October/November 2009 by The Times of NWI

style & culture

october/november 2009

third

annual

FASHION ICONS

ARTPRIZE THE CONVERSATION

Bill HolsingerRobinson

visitshoremagazine.com THE TIMES

nwi.com

4.95

Rick DeVos

INCLUDING Michigan WINE STIGMA STUFFING VS. DRESSING

N ORTHWEST

INDIANA’ S

M O S T

U N I Q U E

D I N I N G

E X P E R I E N CE

Explore our 35 item Gourmet Food Bar All You Care To Eat Seafood Every Friday and Wednesday Evenings Surf N’ Turf Specials Every Saturday Afternoon Ask About our Extensive “Kids Eat Free” Options Northwest Indiana’s #1 Rated Martini List Ala Carte Menu Items Available

www.gau ch osvalp o.com Open Monday - Friday at 4 pm Open Saturdays at 2 pm Open Sundays at 12:30 pm 5 9 7

U S

H W Y

3 0 ,

VA L PA R A I S O,

I N

•

2 1 9 - 7 5 9 - 1 1 0 0

Gaucho’s promotions cannot be combined. Limit one free meal per table during specific promotions. Free kids meal per paid adult.

HOURS: Mon.-Fri.: 10am-8pm, Sat.: 9am-6pm, Sun.: 11am-5pm

july 2009

711 Main St. • Schererville, IN • 219-322-2700

july 2009

$ɜ LɜǸɑɜɕ ɬȨɜȣ ȐȐȵȨȽȝ ɄɄȇ Photography: John Zembillas jszee@comcast.net

Hair Cut:

Tracey Stokes Katelyn Gabryszak Jayme Suggs

Hair Color:

Tracey Stokes Alyson Galvan

Ashley Patwell

Make Up:

Ashley Patwell

316 E. US 30 • Schererville, IN • 219-865-6515 • www.navii.com

contents

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

158

Fashion Icons

BY HEATHER AUGUSTYN

Shore fashion icons Nicole Moersch, Brian Willette, Toni Canada, Ron Eng, Maria Kibler and Dave Rodgers tell us why they are so stylish.

photograph by NATALIE BATTAGLIA

A Conversation about a Conversation

BY PAT COLANDER

How Rick DeVos, Bill Holsinger-Robinson and some friends of theirs decided to build a very large-scale art exhibition like a film festival and make it fly.

56 76

The New Modular Home BY TOM CHMIELEWSKI

A new generation of pre-constructed homes are retro-fit along classically modern and original lines in the Midwest.

Stuffing vs. Dressing BY JANE DUNNE

VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM

Traditional stuffing (or dressing) is usually reserved for very special occasions, but by using very untraditional ingredients this comfort food can be made luxurious.

PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD HELLYER

Highland resident, Susie, age 59, lost 150 lbs. after Lap Band速 surgery.

Your health matters to us! We invite you to call Saint Margaret Mercy's Midwest Bariatric Institute to arrange for a free, personal consultation. Learn how Lap Band速 and Gastric Bypass Surgery can be the first step in your own success story. Consultations take place in the "Dr. Cahill made me feel so comfortable and cared for. I felt confident in his expertise and honesty. On the day of my surgery, he put me at ease."

Midwest Bariatric Institute at the Dyer Campus, 24 Joliet St., Dyer, IN

To schedule your free, private consultation, please call

(219) 852-2518.

You may bring a friend.

Gerald A. Cahill, MD, has solely dedicated his practice to weight loss surgery. He has performed more than 2,000 laparoscopic bypass and Lap Band速 procedures with an unmatched safety record.

Take Control and Partner with Experience www.smmhc.com

contents

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

28 32 21

22 CLICKS 38 40 41 42 43

Beaux Arts Ball Fernwood Summer Solstice 1001 Nights Waterfront Film Festival Baldwin Landing Party/ Ice Cream Social 44 Wine Festival 45 Rhumbline Regatta/ SCA Summer Solstice

HOUSE & GROUNDS

SHORELINES 21

VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM

INTRO

Artist Chuck Wood makes big pieces that crowd out the visual competition.

Jazz singer Sophie Milman traverses the globe and finds her niche, and a neo-goth trio calls it quits, sort of.

SHAW THOUGHTS

Little furry and cute animal stories reveal the softer side of humans in need of a little TLC.

CULTURE NUT

The undeserved stigma of Michigan wines, plus artist Mary Jo Lemanski and interior designer Sondra Phillips formalize an informal collaboration of complementary markets and skills.

MOTORING

The 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom, handbuilt by an artisan team for 360 hours to custom perfection, has a reputation that precedes its glory.

BY JULIE DEAN KESSLER

INTERVIEW

Louise Witkin-Berg and Howard Berg create an externally oriented engineered structure that pairs high-tech and homestead concepts under the same corrugated roof.

How Jodi Murphy built her de-construction business, Total Wrecklamation, into the ultimate recycling television show.

LISTEN

WHERE TO GO

A short history of Valparaiso University’s Kissing Bridge and the memory collectors who love it.

GREEN NOTES

HAUTE PROPERTIES

LAST RESORT 96

Cutting through the Clutter BY LOIS BERGER

If clutter is a serious problem in your life, you could be sicker than you think.

Cameron Davis moves from Chicago to the Obama administration to be Czar of the Great Lakes. An attorney’s guide to the murkiest of legal areas— homeowners versus the government versus the public’s right to walk along the shore.

A Quiet Canvas

HOTSPOTS 48 78 86 94

Essential Events Bite & Sip Shore Things Shorecast

10 Publisher’s Letter 12 Editor’s Letter

photography courtesy of [clockwise, from top left] ROBERT WRAY, ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS, THE BRAUER MUSEUM OF ART, ALEX COLLADOS-NUNEZ, CHUCK WOOD

SHORE_OCT_09.pdf

CMY

8/13/09

12:30:05 AM

publisher’S

letter

y desk and bookcase at home and work are loaded with pictures that remind me of good times, celebrations and the accomplishments of our family including the children and grandchildren. I hate to admit it, but I am having a lot of fun with the instant feedback of social networking on a number of sites including our own my.nwi.com and the Shore magazine fan site on Facebook. In the most recent Shore I mentioned our trip to Anchorage, Alaska, by way of Vancouver, B.C., with my brother Bob’s family—which turned out to be a pictorial all by itself. My wife Julie and I enthusiastically took photographs of everything, including the Chicago skyline during a brief, pre-vacation dinner and overnight in Chicago. By the time we got to the kayaking with the whales—I’m not kidding—we had documented some outstanding weather, great fishing and awesome, awesome scenery.

Turning

Back Time

Look younger and more refreshed with a

Weekend Mini-Facelift 0 visitshoremagazine.com 1

Sreekant Cherukuri, M.D., oﬀers free and conﬁdential consultations. To see if you qualify, please call 219.861.8155.

That turned out to be a good thing, because we unluckily got in the path of the robust wake of a surfacing whale—don’t try this without supervision—and capsized. Julie and I quickly found each other and hung onto the kayak until the guide and rescue boat could get us out of the water, but the photography and electronic devices were destroyed—saltwater and electronics don’t mix. That’s okay, because the truth is we wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything and would do it all over again given the chance. The whole trip was a thrill of a lifetime, even the part that is etched in our memories—some of our cohorts did get some great up-close shots of the whales, though. And you can see it all on visitshoremagazine.com. By the time we returned from Alaska, the summer was in full swing, with weekends jammed with my daughter Shay’s summer soccer activities, a milestone birthday for my wife, which involved back-to-back parties at various places around the country including two of my favorites: Rapid City, South Dakota, and Chesterton, Indiana. And we had the added benefit this year of incredible entertainment at the new Venue at Hammond’s Horseshoe Casino, including the Moody Blues, as psychedelic and youthful as ever, and Donna Summers, whose high-energy disco has never been better. Even though the Shore-sponsored Epicurean Classic and Smooth Jazz at South Shore are over, we are looking ahead to Cruisin’ the Pike, a fundraiser for the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joseph, the second annual Fall Friday shopping event in Douglas, with a weekend stop in the growing art and design Mecca in Buchanan and, of course, ArtPrize in Grand Rapids at the end of September. This fall is going to require plenty of high energy and an excellent smartphone camera. You can keep up with these parties and other Shore news by subscribing to our year-old weekly newsletter, which is delivered to your email box each Thursday. Subscriptions are easy and free; just go to visitshoremagazine.com. You can also sign up to have your very own Shore magazine subscription mailed to you for only $20, ensuring you will never miss an issue. We will be back in November with what promises to be an action-packed year-end wrap-up. Until November, keep moving. Bill Masterson, Jr.

PROMOTION

Downtown Douglas

Come to Douglas for the biggest shopping night of the season! Visit the galleries, restaurants, home interior shops and more along Center Street. Enjoy cocktails and hors dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;oeuvres while mingling with old and new friends along the lakeshore.

Fall into SECOND ANNUAL

DOUGLAS FRIDAY 10-09-09

6PM - 9PM (EST)

visitshoremagazine.com

Sponsored by Downtown Development Authority

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2008

Cash bar at Wild Dog Grille

CENTER STREET DOUGLAS, MICHIGAN

editor’s

letter

y the time our October/November issue hits the streets the nonprofit party season will be fully underway, fall being the acknowledged prime-time along the Lake Michigan coast. Of course the event the whole world’s watching—the first annual ArtPrize in Grand Rapids— begins September 23. But that is certainly not the only new invention or reinvention under the sun this season. Notfor-profits are going through an interesting time of soul-searching and re-engagement with the folks who support their efforts. Nothing can be taken for granted anymore, not totally a bad thing. Necessity being the mother of creative thinking is powering remarkable innovation, whether the group is a traditional chamber of commerce or the latest locally grown food co-operative. I am constantly impressed with the work of Millicent Huminsky and the Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council. (In the interest of full disclosure, we partner with this group as often as possible.)

2 visitshoremagazine.com 1

In a revival of the annual Box Factory event in St. Joseph, they pulled some historic art work celebrating Red Arrow and Blue Star highways, offered a prize for the most outrageous tourist costume, pulled together a thoughtful group of donors with some original ideas and priced the contribution for the evening at a very reasonable level. And this is typical of what’s going on. The end result is you can have a lot of fun without spending huge amounts of money and it goes for a good cause. That was always how it was supposed to be, wasn’t it? Also this fall, a full lineup of people who stand out—a new group of fashion icons take personal style up another notch this year—our thanks to our reader nominators and congratulations to Nicole Moersch, Brian Willette, Toni Canada, Ron Eng, Maria Kibler, and Dave Rodgers. Dave Hoekstra catches up with author and Northwest Indiana ringmaster and oral historian Bill Wellman, who has an eye for conversation pieces that become legends like Valparaiso’s Kissing Bridge. Terri Gordon introduces us to Jodi Murphy, who built the greenest business imaginable, Total Wrecklamation, from every found object she could come up with— and that was before she got a television show. And Jane Dunne, in the spirit of tapping into our inner child, turns the ultimate comfort food upside down in her take on dressing (or do you say stuffing?) for the holidays. Changes of pace in these pages include Jim Jackson on a car that requires 360 hours of building-by-hand, Claire Bushey on artist Chuck Wood’s eye for extreme high-definition, Andy Shaw on his love for small animals—who knew?—and Lois Berger produces evidence that people who kind of let things pile up may actually be suffering from an addiction and . . . good news, help is on the way! In trying to gauge an October brimming with optimism and fun traditionally reserved for springtime, I realized that not only had I spent more time on my own deck and backyard vegetable garden this summer, I was going to reap a bountiful harvest of delicious tomatoes, peppers, mint, basil and rosemary. Life runs in cycles and what goes down comes up and what stays curled up inside will eventually venture out again. That’s the promise of November and the beginning of the second decade of this new century. We’ll see you then. Pat Colander

THE NEW BUFFALO BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND FOUR WINDS CASINO PRESENT

GREAT MUSIC, WINE & BEER TASTING, FARMERS MARKET, KIDS ACTIVITIES, FOOD, ART & CRAFT VENDORS

Saturday, October 10 12:00-10:00 PM EST

NEW BUFFALO, MICHIGAN Lions Park (across from the beach)

sample local wines

$5 DONATION / KIDS 12 AND UNDER FREE

ROUND BARN WINERY FREE RUN CELLARS DOMAINE BERRIEN TABOR HILL WINERY ST. JULIAN WINERY

local microbrews ROUND BARN BREWERY

live music

LADY SUNSHINE & THE X BAND DUKE TUMATOE PUCKER UP & ROCK KATIE TODD BAND CHAD HOLMES

NEW BUFFALO HARVEST & WINE FEST INFORMATION WWW.NEWBUFFALO.ORG / 888-660-NBBA (6222)

style & culture

Publisher Bill Masterson, Jr. General Manager Donald Asher 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

5901 E. 81st Ave

Merrillville, IN • 219-942-0548 www.maximpowersports.com

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.

4 visitshoremagazine.com 1

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 7

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 PETER BIRNBAUM has served as president and chief executive officer of Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. (ATG) since 1991. With more than 25 years of experience as a real estate attorney, Peter is a highly soughtafter resource for real estate professionals and bar associations across the country. He has written many papers and is a frequent speaker on a wide variety of subjects of interest to the public and legal profession. Peter lives in Chicago with his wife and their three children . . . and in Michiana, Michigan, every weekend they can steal away. See Peter’s article about beach rights on page 36. ROBERT KASARDA covers Porter County courts and government for the Times Media Company, where he’s been a reporter for 15 years. Considering the many hours he spends sitting through lengthy court hearings and government meetings, as well as his love of music and offbeat entertainment, he jumped at the chance to shed light on the final days of the otherwise nocturnal career of The Weird Sisters musical trio [page 23]. Member Abel Guaca-Danz, while confused at times over the time of day, proved to be as entertaining during the interview as the group’s reputation on stage. Bob’s only regret is having come across the group so near to the end of its career, which revived his high school pain of having mail ordered for Led Zeppelin tickets on the day of drummer John Bonham’s untimely death.

corrections In the special advertising section of the August/ September 2009 issue, in the story “Have a Cigar,” the phone number listed for ELQ Emporium was incorrect. The correct phone number is 219.473.9750. 6 visitshoremagazine.com 1

>> intro <<

Chuck Wood

Life and Art in High Def

PAINTINGS BY CHUCK WOOD PHOTOGRAPH BY RICHARD HELLYER

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

huck Wood’s home looks exactly the way you’d expect an artist’s home to look. Curios cover every bit of shelf space. There are glass tankards, books from floor to ceiling, an antlered skull mounted on the wall, even a copper deep-sea diver’s helmet. But it’s the paintings that draw the eye. There’s a geranium g eranium spilling from its box, every leaf articulated, and potted plants sitting neatly on a windowsill in a red brick wall. A close-up of a locomotive’s wheels and pistons as it powers down a track. The paintings are so detailed the casual observer might mistake them for photographs. They’re big paintings too, made for display above a couch or fireplace. When Wood began painting in the early 1950s, the Chicago artist decided he didn’t want his paintings grouped with others in small arrangements, so he purposely made them big, “so I’d be assured my singularity.” Wood, who was raised in Chicago, graduated from the School of the Art Institute. He returned to the city after short stints working on both coasts. (In New York he lived in a pantry that rented for $8 a week and was no wider than his arm span.) With a partner, he opened a commercial art studio downtown in 1953, and they ran the business for more than 30 years. He painted at night, taking nine months to a year to complete a canvas. Many of his 57 paintings are re-creations of interesting tableaux he stumbled across in his worldwide travels. “It was my dream and ambition to easel paint all the time, but starvation takes over,” he says. In March the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio, staged a show of his work titled Chuck Wood— Real. One of the paintings, Oaxaca Window, would 50 Years of the Real have cost $1,800 five decades ago, Wood says, smiling. At the exhibition it was listed at $20,000. —CLAIRE BUSHEY

shorelines

>> listen <<

Foreign Exchange

2 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 2

Not yet 30 years old and blessed with the kind of classic good looks that could sell a boatload of CDs on the strength of the warm-glow cover photos alone, Sophie Milman seemingly fits like a dream into one of jazz music’s last remaining lucrative niches, the sweet-voiced ingénue. But there’s a lot more to this up-andcoming vocalist than meets the eye—not to mention any shallow commercial calculation. For starters, jazz is far from just a convenient marketing categorization—when it comes to the music, Milman’s substance outweighs even her considerable style.

“I

her relatively brief career to never saw myself date, having moved from her as a young singer birthplace in the Ural Mountains looking for a of Russia to a childhood in genre, but rather Israel to her current home in as someone Canada—not to mention time who wanted to sing jazz and spent touring the globe since pretty much nothing else,” she her 2004 self-titled debut says. “That’s why when I started album. That worldliness and singing, jazz stylings came out eclecticism shines through in her naturally, and there wasn’t a thoroughly diverse repertoire doubt in my mind that if I ever of material—from reimagined pursued a singing career it pop hits to jazz standards to would be in jazz.” foreign-language folk tunes and Listening to the self-assured everything in between. delivery and innately cool sense “I believe that languages are of swing on her latest album intrinsically musical, each with Take Love Easy [Linus], it’s hard its own melody and rhythm,” to believe you’re not hearing a she says. “That’s probably one veteran jazz singer with decades of the reasons of hard-won life I gravitated to lessons lurking behind jazz, because it’s that rich, confident OCT 29 an umbrella for voice. Perhaps that’s SOPHIE so many different because Milman has MILMAN genres, languages packed what seems CON 7:30pm CERT and cultural like a lifetime’s Auditoriu , Miller m, influences.” worth of experience Audito 2200 and exposure into —MARK LOEHRKE Kalamaz rium Dr, oo, Mich . 269 milleraud .387.2300. itorium.c om

photograph [this page] by ALEX COLLADOS-NUNEZ; [opposite page] courtesy of THE WEIRD SISTERS

Jazz Artist Sophie Milman

THE WEIRD SISTERS Neo-goth Trio Calls It Quits

Ask Abel Guaca-Danz about the origins of the Weird Sisters trio, and she might tell you how she and her fellow triplets hail from the globally ignored wine region of the Carpathian Mountains and began performing when they realized there was no conceivable way they could make their living at anything else.

—ROBERT KASARDA

appropriate,” she says. The group has spread its message with a catalog of such original songs as “Some Like It Hot,” “Forbidden Love” and the ever popular “Blood Clot Song,” according to their website at weirdsisters. net. Their repertoire also includes such classic covers as “The Boy from Ipanema,” Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and “That Old Black Magic.” “Wherever we go, the room is just so wonderful,” Guaca-Danz says, “as long as there is vodka. It makes everyone equals.” Time is running out to share in the fun. The Weird Sisters have just a few gigs left on their career calendar, including appearances September 19 in Saugatuck, Mich., and October 24 at the Acorn Theater. The group’s two CDs also remain on sale through their website. “As long as people are willing to spend money,” Guaca-Dana says, “we’ll find a way to spend it.”

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

hen again, the self-described curvaceous performer might also tell you how she and her fictitious siblings were conjured up ten years ago by Zarek the Magnificent, who intends to dissolve them back into the mist. Either way, the trio, which has spent the past decade sharing their creation of “glamorous neo-goth cabaret” for awe-struck crowds between Chicago and their unofficial home base at the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, Michigan, will be calling it quits this Halloween. “We’re exhausted and our livers are failing from all the martinis,” Guaca-Danz says. “The public is so demanding.” Other members of the trio are the Countess Ludovica, the pianist, whose doctors and lawyers insist her nervous condition has nothing to do with the investigation into the deaths of her fourth and sixth spouses; and Sissy Concertina, who joined the group after losing the family plaster of Paris business in just weeks after confusing the directive with getting plastered in Paris. Sticking to her hardearned stage persona, Guaca-Danz says the Weird Sisters has been about celebrating life, and she is proud to report that that noble cause appears to have rubbed off on their fans. That, she says, and a newfound appreciation for bustiers. “Regardless of your age, a bustier is always

shorelines

>> shaw thoughts <<

Animal Stories

4 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 2

’m in love with a redhead. But it’s a relationship that will never be consummated. For one thing, she’s behind bars. Don’t worry—I haven’t gone off the deep end and fallen for a prison inmate. And my dear wife Mary completely understands. Because the “she” in this case is Bailey, one of the two red pandas in Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo. Red pandas may be bears. Or small mammals. The keepers aren’t sure. And with their shiny fur and long tails it could go either way. They’re a bit like raccoons or badgers or spectacled bears. Only cuter. In fact, they’re the cutest new additions to the zoo in the 35 years I’ve been jogging through Animalville. And I’m hooked on Bailey, who is just over a year old and sashays around her grassy habitat with a definite attitude that is eerily anthropomorphic. She replaced Toby, a relatively antisocial male who was transferred to the Houston Zoo late last year in a series of mysterious mating moves that only the zookeepers understand. Bailey, according to zoo spokeswoman Sharon Dewar, is expected to produce an offspring or two in the next few years in an orchestrated union with 11-year-old Mac, who is being caged in adjacent quarters until winter, when they’ll be formally introduced. In the meantime, Bailey is mine. So I’ll keep visiting her and the other animals in this wonderful zoo, where it’s fun to watch creatures capable of starting their mornings without three cups of coffee and a bagel. This gives them an elevated place in my natural order. Stormie was cute, too. And kind of regal—a cross between two of my favorite cat breeds, Burmese and Siamese. She had a majestic bearing. But zero personality. Maybe she was traumatized by the violent storm that rolled through Bridgman in the wake of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Our neighbors Chuck and Caroline Davis knew we had a gaggle of kids—three girls, actually—so when they noticed a litter of wet kittens in the shed outside their house they called to ask if we wanted one. I was stuck in Chicago working on some news story so Mary and the girls hustled over, claimed the runt of the litter and named her after the inclement weather. She was low maintenance—healthy and unobtrusive. And that’s good. But the downside is that she was a slug. Eat, sleep and poop, eat, sleep and poop some more. Rarely pining for a lap, rubbing a leg or purring with joy. Until the last year or so. When she was losing altitude, afflicted with arthritic joints, a bit of liver disorder and the kind of general malaise that affects cats when they’re almost 17. That’s when she warmed up a bit, especially to me. Affection born of affliction? Perhaps.

We tried a little medical treatment, but the situation got worse, not better. So I finally took Stormie to an animal shelter and said good-bye. The house is quiet now. And I have to admit I miss her, even if she was more like a piece of furniture than a living creature. She never turned me on like Bailey, but zoo animals are fantasy objects. Stormie was a constant over 17 years. A family member. And that, in the words of Robert Frost, makes all the difference. Fred also makes a lot of difference. To our dear Bridgman friend Candace Broecker, who was struggling emotionally after the unexpected illness and subsequent death of her beloved husband Howard from a virulent strain of brain cancer. Her kids were spread out around the country and she was alone in her grief. Until she got Fred, an adorable mutt. “He’s been wonderful company,” Candace explains. “He forces me to focus on something other than grief and he even travels with me on Southwest Airlines to visit my children. His enjoyment of life provides me with a vicarious enjoyment.”

Sometimes animals are more interesting than people

andace and Fred also participate in the 4H Best Friends program, which helps disabled young people learn to take care of dogs. Fred was assigned to a young lady named Nathene, and their magic moment was August 18th, when they shared the stage at the Berrien County Youth Fair. On that magic evening, Candace’s grief gave way to pure joy. Decades ago, when I was a young adult, I listened to Larry Lujack’s “Animal Stories” on WLS in Chicago. They were funny tales that lampooned the curious relationship between those of us who cope on two legs and our fine furry friends who need four to make it. I’ve always wondered who is having more fun. Brainy humans with their wars and feuds and petty jealousies and self-destructive tendencies. Or the “inferior species” of beautiful red pandas. And regal cats. And loyal dogs. You be the judge. Animal stories. (But just this one time. Because some people are interesting.)

—ANDY SHAW

ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID MOSELE

PRESENTED BY VALPARAISO COMMUNITY FESTIVALS AND EVENTS AND THE VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

Dyer

Taking the fear out of wisdom teeth removal

“

I never had my wisdom teeth removed because I didn’t have a problem. But the day I woke up in pain, I wished I’d had them taken out. Northwest Oral Surgeons were wonderful, comforting and painless.

Dr. Paul Wolf

”

Call us today for your complimentary consultation.

Dr. Sherif O. Mekhail

SCHERERVILLE OFFICE MUNSTER OFFICE

601A U.S. Highway 30 548 Ridge Road, Suite G (219) 322-0501 (219) 836-0004

www.northwestoralsurgeons.com

Dr. Joseph Lovasko

shorelines >> culture nut <<

Vintage Memories The Michigan Wine Stigma

6 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 2

s fall settles in with its chilling temperatures and dwindling daylight hours, summer recedes ever further in the psychological rearview mirror. But for Michigan wine lovers, the time to relive those bygone memories of the warm and carefree summer season, however fleetingly, is right now. Up and down the Lake Michigan shoreline, wineries, shops and markets are featuring the homegrown products of those bountiful yet increasingly hazy days in a wide selection of wines made from the burgeoning autumn Michigan grape harvests. Jill Rosen of the Wine Shop at the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks says customers can find more local wines to choose from now than ever before, including the chardonnays and pinot noirs that precede the gradual transition to winter reds. But Rosen believes that the biggest shift is a perceptual one, with more consumers coming around to the notion that Michigan wine is a truly viable mainstream option rather than simply a quaint local curiosity. “Most people hear ‘Michigan wine’ and think that it’s all sweet and syrupy, but that’s not always true,” she says. “The smaller wineries up here have some brilliant product to offer—things that are not just good for Michigan wine, but really good wine!” Chris Moersch of the Round Barn Winery in Baroda agrees that the “all fruity, all the time” assumptions are beginning to recede as more vintners take full growing advantage of the area’s lake-fueled climatic temperance and sandy loam soils to produce wines with good character and balanced acidity. But he also considers Michigan wine to still be a mostly local phenomenon—which is just fine as far as he’s concerned. “Michigan may well turn out to be the next great thing in wine at some point, but I think we’re still fairly regional for right now and I’m happy with that,” he says. “I don’t look at this as a contest. As long as we continue to produce quality wines and continue to serve the consumer, I think the recognition will come.” Rosen, on the other hand, believes that Michigan wine is almost there already, meaning her customers can enjoy at least one more reminder of summer—a taste at least as good as the wines coming from the Golden State. “Michigan wineries are putting out bottles these days that rival anything you’ll ever taste in Napa.” —MARK LOEHRKE

ARTIST AND DESIGNER HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING Water Street Gallery’s director, owner and artist Mary Jo Lemanski has always had a relationship with SKP Design’s Sondra Phillips, at least that’s what they both say. The two met when Sondra was working in facilities management at a bank in Kalamazoo (First of America, now National City) and needed art work for the walls of a 200,000-square-foot facility. Mary Jo was also in Kalamazoo then working at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA) and helped Sondra purchase 15-20 pieces for the bank. “Some of them were [Mary Jo’s],” and there were others by Marilyn Johnson and a Stu Lyons mural. Sondra explains how the relationship has come full circle since then: “Mary Jo is my goto person as an art consul. I’m on the KIA board and sit on the permanent culture committee so we purchase art for the permanent collection.” And one of Mary Jo’s recent projects has been to work on John Stryker’s new building on the corner of Michigan and Edwards. “She [Mary Jo] furnished the art and we designed [Casa Bolero, a new Mexican restaurant],” Sondra says. “Most of the time I’m following her in after she creates these wonderful environments,” Mary Jo says. So this joining forces is more like resolution to work simultaneously? Sondra’s clients are primarily commercial, while Mary Jo’s are residential, so they are looking at marketing connections from two different angles and helping one another. There has also been an evolution in compatibility for the two. As Sondra says, much of SKP Design’s work was traditional but 13 years ago they did a very edgy contemporary look for Zazio’s and “food modern design can be fun and cool.” On the artist side, Mary

Jo was evolving away from oil painting under a doctor’s orders because she was pregnant. Mary Jo started making magazine mosaics, which turned out to be extremely popular, especially the beach pieces she’s done. “I have at least thirty on the boats or summer homes of Helen and Richard DeVos,” she says. Helping clients with art work goes way beyond picking what matches with the sofa, Mary Jo says. But the goal for her clients is the same as Sondra’s: “a place that’s integrated, especially in the corporate world live in their office as well as their home.” “Certain people come in every year and buy the same artist, other people will come in and say, ‘I have enough favorite wine,’ and want to go with a new artist. This is my fifth summer [at Water Street in Douglas] and I see this sense of confidence with people who purchased art in the past and they love it and the more they look at it, the more they like it. When you are a consultant you build a kind of rapport with people. Interior design is the same thing. I continue to come back to what Sondra does and how she does it. We have been doing this for a while so we both bring something to the table, marching in at the same pace.” —PAT COLANDER

DESIGN Oct 13 DAY 2009 W ater Stre, 9am-6pm 269.375 et G .4833. s kpdesig aller y n.com Design pro fessionals available wil at house by appointment to l be plans, ph otos or sk look and assis t homeo etches their visio wners in achievi ng ns. Consu ltations free, an receive a d participants wil are l also specia of 15 per l designer discou nt ce n t o ff provided by Water all art works Street Ga llery.

T U M M Y

T U C K

Chicago’s “absolute leading surgeon” -Dr. Phil

Go her Go e e for de d tailis

BEFORE

AFTER

www.ccosmediccclinic.com This procedure removes excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and tightens the abdominal muscles. This reduces a protruding abdomen. Consultation will involve a thorough discussion of the risks and benefits of the procedure as well as an exam, which will aid in Dr. Platis informing

Dr. Platis

you how he will perform your procedure.

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

shorelines >> motoring <<

Phantom ‘Roller’ The Zenith Motor Car

F 8 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 2

rom CEO to the rich and famous, RollsRoyce sets the pace for exclusive upward mobility. The 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom is the quintessential symbol for those that “have arrived” in either an owner- or chauffeurdriven automobile donned with a standard or extended wheelbase—versions desirous of deep-pocket buyers who live a lifestyle laden with nothing but the finest amenities and have the monetary means to own a motor car that starts at $380,000 accompanied by a $2,000 destination charge and $3,000 gas-guzzler tax. A team of artisans take 360 hours to hand-build a Rolls-Royce (RR) Phantom, assembled with old-world craftsmanship that has been honed through generations of dedicated assembly-men and women. Amid those hours, 72 are dedicated to the task of matching and installing the cabin’s wood inlays. Several pieces of a client’s inlay choice are kept on file in the event a piece gets damaged and needs to be replaced. Luxury takes patience. Delivery time, depending on the client’s exacting needs, can take up to six months. And with RR’s level of exacting fit and finish comes a

curious wrinkle. The leather hides utilized for RR interiors comes from Bavarian bulls raised in a region of Europe where temperatures are too cool for mosquitoes and other things that gnaw, so that bite marks do not mar the bovine’s skin. The ranch has no barbed wire or other objects that could scratch or blemish their flesh. Why bulls? So that there are no stretch marks veined within the leather surfaces.

W WINGED ELEGANCE

ant more for your money? The coveted Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament is hard-wired for a quick disappearing act in the event it is tussled by vandals. With the slightest tug the entire ornament instantly rifles into the radiator cowl for safe keeping. A button in the glove box also retracts the Flying Lady from view. Considering the front bumper arrives 7 feet sooner than the driver’s position, a special front camera lens set outside the Phantom allows the driver to see sidewalk pedestrians or cross traffic when pulling out of a blind entrance. For an additional $12,500, Rolls-Royce Phantom offers an available rear lounge seat, comfortably curved on the sides for casual tête-à-tête. Add the $6,025 rear champagne cooler and $5,460 custom goblet holder and you’ve got a conversation pit that people will be talking about for a lifetime. Back coach doors are hinged in the rear, and, when coordinated with the opened front doors, offer a “corridor of protection” for rear occupants to exit or enter the vehicle. The left coach door also has a built-in cavity to hold an oversize rain umbrella. Standard “duchess slings” replace common hand-pulls for rear egress. If the Roller reaches 4 miles per hour and the rear doors are open, the Phantom will immediately come to a complete stop automatically. Rear doors effortlessly close with a push of a button on the cabin wall. Both the standard 140.6-inch Rolls-Royce Phantom and 10-inch longer extended wheelbase model come powered by an all-aluminum 6.75-liter V-12 engine that is purpose-

photography courtesy of ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS

In the world of one-upmanship, nothing gleans the Crown Jewel of blueblood motor cars like the British-built Rolls-Royce. In its 105year history, the company has made nearly 100,000 “Rollers”—a figure less than the average monthly production output of its German parent company BMW, which purchased the RollsRoyce name in 1998.

built by BMW for Rolls-Royce (only) motor cars coupled to an ultra-smooth shifting 6-speed automatic transmission for 453 horsepower to generate a ground-pulling 531 pound-feet of torque—power typical of America’s most powerful Heavy Duty trucks. I stood fooled, however. The Herculean engine runs so smooth and quiet that while standing outside next to the car, I didn’t know it was running. Rolls-Royce Phantom owners that take notice of fuel economy will enjoy 11 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the open road, courtesy of Goodyear run-flat tires that wrap 21-inch chrome wheels with self-righting center wheel emblems to showcase the “RR” insignia to the motoring public. In my opinion, that is money totally wasted. Chances are good that passersby are likely to recognize a Rolls-Royce long before they identify it by the nonrotating wheel emblem. —JIM JACKSON

Dream Cars of Yesteryear THE LATEST CHAPTER IN THE PIONEERING HISTORY OF MERCEDES-BENZ INCLUDES THE INVENTION OF THE WORLD’S FIRST AUTOMOBILE FROM 120 YEARS AGO.

Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine, California, is the first and only manufacturerbacked classic center of its kind that includes retail sales, restoration, appraisal and vehicle-search assistance for Mercedes-Benz models aged twenty years or older. “Imagine the chance to step back in time and purchase the Mercedes-Benz of your dreams right off the showroom floor,” says Mike Kunz, manager, Classic Center. “The Classic Center provides a unique opportunity unmatched by any other marquee in the world to relive automotive history for those who longed for these cars when they were younger, or for customers who are new to the brand and value the nostalgia and timeless style that comes with a vintage Mercedes.” For more information on the Vehicles are offered at a wide range of prices beginning Mercedes-Benz around $25,000 and reaching upwards into the millions of Classic Center visit mbusa.com or call dollars. 866.622.5277. Ownership of a classic Mercedes is by no means required to enjoy a visit to the Classic Center. The Center offers something for all enthusiasts—from those who enjoy admiring expertly restored classic Mercedes-Benz cars to those shopping in the boutique for a full line of automotive and lifestyle accessories. —JIM JACKSON

CHICAGOLAND’S #1

THE NEW 2010 BUICK

BUICK • PONTIAC • GMC VOLUME DEALER

Classic & CONTEMPORARY Warm tinted chrome details. Dynamic ribbon design. This vehicle ties it all together. Experience true inner beauty in the new 2010 LaCrosse.

IN STOCK NOW! Starting at

BUICK • PONTIAC • GMC

W W W. S C H E P E L . C O M 3 2 0 9 W E S T U. S . 3 0

•

M E R R I L LV I L L E , I N

•

219.769.6381

See our complete lineup of Buicks & GMCs crossovers at

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

$27,835

shorelines JODI MURPHY

THE QUEEN OF GREEN When Chicago native Jodi Murphy purchased her first home, she found herself staring at orange sculpted carpet and plastic bricks. Nearby, crews were tearing down older homes to make way for new ones. Murphy asked if she could have what they were throwing away. Little did she know she was birthing a career, and that twenty years later, it would land her on Discovery’s Planet Green network as host of Total Wrecklamation. How would you describe what you do as Murco Recycling? I broker building materials out of houses before they get demolished or renovated. I redistribute the used materials to make the owners money, and to avail people of materials they otherwise could not afford. When you look at an empty house, you see an empty house. Me, I see resell-able pieces. The baseboards can go to one person, the flooring to another, the windows to another. It’s one of those business situations where everybody wins. What percentage of a house gets reused? That depends. When we work before a demolition contractor, it’s called a soft strip. We’re taking out the reusable items— the vanities, toilets, tubs, mirrors, windows. However, if I work in front of a deconstruction firm, we can go after the bones of the building. I can go after lumber and structural elements because they literally un-build the house in reverse order. The climate of the industry is going toward deconstruction because our landfills are just filling up. The city of Chicago is very proactive in deconstruction. You’re going to see a lot more of it. How did Total Wrecklamation come

about? About two years ago, I got a call from a producer. She asked about the industry and what I did. Then, she called and said her boss would like to talk to me. He called and we chatted. Then he called again, and said “Jodi, Discovery’s newest network is all-green programming, and you and your company encapsulate everything we want. So we’d like to come and film a pilot.” The first time they came out and filmed, it was hysterically funny. I mean, I’m not a shy person. I auction every weekend. I’m used to stepping up and making noise. Well, they wanted me to pull into the driveway and get out of the car. It took fifty takes. One time I even forgot to put the car in park. The next day was the actual auction, and then it was a whole different ball game. I didn’t even see the camera. It just could not have gone better. The next thing I know, they’re picking me

up for thirteen episodes. It started airing in October, or November [2008]. The response has been so great. Going into season two, there’s going to be a slightly different format. Before, it was mostly surrounding my auctions. Now, the show is going to get more involved in the industry at large, showing the flow of materials. You’ll see someone winning the bid, removing the purchase, reinstalling it, and enjoying it. There’s a story that goes along with every purchase. We have people who’ve been shopping with us for fifteen years. We’re starting to get second generation. What plans do you have for Murco’s future? We’re looking to up-class the industry and turn it into the reuse tool that it is. It’s not that difficult, with technology, to identify areas of need and fill them with materials. We want to engage in partnerships. We already know how to run this business. We’ve had twenty years to iron out the kinks, and we need people who want to partner with us in different areas of the country. That will also be another platform for us to go and film. Our goal is to have this going on everywhere. I’m so blessed by Planet Green making people aware of this industry, of this undercurrent of materials, of waste that can be diverted. And Murco is now involved in its first Habitat for Humanity house. Habitat for Humanity is trying to green up their homes. You can’t get greener than reuse, so we’re going to be breaking ground on the first green Habitat for Humanity home, in Carpentersville. I’m thrilled. Murco’s going to be providing used content. We can’t do it all, but we’re going to be contributing a lot. I can’t tell you how gratifying that is. Another gratifying thing for me is—now everything is green, green, green—I’ve been out there shouting green, green, green for twenty years. I have seen the shift. I have seen the sentiment and the earnestness of the buying public fundamentally and profoundly shift in the green direction, and they mean it. It’s not a word. People really care. It’s wonderful. —TERRI GORDON

0 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 3

more shore

Read more of Jodi Murphy’s interview at visitshoremagazine.com

photography courtesy of PLANET GREEN

>> interview <<

presents

MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2009 • 7PM SHOWTIME Doors open 5:30pm • Vendor booths open 1-9:30pm Star Plaza Theatre • 8001 Delaware Place • Merrillville, IN

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

CELEBRITY CELEBR RITY C CIRCLE IRC RCLE $ $16 16 • M MAIN AIN FL FLOOR LOO OOR $11 $11 • MEZZANINE MEZZAN NINE $ $9 9 INCLUDES ADMISSION TO VENDOR BOOTH AREA

Purchase tickets at the Star Plaza Theatre Box Office, your local Ticketmaster Outlet or by phone: (800) 745-3000

Can’t attend the show? Enjoy our vendor booths from 1-9:30pm for only $1

• GREAT LIVE COOKING DEMOS WITH TOP CULINARY SPECIALIST DANA ELLIOTT • FABULOUS RECIPES AND CREATIVE COOKING TIPS • PRIZE GIVEAWAYS AND FREE GIFT BAGS • VISIT TOP LO CAL VENDOR EXHIBITS

N AT I O N A L LY S P O N S O R E D B Y :

Dana Elliott, Culinary Specialist

>> where to go <<

THE KISSING BRIDGE VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY’S UNOFFICIAL MONUMENT

I 2 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 3

t is a bridge that crosses generations. Between 1859 and 1867 an iron bridge was built across the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks on the south edge of the Valparaiso University campus. In June 1967 the City of Valparaiso condemned a 400-foot wooden trestle that connected to the bridge. By November 1967, Valparaiso grad W.F. “Bill” Wellman purchased a 30-foot-long iron section with timber deck and moved it near his now-defunct Wellman’s Restaurant, about a mile and a half from campus. In 2004 the bridge was relocated to a spot on campus south of the Christopher Center Library where it can be found today. Scores of Valparaiso students came to know this scoring gantry as the “Kissing Bridge.” A student would take their sweetheart to the top of the bridge. You could kiss for the duration of the train running underneath. Legend had it that a female student was not officially a coed until she had been kissed on the bridge over a passing train at midnight. The bridge became a metaphor for the fleeting nature of life and love. Wellman devoted half a chapter to the Kissing Bridge in his 2006 entrepreneurial memoir It’s Made to Sell—Not To Drink [AuthorHouse, Bloomington, Indiana]. Wellman also was general manager for the Holiday Star Theater in Merrillville from 1976 to 1988. “I received a letter from [travel writer] Lowell Thomas, who went to school at Valpo,” says Wellman, senior vice-president of communications for Whiteco Industries real estate development company in Merrillville. “In his last book before he died he had a picture of him on the ‘Kissing Bridge’ with his two girl friends. He heard I was going to buy it and wanted to make sure I didn’t paint it gold. He wanted it painted black, because he thought gold was too rinky-dink.” The bridge is still black as night. Wellman recalls, “I went to Valparaiso right after the war in 1945. I didn’t do too

well education-wise, and the president of the university asked me to leave. I was helping everybody celebrate coming home from the war. I bought the bridge out of the junk pile. It probably didn’t cost me more than $200. The bridge was an integral part of my life.” The Christopher Center Library is named for the family of Class of ’67 Valparaiso graduate Jay Christopher, a west suburban Chicago resident who is former co-owner and founder of the Pampered Chef online kitchen tools store. His father Walter was a Chicago attorney. Jay Christopher also owns one of America’s largest collections of vintage railroad china, with more than 600 pieces. The bridge was double-tracked heaven for Christopher. He loved to go on dates, he loved to hear the promise of a thundering train. “We took trains everywhere,” Christopher says. “My uncle was a professor at Valparaiso, of all places. The first thing we would do when we left Union Station was get in the dining car and order French toast with A student sausage and orange juice. would By the time we had a take their sweetheart leisurely breakfast we were to the top of in Valparaiso.” the bridge. Christopher knew that You could three train lines went kiss for the duration of the through Valparaiso: the train running Pennsylvania Railroad, the underneath. Nickel Plate and the Grand Legend had it Trunk (now the Canadian that a female student was National). He owns China not officially from all three train lines. a coed until Valparaiso graduate she had been (1950) Reinhold Marxhausen kissed on the bridge over a is an artist best known for passing train two large murals he created at midnight. for the Nebraska State The bridge Capitol building. He received became a metaphor for his MFA from Mills College the fleeting in California and established nature of life the art department at and love. Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, where he was a professor for many years. Marxhausen made a pair of two-bythree-feet oil on canvas paintings of the Kissing Bridge. They can be seen by appointment by contacting Gregg Hertzlieb, director/curator of the Brauer Museum of Art at Valparaiso (219.464.5761, Gregg.Hertzlieb@valpo.edu). Hertzlieb, 44, grew up in nearby Chesterton. “I’ve discovered how many fond memories there are about the Kissing Bridge,” he says. “I wasn’t aware of the level of interest. It touches a sentimental part of people, especially during college years where you begin to learn about relationships. That gives it extra impact.” —DAVE HOEKSTRA

painting courtesy of THE BRAUER MUSEUM OF ART

shorelines

Celebrating Our 10 th Anniversary Sponsored by The Community Hospital

www.hartsfieldvillage.com • Independent Apartment Homes with Services • Assisted Living • Memory Support Residence • Nursing Care & Rehabilitation

Munster, Indiana • 219.934.0750 • 800.297.6188

shorelines >> green notes <<

Cameron Davis GREAT LAKES CZAR

F 4 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 3

National Wildlife Federation or Davis, it was about having a vision. and taught at the University “The world looked like it was getting of Michigan law school smaller and countries were going to before returning to the have to figure out how they were going Federation. He accepted the to work together,” he says. Davis went executive director’s position on to serve as executive director of the in 1998. Alliance for the Great Lakes (formerly the “One of my proudest Lake Michigan Federation), which Botts achievements is helping with founded in 1970. our team to establish the This June, Davis was tapped by the Obama Adopt-A- Beach program,” administration to serve as the nation’s first Great Davis says. “We went from Lakes czar, a position promised during the presidential zero to 17,000 volunteers in campaign to oversee and coordinate environmental very little time. It’s amazing, policies impacting the lakes. “It’s a dream come true for it’s fun, it’s family-oriented me because I just care passionately about these Great and it helps people reconnect Lakes and I want to ensure that we pass these on better to their Great Lakes and in than the way we got them,” Davis says. the final analysis, that’s what He credits much of the rise to the prestigious position matters most.” to the mentoring he received from Botts. Davis worked During his 11-year tenure, for the Lake Michigan Federation after his meeting Botts says Davis “has built the with Botts as a volunteer while making a living as a Federation into a much larger waiter. As a volunteer, he helped organize a public organization in every way.” hearing on the U.S./Canadian Great Lakes Water Quality “It has a very Agreement. He then considered getting a higher education in the environmental powerful board, sector. “I urged him right away including former Gov. not to decide on an advanced [Bob] Taft of Ohio, degree until he learned the and its influence has ins and outs of environmental continued to grow,” issues,” Botts says. She adds that she says. those issues break down three Botts says the ways: technical, science and creation of the Great policy. Lakes czar position Davis began working part-time comes at a critical for the Federation and then fulltime for the Great time. He later went to the Kent Lakes. “Policy-wise, College of Law, which was just there are some ally starting its prestigious program in critical things that I think it’s rer the fo important hington environmental and energy law. have to be dealt as W folks in I Botts wanted to hire Davis with,” she says. at th ow to kn y as executive director of the “The responsibilities live and pla ing ng Federation, but he said he wasn’t of the states and and am bri ily in up my fam d for ready and wanted more legal local governments an o g Chica in experience. He left Chicago for Ann in relation to the re he le p the peo to know Arbor to work as an attorney for the role of the federal the region ngton I’m in Washi g for in d ea cheerl kes. La at re the G

WASH

government YOUR has never been CAR, SAVE spelled out THE and needs to GREAT be done.” LAKES Another issue, which The runoff from detergents and will be at the chemicals used top of the washing the agenda, will be car at home coordination winds up in local waterways of the more that lead to the than 140 Great Lakes. federal Most professionprograms al car washes are connected dealing with to municipal Great Lakes wastewater issues. “All of treatment systhe programs tems, which filter those compete for pollutants out funding and and contribute there are to healthier eight different lakes. —LAURI HARVEY KEAGLE states,” Botts says. “Getting coordination and focus among all those efforts is part of the challenge.”

avis started in his new federal position July 13 and spends time both in Washington D.C. and back home in Evanston, which allows him to stay close to his young family. “I think it’s really important for the folks in Washington to know that I live and play and am bringing up my family in Chicago and for the people here in the region to know I’m in Washington cheerleading for the Great Lakes.” —LAURI HARVEY KEAGLE

photography courtesy of CAMERON DAVIS

Lee Botts knew there was something different about Cameron Davis when she first met him. • It was the summer of 1986 and Davis was fresh from graduation at Boston College, where he earned a degree in international relations. Davis came to her at Northwestern University, where she was serving in a faculty research position, saying he wanted to do international environmental work. “Lots of young people have come to me and said they wanted to save the world,” the Gary environmentalist says. “But, he was very earnest and very focused.”

shorelines >> haute properties <<

Who Owns the Beach? IT DEPENDS WHERE YOU’RE STANDING

Some years ago, my wife and I started looking for a weekend home in Southwest Michigan. As we looked for homes in the great little towns along the Southwest Michigan coast, it was much as we both remembered it: with the exception of the beaches. The prices were through the roof, and with that prodigious investment came a corresponding (and understandable) desire of owners to protect that pricey turf.

M 6 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 3

y wife and I ultimately bought in Michiana, where, because of erosion, very few true beachfront properties remain. Most of the beach is now owned by the Village. As a real estate lawyer and property owner on both sides of the lake, I thought it would be of interest to compare beach rights in Michigan and Illinois. In researching this subject I found a great number of published legal opinions involving beach and water rights where the courts distinguish between “littoral” and “riparian” water rights. Littoral rights apply to navigable waters (mainly Great Lakes and the oceans) and riparian rights involve small lakes, rivers and streams. In most of these cases, the shoreline along these major or littoral seaways is said to afford an easement for the public, often referred to as the “Public Trust Doctrine.” The first major decision involving the Great Lakes dates back to 1892 in the U.S. Supreme Court Decision, Illinois Central Railroad v. Illinois. In that case, the Court found the Public Trust Doctrine requires the State to maintain the littoral waters to allow the free flow of commercial transportation along the Great Lakes. In Michigan, major trial and appellate court battles were waged during a long period over the question of the public’s right to traverse privately owned beaches

for recreational purposes. Lakeside property owner groups like “Save Our Shoreline” argued that they owned land to water’s edge and could chase off anyone walking their beaches. The Michigan Supreme Court finally resolved this issue via Glass v. Goeckel when it ruled in July 2005 that the Public Trust Doctrine extended to recreational use. The decision gave access to the public to walk across the Great Lakes shoreline in the strip closest to the lake below the “high-water mark.” The decision was hailed as a victory for the public. The Illinois courts take a view much more pleasing to the beachfront property owner. In Brundage v. Knox, a 1917 Illinois Supreme Court Decision, the Court found that the still water mark or “water’s edge” is the line of ownership demarcation defining the boundary of the Great Lakes. The Illinois Court found that Lake Michigan does not have a current, nor is it affected by tides. Therefore, the Court found no reason to extend the boundary line beyond the still level of the lake. This rejects the high-water mark as the boundary for bodies of water not affected by tides or currents. It has been surmised that the change of heart in Michigan is owing to the fact that the low-water levels now experienced on the Great Lakes is resulting in many homeowners staking claim to these suddenly larger beaches. Some argue that

a line in the sand cannot really be drawn because erosion and accretion make it a moving target. Recent events suggest that Illinois may be in for a new battle. In January 2009, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources submitted a document to the Coastal Programs Division Office that would expand the State’s and the Federal Government’s roles. The Coastal Zone Management Program was established by Congress in the 1970s. The avowed goal was to provide resources to protect coastal regions of the thirty or more states eligible for the program. It is reported that Illinois stands alone in rejecting this funding. That rejection is owing to a history of distrust between the private homeowners and the government as it relates to the maintenance of the lakeshore. In the late 1970s a group of North Shore property owners called upon the legislature to reject the program. It was feared that submitting to the program would force North Shore property owners to open the beaches to the public. These North Shore stalwarts won that battle and since that time the State has eschewed this revenue source.

he avowed goal of participation in the coastal program is to use these monies to stem coastal, bluff and beach erosion, improve beach health, and preserve natural habitat. But given the history of intense debate on this topic we will likely see beachfront landowners battle over this subject in the coming months. Also, stay tuned for an interesting battle following “The Friends of the Parks” proposal to fulfill Daniel Burnham’s plan to make the lakefront 100 percent owned by the public. —PETER J. BIRNBAUM

2009

6DYH WKH 'DWH 7XHVGD\ 2FWREHU Â± S P 6WDUGXVW (YHQW &HQWHU

%OXH &KLS Â&#x2021; (DV\ 6WUHHW Â&#x2021; 0LFKLJDQ &LW\ ,1

3ODQ RQ DWWHQGLQJ WKH ODUJHVW ZRPHQ V HYHQW LQ /D 3RUWH &RXQW\ )5(( DGPLVVLRQ DQG RYHU YHQGRUV )5(( KHDOWK VFUHHQLQJV JLYH D ZD\V GHPRQVWUDWLRQV DQG SUHVHQWDWLRQV E\ /D 3RUWH 5HJLRQDO +HDOWK 6\VWHP VWDII DQG SK\VLFLDQV

WEFM 95.9 FM

july 2009

)RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ RU LQTXLULHV DERXW ERRWK VSDFH FDOO RU YLVLW ZZZ ODSRUWHKHDOWK RUJ

beaux arts ball, munster • FERNWOOD SUMMER SOLSTICE, NILES • 1001 Nights, michigan city • waterfront film festival, saugatuck • baldwin landing, union • ice cream social, whiting • wine festival, bridgman • rhumbline regatta, st. joseph • sca summer solstice, saugatuck 1

yes we can-can beaux arts ball munster

photography by robert wray

Entertainment, decorations and culinary delights with a French theme added to this year’s black tie event attended by more than 400 supporters of arts education. Guests bid on silent and live auctions, helping raise over $146,000. Guests danced to the very last song, making “Love Shack” line dance a tradition.

1 Judith Kaufman and Henry Shein 2 John Cain and Liz Valavanis 3 W. Dennis Hodges of Merrillville and Kathryn Speer Smith of Hobart 4 Mike and Cherie Rippey with Kathy and Tom O’Donnell 5 Joe and Elsie Hoffman of Crown Point

6 Mark Maassel of Valparaiso

7 Doug Hass of Munster and Peaen Roman of Lagunas 8 Vicky and Dan Klein of Crown Point 9 Michael Suggs of Merrillville and Verlie Harris of Crown Point

8 visitshoremagazine.com 3

10 Karen Maravilla of Hammond, Joyce E Davis of Gary and Colleen Reilly of Valparaiso

want more? please go to visitshoremagazine.com to view and purchase click photos

all clicks compiled by sue bero

want more? please go to visitshoremagazine.com to view and purchase click photos

garden party fernwood summer solstice niles

photography by gregg rizzo

Some 258 guests took part in a special evening at Fernwood Botanical Garden, featuring cocktails and hors dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;oeuvres, an elegant dinner prepared by Fernwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chef, Tim Carrigan, a dessert buffet and live and silent auctions. Friends Jazz Trio provided musical entertainment and the new railway garden designed by Paul Busse was opened.

1 Matt Money and Lindahl Wiegard of South Bend 2 Allison McRae of Buchanan with Susan and Geoff Gilbert of Galien 3 Judy Truesdell of Niles, Nancy Racine of Lakeside and Mary Jo Halbretter of Edwardsburg 4 Vincent Macias and Elizabeth Money of South Bend 5 Ella and Brian Busse of Cincinnati 6 Johann Money and Joanne Sims of South Bend 7 Carole Line and Alan Robandt of Buchanan

0 visitshoremagazine.com 4

want more? please go to visitshoremagazine.com to view and purchase click photos

arabian affair 1001 nights | michigan city

Obstetrical & Gynecological Associates, Inc. Board Certified Obstetricians & Gynecologists

photography by joe durk

A handful of Michigan City merchants combined efforts to create the One Thousand and One Nights party, for which the Senior Center was transformed into a lush Mediterranean setting. Guests dined on Greek and Lebanese fare provided by Sahara restaurant, and danced to music by Mediterraneo.

1 Pano and Beth Arvantis of New Buffalo

2 Jane Daley and David Dabagia of Michigan City 3 Saida Fikri and Sabirn Cherigui of Chicago

Cheryl Short L. Jennifer Murphy Crystal Strickland Chrys Davis M.D., FACOG

5 Devon and Mitchell Danford of Chesterton

6 Sarah Mitchell and Moe Mroueh of Michigan City

M.D., FACOG

MSN, FNP

We Understand Women • Pregnancy Care (Including High Risk) • Breast Exams • Gynecology-Pelvic Exams • Laparoscopy • Family Planning • Annual Exams • Infertility • Adolescent Gynecology • Mammography • Hysteroscopy/Colposcopy • Women’s Wellness • Menopause • Female Incontinence • HPV Testing • DaVinci Robotic Hysterectomy

M.D., FACOG

Accepting New Patients 1101 E. Glendale Blvd. Suite 102 Valparaiso, IN 46383 • (219) 462-6144 - Most Insurance Accepted -

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

GLENDALE MEDICAL CENTER

4 Stephanie Russell with Lisa and JR Brice, all of Michigan City

want more? please go to visitshoremagazine.com to view and purchase click photos

under the stars

waterfront film festival | saugatuck 3

photography by gregg rizzo

Opening night of the highly anticipated festival was filled with music, food and beverages, special guests and an outdoor-movie screening of Surfing 50 States at dusk. The outdoor party was hosted by Kirsten Haglund, Miss America 2008, and featured a live performance by Fallbrooke, an up-and-coming rock band.

1 Hopwood Dupree of Los Angeles and Jonao Dumont of Sydney 2 Leslie Mustard of Holland and Katie Budd of Muskegon 3 Stacy Dow and Peter Lamberta of St. Joseph with Katie Lamberta of Chicago 4 Deb and John Snyder of Grand Haven

5 Kelly Sullivan of Kalamazoo and Tonya Ross of Grand Haven 6 Natalie and Brian Buente of Louisville 7 Lynn Marro and Pati Gilman of Saugatuck

want more? please go to visitshoremagazine.com to view and purchase click photos

model living

baldwin landing party | union photography by gregg rizzo

A summer celebration at Baldwin Landing included boat tours of Baldwin Lake, boat demonstrations and model home tours.

1 Andrew Linton of Elkhart with Dani Wilson of San Diego 2 Lauren Kotinek of Niles with Mike Wirt of South Bend 3 Paul and Claire DeLano of Elkhart

great scoop ice cream social | whiting photography by robert wray

An ice cream social drew some 700 people to downtown Whiting for a day filled with street vendors, artists and contests.

1 Gene and Gail Gierke of LaPorte 2 Greta Soliman and Jules Thomas of Whiting 3 Lyn and Catherine Bollhorst of Hessville

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

want more? please go to visitshoremagazine.com to view and purchase click photos

toast the coast wine festival | bridgman photography by gregg rizzo

Some 4,000 people headed to the shores of Weko Beach to beat the heat and sample great local wines of the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail. The festival featured twelve wineries, five bands and KitchenAid chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cooking demonstrations. A spectacular sunset ended the perfect day.

1 Brian and Beth Tulacro of Chicago

2 Ashley Martin and Linda Muncy of Rochester 3 Arianne Nardo, Breanne Petersen and Jessica Wackwitz, all of Chicago 4 Liana and Ted Croak of San Francisco 5 Debra Nitz of Coloma and Annette Nelson of Watervliet

4 5

4 visitshoremagazine.com 4

want more? please go to visitshoremagazine.com to view and purchase click photos

on deck

rhumbline regatta | st. joseph photography by gregg rizzo

Sailors and crew members joined some 1,000 guests at St. Joseph Yacht Club to celebrate after the race on Lake Michigan.

1 Stephanie and Michael Klick of St. Joseph 2 MeGha and Kalpesh Joshi of Chicago 3 Jim and Caryl Meister of St. Joseph

elegant event

sca summer solstice | saugatuck photography by gregg rizzo

Guests enjoyed an evening of cocktails, dining and dancing at a high-energy benefit to support Saugatuck Center for the Arts.

1 Denise and Jason Dedic of Saugatuck 2 Mike VanMeter of Saugatuck 3 Pam Pearson and Kate Dixon, both of Douglas, with Mort Van Howe of Saugatuck

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

essential EVENTS

HAPPENINGS 52

HAPPENINGS EXHIBITIONS 48 55 EXHIBITIONS FILM 56 50

PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE 50 56

INTEREST 58

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. Sept 23-Nov 22: Richard III [left]; Oct 28-Nov 1: Druid’s The Walworth Farce.

CALENDAR COMPILED BY JULI DOSHAN

happenings Indiana

Sept 12 Valparaiso Popcorn Festival, 7am6:30pm, downtown Valparaiso. 219.464.8332. popcornfest.org. A true salute to Valparaiso native Orville Redenbacher, the Popcorn Fest offers family-fun activities for all ages, including a 5-mile run called the Popcorn Panic, a 5K walk, live entertainment, more than 500 food and craft booths and the nation’s only popcorn parade. Sept 13, Oct 4, 18, Nov 8, 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. Sept 13: Martin Chalifour, “Sylvia Bankoff Memorial Concert”; Oct 4: John Stossel, “An Evening with John Stossel”; Oct 18: Jonathan Rauch, “Government in 2020—Bankrupt or Reborn?”; Nov 8: Robert Krulwich, “Making Medical Science WONDER-ful”; Dec 6: Twyla Tharp, “Creativity and Risk Taking.”

8 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 4

Sept 19 Bizarre Bazaar, 10am-5pm, Hohman & Rimback Sts, downtown Hammond. 219.512.4298. downtownhammond.org. This one-of-a-kind event offers food, arts and crafts, entertainment, contests and tournaments, a rod and classic car show, a hair cut-a-thon for charity, dance troupes, kids’ activities and much more. The event also includes a free concert by the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. Sept 21 10th Annual Golf Invitational, 11am, White Hawk Country Club, 1001 White Hawk Dr, Crown Point. 219.985.6562, 219.985.6560. arcbridges.com. The Lake County Foundation for the Retarded sponsors its 10th Annual Golf Invitational to benefit people with developmental disabilities. The event will follow a “scramble format” and the registration fee includes lunch, golf, cart, dinner

and prizes. Participants will also get the chance to win up to $500 at the Golf Ball Bounce, when up to 1,000 numbered golf balls will be dropped from a helicopter onto a practice green. The ball closest to the marked hole wins the top prize. Sept 24 Fashions from Around the World, doors open 5:30pm, Strongbow Banquet Center, 2405 Morthland, Valparaiso. 219.465.1053. artbarnin. com. This style show—featuring fashions from Judee’s in LaPorte and David’s of Valparaiso—is a fundraiser for the Art Barn School of Art, which promotes and conducts visual education classes for children and adults in a unique rural and creative environment. The event features silent and live auctions of original paintings by local artists, as well as a raffle of dinner and lunch certificates. Sept 26 Art Beat 2009, 10am-6pm, downtown South Bend. 574.282.1110. artbeatsouthbend.org. Enjoy an afternoon stroll through downtown South Bend as local visual and culinary artists from the city and surrounding communities share their talents along the sidewalks. Sept 26 National Public Lands Day, nationwide. publiclandsday.org. Volunteers are being urged to register for cleanup activities as part of the 16th annual National Public Lands Day, the largest annual, coast-to-coast, single-day volunteer effort to improve America’s public properties. At more than 2,000 sites in all 50 states, National Public Lands Day volunteers will clean parks, lakes, streams and beaches; build trails and bridges; remove invasive species and plant native trees and vegetation. Many of this year’s events will focus on water and its importance in healthy ecosystems. South Bend volunteers can sign up to help clean up the bank of the St. Joseph River (1-4pm, St. Joseph River, between St. Patrick’s County Park and the Auten Rd Bridge, South Bend. 574.277.4828). Oct 16 CASA Wine Tasting, 6-9pm, LaPorte Civic

Auditorium, 1001 Ridge St, LaPorte. 219.324.2285. lcso.net. This basic wine, beer and food tasting is celebrating its 15th year benefiting Harmony House/CASA Program of LaPorte County and the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra, which will be performing throughout the evening. Ticket price includes a souvenir wine glass, as well as entry into a raffle to win the grand prize basket full of local services, restaurant coupons and art pieces. Register by Sept 30 for this annual event. Nov 14-15 Holiday Home Tour, Sat 11am5pm, Sun 1-5pm, 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 for a self-guided tour.

Michigan

Sept 18-Oct 31 Niles Haunted House Scream Park, call or visit website for dates and times, 855 Mayflower Rd, Niles. 269.445.9184. haunted.org. America’s largest haunted theme park features the biggest haunted house in the East and other haunted attractions including a castle, maze and an asylum. Also enjoy a haunted hayride, midway games and fun food concessions. Some proceeds go toward local charities. Sept 19 2nd Annual Blues, Brews & BBQ, noon-6pm, John E. N. Howard Bandshell, Port St, St. Joseph. 269.985.1111. sjtoday.org. This year’s festivities include a bean bag tournament, three different blues bands, a variety of authentic BBQ, and beer provided by Round Barn Brewery. Sept 19 Columbia Art District Festival, 11:30am6:30pm, 15th & 24th Sts, Holland. 616.262.2698. cadfest.com. The best and brightest artists and performers come together on two stages during this

photograph by BILL BURLINGHAM

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.

Sept 27-Nov 2 South Haven’s Harvest Moon Gathering, various locations, South Haven. 269.637.5252. southhaven.org. South Haven is gearing up for the fall with this month-long series of events, which includes Shop and Dine Downtown, Scarecrows on Parade, an apple pie social and a farmers’ market. Oct 1-4 Apple Festival, corner of Lake & 17th Sts, downtown Niles. 269.683.8870. fourflagsapplefestival. org. As one of the top-rated festivals in the state of Michigan, this four-day fair features carnival rides, food vendors, more than 190 arts and crafts booths on Saturday and Sunday, parades, contests and more. Oct 3-4 20th Annual Blue Coast Artists Fall Tour of Studios and Open House, 10am-6pm, various locations, Blue Star Hwy between South Haven and Saugatuck. 269.236.9260. bluecoastartists.com. The scenic tour involves all six Blue Coast studios— Lattner Studio, Blue Star Pottery, Khnemu Studio, Blue Roan Studio, Lake Effect Pottery, and Blue Star Studio of Wood and Glass. The studio artists offer demonstrations of their craft, and refreshments will be served. Oct 9-12 Harbor Country Harvest Days, throughout Harbor Country: Michiana, Grand Beach, New Buffalo, Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert, Sawyer and Three Oaks. harborcountry.org. Fun fall festivities include hayrides, a pumpkin patch, a scarecrow contest, shopping, a farmer’s market, a hot rod show and cruise, and a chili cook-off. Oct 10 New Buffalo Harvest & Wine Fest, noon-10pm, Lion’s Park, downtown New Buffalo. 773.791.1809. newbuffalo.org. There’s something for everyone at the 3rd annual Harvest & Wine Fest with live music, world-class wines from Southwest Michigan, tasty fare from area restaurants, a copious farmers’ market, hayrides, a pumpkin patch and free activities for kids.

Oct 17 2009 Kitchen Walk, noon6pm, various locations, Harbor Country. 773.293.3259. designsfordignity.org. The proceeds of this benefit go to Designs for Dignity, a pro bono interior design company that provides services to nonprofits throughout the Midwest. More than 500 food enthusiasts and interior designers will tour some of the most innovative kitchens in Harbor

Oct 30 Food, Wine & All That Jazz, 7:30-10pm, The Public Museum of Grand Rapids, 272 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids. 800.442.2771. wgvu.org. West Michigan’s premier wine tasting event features more than 300 domestic wines and beers, gourmet food selections and live jazz music.

Illinois

Sept 18-19 Naperville Wine Festival, Fri 4-10pm, Sat 2-9pm, Naper Settlement, 523 S Webster St, downtown Naperville. 847.382.1480. napervillewinefestival.com. The Naperville Wine Festival returns for its seventh year, featuring more than 250 fine wines from across the globe. Seminars and demonstrations will be led by acclaimed chefs and wine experts; a Belgian Beer Café offers samples of beer for the nonwine drinkers. Sept 26-27 Randolph Street Market Festival, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am4pm, 1350 W Randolph, Chicago. 312.666.1200. randolphstreetmarket. com. For the past six years, this European-style flea market has given many smart shoppers, style hunters and Hollywood stylists what they need for their fashion fix. With its extensive selection of unique items, everyone will be sure to enjoy the market’s funfilled shopping, mingling and browsing experience. Oct 1 Wine, Women & Shoes 2009, 6-9:30pm, River East Art Center, 435 E Illinois St, Chicago. 312.222.8900. brownpapertickets.com/event/69164. Attendees at this fourth annual event will be able to peruse designer shoes, handbags, jewelry and accessories from some of the nation’s hottest boutiques. Participating boutiques will donate 20 percent of their proceeds to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. A raffle and silent auction will also be included. Oct 10 13th Annual Old Plank Road Trail Celebration, pre-race registration 8:30am, race 9:30am. Breidert Green, Oak & Kansas Sts, Frankfort. villageoffrankfort.com. In addition to a 5K Run/Walk, an exhibitors’ tent provides information on running and fitness. Free refreshments will be served at this popular event.

�dulg� �oursel�...

Oct 22 Fractured Lens Video Festival, 8pm, Portage Theater, 4050 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago. 312.285.0454. fracturedlensvideo.com. Video hobbyists and enthusiasts of all skill levels will share their motion picture work as part of a feature length show of submitted shorts. The third gathering of this event will bring forward the opportunity to connect and network with others while enjoying an evening of fun and entertainment.

Y O U D E S E RV E I T

Oct 23-24 All Hallows Eve—A 19th Century Halloween, 6:30-10pm, Naper Settlement, 523 S Webster St, Naperville. 630.420.6010. napersettlement. museum. This not-for-young-children event brings to life some of the scariest literature of the 19th century, with haunting creatures and eerie entertainment.

V I S I T O U R 2 S H OW RO O M S

Oct 24 Just Good Art, 7pm, Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S Cornell Ave, Chicago. 773.324.5520. hydeparkart.

2224 US Hwy 41 • Schererville, IN • 219-322-8585 18112 Torrence Ave. • Lansing, IL • 708.418.1177 800.735.8911

www.heritage-draperies.com

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

Oct 10-11 Autumn Air Festival, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm, Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, 13988 Range Line Rd, Niles. 269.695.6491. fernwoodbotanical.org. Visitors can enjoy the crisp fall air at this festival, which will also feature musical entertainment, food, children’s activities, a gourd exhibit and a chance to paddle aboard a 32-foot voyageur canoe.

Country, complete with delicious food and wine samplings and culinary demonstrations, followed by a “Wine Down” reception and silent auction.

Sept 19-Oct 31 Colorfall, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 1000 E Beltline NE, Grand Rapids. 616.957.1580, 888.957.1580. meijergardens.org. This month-long celebration of autumn’s majesty includes—depending on the weekend— guided fall color tours, a chrysanthemum display, Farm Garden encounters, leaf seminars for children, art classes, giant pumpkins and more.

destination: HOMEWOOD

fun-filled day of fine performing artists, food, games, a fashion show and the nearly famous bed race.

essential EVENTS org. Works by more than 100 artists who have exhibited at the Hyde Park Art Center during its 70-year history will be featured at this biennial art auction. The evening will also include drinks, music, food and fun for novice and seasoned art collectors alike. An exhibition preview of the auction will be shown in the center’s main gallery beginning Oct 3. Oct 31-Nov 1 ¡BAM! Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox Ave, Chicago. 708.455.0700. iannews.com. The inaugural Irish book, art and music festival will allow visitors to meet Malachy McCourt along with more than 100 local, national and international authors. Traditional Irish food and drink will be available, including a full breakfast each morning, and musical sensation Black 47 headlines this event, which benefits the Irish American Heritage Center. Nov 6-8 SOFA Chicago 2009, Opening Night Preview Gala 7-9pm Thu, fair 11am-8pm Fri-Sat, noon-6pm Sun, Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago. 800.562.7632. sofaexpo.com. The Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair returns to Chicago for the 16th year featuring work from 90 international galleries and special exhibits by internationally renowned art museums, arts organizations and artists. Approximately 400 artists from more than 13 countries will showcase their work on the fair floor in this critically acclaimed event.

exhibitions Indiana

Through Oct 18 Thin, Snite Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame. 574.631.5466. nd.edu/~sniteart. Fifty-three color photographs by Lauren Greenfield focus on the complex, appearance-based eating disorders of young women in order to convey the extremes of “body image fixation.” Also, through Sept 13: Para la Gente—Art, Politics and Cultural Identity of the Taller de Gráfica Popular. Sept 13-Nov 1 66th Annual Salon Show, South Shore Arts, 1040 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.1839. southshoreartsonline.org. This juried art show features all new and original works, including paintings, ceramics, sculpture, graphics, video and jewelry. The winners, who will be chosen by jurors Patty Carroll and Tony Jones, will be awarded up to $10,000.

Oct 17-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.

Michigan

Through Oct 5 Sit! The Social Language of Chairs, Bertha Krueger Reid Exhibition Hall, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St, Saugatuck. 269.857.2399. sc4a.org. This exhibit brings the work of furniture designers such as Thomas Chippendale, Charles Limbert, Marcel Breuer and Charles Eames together in order to examine the idea that “form follows function.” Through Oct A Gift of Art—The Legacy of Mabel Perkins, Grand Rapids Art Museum, 101 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids. 616.831.1000. artmuseumgr.org. The generosity of Mabel H. Perkins was instrumental in building the Grand Rapids Art Museum collection as she provided almost 300 engravings, woodcuts, etchings and lithographs. Sixty of these important works from the 16th through 20th centuries will be on display. Sep 11-Nov 1 Paperwork, A Corporation’s Collection—Prints and Photography from the Wells Fargo Advisors’ Corporate Collection, Dar Davis Gallery & Gallery II, Krasl Art Center, 707 Lake Blvd, St. Joseph. 269.983.0271. krasl.org. Photographs and works on paper from the 1800s until today from a major corporate art collection will be on display. Works by George Catlin, Helen Frankenthaler, Andy Warhol and the infamous crime photographer Weegee are highlighted. Sep 19-Nov 8 In Search of Motion— John Cavanaugh, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 314 S Park St, Kalamazoo. 269.349.7775. kiarts.org. This exhibit features work by John Cavanaugh, an innovator in sculpture for more than 60 years. Also, through Jan 10, 2010: Speed Bump by Dave Coverly.

Illinois

Through Oct 18 Constellations, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago, Chicago. 312.280.2660.

mcachicago.org. Comprised of paintings from the MCA Collection, this exhibit explores different approaches to painting and focuses on how painting communicates ideas about life and art. The works represent a wide range of artistic styles from artists such as Andy Warhol, Josef Albers and Chicago’s own Marie Krane Bergman. Also, through Oct 4: Elements of Photography; through Feb 14, 2010: Alexander Calder in Focus. Beginning Oct 8 YOU! The Experience, Museum of Science and Industry, 57th St and Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. 773.684.1414. msichicago.org. This new permanent, 15,000-squarefoot exhibit allows visitors to look at and celebrate the experience of life itself through interactive games, activities and tests. Along with creating a list of personal life goals and hearing thoughts on life from people who have lived to be 100 years old, guests will be able to preview their future with a digital glimpse of how they might look in 25 years. Oct 10-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 forward-thinking imaginations today. Also, Oct 10-Jan 3, 2010: James Castle—A Retrospective; Nov 7-Jan 31, 2010: Apostles of Beauty—Arts and Crafts from Britain to Chicago. Oct 23-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 theatre productions, while its two lounges showcase local bands and performers from across the country in a more relaxed, casual environment. Sept 12: Louie Anderson. Chicago Street Theater, 154 W Chicago St, Valparaiso. 219.464.1636. ctgonline. org. Now in its 54th 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 theatre classes for both adults and children. Oct 9-24: Is He Dead?; 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, 150,000square-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. Sept 18: Perla Batalla; Sept 25: Tokyo String Quartet; Oct 2: Linden String Quartet (The 2009 Fischoff Competition Grand Prize Winner); Oct 10: Kenny Barron Trio; Oct 18: South Bend Symphony Orchestra—German Romance; Oct 30: Yamato; Nov 8: Irish Chamber Orchestra; Nov 10-15: The Sugar Wife; Nov 14: Idan Raichel Project; Nov 18-20: Flamenco Vivo!; Nov 22: Stefon Harris and Blackout. 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. Sept 25-27, Oct 1-4: Southern Hospitality. 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-square-foot casino. The Venue, the casino’s 90,000square-foot entertainment facility, hosts some of the hottest Chicagoland entertainment. Sep 26: Lea Salonga; Oct 2: Natalie Cole; Oct 3: Norm MacDonald; Oct

10: Brian Regan; Oct 30: Rob Thomas with OneRepublic and Carolina Liar. LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra, performances in LaPorte and Michigan City, 614 Lincolnway, LaPorte. 219.362.9020. lcso.net. This exciting orchestra offers a variety of concerts throughout the season—including classical, pops, chamber, children’s and family. Nov 14: Mezzo, Mahler and More.

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. Sept 13: Dan Tepfer; Oct 1: Robin Williams; Oct 9-10: The Wedding Singer; Oct 24: Casting Crowns; Nov 20: Bob and Tom Comedy All-Stars. Star Plaza Theatre, I-65 & US 30, Merrillville. 219.769.6600. starplazatheatre.com. With 3,400 seats arranged in two intimate seating levels, the theatre 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 theatregoers. Sept 26: Lisa Lampanelli; Oct 3: Tim Conway & Friends; Oct 23: Gretchen Wilson; Nov 6: Celtic Woman; Nov 27: George Jones. 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 Oct 11: Man of La Mancha; Nov 12-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. Sept 17-20, 24-27: Guilty Conscience.

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. Sept 11-12, 2425: Visiting Mr. Green; Oct 4: Cowboy Junkies; Oct 10: The Spew; Oct 17: Richie

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 concert series, designed for young children through adults, feature a wide range of repertoire. Sept 18-19: 80th Season Opening Night; Sept 25-27: James Bond—Shaken Not Stirred; Oct 9-10: Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony; Oct 16: Lord of the Rings—Fellowship of the Ring; Oct 29-30: Handel and Stravinsky; Nov 6-7: Color and Passion; Nov 13-15: Cirque de la Symphonie; Nov 20-21: Thanksgiving Spirit. 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. Sept 12: Brandon Heath; Oct 18: Storioni; Oct 24: Wind Symphony Fall Concert; Nov 5: Vienna Boys Choir; Nov 21: Symphony Orchestra Concert. 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. Sept 19: Turandot; Oct 4: The World of…Mendelssohn; Oct 10: Motown Celebration; Oct 24: The Maestro Plays; Nov 20: Sacred Seasons. 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. Sept 18: Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles; Sept 19: Artoberfest; Sept 25: James Reeser; Oct 2: Little Frank & the Premiers; Oct 9: Delilah Dewylde & the Lost Boys; Nov 6: The Orbitsuns; Nov 20: Harper. 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. Sept 26: The American Orchestra; Oct 3: Anne Harris. 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 12,000plus capacity arena offers world-class family shows, concerts and sporting events to the increasingly popular Grand Rapids area. Sept 24-27: Ringling Bros.

CITY

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. Oct 2-4, 9-11, 16-18: Godspell.

Havens; Oct 30: Super Happy Funtime Burlesque Halloween Show; Nov 7: Jenna Mammina; Nov 13: Claudia Schmidt; Nov 20-21: James Lee Stanley and Pamela Stanley; Nov 28: Katie Todd Band.

destination: MICHIGAN

essential EVENTS

destination: CHESTERTON

essential EVENTS • One Hour Massage • Facial • Warm Stone Pedicure

and Barnum & Bailey presents “Over the Top”; Oct 2: Taylor Swift; Nov 9: Metallica; Nov 23: Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

• Shampoo & Style • Spatinis & Lunch

$150/Person Offer Expires 10/17/09

HE AREA’S FINEST SEAFOOD, STEAKS AND CHOPS SEASONED AND COOKED TO PERFECTION

OVER OUR WOOD BURNING GRILL USING WILD CHERRY WOOD.

1110 LAKESIDE • LAPORTE, IN LOCATED NEXT TO THE BLUE HERON INN ON BEAUTIFUL PINE LAKE

PHONE (800) 575-3880 (219) 324-4192 RESERVATIONS SUGGESTED | OPEN DAILY AT 3:30PM FOR DINNER ONLY

Flamenco Fiesta! Sunday, October 11th, 2009 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. • Dinner & Show Reservations Necessary $15 Cover Charge

don Quijote Restaurante Downtown Valparaiso

219-462-7976

www.donquijoterestaurantandimports.com

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. Sept 25-26: Beethoven’s Ninth, “Breaking Through to Joy”; Oct 30-31: Halloween Pops, “Wizards and Wands”; Nov 20-21: ¡FIESTA!, “Lighting Fire with Fire.”

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 theatre since 1889, the Auditorium continues to provide unparalleled ballet performances and a variety of artistic productions. Sept 12: On Stage with Tom Wopat; Oct 2-4: Miami City Ballet; Oct 14-25: The Joffrey Ballet—Othello; Oct 29: David Gray; Nov 9: Garrison Keillor; Nov 12: Ray LaMontagne; Nov 14-15: Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet; Nov 2021: Handel’s Messiah Rocks; Nov 24-29: The Ten Tenors. 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. Bank of America Theatre, 18 W Monroe. Tickets on sale through Nov 22: Jersey Boys. Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W Randolph. Oct 13-18: Cats; Oct 22: Steve Martin; Nov 3-Dec 13: Young Frankenstein. Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre, 24 W Randolph. Nov 13-Jan 10: The Addams Family. 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. Sept 18-20: Unbound; Oct 3: Jim Brickman; Oct 17: Jeff Corwin; Nov 7: A Tribute to Motown Greats. The Chicago Theatre, 175 N State St, Chicago. 312.462.6300. thechicagotheatre.com. The Chicago Theatre has been a prototype for area theatres since 1921. With its lavish architecture and an elegant stage, the Chicago Theatre seats 3,600 and stands seven stories high. Nov 9-Jan 3: A New Twist on Vaudeville by Cirque du Soleil. 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. Sept 12-Oct 11: Stoop Stories; Sept 18-Oct 25: Animal Crackers; Oct 31-Nov 29: High Holidays; Nov 20Dec 31: A Christmas Carol. 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-the-art theater guarantees that the audience will enjoy a wide variety of performances in an intimate setting. Oct 1-4: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago; Oct 9: Noche de Luna; Oct 10: Luna Negra Dance Theater 2009 Fall Program; Oct 16: Music of the Baroque; Nov 7: Street Beat; Nov 20-21: Step Afrika. Lyric Opera of Chicago, Civic Opera House, Madison & Wacker, Chicago. 312.332.2244 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. Sept 26-Jan 29: Tosca; Oct 5-Nov 7: Faust; Oct 27-Nov 23: Ernani; Nov 22Dec 12: Katya Kabanová. 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 cuttingedge performances, and respected comedians. Sept 13: Ani DiFranco; Sept 18: Paul Rodriguez; Sept 26: Ballet Folklorico; Oct 2: Lily Tomlin; Oct 9-11: Rave On!; Oct 16: Tap Dogs; Oct 17: B.B. King; Oct 23: Capitol Steps, “Obama Mia!”; Oct 24: Bowfire; Oct 25: Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway; Nov 7: Frank Caliendo; Nov 14: Clint Black; Nov 27-28: The Wizard of Oz. 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. Sept 19: Fractured Fairytales; Oct 24: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow; Nov 11-Dec 27: “Plaid Tidings”; Nov 20: Kevin Nealon. 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. Through Nov 8: Fake; Oct 13-Nov 1: The House on Mango Street. For more events and destinations, please go to visitshoremagazine.com.

A CONVERSATION ABOUT A CONVERSATION Why Not a $250,000 ArtPrize in Grand Rapids?

october/november 2009

words by Pat Colander | photography by RICHARD HELLYER

It has been several years since I met John Thomas of Phillip & Son Jewelry in Douglas and realized how important he was in the grand scheme of awakening and striving Michigan beach towns. Since John is a connector in the classic Malcolm Gladwell scientific sense of the word, he knows everyone and is always listening. John was instrumental in getting Douglas on some national media radar screens and this in turn has helped the town grow beyond the one restaurant/one art gallery/one antique shop across from the much more historic and famous Saugatuck on the other side of the harbor.

4 visitshoremagazine.com 5

ecause I like it there so much, the minute the snow melted I was on the road straight to Douglas and I soon bumped into John. One of the first things John said was, “Do you know about ArtPrize?” And he asked with every expectation that I did, flattering me by assuming I know everything. This works with me every time. My curiosity is piqued without compromising my vanity. “No, what?” I asked urgently. “First prize is $250,000! It’s the biggest prize ever. Even in the most important juried art shows the prize never is bigger than $10,000. It’s just unprecedented, unheard of. Do you want to see my painting?” Are you kidding? Of course, I want to see your painting . . . of course, his painting is right here, behind him. Leaning up against the wall. John explains, “Well, I know I can’t win because everyone is voting on it like American Idol. So the best marketer will win, but since thousands and maybe tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people might see it, I thought it should be a social statement.” John did an oil painting of a homeless person, which will bother you when you see it. What is troublesome is the person is trapped in this half-light, swallowed up by the street and seems to be slowly disappearing from view. John is a talented and skilled painter who had a smart idea about his approach to ArtPrize and he is a community organizer at heart. As soon as I could, I went online and read up on ArtPrize. Now, I hope you don’t think I am the dumbest person on earth, but after I got a few pages into learning about this event it hit me: This event reminds me of something. ArtPrize, a creation of Rick DeVos and Jeffrey Meeuwsen, is set up with a very collaborative (and flexible) structure, but the basic parameters are geared towards a simple goal of bringing a whole lot of people into the city of Grand Rapids for two-and-a-half weeks to tour art galleries and exhibition spaces within a three-mile radius at the center of town. While these thousands of people are looking at, listening to and experiencing these works of art, they will also be spending the night, eating at restaurants and having a great time. Also, they will be voting on the art works, giving them a thumbs up and/or a thumbs down. (Yes, and the voters can vote as often as they want in the first round and they can change their minds.) It’s exactly like . . . a film festival, maybe? Duh. The application of the film festival

model to a very big art show is brilliant and I can’t believe that it has never been done before, but it hasn’t. Probably has something to do with artists’ tendency to stay in their lane. I like movies, but I have only been to one film festival and I was only there for half of it anyway. It was Cannes, 1979, and Apocalypse Now tied with The Tin Drum for the Palme d’Or, but I only saw one movie, Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens, produced by Russ Meyer with an original script by my friend Roger Ebert. Beneath the Valley was very well-written as you can imagine, now that I think about it— the screenplay reminded me of a Salman Rushdie novel— but it wasn’t that great of a movie. But what I learned from that adventure was about the intersection of art, commerce and industry. Even though I grew up in Chicago, I was ignorant about trade shows and never envisioned how these world-class events would become smaller and more targeted even as the markets expanded and flattened out. It was more than 20 years later when I went to Grand Rapids for the first time. Right away I thought the city was a wonderful, chronically overlooked destination with its emphasis on art, Steelcase and its furniture-making and design traditions, the Amway Grand—just a wonderful place to stay with scenic tower views and elegant dining rooms—and even the Gerald Ford museum with a dispassionate view of a traumatic time in history colored by the warm and constant patriotism of that family. I came to appreciate the Dutch settlers and their descendants who had built lives and fortunes in and nearby the city but never failed to step up with thoughtful and substantial gifts oriented towards the future: most prominently the Van Andels, the Meijers and the DeVoses. There is no doubt that these folks get things done right. The opening of the DeVos Convention Center in 2000 was part of the plan that would eventually include the birth of the spectacular J.W. Marriott several years ago. The Grand Rapids Art Museum, which is something like an architectural, design and ecofriendly miracle, followed, but with everything the timing seemed to be off. It always felt like the city never got credit for its uniqueness, its strong character and its deep visceral understanding of the value of art and culture.

nd that’s why I wanted to meet Rick DeVos, because somehow he had figured out a strategy for leading his hometown into a brave new world with a plan of futuristic simplicity and intelligence that adheres to principles that have been in place here for generations. He is certainly

Voting Timeline

For more info, to vote or to view results, visit artprize.org.

october/november 2009

hen Rick and Bill and their friends began looking at most art exhibitions, especially those with prizes attached, they found that the events were usually a small group of professionals who select the entrants and the winner. The artists don’t actually compete, as Bill says, and there is just “not a ton of dialogue. “A large prize seemed like an interesting way to do it with an event where people are actively engaged, much like a film festival. Why not have a public vote? Then we thought that sounds fun, let’s do that,” Bill explains. And then both Bill and Rick agreed on a whole list of what they didn’t want to do. Like make restrictions about who can be an artist and what space can be a venue. And not try to dictate everything on the front end, where there’s traditionally a ton of filtering. Instead, Bill shrugs, “Let’s have a whole bunch of engagement and craziness.” What about the rules? We have a few, Bill is saying, like people have to register physically in person to be allowed to vote. “So the first week everybody will be able to vote on everything they come in contact with, by text messaging iPhone app, thumbs up thumbs down.” The top ten art works emerge and the second round begins. But this time the voters can only vote once on a piece of performance, musical, object, painting—up or down. I realize I am not having a normal interview with the founders about an event. How many people will come? How many people will come from other countries? Who are they? Rick and Bill unanimously agree that they have no idea and they are kind of too busy to think about it and every time they look up they see somebody else being innovative, promoting or marketing around ArtPrize. “Some of these artists may have a fan base coming out of

Facebook right now, maybe they’ll get more patrons for themselves,” Bill explains. Bill stresses that this is only the first annual event and adds that there is a huge amount of learning within ArtPrize, for the venue owners and about adding layers of other value, like having the director of the Kennedy Center coming in to talk. As Rick says, “Artists will get hundreds if not thousands of reactions and every one of those positive reactions is a future patron. We want to develop that.” The ArtPrize people went “round and round,” as Rick says, about the size that the event should be. “Big enough to be interesting,” he says they decided, but “small enough to get your hands around.” Bill already knows that their group will be mulling around about what went right, what went wrong, when it’s over. But everyone knows it’s going to be pretty big. As Bill says, “The number of artists and venues we have already . . . it’s baked into the model.” Why now? I’m wondering. Rick says that the decision to go for it in 2009 was made at the end of March, beginning of April. There had been a lot of talk about 2010. “But,” he says, “even if we spent another year and a half, we already knew we wanted it to be in the fall. September is really a fantastic time here.” Overall, Bill thinks the challenge of doing something this unique is getting Sept 23: Voting begins. people to do as much Voting is done solely as they want. “We electronically, either through want to be open and texting or online, but voters see how many people must register first at a physical registration booth. engage. The sky’s (Go to the website artprize. the limit and the org for registration booth challenge is to help locations.) Live results can those people through be viewed online. the processes. As Rick said from day Oct 1: Top 10 winners announced. Voting on one, we are only as Top 10 begins. Results great as how much are concealed during the community this period. stands up.” And Rick DeVos Oct 8: Final winners ought to know someannounced. thing about that.

unassuming about the amazing and gigantic thing that ArtPrize has already become. Maybe he is not that amazed that ArtPrize has 170 venues and 1,200 artists signed up, three to four times anyone’s wildest dreams, that the site and the extended social networks are logging hundreds of thousands of visits each week and now each day. Maybe he’s just so focused. About a dozen ArtPrize people are in a big corner room in a renovated downtown loft office building with tables and chairs, headsets and laptops, talking and typing. It is pretty intense. The office is called Spout, which is a website for populist movie criticism (some say enthusiasm) and it also houses Pomegranate Studios, another offshoot for filmmaking and social networking. Rick gets Bill HolsingerRobinson, who is the president of the company, and we march into a kind of design-friendly war room that has a big, white wall board on one side. That’s when the conversation about the conversation starts. And I’m wideeyed and learning. “We had actually looked at doing a Grand Rapids film festival and thought about what it would take to pull it off,” Rick explains. “So the more we thought about it, the more we realized the difficulty of competing with Sundance and Telluride and that to try and one-up them would be hugely expensive, if not impossible.” Rick says later that Telluride is his favorite film festival, but in this process he realized that what he was really trying to capture was the conversation that happens at a film festival. Bill agrees that what the people who attend these kinds of amazing cultural events do is talk to each other about the work, and that they knew Grand Rapids had that kind of potential to provide the environment for the discussion.

new modular home

Prefab housing has long held out the promise of better, cheaper housing coupled with a conservation of space. Most people weren’t buying that promise, but that may be changing. • Proponents of prefabricated housing have long fought to separate their modular and manufactured homes from the image of the trailer park. But as manufactured homes— built at a central factory and shipped in pieces or mostly whole—became indistinguishable from a site-built home, much of the advantages they were supposed to have were lost. They were cheaper to build, but shipping added costs. Conservation of space became unmarketable in a housing boom that called for ever bigger homes. Builders of manufactured homes had to embrace that boom if they were to sell. In an era of McMansions, what could be better than a McMansion to go?

ith the boom gone bust, a growing awareness of the need to go green, and recognition of specific housing needs that could best be filled by manufactured homes, have caused architects and housing planners to take a fresh look at the potential for prefab housing. Geoffrey Thün is cofounder of the Toronto architectural firm RVTR and joins the architecture faculty at the University of Michigan this fall. Thün argues the manufacturing process that has delivered well-made goods in other areas has been “under-exploited in terms of their capacity to do similar things” for housing. Thün sees the potential for “mass customization instead of straight-up prefab. The quality that can be achieved through the processes, like energy-producing systems built into prefab houses, are well above that in a traditional mode of site building, where very specific technologies may not be available in every marketplace.” The principals of RVTR (the name comes from the four architects’ initials) have been studying prefabricated modular housing construction systems that advance designs for northern climates. This summer, the firm won Canada’s Professional Prix de Rome in architecture for 2009, with a $50,000 award to further their study internationally. Members of the firm have also helped design and develop North House, a Canadian entry in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon this fall. “In building better-performing, sustainable buildings, there is the potential to build net energy-producing buildings,” Thün says. “The prototypes we’re looking at right now primarily use solar technologies. They’re buildings that have the capacity to produce energy that are then connected to the energy grid. The intention was the design works also by specifying highly insulated building envelopes and appliances that draw very low amounts of energy.” The homes still need to buy energy from the grid, say, during winter, but on balance the homeowners would sell more energy than they buy. Building and installing such technologies, Thün says, can be easier in a central manufacturing plant than expecting to easily find a local builder who has the expertise and capabilities do the same. Linda Keane, professor of architecture and environmental design at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, sees prefab housing as having more of a positive social impact beyond meeting environmental needs. She and her husband, Mark Keane, who run their architectural firm Studio 1032 in Shorewood, Wisconsin, reviewed proposals to restore housing stock in Milwaukee with prefab homes. They realized that many of the proposals, despite providing energy efficient homes, had just as much of a carbon footprint when considering transportation costs as homes built on site. “There were companies as far away as Florida trying to do this,” Keane says. “Prefab does bring about the notion of economy of materials. On the other hand, if you replace that with transportation costs, it is not really getting a lot better.” Keane suggests if you include economics in the definition of sustainable prefab homes for urban areas, the better option would be to also place the manufacturing plant for those homes in the city, thereby providing jobs as well as affordable housing. “It’s one of those economies that works both

Prefab goes green in the new economy

the

By Tom Chmielewski

The term actually covers a wide range of construction methods, and different structural styles of the ﬁnished home. here are some basic breakdowns.

Modular

Walled segments of a home constructed at a central facility, complete with interior, and shipped to the building site, where the segments are connected and finishing work is completed.

Panelized or Flat-Pack

Walls, roofs, flooring, are built at a central facility, stacked on trucks and shipped to the site for builders to erect.

Hybrid

A combination of modular and panelized construction.

Kits

Precut materials, such as a log home, prepared and packaged by the manufacturer and assembled at the home site.

Mobile home

Completed at a manufacturing plant and transported largely intact to the site. The mobile home comes with a chassis and wheels so that it remains mobile.

the newly redesigned Smart Home—Green + Wired, Powered by ComEd is back at the museum of science and industry. tours of the home will run through Jan. 3, 2010. the 2,500-square-foot exhibit home originally was open from may 2008 through January 2009. During that time, it welcomed more than 100,000 guests on guided tours that showcased the ways, big and small, that people can make eco-friendly living a part of their lives. During that time, the Smart Home—designed by michelle Kaufmann Designs and built by all american homes—was given the designation “chicago’s greenest home” after a comprehensive review of the home’s plans, materials and design by the city of chicago’s Chicago Green Homes Program.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

photograph by JB SPECTOR/MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY

ll American Homes, headquartered in Elkhart with a construction plant in Decatur (Indiana) and four other states, has built prefab homes for many years, mostly of traditional designs. But the company also built the demonstration Smart Home on exhibit at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, and a demonstration home on tour for the Department of Energy, called the Living Zero Home. It will be releasing its own line of modern designed prefabs shortly. Bill Martin, director of marketing for All American, says the company has already concentrated on reducing the carbon footprint of the homes it builds through efficiencies within the plant, and the environmental features it builds into the homes, including a line called its Solar Village, based on traditional styles of homes. “There’s a number of things you can do to a traditional home to significantly cut down your carbon footprint,” Martin says. “Not only is green good for the environment, it’s also going to save you money in many cases” through energy savings. The new lines of homes it will offer follow the cleaner lines that architects like Keane, Thün and others are experimenting with. All the designs can be customized, or a home buyer can bring in an original design. It’s a sign that prefab may finally be taking a stronger hold in the U.S. housing market. “As an architect, you have to generate work to change perceptions, to make people want to see things in a new way,” Keane says. While the building of prefabricated homes “hasn’t been a mainstream industry, it has the potential to be a mainstream green industry.”

What’s a prefabricated house?

cycles,” she says. “It makes so much sense rather than having suburban prefab housing that has to transport homes everywhere.” And where homes are built in an assembly line fashion, training can be readily accomplished. “If training is repetition of a task and a craft of a task, then obviously more of an assembly line is conducive to that, instead of everything custom, everything reinvented all the time.” Yet that assembly line construction doesn’t mean a loss of uniqueness and personality to each home. “The details are where that kind of innovation comes in and uniqueness has to happen,” Keane says. “If you take one prefab house and replicate it too many times in one given location. The worst case scenario is the trailer park. Even then you see the great burst of human creativity. People want diversity. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a similar housing stock, but you want variety.” Keane also predicts a reaction to the ornate, excessively large homes that led the housing boom over the edge. “The idea that homes may be made simpler and smaller is also a very important part of prefab. Hopefully, we wouldn’t see a prefab castle or McMansion,” she says. “Smaller homes were often difficult to sell, but I think this economy has brought a cleansing to the palate, and a sobering in what we really need.” The designs architects have been exploring of elegant lines and efficient use of space have a dramatic visual impact, with large amounts of glass for passive solar energy and to strengthen the connection between the inhabitants and the outside. “The modern house now will have many avenues for people to interact with the outdoors,” complete with terraces and rooftop gardens. Yet, Keane says, “there’s a modesty” to the design. “It’s about economy of material.” Gone, she hopes, are the days that “bigger was more progressive, without any thought of carbon footprint.”

’s ng Lake Michigan know o al n io sh fa to moguls hen it comes style mavens and r u o s, re o sh a is fair n souther wear to Balenciag l ch ea b m o fr g in ay, coasta that ever yth reet chic or runw st ’s it er h et s h W game. own, Shore reader kd ar m r o n ta li o , metrop e. | For our casual or couture ngers on their own fashion puls r fi x individuals seem to have thei n Icons issue, we take a look at si gion. In io e re third annual Fash ers who exemplify fashion in th of life, these ad selected by our re for all occasions, and in all walks uty. ns, r own inner bea ei th g n ti ec all types of seaso fl re y body fashion b people truly em

words by

STYN HEATHER AUGU

photography by LIA and NATALIE BATTAG WOOLF . A A IC SS JE

ibler t, Mariea-pK e r siden

FASHION PHILOSOPHY AND STYLE I dress how I feel or what I’m dressing for, specifically. I’m an advocate for you to act the way you dress. If I dress professionally, I’ll behave professionally. If I’m going to a black tie, I want to feel classier. I am typically pretty conservative and gravitate toward black. I try to add pops of color and mix and match when I can and like creating something different from what I have, or adding a piece to what I have. I have kids who keep me pretty busy and so I don’t get a chance to get shopping out of town too much, and first and foremost I like shopping locally because they get to know me, they

49, vic l center financia ifth Third er at F ph, manag St. Jose Bank in igan Mich

go to market and see things for me, and I feel like they do it for me specifically. I like shopping at Moxie’s and DK. Because I have kids and I volunteer a lot at community events and I am almost always dashing out after work to an event or activity. So I try to plan ahead so I can transition to after work and that’s a big part of my shopping so I can transition an outfit from professional to fancy, and I can wear it for 16 hours if I have to.

8 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 5

FLAIR I like unique colors like a yellow handbag, or unique ruffles in an unusual place, or beads instead of traditional fringe—just one-ofa-kind accents that don’t make me look like everyone else. TIP Accessories can change a whole outfit. One small change can change the whole look.

Fashion Philosophy and Style ’m very utilitarian and my daily wardrobe because of what I do for a living is very jeans and a T-shirt and jeans and a buttondown. I shop Jake, Hejfina. For me it’s all about fit. I wear Nice Collective shirts, Nudie jeans. They’re an investment Brian piece for denim. 35, ow Willet I buy them very n of Cre er/creative te raw and break ative direct Chica Collective or them in for six go, Ill inois in months and they become very personal and every piece is original. I go to a lot of events and depending on the event, I may still wear a nice pair of denim and a pair of favorite boots. I have a pair of Prada boots that are a great pair that are very versatile. I do have a collection of Vans shoes and most of them are not just run-of-the-mill. Understated classic but all about the details. Stitching and fit is most important. I love the construction of Rag & Bone, but they just don’t fit me. I wear what’s cut for me. Band of Outsiders is understated and has an element of individuality and they fit me really well. If it fits well and you feel good in it, a person could wear all gray and if they feel right in it, they can light up a room. Timeless, classic, but with restraint and a modern influence is how I would describe it. Flair I’m not a big accessorizer. I don’t like bling. I don’t think clothes make the man, I think the man makes the clothes.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

Tip Tuck in your shirt, guys, if you’re going to wear a button-down. If you’re wearing a Lincoln Park wardrobe on a Saturday night, tuck it in and go find a vintage belt buckle and rock it. Own it. And don’t be afraid to go with your gut. We were given instincts for a reason. Don’t try to look like or be anybody else. Look for what speaks to you and just be you. Be comfortable in your own skin.

Toni Canada 42, director of human resources for Medical Specialists Center of Indiana in Munster, Indiana

FASHION PHILOSOPHY AND STYLE The way I dress and live are classic. Some people may find it terribly boring. But when I go to an event, my go-to designer is Oscar de la Renta. I love Oscar. I prefer couture clothes because they are better made. It’s the difference between buying a brick home and a prefabricated hut.

They may cost more, but they’re worth it. For everyday, I wear a lot of Oscar’s sweaters, blouses and skirts and his ready-to-wear lines are great for everyday. My favorite designers, my four horsemen, are Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, Lanvin, and Giambattista Valli. Life’s too short not to wear nice things and I like to surround

myself with really nice things. Nothing flashy, but elegant things and elegance is a combination of things, not just what you wear but how you act. FLAIR My weaknesses are definitely shoes, handbags and French fries! I love suede and cashmere and a wide array of reptile skins, like snake and

crocodile. I just love cashmere and the way it feels on your skin. TIP It’s so important for clothes to fit properly. If you’re going to spend all of that money on a skirt or a suit, spend the extra money to have it tailored properly. You’ll feel better and carry yourself better, so have a good tailor.

Ron Eng

36, director of marketing and sales for Harbor Shores in St. Joseph/ Benton Harbor, Michigan

FASHION PHILOSOPHY AND STYLE I try to dress to the occasion. I work in a business environment and normally wear a button-down shirt with khakis or dress pants, and because there is a golf course associated with the property, I wear a lot of golf shirts in the summertime. I try to be more casual than dressy and luckily this business allows that. I like to be comfortable with what I’m wearing and dress appropriately for the event. If I do have to go to an event and the dress code isn’t clear, then I tend to overdress, because it’s always easier to take off a tie or undo a button. On the weekend, I like to wear jeans, a T-shirt,

and flip-flops or sandals. I’m pretty much a beach bum on the weekends. If I go out in the evening to a nicer restaurant, I’ll put on a collared shirt. My closet runs from workout shorts to black ties. I like to be comfortable with how I look and what I wear. I am usually not fashion for function and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you feel good in what you’re wearing, that’s important. FLAIR I like ties with a little more color and personality. I like oranges and yellows and sometimes I’ll match the color of the tie to the shirt. TIP Just dress appropriately to the occasion. You can’t bring the beach to a meeting and there are certain times to express yourself, but it’s important to look at the situation.

ers

52, owner of Griegers M otor Sales in Valpara iso, Indian a

TIP I try not to dress like I’m 18, but I also don’t want to dress like I’m 50, I try to go in between there. A lot of men my age have stopped dressing well. The main thing is still try to be somewhat trendy, but don’t go over the top.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

I would characterize my fashion as style with a little bit of flair. I try to stay stylish, yet I don’t dress as a kid.

FLAIR I like loud ties that stand out, especially in the wintertime. For ties, I like Robert Daskal.

Dave Rodg

FASHION PHILOSOPHY AND STYLE I would characterize my fashion as style with a little bit of flair. I try to stay stylish, yet I don’t dress as a kid. I try to stay physically in shape so I can dress like that, if that makes sense. I like casual shirts, both T-shirts and collared shirts, golf style and dress shirts I wear out, not tucked. For events, I typically wear a sport coat or suit, depending on the occasion. My suits, I like Jhane Barnes, Hugo Boss. Shoes aren’t as important as, say, a shirt or sport coat or slacks. I hate silver and gray. I would not wear gray slacks and instead like black, dark blue or stripes. For jeans I wear almost exclusively Diesel jeans because they fit perfectly. I have a 27-year-old daughter who helps dress me, so that helps.

Fashion Philosophy and Style

I’m someone that has a hard time sometimes planning what I’m going to wear, because I don’t know what I’m going to feel like that day. It depends on my mood and I try to incorporate my own personality and put a twist on something I see I like. I don’t like to shop at stores that have an outfit already put together. That takes all of the fun out of it and you don’t want to look like a mannequin. I have a weakness for dresses. I go to a lot of winery events—festivals, dinners, weddings—and I can pretty much make a case to wear a dress anywhere. I love to get super dressed up, too, if there’s an opportunity. I have a strapless, fitted, to-the-floor, black classy dress. But I also like unconventional patterns that are fun but appropriate. I never wear shorts and prefer ch Nicole Moers a dress or skirt, ily staffing consultant, fam 32, jeans with a d an y ner Wi rn Ba d un owns Ro funky top. And r tee un Vol for board member heels are pretty Michigan Center of Southwest much a necessity because I’m short. I mix and match outfits a lot, which makes it appear that I have a lot of clothes.

Flair

I think I look best in bright colors and they make me feel better.

Tip

2 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 6

You don’t have to break the bank to be fashionable. I find the best gems in consignment shops, outlet shops and eBay; I don’t pay a lot for anything and the hunt is fun. Finding a great piece that is unique is fun. Search and you can find it. There’s a misconception that to have style you have to drop a lot of money and that’s not true at all. And just because it’s in style doesn’t mean you can wear it. You have to know your body type.

special advertising section

style & culture

october/november 2009

fall festivities Food From the Farm Autumn Inventories How to Nurture Your Nest

special advertising section

fall festivities

FRONT

European Flair

robert wray

welcoming and has something for everyone in a broad range of prices. Come see us now and don’t forget to come see us for your holiday shopping. FRONT is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. FRONT 207 E Front St Buchanan, Mich. 269.695.0230

“Petal” table collection designed in 1963 as well as his outdoor lounge and dining furniture known world-wide simply as the “1966 Collection.” Whether you are decorating or furnishing your home or patio or looking for a special gift you won’t see in any shopping mall, FRONT has just what you need for the perfect touch or perfect gift. FRONT is fun and

October/november 2009

entrally and conveniently located in historic, scenic and newly reborn Buchanan, Michigan, FRONT is the Midwest’s chic-est and most exciting new shop. FRONT brings you beautiful tabletop accessories, home furnishings, paintings, sculptures, fashion, jewelry and books with a classic, modern viewpoint that’s just right for today, whether your home is traditional or modern. From Finland, FRONT has classic mid-century and updated designs by the design icon Marimekko, in everything from ladies’ bags to bed linens to tableware. From France, we have the most sought-after classic and fashion-forward table and kitchen linens from Garnier-Thiebaut and dripless, smokeless tapers and fancy candles from Pointe-A-La-Ligne, Paris, all in a delicious European color palate and designs seen nowhere else. FRONT carries aromatic candles, scents, hand soaps and lotions from Votivo and Lothantique, Paris. From Italy, FRONT offers unique, playful, but elegant serving trays and bowls, bar and kitchen accessories and other tabletop delights by Alessi. We also have Alessi watches for men and women in a variety of exciting designs and colors. From Finland, we have classic modern dinnerware, flatware, drinkware, serveware and tabletop accessories by Iittala. Vitra of Switzerland and Kartell of Italy bring FRONT mid-century wall clocks and home furnishings by iconoclasts George Nelson and Charles and Ray Eames, as well as more recent modernist mirrors, chairs, lighting, storage and other design elements by the world’s most-acclaimed designers. FRONT has a wide variety of small and large books on art, architecture, fashion, culture, pop icons and other intriguing topics by the European publishing house darling TASCHEN, known for the highest quality photos, images and aesthetics and for not being available at chain bookstores or big retailers. FRONT has a huge gallery of original paintings and sculptures and the highest quality hand-painted precise reproduction oil-on-canvas paintings of modern and surrealist masters: Roy Lichtenstein, Mark Rothko, Piet Mondrian, Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso, Tamara de Lempicka, Jean-Michel Basquiat and others. FRONT offers the best and hippest classic modern outdoor furniture by the incomparable U.S. designer Richard Schultz, best known for his

fall festivities

special advertising section

customs imports

Think Global customers. Brazilian-born Claudia Lobao is one of the artists currently featured who believes in maintaining the integrity of her work by designing in small quantities for celebrities and clients like Christa, where the proprietor shares her outlook about her life’s work. Each of Claudia’s pieces is lightweight, allergyfree and made by hand from brass, then electroplated in sterling silver before it is plated again in 18K gold. CUSTOMS IMPORTS 430 S Whittaker St New Buffalo, Mich. 269.469.9180 customsimports.com

6 visitshoremagazine.com 6

richard hellyer

hen Dee Dee Duhn opened Customs Imports in 1992, the world was a different place, and bringing her favorite beautiful, exotic discoveries home to the shores of Lake Michigan was fulfilling a promise to her clients: “I will bring you the best of everything.” Now that people travel and understand the care and the craft that goes into making the quality accessories and home décor that her store showcases, Dee Dee stays true to her mission, by seeking the authentic and original in the small corners of the world, the niches inhabited by the shy artisans. Focusing on eco-friendly and sustainable products, whether it’s tables built from the reclaimed wood of Michigan barns or the delicate threads of silver and gold in textiles that will be handed down for generations, she focuses on the items that have a story to tell, whether handcrafted in Indonesia or Indiana. “I am happy to say that people I work with all over the world are quickly becoming aware of the need to protect our earth.” The Global Dreams collection at Customs was the brainchild of Christa Eackles four years ago when she started featuring jewelry and handbag designers who created for discriminating

OctOber/nOvember 2008

fall festivities

special advertising section

NEW BUFFALO HARVEST & WINE FEST

Falltime Fun hour and 30 minute drive from Chicago or Grand Rapids, just an hour from South Bend or Kalamazoo and three hours from Detroit or Indianapolis. Southwest Michigan’s Harbor Country is the perfect day-trip destination from many Midwest

cities, or extend your stay, make a family vacation out of it and check out the many vacation rentals, inns and bed and breakfasts in the area. Harvest & Wine Fest, presented by the New Buffalo Business Association, Shore magazine and Four Winds Casino, kicks off at noon and runs until 10 p.m. Suggested donation at the gate is only $5 per person; children 12 and under free. For updates and more information, go to newbuffalo. org or call Colleen Ryan at 773.791.1809. NEW BUFFALO HARVEST & WINE FEST Saturday, October 10 noon-10pm Lion’s Park New Buffalo, Mich. 773.791.1809 newbuffalo.org

8 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 6

NEW BUFFALO TIMES

othing goes more hand-in-hand with Fall than the harvesting of plump crops and juicy orchards in the Midwest. Celebrate the “pick of the season” at the 3rd annual New Buffalo Harvest & Wine Fest on Saturday, October 10, from noon to 10 p.m. EST. Foodies, music and wine lovers can’t afford to miss this fruitful event taking place in Lion’s Park adjacent to the boat launch and beach in downtown New Buffalo, Michigan. The Harvest & Wine Fest offers everything local, from awesome live music to world-class wines from Southwest Michigan, tasty fare from area restaurants to a copious farmers’ market, and hayrides. There’s something for everyone, including an abundance of free activities for the kids! Participating wineries include the Round Barn Winery, Free Run Cellars, Tabor Hill and Domaine Berrien. For you “hopheads,” Round Barn Brewery will be at the helm of the beer tent with their harvest-time brews! In its third year, the New Buffalo Harvest & Wine Fest has become the region’s signature Autumn event for visitors to experience all of Harbor Country’s bounty in one spot. New Buffalo is only a short

THE NEW BUFFALO BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND FOUR WINDS CASINO PRESENT

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

November 28, 2009 3pm – Nightfall Whittaker Street New Buffalo Bring the kids downtown to see Santa in his sleigh leading the Christmas parade then visit him at the firehouse where he will lend an ear to hear Christmas wishes! Pop into the Chocolate Café and take a dip in the chocolate fountain with some tasty treats then bring your hot chocolate outside at dusk for the annual tree lighting and caroling on the corner of N. Whittaker and Mechanic!

GREAT MUSIC, WINE & BEER TASTING, FARMERS MARKET, KIDS ACTIVITIES, FOOD, ART & CRAFT VENDORS

SPECIALTY GIFT GIVING

December 12-13, 2009 Looking for unique gifts to give that special someone? New Buffalo is filled with wonderful retail shops, art galleries and small boutiques where you will find one-of-a-kind gifts and truly special items! Stroll our streets and take the time to put some meaning into your holiday shopping!

SECOND SEASON BALL

Saturday, February 6, 2010 6:30pm- midnight Heston Hills Banquet Hall Heston, Indiana Always held on the first Saturday in February, the Ball is a celebration of New Buffalo’s “Second Season”. Put on your dancing shoes and join us for an open bar from 6:30-7:30, dinner, dancing, spectacular live and silent auctions, and a decadent chocolate fountain!

Saturday, October 10 12:00-10:00 PM EST

NEW BUFFALO, MICHIGAN Lions Park (across from the beach) $5 DONATION / KIDS 12 AND UNDER FREE

sample local wines ROUND BARN WINERY FREE RUN CELLARS DOMAINE BERRIEN TABOR HILL WINERY ST. JULIAN WINERY

local microbrews ROUND BARN BREWERY

live music

LADY SUNSHINE & THE X BAND DUKE TUMATOE PUCKER UP & ROCK KATIE TODD BAND CHAD HOLMES

NEW BUFFALO HARVEST & WINE FEST INFORMATION WWW.NEWBUFFALO.ORG / 888-660-NBBA (6222)

fall festivities

special advertising section

SKP DESIGN/ WATER STREET GALLERY

Design Day

0 visitshoremagazine.com 7

eet with Sondra Phillips of SKP Design and MaryJo Lemanski of Water Street Gallery. Fall is the perfect time to purchase artwork and consider smaller projects to be completed before the holidays, or major renovations that can be done over the winter so your retreat is ready for next summer. From creating a relaxing retreat to an exciting entertainment venue, SKP Design and Water Street Gallery can help. Design Day 2009, on October 13, is a unique opportunity to review your ideas with design professionals and receive a designer discount on all original artwork. Schedule your one-on-one appointment with our designers and architect to discuss your vision. From minor changes to major renovations, we can help steer your project in the right direction and point you to unique resources. Bring your house plans or sketches, photos of your house or building site, and anything that inspires you. We will help you achieve your vision. There is no charge for the Design Day appointments. Visit our website, skpdesign.com, to schedule your appointment or ask for Sondra at 269.375.4833. On Design Day, participants will also receive a special designer discount of 15 percent off all artwork provided by Water Street Gallery. SKP Design has teamed with Water Street Gallery to offer seamless interior design and architectural service. We offer services such as: selecting artwork, art commissions, interior color schemes, furniture selection, custom design of features and focal points such as kitchens and fireplaces, bathroom design, accessory selection and space planning. Architectural services include additions, interior and exterior renovations, new construction and landscape design. Water Street Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery that features high-quality works from SKP DESIGN 229 E Michigan Ave nationally known artists, which Ste 145 can enhance your newly designed Kalamazoo, Mich. space. We can help you find 269.375.4833 artwork that fits your needs, and skpdesign.com we are dedicated to helping you create a home environment that WATER STREET resonates with your sense of style GALLERY and personality with art. 98 Center St Water Street Gallery has been Douglas, Mich. 269.857.8485 serving the area for more than waterstreetgallery.com 20 years and has been named Best Regional Gallery by AAA and Shore magazine. SKP Design has designed many lakeside and inland homes, lofts and cottages. In recent years SKP has worked with many homeowners to make their dreams come true, some of which were included in the Kalamazoo Symphony Home Tour. Time slots will be available between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Water Street Gallery in Douglas, Michigan, on Tuesday, October 13.

special advertising section

fall festivities

southwestern michigan tourist council

Carefree Autumn Fun Alden J. Ho Photography

all doesn’t have to be crazy busy. Breathe. Relax. Enjoy the fresh, crisp days and nights of this colorful season in nearby Southwestern Michigan. Start along our Lake Michigan shoreline. Race the kids down a sandy dune. Roast hot dogs over a crackling fire. Invite your friends to go kayaking. Reel in a fighting salmon. Walk out to our historic lighthouses. Raise the sail on your boat and slice through the white-capped waves. Then venture out into our beautiful countryside. Play golf on fairways that challenge your game, at tee times that fit your schedule. Bicycle along roads with canopies of golden and ruby leaves. Shop in our quaint towns. Find treasured antiques and remarkable original art. Win at our gaming resort. Pamper yourself at a spa. Hungry? Fill baskets with crisp apples. Bite into warm donuts and quench your thirst with fresh-squeezed cider. Sip award-winning wines in our vineyards. Succumb to temptation in our chocolate cafes and European-style bakeries. Pick plump pumpkins. And linger over a steamy latte as evening draws you to the hearth. Spend hours of weekend fun at our harvest festivals. Laugh your way

through our corn mazes and haunted buildings. Listen to live music in our clubs. Then wrap your arms around the one you love as the setting sun splashes crimson and orange across our deep, blue waters. Come to where the fun starts . . . and never ends . . . in Southwestern Michigan.

Visit swmichigan.org or call 269.925.6301 for places to play and stay this fall . . . and every season. SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN TOURIST COUNCIL 269.925.6301 swmichigan.org

Aromatherapy

Ahhh!

MICHIGAN TOURIST COUNCIL SM90718 Shore Mag-Oct09.indd 1

The fun starts here. www.swmichigan.org 269-925-6301 8/12/09 4:16:03 PM

SOUTHWESTERN

october/november 2009

Savor Lake Michigan’s fresh breezes. Uncork the bouquet of our wineries’ vintages. Breathe in the sweetness of just-picked apples. Delight in the tantalizing aromas of our harvest festivals. And rejuvenate your spirit from sunrise to sunset.

fall festivities

special advertising section

bayberry cottage

Autumn Décor

t’s nesting season! Time to come into Bayberry Cottage to warm up your home for the cold months to come. Bringing the season home doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, and our decorators can help you get the perfect look at no extra charge. Want to just update with a few new accessories? We can do that! Want a whole new look? We can do that too! BAYBERRY COTTAGE 510 Phoenix St South Haven, Mich. 269.639.9615 bayberrycottage.com

2 visitshoremagazine.com 7

special advertising section

fall festivities

indian summer

Sister Stores

ine years ago, Elise Mauro opened Indian Summer Boutique, a women’s apparel store, in New Buffalo, Michigan. This popular boutique attracts customers from both Michigan and Chicago, but when she began showing her clothing lines in a tent at the European Market in Chesterton five years ago, she developed an even larger following in Northwest Indiana. On June 1, Mauro opened a second Indian Summer location in downtown Chesterton. The new location is larger than the space in New Buffalo, and trunk shows for Mauro’s popular clothing lines will be held regularly, beginning with the wildly popular Sympli clothing line on Sunday, October 11, at the New Buffalo location and Saturday, October 17, at the new Chesterton store. There will also be modeling demonstrations with Sympli expert Jackie Bartolini. Indian Summer is known for its INDIAN SUMMER comfortable apparel made from cotton, BOUTIQUE gauze, linen and the unique Sympli knit line 126 S Whittaker St of clothing. The clothes could be classified as New Buffalo, Mich. casual but elegant. The boutique also carries 269.469.9994 accessories, jewelry and shoes as well as some other unusual items. Mauro says, “Our 131 S Calumet Rd customers love to travel, work and play, and Chesterton, Ind. 219.983.9994 we have just the right collections for them.”

needle in a haystack

Sit and Knit

t Needle in a Haystack, we carry high-quality natural fiber yarn in many varieties and colors to accommodate almost any project. Our knowledgeable staff is available to help you find everything you need. We also offer customizable classes for individuals or groups. Whether you’ve never picked up a pair of needles, you want to learn how to make your patterns really fit, or you just want to learn some fun new stitches to enhance your art, we can help. Make South Haven’s Needle in a Haystack your destination! Bring your friends, or come make new ones and hang out on the couch with some coffee or cocoa. Everyone is family around this fireplace!

october/november 2009

NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK 319 Center St South Haven, Mich. 269.637.8216 southhavenneedle.com

fall festivities

special advertising section

sea glass cottage

Buried Treasure

orget diamonds, sea glass is a girl’s best friend! One visit to Sea Glass Cottage and you will want to “move in.” The store features home goods, sea glass, specialty foods, gifts and more. It has become a national destination featured in Coastal Living magazine. Today, finding a piece of sea glass is like finding a diamond in the sand. What is sea glass? These treasured gems are pieces of glass and ceramics that have been discarded in lakes and oceans and are washed up on the shore. The water, rocks and sand then polish these gems to perfection. Our sea glass is sold in a beautiful array of colors and is made from recycled glass. The store also features a variety of beautiful glass containers to display these treasures. Also featured are informational books, note cards, journals and handcrafted sea glass items. SEA GLASS COTTAGE 402 Eagle St South Haven, Mich. 269.639.1200 seaglasscottage.com

tuscan pot

Festive Accents

4 visitshoremagazine.com 7

uscan Pot Studio & Gallery is the working studio and showcase gallery of artist Rachael Hirt, located in Saugatuck, Michigan. Custom hand-painted tiles by Rachael are entirely custom-designed for a kitchen backsplash, bathroom vanity, shower/tub area, fireplace surround, furniture and more. Rachael also hand paints tiles/mosaics, mirrors, chests, sinks and above-counter vessels for the bath or powder room. Hand-painted murals and decorative backsplashes are a great addition when building a new home or remodeling a kitchen or bathroom. Decorative hand-painted tiles can also be used to spruce up a wet bar, butler’s pantry or outside terrace/poolside area. The possibilities are endless! Tuscan Pot also has a wide array of hand-painted place settings, bowls, platters, pitchers and vases. If you can’t make it to the shop, please visit us online at tuscanpot.com, or call 269.857.5550 and Rachael will be happy to discuss any ideas for tile or pottery that you might have. TUSCAN POT STUDIO & GALLERY 321 Water St Saugatuck, Mich. 269.857.5550 tuscanpot.com

fall festivities

special advertising section

abstract café and wine bar

wner/chef Ted Zych has been passionate about cooking since he was a child. For years, he experimented with food as a hobby. He worked in the construction industry for most of his adult life, but felt like he was in the wrong profession. He wanted a career that he loved and enjoyed. With the support of his family, he finally followed his passion and applied to culinary school. Chef Ted graduated at the top of his class from the Le Cordon Bleu-accredited Culinary and Hospitality Institute of Chicago and earned the President’s Award for his superb talents and skills. Upon completion of culinary school, he gained substantial experience in both fine dining and catering and now introduces the simple, clean, fresh eclectic Abstract Café and Wine Bar in Portage, Indiana. We utilize area farmers to provide guests with a locally grown, seasonal menu. We support organic products and sustainable farming practices whenever possible and we use free range chickens, local bison, line-caught fish and grass-fed beef that is butchered on site to ensure optimal freshness. We offer an extensive beer and wine list consisting of local and global products. Our staff is trained to anticipate the needs of our guests and intends to create an experience better known as a “culinary destination.”

fresh

refine

local northwest indiana’s newest ‘culinary destination’

ABSTRACT CAFÉ AND WINE BAR 3365 Willowcreek Rd Portage, Ind. 219.762.8466 abstractcafe.net

open for lunch & dinner

www.abstractcafe.net

October/november 2009 october/november 2008

3365 williowcreek road. portage, IN 219.762.8466

Farm Fresh Cuisine

bite & SIP

FOOD FEATURE BY JANE DUNNE

Is it stuffing or dressing? Traditionally, people who live in the South call it “dressing” while northerners call it “stuffing.” Some argue that if it is cooked inside a bird or roast, it’s stuffing; cooked outside, it’s dressing. • When something tastes this good, who cares what you call it?

stuffivs. ng dressing INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, IT’S ALL THE SAME

Here, you will find my favorite stuffing for roast turkey. I call it “stuffing” because I was raised in Connecticut. Actually, I cook it outside the bird, so I guess it’s dressing. There is also a delectable dressing that is a perfect partner for roast pork, a quick Carolina cornbread dressing that makes baked ham or red snapper shine, and—finally—a flavorful Mediterranean stuffing for roast lamb that also works wonders in stuffed red bell peppers. • Enough verbiage . . . Let’s cook!

6 vISItSHoremAGAZIne.com 7

pHotogRapHY BY RoBeRt wRaY

Ham, Fennel and Raisin Bread Dressing (12 cups)

This is similar to the classic New England turkey stuffing we had while I was growing up. Years later, it became the Thanksgiving stuffing of choice in the Dunne family. Instead of fresh apples, I use dried, which not only saves time, but also adds concentrated flavor and prevents the stuffing from becoming too wet. I use Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix to good effect.

Chef Rick Rodgers swears this dressing works beautifully with turkey but I think it is an outstanding side dish with roast pork. The countrystyle raisin bread is a great match with the fresh fennel and smoked ham. If your bakery only has plain crusty country bread, add 1 cup of raisins.

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 large onion, finely chopped 3 medium celery ribs with leaves, finely chopped 1 pound bulk pork breakfast sausage 1 (16-ounce) package seasoned bread stuffing mix 1 cup packed coarsely chopped dried apples (3 ounces) 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage, or 1-1/2 teaspoons crumbled dried 1-3/4 cups chicken broth, as needed, divided Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and diced fennel bulb. Cover and cook, stirring often, until fennel is crisp-tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the ham, Madiera and rosemary. Bring to a boil. Scrape ham and fennel mixture into a large bowl. Add bread cubes, Parmesan, eggs and chopped fennel fronds. Mix well. Gradually stir in about 1 cup broth until dressing is evenly moistened but not soggy. Season with salt and pepper. Place in a buttered casserole dish, drizzle with 1/2 cup broth, cover and bake for 25 minutes, removing cover the last 10 minutes to crisp the top.

Using purchased seasoned cornbread croutons, this delicious dressing—a natural with baked ham—comes together in no time. I also tried it as a side dish with red snapper. Wow! 1-1/2 cups dried peaches (1/2 pound), cut into 1/2-inch cubes 1/3 cup bourbon or apple juice 1 stick unsalted butter 6 green onions, chopped 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning 1 (16-ounce) package seasoned cornbread stuffing (8 cups) 2 large eggs, beaten 1 cup coarsely chopped unsalted dry-roasted peanuts 1-1/2 cups chicken broth, divided 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place peaches and bourbon in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat. Remove from heat, cover and set aside. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the green onions and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the peach mixture and poultry seasoning. Add the cornbread stuffing, the eggs and peanuts. Blend well. Gradually stir in about 1 cup broth until dressing is evenly moistened but not soggy. Season with salt and pepper. Place in a lightly buttered casserole dish, drizzle with 1/2 cup broth, cover and bake for 25 minutes, removing cover for last 10 minutes to crisp the top.

Artichoke, Feta Cheese and Olive Stuffing (makes 3 cups) Spread this onto a boned and butterflied leg of lamb; then roll, tie and roast for a spectacular main course.* Ingredients should be chopped fairly fine so stuffing won’t fall apart when the lamb is sliced. As a vegetarian dish, chop more coarsely and use in stuffed red bell peppers. 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 (10-ounce) package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs made from day-old Italian bread 1/2 cup finely crumbled feta cheese 1/2 cup chopped pitted Kalamata olives 1 large egg, beaten 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (no salt)

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion until softened, about 3 minutes. Add artichokes and garlic; continue cooking about 3 more minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool. Stir in bread crumbs, feta, olives, egg and pepper. *Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place 5-pound boneless lamb, smooth-side down, on flat work surface. Spread stuffing over meat, leaving a 1-inch border around the sides. Starting at a short end, roll up lamb and tie with kitchen string. Brush with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Place on rack in large roasting pan. Roast 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 and continue roasting until medium, about 2 hours. Let stand 10 minutes before removing string and carving.

october/november 2009

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and celery. Sauté until vegetables soften, about 3 minutes. Add sausage and cook, breaking up with a spoon until browned through, about 10 minutes. Scrape sausage mixture into a large bowl. Add stuffing mix, apples, melted butter, parsley and sage. Toss, gradually adding about 1-1/2 cups broth, until stuffing is evenly moistened. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Use as a stuffing or, if serving as a side dish, place in a lightly buttered casserole, drizzle with 1/2 cup broth, cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes while the turkey rests. For a crisp topping, remove the cover for the last 10 minutes.

1 stick unsalted butter 1 large onion, chopped 1 medium bulb of fennel (3/4 pound), cut into 1/4-inch dice, plus 1/4 cup chopped feathery tops 1/2 pound smoked ham, chopped 3/4 cup Madiera wine 1 teaspoon dried rosemary 1 pound crusty country-style raisin bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (do not remove crust), dried overnight (about 10 cups) 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 2 large eggs, beaten 1-1/2 cups chicken broth, divided 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Quick Southern Cornbread Dressing with Peaches and Peanuts (makes about 8 cups)

Quick Sausage, Apple and Sage Stuffing (8 cups)

bite & SIP Stop 50 Wood Fired Pizzeria

500 S El Portal, Michigan City, Indiana. 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 wood-fired 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 50-year-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.

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.

8 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 7

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 & 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

HAMMER’S FOOD & DRINK 2134 E US Hwy 20, Michigan City. 219.879.0760. Lunch and dinner are served 11am-10pm Mon-Sat, 10am9pm 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 cedar-planked 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.”

LIGHTHOUSE RESTAURANT 7501 Constitution Ave, Cedar Lake. 219.374.WAVE. cedarlakelighthouse. com. Dinner is served 4-10pm MonThurs, 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 Dairy Farm. Bottles of wine are half price on No Whine Wednesdays. 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. PIKK’S TAVERN 62 W Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.476.7455. pikkstavern.com. Lunch is served 11:30am-3:30pm Fri-Sat, 11am-3pm Sun; dinner 5-9:30pm MonThu, 5:30-11:30pm Fri-Sat, 3-8:30pm Sun; Sunday brunch 11am-2:30pm. The tavern identification in this case is used British-style to denote a communityneighborhood-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 tableside 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

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

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.

81st Ave, Merrillville. 219.769.4466. ginossteakhouse.com. Dyer: 4-10pm Mon-Thu, 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.

bite & SIP 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. 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.

0 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 8

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 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. 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 stirfry 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. SCHU’S BAR & GRILL 501 Pleasant St, St. Joseph. 269.983.7248. schulersrest.com. Food is served 11am10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-11pm 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 hand-crafted 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 six-ounce portion of grilled salmon with crisp bacon, mixed greens and fresh tomatoes, topped with tarragon Dijon sauce and served with housemade chips. SIX ONE SIX at JW MARRIOTT HOTEL 235 Louis Campau Promenade NW, Grand Rapids. 616.242.1500. ilovethejw.com/ dining. Breakfast is served 6:30am-noon Sat-Sun; lunch 11:30am-2pm Mon-Fri, 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 pre-

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 glutenfree foods and sauces. Must-have 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.

Illinois

THE COURTYARD BISTRO 21 S White St, Frankfort. 815.464.1404. Food is served 11am-10pm Tue-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat. The ambitious menu is inspired by the cooking of Italy, France

GLENWOOD OAKS RIB & CHOP HOUSE 100 N Main St, Glenwood. 708.758.4400. Food is served 11am9:30pm 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. 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 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.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

WILD DOG GRILLE 24 W Center St, Douglas. 269.857.2519. 5-9:30pm Tue-Thu, 11:30am-10:30pm Fri-Sat, noon-9:30pm Sun. Sam Kendall, co-owner 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.

and the American Southwest, but this south 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 well-prepared 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.

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.

house&

GROUNDS

2 vISItSHoremAGAZIne.com 8

Five years ago there was in its place a little cottage in this pastoral setting, fun at first and handy for design projects. But the place had been poorly built by others; with nothing to salvage, Louise and husband Howard Berg decided to rebuild. Their New Buffalo getaway became a year-round haven in sync with its environment. A major feature in creating the house, with what Louise calls “the vernacular I see in the Midwest farm land,” is its exterior of corrugated metal. The industrial barn effect is both hightech and homestead, with gables that bring in light and invoke traditional farm shapes. Indoors, the eye is drawn to a lush parklike setting through the many large windows. Planning began nearly six years ago; Louise drafted plans and elevations, created a model, went to a structural engineer who took these into final working drawings, and the couple moved into a rental in New Buffalo in order to be on site every day. The home was completed in September 2006. “It’s a very much externally design-oriented home,” Louise explains. “Some homes are very internal, needing you to create an environment. But here, the environment inside had to be subtle to let the eye wander outward, to experience the ever changing beauty surrounding us.” A blend of understated hues, monochromatic artwork, and creative use of space makes the interior welcoming and peaceful. With a house system of trusses, no interior support walls are needed that would confine movement throughout the 3,600-square-foot structure. The rooﬂine, cut at angles, ranges from 10 to 20 feet high to let light into the public spaces. Incorporating green design was a priority. To provide

GREEN DESIGN IN A WORLD OF WHITE

Quiet

A Canvas

BY JULIE DEAN KESSLER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT WRAY

AUGUSt/SePtember 2009

It rises, shining, from the landscape, its corrugated metal exterior referencing a barn and thus the agricultural tradition of the Midwest. But this is no barn. It is a homeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;stylish and eco-friendly, the agri-elegant brainchild of interior designer Louise Witkin-Berg.

house&

GROUNDS

Farmstead simplicity with elegant window treatment and lighting make this bedroom [above] inviting and restful. Cool white lights [right] and stainless steel basin sink are warmed with touches of dune grass and foliage. [previous page] Corrugated stainless steel with a rooﬂine of gables references both the progressive and the pastoral in Howard and Louise Witkin-Berg’s home. Louise invoked a Frank Lloyd Wright inﬂuence in a long but light hallway with its many storage opportunities; Louise’s photography adds visual interest.

geothermal heating, pipes were installed below the frost line, saving energy for both heating and cooling. In-floor radiant heat utilizes a closed-loop system for conserving water, with a pleasant dividend: all the floors, including the marble flooring in the bathrooms, are comfortably warm during Michigan’s winter months. Elsewhere, porcelain flooring contributes to the elegant ambience; molding instead of baseboards creates a clean line. Extensive use of Calcutta gold marble—the fireplace, half the kitchen wall, the baths and more—is warmed by rift-cut oak; the diagonal end-grain allowing for a subtle grain pattern is a natural choice for the couple, whose eye for artistic applications is evident everywhere. Louise, who has taught photography at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and has been a visiting artist at the Art Institute of Chicago on many occasions, kept most of the interior color off-white. “My feeling is, it’s this quiet canvas that gives the people and activities in the house importance and yet a repose also,” Louise explains. Much of the artwork is her own, including a piece over the fireplace that depicts a storm at sea; the use of light grays, yellows and creams conveys energy while inviting anticipation of calm, providing a visual metaphor for the home. Other artwork was collected by Louise’s father, and from Louise’s brother’s gallery in St. Helena, California. “Art for me, in our home, are pieces in the overall design and are carefully placed to support that total feeling,” says Louise, whose own evocative photography leads the way to the private spaces of the house. “Inanimate objects,” Louise says, “can communicate on a visceral, emotional level.” Howard and Louise believe in recycling—with a few creative touches. They integrated a long, dark burl buffet by Mastercraft, bought in the 1960s, into the living room’s lighter palette by having it finished in ivory white and designing a wall to accommodate its length. “When you do a monochromatic palette,” Louise says, “it is so easy to change accent pieces, which changes

Walls and furniture [far left] are a white canvas for artwork and accents. The marbleframed fireplace and absence of support walls are designed to keep the focus on the park-like setting of the home. Louise’s carefully chosen accent colors [near left and below] pop against the monochromatic color palette.

october/november 2009

the whole feeling of a room, without changing major pieces.” The three bedrooms, two baths and powder room all convey serenity with artistic interest, like the powder room wall. It is faux-painted with shadows of leaves to echo the actual leaves that stand near the wall in a tall silver vase. In the master bedroom, a low soffit with recessed lighting brings more intimacy above the bed, in the largerscaled room. Owner for 20 years of her own design studio in Chicago and in Southwest Michigan, Louise still accepts special projects; her home studio “is my tree house,” she says; “trees are all you see out the windows.” Howard is the business end of the design studio; his office has two walls entirely of windows looking out on Michigan’s natural beauty. “The total environment is a unifying experience,” Louise says, “as my objective was to create a peaceful home, insulating us a little from all the ‘noise’ in our world today.”

shore THINGS Mark Scott Homes

15645 Embers Dr, Mishawaka, Indiana 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.

build Indiana

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. 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.

6 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 8

Michigan

THE RENTAL BRANCH 3848 Niles Rd, St. Joseph. 269.429.3116. therentalbranch.com. What started as an equipmentrental 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. HECHTS LANDSCAPING INC. 219.322.5296. hechtslandscaping.com. One of 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. HERITAGE DRAPERIES 2224 US Hwy 41, Schererville. 219.322.8585. 18112 Torrence Ave, Lansing, Ill. 708.418.1177. heritage-draperies.com. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, 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.

photograph courtesy of MARK SCOTT HOMES

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.

interiors-by-design.net. Mon-Fri 9am5:30pm. This full-service interior design company features furniture, draperies, wallpaper, fabrics, carpet, area rugs, artwork and accessories. Many of Interiors by Designâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s furniture lines show at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago.

7pm. 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 shopâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;featuring produce, breads, sauces and cheesesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;are also on site.

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 noon4pm. For more than 30 years, Naturally Wood Furniture has 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 areaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;together with personal friendly serviceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;makes Naturally Wood Furniture a destination store.

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 dĂŠcor. Purses, jewelry, sunglasses and other accessories are also available here.

Michigan

BAYBERRY COTTAGE 510 Phoenix Rd, South Haven. 269.639.9615. Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-4pm. One of South Havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most well-known shops, Gwen DeBruynâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bayberry Cottage features home furnishings and accessories which include furniture, wall dĂŠcor, rugs, ďŹ&#x201A;orals and bath and body products. Interior design services are also available, and items can be special ordered if not in stock. 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 Duhnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new showroom features teak root benches, textiles, Indonesian pottery, unique new furniture and an extensive mirror gallery. Claudia Labaoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Global Dreams jewelryâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;popular with the stars of Desperate Housewivesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;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.

SAWYER HOME & GARDEN CENTER 5865 Sawyer Rd, Sawyer. 269.426.8810. sawyergardencenter.com. Open daily 9am-

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. Hirtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 place, which offers jewelry, hand-crafted home dĂŠcor items and personalized gifts, plus a paint-yourown 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. MAXIM POWER SPORTS 5901 E 81st Ave, Merrillville. 219.942.0548. maximpowersports.com. Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-6pm, Tue, Thu 9am8pm, Sat 9am-3pm. 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 9am-8pm, 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

RUSSELLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FOREIGN CAR REPAIR 8754 US Hwy 31, Berrien Springs. 269.473.3088. This dealer alternative provides service, repairs and maintenance during the vehicleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s factory warranty and beyond. Russellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Foreign Car Repair services all imported car makes, but specializes in upscale European and Asian vehicles.

# ,- +-)( 3 +)0( )$(- 3 1 + 3 ,- #$ ") 3 '')( 3 +1 3 +$!!$-# ++$&&/$&& 3 .(,- + 3 )+- " 3 # + +/$&& 3 - )#( 3 &* + $,) 888-340-2265 HarrisÂŽ is a trade name used by Harris N.A. and its affiliates. Member FDIC

2009_158_Shore Magazine.indd 1

File Name: Project ID: Size: Publication: Region: Theme: Template ID: Insertion Date:

7/6/09 9:33:13 AM

2009_158_Shore Magazine 2009_158 3.625â&#x20AC;? x 4.8125â&#x20AC;? Shore Magazine South Brand Awareness BA-20 07/08/2009

OK As Is: __________________ Change: __________________

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

NATUREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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. Natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Way can also design and install walks, patios, driveways, retaining walls, waterfalls, and lighting.

From personal checking accounts to cash management solutions for businesses, every single account at Harris comes with help. And with online features like â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Push To Talkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Total Look ÂŽâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re finding innovative ways to be more helpful every day. To learn more, stop by any Harris location or go to harrisbank.com today.

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.

help included with every account.

shore THINGS eat Indiana

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.

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

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 10am-5pm,

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.

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. LTF EYE CLINICS Locations in Crown Point, Munster and Valparaiso. ltfeyeclinics.com. This clinic offers an extensive range of eyecare services, ranging from basic care—eye glasses, contact lenses and LASIK vision correction—to more advanced treatments, including cataract and glaucoma surgery, corneal transplantation and laser therapy and treatment. There are six doctors on staff, all of whom work with several of the area’s major hospitals as well. NORTHWEST ORAL SURGEONS 601A US Hwy 30, Schererville. 219.322.0501. 548 Ridge Rd, Ste G, Munster. 219.836.0004. northwestoralsurgeons.com. Drs. Joseph Lo-

vasko, 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

CHICAGOLAND’S #1

THE NEW 2010 BUICK

BUICK • PONTIAC • GMC VOLUME DEALER

Classic & CONTEMPORARY Warm tinted chrome details. Dynamic ribbon design. This vehicle ties it all together. Experience true inner beauty in the new 2010 LaCrosse.

IN STOCK NOW! Starting at

8 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 8

$27,835 See our complete lineup of Buicks & GMCs crossovers at BUICK • PONTIAC • GMC

W W W. S C H E P E L . C O M 3 2 0 9 W E S T U. S . 3 0

•

M E R R I L LV I L L E , I N

•

219.769.6381

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. PARK WEST, INC. White Oak Ave, Munster. 219.836.8282. This gated community presents an opportunity to live in one of the premier neighborhoods in Northwest Indiana. Each of the 51 estate-sized lots, all 1/3-acre or greater, is bordered by a park, pond, creek or lushly landscaped green belt. Park West is developing the community in partnership with First Metropolitan Builders, which is known for building high-quality, custom-built homes, all in a traditional design. Open for construction this summer. Lots priced from $250,000.

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 9am3pm, Fri-Sun 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.

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.

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.

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 10am5pm, 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 nonsurgical cosmetic procedures, particularly breast surgery, body contouring and facial aesthetic surgery. Less invasive procedures include tanning, waxing and facials. 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

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

HARBOR SHORES RESORT 269.932.1600. harborshoresresort.com. Southwest Michigan’s biggest, most talked-about 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.

ORCHARD ON THE LAKE 269.695.9100. orchardonthelake.net. This Buchanan-based development—situated along the shores of the private spring-fed Pine Lake—will include thirty vacation homes that feature eight unique styles and range in size from 1,700 to 3,300 square feet, with three to five bedrooms The property also features a community barn, heated pool, sundeck and nature trails.

area, along with online banking, provide personal and corporate clients with ease and convenience.

shore shoreTHINGS THINGS “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. TIMOTHY JEFFRY 2411 St. Lawrence Ave, Long Beach. 219.872.6567. Mon-Thu 9am-7pm, Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm. This quaint, 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. THE WELLNESS CENTRE 1806 Burlington Beach Rd, Valparaiso. 219.477.4037. Mon-Sat by appointment. This establishment offers massage therapy with a holistic bent. Services include homeopathy, aromatherapy, ear candling and energy works. Also on site is a store, where aromatherapy items, teas and herbs can be purchased.

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.

play 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. LOST MARSH GOLF COURSE 1001 E 129th St, Hammond. 219.932.4046. lostmarshgolf.com. This 330-acre, 18-hole championship course features various tee positions on every hole, making it desirable and challenging for both experienced and new golfers. The acclaimed Youth Golf Academy at Lost Marsh teaches young people looking to learn the sport, and an environmental recreation area offers outdoor activities to golfers and non-golfers alike.

0 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 9

Michigan

FERNWOOD BOTANICAL GARDEN & NATURE PRESERVE 13988 Range Line Rd, Niles. 269.695.6491. fernwoodbotanical.org. Tue-Sat 10am6pm, Sun noon-6pm. Situated on 105 acres of cultivated and natural land, Fernwood is composed of gardens, forests and trails for visitors to peruse. An art gallery, fern conservatory, nature center, cafe and gift shop are also on site, and there are several learning and enrichment opportu-

nities as well. 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. NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK 319 Center St, South Haven. 269.637.8216. southhavenneedle.com. Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat 11am-5pm, Thu 11am-7pm. This cozy shop not only offers natural fiber yarns for knitting and crochet, but patrons can also hang out there to knit. There are several knitting and crocheting classes as well as group knitting events. Kits and gifts are also available. OUTPOST SPORTS Locations in New Buffalo, St. Joseph, South Haven and Mishawaka, Ind. outpostsports. com. Hours vary by location. Whether bicycling, kayaking, surfing or simply sunbathing, any summer sports fan will find a large inventory of sporting products here. Owner JV Peacock emphasizes a life-isshort/seize-the-day philosophy throughout his inventory, events, lessons and staff. Clothing, beach accessories and eyewear are also available. RAVINES GOLF CLUB 3520 Palmer Dr, Saugatuck. 269.857.1616. ravinesgolfclub.com. This golf facility has won numerous awards for its outstanding condition and beautiful landscape. The Ravines is an Arnold Palmer Signature championship course that challenges all skill levels. A full beverage service and menu are available, and a restaurant is on site.

stay Indiana

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—equipped with a queen bed, sofa and outside deck—are also available for lodging during the summer months.

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

EDDA TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHIE Courthouse Sq, Ste 304, Crown Point. 219.662.9500. eddataylor.com. Tue-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm, Sat and evenings by appointment. This award-winning photographer holds degrees in master photography and photographic craftsmanship and has given lectures all around the world. In her studio—located in the old Lake County Courthouse in downtown Crown Point— Edda Taylor combines her unique style

autos.nwi.com aauutos.nwi.com

Your Automotive Source for Northwest Indiana

Locate Auto Dealers with Ease, in NW Indiana & Chicagoland ACURA

CENTER CHRYSLER • 41 11009 West 133rd Ave, Cedar Lake, IN 219-374-7171 • www.centercars.com

JOE RIZZA ACURA • 29 159th St. & 80th Ave., Orland Park, IL 708-403-7770 • www.jrizzacars.com

GRIEGERS MOTORS • 5 1756 U.S. 30 West, Valparaiso, IN 219-462-4117 • www.griegersmotors.com

BUICK KENNEDY BUICK • 3 3200 N. Calumet Ave., Valparaiso, IN 219-462-3111 or 800-293-9454 www.kennedybuickmazda.com

THOMAS CHRYSLER • 11 9604 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN 219-924-6100 • www.thomasautogroup.com

HYUNDAI

PONTIAC

SHAFFER HYUNDAI • 43 1000 W. U.S. Hwy. 30, Merrillville, IN 219-736-2277 • www.shafferhyundai.com

SCHEPEL PONTIAC • 9 3209 West Lincoln Highway, Merrillville IN 219-769-6381 • www.schepel.com

TEAM HYUNDAI • 45 9236 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN 219-923-2277 • www.teamhyundai.net

SMITH PONTIAC • 7 700 W. Commercial Avenue Lowell, IN • 219-696-8931 www.smithautogroupusa.com

JEEP

CENTER DODGE • 41 11009 West 133rd Ave, Cedar Lake, IN 219-374-7171 • www.centercars.com

SCHEPEL CADILLAC • 9 2929 West Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, IN 219-738-1900 • www.schepelcadillac.com

ARNELL JEEP • 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

CHEVROLET TEAM CHEVROLET • 48 1856 W. U.S. 30, Valparaiso, IN 219-462-1175 • www.teamchevyinc.com

THOMAS DODGE • 11 9604 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN 219-924-6100 • www.thomasautogroup.com

ARNELL CHEVROLET • 14 U.S 20 & I-94, Burns Harbor, IN 866-593-0997 • www.arnellmotors.com

FORD

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

SMITH FORD • 36 1777 E. Commercial, Lowell, IN 219-769-1090 • www.smithautogroupusa.com JOE RIZZA FORD ORLAND PARK • 35 8100 W 159th St., Orland Park, IL 60462 708-442-7000 • www.rizzacars.com

SMITH CHEVROLET - HAMMOND • 37 6405 Indianapolis Blvd., Hammond, IN 219-845-4000 • www.smithautogroupusa.com

WEBB FORD • 71 9809 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN 888-869-8822 • www.webford.com

SMITH CHEVROLET - LOWELL • 7 700 W. Commerical, Lowell, IN 219-696-8931 • www.smithautogroupusa.com

KENNEDY MAZDA • 3 3200 N. Calumet Ave., Valparaiso, IN 219-462-3111 or 800-293-9454 www.kennedybuickmazda.com

MITSUBISHI SHAFFER MITSUBISHI • 43 1000 W. U.S. Hwy. 30, Merrillville, IN 219-736-2277 www.shaffermitsubishi.com

PLANET HONDA • 67 I-57 & RT 30 in the Matteson Auto Mall 1-800-265-1308 • www.planethondaonline.com

SCHEPEL SAAB • 9 2929 West Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, IN 219-738-1900 • www.schepel.com

SOUTHLAKE KIA • 34 Rt. 30, 1 mi. East of I-65, Merrillville, IN 866-639-8542 • www.southlakeautomall.com

CIRCLE GMC • 65 1300 U.S. 41,, Schererville, IN IN. 219-865-4400 • IL. 773-221-8124 www.circleautomotive.com

CHRYSLER

SAAB

SUBARU

MAZDA

HONDA

PORSCHE JOE RIZZA PORSCHE • 2 8130 W 159th St., Orland Park, IL 708-403-0300 • www.rizzacars.com

SUBARU OF MERRILLVILLE • 24 1777 West, US Rt. 30, Merrillville, IN 219-756-7900 • www.subaruofmerrillville.com

THOMAS KIA • 16 9825 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN 219-934-2266 • www.thomasautogroup.com

GMC

CIRCLE PONTIAC • 65 1300 U.S. 41,, Schererville, IN IN. 219-865-4400 • IL. 773-221-8124 www.circleautomotive.com

KIA

SCHEPEL GMC • 9 3209 West Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, IN 219-769-6381 • www.schepel.com

CHEVROLET OF HOMEWOOD • 15 18033 S. Halsted St., Homewood, IL 60430 800-409-5187 • www.homewoodchevy.com

ARNELL CHRYSLER • 14 U.S 20 & I-94, Burns Harbor, IN 866-593-0997 • www.arnellmotors.com

SOUTHLAKE NISSAN • 34 Rt. 30, 1 Mile E. of I-65, Merrillville, IN 888-966-4772 • www.southlakeautomall.com

ARNELL DODGE • 14 U.S 20 & I-94, Burns Harbor, IN 866-593-0997 • www.arnellmotors.com

CADILLAC

MIKE ANDERSON CHEVROLET • 4 The Chevy Giant on I-65 I-65 and 61st Avenue, Merrillville, IN 219-947-4151 • www.mikeandersonchevy.com

NISSAN

DODGE

SCHEPEL BUICK • 9 3209 West Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, IN 219-769-6381 • www.schepel.com

RIDGEWAY CHEVROLET • 1 17730 Torrence Ave, Lansing, IL 60438 708-474-4990 • www.ridgewaychevy.com

HUMMER SCHEPEL HUMMER • 9 2929 West Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, IN 219-738-1900 • www.schepelhummer.com

SUZUKI RICHARDSON SUZUKI • 38 9110 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN 219-923-4000 • www.richardsonsuzuki.com

TOYOTA PLANET TOYOTA • 66 I-57 & RT 30 in the Matteson Auto Mall 1-800-723-9880 • www.planettoyotaonline.com 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

ORLAND PARK

12 30

38 44

66 67

21 VALPARAISO

9 24 43

MERRILLVILLE

CROWN POINT

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 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 here.

Michigan

BENTLEY’S FINE ART & ANTIQUES 50 Center St, Douglas. 269.857.3339. Thu-Mon 11am-5pm. Located in the heart of downtown Douglas, this comprehensive art gallery features antiques, paintings, furniture, bronzes and original vintage posters. Jewelry and accessories are available as well. KUBIAK GALLERY 48 Center St, Douglas. 269.857.3200. kubiakgallery.com. Open daily 11am-6pm. Founded by ceramist Kim Kubiak, this gallery features a collection of work primarily from local artists, but from a select number of national artists as well. The artwork here ranges from painting to photography to jewelry. RUBINKAM STUDIO 109 N Barton St, New Buffalo. 269.469.1620. 20 E Center St, Douglas. 269.857.7100. rubinkam.com. Open daily. Steve Rubinkam’s bright, whimsical Impressionist paintings of florals, landscapes and boats have been enchanting visitors and residents of New Buffalo for years. Rubinkam also displays works from respected colleagues, including photographers, potters and jewelers. Rubinkam’s newest gallery in Saugatuck has an expanded selection of glassworks, art objects and pottery. THISTLE GALLERY 10 W Center St, Douglas. 269.857.7500. thistlegallery.biz. Mon-Thu 10:30am-5pm, Fri-Sat 10:30am-8pm, Sun 11am-5pm. Thistle Gallery features the works of several professional artists, including paintings, furniture, sculptures, purses and jewelry. Thistle is also the home of artist Mary Glinski’s original glass business, featuring jewelry, tiles, mirrors and dishware, all created from fused glass. WATER STREET GALLERY 98 Center St, Douglas. 269.857.8485. waterstreetgallery.com. Fri-Sun 11am5pm and by appointment. This contemporary fine art gallery features original work by regional, national and international artists. Works include painting, glass and sculpture. The staff at Water Street will also help select art for private and corporate clients, and works closely with interior designers.

visit Michigan

ST. JOSEPH TODAY 120 State St, St. Joseph. 269.985.1111.

Beach House &

The Wicker Gallery T SSunrooms... Our Specialty

Beach

wear Indiana

ALBERT’S DIAMOND JEWELERS 711 Main St, Schererville. 219.322.2700. albertsjewelers.com. Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, 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.

Style Home Furnishings & More!

HOURS: RS:

HWY 51 ° DOWNTOWN HOBART 619 E. 3RD ST. ° 219-942-0783

NOON TO 5PM • SAT 10 AM TO 2 PM

DUNE CLOTHIERS at the SCHOOLHOUSE SHOP 278 E 1500 N, Chesterton. 219.926.5001. duneclothiers.com. Mon, Wed-Sat 10am5pm, Sun 11am-5pm. This brand-new boutique features a wide variety of affordable clothing and accessories for both men and women. Apparel ranges from Not Your Daughter’s jeans to special-occasion dresses. Dune Clothiers is promoting sun protection in a big way this summer, with a huge selection of hats in variable styles and colors, plus bamboo clothing, which provides UVA/UVB protection. A large selection of scarves can be found here, including the celebrity-favorite brand Tolani. Jewelry and accessories are also available. 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 branches out from its location at the heart of New Buffalo—and at its new, bigger store in Chesterton—with its 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.

Michigan

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. CHANTAL 133 Butler St and 247 Butler St, Saugatuck. 269.857.5552. Open daily 10amlate at night during the summer. Patrons to this boutique will find a little Europe and a little New York among its unique women’s fashions. The selection ranges from jeans to business attire to semi-formal dresses.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009

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.

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.

with an international influence to create enduring photographs.

shorecast PREDICTIONS BY FRAN SMITH

For more astrological advice, be sure to check out Fran Smith’s regular blog on visitshoremagazine.com.

[sagittarius] NOVEMBER 23-DECEMBER 21 KEY WORDS in October: Your Secret Agenda. Since your planetary ruler is Jupiter (abundance), nothing about you is halfway. This includes what you desire as well as your social life. That’s why this month calls for balance and a careful touch. SIDESTEP canceling at the last minute.

actress JOAN CUSACK

[libra] SEPTEMBER 23OCTOBER 22 KEY WORDS in October: The Fun Month. It most certainly is. Now is the time that belongs to You. Joy and laughter permeate—if you allow them to. This means: focus on your heart’s desire while being receptive to any, and every, wonderful gesture. SIDESTEP high drama at the wrong moment. KEY WORD in November: Figures— everywhere. Your financial affairs have two characteristics: secrecy—and more secrecy. Regardless of how outgoing you appear to be, when your money is involved, silence rules. This month is no exception. SIDESTEP letting your record-keeping falter.

KEY WORDS in November: Closed-Door Calls, Meetings and Conferences. Absolutely no one knows the true nature of your confidential existence. There’s much to be gained now if you advance with your usual sense of the facts. Plus your devastating strategies. SIDESTEP too many calls. [capricorn] DECEMBER 22-JANUARY 19 KEY WORDS in October: The Top of the Mountain. You wait all year for this month, for it contains the fine points of your career. Advancement, on your terms, is quite possible. Keep climbing upward (whatever form that takes)—looking straight ahead. SIDESTEP scattering your energy. KEY WORDS in November: Getting What You Want. You keep this part of your life strictly to yourself. Others try—without letup—to discover what you’re about. But only you know. And this month sees you getting closer to a personal desire. SIDESTEP an uncharacteristic lack of focus. [aquarius] JANUARY 20-FEBRUARY 18 KEY WORD in October: Matters—near and at a distance. This month blends well with your natural inclination toward the unusual and the unexpected. Important calls and emails mark this cycle with new plans and projects. Be alert to all good opportunities. SIDESTEP sudden shyness. KEY WORDS in November: In the Lead—especially where career-related matters are concerned. Few people realize that when you’re being your most outgoing self—then, you’re working feverishly on career gains. This month delivers sterling developments. SIDESTEP the truly boring routine.

comedienne KATHY GRIFFIN

[scorpio] OCTOBER 23NOVEMBER 22

4 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 9

KEY WORDS in October: Confidential Matters. You do this so well—and so naturally. Private calls and meetings are handled by you with style. And usually, high glamour. You’re now in the midst of some extraordinary plans. Work closely with this. SIDESTEP staying only with the familiar. KEY WORDS in November: You’re the One. And everyone knows it! It’s the month in which Scorpio, the Scorpion, rules. Come out of hiding long enough to claim what is yours. There are delightful things to be had. And now, they’re yours for the asking. SIDESTEP total unavailability.

[taurus] APRIL 21-MAY 20 KEY WORDS in October: The Work Scene. Both you and your 6th house of the work scene (where you are right now) are ruled by the same planet, Venus (creativity). So, go slowly, pay close attention—and do whatever is called for to get those desired results. SIDESTEP not enough actual rest. KEY WORDS in November: The Perfect Agreement. If you research, call, schedule and meet with those important to your most recent efforts, then the soughtafter agreement—possibly the ideal contract—is likely. However, secrecy is demanded. SIDESTEP accepting the first proposal. [gemini] MAY 21-JUNE 20 KEY WORDS in October: A Touch of Magic. Of course. This month contains your 5th house of love, close relationships and creativity. Everything desirable is now in play—and you’re eager to invent exciting scenarios. Enjoy yourself totally. SIDESTEP considering the wrongfor-you ideas. KEY WORDS in November: Your Working Environment. When you become serious, you can be extreme. And your usual laughter ceases. Nowhere is this more true than within your work. Others are amazed, as they will be this month. SIDESTEP getting involved in a new project too quickly. [cancer] JUNE 21-JULY 22 KEY WORDS in October: Staying in Balance—especially in home-related matters. A great deal can be accomplished, if you keep this in mind: home is often your workplace, too. Focus now on what needs to be done. And then, do it— willingly. SIDESTEP allowing your moodiness to dictate. KEY WORDS in November: High Intensity—which defines the nature of your close relationships. This is superb. Allow yourself to be You—the You that’s so strongly influenced by passion and secrecy. Just be certain that it’s all worth it. SIDESTEP an uncharacteristic lack of insight.

[pisces] FEBRUARY 19-MARCH 20 KEY WORD in October: Revitalization. Allow this concept to take hold. It’s needed. And a cross-section of your life—mental, emotional, physical, financial and spiritual—benefits. However, reflection (on your part) and balance are absolute requirements. SIDESTEP having no real budget.

[leo] JULY 23-AUGUST 22 KEY WORDS in October: Just the Right Words. Not only are you putting the finishing touches on plans for the holidays, but your calendar for 2010 is also underway. That’s excellent. Just be certain to include one or two politically correct events. SIDESTEP a lack of complete awareness.

KEY WORDS in November: The Secret Drawing Board. This is so good. During this superb month, you can begin to make things—those uneven things from the past year—right. Slip quietly into the holiday season, and see what you can create. SIDESTEP criticism—of others, of yourself.

KEY WORDS in November: Your Base of Operations— where you live and where you work. No matter its location—or locations—your base of operations will be handsome, well stocked, and well run. And now is the perfect time to revitalize it. SIDESTEP the unnecessarily sharp answer.

[aries] MARCH 21-APRIL 20 KEY WORDS in October: The Divine Arrangement. Ruled by the planet Mars (raw energy), you favor quick action. Now, however, is not the cycle for speed. It’s the time for careful pacing and balance, especially when it comes to your personal/business alliances. SIDESTEP too many concepts.

[virgo] AUGUST 23-SEPTEMBER 22 KEY WORDS in October: In Balance—particularly in financial matters. The key to a new solution for a current situation is investigation. Best to lay out all the facts and figures involved. Then, reconstruct them. The answer is in there. SIDESTEP a refusal to recheck facts and figures.

KEY WORD in November: Renewal, on all levels—mental, emotional, physical, financial, spiritual. This comes at the right time. Select a major endeavor within each group— and activate them. If pursued thoroughly, you’ll press on successfully. SIDESTEP heading in too many directions.

KEY WORD in November: Dialogue. You rarely have any difficulty getting your point of view across or your true feelings known. Rely on your skill to say what you mean—and to say it to the right people. Now is not the time to be shy. SIDESTEP uncertainty about your information.

WANT MORE? please go to page 48 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.

Sept 26 ART BEAT 2009 10am-6pm, downtown South Bend. 574.282.1110. Shoppers will enjoy an afternoon stroll through downtown South Bend as local visual and culinary artists from the city and surrounding communities share their talents along the sidewalks.

Oct 3-4 20TH ANNUAL BLUE COAST ARTISTS FALL TOUR OF STUDIOS AND OPEN HOUSE 10am-6pm, various locations, Blue Star Hwy between South Haven and Saugatuck. 269.236.9260. bluecoastartists.com. The scenic tour involves all six Blue Coast studios—Lattner Studio, Blue Star Pottery, Khnemu Studio, Blue Roan Studio, Lake Effect Pottery, and Blue Star Studio of Wood and Glass. The studio artists offer demonstrations of their craft, and refreshments will be served.

Oct 10 NEW BUFFALO HARVEST & WINE FEST noon-10pm, Lion’s Park, downtown New Buffalo. 773.791.1809. newbuffalo.org. There’s something for everyone at the 3rd annual Harvest & Wine Fest, with live music, world-class wines from Southwest Michigan, tasty fare from area restaurants, a copious farmers’ market, hayrides, a pumpkin patch and free activities for kids.

Lake Michigan

shore PICKS Nov 6-8 SOFA CHICAGO 2009 opening night preview gala Thu 7-9pm, fair Fri-Sat 11am8pm, Sun noon-6pm, Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago. 800.562.7632. sofaexpo.com. The 16th annual Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair features work from 90 international galleries and special exhibits by internationally renowned art museums, arts organizations and artists. Approximately 400 artists will showcase their work on the fair floor in this critically acclaimed event.

last resort

Cutting through the Clutter

USE IT OR LOSE IT by LOIS BERGER

Lucy L. had to escape. Not from terrorists. Not from a jail cell. But from her own apartment. Every square inch of her basement apartment was piled up with boxes of “stuff.” Even the beautiful chaise lounge was not to be seen, covered with clothes, as well as suitcases never unpacked.

ut it gets much worse. “I had mice running in and out of my walls, but I wouldn’t call an exterminator.” She sighs, “How could I let anyone in? I was humiliated. Then I found Clutterers Anonymous.” Terry G., one of the cofounders of the Chicago group of Clutterers Anonymous (CLA), explains how the organization works. “CLA is based on the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. We help people understand their problems, devise strategies to correct them, and gain the support of others in the group who suffer from the same dilemma.” She adds, “The disorder afflicts men and women, young and old. Everyone can get help; there are over 80 meetings throughout the U.S., and CLA will help with literature and advice from their website if an area wants to start a group.” Among those who show up for the weekly meeting are Rochel, a 47year-old single mom and her 14-yearold daughter Tikva. “I have boxes of books ready to give away . . . but I can’t do it,” Rochel admits.

“I can’t even get rid of stuff in my car, even though I know we are going on a trip and have to load our suitcases and travel items.” Tikva joins in, “I knew I was getting like my mom when I found papers and drawings from when I was 6 years old. I never threw them away. Why did I need a written certificate from my mom awarded for cleaning my room?” They found CLA and together they are de-cluttering. Theodore P., a thirtysomething filmmaker, really needed help. “I realized I was the worst kind of clutterer when I had to move from an apartment that was flooded. I thought I got rid of stuff, but when I moved in I found I had boxes of things, like toys [Star Wars action figures, etc.], DVDs I don’t watch anymore and out-of-date technical books. It was insane. A friend told me about CLA and right away, I knew I was at home at that meeting.” How’s he doing? “Progress, not perfection, but by sharing my disorder I know I can move forward.” Then there’s Nancy S. “My family had a discount clothing store. There were boxes all over . . . even at home. I still have some of those boxes and I feel secure surrounded by them. I’m hanging on In addition, CLA offers these tips on how to prevent to the past and I don’t becoming (or know you know why.” Then there’s are) a clutterer: instant gratification. Nancy I never know when it might buys tons of lotions and come in handy. When was face creams and books the last time you used it? and books. “Spending is a I might want to re-read distraction from the clutter that book someday. Give it to the library and . . . but now I have more borrow it someday. clutter.” She admits she is better, but still won’t clear I’m waiting until I can fit into it again. How long has it off a dresser loaded with jars been since you wore it? of creams and lotions. “I’ve For information on CLA and been coming to meetings meetings in your area, visit for six months . . . I think in clutterersanonymous.net. another six months, I’ll be rid of at least those old clothes to some wedding gifts I’ve never opened—and I’ve been married for 20 years!”

6 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 9

ccording to CLA’s website, “Clutter seems to have a life of its own, to multiply without effort on our part . . . controlled by our possessions. We fear throwing things out. We think we might need it, fix it or wear it again. We don’t know what to keep and what to discard. We don’t know how much is enough.” To begin de-cluttering, Terry is adamant about what she calls the BIG FOUR: Make the bed. Wash the dishes. Put away clothes and other things you used today. Toss away one item. The bottom line: How much time, money and energy have you spent storing the items that you will never use?

ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTINA SOMERS

j THINK j

PROGRESSIVELY. The biggest progressive jackpots in the area, including our exclusive members-only W Club jackpots.

At Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Michigan, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always more ways to win big. We offer the biggest progressive jackpots in the area and exclusive members-only W Club jackpots worth up to $100,000. We also offer 3,000 of the most sought after slot machines and the hottest table games for even more exciting gaming action. So come to Four Winds Casino Resort. To learn even more, visit fourwindscasino.com or call 1-866-4WINDS1 (494-6371).

Must be 21 years of age or older. The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians invites you to play responsibly. If you think you have a gambling problem, call 1-800-522-4700. ÂŠ2009 Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.

LIVE LargEr. Er.