinic specialize in pregnancy care, family planning, infertility and menopause, along with general women’s wellness. Patients are made to feel at ease because of the clinic’s state-of-the-art equipment and a skilled staff. PORTER HOSPITAL 814 LaPorte Ave, Valparaiso. 219.263.4600. 3630 Willowcreek Rd, Portage. 219.364.3000. 650 Dickinson Rd, Chesterton. 219.926.7755. porterhealth.org. Since opening in 1939 as a community-owned, not-for-profit hospital, Porter has served area families by providing quality care and programs. With ten facilities in two counties, Porter provides health care that is recognized on local, state and national levels, and offers a continuum of specialized services, such as emergency/trauma, cardiology, family medicine, surgery, obstetrics, orthopedics, oncology, sleep lab, and rehabilitation care. ST. ANTHONY MEMORIAL 301 W Homer St, Michigan City. 888.879.8511. saintanthonymemorial.org. This acute care hospital, serving LaPorte, Porter and Berrien Counties, boasts an integrated healthcare network that is made up of an intensive care unit, a new birthing unit, emergency department, behavioral medicine, rehabilitation services, surgery units, oncology, pediatrics and a multidiscipline physician practice. SAINT MARGARET MERCY HOSPITAL 24 Joliet St, Dyer. 219.865.2141. smmhc. com. One of the largest acute-care hospitals in Northwest Indiana, Saint Margaret Mercy offers a myriad of services in their Dyer and Hammond locations as well as multiple offsite facilities. The hospital offers all private inpatient rooms, a wide variety of healthcare services, and state-of-the-art technology.
Illinois
MOLENAAR EYECARE SPECIALISTS LTD. 3546 N Ridge Rd, Lansing. 708.474.0078. molenaareyecare.com. Mon 1-7pm, Tue and Thu 9am-noon and 2-5pm, Sat 9am-1pm. Since 1934, three generations of optometrists in the Molenaar family have run this eyecare practice. Aside from standard vision services, Molenaar also pairs with Dr. Louis Probst of TLC Laser Eye Centers for laser vision.
invest Indiana
HARRIS BANK Administrative Offices, 9801 Connecticut Dr, Crown Point. 219.738.6501. harrisbank. com. This financial institution specializes in retail, commercial and trust services. The
bank’s multiple sites and ATM locations throughout Lake and Porter counties and the Chicago area, along with online banking, provide personal and corporate clients with ease and convenience.
Michigan
MUTUAL BANK, KATHY SELLERS 307 W Buffalo St, New Buffalo. 269.469.5552. bankwithmutual.com. Kathy Sellers is a Mutual Bank agent who services both first-time home buyers and seasoned investors. Mutual Bank specializes in investments and wealth management for businesses and personal clients.
live Indiana
COTTAGE CONNECTIONS 422 Franklin St, Michigan City. 219.393.9986. cottage-connections.com. This vacation rental company appeals to both the vacationer and the homeowner. Vacationers can expect clean and cozy accommodations, as well as expert customer service. Homeowners can rely on Cottage Connections to do the busy work of managing the vacation rentals. HARTSFIELD VILLAGE 10000 Columbia Ave, Munster. 219.934.0750. hartsfieldvillage.com. Hartsfield Village offers a full continuum of care that supports a variety of needs and lifestyles, including independent living, assisted living, memory support and nursing care. Amenities include private patios and balconies, lounges, gardens, activity centers and fitness centers. Residents receive many benefits, such as laundry, housekeeping and dining services.
Michigan
1 LAKE TERRACE St. Joseph. 269.369.4545. 1laketerrace. com. Five lakefront home sites and 12 lake-access sites make up St. Joseph’s newest neighborhood. The lakefront sites offer breathtaking views and are protected below by a wooded bluff. The homes will be characterized by siding, shakes, stone, trim, porches and many windows. CAMP BUFFALO COTTAGES 106 S Franklin St, New Buffalo. 269.469.9090. campbuffalocottages.com. Sales office open Mon-Thu 9am-3pm, FriSun noon-6pm. At Camp Buffalo, cozy cedar-shaked cottages resting in lush woodlands outline a property that promises sanctuary and solitude. The center clubhouse, naturally landscaped amphitheater and inground swimming pool bring the community together for fellowship and fun. Residents may choose between five spacious cottage plans. HARBOR SHORES RESORT 269.932.1600. harborshoresresort.com. Southwest Michigan’s biggest, most talkedabout project is underway in Benton Harbor. The residential community will include a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, marinas, an indoor water park and a luxury spa. The property is surrounded by two rivers and five beaches. Custom homesites and cottages are available. MERCHANT STREET COTTAGES 222 Merchant St, New Buffalo. 888.588.6424. merchantstreetcottages. com. Located just two blocks from downtown New Buffalo, this charming neighborhood consists of seventeen cottages that are built with green materials for simpler, more cost-effective living. Each cottage is created with thoughtful design and highly attractive features.
Illinois
DEWITT PLACE 900 N DeWitt Pl, Chicago. 312.642.7020. dewittplace.com. This 82-unit vintage building, built in 1924, offers corporate housing, temporary furnished apartment rentals and long-term temporary housing solutions. These studio and one-bedroom apartments come with a variety of amenities, including a fully equipped kitchen, wireless Internet access, DirecTV satellite service and an exercise room.
pamper Indiana
CHICAGOLAND CENTER FOR COSMETIC SURGERY 2134 S Calumet Ave, Hammond. 219.218.2001. 7863 Broadway, Merrillville. 219.736.2047. chicagolandcosmetics.com. Hours vary by location. The doctors at this cosmetic surgery facility specialize in multiple beauty treatments, including Botox, wrinkle fillers, face lifts, liposuction and body sculpting. THE CINNAMON TREE 505 Silhavy Rd, Valparaiso. 219.548.8383. thecinnamontree.com. Mon-Wed 10am-5pm,
Thu-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 8:30am-last appointment. A long-time community favorite, this luxury spa offers multiple body care services, including massage, body polish, specialty soaks, body wraps, facials and nail care. Spa packages and parties are available. COSMEDIC SKIN & BODY CLINIC 210 E 86th Pl, Merrillville. 219.795.1255. 58 E Walton, Chicago. 312.377.3333. cosmedicclinic.com. Available by appointment. Dr. James Platis, who has been featured on local and national news programs and has been applauded by Dr. Phil, specializes in all forms of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures, particularly breast surgery, body contouring and facial aesthetic surgery. Less invasive procedures include tanning, waxing and facials. ELLE SALON 113 W 8th St, Michigan City. 219.874.3553. Tue-Thu 10am-8pm, Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 9am-3pm. This upscale salon, situated in Michigan City’s historic district, offers fullservice haircare, plus manicures, pedicures and facial waxing. Retail products include skin care, body care, a men’s line, wooden styling tools, a full line of Aveda products, and other calming items such as Aveda teas, candles and oils. HEALTHY 4 LIFE 101 87th Ave, Ste 420, Merrillville. 219.756.1100. healthyme4life.com. Healthy 4 Life is a weight loss program—supervised by medical experts Paul and Christine Stanish and Lorri Field—that focuses on therapeutic lifestyle changes. Unlike many other related programs, this one is backed by medical knowledge and support.
NAVII SALON & SPA 316 E US 30, Schererville. 219.865.6515. navii.com. Tue 10am-6pm, Wed-Thu 9am9pm, Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 8am-4pm. Deriving its name from the Sanskrit word for “replenish” or “rejuvenate,”Navii offers both salon and spa services, including hair care, skin care, body treatments and makeup application. A Loyalty Program and online appointment booking are extra perks for patrons. REVERIE SPA RETREAT 3634 N 700 W, LaPorte. 219.861.0814. spareverie.com. Located on more than fifty acres of deep woodlands, this spa retreat offers an imaginative menu of personal luxury care which includes facials, massage therapy, reflexology, botanical treatments, envelopments and azulene waxings. There are five guest rooms blending calming Asian and classically antique influences and a dining room, which serves twenty-six people vegetables from the garden and other goodies. TIMOTHY JEFFRY 2411 St. Lawrence Ave, Long Beach. 219.872.6567. Mon-Thu 9am-7pm, Fri 9am5pm, Sat 9am-3pm. This Aveda concept salon, situated near the lake in Long Beach, features hair cuts and color, manicures and pedicures, makeup application and facial waxing. VANIS SALON & SPA 221 US 41, Ste J, Schererville. 219.322.5600. 1620 Country Club Rd, Valparaiso. 219.465.6414. 107 N Main St, Crown Point. 219.663.5200. vanis.net. Hours vary by location. One of Northwest Indiana’s premier salons, Vanis features a well-trained, professional staff for hair care, nail care and spa body
treatments. Group and corporate retreats (for four to twenty people) can be arranged.
Michigan
YOGA GLOW 6 Linden St, Three Oaks. 269.697.4394. yogathreeoaks.com. This renowned yoga studio features group yoga classes and private lessons for all levels, plus workshops every month. Patrons are encouraged to visit Yoga Glow’s website for class schedules, teacher bios and other yoga-related information.
party Indiana
JEFF BROWN TRIO 219.465.0638. jeffreycbrown.com. In the music business for more than 30 years, Jeff Brown has earned legendary status in the Valparaiso area and beyond. The Jeff Brown Trio, which performs a varied repertoire that is ideal for both listening and background music, is available for private functions throughout Illinois, Indiana and southern Michigan.
play Michigan
FOUR WINDS CASINO 11111 Wilson Rd, New Buffalo. 866.494.6371. fourwindscasino.com. With 3,000 of the most recent types of slot machines and more than 100 tables games, including blackjack and craps, New Buffalo’s Four Winds is the only casino in the area that offers million dollar jackpots. This brand new casino also has the Midwest’s only World Poker Tour poker room.
december 2009/january 2010
91
PINE SIDE RESORT 246 Broadway Ave, South Haven. 269.639.9998. pinesideresort.com. Pine Side Resort has partnered with Big Art’s Log Homes & Furniture and Don Hoyt Contracting to create a gated community on a private lake, situated among 1,449 acres of nature preserve. Residents can choose between a waterfront or wooded site, and among four log home packages.
autos.nwi.com aauutos.nwi.com
Your Automotive Source for Northwest Indiana
Locate Auto Dealers with Ease, in NW Indiana & Chicagoland BUICK
CHRYSLER
HUMMER
NISSAN
KENNEDY BUICK • 3 3200 N. Calumet Ave., Valparaiso, IN 219-462-3111 or 800-293-9454 www.kennedybuickmazda.com
ARNELL CHRYSLER • 14 U.S 20 & I-94, Burns Harbor, IN 866-593-0997 • www.arnellmotors.com
SCHEPEL HUMMER • 9 2929 West Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, IN 219-738-1900 • www.schepelhummer.com
SOUTHLAKE NISSAN • 34 Rt. 30, 1 Mile E. of I-65, Merrillville, IN 888-966-4772 • www.southlakeautomall.co
CENTER CHRYSLER • 41 11009 West 133rd Ave, Cedar Lake, IN 219-374-7171 • www.centercars.com
HYUNDAI
PONTIAC
SCHEPEL BUICK • 9 3209 West Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, IN 219-769-6381 • www.schepel.com CIRCLE BUICK • 65 1300 U.S. 41,, Schererville, IN IN. 219-865-4400 • IL. 773-221-8124 www.circleautomotive.com
CADILLAC
GRIEGERS MOTORS • 5 1756 U.S. 30 West, Valparaiso, IN 219-462-4117 • www.griegersmotors.com
JEEP
DODGE
CHEVROLET
ARNELL DODGE • 14 U.S 20 & I-94, Burns Harbor, IN 866-593-0997 • www.arnellmotors.com
TEAM CHEVROLET • 48 1856 W. U.S. 30, Valparaiso, IN 219-462-1175 • www.teamchevyinc.com
CENTER DODGE • 41 11009 West 133rd Ave, Cedar Lake, IN 219-374-7171 • www.centercars.com
ARNELL CHEVROLET • 14 U.S 20 & I-94, Burns Harbor, IN 866-593-0997 • www.arnellmotors.com
GRIEGERS MOTORS • 5 1756 U.S. 30 West, Valparaiso, IN 219-462-4117 • www.griegersmotors.com
RIDGEWAY CHEVROLET • 1 17730 Torrence Ave, Lansing, IL 60438 708-474-4990 • www.ridgewaychevy.com
THOMAS DODGE • 11 9604 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN 219-924-6100 • www.thomasautogroup.com
SMITH CHEVROLET - HAMMOND • 37 6405 Indianapolis Blvd., Hammond, IN 219-845-4000 • www.smithautogroupusa.com
FORD
ARNELL JEEP • 14 U.S 20 & I-94, Burns Harbor, IN 866-593-0997 • www.arnellmotors.com CENTER JEEP • 41 11009 West 133rd Ave, Cedar Lake, IN 219-374-7171 • www.centercars.com
GRIEGERS MOTORS • 5 1756 U.S. 30 West, Valparaiso, IN 219-462-4117 • www.griegersmotors.com
THOMAS JEEP • 11 9604 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN 219-924-6100 • www.thomasautogroup.com
KIA SOUTHLAKE KIA • 34 Rt. 30, 1 mi. East of I-65, Merrillville, IN 866-639-8542 • www.southlakeautomall.com
SMITH FORD • 36 1777 E. Commercial, Lowell, IN 219-769-1090 • www.smithautogroupusa.com
THOMAS KIA • 16 9825 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN 219-934-2266 • www.thomasautogroup.com
WEBB FORD • 71 9809 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN 888-869-8822 • www.webford.com
MIKE ANDERSON CHEVROLET • 4 The Chevy Giant on I-65 I-65 and 61st Avenue, Merrillville, IN 219-947-4151 • www.mikeandersonchevy.com CHEVROLET OF HOMEWOOD • 15 18033 S. Halsted., Homewood, IL 60430 800-409-5187 • www.homewoodchevy.com
TEAM HYUNDAI • 45 9236 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN 219-923-2277 • www.teamhyundai.net
THOMAS CHRYSLER • 11 9604 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN 219-924-6100 • www.thomasautogroup.com
SCHEPEL CADILLAC • 9 2929 West Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, IN 219-738-1900 • www.schepelcadillac.com
SMITH CHEVROLET - LOWELL • 7 700 W. Commerical, Lowell, IN 219-696-8931 • www.smithautogroupusa.com
SHAFFER HYUNDAI • 43 1000 W. U.S. Hwy. 30, Merrillville, IN 219-736-2277 • www.shafferhyundai.com
MAZDA
GMC
KENNEDY MAZDA • 3 3200 N. Calumet Ave., Valparaiso, IN 219-462-3111 or 800-293-9454 www.kennedybuickmazda.com
SCHEPEL GMC • 9 3209 West Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, IN 219-769-6381 • www.schepel.com
MITSUBISHI
CIRCLE GMC • 65 1300 U.S. 41,, Schererville, IN IN. 219-865-4400 • IL. 773-221-8124 www.circleautomotive.com
SCHEPEL PONTIAC • 9 3209 West Lincoln Highway, Merrillville IN 219-769-6381 • www.schepel.com SMITH PONTIAC • 7 700 W. Commercial Avenue Lowell, IN • 219-696-8931 www.smithautogroupusa.com CIRCLE PONTIAC • 65 1300 U.S. 41,, Schererville, IN IN. 219-865-4400 • IL. 773-221-8124 www.circleautomotive.com
SAAB SCHEPEL SAAB • 9 2929 West Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, IN 219-738-1900 • www.schepel.com
SUBARU SUBARU OF MERRILLVILLE • 24 1777 West, US Rt. 30, Merrillville, IN 219-756-7900 • www.subaruofmerrillville.com
SUZUKI RICHARDSON SUZUKI • 38 9110 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN 219-923-4000 • www.richardsonsuzuki.com
TOYOTA TEAM TOYOTA • 44 9601 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN 219-924-8100 • www.teamtoyota2000.com TOYOTA ON 30 • 46 4450 E. RT 30, Merrillville, IN 219-947-3325 • www.toyotaon30.com
SHAFFER MITSUBISHI • 43 1000 W. U.S. Hwy. 30, Merrillville, IN 219-736-2277 www.shaffermitsubishi.com
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CONTACT YOUR SALES REPRESENTATIVE TO FEATURE YOUR BUSINESS IN THE TIMES AUTO DIRECTORY CROWN POINT • (219) 662-5300 MUNSTER • (219) 933-3200 PORTAGE • (219) 762-1397 VALPARAISO • (219) 462-5151
shore THINGS BLUE HERON INN 1110 Lakeside St, LaPorte. 219.362.5077. pleastshore.com. Situated on scenic Pine Lake in LaPorte, the Blue Heron Inn features luxury rooms with jacuzzi tubs and fireplaces. Guests can choose from a variety of room selections and special packages. Floating boathouses—with a queen bed, sofa and outside deck—are also available for lodging during the summer.
Michigan
THE BOULEVARD 521 Lake Blvd, St. Joseph. 269.983.6600. theboulevardinn.com. Warmth and coziness are a theme at this historic hotel in St. Joseph. From the plush furniture in the lobby to the comfort food at the Bistro, to the luxurious amenities in the hotel’s suites, the Boulevard offers more than just a place to stay. Business and fitness centers are also available for use.
view Indiana
SNAP PHOTOGRAPHY 219.728.1231. snapphotography. blogsome.com. This studio specializes in photographing seniors, babies, families, kids, special events and newborn hospital visits. Photos can be taken on site or in the studio. Custom invitations and announcements can also be designed and created.
Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM 101 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids. 616.831.1000. gramonline.org. The Grand Rapids Art Museum is the first art museum in the world to be certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Its glass walls, natural light, and refl ecting pool further illustrate the fusion between the indoors and outdoors. With its impressive permanent collection as well as changing exhibitions, this 125,000-square-foot facility is truly a gem in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.
visit Michigan
ST. JOSEPH TODAY 120 State St, St. Joseph. 269.985.1111. sjtoday.org. Mon-Fri 10am-5:30pm, Sat noon-6pm, Sun 1-5pm. Visitors to St. Joseph will find a variety of helpful information—on shopping, dining and events—at this welcome center. St. Joseph Today is a nonprofit organization that assists and encourages local business and tourism development.
wear Indiana
ALBERT’S DIAMOND JEWELERS 711 Main St, Schererville. 219.322.2700. albertsjewelers.com. Mon-Fri 10am-8pm,
HUNCH FURS 2021 W Lincoln Hwy, US 30, Merrillville. 219.769.4270. Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1-6pm. Situated in a quaint, cozy brick home, this familyowned company has been selling furs, fine leathers and motorcycle apparel since 1938. Along with extras like hats, purses, scarves and gloves, Hunch Furs also offers repair and cleaning services. INDIAN SUMMER 131 S Calumet Rd, Chesterton. 219.983.9994. 126 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo, Mich. 269.469.9994. Open daily 11am-8pm. This women’s clothing boutique offers casual and contemporary clothing and jewelry from around the world. Indian Summer features brands such as Sympli, Jag Jeans, O My Gauze, San Miguel Shoes and Minnetonka. The new space in Chesterton offers a larger selection of summer apparel, jewelry and accessories, while the original New Buffalo storefront continues to feature its quality inventory for those on the other side of the lake. THE JUNKYARD 1309 119th St, Whiting. 219.473.1501. thejunkyardstore.com. Tue-Fri noon-6pm, Sat noon-3pm. The Junkyard offers fun and trendy tees, ready-made or customdesigned and lettered. Accessories such as belt buckles, buttons, purses, hats and body jewelry are available as well.
Michigan
DK BOUTIQUE 213 State St, St. Joseph. 269.983.7313. dkboutique.com. Mon-Sat 10am-6pm. This contemporary women’s clothing boutique in downtown St. Joe offers limited edition designer apparel, cool new accessories and the latest designs in jewelry from Pandora Jewelry. With something for everyone, from teenagers and older, DK Boutique provides the most current styles that are full of flair. PHILLIP & SON JEWELRY 23 Center St, Douglas. 269.857.8738. 11am-5pm daily. This charming shop features distinctive jewelry and accessories in every price range—from high end to affordable for every patron. A selection of vintage pieces is available as well.
Illinois
SUPER LOOT 2025 Ridge Rd, Homewood. 708.957.7714. 10am-5:30pm Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm Sat, evenings and Sun by appt. Situated in quaint downtown Homewood, this boutique features women’s apparel— from designers such as Pure, Jag, Willow and 3 Dot—as well as jewelry, purses, accessories and gifts.
december 2009/january 2010
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN TOURIST COUNCIL 2300 Pipestone Rd, Benton Harbor. 269.925.6301. swmichigan.org. Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm. The natural attractions of Southwest Michigan—the dunes, miles of scenic Lake Michigan beach, rivers and parks with hiking trails and biking paths— offer beauty in every season. The friendly staff at this non-profit organization can assist travelers whether they seek solitude or a group learning experience.
Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm. Besides the fact that Albert’s showcases 5,000 square feet of jewelry, the store in itself is an entertainment destination. A bar, large-screen TV, dance floor and karaoke are among the many ways that patrons can let loose while browsing every type of fine jewelry imaginable. Brands include Tacori, Bulgari, Cartier and Bez Ambar, and the store’s entire back wall is devoted to bridal jewelry and accessories.
93
stay Indiana
shorecast PREDICTIONS BY FRAN SMITH
For more astrological advice, be sure to check out Fran Smith’s regular blog on visitshoremagazine.com.
[aquarius] JANUARY 20-FEBRUARY 18
KEY WORDS in December: Your Heart’s Desire. Also included in this amazing month is your secret agenda— that which you really want that no one else knows about. The planet Jupiter (Lady Luck) rules. So, who knows? Go for it! SIDESTEP criticism—of others, of yourself.
former governor of Illinois ROD BLAGOJEVICH
[sagittarius] NOVEMBER 23DECEMBER 21 KEY WORDS in December: The World Is Your Stage. Here we are! It’s the New Moon in your first house of personal endeavors— the start of your own personal N ew Year. Think well. What do you really want? Quietly, list it. And now, go after it. SIDESTEP canceling at the very last minute. KEY WORDS in January: The Serious Budget. Money will come through to you. But you’ll have to watch it very, very carefully. When you want to be, you’re extremely good at this. However, certain developments now make this not such an easy thing. SIDESTEP having no budget at all.
screenwriter, director and producer SHONDA RHIMES
[capricorn] DECEMBER 22JANUARY 19
4 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 9
KEY WORDS in December: Closed-Door Calls, Meetings and Conferences. Everyone else is totally absorbed in the holidays. But there you are—still at work. That’s good. You’re about to put the finishing touches on an all-important project. Excellent. SIDESTEP refusing to accept important calls. KEY WORDS in January: Definitely, New Starts—in every part of your world. Maintain your pace, even though others want you to slow down. There are gains to be made that can be done only at this time. Trust your instincts. SIDESTEP scattering your energy—mental, emotional, physical.
KEY WORDS in January: Confidential Matters. Work closely with people—near and at a distance. You’re actually preparing a special project to be launched as early as next month. Keep going, you haven’t a second to lose. Victory is well within sight. SIDESTEP the truly boring routine.
[pisces] FEBRUARY 19-MARCH 20
KEY WORD in December: The Summit. Of all times— right in the middle of the holidays. But there it is— your career is surging to the forefront. Stay on course— and work after-hours, if necessary. This is something that you won’t regret. SIDESTEP a lack of focus on your desired goal. KEY WORDS in January: Getting What You Want. Others rarely notice when you reward yourself. But yes, you do. And this month is when you take a giant step forward in that direction. Just be certain that you’ve finished with an earlier commitment. SIDESTEP a sudden bout of shyness.
[aries] MARCH 21-APRIL 20
[cancer] JUNE 21-JULY 22
KEY WORDS in December: The Work Scene. Although everyone is absorbed with the holidays, you find yourself able to think only of work. Relax. A new arrangement is just ahead. So, be available for the scheduling of those new meetings. SIDESTEP a lack of interest in talks/discussions. KEY WORDS in January: The Right Agreement. It’s been long in coming—even difficult, to say the least—but your world is about to regain its balance and sense of direction. Have all your facts in hand—and quietly present whatever is called for. SIDESTEP a hostile or arrogant attitude.
[leo] JULY 23-AUGUST 22
KEY WORDS in December: Love, Sweet Love. This month has the potential to be a fabulous month! Think only those thoughts that are warm, wonderful and loving. You can make it happen, especially if you’re ready to forgive and welcome back—everyone. SIDESTEP the unkind response. KEY WORDS in January: The Work Scene. No sooner is the New Year underway than you’re in the center of late-breaking developments. That’s perfect. You’re now in the best possible position for advancement. Just decide what, exactly, you want. SIDESTEP going in too many directions.
KEY WORDS in December: Incredible Developments. Seize the moment—and make it your own. A stunning new work-related concept is in the making. Research— and revise it—until it fits in perfectly with your current endeavors. It has great potential. SIDESTEP too many new people.
[virgo] AUGUST 23-SEPTEMBER 22
KEY WORDS in January: Climbing Upward. Go carefully now. There are some rocky places just ahead—and you want to maintain your balance. Keep your eyes— and your mind—focused on the next step upward. Pay no attention whatsoever to distractions. SIDESTEP constant indecision.
KEY WORDS in January: Love Takes Center Stage. You’ve been waiting for the New Moon (new starts) in your fifth house of close relationships. And here it is. Don’t squander it. Children and creative projects could be involved, too. SIDESTEP taking your time about becoming involved.
[taurus] APRIL 21-MAY 20
KEY WORDS in December: Great Communications. Of course, there’s more than one form. It depends on your mood. But this is the best of seasons. So be merry— and reach out to those near/at a distance. You might even forgive someone. Try it. SIDESTEP staying only with the familiar.
KEY WORD in December: Revitalization, on all levels— mental, emotional, physical, financial and spiritual. It’s just what you need at the close of this year. Realize that the planet Jupiter (Lady Luck) permeates the month. And maintain those positive thoughts. SIDESTEP a lack of rest.
KEY WORDS in December: The Core of Your Security. Lighten the grip that you have on current situations—and on your emotions. This is, after all, the holiday season. And if you’d but invoke the spirit of the season, you might just attract a holiday miracle. SIDESTEP the disappearing act.
[libra] SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 22
KEY WORDS in January: Excellent Concepts, Outlines and Plans. It’s just great advancing into the New Year. Know what you want—and what you do not want. That makes life much easier—and sweeter—as the month gets underway. SIDESTEP a certain difficulty in reaching agreements.
KEY WORDS in January: Home-Related Matters. You may have thought that you could ease into the New Year. But certain core issues have now surfaced. So, gather your facts and your figures—and prepare to face it all with directness—and with courage. SIDESTEP being difficult to reach.
[gemini] MAY 21-JUNE 20
[scorpio] OCTOBER 23-NOVEMBER 22
KEY WORD in January: Renewal—in all areas of your life. This includes the mental, the emotional, the physical, the financial and the spiritual. Leave game-playing— which you do so well—for another time. This is a serious cycle. SIDESTEP being absent when your presence is all-important.
KEY WORDS in January: Concepts, Outlines and Blueprints. Jump into the New Year—early. In fact, you could easily begin sending emails and making calls as early as January 1. There’s an incredible amount to be gained now—and the sooner you begin, the better. SIDESTEP high drama.
KEY WORDS in December: The Special Arrangement. There’s a tendency now for too many possibilities. Settle down—and allow your own superb mind to play a leading decision-making role. Streamline what’s being offered. Then, decide. SIDESTEP a resistance to see another point of view.
KEY WORDS in December: Every Currency Imaginable. This is a very good time for you. Money—possibly an increase in your income—surfaces. And you may even create a new source of income out of what was once an impossible situation. SIDESTEP letting all your recordkeeping slip.
WANT MORE? please go to page 46 or visitshoremagazine.com for a full listing of the area’s best events and watch the Shore Weekender with Joe and Julia for the absolute best picks for a great weekend.
Nov 27 SAUGATUCK’S SPARKLE 2009 7pm, Wick’s Park Gazebo Water St, Saugatuck 269.857.2613. saugatuck.com. Saugatuck’s holiday season kicks off as more than 500,000 lights are illuminated in this annual ceremony. Attendees look forward to visits with Santa, free refreshments and the sounds of carolers at this festive event.
Dec 4 HOLLY DAYS AND LIVE NATIVITY 5-7pm, downtown Valparaiso. popcornfest.org. Valparaiso begins its holiday season with this free family event, which offers caroling, a live nativity scene, hot refreshments, carriage rides, holiday shopping and Santa riding into town on a fire truck.
Jan 13-17 CHICAGO BOAT, RV & OUTDOORS SHOW 2-9pm Wed, 11am-9pm Thu-Fri, 10am-9pm Sat, 10am-5pm Sun, McCormick Place, North Building, 2301 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. chicagoboatshow.com. Now in its 80th year, the largest show in the Midwest features more than 350,000 square feet of the latest models and accessories. Highlights include a Power Boat Docking Challenge, a 40-footlong Texas Bass Tank, Discover Boating Center, Huck Finn Trout Pond for children and an accessories pavilion.
Lake Michigan
shore PICKS Jan 15-17 6TH ANNUAL HUNTER ICE FESTIVAL downtown Niles 269.687.4332 nilesmainstreet.org. This popular event pays tribute to the Hunter Brothers Ice and Ice Cream Company. The festival features ice sculptures, world-class ice-carvers, an ice cream-tasting tent, kids’ activities and more.
last resort
W
e all know what regifting is; it has its own day (December 18), and over half of us find the practice a favorable method of gift-giving. It can also be construed as recycling, but it’s also green—in the sense that it saves you some. And it’s nothing new. Regifting made its TV debut on Seinfeld when Elaine’s boyfriend passes along a “Label Baby Junior” label maker to Jerry, the same label maker that the regifter received from Elaine. Comedy ensues. Yada, yada, yada. The regifter was caught and revealed that he gave it away because it didn’t work. Which brings up four important rules to regifting:
Reduce, Reuse, Regift SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE OR SOCIAL SUICIDE?
words and illustration by JOE DURK
6 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 9
This holiday season, many of you likely will be given a gift from very generous, but very clueless, people. And that gift, well, has to belong to someone else because it certainly doesn’t belong to you. You didn’t ask for it and there’s no fathomable way it would go with anything you own. But now this, this, this thing, which is your responsibility to do something with, is yours. Unless, of course, you choose to pass it on. Regift it.
1. Do not regift to those very close to you. That’s just tacky. 2. Never regift a slightly used or defunct gift. That’s just lame. 3. Follow your trail of regifting. That’s just clever. 4. There is no grace period for regifting. That’s just silly.
I know I have been regifted before. The minute I opened the box, I felt violated. Was this a hoax? No, they were regifting me. They had to be! I mean, who really would think a white porcelain cat—which doubled as either a votive holder or a fishbowl—screams me? Seriously? And I knew my friend, the gift-giver, would never have bought this for anyone, let alone for me. If so, they played it off beautifully. But I graciously accepted with a quixotic smile and probably said what came naturally at the time (before I was fluent in sarcasm): “Oh, you shouldn’t have.” And in all honesty, I now would say, “Oh, you really shouldn’t have.” But, back to the original question: is regifting socially acceptable or simply too green to be gracious? Who is off-limits and who isn’t becomes a popularity game in your head. Just what did they give me last year when I gave them a great bottle of wine? Oh yeah, they gave me a hug! Some people you just have to get a gift for, but either you have some vague idea of a great present or you’re completely lost. Now, I mean this with all sincerity, I love to give gifts. Especially to children. I don’t have kids but after being around my much younger cousins during Christmas, I realized that it really is a gift to watch a child’s beaming face when they rip through SpongeBob wrapping paper to get to their new game. But one of my favorite gift-giving memories? The look on my older brother’s face as he tore through to the new TiVo. His smile brought back what it was like to be a kid again. And yes, brothers, sisters and immediate family are off-limits to the regift. I cannot stress this enough. But sometimes, the regift can become a tradition within a family. I have two friends who are cousins and have been regifting each other for 15 years. Regifting the same gift—a can of corn. A can of corn that expired around Y2K. One Christmas, she gets the can. And the following year, he gets it back. And so on and so forth.
S
o, the question remains, YAY or NAY on the regift? Just follow the aforementioned rules and you should be fine. I can only say that for me, I have been known to dabble in regifting. I received two of the same books one year that I had already owned, so I regifted them, as well as a few UNUSED gift cards. Definitely a gaudy, casino logo-etched wine and carafe set. But that’s it. Well, that white porcelain cat that doubled as a votive and fishbowl? It went to an ex. Yes, they were close to me. But I know they loved it way more than I ever could. So did I just commit social suicide? If not, gifts can be sent to the magazine’s address (which is listed on page 12). And you can even regift me; just make it a good one.
j Voted Best j
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