Shore Magazine

style & culture

december 2011/january 2012

THE ART WE LIVE WITH:

DESIGN AROUND THE HOUSE 50+ GIFTS IN OUR BIGGEST

SHOPPING GUIDE EVER

JOHN MAHONEY

AN EXAMINED LIFE

INCLUDING The Big Chill SURVIVING HIBERNATION ASIAN INJECTION Turkey to Peking Duck Shared Passion MARTHA CARES AND FRITZ OLSEN

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Proof 3

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Photo courtesy of Ken McKeown

swmichigan.org

Give good times.

The best gift this season is time together. So bring your family and friends together. Twirl across an outdoor ice rink. Ride a wagon across snowy farmland to cut a holiday tree. Sip award-winning vintages at more than a dozen wineries. Chill out at The Heritage Museum’s “Ice Age Imperials” traveling exhibit. Shop in quaint lakeside towns.

Watch the winter sky go lavender-crimson over Lake Michigan.

Then rest up in our cozy lodgings. There’s lots more fun tomorrow.

SOUTHWESTERN

MICHIGAN TOURIST COUNCIL

swmichigan.org 269-925-6301

SM20216 Shore Mag 1p ad.indd 1

10/20/11 9:38 AM

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910 Brae Burn Golf Course Lot $119,900

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contents

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

42

Artists at Work: Martha Cares and Fritz Olsen

BY JULIE DEAN KESSLER

Though their types of artistry could not be more different from one another, the Sculptor and the Opera Singer share a passion for their work and for each other.

photo by TONY V. MARTIN

42

44 365 Days of Christmas

BY TERRI GORDON

Dave Eppelheimer never intended to leave Christmas decorations up yearround in his Grand Rapids Heritage Hill home, but as the collection grew, the storage space disappeared.

46 An Examined Life

BY KATHRYN MACNEIL

How actor John Mahoney famously heeded the call to the stage in mid-life, still loves theater best and could not be dynamited out of his Oak Park residence.

VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM

49 The Art We Live With

BY PAT COLANDER

How and why southwestern Michigan is the furniture-design capital of the world and some notes on what that means for the Grand Rapids Art Museum’s permanent collection and the continuing leadership role of Herman Miller Inc.

55 The Shore Guide to Holiday Gifting 2011

Check out the 50-plus time and money-saving ideas that we have assembled for this year’s shopping.

This comprehensive guide not only provides a list, but a detailed outline of how and where to go to get them.

92 Happy (Non-Traditional) Holidays BY KIM RANEGAR Four delicious and risk-free ways to inject some Asian flair into the festivities for just the right amount of game changing.

102 Celebration Time…

Come On! BY LAVETA HUGHES

Ladies and gentlemen, the social season is in full swing during the holidays and we have found the clothes and accessories to make you sparkle.

EAMES LOUNGE CHAIR PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF HERMANMILLER.COM 1

style & culture

december 2011/january 2012

THE ART WE LIVE WITH:

DESIGN AROUND THE HOUSE

50+ GIFTS

IN OUR BIGGEST

SHOPPING GUIDE EVER

JOHN MAHONEY

AN EXAMINED LIFE

INCLUDING The Big Chill SURVIVING HIBERNATION ASIAN INJECTION Turkey to Peking Duck Shared Passion MARTHA CARES AND FRITZ OLSEN

6

Lexus of Merrillville presents

(and a poem to be read aloud)

Lexus

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contents

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

33 28 26 CLICKS

18

VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM

20

INTRO

Bill Welter of Journeyman Distillery mixes it up in Three Oaks.

24

SHAW THOUGHTS

Andy Shaw has a true holiday story about angels whose names have been changed to protect their benevolence.

36 37 37

St. Joseph Wine Festival Umbrellas of Harbert What’s Up Down There?

98 22

LISTEN

A Christmas Story, and its Hammond roots, gets the holiday stage treatment in Chicago, Midwest Hype lives up to its hype, and the Acorn Theater continues a holiday tradition.

NISO Gala Chicago Loop Alliance Gala Center for History Dinner A Barbeque Unlike Any Other

HOUSE & GROUNDS

SHORELINES 17

34 35 35 36

26

CULTURE NUT

Ogden Dunes’ Carson Cunningham bleeds Cubbie-blue in a new book, NISO presents its 70th season including the ever-popular Holiday Pops concert, and the ultimate guide to Chicago comestibles.

28

30

MOTORING

Jim Jackson has Santa’s new SUV— the 2012 Evoque Land Rover—on his wish list, and Nissan debuts the Murano CrossCabriolet.

THE GOOD LIFE The upswing and resurgence in downtown Grand Rapids is a collaborative accomplishment.

32

33

WHERE TO GO

BY TERRI GORDON

O Tannenbaum!

Kim Ranegar’s guide to cutting your own Scotch pine and creating a memory.

GREEN NOTES

Making treasure out of trash with Karen Maravilla and Raymundo Garcia in Hammond.

A Long Beach couple goes for Southern Colonial comfort, especially at the holidays.

LAST RESORT 112

HAUTE PROPERTIES

Jane Ammeson explores how to decorate with ease, including attention to aroma.

Master Plan

BY RICK KAEMPFER

Rick Kaempfer’s simple seven-step strategy on how to get out of hosting the holidays.

HEALTH CLUB

Molly Woulfe gathers tips from those who have been there on what to do when cabin fever inevitably strikes.

Transition to Tradition

HOTSPOTS 38 94 104 110

Essential Events Bite & Sip Shore Things Shorecast

10 12

Publisher’s Letter Editor’s Letter

photography courtesy of [clockwise, from top left] Land Rover North America LLC,, CATHI LLOYD, TONY V. MARTIN, GEORGE AQUINO, TONY V. MARTIN

30

24

8

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PUBLISHER’S

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Nov 16 Holiday Blues, Dec 14 Stress Management for the Holidays ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

F

all is, of course, a season of birthdays around my family with both mine and my mother Dixie’s in October. This issue marks the sixth birthday of Shore magazine and our other Shore brand products, the natural basis for a celebratory edition. We also are welcoming a new addition to our brand, the Shore Bite & Sip e-newser, which will be coming to your inbox every Friday morning. Our sponsors are our good friends in southwestern Michigan and all the restaurants and wineries that are as excellent in fall as they are in the summer.

Last year, the December 2010/January 2011 e-edition of Shore got 65,000 readers—in addition to our more than 70,000 print readers—which was a total record-breaker. Looking back at a year ago, I was feeling really good about my 50th birthday parties and George Aquino, who came on board as a columnist in that issue, until I realized we had a story on the Princess Diana fashion exhibition last winter in Grand Rapids.

Back to the birthdays: It was a treat to have my mother and stepdad (Dixie and Buck Calfy) in Northwest Indiana for a few days as I turned 51 and my mom turned, well, another year younger. They had a great time shopping and making some excellent dinners for when I got home at night. But one of my big surprises didn’t turn out quite as I had planned.

I think I have mentioned before that when I write my columns I want to feel comfortable that they are as appropriate reading for my daughter Shay (when she was 10 years old) as they would be for my mother. I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.

Well, Julie and I have really enjoyed going to Second City in Chicago and have seen some great performances there and have always had a wonderful, fun time. I was pretty psyched about the opportunity to take my mom and stepdad to the legendary comedy club, and I purchased tickets for the front row of the new revue, “South Side of Heaven.” But after a few funny scenes at the beginning of the show, I wanted a hole to open in the floor so I could crawl in to escape and fast. My mom is a devout Christian, and though I had prepared her for some bad language in a light and funny context, some scenes got pretty vulgar and in-your-face. I’m not suggesting to not go to Second City if you’re okay with that stuff—just don’t take your mother.

Many of you also know that this is my most favorite time of the year. It is a time when people should reflect about what is important in their lives. I hope each and every one of you have continued blessings in 2012 and your holiday season is filled with happiness and good health. We will see you next year with our special Lake Michigan area gourmet issue with even more of the best from the world of food and drink coming out in January.

0 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 1

BILL MASTERSON, JR.

720 45th Street • Munster, IN • 219-934-6410 www.confidentialcare.com Confidential Care is an integrated group practice with psychiatrists, counselors and social workers.

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EDITOR’S

LETTER

I

haven’t traveled that much, but enough to know that the Lake Michigan area has an edge on good design—from Frank Gehry’s bridge to Millennium Park in Chicago to the wine-tasting e-vites from the GRAM, we are surrounded with eye candy. The force of attraction to beautiful things is particularly evident in this holiday issue of the magazine.

Whether it’s just that my back is worn out from too many years of high heels or the fact that there are so many mediocre chairs in the world, but I have come to notice and appreciate good chairs. And there are a lot of criteria here—you want a chair that has confidence in its own loveliness, that’s sturdy and safe, that makes you look good when you’re part of it and that makes you comfortable and happy. (Otherwise the chair might just as well be a piece of sculpture.) That’s a sizable to-do list, but it’s been the focus of companies in and around Southwest Michigan for more than a century. And tracing some of that history to today’s modern design and objects we live with turned out to be the key to discussing my favorite gallery in the GRAM’s permanent collection, the one that houses Design & Modern Craft.

Of course, once I started corresponding with Kerri VanderHoff and meeting with a half dozen other furnituredesign enthusiasts, I realized that there are probably more than twenty complex stories here, just glancing at the surface. Should I go down the Frank Lloyd Wright road—the GRAM has a classic high-backed chair—explore the numerous famous homes and their quirkiness? (Celeste Adams, who spent 13 years heading the GRAM, building its collection as well as its new home, left at the end of 2009 to become the leader of the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust. She was the unanimous choice of that board.) Then I talked with the GRAM’s senior curator for prints and photography, Rick Axsom, who tells a dramatic story about acquiring the vintage Hector Guimard balcony at Sotheby’s that left me with the feeling that every acquisition is probably an adventure, even those that got away. But, in the end, it was furniture-making and design and the work of Charles and Ray Eames and others at Herman Miller that captured my attention so completely, because it’s everywhere in our lives. The work is as thoughtful, imaginative and—I learned—scientific, just as it is perfect, beautiful and timeless.

So my wish for you and your family is that you have one of those classic holiday seasons that everyone will remember forever. This year will be special for me because I have been very lucky and we are welcoming a new member to our holiday celebrations this year. Teddy will be four months old January 1.

Make your celebrations the best and have a wonderful 2012!

2 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 1

PAT COLANDER

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style & culture

Publisher Bill Masterson, Jr. Advertising Operations Manager Eric Horon 219.933.3346 Eric.Horon@nwi.com

Reduced to $1,600,000

Senior Account Executive Lisa Tavoletti Illinois/Indiana/Michigan 219.933.4182 Lisa.Tavoletti@nwi.com

FOR SALE Spectacular Lakefront Home on the beach, Lake Michigan 76 Shore Drive, Ogden Dunes, IN • 7,500 Sq. Ft. Total • 2,500 Sq. Ft. on Each Floor • 180 Degree View of Beach, Lake Michigan and Chicago Skyline Just Amazing • 6 Bedrooms - Each with Own Private Bath • 1,100 Sq. Ft. Master Suite • Theatre Room with 9 Loungers, Large Screen Projector, Rolling Surround Sound • Large Elevator to all Three Levels • 2,000 Sq. Ft. Beach Level Mother-In-Law/Guest Quarters

Account Executive Mary Sorensen Michigan 616.451.3006 Mary.Sorensen@nwi.com Traffic Manager Tom Kacius Creative Services Manager Ami Reese 219.933.3398 Ami.Reese@nwi.com Pre-press Specialists Maureen Benak Rhonda Fancher Tracy Ferguson

Published by Lee Enterprises The Times of Northwest Indiana Niche Division 601 W 45th Street Munster, Indiana 46321 219.933.3200 Michigan/Indiana Sales 1111 Glendale Boulevard Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 219.462.5151

New Subscriptions, Renewals, Inquiries and Changes of Address: Shore Magazine Circulation Dept., 601 W 45th St, Munster, IN 46321, or 800.589.2802, or visitshoremagazine.com

Living Room – Dinette Middle Floor

Reprints and Permissions: You must have permission before reproducing material from Shore magazine.

Master suite Top Floor Photography – Air One 4 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 1

WORSTELL REAL ESTATE CONSULTANTS 310 E. LINCOLNWAY, VALPARAISO

LAKE MICHIGAN

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New Buffalo Michigan City Ogden Dunes

219-462-4545

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 7 / number 8

Editor / Associate Publisher Pat Colander 219.933.3225 Pat.Colander@nwi.com Managing Editor Karin Saltanovitz 219.933.3230 Karin.Saltanovitz@nwi.com Assistant Managing Editor Kathryn MacNeil 219.933.3264 Kathy.MacNeil@nwi.com Design Director Ben Cunningham 219.933.4175 Ben.Cunningham@nwi.com Designer April Burford Niche Assistant LaVeta Hughes 219.933.3353 LaVeta.Hughes@nwi.com Lead Photographer Tony V. Martin Contributing Editors George Aquino Jane Ammeson Lois Berger Robert Blaszkiewicz Christy Bonstell Claire Bushey John Cain Tom Chmielewski Rob Earnshaw Jeremy Gantz Terri Gordon Dave Hoekstra Jim Jackson Mallory Jindra Rick Kaempfer Lauri Harvey Keagle Julie Dean Kessler Mark Loehrke Sherry Miller Phil Potempa Kathleen Quilligan Andy Shaw Fran Smith Eloise Valadez Sharon Biggs Waller Molly Woulfe Contributing Artists and Photographers Jennifer Feeney David Mosele Gregg Rizzo

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.

AT S T. M A RY M E D I C A L C E N T E R

contributors

St. Mary Medical Center welcomes Chicagoland’s Leading Weight Loss Team!

RICK KAEMPFER is a contributing editor for Shore magazine. “I really love being invited to write ‘Last Resort,’” he says. “It’s a chance to flex my humor muscles; the only muscles I have.” Rick has written two novels—The Living Wills [Eckhartz Press, 2011] and $everance [ENC Press, 2007]—and a book about creating radio shows, The Radio Producer’s Handbook [Allworth Press, 2004]. Before becoming a full-time author/writer/blogger (including “Father Knows Nothing” for NWI Parent), he worked twenty-plus years as a radio producer for radio legends Steve Dahl & Garry Meier, and John Records Landecker.

Back Row: Hung Dang, DO; Paul Stanish, MD, FACS; Omar Shamsi, MD, Bariatric Medicine Specialist; Kathryn Lipari, RD, dietitian; Front Row: Lisa Almaraz, RN, CBN; Lorri Field, RN; Holly Raimondi, PA-C; Laurie Edwards, RN, CBN

St. Mary Medical Center is pleased to offer a winning combination of skill and experience for your medical, surgical and lifestyle weight loss solutions.

Our Healthy 4 Life team, lead by surgeons Paul Stanish, MD, FACS, & Hung Dang, DO, along with medical weight loss specialist, Omar Shamsi, MD, provides an individualized, comprehensive approach to help patients achieve success on their weight loss journey!

1400 S. Lake Park Ave., Suite 200

Hobart, IN

www.Healthy4LifeCenter.org

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

For an appointment or more information, call: 219-947-6122 or toll free: 1-866-224-2059

15

ELOISE MARIE VALADEZ is a features writer and copy editor for the Times Media Company. A journalist with more than two decades of writing and reporting experience, she has extensively covered the entertainment, culinary, travel and lifestyles industries.

Eloise enjoys meeting people from all walks of life and professions. A resident of Chicago, she loves the excitement of big city life, but also enjoys taking time to relax in quiet surroundings. Eloise loves spending time with family and friends, and enjoys cultural events of all types and theatrical productions of all genres. “It’s always a pleasure to do stories on Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra,” she says. “The orchestra and its music director Kirk Muspratt have an exciting new season planned for music lovers.

You’ll find everything from Beethoven to a special Holiday Pops concert on its upcoming schedule.”

shorelines

listen | shaw thoughts | culture nut | motoring | the good life | green notes | health club | haute properties

>> intro <<

Bill Welter

JOURNEYMAN DISTILLERY MIXES IT UP IN THREE OAKS

J

ust a few years ago Bill Welter was working in the family banking business in Valparaiso, envisioning a long future with the bank.

Then, the bank sold. Welter soon began a new journey, which led him to launch Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, which opened in October.

Welter had lived briefly in Scotland, the home of whiskey, and had become interested in the process of distilling. “I was looking for a new avenue and one thing led to another,” he says. He chose Michigan for its more liberal liquor laws, and the vintage Featherbone factory for its location and its history. The factory had been home to the Featherbone Corset Factory, founded by E.K. Warren, who had patented a new way to make ladies’ corsets in 1883. “We found tons of old sewing needles in the cracks of the old wooden floors,” Welter says.

Journeyman’s historic new space includes production facilities for five signature whiskeys, rum, vodka and gin, as well as a tasting area, where they create classic cocktails with their own brew, plus about 2,000 square feet of event space to host parties and receptions. “It’s truly a unique Journeyman Distillery is located at 109 space. We’re hearing that E.K. Warren would be Generations Drive elated to see us bring the factory back to life. We’re in Three Oaks. Free also hearing that he’d be turning over in his grave, tours begin on the because he was a huge prohibitionist even before weekends at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. Reservations Prohibition. We’re taking the opportunity to play can be made online at that up in a good-natured way,” he says. journeymandistillery.

Journeyman mills its own grain, using organics com or by calling found throughout the Midwest. It’s an exciting 269.820.2050. Winter hours for the retail enterprise for Welter and for Three Oaks, and he and tasting areas are says, “The name ‘Journeyman’ comes from a sort Fridays noon to of traveling aspect and also adventure, but it’s 11 p.m., Saturdays also a play on life, where you never know where 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays noon to 10 p.m. you’ll be one day to the next.” -KIM RANEGAR

photo by TONY V. MARTIN

IF YOU GO

>> listen <<

‘A Christmas Story’ gets holiday stage treatment in Chicago

I

8 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 1

t’s been two years in the making and now theater audiences are getting their holiday wish of a new stage favorite just in time for the annual gift exchange.

The 1983 film A Christmas Story is coming to life as a theater musical with a tune-filled spin surrounding all of the favorite characters and scenes.

Produced by Peter Billingsley, the film’s original Ralphie, the stage adaptation, A Christmas Story, the Musical!, began with auditions in Chicago over the summer, as well as the rehearsals, prior to the special five-city national tour that began in Hershey, Pennsylvania, at the Hershey Theatre on November 8 to 13 and continues with a stop in Detroit from November 15 to 27 at Fisher Theatre before heading to Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh, North Carolina, from November 29 to December 4 and Straz Center in Tampa, Florida, from December 6 to 11 prior to finishing with a run at the Chicago Theatre, 175 North State Street, from December 14 to 30.

Tickets for the Chicago dates range from $35-$79 (with premium tickets also available) at the Chicago Theatre box office or thechicagotheatre.com or 800.745.3000.

Tony Award-winning John Rando (Urinetown and The Wedding Singer) is directing and Warren Carlyle is choreographer, along with dance arranger Glen Kelly (The Book of Mormon and Scottsboro Boys).

It features a bright holiday score by composer/lyricist team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and book by Joseph Robinette, based on the writings of Hammond, Indiana, radio claim-to-fame humorist Jean Shepherd, who also provided the narration for

the 1983 film.

Young actor Clarke Hallum plays Ralphie, and John Bolton plays his father, aka “The Old Man.” Matthew Lewis, who played little brother Randy during the earlier incarnation of the production with much success in 2009 for an acclaimed, sold-out, record-breaking run at Kansas City Rep, has returned to the role.

New to the production are Gene Weygandt in the Jean Shepherd/narrator role and Rachel Bay Jones as Ralphie’s mother.

In 1940s Northwest Indiana, bespectacled boy Ralphie and his big imagination long for one Christmas wish: a Red Ryder BB gun.

A kooky leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a cranky department store Santa and a triple-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the obstacles that stand between Ralphie and his holiday hopes.

In addition to Billingsley producing, he’s joined by fellow producers Gerald Goehring, Roy Miller, Michael Mitri, Pat Addiss, Louise Beard, Michael Filerman, Mariano Tolentino, Tim Laczynski, Bartner/ Jenkins Entertainment, Angela Milonas and Bradford W. Smith.

“We are thrilled to have the remarkable John Rando on board as director of A Christmas Story, The Musical! and we auditioned hundreds of actors across the country and online for our 2011 tour,” Goehring says.

The Chicago engagement of A Christmas Story, The Musical! is presented by Madstone Productions and Patriot Productions.

-PHILIP POTEMPA

photography courtesy of [this page] DON IPOCK AND KANSAS CITY REP; [opposite page, left to right] MIDWEST HYPE, ACORN THEATER

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Celebrate the holidays at the Acorn Theater There’s often no better way to celebrate the holidays than with a festive production.

And fans of holiday music will want to mark their calendars for Christmas at the Acorn.

The revue will be presented at 8 p.m. on December 17 at the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, Michigan.

“This is our seventh year of Christmas at the Acorn,” says David Fink, co-owner of the popular theater in Michigan’s Harbor Country.

Fink says the holiday show is a nice addition to the Acorn’s roster of productions, which includes pop artists, comedy shows, folk music, opera, various performance CHR ISTM AS AT troupes and more. In fact, the holiday THE ACORN show also features performances by Dec 17, 8pm opera singers.

Acorn Theater 107 Generations Dr “There are classical pieces, funny Three Oaks, Mich. songs, ballads and great music from Tickets $25 around the world in the show,” he says.

269.756.3879 According to Fink, the holiday acorntheater.com production has become a tradition in the area. Audience members can expect many favorite Christmas tunes on the playlist as well as a few comedy pieces and songs that will encourage guests to sing along.

Robert Swan, creator and producer of Christmas at the Acorn, says the production is one of the Acorn’s biggest hits.

“A lot of people see it as the beginning of their Christmas season. It’s definitely given me back my Christmas.”

The holiday show changes a bit every season, Swan says.

They add new songs here and there. Among tunes on the roster are “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” “Silent Night,” a bit of The Messiah, and even “The Grinch Song.”

Theatergoers are also given roasted chestnuts and can purchase special drinks such as buttered rum and mulled wine at the bar.

The theater draws its audiences from around Southwest Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.

Located on Generations Drive in Three Oaks, the theater is about a 70-mile drive from downtown Chicago and about 60 miles from Kalamazoo, Michigan. -ELOISE MARIE VALADEZ

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

Musically, the seven-piece Midwest Hype casts a wide net, incorporating elements of reggae, jazz, hip-hop, funk and rock ’n’ roll into their original works.

And according to drummer Max Kepler, the band’s diverse geography plays a vital role in their sound. “Lake Michigan may not be the Atlantic Ocean or the Pacific Ocean, but it has a lot of the same things and the same vibe that’s offered on those coastlines, and we were able to relate to that beach atmosphere,” he says. “And we also have one of the largest metropolitan atmospheres nearby in Chicago, and that brings in that musical blend also, and you find a combination of that in this locale.”

Formed in 2006, Midwest Hype—Kepler, singer/guitarist George Prellwitz, bassist Nate Miller, keyboardist/trumpet player Kevin Krizmanich, saxophonist Ben Morrissey, trumpet player Scott Whitford and vocal stylist Justin Diehl— first wowed music fans at Ball State University before setting their sights in and beyond the Chicagoland area.

Two years ago, Midwest Hype released their full-length debut, Fresh Colorful Love, an eclectic collection of original material that fuses each of the band members’ diverse influences. The album found favor with fans in and beyond the jam band circuit.

Onstage, the band stretches out their Colorful source material even further.

“There’ll be funk things and hard rock things and space disco things going on that we do for the shows,” Kepler says. “That keeps things interesting for us up there on stage and it also keeps the audience involved.”

This year is shaping up to be a banner year for the band.

In February, they warmed up the masses for the legendary Wailers in Peoria, Illinois, and graced the stage at Chicago’s House of Blues, opening for Sublime tribute ensemble Badfish. “It’s a great place to be a performer and a perfect place to be in the audience,” Kepler says. “House of Blues is my favorite place to see shows in Chicago, so for me, it was a great accomplishment.”

This fall, Midwest Hype followed up Colorful with an EP. Titled Day-Glo, the band recorded the set at Chicago’s Transient Studios on and off over the course of six-plus months.

For Day-Glo, the band was assisted by acclaimed Windy City producer Steve Gillis. “When we cut Colorful Love, we cut all of my tracks in one day and did everything to make that album in a week,” Kepler says. “In this instance, we got some external input from a seasoned professional who really knows his business. Steve’s great.”

For more information on Midwest Hype, please visit midwesthype.com. -TIM SHELLBERG

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Midwest Hype is a Regular on the Local Music Scene

shorelines THIS IS A TRUE STORY BUT THE NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT THE BENEVOLENT.

>> shaw thoughts <<

‘Angels’ In Search of a Better Government

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o my first thought was a complaint from an irate oldster about a perceived failure of government.

But I was pleasantly surprised to find a check inside that implied the sender was supporting our anti-corruption watchdog activities.

And that, the sender wrote, was indeed the case. She explained her husband heard me on the radio discussing our mission and methods in the fight against waste, fraud, corruption and inefficiency, and he apparently liked the message. He also appreciated my years as the ABC 7 political reporter, so he asked the Mrs. to send me a check.

Which she did, and at first glance I assumed it was another $50 donation. Great, I thought—another 999 of those and we’ll hire a new investigator.

But as I examined the numbers more closely a few more zeroes appeared, and the line with the written amount jolted me like an electric shock: $50,000. From people I’d never met.

Some of our BGA staffers thought it was a prank perpetrated by kooks, but our investigators quickly determined that (a) the check was real and (b) our new angels were a wealthy and interesting elderly couple from a rural town 50 miles from Chicago.

So I called to say thank you, and the husband explained that he, like so many other Illinois residents, was fed up with public officials who run government wastefully, inefficiently and dishonestly, treating our tax dollars like it’s their money. He liked my explanation of a BGA that “shines a light on government and holds public officials accountable,” so he decided to step up in a

big way and support the effort to make better government a reality.

He and the Mrs. accepted my offer to drive out and say thank you in person, which I did at the end of the summer. And after I heard their life stories, and thought about their unique contributions to their community and Illinois in general, I decided to write about them.

But they didn’t want me to use their names, because that could subject them to a long line of solicitors, so I’ll call them Bill and Melinda.

They’re 88-year-old liberal Democrats who live in a predominantly Republican collar county. Bill started an electronics firm after World War II that’s grown into a successful family-run worldwide manufacturer of specialty coils. Bill recalls that 40 years ago he hired (Illinois Governor) Pat Quinn as an aide after Quinn left a government job. “His resume says ‘marketing consultant,’” Bill recalls with a smile, “but he was mostly a gofer.” Quinn resigned a year later to attend law school, and the rest is history.

Melinda, who describes herself as a “bleeding heart liberal,” teamed up with a younger friend a few years ago to launch a website dedicated to the proposition that rich people should pay higher taxes, and that’s generated a lot

illustration by DAVID MOSELE

The missive ended up on my desk at the Better Government Association’s Chicago office with the rest of the daily mail, and the halting quality of the lettering on the envelope suggested a slightly diminished fine motor coordination that often bedevils seniors.

of buzz in political circles.

She also wrote an article in a women’s magazine half a century ago suggesting the concept of year-round schooling for young students, which was finally embraced by the reform movement decades later. Chicago now has more than 200 year-round schools, so Melinda was clearly a visionary.

She and Bill live in a country home that’s modest with one spectacular exception—an art collection of portraits of famous historical figures, including artists, scientists, musicians, politicians and inventors.

Many are on loan to galleries, and several hundred decorate the library at a nearby community college. Freud, Michelangelo, Galileo, Van Gogh, Roosevelt, Sitting Bull and Babe Ruth, to name a few. They’re awesome.

Bill and Melinda are also characters who’ve lived long, relatively healthy lives, but still chain-smoke cigarettes. When I ask why, Bill simply says, “We’ve lived this long, so why stop now?” They even have matching ashtrays and lighters on the dining room table.

Bill tells me at the end of my visit that he was originally planning to send a check for $100,000, but when he heard that another wealthy donor had agreed to match every contribution, he decided that fifty was enough because I’d end up with the hundred anyway.

“You mean I left fifty on the table?” I ask incredulously.

“I’m afraid so,” Bill answered mischievously. But the optimist in me says I’ll eventually get it. And I actually feel fortunate to have received anything, because the radio show Bill heard me on was hosted by an ultra-conservative who embraces the Tea Party.

I

didn’t ask Bill why he was listening to that station, but luckily he was. Because that “senior moment” will pay for two more investigators. And now I look for a similar letter in every day’s mail. The scragglier the handwriting, the better. -ANDY SHAW

shorelines >> culture nut <<

Bleeding Cubbie-Blue on Paper

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gden Dunes native Carson Cunningham goes to bat for the Cubbies in his new book. Which may rile his mom.

In the early ‘80s, Susan Cunningham left the kids in the care of Cubs nut-hubby William, their son recalls. Dad tuned into a game. When Mom returned, the tots were riding Big Wheels in the street. Carson was 5.

His mother “took a baseball bat to that television,” says Cunningham, an instructor in DePaul’s history and computing and digital media departments. “We didn’t have a television set in our house again until I was in sixth grade because of the freakin’ Chicago Cubs.”

The Lovable Losers have yet to match Mrs. C.’s slugging record. Their greatest hits lie in the past.

A valentine to bleacher bums, Before the Curse—The Chicago Cubs’ Glory Years 1870-1945 [University of Illinois Press, set to publish in January] revisits the golden era when the White Stockings were near-unbeatable. The future Cubs followed their 1880 pennant with championships in 1881, 1882, 1885 and 1886.

True, the Cubbies fell to the White Sox in the 1906 World Series, agreed Cunningham, 34, author of American Hoops—U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball from Berlin to Beijing. But the North Siders roared back, clinching back-toback championships in 1907 and 1908.

Then the descent into mediocrity began. Despite memorable moments— Babe Ruth’s “called shot” at Wrigley (1932), “The Homer in the Gloamin’” (1938), the Billy Goat Curse (1945)—the Cubs became the doormats of the National League.

Die-hard fan Cunningham and Purdue historian Randy Roberts coauthored the book, sandwiching vintage magazine and newspaper stories with their own essays on the likes of slugger Mike “King” Kelly and the Tinker-Evers-Chance double-play combo to put milestones in context.

Cunningham foresees a second volume to bring the franchise’s history up to date. The perfect ending: Another World Series triumph, “and madness in the streets on the North Side,” says Cunningham, his father’s son. “It’s gotta happen, right?” -MOLLY WOULFE

Musical Journey through Time Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra presents its 70th season The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra will be taking audience members on an eclectic musical journey during its 2011-12 season of concerts. “We’re trying to make music for all tastes,” says orchestra conductor/music director Kirk Muspratt. “We’ve got some Beethoven and even some Glee music.”

The orchestra, which opened its new season September 16 with a gala and “Swing Time” concert starring vocal group Five by Design, is currently celebrating its 70th anniversary.

Symphony concerts will take place at the Auditorium at Bethel Church and Star Plaza Theatre during the 2011-12 season.

UPCOMING SHOWS INCLUDE: • HOLIDAY POPS - 7:30 p.m. December 8 at Star Plaza Theatre, Interstate 65 and U.S. 30, Merrillville. The show will also star the Symphony Chorus, Symphony Brass Quintet and the Protsman Elementary School Youth Group.

• A VALENTINE’S TRADITION - 7:30 p.m. February 10 at the Auditorium at Bethel Church, 10202 Broadway, Crown Point. A pre-concert lecture will begin at 6:30 p.m. The show will also feature Di Wi on piano.

• BEETHOVEN 6 - 7:30 p.m. March 9 at the Auditorium at Bethel Church. A pre-concert lecture will begin at 6:30 p.m. The show will also star soprano Josefien Stoppelenburg, baritone Corey Crider and the Symphony Chorus.

• SOUTH SHORE GLEE! - 7:30 p.m. May 17 at Star Plaza Theatre. Choral groups will be in the spotlight for this show. The concert will feature the Choralteens of Merrillville High School, Wolffgang of Hobart High School, Counterpoint of Lake Central High School, the Wirt-Emerson Concert Choir, the Towle Youth Theater Ensemble and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus.

Tickets for the concerts cost $25 to $65. Student tickets are $10 with a valid student ID. For more information, call 219.836.0525 ext 200 or visit nisorchestra.org. -ELOISE MARIE VALADEZ

THE PERFECT STOCKING STUFFER FOR FOODIES Jennifer Olvera was born and raised in Chicago and writes about food and travel frequently. So it seemed a natural for her to author a guide delving deeply into Chicago foods. But even Olvera, who travels to Spain and Italy regularly to write about food, was stunned at the extent of the city’s comestibles.

“Chicago food was huge,” says Olvera, emphasizing the word “huge” when talking about her latest book, Food Lover’s Guide to Chicago [Globe Pequot Press, 2011], which features hundreds of restaurants, farms, purveyors, farmers’ markets, food fests, ethnic eateries and recipes. “When I started talks with my publisher, I proposed something a bit different than its previously published titles. In a city where there are a lot of guides, I wanted it to stand out and, hopefully, be indispensable. I wanted to write a book both the food-curious and food-wise could learn from or get inspired by.”

But Olvera’s insider knowledge also helped to make this a special guide. Calling it a composite of her career including the

places she’s enjoyed and been excited about, Olvera’s book skews toward hidden and beloved ethnic spots, neighborhood joints and places that speak to the city’s pervasive farm-to-table mentality.

“I cannot stress enough how wonderful the small farms surrounding Chicago are,” says Olvera, noting that the constant eating out taught her to taste rather than consume. “What a lot of people may not realize is some of the finery can be procured from the farms directly. You don’t necessarily have to order an expensive chef’s tasting menu to know what fresh milk, local cheese or heirloom vegetables taste like. Besides, there’s something so rewarding about connecting with your food and the people who produce it. It makes you value food so much more.”

Despite the numerous Chicago food guides out there, Olvera’s book almost immediately shot to being one of the top five U.S. and Midwest travel new releases and in the top 50 cooking, food and wine new releases on Amazon.com since being released.

And for Olvera, her time exploring all the culinary nooks and crannies of the Chicago metro area gave her a new appreciation of her hometown’s food. “I’ve lived in Chicago my whole life. Having traveled a lot, I considered myself fairly ambivalent about it. What I realized is how loyal I am to this place, how maybe it wouldn’t be so easy to follow food elsewhere—at least not for the long haul.

Writing the book reaffirmed how much this is my home, even if the winters blow.” -JANE AMMESON

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>> motoring <<

Santa’s new SUV Land Rover unveils the 2012 Evoque

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Old St. Nick greets 2012 with a radical Santa Utility Vehicle that will turn heads and roll into new owner driveways long after this holiday season has melted away. And like Santa Claus making his rounds, you will arrive—tackling Old Man Winter with the traction of full-time all-wheel drive and plenty of room to haul people, packages and parcels in the all-new 2012 Land Rover Evoque.

Evoque’s journey began as the sleek Land Rover LRX Concept that bowed at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. Sculptured from the top down, the 2012 Evoque is a direct knock-off of the studio design with a two-door coupe body style. A four-door version debuts for the 2012 production run. Both models feature a rear hatch that opens to the cargo bay. Land Rover insiders call it a “door.” It’s a lid.

Land Rover Evoque profiles a steep tapered roofline, giving the illusion that second row seating is best suited for elf-size occupants.

Not so. Adult passengers can comfortably be taken along for the ride in the Evoque coupe with genuine headroom that accommodates a pair of six-foot occupants placed in stylized bucket seats. Need room for one more?

Land Rover Evoque four-door seats five people with a back seat that is belted for three grownups.

I parked my six-foot frame in the rear seat of both models while on a sun-filled road trip from Vancouver to Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, this fall.

Headroom in both models is extraordinary with no sacrifice to legroom or having to ride with my knees at eye level. Land Rover engineers designed the rear seat low in the floor pan to create the extra headroom. The concept functions beautifully.

Bringing the beauty of the Canadian wilderness into the cabin is made possible with an oversized one-piece glass skylight that clearly covers the front and back seats. The

panoramic roof is the largest in the industry and the closest thing to dropping the top of a convertible to view the grandeur of the great outdoors.

On the business end, Evoque harbors a European-built 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that delivers a spirited 240 horsepower coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy of 28 miles per gallon is easily attained on the open road. So is 19 mpg around town.

My three-day jaunt across the Pacific Northwest was guided by Land Rover’s team of professional driving instructors. These guys are the best in the business, each one with years of off-road experience that has taken them to some of the world’s most inhospitable places—where bugs bite big and nasty parasites hitch along for the ride.

My driving experience in the 2012 Land Rover Evoque was far less hostile as the Land Rover driving pros ushered a group of North American auto journalists over the steep terrain and rutted trails of the Blackcomb Mountains that surround the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, BC., to showcase Evoque’s all-wheel drive prowess.

Unlike its Land Rover brethren, Evoque does not have a low-range to accommodate off-road rock-crawling or heavy backwoods maneuvers.

However, it does possess the same mud, snow, sand and rut drivetrain components that will take an active family over hill and dale in style, and with the same comfort and rugged elegance as Evoque’s hard-core off-road siblings.

The 2012 Land Rover Evoque isn’t built for the timid. Owners can expect delays in their daily routine as passersby ask about the vehicle.

“What kind of car is that?” and “It doesn’t look like a Land Rover” are typical comments.

But with that comes a point. Land Rover is not a typical SUV. It is not a brand punched out in cookie-cutter fashion built for the masses. Land Rover is special. So is the 2012 Land Rover Evoque, priced at $43,145. -JIM JACKSON

photography courtesy of [this page] LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA LLC, [opposite page] JIM JACKSON

The contemporary interior of the Land Rover Evoque seats up to five passengers.

OPENING NEW

INNOVATION Nissan pioneers a new auto industry segment with the debut of the CrossCabriolet. • To do so, the Japanese automaker drops the top and two rear doors of their popular Murano crossover to build the first production vehicle that blends a convertible body style with the all-wheel drive capability of a sport utility vehicle.

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The Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet carries four passengers and rides on 20-inch wheels for an easy step-in height.

Front seats are wide with a supple softness that provides the driver and front passenger a comfy chair-like feel. Door panels and armrests are luxuriously soft, trimmed with wood accents.

Back seat occupants are treated to an automated seat system that motors the front seats and back cushions forward in unison with the push of a button located on the front seat backs to create a large access aisle to the rear quarters.

Back seats are equally plush with generous hip and legroom for two adult riders.

The CrossCabriolet also offers spacious headroom and an open-air feeling when the top is up with a fixed glass transom over the back seat for sun-filled upward visibility.

Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that delivers a spirited 265 horsepower teamed with a continuously variable (automatic) transmission.

Fuel economy of 17 miles per gallon around town and 22 mpg on the highway is routinely achieved.

Standard features include leather upholstery, heated front seats, voice-activated navigation, a premium Bose audio system, high-intensity headlamps and rearview camera.

Buyers may choose upgraded cashmere colored seat appointments with a beige soft top for an extra $500. Black seats and top are standard.

The Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is innovation without limits for a cost of $47,700 including freight. -JIM JACKSON

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Ruth’s Chris Steak House

ArtPrize

>> the good life <<

LIVING THE LIFE IN GRAND RAPIDS

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owntown Grand Rapids’ New Year’s Eve celebration started the year off with spectacular ball-drop festivities, outdoor concerts and parties at the three major hotels, filling their rooms to capacity. Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids introduced the highly successful Laughfest in the spring that lured Betty White, Margaret Cho and Bill Cosby to the ten-day “laugh” festival. The summer kept the city abuzz with citywide festivals, outdoor concerts in Rosa Parks Circle, and annual events such as the Founders Beer Fest and the City Lights Music Festival.

The Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts finally moved to its new home on the corner of Fulton and Division, the geographic center of the city. This labor of love from the arts community is a tribute to Michigan’s largest contemporary arts CityFlats Hotel center. A theater, artist studios, a rooftop sculpture terrace (opening in 2012) and 4,000-square-foot gallery space scattered throughout the building occupy this wonderful downtown addition.

The calendar year in Grand Rapids might as well start in September, as ArtPrize continues to be the most impactful event that is driving the city’s lifestyle engine. Forget the fact that planning an art festival with 2,000 artists from around the globe takes a year-long effort, but it seems that all new restaurant openings revolve around the beginning of ArtPrize.

Such is the case with the opening of the much-anticipated Ruth’s Chris Steak House in the former home of the celebrated 1913 Room inside the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. It seemed sacrilegious to close a restaurant institution in the city, but the moment I stepped into the modern and ultra-plush surroundings of the Ruth’s Chris in September, the hotel’s justification for a new restaurant became very evident. The days of formal dining and jacket-and-tie requirements are gone. The general public’s definition of a luxurious dining experience is less focused on the attire, bringing the actual atmosphere, food and service to the forefront. The price at Ruth’s Chris doesn’t change whether you are in shorts after a round of golf or decked out in a tuxedo.

photography by GEORGE AQUINO

Life in Grand Rapids is on the upswing. Despite the economic woes felt all over Michigan, there is an energy constantly buzzing in Gerald Ford’s hometown. The city’s Van Andel Arena has been named the Top Venue in 2011 by publications such as Billboard and Pollstar, and the arena’s lineup this past year—which included Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift—reflects that accomplishment. The city’s Medical Mile district has recently completed such dynamic projects as the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, the Michigan State University Secchia Medical School, and the second phase expansion of the Van Andel Institute.

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Wendell Gooch of Gooch Design in Chicago deserves the credit for creating a space that is warm, yet steakhousestylish. The black, red and white theme in the banquettes and beautiful leather chairs evoke a clubhouse atmosphere.

But what truly impressed me as I wandered through the space is how Gooch designed an entire dining room that doesn’t have a bad seating area. In fact, the table closest to the kitchen enclave, normally the worst table, is one of the most desirable tables, given that a floor-to-ceiling wine wall borders it. I have no doubt that the Ruth’s Chris Steak House will be around for quite some time.

Down the street from the Amway Grand is the new ecofriendly, 28-room CityFlats Hotel and its casual eatery CitySen Lounge. The CityFlats Hotel Grand Rapids is the smaller scale version of the Holland, Michigan-based Charter House Innovation’s flagship downtown hotel. I congratulate the owners for putting a stake down right smack in the middle of Grand Rapids with this European-inspired hotel. CityFlats is quite inviting from Monroe Mall and it definitely adds some much needed vibrancy in this area of GR. The guest rooms at CityFlats are modern and minimalist in every sense of the word. The beds have floor lighting to add to the mystique of the place, and barn doors open up to the bathrooms with sleek showers and vanities. The lounge offers small plates for lunch and dinner, and its convivial atmosphere makes a wonderful hangout for late-night cocktails with friends.

Autumn is black-tie and cocktail season for Grand Rapids.

Amway Grand Plaza Hotel celebrated its 30th anniversary with a gala to benefit the Heart of West Michigan United Way’s Schools of Hope program. Both major hotels downtown, the JW Marriott and Amway Grand Plaza, have a lock on the best social media events with the quarterly Salsa Pachanga party at the JW, the Cristal and Veuve Clicquot party at Cygnus 27, and the ever-popular Dead-U-Tante Ball at the JW for Halloween.

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he Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital was the beneficiary of the Frank’s Knockout Fitness’ Celebrity Boxing event in November at the JW. This second annual event put local celebrities in the ring to help raise funds for children diagnosed with cancer.

Before we know it, New Year’s Eve has returned and the city is once again bracing for another epic year. Not bad for Grand Rapids. Not bad at all. -GEORGE AQUINO

3158 S. St. Rd. 2 Valparaiso, IN 866-761-3753

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ArtPrize

shorelines >> where to go <<

O Tannenbaum!

Cut your own. Create a memory.

F

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ortunately, a number of local tree farms offer sustainable John Hensler options for families seeking a choose-and-cut experience.

One of the largest in the Midwest is Hensler Nursery, located in the tiny Indiana town of Hamlet (population 783), 22 miles southeast of Michigan City.

Hensler’s is a 300-acre Christmas tree farm that offers much more than trees. Ride out to the fields atop a wagon led by Sunny and Belle, two beautiful Belgian horses, and choose a tree from the acres of Scotch pine, white pine, Fraser fir, concolor fir, Douglas fir or blue spruce. Hensler’s supplies the saws and carts for toting your find back to the wagon before they shake and bale it for you.

But the tree is just part of the Hensler’s experience. Shop for greenery and decorations like vintage kissing balls inside their bright red barn while a toy train circles the room overhead. Bring your camera to take a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Kids can climb aboard a wooden train. Share a Christmas carol, cocoa and yummies in the Eats barn. Families drive from hours away for the experience and even tailgate in Hensler’s parking lot (if you call ahead, they’ll prepare a fire pit for you). Kids also enjoy Hensler’s live animals, including pheasants, a donkey, a goat, guinea fowl, a peacock and a turkey named Douglas Fir. “We work hard to create a family atmosphere so that people can come and spend an hour or spend the day,” says owner John Hensler. “We like welcoming families and have some who’ve come back every year for 20 years to tailgate here.

“We’re not a box store and we like to have informed employees,” says Hensler, a former officer of the National Christmas Tree Farmers Association, who lives just a mile from the farm.

Today’s Christmas tree buyer is different than years ago, according to another grower, Bill Salisbury of Salisbury Pines in Hanna. “Scotch pine was the number one tree for years.

Now it’s all fir,” he says. Size is another change as more buyers have larger rooms with cathedral ceilings to showcase a tree. “Years ago, no one wanted a 10-foot tree. Now we sell quite a few of them,” he says.

Christmas tree farmers plant new seedlings each year, making real trees a renewable, recyclable resource, planted and harvested by hand. When choosing your own tree, remember to cut as close to the ground as possible. Check out local growers and be sure to call ahead for hours of operation and availability of more shore that special tree. -KIM RANEGAR Find a list of the area’s Christmas tree farms at visitshoremagazine.com

photography by TONY V. MARTIN

Ahh, that fantasy Christmas. The holiday picture revolves around the tree, glowing with lights, decorated with treasured ornaments, smelling of pine and candy canes.

For purists, the centerpiece of this holiday celebration can’t be a tree chosen from a big-box parking lot or a forever-green plastic tree tagged “Made in China.”

Instead, buying a tree from a nearby Christmas tree farm means a smaller carbon footprint . . . and a bigger memory.

When it comes to even baking, oddly there’s no competition.

®Registered trademark/ TM Trademark/the shape of the stand mixer is a registered trademark of KitchenAid, U.S.A. ©2011. All rights reserved. *Among conventional double oven ranges with 14.5 kWh or lower rating and among conventional gas double oven configurations.

We love everything about the kitchen. That’s why we make everything for it. Like our new Double Oven Range that gives you the most baking across all racks.* Our Even-Heat™ True Convection System spreads heat precisely throughout the entire oven—for batch after perfect batch of your famous chocolate chip cookies.

Nobody knows the kitchen like KitchenAid.

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219-865-0555

M. & Th. 8:30am-8pm • T. W. F. 8:30am-6pm Sa. 8:30am-5pm • Closed Su.

www.maruszczak.com

When it comes to even baking, oddly there’s no competition.

We love everything about the kitchen. That’s why we make everything for it. Like our new Double Oven Range that gives you the most even baking across all racks.* Our Even-Heat™ True Convection System spreads heat precisely throughout the entire oven—for batch after perfect batch of your famous chocolate chip cookies. Nobody knows the kitchen like KitchenAid.

Find it at:

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Shore Magazine and the Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council are hosting a

MODEL Casting CaLL SAturdAyS DeCeMBer 17, 2011 AND JANuAry 14, 2012 • 1:00 P.M. To 4:00 P.M. (eST)

Models must be ready to walk the runway during the Fashion on the Shore event, a competition and showcase for emerging fashion designers to be held at the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center, 601 Main Street, St. Joseph on Saturday, May 26, 2012.

The event is scheduled for the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend during 2012 73rd Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

We are looking for female models a minimum of 5'7" tall, slim build. Prefer sizes 0 – 6. Please come with hair pulled back from face, simple makeup, form-fitting casual clothes (jeans and tee are fine) and heels.

Selected models will be modeling one-of-a-kind new clothes designed by senior fashion design students from art and design schools in Chicago, Northwest Indiana and Southwestern Michigan. Aspiring models must be available all day on May 26th, 2012, for hair and makeup styling, rehearsals, and show. Transportation of models will be provided the day of the event.

Though there is no compensation for models in this show, this is an excellent opportunity for exposure in Shore magazine, as well as other media outlets. There will be extensive coverage of the event and the clothes throughout 2012 and in Shore’s annual Fall Fashion issue next year.

The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center is located at 601 Main Street in St. Joseph, Michigan. www.theheritagemcc.org, 269-983-1191.

Please contact LaVeta Hughes at 219.933.3353 (LaVeta.Hughes@nwi.com) or Dani Lane, 269.449.8686 (danilane@comcast.net) for more information.

shorelines

Karen Maravilla and Raymundo Garcia are looking to recycle, re-purpose and rebuild downtown Hammond.

>> green notes <<

Making treasure out of trash 0 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 3

A couple breathes new life into downtown Hammond

photography by TONY V. MARTIN

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o many in the community, Raymundo Garcia is known for the authentic Mexican food served at his El Taco Real restaurant in Hammond.

But he’s also a sociologist, environmentalist, entrepreneur and visionary for bringing life back to the city’s old downtown business district. “If there is a broken window in a neighborhood, another broken window will be likely, and if you fix it, another will be less likely,” Garcia says. “I applied that to the Taco.”

He noticed that some gangs were moving into the neighborhood surrounding the restaurant and were tagging some properties with graffiti. So, he bought buckets of paint in every color he could find and took it upon himself to paint over it.

“I didn’t want people to come to the Taco and think they were in a bad neighborhood, so I started buying up houses,” Garcia says. Garcia then bought an abandoned building—the former Jupiter store building on Hohman Avenue in downtown Hammond—as his first project.

He did much of the rehab work himself, including restoring the The former F.W. Woolworth original terrazzo flooring and store building is another ornate wooden door jambs. renovation project for The building now houses two Garcia. nonprofit agencies, including the Downtown Hammond Council.

His partner of 16 years in life and business, Karen Maravilla, serves as president and Garcia is a board member.

The pair then found a former Dolly Madison outlet store at Hohman Avenue and Williams Street for sale. “This place here was so crappy,” Garcia says. “Your everyday entrepreneur comes into this place and says, ‘This is a disaster. It’s not marketable.

Tear it down.’

“But you have to have the vision to see what it can be,” Maravilla says. “...When most people come in, they say, ‘What was here before?’ Many people think we’ve been here forever.”

Maravilla found the wooden cabinets used to display much of the merchandise at an antique store in downtown Whiting when it was going out of business. “Lucky for us, Ray had the wherewithal and the time to do something with them,” she says.

He restored them and built matching bases and moldings.

The doorway to the store came from the historic George Washington Irving School on Pine Street in Hammond when it was being demolished. He asked the contractors if he could remove the door jambs and they agreed, saying it was headed to the landfill. The wood was the original from when the school was built in the late 1800s. He left the room number on the glass above the door—332—as a reminder of its origins. Other windows in the entryway came from an 1890s-era home he

purchased near the restaurant.

Garcia then purchased the former F. W. Woolworth store building on Hohman Avenue and is working to renovate it.

He plans to open a restaurant in the building. “A regular construction guy would tear a wall down and throw it away,” he says. “I’m too cheap to do that. I pay my guys to clean the wood and stack it up.”

He’s used some of it to make compost bins for the lot next to the Jupiter building, where he houses the bees he keeps for making honey, IT’S JUST SERENDIPITY which is sold at Maravilla’s 5630 Hohman Ave store. He plans to create an Hammond, Ind. inner city garden there to grow 219.932.6128 Thu-Fri 10am-6pm vegetables and herbs for use in Sat 10am-4pm the new restaurant.

Closed Sun-Wed “What we’ve done is taken itsjustserendipity.com away 100 years of occupancy and stripped it to the bare EL TACO REAL walls,” he says. “I’ve sold just 935 Hoffman St over $3,000 in copper wire Hammond, Ind. from the building. We sold 219.932.8333 six or seven tons of steel for Tue-Thu 11am-10pm Fri-Sat 11am-11pm scrap.”

Sun 11am-9pm The couple think that people Closed Mon need to change their eltacorealrestaurant.com perceptions about the city’s formerly thriving downtown district. “People always say the downtown is never going to be what it was,” Garcia says.

“But it could be something different and just as great,” Maravilla agrees.

IF YOU GO

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aren Maravilla used to hate treasure hunting as a kid. “My grandmother and my mother were laughing that as a child, I would hide in the car at the garage sales they would drag me to and say, ‘Oh no, my friends might see me,’ and now I’m the first one out the door,” Maravilla says.

Now, the Hammond woman has turned her love of vintage items into a thriving business in the city’s downtown district.

Her shop, It’s Just Serendipity, celebrated its second anniversary in September and features antiques, items purchased at estate sales, consignments, locally produced gourmet foods and works by local artisans. “It was very important to me that we highlight local artists who like to take trash and turn it into treasure,” Maravilla explains.

The store is divided into sections, including holiday, architectural, vintage clothing, kitchen, children, toys and others. “It’s a collection of our favorite things,” Maravilla says.

“A lot of people go online [for collectibles] because they think they are getting a good price, but they’re hurting the community. When you spend online, zero dollars go into the community.” -LAURI HARVEY KEAGLE

Register for our New Shore Food & Wine eNewsletter

bite & SIP

at nwi.com/shorepromo and you are entered to win a

185 Mount Tabor Road. Buchanan, MI

shorelines Six traditionbuilding tips to restore harmony: TEST A RECIPE. Every weekend, for six weeks, choose a recipe—say, for apple pie—and make it together.

Every member of the family votes on each result, awarding points on a scale of 1 to 10. The winner becomes the family standard. Thompson’s family, which swears by a recipe in Jeanne Besser’s First Book of Baking, embarked on a second cook-off “when we found rice pudding we liked, and the restaurant wouldn’t give us the recipe,” the writer says.

The Big Chill Surviving the not-so-great indoors

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ennifer Trainer Thompson’s no stranger to cabin fever. As a girl, she weathered frigid winters in Indianapolis. As an adult, she braces for record snowfalls in the mountains of western Massachusetts. “I regularly shovel twelve inches of snow off my roof at least twice a year,” says the New England chef, a married mother of two. “The kids generally have five to seven snow days.”

Not that warm weather’s a picnic. The three-time James Beard nominee summers with her family in a cottage off Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, north of Cape Cod. Cabin fever spikes on rainy days, too.

She can tell when full-blown claustrophobia is poised to erupt. “We all start to crab at each other,” says Thompson, 54. “You get lethargic. The kids say they’re bored.”

Jennifer It’s hard to pinpoint if cabin fever is a genuine malady or Trainer a temporary case of the blahs. Yet the symptoms are real: Thompson irritability, mental fogginess, even paranoia. Stephen King’s 1977 novel The Shining and the 1980 film adaptation exploit the phenomenon with macabre glee. Talk about a worst-case scenario when a family is trapped in a confined space.

Heeeere’s Johnny . . . and he’s swinging an ax!

Now, now. There’s no need to climb the walls (or sharpen a hatchet) as gray skies begloom the lakefront from Chicago to Michigan. Staving off cabin fever requires just a little foresight and a pinch of creativity.

By virtue of necessity, Thompson, whose forte is cookbooks, is an ace at putting the freeze on griping and complaints. She nips whining in the bud by nurturing new family traditions. These rites, she points out, serve as antidotes to boredom while forming bonds and memories that define our lives.

“You’re imparting values with traditions,” says Thompson, author of The Joy of Family Traditions [Celestial Arts], a season-by-season guide to celebrations for events big and small. “You’re teaching them that family matters, culture matters, history matters or religion matters . . . They are a direct way for us to influence our children in a positive way.” -MOLLY WOULFE

STOCK THE PANTRY FOR A BIG STORM. When a blizzard rolls in, mark the occasion by making chocolate chip cookies. Buy the chips, vanilla, etc. well in advance so they’re on hand, Thompson says. Make them together, or send the kids out to play after breakfast while you savor the peace and quiet. She plays it by ear, but makes a point of shooing the kids outside “by 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. or they get sluggish,” she says.

STOCK UP ON STAMPS AND STATIONERY. Declare it’s letterwriting time. Everyone has to write to a favorite relative, telling them why they’re special.

TAKE UP A WINTER HOBBY OR SPORT. Thompson and her husband took up cross-country skiing, which gives them quality couple time.

DO A GOOD DEED TOGETHER. When the snow flies, Thompson urges, send the kids over to ask if older neighbors need help. They can offer to shovel their walk, bring in their mail, or deliver cookies, “little things that make an elderly person’s life a little easier,” she says. “I think that’s important, to share.” The tradition and the cookies.

photo [bottom] by JASON HOUSTON; [opposite page] CATHI LLOYD

>> health club <<

MOONWALK. Bundle up everyone for a nocturnal stroll during every full moon. It’s good exercise and an ice-breaker, a chance to talk about astronomy, the space program, nature, even mythology. “Once your eyes adjust, you notice how bright the moon is,” Thompson says. “You open your eyes up to seeing really amazing things. It’s very different, walking on a crisp October night than walking in the stillness of January on a white carpet of snow.”

Deck the Halls Planning ahead makes holiday decorating a breeze

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reating a house that wows can be difficult at any time, but triple that during the holidays when there’s so much to do. But Cathi Lloyd of Decorating Den Interiors in Northwest Indiana, an international franchised in-home design consultant business, gets it all under control by beginning well before holiday crunch time.

“I bake Christmas cookies and freeze them until December and take my Christmas card picture before Thanksgiving or as soon as I can get my adult children at home together,” she says. “That frees up time in December for decorating and entertaining. This is also the time to start your gift list, including all that you need to buy for in the coming months and updating sizing for children if you will be purchasing holiday outfits or clothing.”

Lloyd, who sounds like a Type AAA when it comes to organization, also decides several months early what type of entertaining she’ll be doing and marks it on her calendar. “I ask questions like how many people will there be, what type of food will be served, will I prepare it all or will others help or will it be catered, do I need extra chairs, linens, etc.,” she says. “I have several small three-foot tabletop trees that I store with all the decorations in place. I just take them out of the closets and place them and plug them in and let the holidays begin.”

Stephanie Grill, co-owner of Harbor Town Interiors in historic downtown St. Joseph, also believes an early start helps keep you sane during the hectic holidays. “It’s really important to start sprucing up your home well ahead of the holidays by adding or replacing items,” she says. “But never settle on something because it’s available now.

Holiday décor isn’t just about the visuals. Cathi Lloyd makes an Aroma Punch each year that she simmers on her stovetop or puts in a small slow cooker. The punch provides that special aroma that means the holidays are here.

AROMA PUNCH Peel from 1 orange // Peel from 1 lemon // 3 cinnamon sticks // 2 tablespoons whole cloves // 2 cups water Directions: Place in a small sauce pan the orange and lemon peels, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. Pour 2 cups water over the fruit peels and spices, bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Check pan from time to time to make sure the water does not boil away.

As the steam leaves the pan, you will find your house filled with a delicious fragrance.

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

THE NOSE KNOWS

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>> haute properties <<

Unless it’s truly the right piece for your home.”

For those with limited time or budget, Grill recommends focusing and decorating just one room—the one where family and friends will be spending most of their time. “That’s usually the living room or dining room,” she says, noting that the look of a room can be updated and made to look more in season with the simple addition of new pillows, rugs, artwork or a throw.

Changing the colors of lampshades from white or ivory to warm gold tones that add a fall and harvest color to a room is another way of making small but subtle changes, Lloyd says.

“Candlestick lamps can add a festive touch with red shades and a tassel and a bit of holly or evergreen placed at the base,” she says. “So can changing pillows and rugs for a seasonal update. Wrap toss pillows with beautifully colored holiday ribbon like a present under the tree.”

Think beyond red and green for holiday colors, says Grill, who recommends choosing favorite colors that are also comfortable.

“If traditional red and green clash with your decorating scheme, then consider decorating in gold and/or silver for an elegant look that will enhance any color scheme,” Lloyd says.

“However, there are fantastic decorations in teal, hot pink, lime green, copper—all sorts of color. You can personalize your holiday decorating to your home and your family.”

Another key is to wow before they even enter the house. “The first impression begins outside at the front door,” Lloyd says. “So why not consider dressing up your front door with a beautiful holiday wreath? From a natural evergreen wreath to one featuring beautiful dried flowers mixed with silk greenery, a wreath will definitely help you set the stage for holiday decorating.”

Lloyd believes that the foyer also deserves special attention. “The front hall must be welcoming with good lighting and perhaps a holiday arrangement on the hall table,” she says. “Mirrors and candlelight will brighten a foyer nicely, and a rich oriental rug can add a luxurious touch. Perhaps this is the year to consider an elegant wall covering in your entryway. Holidays are the time of year to display your most elaborate accessories in all their glitzy glory.” -JANE AMMESON

NISO GALA, MERRILLVILLE • CHICAGO LOOP ALLIANCE ANNUAL GALA, CHICAGO • CENTER FOR HISTORY ANNUAL DINNER, SOUTH BEND • A BARBEQUE UNLIKE ANY OTHER, THREE OAKS • ST. JOSEPH WINE FESTIVAL, ST. JOSEPH • UMBRELLAS OF HARBERT, HARBERT • WHAT’S UP DOWN THERE?, VALPARAISO 1

attributing sounds NISO gala merrillville

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photography by tony v. martin

Three hundred guests ate, drank and socialized before enjoying a concert featuring Five By Design, who joined the orchestra for a toe-tapping Big Band show, commemorating the orchestra’s 70th birthday. With support of a raffle and silent auction, the gala raised $48,000 to benefit the symphony’s music and education programs.

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1 Jeff and Betsy McCabe of Schererville 2 Kirk Muspratt and Nancy Menk of South Bend 3 Maggie and Tom Walters of Valparaiso 4 Eddie Melton with Verlie and Mike Suggs of Merrillville

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5 Heather McCarthy of Miller Beach and David Smith of Hobart 6 Gale Crabtree, Sandy Morrow, Joe Morrow, Rachel Morrow and Chris Morrow of Schererville 7 Cindy and Gary Ault of Schererville 8 Vicky Klein of Crown Point, Ralph and Melissa Neff of Valparaiso, and Maureen Luongo of Valparaiso

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9 Donna and Bruce Quint of Valparaiso

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make a difference chicago loop alliance gala | chicago

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photography by tony v. martin

1 Jake Meilach and Jenna Bruce of Chicago 2 Ken and Bridgette Battle of Chicago

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3 Stephanie McDonald, Jeremy Parks, Jewel Ritchie, Tony Micheletti and Michael Calogero 4 Ben and Jessie Kochalski of Chicago 5 Kristen Cote-Favaro and Nora Gainer of Chicago

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6 Silvana and Tony Di Biase of Chicago 7 Kathy and Bruce Webster of Park Ridge

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Over 460 guests attended this annual gala at The Art Institute of Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Modern Wing. The evening included a reception and cocktails, followed by dinner and dessert. Guests danced to music provided by the Bill Pollack Orchestra. The event grossed $188,300 to benefit the Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation.

building a future

center for history dinner | south bend photography by tony v. martin

1 Bob and Jan Hoenk with Tina and Andy Nickle, all from South Bend

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2 Lorraine and Todd Bruce of Granger 3 Holly Patterson and Blair Wozny of South Bend with Meredith and Jeff Guyton of Granger

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4 Mary and Tim Baker with Susan Miller, all from South Bend 5 Doug Osthimer and Susan Devetski of South Bend

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6 Chris and Jackie Rucker of South Bend 7 Bob and Vicki Toothaker of South Bend

Nearly 500 guests attended this annual dinner in the Historic Oliver Gardens of Copshaholm.

Dynamic performances were given by the Chamber Brass, the New Image Quartet and the University of Notre Dame Glee Club. This event raises funds to promote the Center for Historyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exhibits and programs.

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grilling for a cause

a toast to you!

photography by gregg rizzo

photography by gregg rizzo

a barbeque unlike any other | three oaks

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While supporting Common Threads’ initiatives, approximately 100 gathered at Burscott Park to enjoy cuisine created by five chefs from Chicago: Jessie Oloroso of Black Dog Gelato, Patrick Sheerin of the Signature Room, Ryan Poli of Mercadito, David Blonsky of Public House, and Scott Walton of Markethouse.

Classical guitarist Jonathon Roth provided music, and a live auction helped to raise over $28,000.

st. joseph wine festival | st. joseph

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More than 300 attendees enjoyed music and food during this festival at the Silver Beach Shadowland Pavilion.

Participating wineries included Tabor Hill Winery and Chateau Chantal Grand Traverse. The Pump House and Cassava Latin Cuisine provided tapas. Music was provided by Charlene Jones Clark and Friends including Marcus Robinson, who opened for the Big Payback from Madison, Wisconsin.

1 Gaylin and Tim Winter of St. Joseph

1 Alvan and Hollis Turner of Sawyer

2 Angelique Peterson of Baroda with Sue Rue of St. Joseph

2 Allen Gustin, Linda O’Keefe and Bryan Anderson, all of Chicago

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3 Caley Larue, Teri Maki and Freeman Braaswell, all of Chicago

3 Steve Watkins of Baroda and Rhonda Kuntz of St. Joseph

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4 Mary Pat O’Connor of New Buffalo, B.G. Wetterau of Michiana and Suzanne Frazier of New Buffalo

4 Lorraine Hanley, Claudia Hanley and Margie Mangan, all of St. Joseph 5 Corinne and Mike McGue of Lake Villa, Ill.

5 Erin Rosengrant, April Wiencek and Diana Heck, all of Chicago

6 Pat Gray of St. Joseph with Sherry Noble of Berrien Springs

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distinctive designs

international delights

photography by gregg rizzo

photography by krista taylor

umbrellas of harbert | harbert

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2 Randy and Krista Taylor of Valparaiso

2 Rich and Eileen Kochany of Harbert

3 Dianne Kwiatkowski of Valparaiso, Linda Hazen of Ogden Dunes and Charlotte Sorci of St. Joseph

3 Hiram and Gail Gutierrez of Chicago

5 Theresa Rahn with Todd Dockerty, both of St. Joseph

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1 Michael Palmer of Indianapolis

1 Charlie Moore and Nancy Watson of Harbert

4 Donna Messinger of New Buffalo, Judy Sapit of Glen Ellyn and Joyce Greening of River Forest, Ill.

Fifty-two guests attended this annual event at Bistro 157, which to helped to raise several thousand dollars for South Shore Orchestra’s programs.

The wine tasting and silent auction featured wine and specialty items from local and international vendors.

Guests indulged in creations

by Chef Nicole Bissonnette while listening to the sounds of Florence Long and Jen Zeigner.

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4 Doug Miller, Amy Beckman, and Stacey and Chris Ballog of Valparaiso, with Randy and Karen Williams of Chesterton

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5 George Tamalunas, Pete Brannen and Joe Manna, all from Valparaiso

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Approximately 175 guests enjoyed music, wine and light hors d’oeuvres while closely viewing original hand-painted umbrellas. Throughout the evening guests had the opportunity to bid on their favorite umbrellas while being entertained by the Gina McLaughlin Trio. With the help of a matching Pokagon Fund Grant, $12,000 was awarded to the charity “Help 4 Southwest Michigan.”

what’s up down there? | valparaiso

essential events HAPPENINGS 38

EXHIBITIONS 40

FILM 40

PERFORMANCE 40

Nov 22-Jan 8 CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 1000 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids.

616.957.1580. meijergardens.org This annual celebration brings the glow of 300,000 lights, strolling carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides, and more than 40 international trees and displays. A new feature this year is the redesign of the Diwali display honoring the Hindu Festival of Lights, along with the enhancement of Nativity displays including the new-to-the-exhibition Polish szopka.

CALENDAR COMPILED

BY LAVETA HUGHES

happenings Indiana

Dec 17 Yuletide Open House, 11am-1pm, 310 E Commercial Ave, Lowell. 219.696.6487. shoplowellindiana.com. Frosty the Snowman will be appearing along the sidewalks of the Historic Downtown Shopping and Dining District passing out candy canes. Other festivities include sidewalk Christmas music, store sales, restaurant specials and complimentary refreshments.

Dec 2 Holiday Art Walk, 11am-5pm, downtown South Bend. 574.233.8400. circaartsgallery.com.

Visitors can immerse themselves in a creative urban shopping experience as they explore nine galleries on the Colfax Avenue and Lincoln Way West Arts corridors.

Jan 7 First Fridays Downtown, 5-9pm first Fri, downtown South Bend. dtsbfirstfridays.com. On the first Friday of every month, downtown South Bend businesses open their doors to host entertaining events such as live musical performances; special one night promotions/coupons/sales; demonstrations/ classes; activities for kids, adults and families; artist receptions; and refreshments, food and wine tasting.

Nov 25-26 Christmas Walk Across the Town of Lowell, 10am-5pm, 310 E Commercial Ave, Lowell.

219.696.2389. shoplowellindiana.com. This event features Christmas Walk Shops, door prizes and a new, special holiday decoration.

Dec 2 Holly Days, 5-7pm, downtown Valparaiso.

219.464.8332. valparaisoevents.com. Valparaiso kicks off its holiday season with this free family event, which offers caroling, a live nativity scene, hot refreshments, train rides, holiday shopping and Santa riding into town on a fire truck.

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Dec 3 Festival of Lights Parade & Chili Cook Off, 3:30-6pm, Washington Park, 115 Lake Shore Dr, Michigan City. 219.873.1510. emichigancity. com. Bundle up and pick the perfect spot along Parker Parkway to watch parade participants bustle along their merry way. Santa kicks off the parade in the main parking lot promptly at 3:30pm and leads parade marchers, floats and some very special VIPs past the Senior Center and into Fedders Alley.

Dec 3 Holiday Parade, 10am, Gavit High School, 1670 175th St, Hammond. 219.853.6378. gohammond.com. Mayor Thomas M. McDermott Jr. and the Hammond Holiday Parade Committee sponsor this festive parade. It starts at Gavit High School, heads east to Indianapolis Blvd, turns north, and ends at 169th Street. Highlights this year include the New Generation Fancy Drill Team from Chicago, Those Funny Little People, and area high school marching bands.

Jan 21 9th Annual Gardening Show, 8am-4pm, Porter County Exposition Center, IN-49 at Division Rd, Valparaiso. 219.465.3555. pcgarden.info/ gardening_show. Winner of the 2009 Festival of the Year Award, this event features presentations by national, regional and local gardening experts, special lodging and dining packages, a seed and bulb exchange, garden photography contest, a children’s corner and food service, as well as 100 exhibitors and vendors of products and services for and about gardens and gardening.

Michigan

Through Dec 11 Mistletoe Market, 10am-4pm Mon-Fri, 1-4pm Sat-Sun, South Haven Center for the Arts, 600 Phoenix St, South Haven. 269.637.1041. southhaven.org. This annual Christmas Boutique will have over 40 participating local artists on exhibit. All arts and crafts will be for sale, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Art Center.

Nov 25-Dec 3 Festival of Trees, City Hall, 539 Phoenix St, South Haven. 269.637.4342. southhaven.org. Many beautiful trees and wreaths

will be displayed and auctioned off at South Haven’s City Hall in time to celebrate the holidays.

Nov 25-Dec 11 Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, various times, Civic Auditorium, 329 S Park St, Kalamazoo. 269.343.1313. southhaven.org. This Kalamazoo Civic Theatre musical story is about two WWII army buddies trying to make it in show business.

Dec 3 Nouveau Fest, 1-5pm, Fenn Valley Winery, 6130 122nd Ave, Fennville. 269.561.2396. southhaven.org. This event provides an opportunity to taste the first wines from the fall’s vintage, featuring Nouveau wines, hors d’oeuvres, cellar tasting/tours and plenty of space to visit with friends and relatives.

Dec 3, 10, 17 Breakfast with Santa, 9:30-11am, Fernwood Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve, 13988 Range Line Rd, Niles. 269.695.6491. fernwoodbotanical.org. Visitors to Fernwood can find trails, an art gallery, fern conservatory, nature center, cafe, and gift shop. Additional upcoming events include Music in Gallery (Dec 4, 11, 18) and Sunday Journeys (Jan 15, 29).

Dec 4 Hospice Holiday Home Tour, South Haven Area, 1-5pm, 269.637.3825. southhaven.org. The South Haven Area Hospice Foundation sponsors this event featuring some of South Haven’s most elegant homes for a delightful holiday tour.

Dec 6, 13, 20-23 Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides, 5:30-9pm, Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, 1000 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids.

616.975.3155. meijergardens.org. As part of the Meijer Gardens’ Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition, a scenic carriage ride will take guests around the luminescent sculpture park.

Dec 31 New Year’s Eve Party, Lakeshore

photo by WILLIAM J. HEBERT

The information presented in Essential Events is accurate as of press time, but readers are encouraged to call ahead to verify the dates and times.

Please note that Illinois and most Indiana events adhere to central time, and Michigan events are eastern time.

Dec 31 New Year’s Eve Fireworks, midnight, Lake Kalamazoo. 616.836.2816. southhaven.org. Celebrating the New Year, there will be a fireworks show over Lake Kalamazoo at midnight.

Jan 13-15 8th Annual Hunter Ice Festival, downtown Niles. 269.687.4332. nilesmainstreet.org. This popular event pays tribute to the Hunter Brothers Ice and Ice Cream Company. The festival includes ice sculptures, world-class ice carvers, an ice cream tasting tent, kids’ activities and more.

Illinois

Through Jan 9 Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light, Museum of Science and Industry, 57th St & Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. 773.684.1414. msichicago.org. Described as a beloved Chicago holiday tradition, this event features over 50 dazzling trees and displays that are decorated by members of ethnic communities across the city to reflect holiday customs from all over the world. Attendees will experience ethnic dancing and singing, storytellers, school choirs and other festivities.

Through Mar 11 McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, noon-8pm Mon-Thu, noon10pm Fri, 10am-10pm Sat (through Dec 17), 10am-9pm Sat (beginning Jan 7), 10am-9pm Sun, Millennium Park, 55 N Michigan Ave, Chicago.

312.742.1168. millenniumpark.org. The rink, now in its eleventh season, draws more than 100,000 skaters annually and is free and open to the public.

Nov 23-Dec 24 16th Annual Christkindlmarket, 11am-8pm Sun-Thu, 11am-9pm Fri-Sat, Daley Plaza, 50 W Washington St, Chicago. 312.492.2175. christkindlmarket.com. Situated in the heart of downtown Chicago, the Christkindlmarket is a holiday market fashioned after century-old markets in Germany. It features German and international vendors displaying handcrafted ornaments, toys, foods and other unique gifts. Most days, there will also be musical entertainment to put visitors into the holiday spirit. Special Hours: Thanksgiving Day, Nov 24: 11am-4pm; Christmas Eve, Dec 24: 11am-4pm.

Nov 24 McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, 8-11am, State St from Randolph to Congress, Chicago. chicagofestivals.org.

More than 400,000 visitors are expected to line the route for this annual televised event, which features marching bands, equestrian units, floats, performance groups, celebrities and everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving parade staple, enormous helium balloons.

Nov 25-Jan 1 Wonderland Express, 10am-6pm, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe.

847.835.5440. chicagobotanic.org. Here

Dec 1 Tree Lighting Ceremony, 6:30-7:30pm, Breidert Green, Kansas and Ash Sts, Frankfort. 815.469.2177. villageoffrankfort.com. This annual event features refreshments and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Dec 1-4 One of a Kind Show and Sale, noon-9pm Thu, 11am-9pm Fri, 10am-7pm Sat, 10am-5pm Sun, The Merchandise Mart, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago. 800.677.6728. oneofakindshowchicago.com. Chicago’s most exciting holiday shopping show and fine art and craft festival, the One of a Kind Show features original work from more than 500 juried artists and artisans from across North America. Works include unique paintings, sculptures, glass works, photography, ceramics, jewelry, furniture and wearable art. A portion of ticket sales benefit Children’s Memorial Hospital.

MESCOLARE Gourmet foods and great gift items for entertaining Enjoy the shop and take home something special to make or give

Inside the historic Crown Point Courthouse

1 COURTHOUSE SQUARE • CROWN POINT • 219.663.6095

Dec 3 What’s Your Art? Celebrating the Art Centers of Chicago, noon-5pm, Chicago Cultural Center Yates Hall, 78 E Washington, Chicago. wbez.org. From Hyde Park to Pilsen to Ravenswood, there will be amazing art exhibitions, classes, and public events fostering the development of art and culture throughout the city. Each unique location has its own style, feel and expertise, and twelve of these locations will gather together under one roof offering live demonstrations, hands-on activities, workshops and more.

Dec 3-Jan 2 Winter WonderFest, 10am-5pm Sun-Thu, 10am-10pm Fri-Sat (through Dec 18), Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago. 312.595.7437. winterwonderfest.com. This is the eleventh annual year for this event, which features more than 750,000 holiday ornaments, hundreds of decorated trees, an indoor Ferris wheel, games, carolers and more.

Hours Dec 19-Jan 2: 10am-8pm Sun-Thu, 10am-10pm Fri-Sat. Dec 8-10 Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival, various times and locations, Chicago. cbbfestival.com. This festival celebrates Chicago’s unprecedented appreciation of roots music and culture at three venues featuring 35 bands. Hosted by the Kingtello, React Presents, and Silver Wrapper, a bevy of homegrown talent will unite with some of contemporary music’s most accomplished and influential artists for three days of collaboration and cause.

Dec 9 JazzCity featuring Ari Brown & Edward Wilkerson, 7pm, Hamilton Park, 513 W 72nd St, Chicago. 312.747.6174. jazzinchicago.org. This event celebrating the past, present and future of jazz in Chicago, is a collaboration initiated by the Jazz Institute of Chicago with the Chicago Park District. Numerous JazzCity projects have gone from the neighborhood parks to the awesome stages at Millennium Park and the Chicago Jazz Festival.

Dec 21 Hanukkah Dinner, 5:30pm, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. 847.835.5440. chicagobotanic.org. This event offers a festive way to celebrate Hanukkah with a kosher-style buffet dinner, music by the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band,

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

Nov 25-Dec 16 Caroling at Cloud Gate, 6pm, Millennium Park, 55 N Michigan Ave, Chicago. 312.742.1168. millenniumpark.org. This free program, presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, showcases Chicago choral groups and invites visitors to participate in a holiday sing-along.

is an opportunity for a magical trip to a winter wonderland of twinkling lights, garden-scale trains, miniature Chicago landmarks, beautiful horticulture displays and indoor snowfall. This popular holiday exhibition in the Regenstein Center features detailed landscapes with more than 80 miniature versions of Chicago’s favorite landmarks, all made with natural materials.

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Entertainment and Bowling Alley, 9921 Blue Star Hwy, South Haven.

269.637.6500. southhaven.org. This event features dinner, dancing, bowling and karaoke. There will be even more activities for kids earlier in the day.

essential events and a viewing of the holiday exhibition, Wonderland Express.

Jan 12-16 Chicago Boat, Sports & RV Show, various times, McCormick Place, North Building, 2301 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. chicagoboatshow.com. This 82nd annual event showcases the best in powerboats and recreational vehicles for sale, all while offering a variety of entertainment for all ages.

Jan 26-29 Strictly Sail Chicago, 11am8pm Thu, 10am-7pm Sat, 10am-5pm Sun, Navy Pier, Festival Halls A and B, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago. strictlysailchicago.com.

This event is the largest U.S. indoor sailboat show and attracts more than 20,000 sailing enthusiasts each year for hands-on education and a selection of the latest sailboats all in one place.

exhibitions Indiana

Through Dec 18 Wealth, Power, Society—African Art from the Owen D. Mort, Jr. Collection, O’Shaughnessy Galleries II and III, The Snite Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame.

574.631.5466. sniteartmuseum.nd.edu.

This exhibit features royal costumes and beadwork, iron and brass weapons, symbols of authority and currency, as well as masks and other objects. The second exhibition will focus upon African furniture, household objects, traditional dress and jewelry, and the third upon a comprehensive treatment of the wrought iron and brass weapons, authority symbols and currencies used throughout Africa in the last two hundred years. Also, through Dec 4: Cinema Play House—Photographs by Nandita Raman.

Through Dec 18 String Theory, Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 101 W Second St, Michigan City. 219.874.4900. lubeznikcenter.org. Sir Isaac Newton said that the same force that caused the apple to fall down also moves the moon around the earth, thus uniting heaven and earth.

String Theory shows the pull of gravity on its eleven figures. Also, through Dec 18: Motion and Memory—Lost and Found; through Jan 6: Indiana Wildlife Artists Twenty-eighth Annual Exhibit.

Michigan

Through Nov 27 Shimmerings of Light, Mysteries of Shadow, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 314 S Park St, Kalamazoo. 269.349.7775. kiarts.org.

This exhibition focuses on the artists of the “etching revival,” including such masters of the medium as James McNeill Whistler, Charles Meryon and Samuel Palmer. Also, through Dec 4: Off the Wall—Art in Three Dimensions; Turning Point—Japanese Studio Ceramics in the Mid-20th Century.

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Through Dec 31 Sculpture Today—New Forces, New Forms, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 1000 E Beltline NE, Grand Rapids.

616.957.1580. meijergardens.org. Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park will be hosting this invitational exhibition of work by emerging sculptors. Selected from across the United States and around the world, artists working three-dimensionally and through installations will be included in this inaugural event.

Through Jan 7 Flow, Dar Davis Gallery and Gallery II, Krasl Art Center, 707 Lake Blvd, St. Joseph. 269.983.0271. krasl.org.

This exhibition explores the theme of water through artworks drawn from the collection of the Sheldon Museum of Art at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Works by William Theo Born, Harry Callahan, B.J.O.

Nordfelt, Wayne Thiebaud and Neil Welliver will be on view, among others. Mediums include oils, watercolors, photographs and prints. Also, through Jan 7: Jennifer Rogers.

Through Jan 15 Warrington Colescott—Cabaret, Comedy & Satire, Grand Rapids Art Museum, 101 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids. 616.831.1000. artmuseumgr.org. This exhibit celebrates sixty years of Colescott’s print production.

Living and working in Wisconsin, Colescott is the premier satirical printmaker working in the United States, employing his sharp wit and vivid imagination to interpret contemporary and historical events in the tradition of William Hogarth, Honoré Daumier, and George Grosz. Also, through Jan 15: Inside Jokes.

Dec 18-Feb 5 Michigan Outsider’s Art, South Haven Center for the Arts, 600 Phoenix St, South Haven. 269.637.1041. southhavenarts.org. This exhibit explores the interest in Outsider art, a.k.a. visionary/ intuitive/self-taught/naïve art, as it continues to grow from remote areas of the rural deep South to the far reaches of the north.

This art form has been both shaping and shaking the American Art world for the past 30 years, and in the last decade and a half many of the genre’s best have been discovered in Michigan. Michigan Outsider’s Art Curator: Melissa Warner-Talcott. Also, through Dec 11: Mistletoe Market.

Illinois

Through Nov 27 Nature Unframed— Art at the Arboretum, 7am to sunset, The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Rte 53, Lisle. 630.968.0074. mortonarb.org. This event showcases 11 renowned artists from around the world in an outdoor art exhibit.

Sculptures of various materials—such as charred wood, metal, tree branches and fabric—are inspired by the Arboretum’s world-renowned tree collections.

Through Dec 11 Torii Kiyonaga and Ideal Beauty in Japanese Prints, The Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago. 312.629.6635. artic.edu/aic.

The artist Torii Kiyonaga has been described as the preeminent leader in the golden age of ukiyo-e prints. Also through Nov 27: Japanese Kimono, 1915-1940—From Tradition to Ready-to-Wear; through Jan 15: Ana Mendieta; Bertrand Goldberg— Architecture of Invention; Inside Marina City—A Project by Iker Gil and Andreas E.G. Larsson; Through Jan 22: Jürgen Mayer H.—Wirrwarr; through Jan 15: Timothy H. O’Sullivan—The King Survey Photographs; through Jan 22: The Three Graces; through Mar 11: Sharon Hayes; through Jan 7: Holiday Thorne Rooms; Opening Nov 25: The Return of Degas’ Little Dancer.

Through Jan 8 Chocolate—Around the World, The Field Museum, 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. 312.922.9410. fieldmuseum.org. Visitors will discover the unique cacao tree whose seeds started it all, unearth the origins of chocolate consumption, and discover how chocolate was transformed from a bitter drink of kings into the chocolate loved today. Also, through Jan 1: Ground Zero 360°; through Jan 16: Whales—Giants of the Deep.

Through Jan 24 Scott Reeder, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago. 312.280.2660. mcachicago.org.

Scott Reeder’s first solo museum exhibition includes new figurative paintings in his signature idiosyncratic style. Also, through Jan 15: Iain Baxter and Works 1958-2011; Ron Terada—Being There; through Feb 16: Dieter Roth; Nov 26-Apr 29: David Hartt; Dec 6-31: Andrew Bird and Ian Schneller’s Sonic Arboretum.

Nov 17-Jan 8 Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light, Museum of Science and Industry, 57th St & Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. 773.684.1414. msichicago.org. A grand 45-foot Christmas tree will take center stage in the museum’s Rotunda, and more than 50 other trees will be decorated to represent cultures from around the world.

Dance and choral groups will perform on the Holiday Stage and “snow” will fall on visitors as they walk along the decked halls. Also, through Jan 8: Smart Home—Green + Wired; Dr. Seuss & the Art of Invention; Through Mar 15: Rocky Mountain Express; Tornado Alley.

film Indiana

Portage 16 IMAX, 6550 US Hwy 6, Portage. 219.764.7569. portage16imax. com. The brand-new Portage 16 IMAX showcases blockbusters as well as electrifying 3D films that are uniquely suited to the IMAX format. With projected images up to eight stories high and a spectacular, wraparound digital surround-sound system, this theater offers a total-immersion moviegoing experience.

Michigan

The Vickers Theatre, 6 N Elm St, Three Oaks. 269.756.3522. vickerstheatre.com.

Home of the annual “Sound of Silents Film Festival,” this painstakingly restored turn-of-the-century art house screens a variety of notable independent films. A lofty, two-story gallery space, showcasing the works of Midwestern artists, is open to the public before and between shows.

Further enhancing its art-house cachet, the Vickers hosts live music, performance art and poetry readings on its stage.

Illinois

The Gene Siskel Film Center, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 164 N State St, Chicago. 312.846.2600. siskelfilmcenter. org. This film center—renamed in 2000 for its most passionate supporter, the late film critic Gene Siskel—has been exhibiting critically acclaimed, as well as entertaining “motion picture art” in its state-of-the-art facilities since its inception in 1972.

Presenting more than 100 films each month, the center showcases cutting-edge, independent features and classic revivals, as well as premieres of new American and foreign films. A focus on education is supported by guest lecturers, discussions and courses, and film-related exhibits can be viewed at the on-site gallery/café.

Through Nov 23: Festival of New Spanish Cinema 2011.

performance Indiana

Chicago Street Theater, 154 W Chicago St, Valparaiso. 219.464.1636. ctgonline. org. Now in its 56th season of bringing live theatrical entertainment to the greater Northwest Indiana region, the CST presents a variety of plays and musicals each season, in addition to regularly scheduled theater classes for both adults and children.

Through Dec 17: It’s a Wonderful Life—A Live Radio Play; Jan 27-Feb 11: The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?

DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Campus. 574.631.2800. performingarts. nd.edu. The state-of-the-art, 150,000-square-foot facility, newly opened in 2004, is host to some of the world’s most celebrated artists. In addition, its

stages showcase student, faculty and community performers, as well as the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, Southold Dance, the Notre Dame Symphony, the South Bend Civic Theatre, and more. Dec 2-3: Handel’s Messiah; Dec 4: University Band Concert; Notre Dame Jazz Bands Fall Concert; Dec 8: Collegium Musicum Fall 2011; Dec 10: Glee Club Christmas 2011; Dec 11: Danu.

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. Feb 3-5, 9-12: Chapter Two. Horseshoe Casino, 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond. 866.711.7463. horseshoehammond.com. World-class gambling and top-name entertainment combine to create an unprecedented experience at this 350,000-squarefoot casino. The Venue, the casino’s 90,000-square-foot entertainment facility, hosts some of the hottest Chicagoland entertainment. Nov 23: Calvin Hiep’s Vietnamese Concert and Fashion Show; Dec 3: Lisa Lampanelli; Dec 9: Smokey Robinson; Dec 17: Mannheim Steamroller; Dec 25: Amanda Lee and William Hu; Jan 14: Steve Harvey; Jan 21: Panos Kiamos.

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 2,560-seat Morris Performing Arts Center has enraptured audiences in the heart of downtown South Bend for more than 75 years. Dec 2-3: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; Dec 10-11: Southold Dance Theatre Presents The Nutcracker Ballet; Dec 17-18: South Bend Symphony Orchestra “Home for the Holidays” w/ Leon Williams, Baritone; Jan 20-21: Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show; Jan 22: The State Ballet Theatre of Russia presents Swan Lake; Jan 28: South Bend Symphony Orchestra Presents “The Stuff of Legends” w/ Gabriel Schlaffer, Viola.

Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, various venues. 219.836.0525. nwisymphony.org. Conducted by the charismatic Kirk Muspratt, this professional orchestra performs concerts that range in atmosphere from the whimsical pops series to the edifying and inspirational maestro series, many of which offer pre-concert discussions with the conductor an hour before the concert. Dec 8: Holiday Pops.

Star Plaza Theatre, I-65 & US 30, Merrillville. 219.769.6600. starplazatheatre. com. With 3,400 seats arranged in two intimate seating levels, the 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 theatergoers. Nov 30-Dec 1: Indiana Ballet Theatre presents The Nutcracker; Dec 9: Alice Cooper “No More Mr. Nice Guy” Tour with guest Livan; Dec 10: The Whispers, Valerie Simpson w/ a tribute to Nick Ashford; Dec 11: The Oak Ridge Boys; Dec 31: Damon Williams’ New Year’s Eve Comedy Bash.

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

essential events Towle Community Theater, 5205 Hohman Ave, Hammond. 219.937.8780. towletheater.org. To honor its mission of nurturing and celebrating local talent in the arts, the Towle Community Theater presents exhibitions, theatrical productions and musical performances in the heart of downtown Hammond. Nov 25-27, Dec 2-4, 9-11, 16-18: A Fabulous 50’s Christmas 2011.

Michigan

The Acorn Theater, 6 N Elm St, Three Oaks. 269.756.3879. acorntheater. com. The 250-seat Acorn is home to a carefully reconstructed, rare Barton Theater Pipe Organ and boasts bistro tables and occasionally offbeat entertainment options.

Nov 25: Mike Toomey’s TV and Me; Nov 26: Sean Masterson/Village Puppeteers.

Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids. 616.454.9451 ext 4. grsymphony.org. Recognized as one of America’s leading regional orchestras, this Grammy-nominated symphony provides the orchestra for Opera Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Ballet Company.

The orchestra’s eight concert series with performances designed for young children through adults feature a wide range of repertoire. Dec 3-4: Christmas Candlelight Cathedral Concert; Dec 15-18: Nestlé Gerber Holiday Pops; Dec 21-23: Cirque de Noël with Cirque de la Symphonie; Dec 31: Motown’s Greatest Hits—I Hear a Symphony; Jan 6-7: Cinematic Shostakovich; Jan 13-15: Swingin’ with Sinatra and Dorsey; Jan 27-28: Mozart and Beethoven.

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. Dec 10-11: Nutcracker; Dec 17: Messiah; Jan 21: American Dance; Jan 29: World of Saint-Saens.

The Livery, 190 5th St, Benton Harbor.

269.925.8760. liverybrew.com. As its name suggests, the Livery is a former horse stable, residing in the Arts District of downtown Benton Harbor. Not content to just offer its twelve taps of microbrew, an outdoor beer garden, an appetizing soup and sandwich menu, and a coffee bar, the Livery is also a venue for an eclectic variety of musical performances. Nov 23: Greensky Bluegrass; Nov 25: Marcus Robinson Quintet with Leo Nocentelli (The Meters); Nov 26: Blackie and the Rodeo Kings; Dec 2: Bonerama; Dec 3: April Verch; Dec 10: Dehlia Low; Dec 16: Venitia Sekema Band; Dec 17: Tab Benoit; Dec 30: Michael Koch and Friends.

Van Andel Arena, 130 W Fulton, Grand Rapids. 616.742.6600. vanandelarena.

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. Dec 9-10: Holiday Pops—The Sights and Sounds of the Season.

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. Nov 22-27: Fiddler on the Roof; Nov 30: Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra with Rockapella; Dec 2: Dave Koz and Friends, Christmas Tour 2011; Dec 3: Jesus—I Am That I Am; Dec 9-27: The Joffrey Ballet presents The Nutcracker; Dec 30-31: The Disco Biscuits; Jan 14-15: Too Hot to Handel—The JazzGospel Messiah; Jan 28-29: The State Ballet Theatre of Russia—Romeo and Juliet.

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. Through Jan 7: Pinkalicious; Through Dec 4: Love, Loss and What I Wore, Broadway Playhouse, 175 E Chestnut; Dec 6-24: Donny & Marie— Christmas in Chicago; Jan 10-15: In the Heights; Jan 24-29: Mama Mia!; Feb 7-19: American Idiot, Ford Center Oriental Theatre, 24 W Randolph; Nov 22-Dec 4: Memphis; Dec 11: Ryan Adams; Dec 13-Jan 1: The Addams Family; Feb 14-26: South Pacific, Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W Randolph St; Through Dec 4: Ann—An Affectionate Portrait of Ann Richards; Dec 20-Jan 1: La Cage Aux Folles; Jan 10-22: Come Fly Away, Bank of America Theatre, 18 W Monroe St. The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University, 1 University Pkwy, University Park. 708.235.2222. centertickets.net. The Center for Performing Arts is celebrating 11 years of promoting cultural enhancement on the South Side of Chicago through world-class performing arts productions and arts education. Dec 10: Salt Creek Ballet’s The Nutcracker; Jan 29: Golden Dragon Acrobats; Feb 8: The Color Purple.

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 houses both an engaging, 500-seat courtyard theater and a 200-seat black box theater. Through Nov 27: Murder for Two—A Killer Musical; Nov 29-Jan 22: Elizabeth Rex; Jan 18-Mar 4: The Feast—An Intimate Tempest.

Chicago Sinfonietta, Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 2205 S Michigan Ave, Chicago. chicagosinfonietta.org. In its pursuit of “Musical Excellence through Diversity,” the Chicago Sinfonietta—the official orchestra of the Joffrey Ballet— presents compelling, innovative works, often by composers and soloists of color.

Various locations. Jan 15-16: Concert III—The Journey, the Dream.

The Chicago Theatre, 175 N State St, Chicago. 312.462.6300. thechicagotheatre. com. The Chicago Theatre has been a prototype for area theaters since 1921.

With its lavish architecture and an elegant stage, the Chicago Theatre seats 3,600 and stands seven stories high. Dec 3: Straight No Chaser; Dec 10: Tori Adams; Dec 14-30: A Christmas Story, The Musical!; Jan 20-21: Kathy Griffin; Jan 28: David Garrett.

Court Theatre, 5535 S Ellis Ave, Chicago.

773.753.4472. courttheatre.org. The Court Theatre is a not-for-profit, professional regional theater that is located on the campus of the University of Chicago. Its mission to “discover the power of classic theater” is realized in its intimate, 251-seat auditorium. Through Dec 11: An Iliad; Jan 12-Feb 19: Invisible Man. 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 two-theater complex was completed in 2000—75 years to the day after the dedication of the original—and resides in the vibrant North Loop Theater District within walking distance of fine hotels and restaurants. Through Dec 31: A Christmas Carol; Jan 14-Feb 19: Race.

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. Nov 26-27: Global Rhythms VII; Dec 7: Holliday for the Holidays—Jennifer Holliday; Dec 9: Chicago Women of Song; Dec 12: Music NOW; Dec 18: Apollo Chorus; Jan 20: The Musical World of Charles Mingus; Jan 24: The Trocks; Jan 27: Great Clarinet Trios; Jan 30: Handel and Haydn.

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 Opera House not only is an elaborate treasure on the inside, but it is architecturally distinctive as well, shaped like a throne facing the Chicago River. Through Nov 29: Boris Godunov; Through Dec 11: Ariadne auf Naxos; Dec 6-Jan 22: The Magic Flute; Jan 22-Mar 25: Aida.

Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago. 312.397.4010. mcachicago.org. Reflecting the modern atmosphere of the adjoining museum, the state-of-the-art MCA Theater features

elegant oak-paneled walls and tiered seating, which guarantees that every one of the 300 seats can boast the best seat in the house. Dec 17-18: Tsukasa Taiko at JASC Taiko Legacy 8; Dec 21-22: Andrew Bird and Ian Schneller Sonic Arboretum; Jan 19-22, 26-29: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago danc(e)volve: New Works Festival.

Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S Michigan Ave, Chicago.

312.294.3000. cso.org. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is consistently hailed as one of today’s leading orchestras.

Performances by the CSO are much in demand at home and in the most prestigious music capitals of the world. Led by renowned Italian conductor Riccardo Muti as its tenth music director, the CSO is working to fulfill his vision for the Orchestra—to deepen its engagement with the Chicago community, to nurture the legacy of the CSO while supporting a new generation of musicians, and to collaborate with visionary artists. Performances held daily, except Wed. Dec 18-23: Welcome Yule; Jan 14: To Billie with Love—A Celebration of Lady Day .

Paramount Theatre, 23 E Galena Blvd, Aurora. 630.896.6666. paramountaurora. com. Named “One of Chicago’s Top Ten Theatres” by the League of Chicago Theatres, the Paramount is renowned for the quality and caliber of its presentations, supurb acoustics and historic beauty. Nov 26: The Flying Karamozov Brothers; Dec 3: Salt Creek Ballet’s The Nutcracker; Dec 4: The Von Trapp Children; Dec 8-9: The Christmas Carol; Dec 17: Ballet Foklorico Quetzalcoatl; Dec 31: Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show; Jan 6: Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular; Jan 14: Poi Dog Pondering; Jan 18-Feb 5: A Chorus Line.

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. Nov 25-Dec 24: It’s a Wonderful Life—A Live Radio Play; Dec 2-16: The Second City’s Dysfunctional Holiday Revue; Dec 10-18 Sat-Sun: A Showcase of Classic Holiday Music; Jan 1: New Year’s Eve Bash.

Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N Halsted, Chicago. 312.335.1650. steppenwolf.org.

The Chicago-based cast is an internationally renowned group of 43 artists, committed to the art of ensemble collaboration. Now in its 35th season, Steppenwolf continues to fulfill its mission by offering intriguing performances and taking artistic risks. Dec 1-Feb 5: Penelope; Jan 19-May 13: Time Stands Still.

Victory Gardens Theater, various venues.

773.871.3000. victorygardens.org. As one of the country’s most respected midsized professional theater companies, this Tony Award-winning theater is dedicated to serving playwrights and producing world premiere plays. Programs include five mainstage productions with emphasis placed on the development of an ethnically and culturally diverse community of arts.

Jan 27-Feb 26: Ameriville.

For more events and destinations, please go to visitshoremagazine.com.

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

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. Nov 29, Dec 4: Lake Michigan Youth Orchestra; Dec 10: A Magical Family Christmas; Dec 31: New Year’s Eve Gala.

com. Ranked second on Billboard Magazine’s 2003 Top 10 Arena Venues for its size, this $75 million 12,000-plus capacity arena offers world-class family shows, concerts and sporting events to the increasingly popular Grand Rapids area.

Dec 1: Katy Perry w/ Janelle Monae; Dec 9: Gaither Christmas Homecoming; Dec 16: Trans-Siberian Orchestra; Jan 22: Harlem Globetrotters 2012 World Tour.

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equity theater in Northwest Indiana, and showcases the artistry of professional actors, musicians and designers from throughout the Midwest. Through Dec 18: Another Night Before Christmas.

WORDS BY JULIE DEAN KESSLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY V. MARTIN

Artists

AT WORK

Martha Cares and Fritz Olsen share their passion and respect for each other Her words are precise, controlled, yet expressive, so that in this artha Cares and Fritz Olsen sit contemplative mood it is like listening to music to hear her speak. across from one another, speaking Music guides each day. In a home studio, “I have ideas for about the work each loves, and recordings I’m longing to do, and I’m touching on those a little loving to speak of the other’s work. every day,” along with vocalizing and a physical workout. “It’s It is a quiet, sunny afternoon very easy to romanticize the life of an artist, but my body is my at the Fritz Olsen Sculptures art instrument and I have to take care of it.” gallery in Sawyer, Michigan, a time Now the couple engages in a verbal dance, a quick-step of set aside for musing, reminiscence comments: and plans. Martha’s expressive Martha: “The sacrifices one must make . . . I must turn down soprano has captured roles at the Lyric Opera in Chicago, she incredible social opportunities.” has been Hal Leonard’s artist of choice for recordings in musical Fritz: “We adapt our schedules for each other.” theater classics, and she continues to thrill audiences in genres Martha: “It’s incredibly important.” ranging from opera to pop. Fritz’s flowing sculptures are installed at Fritz: “When couples don’t do that, it becomes detrimental to the many locations, the latest in June 2011 at the Marie Yeager Cancer relationship.”

Center in Chicago; his gallery in Sawyer exhibits his ever-evolving Martha: “It’s a very delicate matter, not always easy. Every artist has ability to sculpt emotive shapes from marble and other media. struggles. There are wonderful crests and there is work, work, work.

The couple has chosen peaceful Sawyer in which to live and People only see the crests. Guests want to watch Fritz work, but I nurture their crafts, and it is clear they nurture each other, speaking cannot allow that; I don’t want to interrupt that creative process.” with deep respect for each other’s talent while revealing passion and They fondly recall the early days together in Chicago. “It was energy for their own.

1985,” Martha says. “I was singing for commercials. It was a stark Martha, who appeared in 1,000-plus performances of the national beginning, but we had a plan—belief in each other and in one Broadway production of Phantom of the Opera, recalls that even another’s talent.” before kindergarten, “Singing gave me such joy. I’d be at the record Fritz set up shop in an old Helene Curtis building. “I was player and would be repeatedly called to dinner—I couldn’t get sculpting away every day, and Martha was immediately hired by the enough. I didn’t know what some of the songs meant, but singing Lyric Opera.” them made me so happy.”

“The galleries were all clamoring for his work.”

Her vocal category has been a question from early on, from “Martha has some wonderful ideas—from a little cut-off piece, I soprano to mezzo to hinting at coloratura. With a big vocal range, mentioned to Martha that the two pieces reminded me of a sailboat; “To this day, I prefer not to be categorized; I am a vocalist. I love she said, do a show bringing some of the sailboat references, which I not to be over-directed; artists have their own interpretations with just wouldn’t have done if she hadn’t said that.” their bodies—the same thing doesn’t work for everyone.”

The couple explains they’re thinking of collaborating more.

Fritz’s dimples deepen as he interjects, “That’s a part of Martha’s At the June installation in Chicago, before the unveiling of Fritz’s personality exactly—to let her own personality come through.

Infinity Ribbon, Martha sang “A Dream of Prosperity” from Les Martha is a little bit of a bulldog, with a strong mindset,” and both Miserables, with new lyrics she wrote for the occasion. laugh, for Martha is a lovely, petite woman with a dazzling smile Now Martha leads the way through the gallery, her fingers lightly and pleasingly modulated voice. “That serves her well in everything she does—including our relationship in this gallery. Her support—I touching Georgia pink marble, Persian travertine with gold tones, know I wouldn’t be an artist without it,” having begun studies in onyx from Italy. The polished surface of a curved sculpture in nearly industrial design. “I was exploring the idea translucent onyx is pale green, whose [of sculpting], and she encouraged me, she reddish vein makes Martha think of said, ‘Yes, go for it.’” the fantasy/horror elements of opera Martha gazes at Fritz and her voice fantastique—a visible metaphor of the catches. “I want to add, when he started artistic vein connecting the couple. working with stone, when he called me and Their pride in each other is nearly told me, I heard him so happy—I wanted tangible, their communication him to follow his heart.” intimate. Martha’s hands gesture For the third year, Fritz Olsen and Grand prizewinner of the international gracefully; Fritz’s eyes turn to her face Martha Cares will sponsor and host Bel Canto Opera competition, Martha often. a holiday charity event, with 100 touches her audiences on a deep level. “[In sculpting] It’s the creative percent of proceeds going to local In September at the Acorn Theatre in process that’s the spiritual component, Radio Harbor Country, WRHC-LP, Three Oaks, Michigan, Jacques Brel and Kurt not unlike Martha’s singing,” Fritz 106.7 FM. The station’s mission Weill are Back in Town included her soulful says. “I see the same driving force, the includes fostering appreciation for performance of Brel’s “Ne Me Quitte Pas” the arts. energy. The reason we’re artists is that (“Don’t Leave Me”). Many in the audience energy. The more you do it, the more WHAT: A holiday event with wine and wiped away tears. It was not unusual. strength you derive from it.” party trays; a silent auction with items “To have people telling me afterward “Each day I’m extremely grateful from area restaurants, salons, spas that they were crying, that their emotions for what I can do for my husband, for shops, fine art, garden items, jewelry had been stirred, the communication of the people in our lives, and enjoy what and fashion; a raffle; a special silent art auction of holiday ornaments created by my voice with the audience . . .” she stops Fritz does,” Martha says. “I feel lucky to local artists; and live performance events and shakes her head slightly, her smile a have him in my life; it makes the joyous small, wondering one that also conveys joy. part better.”

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3. Visit

HOLIDAY CHARITY EVENT

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WHERE: Fritz Olsen Sculptures, 6914 Holloway Dr, Sawyer, Mich.

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

radioharborcountry.org or call 269.426.3003 for time and details.

s a m t s i r h C f o s y a D MARTIN RAPHY BY TONY V. GORDON • PHOTOG WORDS BY TERRI

4 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 4

ELVES ANTIQUES CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAYS EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Dave Eppelheimer never intended to leave Christmas decorations up year-round in his Grand Rapids Heritage Hill home, but as his collections of antique ornaments grew, and storage spaces filled, that is what happened. “This tree has been up since 1995,” he says, pointing to a full-sized tree filled with German glass ornaments made before World War II. The green carpeting in the home when he bought it made it seem natural. Painting the outdoor pillars as candy canes for an event—and now a permanent feature—solidified it. The home is known locally as the “Christmas house.”

E

ppelheimer has always collected things, “rocks and insects, coins and stamps, whatever said ‘pick me up,’” he says. But in the early 1980s, he and three friends, calling themselves Elves Antiques, began to explore shops, shows and flea markets for holiday decorations. “We learned together,” he says, “because in the early eighties, Christmas was rather new. You could buy a whole van full for $50. Now, you can buy a shoe box full for $200.”

While the big tree is devoted to glass ornaments, smaller trees throughout the house display various other ornaments. There is the tree, made of feathers, and an antique itself, that holds cotton and pressed paper ornaments; there is the tree that displays 1930s-era cut-glass prism stars; and there is the famous “Broken Ornament” tree.

Planning to bring his kindergarten class to the house for a party, Eppelheimer decorated a tree with broken ornaments so that if someone broke something, he could save their feelings by pointing out the tree. “After four years, I realized the children had never broken anything,” he says, laughing. “We adults, on the other hand, had broken plenty.”

Other Christmas collectibles include nativity scenes, Santa figures, snowmen, holly boxes (Eppelheimer has a whole claw-footed bathtub full), jewelry, and carved wooden villages—both German and Japanese. A pair of 1910 French bronzed metal lamps—one holly and the other mistletoe—grace the fireplace mantel. “The oldest items I have are from the Civil War era, but most are from the late 1800s and early to mid 1900s,” he says. “My favorite things are mostly the older things. The older the Santa, the older the ornament, the more it intrigues me.

Christmas decorations experienced many things—being made, bought, used, packed away, and taken out again when the season of thinking of others returns. If they could speak, they could tell us of family gatherings, conversations, perhaps years of being left in the attic, and the joy of being discovered or passed along to live once again on the boughs of a Christmas tree or from a perch on the mantel.

“The ornaments and decorations I collect commune with me. They whisper, they sing, they share. Each is a work of art that may whisper, sing, and share something different with the next person. That fascinates me.”

Eppelheimer sells pieces from his collections from time to time to make room for more, and his decorations have been featured in Santa Collections, a Better Homes and Gardens book series, and on the Martha Stewart show.

Photos clockwise from top left: Dave Eppelheimer’s “Christmas House”; The main tree has been up since 1995; Dave Eppelheimer; The Santa collection cabinet houses Santas from Germany, Japan and America; 1930’s Matchless Wonder Stars, electric lights made of cut glass; The broken ornament tree; Stockings always hanging on the hearth and the view of his ornament repair workshop in the dining room; A vintage clown ornament.

WORDS BY KATHRYN MACNEIL

photography by [this page] SANDRO; [opposite page] LISA EBRIGHT

An examined

Actor John Mahoney finds his muse When the phone rings and you see the name “John Mahoney” on the caller ID, it’s a no-brainer that you’re going to be talking about the actor’s memorable roles in television and film and on stage with Chicago’s Steppenwolf ensemble. Less predictable, on the other hand, are the topics of Speedos, the pronunciation of the word “Wednesday,” and the fact that the man who has famously played no-nonsense, all-American characters— was not actually raised in the United States.

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every inch a consummate “I was born in 1940 in Midwesterner: unfailingly polite, England,” Mahoney begins. pleasant and sincere, answering “The reason I came to the every question with enthusiastic United States was because one aplomb, and prompt to the of my sisters was a war bride. minute—calling from his home She married a serviceman in Oak Park, Illinois, at the exact who was stationed near time the interview is scheduled.

Manchester—which was my “I never left Chicago,” he home—and she came over says. “When I was doing Frasier here and became a farmer’s for eleven years, all I did was wife in Carthage, Illinois. My rent a furnished apartment in whole family came to visit Santa Monica, and came back and I just loved it. I always to Chicago most weekends, plus wanted to come back and live every fourth week, a couple here, so when we went back of weeks at Thanksgiving and to England, I finished school, Christmas, and four months saved up my money, and my in-between seasons. So even when sister sponsored me to come I was doing Frasier, I was spending over here.

[From left] Terry Kinney, John Mahoney and Kevin Anderson over six months of the year in “I didn’t really know what I in 1985’s Orphans. Mahoney says his role in the production Chicago.” wanted to do, so I went ahead put him on the map. “We transferred the play to New York, And there is no greater and joined the Army, possibly and all of a sudden we were the toast of New York. I still get ambassador for the Chicago to get my citizenship faster, people talking to me about Orphans.” theater scene, the city itself, or and possibly to get a loan even the Midwest in general. “I to go to school when I was acted in plays at the Steppenwolf while I was doing Frasier, and through,” he says. “I lost my accent on purpose, because all my friends would come and see them: Kelsey [Grammer], I didn’t want to sound like a foreigner all my life. I just wanted David [Hyde Pierce] and Jane [Leeves], and a lot of the to sound like everybody else. So by the time I got out of the producers and writers. They’d all come to Chicago to see what Army and started college, nobody knew I was from England.

I was doing, and then they started coming here just for fun, My accent was completely gone, and it never comes back.” telling me, ‘We understand why you don’t want to move away But a notable exception occurred during his tenure as from here. This is gorgeous; this is great.” the gruff, frequently exasperated Martin Crane on the longHe continues, “It’s got everything any other major city in running sitcom Frasier. Mahoney explains, “When we were the world has, I think: first-class opera companies, symphonies, doing Frasier, there was a line where I had to say, ‘Come back museums, everything. Plus, it’s laid out beautifully, and it’s got next Wednesday.’ You might have noticed that I pronounce the a Midwestern tenor—by that I mean it’s just easygoing, friendly first D in Wednesday. It’s just the way that they do it in England, and helpful. Chicago is the best of everything as far as I’m and it’s something I never got over. I remember the director, concerned.”

Jimmy Burrows, saying, ‘What are you saying?’ and I said, Mahoney’s path from the Army to becoming a working actor ‘Wednesday, like it says in the script.’ He corrected me, and I wasn’t particularly direct. “I knew deep down somewhere that said, ‘What about the D?’ He said that it’s not pronounced, and I wanted to be an actor, but I didn’t want to be the archetypal I said that it is . . . so we changed it to Tuesday. I just couldn’t sponging brother-in-law, and I wanted to be able to earn a get it.” living. I have a master’s in English, so I thought, well, However, random pronunciation glitches aside, Mahoney is

PENELOPE Dec 1-Feb 5 // Steppen wolf Theatre Company // 1650 N

invitation so I could learn from actors I regarded as masters.

I don’t know if I would have had a career had I not joined.”

Mahoney joined the Steppenwolf ensemble in 1979, but it was his 1985 role in the production Orphans that put him on the map. “We transferred the play to New York, and all of a sudden the three of us—Kevin Anderson, Terry Kinney and I, and Gary Sinise who directed it—were the toast of New York.

I still get people talking to me about Orphans.”

A subsequent role in The House of Blue Leaves [1986] on Broadway garnered the actor a Tony Award, after which time Mahoney went on to play roles in beloved films, appearing most notably as a lonely college professor in Moonstruck [1987], and as the loving, but flawed, father of an overachieving high school graduate in 1989’s Say Anything. “In film, probably the role that I’m most identified with is Moonstruck. Virtually everybody talks to me about Moonstruck. My favorite, though, is Say Anything. I just think that was a great movie. I had a wonderful part in it, I thought John Cusack was great, Cameron [Crowe] did such a great job directing it, and it was a fascinating story.”

But Mahoney never stayed away from theater for long, particularly the Steppenwolf stage. “I definitely find the most fulfillment on stage. I love doing movies and TV, but there’s just something about the immediacy of having the audience right there. If you’re doing a film, you look in the direction of the camera and you’ll see the cinematographer and the gaffer and the crew, and they’ve seen it all. But the audience in a theater is totally different. You feed on that energy. Plus, nine times out of ten, the writing for the theater is just a lot better.

It’s a verbal medium as opposed to a visual one—which movies are—so you usually get much better writing in theater than you do with film and television.”

Accordingly, Mahoney jumped at the chance to appear in Penelope, running December 1 through February 5 at the Steppenwolf. “Any chance I get to work at Steppenwolf, if it’s something that I think is interesting, I’ll do it,” he says.

When asked about his character, who is described in the play’s promotional materials as one of “four Speedo-clad men,” Mahoney laughs. “A Speedo? I think so. I haven’t talked to the costume lady yet, but I have a feeling that it’s not going to be pretty. But I don’t care. I really don’t. Whatever’s real, that’s more important than how pretty it is. I’m way past pretty.

“I didn’t pick the role, the role picked me, because the guy is described as old and bony and not very attractive, balding, with a little pot belly, looking every one of his 70 years—and that had a lot to do with why I was offered the part. I really enjoy working with [Penelope director] Amy Morton, and I love the cast that they have set for this, too. I would have played any part they wanted me to, but obviously physically, I’m playing the part that I’m supposed to play.”

Mahoney is clearly excited about the production, although he finds it difficult to summarize the plot. “It’s very, very interesting, and funny, and shocking and bloody, but it’s just so hard to describe, it really is. It’s obviously a take on the Odyssey . . . it’s a lot of people looking for the most important thing in the world—which they regard as love—in many different ways. Penelope represents love, and the play is about man’s quest for love. It’s four men trying desperately this one last day before they’re all going to die at the hand of Odysseus to make contact and to sort of . . . it’s so hard to describe . . .”

He gives up, laughing. “I’ll be there in my Speedo . . . but come anyway.”

Halsted, Chicago // 312.335.165

0 // steppenwolf.org

photography [this page] by MICHAEL BROSILOW; [opposite page] courtesy of HERMANMILLER.COM

I’ll be an English teacher. So I got a bachelor’s at what is now Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois, and went to Western Illinois University for my master’s, and taught there on an assistantship. That was when I realized I wasn’t very good at it. Right about that time I moved to Chicago. I’d worked my way through college and graduate school as an orderly at a hospital in Quincy, so I had six years of medical background plus a master’s in English, so I went to work on a medical journal.”

On the surface, his career seemed to be on track, but Mahoney knew it was going in the wrong direction. “I had a great office in the Hancock building, working for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals as an associate editor. I don’t know where I ever got the guts to quit, because I was never that daring. It must have been a very, very deep dissatisfaction with my life and the way it was going, the realization that I had to do something or I was just going to be a miserable, complaining, crabby old man. I asked myself what I had ever done in my life that thrilled and excited me, and realized it was when I was acting in children’s theater as a kid. I thought, ‘That’s what I want. I’ve got to try it before it’s too late.’

“Everything fell into place.

It couldn’t have been easier. I enrolled in an acting class with Mahoney appeared in a St. Nicholas Theatre with David Steppenwolf production Mamet and Steven Schachter, of The Seafarer, by Conor got cast out of that into a play I McPherson, in 2008. did with John Malkovich called Ashes, and John invited me to join Steppenwolf. It was just like life had been waiting for me to make that decision, and then when I finally made it, it said, ‘Okay, now let’s go.’ And everything just worked out.”

He’s quick to admit, however, that his experience isn’t universal. “The only problem is that a lot of people have been inspired by my story and tried it, too, but it ended very, very badly for them,” he says. “I’ve been very lucky, I realize that; some of the greatest actors in the world are driving cabs, tending bars and waiting tables.”

Mahoney didn’t begin acting professionally until the age of 37, and his early years at the Steppenwolf were invaluable both in terms of learning and exposure. “These days, Steppenwolf is known all around the world,” he says. “We’ve performed everywhere, from Australia to London to Ireland, but at the time, the Steppenwolf was just sort of a well-regarded small theater company in Highland Park. But the more I saw their work, I decided I was going to do it more to learn than anything else, to be on stage with John [Malkovich], Laurie Metcalf, Joan Allen, Gary Sinise, Gary Cole and all these wonderful actors that I so admired. I accepted their

DESIGNING EVERYTHING

THE ART WE LIVE WITH WORDS BY PAT COLANDER

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Mirra Chair

Anything you do that has to do with design in Grand Rapids must start with John Berry, who would be considered the Grand Poobah of form, function and designs for living in this country—and probably further afield than that, when you think about it—if there was such a designate. In John Berry’s biography for Director of Design West Michigan (he is also a professor at Kendall College of Art & Design and curator and liaison to the Eames family collection) it lists architecture, graphic design, industrial design, interior design and other, and under Industry there’s education, furniture, manufacturing, professional services and other. Of course, none of this communicates what his 40 years in the business of people and things is about. But that is precisely what makes the subject of designs we live with so intriguing to so many people who try to write about the crazy messiness of art and science.

J

0 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 5

ohn Berry’s contributions have been plentiful on the communications side of design, where he has been a leader and developer, a corporate director, an author, an archivist and a curator, the publisher of a bi-weekly newspaper, a teacher and a student. John Berry is surprisingly accessible, considering who he is, because the focus of his life is about getting the word out, which makes somebody like me— trying to get a handle on this big, important subject—a person he can empathize with. “Let’s define design,” he says. “Design is really problem-solving and understanding where the user is coming from. Design is about meeting the needs of others.

There is a critical difference between art and design. Art is all about self-expression. Artists can say what they want to say.

Design may be at some point considered to be art if it meets the appropriate criteria. But the definition is important, because of the confusion of art and design in the business world.

And then [in that world] design can be thought of as a luxury.

You have to move design out of this realm of exclusivity and into the realm of necessity.”

Design of anything is a way, as John Berry describes, to make things better.

And furniture-design as it figures into Southwest Michigan—symbolized in the permanent collection at the GRAM—is my topic and there is no better place to start than these millions of chairs that come together at Herman Miller, Inc. Like the basic, some would say perfect, Aeron chair John Berry is sitting in. “The history of the Aeron chair starts with a man named Bill Stumpf,” Berry explains, “looking for products that would allow” someone who was sick, infirm, aging or needing support equipment to continue living at home. During the research process Bill Stumpf and his team came across the idea that when someone is sitting in one spot for long periods of time, the heat builds up. At the time, that idea got shelved in favor of building other things that would solve problems with stoves and grocery-handling, designs the market was demanding.

But Herman Miller—as I would see a week later in a room of hundreds of bankers boxes and cabinets of metal filing trays containing a century of ideas and projects—never throws anything away and certainly not a good idea for a chair. And after some time went by and people starting sitting in their offices on chairs for hours on end and the heat started building up, Herman Miller company starting making the Aeron chair. “And the mesh Aeron chair met a need that people didn’t know they had, and it created a mesh chair market. And that’s the difference in solving a problem and a marketing approach. Good innovative design recognizes and meets a need. It is a neverending job and certainly not the work of one person,” John Berry says.

There have been more than a few large moments in the journey the world is making from un-designed and ugly to designed and beautiful everywhere and

The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, exploded to show their components.

Designed by Vincent Faust.

southwestern Michigan has had more than its share as you will plainly see. But there were a couple of critical leaps made in Minnesota and New York to the integration of life and design.

You cannot talk about good design in everyday living without talking about Target, the Minneapolisbased retailer who made design accessible on every level. “Target started to be a competitor with Kmart as a discount house in the 1960s and they weren’t doing very well,” John Berry explains. “Then they consciously became aware of design and made an effort—and it was all design-based—and they worked with a wonderful design firm in Minneapolis.” The results of the change in philosophy and the Target quest are obvious. So much so that this year’s debut of a Missoni-designed product line of apparel and home products was completely sold out within a few days.

GRAM

Way before the Target version of consumerism, or the science of ergonomics or ethnological research as an economic predictor in the furniture-building business, there was the Museum of Modern Art in New York. As Berry says, MoMA had an extremely influential role setting the course and establishing modern design—contemporary design in the 1940s and 1950s—as an important area for study, exhibiting and collecting. Later, when I’m talking with Dana Friis-Hansen, the executive director at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, he picks up the MoMA thread immediately, almost as though he overheard the conversation a couple weeks earlier.

“Art historians have relied on traditional hierarchies of what is the most noble art,” he says. “In the Renaissance, painting, sculpture and architecture were key arts. Certain things would be included and certain things would not. Design has more and more come to the forefront as one of the areas that I would add to important values of the most exciting art being done today. The Museum of Modern Art was one of the first in the world to have a department of design and architecture and [they] were pioneers in celebrating good design in everyday life. It raised awareness of design, design literacy and its appreciation. It put it out there for conversation that the best designers will change the way we look at common objects.”

The board-based view, as Friis-Hansen says, is that the museums introduce the best ideas from the best designers to a broad general audience, the galleries tell the history and that education will lead artists in new directions in the future. The GRAM is bringing in a graphic design show in 2013, which expostulates collaboration with Cooper-Hewitt Museum at the Smithsonian and the Walker Museum in Minneapolis, along with the Herman Miller generates only nearby design-Goliaths Herman 30 pounds of waste per month Miller, Steelcase, Haworth, and that is not recycled or reused. a few other partners that might Though Herman Miller had only a not readily come to mind like small portion of the total market the design archives at the Henry with $865 million in global Ford museum in Dearborn. sales in 1990, the company had “How many people grew up experienced unprecedented knowing typefaces?” Friis-Hansen growth—from the edge of asks to point out one example. bankruptcy in the 1930s to $49 “[This exhibition] will provide million in 1975 and $492 million context for what sets the in 1985. standards and why.” As educated audiences have become more In the late 1980s, CEO sophisticated, the obligations Max DePree wrote a book of the GRAM become more championing Herman Miller’s interesting, creative and culture, management style and complex as well. One of the a covenant with employees that big ideas in this show is “that cited the individual’s need for common objects such as the “spirit, excellence, beauty and icebox changed because of the joy.” (FundingUniverse.com, 2010) streamlining of America. Planes,

HERMAN MILLER

NOTES

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photo courtesy of [this page] NICK MERRICK/HEDRICH BLESSING

LOW CHAIR WOOD BY CHARLES AND RAY EAMES

2 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 5

That the Design and Modern Craft gallery at the Grand Rapids Art Museum is the only designated gallery on the first floor is a subtle communication about its importance. Adjacencies to the courtyard and the magnificent lobby of the building make the point that this place is the center, where the museum’s heart lies. It is an LCW Eames chair born in 1945 or 1946. • As reported in 100 Years, 100 Works of Art, published last year to celebrate the museum’s birthday with an introduction to its permanent collection, the chair “also referred to as the ‘potato chip’ chair was the original design that connected Charles and Ray Eames to Herman Miller . . . Each component of the chair was streamlined into a minimal organic shape and produced separately, thereby eliminating the need to replace an entire chair if one component cracked during the assembly process.” • Mark Schurman, corporate communications director for Herman Miller, explains the breakthrough with the LCW Eames chair was the design application of molded plywood. Molding plywood was a process that the Eameses (who in addition to being artists were also genius engineers, filmmakers, designers and scientists) had been working on for a while. By the time Eames perfected the technique for mass production, the only market was for products useful and relevant to World War II, so the first best use of molded plywood was to make splints, used to cradle the limbs of wounded soldiers.

The rise of the middle class that followed the end of the war was the first heyday of the chair, which was initially produced in ash, birch, rosewood and walnut, lacquered or not and sometimes covered with fabric. • The LCW on display at the GRAM, purchased for the permanent collection in 2006 during the tenure of the legendary executive director Celeste Adams and curator Rick Axsom, is made of birch with a red aniline stain. (LCWs were also stained in black, but you don’t see those as often.) Thousands of LCWs were made. Unofficially, of course, the chair may have inspired millions more. Knock-offs plague the universe of furniture-making and design, similar to what happens in fashion. In 1999, Time magazine called the LCW, “the best design of the century.” • As Rick Axsom explains, the philosophy behind the gallery is to “gather fine objects, representing decorative arts, furniture and design to trace a history from the late 19th century to the present.” Usually, the beginning of that history is associated with Art Nouveau, which reached an apex in the period designated as mid-20th century design both in Europe and America. The works of art in the gallery, as Rick says, “are all functional, machine-made, mass-produced or handcrafted and have practical aspects that paintings do not have. The little LCW chair is most characteristic of this era.”

HERMAN MILLER

There are two fundamental things to know about Herman Miller: It is a worldwide corporation based in Zeeland, Michigan, with a history of reverence to the value of great design above everything. The second thing is that Herman Miller invented the office cubicle; it was invented in 1968 to be exact.

As noted by Mark Schurman, director of corporate communications at Herman Miller—who was hired by John Berry, the former director of communications at Herman Miller—residential furniture is still a big part of the brand, “but a relatively small part of the business revenue.

The bulk of sales since the late 1960s has been commercial office environments, in furniture systems and work seating.”

Office systems were the major focus for many decades, which led into systems for hospitals and custom-care providers in the last 30 years. About 500 guided client tours (similar to the tour I’m on) occur throughout the campuses (covering more than 2 million square feet) of Herman Miller in Holland, Zeeland and Spring Lake each year. By clients, Mark means corporate customers who are typically spending millions investing in offices, as

photography courtesy of [this page, left] HERMANMILLER.COM; [above] HERMANMILLER ARCHIVES; [opposite page] HERMANMILLER.COM

THE CHAIR OF CHAIRS

trains and automobiles changed the shape of your toaster, refrigerator and Waring blender,” he says.

Dana Friis-Hansen is partial enough to the blender that looks like a speeding bullet that he owns one. The object is so interesting because it is an example of form not following function, reverse design theory, using transportation as the base and a blender as a metaphor. I’m thinking as he shows me a book with illustrations, “This is so cool.”

“We have a gallery dedicated to design and modern craft and we will add and make acquisitions by collaborating with the strongest designers here and what are the influences and what’s happening around the world that we don’t know about” and they do, Friis-Hansen explains.

“That’s how we move forward in a knowledge economy—less about manufacturing and more idea-driven and creative. That is where America is going to be.” Dana Friis-Hansen has just described the operating blueprint at Herman Miller since around 1930.

THE EAMES LOUNGE CHAIR

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The Eames Lounge Chair was a flowering of the LCW born 10 years after its progenitor. The first Eames Lounge Chair (and Ottoman) that I remember and sat in, was in the late 1970s, owned by a friend of mine who was single, in his thirties, had his own tax business and, despite a very facile and creative mind, was obsessed with making money. The owner knew the importance of the chair and the significance of the design, but also understood the visceral and emotional message it conveyed about men in charge of their world. • The ELC was a lounge chair acceptable for an office or the adaptation of an office chair perfect for the library, the study, the precursor of what became the home office du jour. Then-executive director of the GRAM, Celeste Adams, wrote the foreword of a book published along with an exhibition the GRAM curated for the 50th anniversary of the most successful chair in history, describing the first meeting about the exhibition. A steering committee of museum directors and Herman Miller people sat in a circle of Eames lounge chairs to consider the big questions. “What were the characteristics of its cultural moment in mid-1950s America? What did possession of such a chair say about its owners—that they were modern in personal style, open to ideas, comfortable in their skins? Did that describe us as we communally lounged?” • GRAM curator Rick Axsom, who acquired his personal ELC in the 1980s during his 28-year career as a professor at the University of Michigan, says he can’t imagine himself reading in any other chair. It is a rosewood and black leather version, “that’s so comfortable and beautiful,” that he even likes “sitting in another chair and looking at the Eames chair.”

• It now resides in his part-time place in downtown Chicago. Of course Herman Miller continues to make thousands of Eames chairs each year.

A recent catalogue from Design Within Reach offers classics including Eames in “white ash wood, pearl leather upholstery and powder-coated frames. From stunning black-on-black to stellar white-on-white, these iconic pieces are instantly recognizable and seriously new at the same time.” • Herman Miller no longer makes the Eames chair in rosewood, an endangered tropical hardwood. The grain that looks like a flower in full bloom last used in the Eames 670 swivel lounge chair was dropped and replaced with hardwoods that were more abundant, like walnut or cherry. (Mark Schurman clarifies as he shows off numerous examples of the rosewood chair displayed and used on the company’s campus.

There are two problematic factors with rosewood, he says: the difficulty in separating it from the overgrowth in the forest it’s surrounded by, and the foliage that gets wasted as rosewood is removed.) • The materials obviously do not matter. It’s the design. If there is a chair that defines the Mad Men aesthetic, this is it. The classic that never went away, that has only grown and proliferated for more than 50 years. A white leather version of the Eames Lounge Chair is appropriately on display at the GRAM in the window of the Museum Store.

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

well as medical and higher education institutions investing in their own unique industry needs. The amount of spending is not a specific requirement for a tour but presently such hosting is limited to commercial customers.

John Berry came to Herman Miller (and stayed for 35 years) just as the company was moving from the golden era of residential design into the great beyond, which would be the growth of systems. The fascinating side note is that John Berry, who was working for a contractor of the defense department who was designing the interior of a new intelligence agency in Washington in the late 1960s, was shopping around a $6 million furniture order to Herman Miller and Action Office 1970 others when he first visited the company.

He ended up with the onerous task of convincing his client that open office systems were the solution.

“You can imagine it was a very difficult job to put that information in front of military folks,” Berry says. (When the project was built in the early 1980s—waylaid by a recession in the ’70s—Berry was long gone. Knoll, another furniture company, got the bid.)

Dirk Jan DePree and his father-in-law Herman Miller became the major stockholders in the furniture-making company that became Herman Miller Furniture Company in 1923. Shortly before the Chicago World’s Fair in 1932 and in the throes of the Great Depression, DePree made an incredibly risky decision to hire the designer Gilbert Rohde, who moved the company into modern, modular furniture for homes and offices. After Rohde died in 1944, George Nelson, an architect by trade but a gifted influencer and philosopher more along the lines of a Steve Jobs, became the design director who recruited legends like Isamu Noguchi, Charles and Ray Eames, Robert Propst and Alexander Girard.

(Nelson was also a graphic designer and created a few iconic pieces of furniture himself, including the Ball Clock and the Sling Sofa.)

In 1960, the company became Herman Miller, Inc., now a publicly held company. In 1961 Dirk DePree was succeeded by his son, Hugh DePree, who was succeeded by his brother Max DePree in the mid-eighties, who was the CEO until 1990. With the exception of a few short off-periods, Herman Miller has been wildly successful ever since the mid-1930s.

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Molded-plywood leg splint for U.S. Navy, 1943.

If you want to do additional reading on this subject, there are dozens of books and websites— and of course, hermanmiller.com—that go into fascinating detail on the highlights I am able to only skim across the surface of here. And there are other companies (some that were caused by Herman Miller) that are large, that make furniture and that are based in the Grand Rapids area. But Herman Miller is the city on the hill.

One of the most interesting facts about Herman Miller—and the building in Holland called “The Greenhouse” in particular—is that the company does not stockpile inventory, even though most of the chairs shipped in North America are built here in Michigan.

Out on the floor, I’m watching multiple chair assembly line teams today putting together Aerons and Mirras, Cellas and SAYL chairs. The Mirra is similar to the Aeron but at approximately 15 percent less cost and comes in terrific colors like Cappuccino, Terra Cotta, Blue Fog and Citron—the color of the Mirra chair I’m sitting in now—but that isn’t why I feel so proud of the team making Mirras.

I’m proud of the team because another boring black (and no doubt best-selling) Mirra comes off the assembly line every 28 seconds with an incident rate that is pretty miniscule.

Later on in the tour I see the Mirra chair again in the test laboratory, where it is being tortured and battered, weighted with static loads and punished with dropped loads of hundreds of pounds. I come away with a new and awesome understanding: the Mirra will outlast me and possibly my children’s children as well. On second thought, maybe I should have gotten a black chair that goes with everything.

As Mark Schurman and I make our way through the buildings and the showrooms displaying office pods and hyper-technology hospital rooms, he points out that every so often we pass an area that looks not so much like a lobby or an employee lounge area, but what is commonly known as a living room. He explains that this is the last segment in the circle that is leading back to a renewed interest in the residential furniture business. Mark explains that Herman Miller has always been full service for the workplace and that today’s

workplaces are becoming more like living spaces.

(Of course the home office has been standard for years.) And designing classic pieces for the way people live is at the core of the company.

“Charles Eames never set out to design a classic,” as John Berry says. “These things [designs] don’t happen casually. Someone once asked Charles Eames, what was it like to have this flash for the Eames Lounge Chair and he said that it was sort of a flash, about a 30-year flash. You identify a need, then research and understand the problem and try to make it better. You can’t start to design a classic because the results will be determined by others.

Like Eames you start with the question, ‘How can we do low-cost seating more effectively?’”

At the end of the tour, Mark Schurman ushers me into “the holy of holies,” the archive kept at the building known as “The Farmhouse.” This is not only the life’s work of the company and every designer, engineer and work team member, but also a project that was built and organized by John Berry. Another of John Berry’s accomplishments was creating a Herman Miller museum archive collection that tours and partners with museums all over the world. The impressive archive includes everything from Art Deco flyers and brochures from the 1930s to Life magazine spreads on cutting-edge modular furniture in the 1960s in addition to a furniture cache including the first couch and the first desk and office unit made by the company. The sacred archive rooms contain the artifacts that would be used in Schurman’s vision of a permanent public space with rotating displays of the objects and furniture that lives here.

If you ask John Berry what the biggest obstacle is to innovation and creativity in the design of furniture, he would have to say, “It’s the stock market. The drive on quarterly earnings causes companies to be very uncomfortable investing for long-term benefit. And good design should have a long-term view.” In this, he is undoubtedly right. The bankers boxes full of ideas that didn’t get made in the Herman Miller archive are living examples of furniture and objects and tools that never happened.

But the fact that the ideas are still there, means they could still happen. The best of both worlds, maybe. That’s why a month ago before I even took the tour, I bought a very few measly shares of MLHR stock, and in the interest of full disclosure I have to tell you that that stock has gone up almost every day since then.

photo courtesy of [top] MICHAEL BROSILOW, [left] NICKER MERRICK/HEDRICH BLESSING

Aeron Chairs

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

guide to HOLIDAY gifting 2011

Thoughtful gift-giving is a process that is kind of complicated, especially for those who do it well. Once you get past the stage where the recipient is no longer making a list for Santa Claus, empathy is required. The giver needs to pretend he or she is the receiver and figure out what it is that person would want. • When the magic empathy works, the results are joyous: couples fall a little more in love; children never forget the year they were surprised with their heart’s desire and family generations bond over a beloved heirloom as it is passed down.

Sometimes it’s the element of surprise that’s the key, and that can involve hours of research on the part of the gift-giver.

• With the help of our advertisers, we are here to lighten the creativity overload with our gift guide this year. We have compiled a number of suggestions for gifts that we hope might surprise and delight your friends and family.

Happy Holidays!

THE EDITORS OF SHORE

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Friday, december 2Nd Mayor Joseph M. Stahura hosts

illumiNated christmas Parade 7:00PM • Downtown Whiting saNta thrOuGh the aGes Studio 659 • 1413-119th Street Opening at 6:59pm

saturday, december 3rd arts alive cOOkie sale

hOME fOr thE

Studio 659 • 1413-119th Street 9:00am-1:00pm St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Presents

vilija

Whiting, in

(Traditional Slovak Christmas Eve Dinner)

St. John Mural Room 119th st. & Lincoln Ave. Social at 5:00pm • Dinner at 5:30pm $30 per person Reservations 219-659-0292 The City of Whiting & Baran Funeral Home WhitiNG Park Festival Orchestra aNd chOrus

hOliday POPs cONcert Marian Memorial Auditorium 119th St. & Lincoln Ave. • 7:30pm $14 in advance $15 at the door Reservations 219-659-0292 sPecial cONcert aNd vilija $40 per person

Whiting Park Festival Orchestra and Chorus

THE WHITING PARK FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS: A TRUE HEADLINER

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he Whiting Park Festival Orchestra and Chorus, founded in 2000, is the City of Whiting’s very own professional orchestra. Comprised of 45 very talented musicians, the orchestra is the headliner for Whiting’s “Summer with the Symphony” program, the annual summer outdoor concert series held at Whiting’s beautiful lakefront park, on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. With the magnificent Chicago Skyline as its backdrop, this venue attracts thousands to the lakefront for beautiful music under the stars. This wonderful orchestra performs a very versatile repertoire from the extraordinary classics of Mozart, Bach and Beethoven to more contemporary sounds of Gershwin, Porter and McCartney. The orchestra and chorus also perform an annual “Holiday Pops Concert.” Ringing in the sounds of the season, it is a beautiful way to kick off the holiday season for the entire family! Annual subscriptions for the “Summer with the Symphony” program are available and make a wonderful gift or stocking-stuffer for that special person in your life.

Subscriptions are available at the Whiting-Robertsdale Chamber of WHITING PARK FESTIVAL Commerce office. For information ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS call 219.659.0292.

219.659.0292

Dune Clothiers at the Schoolhouse Shop

SCHOOLHOUSE SHOP PROUDLY INTRODUCES DUNE CLOTHIERS

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ur latest feature at Schoolhouse Shop is Dune Clothiers. The essence of Dune Clothiers is to present affordable, quality clothing and accessories for both women and men who appreciate the lifestyle indigenous to coastal Lake Michigan.

The clothing selections range from small to 2X. A large selection of jewelry is offered, ranging from costume to luxury. Accessories include hats, scarves and handbags for women, high-quality, comfortable sweaters, shirts and tops for men, and hats for men.

Dune Clothiers, housed in the former Furnessville Schoolhouse built in 1886, provides the unique atmosphere for a memorable shopping experience in northern Indiana.

The schoolhouse houses 12 departments, from Dune Clothiers to the Magic Pantry, which features gourmet food and kitchen accessories.

DUNE CLOTHIERS AT THE Gifts SCHOOLHOUSE SHOP extraordinaire 278 East 1500 North (at Furnessville) and fine art Chesterton, Ind. as well as 219.926.5001. duneclothiers.com

international personal care products are offered.

You’ll find ceramics and glassware, quality candles, and for children, Grandma’s Attic. Additionally, you’ll find accents for the home, Labriola bread on weekends, as well as cards, stationery and fine paper products and nostalgic candies.

Dune Clothiers

at the Schoolhouse Shop

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PROVIDED

Southwest Michigan

FUN HOLIDAY MEMORIES START IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN

DECEMBER DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2011/JANUARY 2012 2012

get tickets now to the 73rd Senior PGA Championship Tournament that will be held at the Golf Club at Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor, in May 2012. Go to pga.com/seniorpga/2012 for ordering information.

Of course shopping for gifts is just one way to spend time together in Southwestern Michigan. This is also a great place to get outdoors and play. Figure skate at our outdoor rinks in St. Joseph and South Haven. Downhill ski or snowboard at Swiss Valley in Jones or Timber Ridge in Gobles. Cross-country ski or snowshoe at our nature centers scattered throughout our counties including Sarett in Benton Harbor or Love Creek in Berrien Center. Ice fish on inland lakes. Go birdwatching in our woods. Hike snow-covered dunes in our state parks.

Take winter walks in our quaint towns or along Lake Michigan with its picturesque ice formations.

Those who prefer warmer entertainment will have no trouble finding that as well. The Silver Beach Carousel in St. Joseph offers more than 48 unique figures and two chariots to ride among festive decorations and holiday music. Every Thursday evening until spring the carousel offers a new theme of family activities and half-off on carousel rides. Children will also enjoy exploring Curious Kids’ Museum and Discovery Zone hands-on exhibits, also in St. Joseph. And all ages will be awed by the displays of what life was like here 12,000 years ago when they step back in time at the Ice Age Imperials traveling exhibit at the St. Joseph Heritage Museum and Cultural Center. You can also catch a live show on stage. Or try your luck at Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo.

All this winter fun no doubt will make you hungry, so you can get a snack or enjoy a meal at one of the eclectic restaurants and cafes that attract some of the region’s finest chefs. Then, when the day is done and everyone is ready to gather by the fireplace, there is a wide selection of lodgings and bed and breakfast inns where you can rest up for another day of holiday tradition making.

So don’t let another year go by without spending memorable moments with the people you enjoy most. Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council can help you plan your SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN time together with our list of fun activities TOURIST COUNCIL and lodgings at swmichigan.org. Or call 269.925.6301 us at 269.925.6301 and we’ll help you swmichigan.org make some of the best times of your life.

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ime together is one of the best gifts anyone can give to family and friends during the winter holiday season. So whether you gather for a day or for several, you’ll discover there is no shortage of ways to make memories together in Southwestern Michigan’s Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties.

A great start to the holidays is to cut your own Scotch pine or choose a fresh, pre-cut pine, fir or spruce at Pinecrest Christmas Tree Farm in Galien. A Christmas shop, wreaths, free hot chocolate and hayrides on weekday afternoons and weekends round out the memorybuilding on this charming farm.

Art galleries, boutiques and antique shops throughout the region offer an array of locally made as well as internationally crafted decorations and gifts that cannot be found in malls or big box stores.

Water Street Glassworks, one of several galleries in the arts district of Benton Harbor, showcases one-of-a-kind glass ornaments and gifts. Customs Imports on Whittaker Street in New Buffalo offers an amazing collection of folk art, finely crafted furniture and textiles from around the world. Its Grand Party on Dec. 2 is a great way to explore over 15,000 square feet of treasures and sample local foods, wines and beer.

That party is one of this area’s many holiday open houses. Check the November and December event calendars at swmichigan.org for others being held at lakeside stores, museums and art centers. They’ll help you rediscover the pleasure of gift buying.

Another source of gift ideas can be found along the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Country trail. Take a beautiful winter drive, stopping at more than a dozen wineries and tasting rooms along the way to sample award-winning wines and sparkling juices. When you find your favorites, you can take home a bottle or case to give as hospitality gifts or to serve at holiday gatherings. While you’re adventuring, don’t miss the chocolate and sweet shops along the way. They are great places to get a snack or special gifts, too.

You can also find gifts that will help you spend time together next spring and summer. Contact fishing charters, golf courses and lodgings throughout Southwestern Michigan for gift cards or weekend packages that you can purchase and wrap up for the holidays. (You’ll find listings at swmichigan.org.) And if you want to wow golfers on your list,

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Decorating Den Interiors

GIVE YOUR HOME A NEW LOOK

Furniture

Y

Lighting Floor Coverings Accessories

Cathi Lloyd (219)365-0198 www.DecDens.com/cathilloyd

Creating Beautiful Rooms Since 1969

Each franchise independently owned and operated

www.DecoratingDen.com

CLloyd November 2011test Tuesday, September 27, 2011 11:31:07 AM

ou’re yearning for a fresh, new look for your dining room, living room—perhaps the whole house—but the choices seem endless. Thankfully, the solution is simple: Decorator Cathi Lloyd, owner of Decorating Den Interiors in St. John, Indiana, brings 22 years of experience to helping clients select the fabric, the feel, the fun of transforming your living space into one you’re happy to come home to, every day.

“Making the world beautiful one room at a time is our motto,” Lloyd says. “My clients really appreciate that we’re a full-service in-home design company. They don’t have to go store to store seeking the right look; I do all that work for them, in the comfort of their own home, saving them an incredible amount of time.”

Having your personal decorator means no endless communication with contractors, vendors or installers, either—Lloyd takes care of everything, from concept to completion, so you don’t have to. From adding a few statement accents to creating custom window treatments and entire rooms, Lloyd pulls everything together for a finished look you’ll love.

Call to schedule a free initial consultation—the start of a wonderful collaboration in selecting colors and designs to fit your style, taste and budget. Consider the possibilities: carpeting and area rugs; upholstery; custom window treatments and blinds and shades; lighting for any area; custom bedding and bed sets; wall art, and more.

DECORATING DEN Let Cathi Lloyd help you select all INTERIORS the things that personalize a room, from 219.365.0198 a kitchen makeover to a haven-at-home decdens.com/cathilloyd bedroom.

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GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION The Grand Party

THE GRAND PARTY...

THIS ISN’T JUST ANY PARTY HOW DID THE GRAND PARTY (TGP) GET STARTED? It started as a mixer about 5 years ago and was so much fun I decided to open it up to the world. It has been a pretty stressful time for many of us and I felt everyone I knew just needed a “let go, feel good moment.” And wow, was I right! This wasn’t just any party, it was a GRAND party.

Casey’s is the “CHEERS” of New Buffalo. Great food, and the live entertainment is always something to write home about! Visit caseysnewbuffalo.com.

Each of these restaurants have earned  restaurant critiques

by Dee Dee.

SO WHAT’S THE PURPOSE? I want to introduce a way to bring shopping to a whole new level, an experience of the senses. It’s about social networking; you never know who you will meet here, and it is an atmosphere that lends itself to conversation and introductions.

LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU! The musical talent that will be here is world class!

WHAT ABOUT YOUR OTHER SPONSORS? WHO ARE THEY? The absolute best!

New Buffalo Business Association has the most dedicated board and members that I have ever known. Watching them opened my eyes to the commitment that is in this town. They are the “EVENTS” people for New Buffalo and they are ABSOLUTELY amazing. (newbuffalo.org)

FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT’S BEEN MOVED TO A FRIDAY EVENING EVENT... So many friends and customers wanted to come from Grand Rapids and Chicago, but could not get here on a Thursday night, so this year it is the first Friday of December.

I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SPECIAL OFFERS FOR THOSE OF US WHO WANT TO SPEND THE NIGHT? Enjoy special rates at Marina GRAND Resort or Harbor GRAND, a waterfront inn. Just ask for the GRAND RATES for Friday, Dec. 2.

Visit harborgrand.com and marinagrandresort.com.

WHAT DO PEOPLE WEAR TO TGP? It’s a night to shine, have fun and be what you wanna be. Dress code is Funky Casual to Black Tie to Cocktail Chic. Last year I pulled out an old HALSTON creation that stands the test of time and rises to the top of the HOT list.

Bluefish Vacation Rentals and Sales When you see good things happening in the community, you will see Bluefish Vacation Rentals and Sales on board. Book now for 2012. (bluefishvacations.com) AND WHAT’S THE STORY OF THE LADIES OF BALI AND THE LIPSTICK DRIVE? Please bring lipsticks and polish to CUSTOMS for TGP! I take it to the ladies of Bali. It is an expected tradition.

My beautiful friends love the lipstick I give them. They save it for their special ceremonies and for temple. Last year when I announced it was lipstick day, all of the workers at the bungalows stood up and shouted, “The gods have truly appeared at Three Brothers Bungalows today!”

I take it on up to the rice paddies into the tiny villages where I buy primitive carving from these families.

A wonderful luxury for them, it has become one of my favorite events of the year. It is my tiny contribution to make the world more colorful—by spreading LIPSTICK around the world!

WHAT KIND OF ENTERTAINMENT WILL WE BE TREATED TO? Always a surprise, NO ONE who has been at TGP has ever been disappointed... karaoke with the stars and other surprises in the making... great singers and musicians who just want to spread the world with love through their music.

IS THERE AN AFTER PARTY? The after party will be announced during The Grand Party...it is top secret.

IS IT TRUE THAT WHAT HAPPENS AT TGP STAYS AT TGP? ABSOLUTELY!!

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

WOW! YOU HAVE A STELLAR LIST OF RESTAURANTS...WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FOODS WE WILL BE SAMPLING? I really want to showcase the incredible restaurants that take part in TGP; they have become as much to this event as is CUSTOMS. SKIPS is famous for their prime rib, steaks, chops and seafood. This is my favorite place for melt-in-your-mouth comfort food, AND a terrific farmers’ market.

Visit skipsrestaurantandcatering.info.

Timothy’s at Gordon Beach Inn... serving outrageous Asian fusion seafood and martinis that scream “wake up, taste buds!” Visit timothysrestaurant.com.

SAHARA... Everybody LOVES Moe, and his authentic Middle Eastern dining experience, as he presents it with flair, an oasis in downtown Michigan City. Visit sahara-restaurant.net.

Nora Duffy - Sothesby Realty Nora is a sales associate for Crawford Group, Sotheby’s International Realty, doing business with integrity. She actually donates 5 percent of her commission to a charity of your choice when you successfully buy or sell through her—love that! (nora.duffy@sothebysrealty.com)

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ARE THERE SPECIALS FOR THE EVENING? Everyone will receive a gift certificate as they enter, and we will offer special prices for that night only.

GOLFWEEK’S TOP 100 MODERN COURSES GOLF DIGEST ’S TOP 100

Lost Dunes Golf Club

A MEMBERSHIP TO LOST DUNES GOLF CLUB IS A GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING

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There are currently opportunities available for both equity and non-equity memberships. In addition, a limited number of Annual memberships are currently available, allowing for a rare first-hand experience at one of the Midwest’s premier clubs.

9300 Red Arrow Highway Bridgman, MI 49106 269.465.9300 www.lostdunes.com

ensational golf in a private, beautiful environment, and unparalleled service from a welcoming staff make Lost Dunes an exceptional, distinguished destination for golfers and their

families.

“People know from the moment they drive through the gates here that Lost Dunes is a truly privileged experience,” says Lost Dunes’ Bill Korbel. “They can relax, enjoy golfing on a superb course, and know the whole staff has the attitude of ‘What can we do to help you?’”

A trial membership at Lost Dunes’ elegant accommodations makes a unique and exciting gift, one that can be enjoyed for an entire season for the annual fee of $6,900, and includes unlimited use by a spouse and children under 23.

And, if the decision is made by the end of the season to convert to a full membership, a credit of $3,000 will be applied towards the initiation fee.

“People have found this to be a great gift for a spouse; it will thrill any diehard golfer wanting a high-quality experience,” Korbel says.

Lost Dunes has a 6,900-yard, par-71 course with 18 holes amongst the contours of a reclaimed sand quarry engulfed by 60-foot dunes. Views from elevated tees are panoramic, fairways are immaculate, and varying pin placements on massive, undulating greens offer new challenges every day. The course was dubbed number 63 in Golf Digest America’s Greatest Golf Courses and for 11 years has been included in Golfweek’s Best Modern Courses. Golfers enjoy a secluded practice area for putting and chipping and a driving area framed by rolling terrain and indigenous hardwoods.

Families are welcome at Lost Dunes. “This is an exclusive private club without the stuffiness.” With a large swimming pool, overnight accommodations, championship golf course, fishing dock and a fire pit for memorable evenings under the stars, Lost Dunes is an incomparable experience.

“Here, it’s the intangibles that people appreciate as well as the beautiful setting. It’s the time with family, the elegant LOST DUNES GOLF CLUB facilities, and the impeccable 9300 Red Arrow Hwy service that make Lost Dunes Bridgman, Mich. an experience you can’t get just 269.465.9300 lostdunes.com anywhere.”

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Silver Beach Carousel in St. Joseph, Mich.

GIVE HAPPINESS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR HOLIDAY WISH LIST

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here is one place in Southwestern Michigan that always whirls with joy—Silver Beach Carousel in St. Joseph, Mich. From mid-morning to sunset the carousel house fills with happy memories as children and adults delight in riding their favorite hand-carved figure or chariot to the spiritlifting band organ music.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to give this joy to family and friends this holiday? You can! Just visit the carousel at 333 Broad Street or the online gift shop at silverbeachcarousel.com for a selection of “sure-tomake-someone-happy” gift ideas.

An idea that’s at the top of the wish list (and one that’s very affordable, too) is carousel tokens. You can buy them individually or in money-saving quantities at the carousel or order them online in special packages.

A gift that will bring back happy memories is the laser-cut, 3-dimensional bronze Silver Beach Carousel ornament that will add magic to any tree’s boughs. Don’t miss the three enchanting, hand-carved conifers, painted and signed by one of the Silver Beach Carousel’s master carvers. They make festive holiday decorations or add four-season charm to home and cottage décors.

The children’s book, How Noel Saved Christmas, tells the heartwarming story of how Noel, the Christmas horse on the Silver Beach Carousel, comes to Santa’s rescue when the reindeer catch a holly berry rash that sends them all to bed!

Joy to the whirled!

PROVIDED Need stocking stuffers or hospitality gifts? Silver Beach Carousel handmade soaps are deliciously scented and almost too pretty to unwrap.

Girls and women will also treasure the sterling silver carousel horse charm that can be added to bracelets or earrings. Have a baby on your list? The “Future Carousel Operator” Rabbit Skins® onesies featuring the Silver Beach Carousel giraffe, Raffe, or elephant, Peanut, are very cuddly.

There are other choices, too, from retro-style posters to books to a carousel music CD that will please the men, teens and grandparents on your list.

Of course the gift that will make everyone the happiest is time spent at the carousel. So come for all the fun winter activities (including our family themed nights with half-off carousel rides every Thursday from 4-8:30 p.m.). Or let’s talk about how we can help you plan an unforgettable family or company party at Silver Beach Carousel at facebook.com/ silverbeachcarousel or email us at rentals@silverbeachcarousel.com SILVER BEACH CAROUSEL or call 269.982.8500.

269.982.8500 Happy holidays! silverbeachcarousel.com

Need gift ideas that will create fun all year round?

Here are a few of the FUNtastic ideas you’ll find at our gift shop or online at www.silverbeachcarousel.com/gifts.

Gift tubes filled with fun Give 3 carousel tokens, a carousel passport, chocolates, coloring book and crayons for only $10 (value of package is $15).

Knuth Written by ChristineSchirmer Illustrated by Susan

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Mayo Studios

333 Broad St. • St. Joseph, MI • 269-982-8500 www.silverbeachcarousel.com • facebook.com/silverbeachcarousel

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

Delight the little ones on your list This hardcover book with full-color illustrations tells the charming story of how Noel, The Christmas Horse on the Silver Beach Carousel, helped Santa bring joy around the world.

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GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PHOTO COURTESY OF SERTA

Indiana Furniture Showcase

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION A MUST AT INDIANA FURNITURE SHOWCASE “I used to think a bed was a bed, but it’s really not. With the iComfort, there is a huge difference in the way it conforms to your body. You never wake up wrong, you never wake up sore. I just feel rested and ready to go.

I never thought a bed would make that big of a difference, but it’s amazing how this bed has. I love it. It’s one of the best investments we’ve made.” -Nancy Adams, Indiana Furniture Showcase Satisfied Customer

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Steinhilber says. Indiana Furniture Showcase’s commitment to quality doesn’t stop there. “We don’t just deliver customers’ purchases; we set them up for the customer, we make sure everything is working properly.

“Genuine value, high-quality INDIANA FURNITURE furnishings, and unmatched customer SHOWCASE service with integrity and trust—that’s 1807 E Lincolnway our mission.”

Valparaiso, Ind. -Matt Steinhilber, General Manager, 219.465.0545 Indiana Furniture Showcase indiana-furniture.com

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

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s a family-owned business for 31 years, “It’s still all about customer satisfaction,” says Matt Steinhilber, general manager of Indiana Furniture Showcase.

“Our new iComfort Sleep System by Serta comes with a 120-day trial, ensuring just that.” With over 70,000 square feet of home furnishings, Indiana Furniture is the largest full-line furniture store in Northwest Indiana. Whether it’s an accent piece, bedroom set or entire room, “our designers work with our customers, really listen to them, to discover the style, look and comfort they’re truly going to enjoy. Everything has to be to our customer’s satisfaction,”

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Sawyer Garden Center

SAWYER GARDEN CENTER HAS THE HOLIDAYS COVERED

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t the holidays, you want gifts to reflect the season’s special joys. Sawyer Garden Center understands how hectic holiday shopping and endless poring over catalogs can take time away from enjoying the season. That’s why Sawyer Garden Center has gathered quality gifts—everything from greenery to gourmet foods and more—under one roof.

“We’re a great seasonal destination because we go all out for the holidays,” Chris Barnes says. You’ll find everything to deck the halls of your home, including live green garlands for a festive foyer, staircase and doorways. Any table is instantly brightened with the garden center’s fresh poinsettias in red, pink, white and variegated hues.

Sawyer Garden Center has a huge selection of incredibly fresh-looking artificial trees; choose a pre-lit tree and create a stunning focal point in any room. There’s a collection of lovely keepsake ornaments for you to add to your tree and pick up a few more for gifts that will be brought out and enjoyed for years to come.

Sawyer Garden Center has a terrific selection of fine cheeses for gifting with one of their cheese serving sets or marble cheese boards.

Pair a fine cheese with a fine wine: an entire room is devoted to wines from Europe to the U.S., including from Michigan’s popular wineries.

(Sample three different wines at the store every Saturday!) And, “We have a great hand-selected offering of Michigan’s finest craft brews,”

PHOTO BY TONY V. MARTIN Barnes says, “always a very popular and well-received gift,” for a holiday party or special friends.

Setting a beautiful table is easy: Just visit the kitchen section for tablecloths, napkins, napkin rings, glassware, platters, and the very popular TAG ceramic dishes. You’ll love the fabulous pastries that include elegant pies and crisps, to serve at once or to buy frozen and bake when you’re ready. There’s everything for a well-appointed table, everything for a welcome gift.

Sawyer Garden Center also has a room filled with fragrant Yankee Candles in colors for every décor, and special bath and body products SAWYER GARDEN CENTER for thoughtful, pretty gifts for friends 5865 Sawyer Rd and family.

Sawyer, Mich.

“It’s true,” Barnes says, “we’re the 269.426.8810 perfect Christmas gift place.” sawyergardencenter.com

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GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Ms. Elle’s Especially for You

MS. ELLE’S OFFERS STYLE, SOPHISTICATION

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ophisticated, stylish and spiritual are words to describe our upscale ladies’ boutique. Ms. Elle’s offers dressy, casual and contemporary apparel, accessories, handbags, millinery and jewelry. All items are beautiful, unique and one-of-a-kind, and we feature upcoming local designers and artists from NWI and the Chicagoland area.

Boutique sizes range from 4 to 24. Special services include custom-made apparel and jewelry, seamstress alterations, gift certificates, personal shopping, closet therapy and event planning. Ms. Elle’s is recognized as a community favorite due to our professional and friendly service, as well as our affordable selections.

MS. ELLE’S ESPECIALLY FOR YOU 2235 45th St Highland, Ind. 219.924.4204 mselles.com

“Ms Elle”, the owner’s mother, has inspired ladies to their best. It’s our desire to share our fashion sense so your spirit shines within & your signature style radiates.

2235 45th Street | Highland, IN phone 219-924-4204 | www.mselles.com

PHOTO BY TONY V. MARTIN

Bayberry Cottage

BAYBERRY COTTAGE HAS UNIQUE ITEMS TO FIT YOUR PERSONALITY

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Spruce up your home for the Holidays!

• SPLASHY PILLOWS • COLORFUL RUGS • VIBRANT FABRICS • FABULOUS FURNITURE • UNIQUE BEDDING

Downtown South Haven

(269) 639.9615 BayberryCottage.com

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Chairs like Presents Too.

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

e believe that your home should be casual, inviting, beautiful, fun and comfortable, and the goodies that we find from one end of the country to the other are a means to that end. We believe that building a beautiful home is an ongoing project, and the best parts of that project are the unexpected “finds.” We believe that color is nothing to fear, so we’ve always got color in stock. We believe that your home should directly reflect your personality, so our girls are always happy to sit with you and find special order options to make it yours. We believe that your home should be unique, which is why when we find an item that we think is really special, we won’t order more than one or two and when they’re gone, they’re gone. We believe that there’s something pretty special about that big ol’ lake in our backyard and it’s fitting to use its beauty as inspiration. We believe that as much fun as we’re BAYBERRY COTTAGE having at the store, it would 510 Phoenix St be even better if you’d stop by South Haven, Mich.

Bayberry Cottage to meet us and 269.639.9615 bayberrycottage.com talk about your ongoing project!

Make your holiday (or soMeone else’s) Merry and bright!

Your HTI design team: Kerry, Stephanie, “Jack” and Mary Kay

Want to make your house extra-special for the holidays? Or is there Want to make your house extra-special for the holidays? Or is there someone on your list that is hard to buy for? You’ll find all sorts of fun, someone on your list that is hard to buy for? You’ll find all sorts of fun, one-of-a-kind gifts, furniture, lighting, fabrics and accessories that will one-of-a-kind gifts, furniture, lighting, fabrics and accessories that will brighten anyone’s home brighten anyone’s home.

Come in and take a peek – You”re sure to find a star!

Come in and take a peek – You’re sure to find a star!

Come in for the fun of it!

613 Broad St., St. JoSeph, Michigan • 269-983-7774 open Seven dayS thursday hurSdayS eveningS Open seven daysa aweek week and and T evenings . .

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PHOTOS BY TONY V. MARTIN

HarborTown Interiors

HARBORTOWN’S MERRY TREASURES BRIGHTEN THE HOLIDAYS

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

as ready-made bed coverings for a quick makeover. Or choose your very own design in custom-made duvet and shams. Add HarborTown Interiors’ lovely reminders of the season—a softly glowing lamp, merrily decorative pillows, and more.

HarborTown Interiors prides itself in obtaining items made in the USA or fashioned from reclaimed materials and repurposed lumber.

It’s good to know your purchase may well have been from a fair-trade company. Stephanie and MaryKay also seek out treasures you simply don’t find just anywhere. Twice-a-year jaunts to the International Home Furnishings Market in North Carolina plus other travels yield fascinating finds; it’s like having your own personal shopper. From a recent trip to New York, a decorative mirror whose oxidized copper frame (from the exterior of an old building in the city) will give character to a hallway, bath or wherever your imagination leads you.

Second homes and beach cottages take on new life with great finds for their coastal theme: • Washable slip-covered furniture that shrugs off snacks and sand • Decorative TV trays for casual summer meals • Outdoor fabrics to recover cushions • Rugs durable enough for outdoors, soft enough for indoors • Colored vases for placement on windowsills for the sun to splash through • Bright glass fishing floats to reflect the waters of Lake Michigan and maritime tradition • Go all funky with a vintage tin potato chip can-turned-lamp Lovers of the eclectic will revel at gifts that are out-of-the-box original and environmentally friendly, like a glass stand made of repurposed vases and platters placed beneath a vintage sign. Those who tend toward an urban flair and clean lines will also find room settings with both a weathered wood/industrial feel, as well as espresso-toned wood with shiny chrome accents.

HarborTown Interiors’ vast fabric selections and resource library can satisfy, no matter what your flavor.

“We love what we do,” Stephanie says. “We stay ahead of the trends, we don’t leave anything to chance, and we get it right the first time. We have what HARBORTOWN INTERIORS it takes to make your home 613 Broad St festive!”

St. Joseph, Mich.

No wonder the holidays are 269.983.7774 more fun here! harbortowninteriors.com

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hen you step into HarborTown Interiors you step into a cool vibe, so take a moment to just gaze—because you’re going to want to grab everything in sight to make the season bright. You’ll thank your stars—and HarborTown Interiors—for a treasure trove of holiday gifts and seasonal décor. It is indeed a “Pleasure Hunt.”

Pick bright colors in fun furniture to have guests smiling the moment they arrive at your home, and choose comfy, quality name-brand furniture for evenings of conversation and celebration. Looking for the gift that goes beyond the same-old, same-old? HarborTown has that, too. But don’t let the light-hearted atmosphere fool you: This place is serious about providing high-quality products and services.

Stephanie Grill, MaryKay Hylton and Kerry Cressler have created the destination shop along the coast for the casual, relaxed lifestyle.

It’s clear they’ve had fun gathering an amazing collection ranging from complete living room and bedroom groups to accessories and finishing touches.

Holiday decorating—whether one room or the whole house— becomes an enjoyable adventure with HarborTown Interiors’ complete interior design services. Not exactly sure how to get the look or feel you’re after? Or simply don’t have enough time to devote to the project? Kerry, Stephanie and MaryKay specialize in in-home consultations. They will visit, listen and look as extensively or minimally as you need for the space. From an entire home makeover to a single room, each can suggest choices that reflect your personality and assure you and your guests’ comfort.

Not to worry, says Stephanie: “You don’t always have to re-do the whole room. Sometimes all it takes is rearranging a few furnishings, then adding accent pieces to reflect the season, like wall art or a rug to freshen the look with minimal cost.”

Fall in love with your home all over again with fresh fabrics, a richly patterned rug, or a conversation starter like a cocktail table made of driftwood and glass. If you’re looking to redecorate and update the look with new furniture, try Norwalk, Vanguard, FourSeasons, Wesley Hall, Stanley Furniture, Paula Deen or Kincaid, to name a few. Pull the whole look together with a fabulous rug from Company C, Dash & Albert, Jaipur or Surya.

Your bedroom is your very personal space, where style and substance meet for your ultimate comfort. You’ll find creative bed styles and comfortable mattress sets at HarborTown Interiors as well

Customs Imports

START SPREADING THE NEWS: CUSTOMS IS THE NEW NORMAL FOR AMAZING SHOPPING

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xciting as opening night, personal as a private adventure. When you pass through CUSTOMS Imports, you develop a kinship with artisans from afar, as their imaginations bring you a world of possibilities for embracing your personal Look. Be daring, be demure, be sensual, but

you must be here.

Enter into a treasure chest of gold and silver, jewelry cast from beautiful, mysterious dreams. Bold or delicate, these are pieces that inspire touch, evoke a yearning to be worn. Gifting yourself and others with wearable pleasures keeps confidence near you all through the day.

Then, on to jewels for your home, inspired by other world cultures and treasured Americana. Here are masterful carvings whose forms speak to you in languages both daring and subtle. Each collection is well thought out; the feel, the shapes and inspirations from Las Vegas markets are here. Discover homestead pieces in the best wood of the nourishing farmland, now to nourish your home with its character.

From her world travels, fearless and tender Dee Dee Duhn personally selects pieces reflecting the beauty and mystery of many cultures. She connects with the artists, from Italian designers who take months to create their pieces, to artisans in exotic yet needful lands, where with each purchase she contributes in some way to the families; a passionate purpose is furthering the education of Balinese families.

Like a leaf on a sparkling river, you move through exotic lands at CUSTOMS, delighting in each destination.

Trail your fingertips over textiles woven in silken elegance, in kittensoft comfort, in nubbly, dramatic design—everything to accent your life, your personality, your home. Marvel at humankind’s ingenuity in repurposing materials and fashioning must-have beauty from sustainable resources, so that you feel the glow of linking your enjoyment with Earth’s well-being.

Breathe...You have arrived at SANCTUARY, a room devoted to nurturing the spirit with all things aromatic and lovely...shapes and colors of soaps, serenity-inducing essential oils, and incense. Here are elements for your sacred place at home, perhaps the most important area of your home, for here you replenish and rejuvenate. SANCTUARY offers soothing moments, with the sounds of the rainforest brought inside along with candles in rainbow colors.

Surprise!...White leather couch, towering carved dragon, shiny black Mercedes, a baby grand piano, all in the midst of your personal shopping tour.

Enjoy sips of wine, channel your wild-child CUSTOMS IMPORTS inner Isadora as you finger layers of 430 S Whittaker St flowing scarves...

New Buffalo, Mich.

You must pass through CUSTOMS in 269.469.9180 customsimports.com your travels through Harbor Country.

NOW THIS IS BODY ART! 8 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 6

Don’t miss the bold and dramatic designs by Brazilian-born Claudia Lobao, worn by fabulous celebs like your faves on Desperate Housewives. CUSTOMS receives new pieces every week. Christa’s close relationship with this resource has brought to CUSTOMS collections that have yet to hit the market. Sergio’s fascinating Liquid Metal Collection concept has flourished as well, as he merges vintage style with modern technology. Fresh shipments direct from Indonesia and the USA constantly pass through CUSTOMS, including Beach Jewelry, a fun way to dress up jeans, swim suit, cocktail hour, with lots of beads and bling—”If you lose it, you don’t lose sleep!” Spectacular handbags fit for Claudia Lobao offers up a bold design a rock star and so much more from for your signature look in perfectly Global Dreams await you at CUSTOMS. crafted, celeb-worthy earrings.

with a purchase of $20,000 or more

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Lucrezia

LUCREZIA TAKES YOU TO ITALY WITHOUT LEAVING NWI

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ood that brings family together at the table has to be fresh and authentic. But you can leave your passport and euros at home: Lucrezia in Chesterton and Crown Point is proud to offer dining that meets the most exacting expectations, garnering the Times of Northwest Indiana readers’ votes for the No. 1 spot in the region for fine Italian food.

“It’s because we are so passionate about our service and the quality of our food,” says owner Nada Karas.

You can present friends and family and staff with Lucrezia’s superb dining experiences three ways: • With a special holiday lunch or dinner in

Chesterton or Crown Point; • With a gift card providing fine dining for lunch or dinner at their convenience; • With a fun time next door to Lucrezia in Chesterton at Good to Go by Lucrezia—a great little shop for sampling and choosing domestic and imported cheeses, and select meats, balsamic vinegars and premium olive oils. There’s a wine shop, too, and the box lunches are fabulous.

The Lucrezia dining experience “has become part of people’s lives,” Karas says; “They love to come in and see their favorite waitstaff, who stay with us a long time because we care about our business.”

That extends to the wine list, one of the most customer-friendly, sophisticated wine lists in the area. “And we’re always finding something new, so people don’t have to travel for that kind of experience,” Karas says.

Lucrezia takes great pride in preparing everything to order and from scratch, including the desserts. And entrées include Lucrezia’s fortuitous friendship with a fisherman of incomparably flavorful Alaskan wild salmon.

Holiday parties and special events are unforgettable at Lucrezia in Crown Point, where Chef Patrick is passionate about providing up to 50 banquet guests with the same quality meals as those prepared for restaurant guests. “We love to hear how people’s relationships started here at Lucrezia,” Karas says. “A dinner...then an engagement, a shower—that makes us so happy.”

Customers can be happy, too, that there’s no cutting corners when it comes to flavorful LUCREZIA and healthful foods. The olive oils at Lucrezia 428 S Calumet and at Good to Go deli are premium, highChesteron, Ind. quality extra-virgin olive oils from artisans all 219.926.LUCY around the world—no wannabes claiming to be the real deal.

302 S Main St “We’re family owned, not a franchise.

Crown Point, Ind. Everything is done the old-fashioned way and 219.661.LUCY from the heart.”

Host your next private, holiday or corporate parties Sun. through Thurs. without a room charge (Crown Point).

Bring the taste of Lucrezia to your home or office.

Wonderful Holiday Gift Ideas including: Bottled Wine Olive Oil & Vinegar Gift Packs and “Build Your Own” Gift Baskets.

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Corporate Orders Welcome.

Buy $100 in Gift Cards and get 10% back in form of gift card. Buy $1000 in Gift Cards and get 25% back in form of gift card. Offer good 11/25/11 through 12/24/11.

Box Lunches Available Stop in or Call Today!

Right Next to Lucrezia

420 S. Calumet Rd. Chesterton, IN (219) 926-EVOO (3866) GoodToGoByLucrezia.com

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Studio One Salon

DENNIS SCHRAMM OF STUDIO ONE SALON ON THE WAY THEY WORK

Studio One Salon

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Cut • Color • Style • Manicure • Pedicure • Massage Therapy 9228 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN • 219-923-1915 Hours by Appointment

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DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

hen I graduated high school in the ’70s, I didn’t have enough money for college. Beauty school was a perfect choice for me. I figured that I could learn how to cut hair and then work my way through college. This would also give me some time to figure out what career path I should choose. I stumbled upon a great career in the beauty industry. It’s been 33 years, and I’m still not tired of it.

I meet new people all the time. I get to help them feel better about themselves and more beautiful. I get to work with an amazing staff every day. I’m able to tap into my creative side continuously. I still feel challenged.

And I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up!

This journey was not a straight line: I owned another salon for more than ten years in the space next door and it closed. I didn’t know it then, but it ended up being the best possible thing that I could have done. Closing enabled me to work at another salon, to regroup and rethink. I joined the staff at Kara’s in Munster, and worked with some really terrific people. During the four years I was there, I formed some very special friendships. And when I announced to Kara that I was leaving her shop to reopen my salon, she immediately knew she wanted to come. Never in my wildest dream would she want to come with me.

I now have seven stylists and most of them are former salon owners. They just “get it,” are serious about their work and want to succeed. Everyone is here to promote our industry and hopefully to have fun along the way. When you walk into our salon, I want you to feel like you have been welcomed into our home. Our staff genuinely likes each other. To me, my crew is my second family. I spend way more time here with them than I do at home, with my own family. We even take an annual holiday together in the summer and go away to a co-worker’s cottage on a lake.

I don’t just like my staff; I love each of them, individually.

I gave them the opportunity to work here, and they have given me my dream.

I go to work at STUDIO ONE SALON an amazing place, 9228 Indianapolis Blvd, Ste 3 every day!

Highland, Ind., 219.923.1915

New Buffalo Office 10. N. Whittaker Street New Buffalo, MI (269) 469-3950 (800) 288-7355

Benton Harbor

$5,750,000

Stunning 8 br, 6.5 ba contemporary masterpiece with rare 510 ft of lake frontage & exquisite gardens on more than 8 acres overlooking Lake Mich.

The spacious living area has raised fireplace and floor-to-ceiling glass.

Coldwell Banker 269-469-3950

New Buffalo

$679,000

New Buffalo

$1,499,000

A rare opportunity to own 1.62 acres!

Beachside estate in popular Grand Beach, MI with less then a 2 minute walk to the private beach. This custom 5 bedroom, 6.5 bath one-owner home was built to last.

Coldwell Banker 269-469-3950

Lakeside

$427,500

Lower Level end unit in Dunewood, New Buffalo’s private Lakefront Community! Magnificent views of Lake Michigan from the beautiful new deck of your first floor end unit. Private beach and association pool.

Coldwell Banker 269-469-3950

Best bang for the buck! Enjoy this 3 br, 3 ba home with a short 3 minute walk to Pier Street Beach for summer fun.

Beautifully renovated and in move-in condition, this home is ready to enjoy the harbor country lifestyle.

Coldwell Banker 269-469-3950

Rolling Prairie

New Buffalo

$389,000

$369,900

Rare opportunity to own a spectacular lakefront home on pristine Saugany Lake. Beautiful lake views and just 15 minutes to New Buffalo. Main floor features spacious living room with raised fireplace, adjoining sun room.

Coldwell Banker 269-469-3950

This comfortable home offers 3 br, 2 ba, hardwood floors and a beautiful kitchen with a center island and granite countertops. Appliances were purchased in 2009. Home is just a short drive to shops, restaurants & beach.

Coldwell Banker 269-469-3950

New Buffalo

Buchanan

$169,900

Beautiful cabana unit remodeled and painted in the turquoise hues of the water. Stainless appliances and granite countertops accentuate the beautiful wood cabinetry and easy to maintain ceramic flooring!

Coldwell Banker 269-469-3950

Coldwell Banker — New Buffalo

$144,900

Stately 4 bedroom, 3 bath 2-story brick home features wood floors, eatin kitchen with tile floors and lots of cabinets. The extra-large stainless steel range w/ Bread-warming oven & stainless steel refrigerator stay.

Coldwell Banker 269-469-3950

For detailed information on these and other fine properties in Southwest Michigan, Northwest Indiana, Milwaukee and the Chicagoland area, log onto our website:

www.ColdwellBankerOnline.com Any house. Any time. Anywhere.

Call Coldwell Banker Home Loans for your FREE mortgage pre-approval at (877) 202-8619.

REAL ESTATE IN A MOBILE WORLD

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n today’s world we are always on the move. Mobile technology is quickly becoming the norm in all of our lives. In fact, half of all web traffic will come through mobile devices in the next 2 to 3 years.* We all rely on our mobile devices for just about everything, from checking email to texting to surfing the web.

What does that mean for you when trying to search for your perfect home? Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New Buffalo is at the forefront of this communication shift, and you can now search all local real estate listings directly from your mobile device.

ColdwellBankerOnline.com is mobile friendly, allowing you to easily find your dream home. Or you can use the Coldwell Banker app. Simply download the app and enter your specific parameters.

View the homes in a list or by map, and when you find a home you like, share it with your friends by email, Facebook or Twitter. You can also view recent sales in the area and ask to be contacted by a Realtor. If you are in the market for a second home (or are just dreaming), you can search for homes all over the world...wouldn’t it be nice to have a vacation home in Florence, Italy? Do a search and see what’s on the market.

You can also do these searches and more with the Coldwell Banker iPad app. You can save your searches and find an agent.

Plus, the iPad app delivers Yelp! neighborhood ratings on both the map search and property detail pages, so you can research local amenities.

Mobile usage will continue to grow astronomically and we will continue to provide you with the tools to help create successful real estate experiences. At home and on the go, Coldwell Banker New Buffalo delivers any house, COLDWELL BANKER anytime, anywhere.

877.202.8619 * ComScore coldwellbankeronline.com

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Martin Binder Jeweler

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ooking for a gift that is both practical and stylish? Consider the wristwatch.

It’s portable, keeps time, and can make a fashion statement.

With so many people carrying cell phones with built-in clocks, it may seem like the wristwatch has become a thing of the past, but Robert Flude III, the owner of Martin Binder Jeweler in Valparaiso, Ind., disagrees.

“Watches have been called a dying fad,” Flude says, “but I have seen customers returning to the wristwatch not just for convenience and practicality, but also as a status item.”

With all of the options available, finding the perfect watch to give as a gift to your loved one may seem like a daunting task. Use these tips from the sales staff at Martin Binder Jeweler to help guide your search.

First and foremost, you should consider the lifestyle of the intended wearer. There are two main types of watches to choose from: quartz and mechanical. Will the recipient prefer the ease, convenience and accuracy of a watch with quartz movement or the aesthetics and craftsmanship of a timepiece with mechanical movement?

“Some people choose quartz watches for their ease of operation, while others depend on the accuracy of time,” Martin Binder senior sales associate Dennis Papp says. Quartz watches, which are powered by a battery and vibrating quartz crystal, provide a highly accurate movement and time display.

On the other hand, mechanical watches are more about aesthetics. “[A mechanical watch] is a wonderful piece of machinery, with more than 300 parts designed to work as one,” Papp says.

When purchasing a watch for themselves, many choose a mechanical watch made by Rolex, Tissot, or Raymond Weil for its superior craftsmanship, Papp adds.

Secondly, look for a watch that will complement the style of the intended wearer. According to Papp, watches purchased for women often have unique features—such as diamonds or a stylish bracelet, elements seen in the Michele watch line, a popular women’s brand.

Take a look at her jewelry wardrobe before heading out to the store. Is she a woman that prefers an understated piece of jewelry or a large, statement piece? Does she mainly wear coolor warm-colored pieces? All of these facts can help you choose the right watch that will best match her style.

Men are more likely to be interested in how a watch works and looks. Look for watches with functions that will benefit his daily life. Does he travel between time zones for work? Consider purchasing a world time or GMT watch. Both offer the wearer the ability to view the time in multiple time zones. Does he need a watch that’s highly water resistant or one with subdials that keep time? With all of the different options out there, it’s easy to find a watch that will fit both his lifestyle and wardrobe.

Lastly, don’t forget the final touches. To truly personalize the gift, have the jeweler engrave the recipient’s name or initials, an important date, or meaningful quote or saying on the back of the case. Also, ask the jeweler to set the watch to the correct time before it is wrapped, and make sure you know the warranty information on the watch so the recipient can keep the watch in tip-top shape.

ABOUT MARTIN BINDER JEWELER

TYPES OF WATCHES Chronograph: Watches that include both a timekeeping and stopwatch function Analog: Timepieces that feature rotating hands on a marked dial that measure hours, minutes and even seconds Digital: Watches that include an LCD or LED display, often with additional functions such as an alarm, altimeter, thermometer, etc.

GMT (Greenwich Mean Time): Watches that simultaneously display times in multiple cities with separate hour hands or apertures World Time: Watches that display the time in multiple major cities throughout the world FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS Date Display: A window that displays the current date Water Resistance: Refers to the capacity of a watch to withstand water pressure, determined by how well a watch is sealed to prevent water entry MOVEMENTS Quartz: Watches powered by a battery and vibrating quartz crystal Mechanical: Timepieces that use the energy of a wound spring to keep time COMPONENTS Case: The case houses the mechanisms and face of the watch and is often made of stainless steel Crystal: A covering that protects the face of the watch, with the two most popular crystals being hardlex and sapphire crystal ACCESSORIES Watch Winders: To preserve accuracy, mechanical watches can be placed in a watch winder that automatically winds the watch, in order to maintain its accuracy and precision MARTIN BINDER JEWELER 23 Lincolnway, Valparaiso, Ind. 219.462.5931 martinbinders.com

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

Since opening their doors in 1940, three generations of the Binder family have helped Martin Binder Jeweler grow from a small watchmaking shop to a downtown Valparaiso, Ind., destination for the finest diamonds, jewelry, Swiss-made timepieces, writing instruments and giftware.

Martin Binder Jeweler’s skilled watchmaker offers a full watch cleaning service—including battery changes, full bracelet cleaning, clasp check and re-pressure testing of all water resistant watches—a yearly service included with the purchase of your timepiece. We also re-polish watches to help maintain the value and visual quality of the watch.

Confused by all the different types of watches and their movements and functions? Here’s an explanation of all the technical terms you’ll need to know to purchase the perfect watch, with recommendations from:

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THE GIFT OF TIME: WATCHES SET TO BE A POPULAR PRESENT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

WATCH GLOSSARY

Dealer Name Dealer Name Dealer Name

Dealer Name

Celebrating Lorenz Appliances

19th Year anniversarY and Whirlpools

100th Year anniversarY.

Dealer Name

A Suite withwith A Suite A Suite with SuiteAwith Suite with

Professional Appeal Professional Appeal Professional Appeal Professional Appeal Professional Appeal

Anniversary The KitchenAid® Pro Line™ Series suite of appliances embraces the vitality of bold, professional styling.

The KitchenAid® Pro Line™ Series suite of appliances embraces the vitality of bold, professional styling.

Savings on Attractive stainless steel finishes and robust Pro Line™ Handles adorn our French door bottom-freezer The KitchenAid Pro Line™ Series suite of appliances embraces the vitality of bold, Attractive®stainless steel finishes and robust Pro Line™ Handles adorn ourprofessional French doorstyling. bottom-freezereverything refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave hood oven, and slide-in ranges.

These appliances, Attractive stainlessdishwasher, steel finishes andcombination robust Pro Line™ Handles adornand our French door bottom-freezer The KitchenAid® Pro Series embraces the hood vitality of bold, professional styling. ®suite of appliances refrigerator, microwave combination oven, slide-in ranges.

These appliances, in the store!

TheLine™ KitchenAid Pro Line™ Series suite of appliances embraces the vitality of bold, professional styling. refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave hood combination oven, and slide-in ranges. the These appliances, with familiar high-performance features and inspired aesthetics, are sure to invigorate atmosphere Attractive stainless steel finishes robust Pro Line™ Handles adorn our Frenchadorn door bottom-freezer withand familiar high-performance features and inspired aesthetics, are sure tobottom-freezer invigorate the atmosphere Attractive stainless steel finishes and robust Pro Line™ Handles our French door with familiar high-performance features and inspired aesthetics, are sure to invigorate the atmosphere and draw you into the kitchen more than ever. refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave hood combination oven, and than slide-in ranges. appliances, and draw youmicrowave into the kitchen more ever. refrigerator, dishwasher, hood combination oven, andThese slide-in ranges. These appliances, and draw you into the kitchen more than ever.

with familiar high-performance features and inspired aesthetics, are sure to invigorate the atmosphere with familiar high-performance features and inspired aesthetics, are sure to invigorate the atmosphere and draw you intoand thedraw kitchen thankitchen ever. more than ever. youmore into the For additional information about KitchenAid appliances, visit KitchenAid.com ® For additional information about KitchenAid appliances, visit KitchenAid.com ® For additional information about appliances, visit KitchenAid.com ®Registered trademark/™Trademark/the shapeKitchenAid of the stand mixer is a registered trademark of KitchenAid, U.S.A. ©2010. All rights reserved. ®

®Registered trademark/™Trademark/the shape of the stand mixer is a registered trademark of KitchenAid, U.S.A. ©2010. All rights reserved. ®Registered trademark/™Trademark/the shape of the stand mixer is a registered trademark of KitchenAid, U.S.A. ©2010. All rights reserved.

dditional information about KitchenAid® appliances, visit KitchenAid.com For additional information about KitchenAid® appliances, visit KitchenAid.com

stered trademark/™Trademark/the shape of the stand mixer is a registered trademark of KitchenAid, U.S.A. ©2010. All rights reserved. ®Registered trademark/™Trademark/the shape of the stand mixer is a registered trademark of KitchenAid, U.S.A. ©2010. All rights reserved.

18320 Governors Highway • Homewood, IL 60430 • (708) 206-0896 www.lorenzappliance.com

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Lorenz Appliances

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS W

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Lorenz Appliance is a store you should experience. If you are remodeling or building your dream house, they can fit any budget from entry level to mid-range to upscale products. You can rely on problem-free sales, installation and after-the-sale service.

The staff at Lorenz Appliance Inc. makes shopping fun, and they are there to help you every step of the way.

“We hope you will call or stop in,” Don Jr. says. You can visit at the store Monday through Saturday, where you will be treated honestly and like family. They are closed on Sundays, but the website www. lorenzappliance.com is always open! If you have a wish list, LORENZ APPLIANCES you can email it to sales@ 708.206.0896 lorenzappliance.com or call lorenzappliance.com 708.206.0896 for pricing.

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

hen only the finest appliances, service and installation will do, choose Lorenz Appliance, Inc., of Homewood, Ill. This family-owned and -operated full-service appliance dealer represents the top-of-the-line manufacturers of Sub-Zero, Wolf, Thermador, Viking, Miele, Bosch, Jenn-Air, Kitchen Aid, Whirlpool, GE, Electrolux, Frigidaire, Fisher Paykel, Elmira and many more.

“We are pleased to celebrate Whirlpool Corporation’s 100th anniversary as we celebrate our 19th year at our location in Cherry Creek Plaza, 18320 Governors Highway,” says Don Lorenz Jr. “Whirlpool is an innovator in appliances and has products to fit every budget. Their upscale product lines are KitchenAid and Jenn-Air.” Their father, Don Lorenz Sr., established the business half a century ago. Don Jr. and his brother Brett now manage the business along with their sister Margie. “The rest of the staff is ‘adopted’ family members. Our motto is ‘Not the biggest, Just the best,’ and we pride ourselves on our first-class customer service. Customers return and refer their family and friends to Lorenz Appliance again and again, and we are happy to have such great community support,” he says.

Lorenz has their own delivery and installation team that is factorytrained and certified. When the installers arrive at the home, they inspect and protect the surrounding area, especially the floors. After the job is complete, they make sure the appliances are neat, clean and tested. Don Jr. is the head of the installation department and is often on site to spearhead the installation.

We have worked with many builders and designers throughout the Chicagoland area as well as Indiana and Michigan, because they like that we do our own installations. Most of the competition use outside subcontractors. When trying to manage a job site and coordinating subcontractors, it is important that everything runs smoothly. We pride ourselves on being prompt and ready to deliver and install when we arrive. We work well with general contractors. If, for instance, a cabinet or an electrical, plumbing or venting issue arises, we can usually make modifications and adapt the job.

We had a builder whose customer had purchased their Thermador appliances from another competitor and needed to have the refrigerator installed, so they called the dealer and none of the dealer’s subcontractors knew how to install it. The builder, now frustrated, received our phone number from the manufacturer and contacted us to see if we could help them out. We normally do not install products delivered by another competitor, however as a courtesy, to help the builder out of a jam we agreed to install the refrigerator and now we have a new customer.

Don Jr. has been asked, “How can you compete on price with the box stores?” He replied, “We are a member of Brand Source. Brand Source is a group of 1,500-plus independent retailers from across the nation. This group gives us great buying power, which allows us to meet and usually beat their prices.”

Kathy Ireland recently became the spokeswoman for Brand Source.

“Their organization of independent dealer members and branded stores are crucial for American families to have true retail choices,” Ireland says in a statement. “From innovative products to non-profit giving, Brand Source is a great resource that fulfils our mission of finding solutions for families, especially busy moms. One example of giving back is Brand Source’s sponsorship of the Ronald McDonald House charities.”

Together with great customer service and very competitive pricing,

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

weunderstandwomen.com

Obstetrical & Gynecological Associates, Inc.

Give Yourself the Gift of Good Health this Holiday Season

PUT YOURSELF ON YOUR GIFT LIST!

For busy women, the holidays can mean more stress and less time to exercise and unwind.

Take a few minutes for yourself today to make sure you’ll have more happy holidays with your family and friends in the future.

At Obstetrical & Gynecological Associates, Inc., we’re here to help. Our Board Certified Obstetricians / Gynecologists specialize in • Annual Wellness Exams • Pregnancy Planning and Care • Urogynecological testing and treatment We also offer the latest technology and procedures, including • DaVinci® Robotic Surgery, the most advanced, highly effective, minimally invasive treatment option for hysterectomy • Novasure® Ablation for excessive menstrual bleeding • Adiana® Tubal Occlusion for non-surgical, permanent birth control • MiniArc®/MonArc® Slings, new and effective, out-patient treatments for urinary incontinence.

Best of all, we understand women. As an all-female, Board Certified Obstetricians and Gynecologists group, we are women—sisters, mothers and daughters—just like you. We understand your concerns and can relate to your needs.

Crystal Strickland M.D., FACOG

Cheryl Short M.D., FACOG

L. Jennifer Murphy M.D., FACOG

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Now Accepting New Patients Glendale Medical Center 1101 E. Glendale Blvd., Suite 102 Valparaiso, IN 46383 (219) 462-6144 (877) 462-6249 Most Insurance Accepted

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s the holiday season approaches, busy women find themselves juggling faster than ever to keep all their to-do’s in the air. With holiday parties to plan, special programs and events to attend, and traditional decorations and meals to coordinate, it can be overwhelming. What better time for women to take a minute to honor and celebrate the relationships they have with other busy women.

Women naturally tend to put their families’ needs before their own. Let’s face it, your daughter’s Christmas pageant, your husband’s office party, the gift for your coworker, the travel arrangements for your parents—they’re all important. But the wife, mother, sister, aunt who is often at the center of a family’s hectic schedule can easily forget herself in the hustle.

The doctors and staff at Obstetrical & Gynecological Associates, Inc., think things can and should be different. This holiday season, take a moment to show the women in your life how much you care by reminding them of the importance of self-care.

When was the last time you had an annual women’s health exam? When was the last time your best friend or sister or mother had hers? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that although Papanicolaou (Pap) smears remain the primary screening tool to help identify and prevent cervical cancer, 6 out of 10 cervical cancer cases occur in women who have never been screened or who have not received a Pap test in the past five years.

At OGA, partners Jennifer Murphy, M.D., Cheryl Short, M.D., and Crystal Strickland, M.D.—all Fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists—understand that most women don’t take time for themselves. “I know scheduling the appointments and coming in for an exam might seem like a hassle when your schedule is tight, especially if you’re not having any specific health problems,” Dr. Strickland says. But she assures patients that the benefits far outweigh the possible consequences of missing annual exams.

“I can’t stress enough the mental and physical benefits patients receive by taking a more preventative view of their health,” Dr. Strickland says. “Plus, knowing you’ve covered all of your bases can truly give you peace of mind.”

If you’re thinking a trip to the doctor’s office for a routine check-up is a burden, try rallying a few of your friends to schedule appointments around the same time. “Reminding the women close to you to get their annual exams can help you hold yourself accountable. Better yet, you can feel good about the positive impact you have on your girlfriends,” says OGA Partner Dr. Jennifer Murphy.

To celebrate your OBSTETRICAL & GYNECOLOGICAL friends and the holiday, ASSOCIATES, INC. you can plan to meet Glendale Medical Center up as a group for drinks 1101 E Glendale Blvd, Ste 102 or lunch after your Valparaiso, Ind. appointments to catch 219.462.6144 or 877.462.6249 up, discuss how things weunderstandwomen.com went, and make plans for a healthy new year.

Visit the OGA website weunderstandwomen. com to download a special holiday greeting card to make sharing the gift of good health fun and easy.

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra

GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC

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he Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra is the perfect gift for the music lover in your life. Our 2011-2012 season still features a variety of concerts sure to please. Our Valentine’s concert features Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 and award-winning pianist Di Wu performing the romantic Schumann Piano Concerto. In March, hear Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 and crowd favorite “Clair de Lune,” plus the Symphony Chorus and guest vocalists will perform Faure’s Requiem. Then in May, the Symphony joins with local choral groups for South Shore Glee, a rousing night of Broadway show tunes and generation-spanning pop hits. Featured vocal groups include Choralteens of Merrillville High School, Wolffgang of Hobart High School, Counterpoint of Lake Central High School, the Wirt-Emerson Concert Choir, the Towle Youth Theater THE NORTHWEST Ensemble and the Northwest Indiana INDIANA SYMPHONY Symphony Chorus. Tickets are $25-$65 ORCHESTRA and students are just $10. Subscriptions 219.836.0525 are still available for 3 or 4 concerts. nisorchestra.org

2011-2012

SEASON Kirk Muspratt - Music Director & Conductor

HOlidAy POPS A South Shore Tradition!

Featuring the Symphony Chorus, Symphony Brass Quintet, & the Protsman Elementary School Youth Group

Thursday, December 8 7:30pm • Star Plaza Theatre Get in the holiday spirit with this cherished South Shore tradition featuring a holiday sing-along and musical surprises. Children from Protsman Elementary School in Dyer and the Symphony’s own Brass Quintet will perform. Keep an eye out for visitors from the North Pole!

TICKETS $25-$65 • STUDENTS $10 TICKETS MAKE GREAT GIFTS! For Tickets: 219/836.0525 or nisorchestra.org

Reverie Spa Retreat

BE AT ONE WITH NATURE AT REVERIE SPA RETREAT a destination spa retreat

Purchase your Holiday Gift Cards now!

Massages | Overnight Retreats | Facials Aveda Products | Couples Weekends

219-861-0814

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

Girlfriend Getaways | Wellness Retreats

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everie Spa Retreat embraces a beautiful philosophy rooted in nature, using Aveda pure skin and body care products.

Guided by our highly trained and caring professionals, we invite you to experience healing massage, beautiful skin facials and botanical body treatments.

Reverie Spa Retreat in La Porte, Indiana, is the full service destination spa in the Great Lakes Region of the Midwest. Reverie offers a menu of massages, botanical body treatments and facials to enhance your health and wellness. Our treatments will leave you in a state of complete relaxation. Reverie’s variety of services offers customized treatments designed to manage stress levels by balancing your nervous system.

Reverie Guests are invited to enjoy inspired meals created from the freshest seasonal foods sourced from our biodynamic garden and local farms.

Gracious, elegantly appointed guest rooms are available for nightly, weekend or weekly rentals. We invite you to experience the unsurpassed tranquility of an overnight stay blended with our outstanding spa services. Couples, friends and small groups may select from the Lilac, peaceful Peony or romantic Lavender Rooms. For the ultimate retreat weekend, please REVERIE SPA RETREAT treat yourself to the pleasure of our 219.861.0814 popular White Hydrangea Room. spareverie.com

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

LaGrange County Convention & Visitors Bureau

SHIPSHEWANA...

CHRISTMAS IN THE PAST LANE

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DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

orget the fast lane.

This is the time of the year to relax and enjoy.

The journey: decades back into the past.

The actual drive: just 90 minutes east of Lake Michigan.

What if you could walk to 100 stores?

While hearing the horse and buggies clip-clop by?

Without crowds or heavy traffic?

With home-cooked goodies beckoning you from cafés and bakeries?

Welcome to the Shipshewana and the Amish Backroads!

Christmas in Shipshewana Events: Nov 12: Downtown Light Parade Nov 19: Chocolate Day Nov 21-Dec 2: Gingerbread House Display Nov 29: Wana Night Out Dec 2 and 3: Grand Piano Christmas Extravaganza, Riegsecker.com Dec 3-30: Christmas Tree Walk Dec 10: Kids’ Day Dec 28-30: Ice Festival, with Ice Sculptures, Chili Cook-Off, Snowmobile Races Delicious Flickr own adventure, To map out your at 800.254.8090 or go to Twitter give us a call Retweet VisitShipshewana.org.

Join us on Facebook! Facebook.com/ShipshewanaAmishBackroads for specials and stories.

Facebook MySpace StumbleUpon Digg Furniture... candles... home décor... pastries... quilts... carolers... handwoven rugs... leather goods... buggy rides... theater... fabric... B & Bs... fashion... hospitality... chocolates... pretzels... toys... memories... yarn... spices... holiday decorations...

Slash Dot Mixx Skype Technorati coffee... music... meats...

LAGRANGE COUNTY cheeses... wind chimes...

CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU books... local art... artisans...

800.254.8090 homestyle dining... back Reddit FriendFeed YouTube LinkedIn visitshipshewana.org roads...

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION The Shrine of Christ’s Passion

SHRINE OF CHRIST’S PASSION: A PLACE FOR INSPIRATION

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his season is a time of sharing, and the spirit of giving is enhanced when you know your funds are helping to preserve a beautiful place. The Visitors Center at the Shrine of Christ’s Passion houses a one-of-a-kind store with many inspirational items. In fact, the store itself is inspiring—if you need ideas for gifts, you’ll find them in this 6,000-square-foot gift store.

Visitors love knowing that their purchase helps preserve the beauty of the adjacent Shrine of Christ’s Passion, where people of all faiths marvel at the 40 life-size statues that tell the story at the heart of Christian faith. Christians believe that more than two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ as the savior of the world hung on a cross for the sake of all humanity. As you enter the stately entrance to the Visitors Center for truly unique gift shopping, you can plan to experience the Shrine of the Passion of Christ. The Shrine Prayer Trail is a beautiful, half-mile wandering pathway welcoming people of all faiths to journey with Christ down the Via Crucis.

Each of the 40 bronze statues, all individual works created by artist Mickey Wells of Amarillo, Texas, depicts a scene from the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are listening stations, where visitors hear a description of the scene, along with a corresponding

meditation, beautifully narrated by Bill Kurtis. An original music score sets the mood for each scene. The landscape’s gently rolling hills, tall grasses and stonework evoke the feel of the Holy Land.

Inside the Visitors Center, you’ll find gifts in an astounding array of options, “from twenty-five cents to $12,000,” from books to jewelry and more, says the Center’s Paul Anderson. At this season, when connections with friends and family mean everything, the Visitors Center offers so many ways to make your gift memorable.

The Shrine of Christ’s Passion is conveniently located 45 miles southeast of Chicago on U.S. 41 (Indianapolis Blvd. S., I-80/90 Exit 2) and is handicap accessible.

THE SHRINE OF For more information on CHRIST’S PASSION the Visitors Center gift shop 10630 Wicker Ave and the Shrine, call Paul at St. John, Ind. 219.365.6010, or email paul@ 219.365.6010 shrineofchristspassion.org. shrineofchristspassion.org

Truly touch

the hearts of those you love this Christmas Season.

Spend an afternoon of meditation, relaxation and beauty. Stop by our coffee bar while you visit our newly expanded Visitors Center and Gift Shop.

Our one of a kind Gift Shop offers an amazing, wide selection of: Inspirational Gifts, Nativity Sets, Christmas Gifts, Bibles & Prayer Books, Adult & Children’s Books, Rosaries, Inspirational Jewelry, Fine Jewelry, Inspirational Art, Carvings, Sculptures & much more.

Gift Cards Available We are pleased to inform you that the net proceeds from your purchase sustains and supports the upkeep and maintenance of The Shrine of Christ’s Passion.

10630 Wicker Avenue St. John, IN 46373 (219) 365-6010 www.shrineofchristspassion.org

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

50+

GIFT IDEAS

from our advertisers

MS. ELLE’S ESPECIALLY FOR YOU CRYSTAL HEART BRACELET Dazzle a lovely lady with this Large Crystal Heart bracelet with silver backed metal sides and toggle clasp, designed by Kelly Boyd of Passionate Expressions Jewelry. The silver sides can be engraved with the wording of your choice— Peace, Love, Joy or Faith. $75

DECORATING DEN INTERIORS – CATHI LLOYD 219.365.0198. decdens.com/cathilloyd

CAYMENS BOWL (13.5”H X 30”W X 10.75”) Large and luscious...a bowl that is a WOW! Price $125 plus shipping. 10 percent off through December 5, 2011.

LOST DUNES

eMbership a n n ua l G o l f M

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269.465.9300. lostdunes.com

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Off the southe astern tip of sou thern Lake Mic experience. The higan, Lost Dun Lost Dunes exp es is a truly priv erience begins rolling natura ileged golf l sand dunes at the front gat into some of es and glides #63 in Golf Dig the most drama past the est America's tic golf in the Greatest Golf Courses for 11 Midwest. Dub Courses ranking bed consecutive yea s and Golfweek's Bes rs, we curren non-equity me t Modern tly have opportu mberships and nities for bot a limited num h equity and ber of annual golf membersh ips.

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

TRIAL GOLF MEMBERSHIP AT LOST DUNES This program allows potential members to “test drive” Lost Dunes for a season before making the decision to join in one of our permanent membership categories. Simply pay annual dues and make your decision to join at the end of the season. Price: $6,900 (includes $3,000 credit to initiation fee if converted to permanent membership). For membership opportunities, please contact: Bill Korbel at bill@lostdunes.com

Lost Dunes for a season ial members to “test drive” ries.

This program allows potent nent membership catego n to join in one of our perma . at the end of the season before making the decisio join to n decisio your and make Simply pay annual dues credit to initiation fee if $6,900 (includes $3,000 ) membership converted to permanent under 23 consistent ual, spouse and children and Unlimited use by individ under the Club’s Equity d grante ges with the membership privile categories.

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Lost Dunes GoLf Lifesty Go Le MeMbershi • 18 holes of p features: Championship Gol • Practice faci lity with putting f • Full service , chipping and club house driving range • Well appoint ed overnight accommodation • Swimming pool s on site • Lake with fish ing dock • Junior golf program with full time teachin g pro

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2235 45th St, Highland, Ind. 219.924.4204. mselles.com

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

LUCREZIA

428 S Calumet Rd Chesterton, Ind. 219.926.5829. lucreziacafe.com

NORTHWEST INDIANA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

1040 Ridge Rd, Munster, Ind. 219.836.0525. nisorchestra.org SYMPHONY TICKETS Enjoy a variety of musical selections with the Northwest Indiana Symphony, featuring A Valentine’s Tradition, Beethoven 6 and South Shore Glee. Prices range from $25 to $65.

OBSTETRICAL & GYNECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, INC Glendale Medical Center 1101 E Glendale Blvd, Ste 102 Valparaiso, Ind. 219.462.6144 or 877.462.6249 weunderstandwomen.com

GIFT OF GOOD HEALTH Take a moment to remind your mother, sister, daughter, niece or girlfriend that you care about her good health. Download a special greeting card at weunderstandwomen.com.

MORE HOLIDAYS WITH THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE Give yourself a healthy future and more holidays to spend with the people you love. Take time to exercise and unwind each day. And, don’t forget to make an appointment for your annual female wellness exam at weunderstandwomen.com.

GIFT CARD This gift item provides rewards for the giver, as well as the receiver. Purchase $100 or more in gift cards and receive 10 percent back in gift cards. Purchase $1,000 or more in gift cards and receive 25 percent back in gift cards.

The more you give, the more you receive!

GOOD TO GO

BY LUCREZIA 428 S Calumet Rd Chesterton, Ind. 219.926.5829 goodtogobylucrezia.com

OLIVE OIL GIFT PACK Good to Go by Lucrezia has wonderful holiday gift ideas for everybody on your list, such as Bottled Wine, Olive Oil Gift Packs and “Build Your Own” Gift Baskets. Corporate orders are welcome.

Stop in or call today and our helpful staff will help you select the perfect gift!

Prices start at $35.

2 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 8

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

REVERIE SPA RETREAT

3634 North 700 County Rd West LaPorte, Ind. 219.861.0814. spareverie.com BEAUTIFUL SKIN FACIAL Enjoy soft, glowing skin in time for the Holiday Season. Reverie’s Beautiful Skin facial includes consultation, cleansing, detoxifying masque and your personalized aroma therapy journey. Bring beauty back!

Call Reverie at 219.861.0814 to schedule your facial today! $125. Gift certificates for Reverie Spa services and Aveda products are available.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KEN GRACE

THE SHRINE OF CHRIST’S PASSION 10630 Wicker Ave St. John, Ind. 219.365.6010 shrineofchrists passion.org

FONTANINI NATIVITIES Build family traditions by including a Fontanini Nativity in your holiday display.

Made in Italy, these sculptures beautifully capture the joy and majesty of the sacred time of year. Prices start at $95.

CIAO BELLA RISTORANTE, PIZZERIA, WINEBAR 1514 US 41 Schererville, Ind. 219.322.6800. ciaobellaonline.com

MICHAL GOLAN JEWELRY Treat your favorite fashionista to beautiful jewelry handcrafted by designer Michal Golan. The necklaces are made of 24k gold or sterling silver electroplated over brass or white metal, and contain semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals and glass.

Prices start at $87.

CIAO BELLA GIFT CARDS Give the gift of good taste. Ciao Bella offers a full array of home-made Italian style thin crust pizzas, risotto, pasta, soups and salads.

Entrées include chicken, fish, veal and steak and many original recipes. Ciao Bella Gift Cards make the perfect gift and are available in any denomination. With the purchase of every $100 gift card, receive a free $20 gift card.

1514 US 41 • Sc 219.322 hererville .6800 • , IN 463 www.cia 75 obellaon line.com

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

BAYBERRY COTTAGE 510 Phoenix St, South Haven, Mich.

269.639.9615. bayberrycottage.com

ROCKPORT OTTOMAN Place our long, low Rockport Ottoman in front of a sofa for a coffee table that’s comfortable enough to be a footrest (and extra seating to boot). The Rockport Ottoman looks equally as dashing at the foot of a bed, as a welcome seat in the foyer, or in that cozy spot in front of your fireplace. This ottoman is designed to be covered in one of our 26 colorful hooked rugs (how fun is that) and is finished with cool turned legs. Our dandy ottoman is incredibly durable with loads of character—just the right amount of pizzazz for any room in your house! 47”w x 26”d x 16”h $995.00

STUDIO ONE SALON

9228 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, Ind. 219.923.1915 STUDIO ONE SALON GIFT CERTIFICATES Surprise your special someone with a Studio One Salon gift certificate. Never the wrong color or size, this gift of beauty and wellness is always the perfect gift... sure to make anyone look and feel great! Studio One Salon gift certificates make a fabulous gift and are available in any denomination from any of our staff: Dennis Schramm, Kara Gadzala, Dana Marthakis, Maria Alvarez, Ted Evancic, Cheryl Hanft, Jennifer Grow, Connie Stern, LuAnne Kure.

COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE 10 N Whittaker St, New Buffalo, Mich.

269.469.3950. cbexchange.com

3615 LAKESHORE DRIVE This secluded stunning, contemporary Saint Joseph ranch home, designed by nationally known local architect John Allegretti, features a gourmet kitchen with premium appliances, spacious master suite with gas fireplace and en suite spa-like master bathroom complete with radiant heat stone flooring and chandelier. It boasts 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4.5 car garages, new maple flooring, raised ceilings, skylights, new electrical service, HVAC venting, new air conditioning with heat pump, custom maple mill work and lighting, new roof, two decks and more. The home is set back 200 feet from Lakeshore Drive with close proximity to town, shopping, and Red Arrow fine dining. $600,000 3081 LAKESHORE DRIVE Spectacular Nantucket-style lakefront home with classic interior offers every amenity you can imagine. Sleeps 22 comfortably with lake views, private baths and decks in all 6 bedroom suites. Gourmet kitchen has 2 SubZero fridges, double Wolf stove, custom cabinetry, spacious butler’s pantry and more. Dining area includes a glass wall that opens onto the screen porch with fireplace. This wired smart home gives you complete control of your home’s comfort. Beautiful landscaping with waterfall and private beach make this luxurious getaway one of the most beautiful on the lake. Don’t miss this gorgeous custom lake front home in the Saugatuck/Douglas gold coast, just 2 hours from downtown Chicago. $3,399,000

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

LORENZ APPLIANCES, INC. 18320 Governors Hwy, Homewood, Ill. 708.206.0896. lorenzappliance.com

KITCHENAID DOUBLE OVEN RANGE (MODEL KDRS505) Even baking. The recipe for success...

The industry’s only dual fuel double oven range combines five precise gas burners with two even-heating electric ovens. This double oven range allows you to cook several dishes simultaneously, even at different temperatures. An oval burner on the cooking surface provides better heat coverage for the cast-iron griddle or when cooking with long, specialty cookware on the center grate.

WHIRLPOOL DUET® FRONT LOAD WASHER & DYER (MODEL WFW94HEX) Rated #1 in the leading consumer magazine. Care for yours in a whole new way... Accommodate your schedule with this 4.3 cu. ft. washer. This ENERGY STAR® qualified model uses 6th Sense® technology, which intelligently analyzes your laundry and automatically adjusts the features for just the right touch.

The FanFresh® option with Dynamic Venting Technology® circulates air and can dry a small load in the washer, while the Care Control temperature management system ensures the water is warm enough to dissolve detergents but not so hot that it leads to shrinking or color bleeding.

GIVE YOUR CLOTHES JUST THE RIGHT DRYING... Get the power of steam on your side. This 7.4 cu. ft. electric dryer features 6th Sense® technology to intelligently analyze your laundry and automatically adjust the features for just the right touch. The Advanced Moisture Sensing system measures temperature and moisture levels, so the dryer stops itself when clothes are dry to save energy. The dryer also has the Quick Refresh steam cycle and Wrinkle Shield® Plus control setting, which periodically tumbles clothes to help prevent wrinkles from setting in. This model also features eight automatic cycles and five temperature settings, giving you plenty of control over your drying.

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

WHIRLPOOL 0.5 CU. FT. CORNER COUNTERTOP MICROWAVE OVEN (MODEL WMC20005) Why You’ll Love it... Maximize your counter space. This sleek microwave’s unique rounded back allows it to fit into corners, making it ideal for tight spaces like small kitchens and dorm rooms. It can also fit a full dinner plate thanks to a glass turntable that is larger than those in standard comparable microwaves.

Finally, an integrated handle and console, blue LED display and easy-toclean Tap Touch controls give this model a sense of modern style.

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KITCHENAID DISHWASHER (MODEL KUDC10FX) KitchenAid Dishwasher makes clean-up a breeze... The Fully Integrated Console Design features a sleek design that will blend into any kitchen with hidden controls and the Architect II Series design and handle. Four stainless steel wash arms spray water to ten precisely angled locations, providing maximum coverage and resisting wear. Stainless steel interior retains heat for better drying performance while resisting wear over time. AquaSenseTM Fill System uses the precise amount of water needed for superior results. ENERGY STAR® Qualified—Tier II.

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

INDIANA FURNITURE 1807 E Lincolnway, Valparaiso, Ind. 219.465.0545. indiana-furniture.com

SAWYER HOME & GARDEN CENTER

BOOK, BOOKENDS Adding a splash of color can be an easy way to liven up any home office or bookshelf. These antique-styled bookends feature a heavily distressed, burnt red and ash gray finish with hickory undertones. $149

5865 Sawyer Rd, Sawyer, Mich.

269.426.8810. sawyergardencenter.com

KELTON, WINE HOLDER Save the environment by turning the old into something new.

Recycled, old wooden planks are used in the creation of this wine holder along with antique metal details. $179

KRINGLE CANDLES Illuminate a room, on any occasion, with these highly fragrant white candles.

The 100 percent dye-free candles consistently yield luminous white light. Prices range from $1.99 to $22.99.

INSPIRATIONAL BOX SIGNS BY PRIMITIVES

BY KATHY What better way to define yourself and your feelings than with a box sign! These all-wood, vintage lettered box signs can be free standing or hang on a wall. These signs are available for any occasion, including holidays. Price ranges from $6.99 to $59.99.

METAL BRANCHES MIRROR Acccessorize the home or office with this hand forged metal frame, finished in a heavily antiqued silver leaf with a charcoal gray wash and burnished distressing. This mirror is a unique piece that can instantly add texture to any room for $449.

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HOTEL DU VIEUX QUARTIER CLOCK Keep track of time with this weathered, laminated clock face with a heavy crackled look and cast brass outer details. For $309, accent a home or office wall.

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

333 Broad St, St. Joseph, Mich.

269.982.8500 silverbeachcarousel.com/gifts

HOW NOEL SAVED CHRISTMAS Create a new tradition for all the little ones on your list when you cuddle up to read this charming chapter book to them over the holidays. $19.95 Plot Overview Santa’s reindeer have a rare holly berry rash. The doctor won’t let them fly on Christmas Eve. What will Santa do?

Noel, the Christmas Horse on the Silver Beach Carousel, has an idea that saves the day! Chapters entice listeners to want to hear more and detailed illustrations encourage interactive listening. The book is written by St. Joseph, Mich., author Christine Knuth and illustrated

by St. Joseph, Mich., artist Susan Schirmer. Autographed copies are available upon request. Give your loved one the thrill of riding at the Silver Beach Carousel by adding tokens to your online order.

CUDDLY “FUTURE CAROUSEL OPERATOR” ONESIE Adorn a sweet little one in this Rabbit Skins® onesie, crafted from extra cuddly, 100 percent combed ringspun cotton. Able to endure those frequent washes, the onesie is sewn to last with comfortable flatlock seams, raw serge hem sleeves and reinforced three-snap closure.

Available in white with “Future Carousel Operator” scripting, choose between our adorable “Raffe” the giraffe or “Peanut” the elephant. Four sizes available: newborn, 6 mos, 12 mos or 18 mos. Priced at $16.

SILVER BEACH BRONZE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT Fill your heart with joy year after year with this laser cut, 3-dimensional bronze carousel ornament.

This collector ornament features handsomely painted Raffe, the giraffe, and the bejeweled Marcie, the lead carousel horse. The detail is so fine you can see the historic scenes on the rounding boards across the top of the carousel. $9.95

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

ENCHANTING COLLECTOR CONIFERS Whether you are decorating for the winter holidays or bringing the enchantment of the woods into your home or summer cottage, these hand-carved and hand-painted wood trees by Master Carver Timothy Gorka add charm to any room.

Earth friendly, these trees are made of recycled basswood from the carvings of carousel figures and come in three sizes and styles: • Short, three-tiered, 7.5” high and 4” wide • Medium, three-tiered, 9” high and 3” wide • Tall, four-tiered, 16” high and 3” wide Prices range from $24 to $36.

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SILVER BEACH CAROUSEL

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

HARBORTOWN INTERIORS

613 Broad St, St. Joseph, Mich.

269.983.7774 harbortowninteriors.com ASSORTED CERAMIC BIRDS Add a touch of color to any small space with these beautiful ceramic birds. Prices range from $9 to $14.

WATERFRONT CHESS SET Chess masters would be thrilled to receive this weathered white and watercolored aqua wood chess set, with real rope detail on the chessboard. Each playing piece is also intricately detailed to complement the set. Priced at $269.

HANDBLOWN GLASS IN WAVE BOWL Lighten up a table or shelf with these colorful hand blown glass balls in wave bowl. Prices start at $10.

MERMAID BOOKENDS This gift is for the whimsical sea lover. These Mermaid Bookends can turn a library, sitting room or end table into an artistic treasure. $49

FLIP-FLOP TRINKET TRAYS Enjoy the beach experience from any room with these creative aluminum flipflops. Excellent for holding nuts, candles, soaps, jewelry, beach glass, shells and anything you desire. $29

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GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

CUSTOMS IMPORTS

430 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo, Mich.

269.469.9180. customsimports.com

ANGELS Beautiful angel panels not only bring grace to your home, but are also a reminder that miracles do happen.

Sized at 15” x 2”x 20”, these panels are priced at $48.50.

NAG CHAMPA STOCKING STUFFERS Nag champa, the most popular incense in the world, is now available in more flavors, and can function as a perfect stocking stuffer. Customs Imports is the incense headquarters for Harbor Country. Priced at $2.25.

PERSONAL SHOPPING TOUR Provide a personal Tour de Customs Imports in New Buffalo for the culture enthusiast.

Dee Dee will share her buying adventures while enjoying an afternoon sipping on a glass of wine, shopping and adventuring to other cultures without leaving Harbor Country. Call 269.469.9180 to schedule a tour.

YOSEMITE FOUNTAIN Give the gift of peace and calm by bringing nature into the home with these Yosemite Fountains.

Available in an assortment of sizes and colors ranging from $74 to $525.

EBONY AND IVORY OIL PAINTING Captivate guests with this oneof-a-kind oil painting from Bali of Michael Jackson in thought and reflection. Sized at 47”x 35½”, this collection is priced at $425.

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

DIVINE QUAN YIN STATUE This beautifully carved, one-ofa-kind “Goddess of Mercy and Compassion” statue is purchased directly from the Balinese artist. Sized at 58” x 29”, the statue is priced at $1,250.

LIQUID METAL BRACELET The Sergio Gutierrez collection is hand crafted gold jewelry. This metal bracelet, created from ball and chain, is so soft and smooth, it feels like a second layer of skin. $210

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HAPPY BUDDHA Bring calm and good fortune to your home with this hand-carved happy Buddha made from sugarwood. Purchased directly from the artist in Java Indonesia, this Buddha represents good fortune and creates positive energy for any space. Priced at $225.

GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

BLUE GATE RESTAURANT AND THEATER 195 N Van Buren St, Shipshewana, Ind. 888.447.4725. bluegatetheater.com

HOTEL/DINNER/THEATER PACKAGE FOR 2 TO “GRAND PIANO CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA” Five grand pianos will be played by five grand pianists, Kim Collingsworth, Stan Whitmire, Tim Parton and the Hayes Sisters, playing your favorite Christmas songs like you’ve never heard them before. The evening will also feature special selections from guest vocalist TaRanda Greene of the Greenes. Priced at $349.

DINNER/THEATER PACKAGE FOR 2 TO “GRAND PIANO CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA” PRICED AT $188.

DINNER/THEATER PACKAGE FOR 2 FOR GLORY AND MAJESTY OF CHRISTMAS Produced and performed by Disney World veterans, this show is a two-part program. The first half will feature the Webb Family, dressed in extravagant Victorian carolers’ attire, singing Christmas favorites that will make you feel like you stepped into a Dickens novel. The second half will be the retelling of the Christmas story with the great pageantry, stunning lighting and costuming that will make this a memorable evening and a yearly tradition for any who attend. A cast of 28, and live musical accompaniment by the Webbs, will bring to life the birth of the King while a narrator retells the most glorious story ever told. Priced at $88.

DINNER/THEATER PACKAGE FOR 2 TO NEW YEAR’S EVE EXTRAVAGANZA The gift of laughter is the best medicine! This event features Dennis Swanberg, America’s “Minister of Encouragement,” entertaining you for a New Year’s Eve to remember! $178

GIOVANNI’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 603 Ridge Rd, Munster, Ind. 219.836.6220. giosmunster.com

GIOVANNI’S GIFT CERTIFICATE Always a gift in good taste!

You may find it no longer necessary to fly to Italy for the “Cucina Italiana.” Giovanni’s offers the finest Italian cuisine, expertly prepared veal, pasta, seafood and more. Voted Best Italian Restaurant in 2011. Giovanni’s gift certificates are sure to please. Available in any denomination.

WHITING PARK FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA & CHORUS/ “SUMMER WITH THE SYMPHONY” 1417-119th St, Whiting, Ind. 219.659.0292 whitingindiana.com

SUMMER WITH THE SYMPHONY SUBSCRIPTIONS This annual subscription to Symphony productions includes free parking, seating in a reserved section, and use of subscribers tent. Priced at $25 (individual subscription), $75 (family subscription, i.e: husband, wife, children living at home).

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GIFT GUIDE 2011 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

MARTIN BINDER JEWELER

23 Lincolnway, Valparaiso, Ind. 219.462.5931 martinbinders.com MEN’S EDWARD MIRELL THREE-TONE TUXEDO BRACELET The perfect gift for the stylish man in your life, this men’s bracelet by designer Edward Mirell is created from black titanium, titanium, and sterling silver.

The three-tone bracelet is part of the Tuxedo Collection, which also features a coordinating ring and set of cufflinks.

Call for pricing.

ELLE REFLECTIONS CUFF A stunning piece of statement jewelry, this sterling silver bracelet made by ELLE Jewelry makes a perfect stocking stuffer. The 7-inch wide cuff-style bracelet features a stylish kaleidoscope pattern. Call for pricing.

MICHELE JETWAY WATCH Help her stay on time and in style with a MICHELE Jetway watch.

Merging sophisticated elegance with a casual, sporty aesthetic, the timepiece features a 14-karat rose gold bezel lined with 112 diamonds encircling a mother-of-pearl dial. The two-tone stainless steel bracelet is interchangeable with any 18-mm MICHELE strap. Call for pricing.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF MICHELE

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF BRANDS 88/ ELLE JEWELRY

CHARLES KRYPELL LE PETITE IVY DIAMOND COLLECTION PENDANTS A gift that will truly make her eyes sparkle, each one of these sterling silver pendants by designer Charles Krypell features a total of 26 round brilliant cut black, brown, or white diamonds set in 14k white gold. The pendants feature 18k yellow gold accents and hang from a sterling silver chain with a lobster clasp.

Call for pricing.

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PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SPECTORE CORPORATION

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CHARLES KRYPELL INC.

bite & sip FOOD FEATURE

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Inject some Asian flair into the festivities.

We’ve all seen A Christmas Story and the Parker family’s riotous initiation into dining on “Chinese turkey” for the holidays. Even if your neighbor’s dogs don’t sneak in and steal your perfectly roasted turkey, why not plan a holiday meal with a nontraditional twist? Here are four ways to inject a little Asian flair into your family’s festivities.

WORDS BY KIM RANEGAR‌

Baking Christmas cookies evolves to baking personalized fortune cookies

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Who says Christmas cookies have to be shaped like trees and stockings? Everyone loves opening a fortune cookie, and when you make your own, you’re guaranteed a good fortune. Check out chinese-fortunecookie.com/fortune-cookie-quotes.html for a template with samples. Begin by creating the fortunes, typing them up on the computer and printing them out to be about 3 inches long by 1/2 inch tall. Cut them out and have them ready.

FORTUNE COOKIES (Makes about 10 cookies)

2 egg whites 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 8 tablespoons white flour 1-1/2 teaspoons cornstarch 1/4 teaspoon salt 8 teaspoons sugar 4 teaspoon water

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Whisk the eggs. Add vanilla and almond extracts and vegetable oil and whisk again until the mixture becomes a little foamy. Combine flour, cornstarch, salt and sugar into a mixing bowl and mix in the water to create a thick paste. Add egg mixture to flour mixture a little at a time as you mix, creating a runny batter.

Create little “pancakes” of batter on a greased cookie sheet, using about a tablespoon of batter per pancake. Tilt the cookie sheet back and forth and side to

side so the batter spreads out into even circles. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies start to turn a golden brown and pull away from the baking sheet.

Assemble the cookies: Remove a cookie from the baking sheet using a large spatula and place it on the palm of your hand (Be careful. It’s hot! It helps to wear tight-fitting cotton gloves.) Working quickly, place one of your pre-cut fortunes in the middle of the cookie. To form the fortune cookie shape, fold the cookie in half, and then gently pull the edges downward over the rim of a glass, or the edge of a muffin tin. Place the finished cookie in the cup or muffin tin so that it keeps its shape as it cools. Since you have to work quickly before the cookies cool, you may want to make just a few on each sheet. You’re very fortunate indeed if a partner can help and if you have good family and friends to share your nontraditional Christmas.

Not all wreaths are green and topped with a bow. This colorful Asian-inspired wreath is unexpected and unbelievably simple to pull together using the little party parasols that typically decorate your cocktail. Just poke them into a wreath form or grapevine wreath. You’ll need about 40 paper parasols, which you can pick up at Party City in packages of 20 for less than a buck each.

Decorating Gingerbread Houses evolves to a Roll-Your-Own Sushi Celebration Healthier than butter and molasses, a roll-your-own sushi gathering is another way to bring friends together. We did this recently with our good friends John and Pat Wong, who learned to make sushi in Hawaii, where John grew up. If you’re not lucky enough to have sushi-making friends, visit YouTube.com for a visual lesson so you can teach your friends. This recipe is from Pat Wong.

ROLL-YOUR-OWN SUSHI BY PAT WONG SUPPLIES YOU’LL NEED: • Bamboo rolling mat or makisu for each person or couple • Cutting board • Plastic wrap • Medium bowl with water • Sharp knife • Prepared sushi rice (recipe below) • Nori seaweed paper (in the Asian section of most grocery stores) • Fresh, sushi-quality seafood precut into strips (we asked a local restaurant to get this for us), or imitation crab sticks • Vegetables precut into long slender strips (such as cucumbers, green onions, avocado)

Prepare the rice by placing dry rice in saucepan or rice cooker. Rinse with cold water several times. Add 5-1/2 cups water to saucepan or rice cooker. Cook according to rice cooker directions, or bring to boil over high heat then reduce to simmer for 20 minutes until water is absorbed. Rice will be sticky. Meanwhile, combine vinegar, sugar and salt, and heat until sugar and salt dissolve. Remove from heat. Turn cooked rice into plastic or glass bowl. Pour vinegar mixture over rice and combine.

Prepare mat by covering both sides with plastic wrap to keep ingredients

Legend has it that Peking duck was a favorite of the imperial court.

While authentic Peking duck is rather involved, beginning with blowing air under the duck skin (sometimes using bicycle pumps) to separate it from the fat, a simpler method is suggested by revolutionary foodie Jamie Oliver.

JAMIE OLIVER’S PEKING DUCK WITH PLUM SAUCE 1 large duck Salt Chinese five-spice Fresh ginger, grated 10-12 pitted fresh plums 5 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1/2 teaspoon chili powder Finely sliced green onions Finely sliced cucumbers 1 package Chinese pancakes (these are thin, more like crepes)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Rub duck (with or without the head, à la A Christmas Story) with salt, inside and out. Dust the bird with five-spice and rub some fresh ginger around the cavity, leaving the ginger inside to flavor the bird. Place the duck in a roasting pan and put in the oven. Check frequently and spoon away the excess fat that has rendered out of the duck to crisp the skin.

According to Jamie, “Generally, after a couple of hours it will be perfect—the leg meat will pull off the bone and the skin will be wonderfully crispy.”

While the duck is cooking, prepare the plum sauce: Add the pitted plums to a pan with the sugar, 2 pinches of five-spice, soy sauce, chili powder and a splash of water. Bring to a boil, and then simmer until you get a nice shiny pulp.

Oliver’s recipe suggests, “You can remove the plum skins if you want to, but I usually leave them in. Sometimes I add a little grated orange zest, as this goes well with duck.” Allow the sauce to cool before serving.

Once the duck has cooled a bit, use two forks to shred the meat off the carcass, including the crispy skin. Heat the pancakes as directed on the package. To serve, spread a thin layer of plum sauce over a pancake, add a slice or two of duck, then a few slivers of green onion and cucumber. Fold up the bottom and side flaps of the pancake, allowing the ingredients to poke out of the open top so that you can munch on it like you would a burrito. Note how the plum sauce complements the duck—like cranberry sauce and turkey.

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

photography by [this page, top] TONY V. MARTIN

FOR THE SUSHI RICE: 5-1/4 cups of sushi rice, such as Botan Calrose 1 cup rice vinegar 1/2 cup sugar 1 tablespoon salt

from sticking.

Place a sheet of nori seaweed wrap on your covered bamboo mat. Spread about a cup of the prepared rice on the nori, leaving about an inch of the nori uncovered at either end. Wet fingers (not dripping) to help keep the rice from sticking to hands. Place the fillings you’ve chosen across the rice. Roll the mat away from you, adjusting as needed to roll the sushi. The challenge is to roll it tight enough to make a neat roll without rolling so fiercely that your ingredients squish out the ends, reassuring yourself that it will taste the same even if it’s not perfectly formed. Slice into 8 pieces using a dampened knife.

Consider mixing your ingredients. California rolls traditionally include crab, cucumber and avocado, but feel free to create your own combinations and fun names. Try eel, salmon and tuna. Serve with wasabi and soy sauce.

Traditional Turkey evolves to Peking Duck

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Wreaths of Holly evolve to Colorful Umbrella Wreaths

bite & sip BISTRO 157

157 W Lincolnway, Valparaiso 219.462.0992. bistro157.net 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 chocolateinfused 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.

Indiana

BARTLETT’S GOURMET GRILL & TAVERN 131 E Dunes Hwy 12, Beverly Shores. 219.879.3081. eatatbartletts.com. Bartlett’s is a new gourmet grill by husband-and-wife team Gary Sanders and Nicole Bissonnette-Sanders. Located in the heart of the National Lakeshore, Bartlett’s has a cozy but very modern ambience. The menu is an exceptionally creative take on upscale roadhouse-type food.

Starting off the meal are appetizers such as andouille sausage corndogs and surf & turf potstickers, as well as family style offerings like Low Country spiced boiled peanuts and smoked venison sticks. Entrées include 5-hour pot roast, whitefish fillet and linguine bolognese, ranging in price from $10 to $20. The wine list is modest but well-crafted.

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BUTTERFINGERS 2552 45th Ave, Highland. 219.924.6464. 921 D Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.4202. Every day, Butterfingers prepares a selection of ready-to-heat-and-eat entrées, along with freshly baked breads and salads, all without preservatives. The chicken almond salad has long been a crowd favorite, but the rest of the lunch menu is equally gratifying. What Butterfingers is best known for, however, is their famous desserts. The restaurant’s 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 gourmet desserts, which includes beautifully decorated and delicious cakes (the double chocolate mousse cake is a must), and an assortment of cookies and brownies, all of which have been satisfying dessert lovers for more than twenty-five years. And to every party planner’s delight, Butterfingers does offer catering.

CIAO BELLA 1514 US 41, Schererville. 219.322.6800. ciaobellaonline.com. The cuisines of three different regions of Italy are featured at Ciao Bella, a ristorante, pizzeria and wine bar. Patrons can sample a 12-inch gourmet pizza with a creative array of toppings like the Pizza Quattro Stagioni—tomatoes, artichokes,

prosciutto and black olives—or the sauceless Pizza Al Fichi topped with goat cheese, figs and onions and drizzled with a balsamic glaze. For those who like more traditional pies, there are thin-crust options with toppings such as sausage, fresh garlic, salami and jalapeños. Or try such entries as Ciao Bella’s signature dishes, Rigatoni Boscaiola—spicy Italian sausage and rigatoni noodles topped with a tomato cream sauce—and the Chicken Pollo Ala Romana, a chicken breast sautéed in a white wine sauce with roasted tri-color peppers and then sauced in a tomato cream. There’s also a great selection of seafood, pork and beef. Desserts change frequently, but the tiramisu is always on the menu. The extensive wine list focuses on European and Californian wines. Delivery and take-out available.

DON QUIJOTE 119 E Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.462.7976. donquijoterestaurantandimports.com. 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.

GINO’S STEAK HOUSE 1259 W Joliet St, Dyer. 219.879.0760. 600 E 81st Ave, Merrillville. 219.769.4466. ginossteakhouse. com. The chefs at Gino’s, who have more than thirty years of combined experience, use only the freshest ingredients in their homestyle cuisine. Starters include traditional minestrone soup from a family recipe, salads with fresh, locally grown produce, and crusty bread with crocks of butter. The nine-ounce prime steak tops the menu and is itself topped with Roquefort cheese in its most popular rendition.

All main dishes are served with the restaurant’s

signature marinated peppers, and entrées include fish and lobster delivered daily. The dessert menu features créme brûlée and various cheesecakes, but the housemade tiramisu is the highlight—a rich blend of coffee, chocolate and cream cheese flavors.

A premium selection of wine, beer and cocktails is available at the full-service bar, and there is a special children’s menu so the entire family can enjoy the dining experience.

GIOVANNI’S 603 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.6220. giosmunster. com. This classic upscale Italian bistro is a local favorite, with charm, gracious service and an extensive menu. Innovative selections include a variety of appetizers, and specials are paired with recommended wine by the glass. A crab cake salad with fresh mozzarella and Bibb lettuce is a staple for lunch, and all entrées are accompanied by hot and crusty garlic Parmesan cheese rolls. You can indulge in a traditional multi-course Italian dinner or order by the item. For lighter fare, soups, salads and pizzas are served with cheerful dispatch. Sumptuous dinners include a renowned Veal Scallopine Piccata, served in a white wine sauce, and scampi sautéed in garlic, lemon, thyme and butter. The wine list is extensive but educational, and the desserts range from classic tiramisu to real Italian gelato. Lunch entrées average about $12, while dinners cost $18 to $25.

KELLY’S TABLE 5727 N 600 W, Michigan City. 219.872.5624. kellyscreekwood.com. Tucked away amidst 30 acres of woodland, the Creekwood Inn, built in the 1930s as a second home, is a delightful spot for those wanting to get away. But you don’t have to spend the night to enjoy a great repast at Kelly’s Table, located inside the inn. It’s here that chef/proprietor Patricia Kelly Molden creates a seasonal menu using the local bounty of the neighboring farms and orchards. Recent appetizer offerings include a rich Onion Soup Savoyarde with egg yolks and cream, topped with Gruyère toast as well as crabmeat and artichoke-stuffed mushrooms. Entrées range from the simple but delicious chicken tetrazzini

photo by TONY V. MARTIN

The information presented in Bite & Sip is accurate as of press time, but readers are encouraged to call ahead to verify listing information.

Paid Advertisement

Ciao Bella Delivers Authentic Italian Cuisine

B

ringing the Tuscan trattoria feel to Northwest Indiana, Ciao Bella Ristorante is already consistently recognized as one of the area’s finest Italian restaurants just two years after opening.

Deliberately mimicking the enchanting atmosphere of many restaurants where he worked as a young man growing up and studying PHOTO BY TONY V. MARTIN mechanical engineering in southern Joe Scalzo Italy, owner Joe Scalzo is pleased when he hears how much people are enjoying their experience at Ciao Bella.

“Having a place where people can share love and friendship over good food that’s prepared with experience and skill is something beautiful,” owner Joe Scalzo says. “Ciao Bella translates to ‘Hello, Beautiful’ and is a reminder that the Mediterranean diet is one of the best in the world. Just good, authentic food made with love and passion.”

While Scalzo came to this country at 27 to study international business at Loyola University in Chicago, his love for cooking prevailed.

His early ventures in the business include opening Chicago’s Piazza Bella (since sold) and Via Carducci with locations in Lincoln Park and downtown (now owned by his brother John) and led to him being offered a prestigious industry position as general manager of Rosebud Restaurants.

Scalzo’s most recent move, bringing authentic Italian cuisine and a cozy, intimate setting to the region, has earned rave reviews.

“It’s always a pleasure to hear people say, ‘We needed something like this in Northwest Indiana,’” he says.

Ciao Bella offers dine-in and take-out menus for lunch and dinner, including a full array of home-made Italian-style thin-crust pizzas, risotto, pasta, soups and salads. Entrées include chicken, fish, veal and steak, with original recipes like Rigatoni Boscaiola (mushrooms, Calabrese sausage and peas sautéed in a tomato cream sauce), Pesce Bianco (white fish and white wine in a lemon caper sauce with bed of spinach garlic) and Tagliata Toscana (NY strip steak with rosemary, peppercorn, broiled and served with arugula and rosemary potatoes).

There’s a newly expanded wine list, and fresh ideas for specialty dinners are always being introduced, including more of his grandmother’s recipes, according to Scalzo.

Ciao Bella also hosts special events such as cooking demonstrations and wine-tastings while providing catering services with an on-site chef available for all types of events in your home or at any venue, including Munster’s Centennial Park, where Ciao Bella’s Joe Scalzo is the preferred caterer.

Book your holiday parties and catered events now. Semi-private room available for up to 30 guests or up to 200 as the preferred caterer at Centennial Park.

Give the gift of good taste...Ciao Bella gift cards are available in any denomination.

Watch for Scalzo’s next move as he is currently searching for the right spot to once again add his personal signature with another new concept for diners in Northwest Indiana.

Ciao Bella is located on US Hwy 41 just north of US Hwy 30 on the west CIAO BELLA RISTORANTE side of the road and ideally situated 1514 US 41 to complement a night at the movies Schererville, Ind. with a fine Italian meal.

219.322.6800

We look forward to

oin our table for the finest & freshest Italian flavors and an extensive wine list which is sure to please

Book your holiday party today or let us cater the perfect holiday gathering.

Semi Private Room Available for up to 30 guests or up to 200 as a preferred caterer at Centennial Park in Munster

Give the Gift of Good taste... ciao Bella Gift cards Celebrate New Year’s Eve with us, now accepting reservations.

Weekly Dinner & Drink Specials Express Lunch ~ $9.95 All You Can Eat Buffet Monday, Wednesday & Friday Create Your Own Pasta Tuesday and Thursday

1514 U.S. 41, Schererville, IN 219.322.6800 M-Th 11am-10pm | F-Sat 11am-11pm | Sun 11am-10pm

www.ciaobellaonline.com

bite & sip to grilled cumin-crusted tuna with a mango habanero salsa, and rabbit braised in wine and served with summer vegetables. Fresh pumpkin custard—topped with whipped cream and flavored with Grand Marnier and crystallized ginger-—and chocolate mousse served in chocolate tulip cups accompanied by a berry sauce are among Molden’s to-diefor desserts. For cocktails, consider Kelly’s Table Cosmopolitan: a delightful concoction of Absolut Citron, Triple Sec, Chambord, lime and cranberry or a capirinha made with Brazilian cachaça, fresh limes and turbinado sugar.

LUCREZIA 428 Calumet Rd, Chesterton. 219.926.5829.

302 S Main St, Crown Point. 219.661.5829. lucreziacafe.com. Lucrezia has been a Northern Italian favorite since owners Michael and Nada Karas first opened it in the mid-nineties, in a historic downtown Chesterton building. Several years later, the couple renovated the William Barringer Brown Mansion just off the downtown square in Crown Point, continuing their fine dining tradition. Signature dishes include slow cooked Chicken Vesuvio, slow cooked chicken served in a rosemary garlic sauce with roasted potatoes and fresh vegetables, and roasted lamb shank braised in its own juices accompanied with roasted potatoes and braised red cabbage. Specials include veal medallions with mustard and mushrooms topped with a roasted brandy cream sauce. Not to be missed is the zuccotto, a sinful domed-shaped chocolate sponge cake filled with white chocolate mousse and pistachios and sauced with both chocolate and raspberry. Lunch entrées average $20, dinner $30.

STOP 50 WOOD FIRED PIZZERIA 500 S El Portal, Michigan City. 219.879.8777. stop50woodfiredpizzeria.com. Just north of US Hwy 12 and west of New Buffalo, this café enjoys a well-deserved reputationincluding being named one of the top four pizzerias in the Midwest by Rachael Ray magazine—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.

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STRONGBOW INN 2405 E US 30, Valparaiso. 800.462.5121. strongbowinn.com. 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.

SVAGO RISTORANTE 1103 Joliet Rd, Dyer. 219.322.7305.

svagoristorante.com. Svago owner Leslie Dianda and executive chef Tony Sanfilippo are committed to carrying out the traditions of their families. Leslie’s grandfather was a baker in Chicago. “I’m third generation in the restaurant business,” says Sanfilippo, noting that his father was a master sommelier and that his grandfather not only ran a restaurant in Palermo, Italy, but also grew grapes and made his own wine. Taking the recipes used by their ancestors, Sanfilippo and Dianda want to create the ultimate ristorante, one where people come for good times, good service and good food. That’s why the food at Svago, which means “entertainment” in Italian, focuses on slowly braised foods, long simmered sauces and great salads and soups. For those who want a quick bite or simpler fare, there’s the café in front which features sandwiches and is also a place to sip coffee and enjoy a sweet. “Tradition is very important to both Leslie and me,” says Sanfilippo. “And that’s what we hope to create here as well.”

WILLIAM B’S STEAKHOUSE at BLUE CHIP CASINO 2 Easy St, Michigan City. 888.879.7711, ext 2118. bluechip-casino.com. Named after Boyd Gaming Corporation’s chairman and CEO William S. Boyd, William B’s is a world-class steakhouse in the tradition of the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas. Executive Chef Rudy Paniuagua advises that you should not over-grill a great steak: “The flavor of the meat and the marbling should speak for themselves.” Rib eyes, T-bones, filet and porterhouse are the centerpiece of the menu—and all the little extras are available, including creamy horseradish, sautéed onions and mushrooms, and au poivre sauce with shallots, butter, cracked peppercorns and cognac—but you will also find fresh seafood, occasional exotic selections like ostrich, and exquisite pasta dishes, prepared in-house. There is a complete cocktail menu (the traditional martinis are excellent), as well as a fivestar wine list and complete appetizer and dessert selections. The average cost of dinner is $25, and reservations are highly recommended.

Michigan

BISTRO ON THE BOULEVARD 521 Lake Blvd, St. Joseph, Michigan.

269.983.6600. theboulevardinn.com. This French bistro on Lake Michigan has a well-deserved and unrivaled reputation in Southwest Michigan. The view through the French doors overlooking the bluff is spectacular no matter what season, though dining outside on the porch has its own special charm, particularly at sunset or on a starry summer night. The interior of the dining room and cozy adjacent bar is impeccable, right down to the tinted water glasses, burnished wood and woodburning fireplace. The menu changes frequently to accommodate seasonal, fresh and available fruits and vegetables, much of which are grown locally, but the basic entrée list—created by executive chef Ryan Thornburg, who worked as the restaurant’s sous chef for three years when it first opened—is extensive. Thornburg returned last year after working as executive chef at Tosi’s Restaurant and then the Orchard Hills Country Club, to replace longtime executive chef Ali Barker, who moved from the area. Thornburg’s menu items include Horseradish Crusted Faroe Islands Salmon accompanied by sautéed spinach in a Michigan cherry vinaigrette, Steak Frites—a tallgrass 8-ounce top sirloin with pomme frites and herb butter—and Crispy Duck Confit with sautéed garlic potatoes and mixed greens dressed with an aged sherry vinaigrette. Prices are reasonable, starting at $17 for the macaroni and cheese made with

aged white cheddar, mascarpone, gruyere and country ham topped with garlic bread crumbs, to steaks for around $30. Be sure to check out the Wednesday sushi menu for such delights as Black Dragon—broiled eel, shrimp tempura, avocado and cucumber with wasabi topikiko—as well as the choice of sakes. Reservations are always helpful, especially on the weekends.

ELM STREET BISTRO 8 S Elm St, Three Oaks. 269.756.9274. elmstreetbistro.com. Elm Street offers the traditional Parisian bistro with an American twist. The bistro is dedicated to bringing the most delicious and highest quality meals around, made from the finest and freshest ingredients using locally produced meats, vegetables, fruit and other products whenever possible.

EXPRESSIONS GALLERY & CAFE 2 1 3 E M a i n S t , B e n t o n H a r b o r.

269.926.7185. expressionsgallery-cafe. com. Originally a custom framing shop, Expressions opened a café in 2007, which offers a unique selection of breakfast and lunch items, including signature soups and fresh-baked breads. The adjoining gallery—where visitors will meet with Julie, who has more than 15 years of framing experience—offers both custom framing and a retail gift gallery.

THE PHOENIX 124 Water St, Benton Harbor. 269.925.8060. thephoenixbh.com. For those wanting to taste Elizabeth Frost’s exquisite, freshly made croissants, timing is everything at the Phoenix, her cafe in the Arts District of Benton Harbor. Frost starts rolling out the laminated layers of butter and dough in this historic building, with its large windows overlooking the blossoming neighborhood, at a time when late-nighters are just thinking of going to bed. Since she first opened, word of mouth has spiked demand and the French pastries sell so quickly that Frost, who is dedicated to quality, often can’t keep up with the demand. Currently she’s offering three varieties—plain, ham and Gruyere cheese, and chocolate. But even those that miss out on her croissants can still enjoy her other baked goods, like the wonderful scones—often made with fresh fruit when in season—and such breakfast offerings as the One Eyed Jack— bread with a hole cut out of the middle to accommodate a cooked egg—and Egg McPhoenix, two organic eggs with a blend of cheeses served grilled on Challah bread.

As with all the breakfast breads, lunch items are made with breads shipped in from the famed Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor and include grilled pimento and cheese, and turkey, havarti, bacon and avocado with mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato.

There’s freshly brewed coffee, lattes and cappuccinos, Boylan sodas and an array of teas. Outdoor seating completes Frost’s croissant dream.

RESERVE WINE & FOOD BAR 21 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids.

616.855.9463. reservegr.com. Sleek and sophisticated, Reserve Wine & Food Bar in downtown Grand Rapids is a food lover’s dream. It is here that executive chef Matt Millar, a James Beard nominee and owner of the now-closed, much-loved Journeyman in Fennville, takes his culinary skills to an incendiary level. The restaurant, located in an old bank (the vault is now a wine cellar with private dining options), has a soaring two-story main floor with a charcuterie bar where Millar creates such wonders as his Riesling poached foie gras and housemade boudin blanc sausage. The tasting bar, with its Cruvinet preservation system dispensing more than 100 wines by the glass, was designed to showcase the larger-than-life painting Open Water #24, winner of the

first ArtPrize competition sponsored by the DeVos family, who also co-own the restaurant. Upstairs, the lively buzz is more muted for those who want intimate dining. But no matter where you sit, the food is amazing. With a menu reading like a who’s who of locavore and artisan food producers, there’s Blis handcrafted Michigan-made smoked steelhead roe, Mangalitsa ham from Baker’s Green Acres in Marion, Michigan, and goat cheese from Dancing Goat Creamery in Fennville. And, of course, there’s the wine-try samples by ordering wine flights and types.

TABOR HILL WINERY & RESTAURANT 185 Mt. Tabor Rd, Buchanan. 800.283.3363. taborhill.com. Tabor Hill Winery’s restaurant is all at once elegant, urbane and semicasual. Its windows afford ample, rolling vineyard views; the menu is sophisticated.

Chef John Paul Verhage, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, gives a modified California-cuisine touch to signature dishes like raspberry chicken and the salmon wrapped in grape leaves. The extensive appetizer menu includes items like mini Morel Mushroom Pizzas and Kobe Beef Carpaccio. Though the restaurant is easy to find—just a half hour north of South Bend and 20 minutes east of New Buffalo—it’s not always easy to get in. Reservations are suggested—but those who wander in unannounced can sip at the complimentary wine bar or purchase a glass and enjoy it on the stone terrace overlooking the vines.

Tabor Hill produces a wonderful variety of award-winning wines, but for those who desire a harder libation, a full bar awaits.

Illinois

BALAGIO RISTORANTE 1 7 5 0 1 D i x i e H w y, H o m e w o o d .

708.957.1650. balagio-restaurant.com. This popular Italian restaurant has changed its menu offerings, with many entrée prices now under $12.95. Some of the specialties created by chef/owner Mike Galderio include chicken scaloppini—thin breast cutlets quickly sautéed with white wine— Italian sausage and roasted red peppers served with braised escarole, and a salmon club sandwich with broiled salmon, crisp bacon, avocado, lettuce and tomato. There are also Galderio traditional family recipes like the chopped salad with chicken, salami and hearts of palm, housemade marinara sauce and spaghetti and meatballs.

There’s an extensive wine list as well as live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings. Private dining is available for any group from 10 to 200, either family style or custom designed.

THE COURTYARD BISTRO 21 S White St, Frankfort. 815.464.1404.

The ambitious menu is inspired by the cooking of Italy, France 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.

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GLENWOOD OAKS RIB & CHOP HOUSE 106 N Main St, Glenwood. 708.758.4400. glenwoodoaks.com. 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.

THE PICKWICK SOCIETY TEAROOM 122 Kansas St, Frankfort. 815.806.8140. pickwicktearoom.com. Food and beverages are part of the experience in this charming and comfortable shop/ bakery/restaurant, whether you are browsing antiques or just stopping for a minute as you work your way through the fascinating downtown historic community. But the tea is definitely special; Pickwick serves only Octavia Whole Leaf Tea, and a never-ending pot for two costs $5.50. The selections are wide-ranging, including black, oolong, green, white, herbal and every flavor from English breakfast to Rooibos & Roses. A thoughtful menu has a dozen luncheon combinations with salads, sandwiches, cheese plate, quiche, fruit and vegetables, and garnishes averaging about $7. Sides include green salad, fruit salad and soup. Pastries, breads and cookies can be combined or consumed individually.

A popular choice is a scone with clotted cream and jam for $2.75. Choose from two dozen kinds of finger sandwiches such as ham and pineapple spread on a corn muffin, spinach and cheese on a filo triangle, or fig merlot spread with cream cheese on white. A dozen breads include chocolate tea and 14 kinds of homemade scones. Cookies—including madeleines, carrot oatmeal raisin, or cranberry hazelnut shortbread—are $.75 apiece or $8 per dozen.

SIAM MARINA THAI CUISINE 80 River Oaks Center, Calumet City.

708.862.3438. 1669 Sibley Blvd, Calumet City. 708.868.0560. Chef-proprietor Tammy Pham has evolved into a legend for her mastery of a full menu with dozens of vegetarian options as well as traditionally spiced and marinated poultry dishes. The spring rolls and peanut sauce are prepared in-house daily, along with special soups. The authentic pad Thai has a loyal following, and fresh coconut works in many of the dishes, including dessert. A multi-course lunch averages $12, dinner $15.

SMITH & WOLLENSKY 318 N State St, Chicago. 312.670.9900. smithandwollensky.com. This big-city steakhouse is the most independentminded, high-quality chain on the planet.

Perched overlooking the Chicago River at Marina City, its turn-of-the-century persona with exterior lattice-work trim and interior polished wood floors and brass accessories is a welcome contrast to its futuristic home. The menu is as solid and dependable as jewelry from Tiffany’s or a Brooks Brothers suit. The menu includes simply grilled seafood and porterhouse for two when available.

There are three 10-ounce lobster tails to choose from—South African, Tristan Island and Australian. Try not to miss the famous split-pea soup, although, as expected, it’s rich. Full dinners start at $25 and go up. Even though there are 450 tables and booths, reservations are strongly recommended.

For more restaurant listings, please go to visitshoremagazine.com.

Welcome to Giovanni’s: NWI’s Premier Italian Cuisine Experience

P

rocopio LoDuca immigrated to the United States as a young boy. He achieved the dream of owning his own restaurant and began Giovanni’s on July 1, 1966.

Pro’s wife Nancy and daughter Mary continue to run Giovanni’s in a way that he would be proud of.

Giovanni’s offers expertly prepared veal, pasta, seafood and other Italian delicacies. The numerous dishes Chef Tim Merkel prepares daily will be decided upon early each morning, based on the availability of the market. Chef Tim is eager to please you with his daily effort of serving fine food.

Our staff is here to explain the various dishes prepared by our chef and to expertly serve them to you during your Giovanni’s experience. You may find it no longer necessary to fly to Italy for the “Cucina Italiana.”

Book your holiday parties and events today...here at the restaurant, at your home, or office. Giovanni’s is available for catering large parties (50 person minimum) at your home or business. Our main dining room is available Saturday afternoons from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Reservation requires a minimum of 30 guests and can accommodate up to 60. Advance reservation required and special menu applies.

GIOVANNI’S Giovanni’s gift certificates available...

603 Ridge Rd Always a gift in good taste! All items available Munster, Ind. for carry-out.

219.836.6220

Join our Family this Holiday season.

We offer expertly prepared Pasta, Veal, Risotto, Seafood, and Steak. Be sure to save room for our delicious desserts!

Make your holiday reservations today!

Private parties and on-site catering is available. Please call for more information.

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JENNY’S STEAKHOUSE 20 Kansas St, Frankfort. 815.464.2685.

11041 S Menard Ave, Chicago Ridge.

708.229.2272. jennyssteakhouse.com.

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 fettuccini. The signature steak is an 8-ounce filet with garlic and bleu cheese, and you can have it with Jack Daniels sauce for an extra $2.50. Meals always include soup, potato, vegetable, bread and bruschetta, and the wine list is impressive and right on. Soup, early-bird and homemade specials change daily—Monday, for instance, you can get split pea soup, pot roast with potato pancakes, and Mama’s meatloaf—but even the regular selections are imaginative. Where else can you get a bottle of Dom Perignon with two surf-and-turf dinners for $235? Jenny’s will even text you drink special information—all you have to do is register. Prices average less than $10 for appetizers, soups, salads, wraps and sandwiches on the lunch menu, and the median price for steak is $20. Most other entrées come in at somewhat less; the sea scallops are $16.95, for instance. An 8- to 9-ounce prime rib at $10.95, a half

slab of ribs at $9.95, and braised ox tails at $8.95 are just a few of the bargains on the early-bird menu.

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GIBSON’S STEAKHOUSE 1028 N Rush St, Chicago. 312.266.8999. gibsonssteakhouse.com. The traditional fresh seafood and aged steak restaurant’s reputation for quality and service never varies, and the clientele is often as famous as the food. If you are going to have a martini once in your life, the front-room bar would be the right place.

(You can also select food from a special bar menu or the dinner menu.) The same can be said for the mammoth portions of layer cake or à la mode desserts that are as daunting visually as they are gastronomically. Start the diet tomorrow, live like a rock star today—you can even choose which rock star from the autographed photos plastered all over the staircase walls. Though the Rush Street location is the flagship and standard bearer, there is another Gibson’s in Rosemont and related hotspots next door (Hugo’s Frog Bar) and a couple of blocks away at RL (Ralph Lauren), where a similar menu is the staple. Reservations are a must, unless you want to hang out in the crowd, which is plenty of fun too. The array of choices for wine and cocktails is dizzying and so are the portions; be prepared. Entrées average about $35, but you can go much higher. Be prepared to valet park—it just makes sense.

house&

GROUNDS

WORDS BY TERRI GORDON PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY V. MARTIN

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Lush furniture and a fireplace make the family room a cozy spot for reading, watching television, or just hanging out with friends and family. Seascapes on the wall once belonged to Jan’s twin brother—and help keep him close. The mirror over the fireplace—and the one in the dining room [right]— were purchased by friends at the Paris Flea Market in 1954, and later given as gifts to the Hamiltons. The dining room features Oriental portraits and Hamilton’s favorite antique, an octagonal oak table she bought at an auction in New Haven, Connecticut. Many Christmas dinners have been eaten around the table, able to seat up to fourteen people.

An uncle gave Bob Hamilton a toy plane when he was a toddler. Left in his parents’ back yard, it was a rusty mess when salvaged and restored. Over the years, grandchildren have delighted to sit in it for portraits.

transition to

TRADITION Long Beach Home Offers Southern Colonial Comfort Christmas has always been special in the Hamilton home. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I decorate every year,â&#x20AC;? Jan Hamilton says. Perhaps it was a way of creating stability for a family who always seemed on the move.

With husband, Bob, in the Marine Corps, the family relocated a lot. In forty years of marriage, the couple moved twenty-two times. Christmas always brought them home.

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DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

n house&

GROUNDS

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Natives of Oklahoma, Jan and Bob met in junior high school and dated in high school and college. When Bob joined the Marine Corps, the couple moved first to Virginia, and then to Hawaii. Jan remembers the trip to Hawaii very well—from Virginia to San Francisco by car, across the desert with no air-conditioning, with An antique table and two babies on bottles, Chinese-Chippendale-style chairs create a comfortable in the days before spot for breakfast or lunch. disposable diapers, then four-and-a-half-days aboard a Navy ship from San Francisco to Hawaii.

“I said, ‘If our marriage survived that, it could survive everything,’” she recalls. The trip home was no less arduous— with a third child and Jan pregnant with a fourth.

A stay in Oklahoma while Bob was in Vietnam introduced Jan to antique collecting.

From that point on, she tried to buy an antique in each place they lived.

While living on the East Coast, Jan became a fan of local Saturday night auctions. It was here she found the family’s dining room table. “This is my very favorite antique piece,” she says. “I bought it in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1970.” The table is octagonal—though its eight leaves can extend it to seat fourteen. “I just fell in love with it, so we ended up getting it. It’s always been my favorite antique.”

Given how many there are to choose from, that says a lot.

A custom-built Southern Colonial home, in Long Beach, Indiana, is now home to Jan Hamilton’s eclectic collection—the pieces valuable mostly for the memories they hold. She remembers fondly the places they represent, and the people.

A collection of blue and white porcelain and china began with a plate her sister sent from London. Shortly after, her mother-in-law gave her a blue and white Christmas plate. That got her started. Blue and white figures throughout the home’s decor.

Two French antique mirrors, purchased at the Paris Flea Market in 1954, were a gift to the Hamiltons. The mirrors remain constant reminders of the friends who bought them and who are now gone.

Much of the art throughout the house came from the

estate of Jan’s twin brother. Seascapes and hunt scenes, as well as several Asian pieces, help keep his memory alive.

A red, white and blue office recognizes Bob’s military career, displaying his Marine Corps uniform and Silver and Bronze Stars awarded for his service in Vietnam.

The room also displays WWII medals earned

by Jan’s uncle, a B17 tail gunner shot down in Romania, and the athletic memorabilia of Bob’s father and Jan’s brother, both University of Central Oklahoma Hall of Fame inductees.

A toy airplane in the corner was Bob’s.

The Hamiltons’ daughter is the reason for the move to Indiana.

She oversaw the building of the home— all on one level, and with easy accessibility in mind. Doors are wide and barrier free.

Overstuffed furniture makes for cozy reading next to the fireplace. There is room for entertaining and for family gatherings—for the making of new memories. And, there is no better time for doing that than Christmas.

“Christmas means remembering the birth of Jesus and the importance of family,” Jan says. “It brings back memories of growing up and many Christmases of the past. My mother used to make candy, cookies and pies for days, and the smells were wonderful. When I was raising my family, I continued the traditions of baking, but not much anymore. Everyone is trying to eat healthy today, so I do not make things like I used to.

“One candy that was a tradition in Oklahoma is called Aunt Bill’s Brown Candy. The recipe was published in the Daily Oklahoman in 1937, and it became a sensation. So, Christmas with Aunt Bill’s Brown Candy was extra special.”

It may not be an antique, but a small musical nativity scene presides over all Hamilton Christmases. It was a gift to Bob in 1968 from his mother, who sent it to him while he was on tour in Vietnam. It holds its own precious memories—and stands to show that while turbulent times come and go, Christmas always endures.

“Christmas means remembering the birth of Jesus and the importance of family. It brings back memories of growing up and many Christmases of the past.”

[Clockwise from top left] The master suite is perfect for breakfast in bed.

A patriotic Christmas tree decorates the red, white, and blue room. Nautical prints hang over the bed in a guest room. The kitchen offers ample room for baking and entertaining; the Tiffany-style lamp was a Christmas gift from Bob to Jan, acquired when he was stationed in San Diego, California.

The medals on the wall behind the patriotic Santa include war decorations earned by Bob and an uncle, and athletic awards won by Jan’s brother. In blue and white, the living room echoes Hamilton’s collection of flow blue and other china; Bob’s Marine Corp dress uniform hangs on the wall.

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DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

shorethings STYLE

Rina Limor gold plated 1/2 way 7.5 mm bangle, $1,100 Albert’s Diamond Jewelers 711 Main, Schererville, Ind. 219.322.2700. albertsjewelers.com

Red Party Dress by Studio 17, $219 Crystal Pendant Necklace by Passionate Expressions Jewelry, designed by Kelly Boyd, $175.

Ms. Elle’s Especially for You 2235 45th St Highland, Ind. 219.924.4204 mselles.com

Celebration

TIME ...come on!

BY LAVETA HUGHES

Ladies and gentlemen, the social season is in full swing during the holidays!

Take a break from the cold-resistant daywear and step into the night in style donning these black tie items. Whether you’re going to a charity ball, holiday party, or the opera, here are a few swanky selections in the area for your event.

Joseph Abboud charcoal tuxedo, $495 Donald Trump blue/white dress shirt, $59.50 Donald Trump pocket square, $25 Larr Brio antique white vest, $85 Ike tie, $85 Kenneth Cole cufflinks, $46 L.R. Men’s Clothier & Tuxedos 205 Lincolnway, LaPorte, Ind. 219.324.5072. lrclothingco.com

Grape Collectors Item

by Poetic Licence, $98 Urban Soles 624 Franklin St, Michigan City, Ind. 219.221.6508 urbansolesinc.com

Deakin & Francis sterling silver small domed oval black onyx cufflinks, $210 Albert’s Diamond Jewelers

Black Patent Hotness pumps by Chinese Laundry, $63 Urban Soles

Perry Ellis black parisian peak tuxedo, $695 Calvin Klein white tuxedo shirt, $69.50 Donald Trump red paisley tie, $49.50 Donald Trump pocket square, $28 Kenneth Cole cufflinks, $46 L.R. Men’s Clothier & Tuxedos

Red silver drop earrings by Rina Limor 4.60ct mix Sapphire, $720

Ms. Elle’s Especially for You

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Cinnabar and Gold Accented Necklace

by Passionate Expressions Jewelry, designed by Kelly Boyd, $150

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Red Knit Cowl Dress with Cardigan Drape Front Jacket by Cynthia J. Designs, $295

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

photography by TONY V. MARTIN AND LAVETA HUGHES

Albert’s Diamond Jewelers

shore things DWELLINGS HOME FURNISHINGS 116 S Main St, Crown Point. 219.663.9600 dwellingshf.com This specialty lifestyle boutique carries accent furniture, lamps, wall décor, accessories, home fragrance products, handbags and gifts. A trip here is an escape from the ordinary, with its eclectic mix of eye-catching f inds for the home’s interior.

build Indiana

CK BUILDING & DESIGN CORPORATION 877.448.1516. ckbuildinganddesign.com. With more than 20 years of experience, the builders at this company specialize in custom homes and green building, as well as renovations and remodeling. CK Building works throughout Lake and Porter Counties in Indiana and Will and Cook Counties in Illinois.

FIELDSTONE CABINET COMPANY 800.339.5369. fieldstonecabinetry.com. Since 1979, Fieldstone Cabinetry has been creating custom kitchens and baths. With more than 90,000 door, finish and specie combinations, the options are endless for either new construction or remodeling products. A comprehensive line of internal organization accessories and decorative embellishments is also available.

HORIZON AWNING 2227 E US 12, Michigan City. 219.872.2329. horizonawning.com. For more than 25 years, this company has built canvas and aluminum awnings for the home and business, plus custom boat covers. Canvas awnings are made of long-wearing, fade-resistant fabrics, and the aluminum variety come with whimsical scalloped edges.

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HULTMAN FLOORING 35 E US Hwy 20, Porter. 219.926.1966. Hultman Flooring, a member of the National Wood Flooring Association, specializes in the design, installation and refinishing of real wood floors.

J KREMKE CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES 314 Spring View Dr, Porter. 219.309.0360. mygreenbuildingsolutions.com. This construction company specializes in sustainable eco-friendly and energy-efficient homes at reasonable rates. Owner John Kremke II has more than 18 years of experience in home building, land development, municipal planning and engineering, with multiple specialties in the area of green construction. Aside from new construction, remodeling and land development, J

Kremke Construction also provides maintenance for bank-owned properties.

MARK SCOTT HOMES 15645 Embers Dr, Mishawaka. 574.259.9518. markscotthomes.net. Since 1988, this reputable builder has specialized in custom home building. Their portfolio consists of large, eye-catching exteriors and complex and detailed interiors. Mark Scott Homes pride themselves also on building environmentally friendly and energy-efficient homes. The staff consists of well-trained, experienced, detail-oriented craftsmen.

MARUSZCZAK APPLIANCE 7809 W Lincoln Hwy, Schererville, Ind. 219.865.0555. maruszczak.com. For decades, this award-winning, family-owned company has been selling and servicing major home appliances in the Munster area. Its broad inventory includes refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, washer/dryers and more, made by virtually every brand in the market. The company is factory-authorized to service everything it sells, and professional in-house delivery and installation services are also available.

POOL PRO CONTRACTORS 3 1 4 N 3 2 5 E , Va l p a r a i s o . 2 1 9 . 5 4 8 . 5 7 8 3 . poolprocontractors.com. For more than two decades, Pool Pro has specialized in custom swimming pool installation, providing expert in-ground swimming pool construction services to clients’ specifications. The team prides itself on hands-on perfection of each custom in-ground swimming pool project, with attention to detail through every stage of construction and on-time completion. Pool Pro also carries a full line of chemical and maintenance supplies for pools and spas.

TECH KITCHEN AND BATHS 709 Plaza Dr, Ste 6, Chesterton. 219.363.3357. Tech Kitchen offers high quality and reasonably priced cabinets. Their work is extraordinarily customized with attention to layout, special finishes and functional features.

TRAINOR GLASS COMPANY 202 N Dixie Way, South Bend. 574.855.2380.

trainorglass.com. Since 1953, Trainor Glass has specialized in commercial glass and glazing. Their stateof-the-art glass can be installed just about anywhere, from partitions, walls and doors, to the shower and bath. The inventory includes endless variations of glass, including clear, frosted, patterned and back-painted glass, along with digitally printed glass products. Trainor serves all of Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan.

VINEYARD LOFTS 13595 Red Arrow Hwy, Harbert. 269.469.0118. vineyardlofts.com. These luxurious contemporary residences are the result of the dramatic renovation of a historic winery into 14 fabulous lofts, featuring 20-foot ceilings, oversized great rooms, private courtyards and home automation.

Michigan

MC COLLUM ARCHITECTS 16109 Red Arrow Hwy, Union Pier. 269.469.9211. mccollumarchitects.com. This full-service architectural firm has spanned 40 years and 100 miles, and has built everything from urban to second home communities, low to upscale housing, single family to multi-family homes, tiny boutique restaurants and even upscale urban eateries. The firm is involved with renovating and creating new housing, amphitheaters, day care centers, and special community development projects designed to create flexible environments.

R.A. MORT SUPPLY 2260 M-139, Benton Harbor. 269.927.8288. ramortsupply.com. This bath gallery, which features a complete kitchen and bath design center with working displays, will give customers ideas about how they can personalize their own homes, and the experts at R.A. Mort Supply can help make it happen.

TILE MART 2465 S M139, Benton Harbor. 269.925.0629. 165 Veteran’s Dr, Holland. 616.396.8453. tilemartmichigan. com. Tile Mart offers a “plethora” of tile, porcelain, glass or stone from items imported from Italy, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Peru and emerging Asian

photo by JOHN J. WATKINS

The information presented in Shore Things is accurate as of press time, but readers are encouraged to call ahead to verify the listing information.

WATER PLACE 188 W US 12, Ste 3, New Buffalo.

269.231.5153. The Water Place is a decorative plumbing and hardware products superstore. With whirlpools, faucets and cabinets, this destination has “everything you need for plumbing services.”

HEART TO HEART 921 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.2300. With home accent items created by nearly 300 artists, Heart to Heart has been selected as a Top 100 gallery for five consecutive years.

The gallery features fine American craft, including original art and sculpture, gift items and jewelry.

Illinois

BLINK APPLIANCES & KITCHENS 2717 Glenwood-Lansing Rd, Lynwood.

708.889.1860. blink.homeappliances.com.

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.

clean Indiana

TILE EFFECTS LTD 888.870.8453. This tile company specializes in the cleaning and restoration of tile surfaces. The staff here is trained to improve weathered, stained and aged natural stone, grout and tile with deep cleaning, stain removal, sanitizing and lifetime sealing.

Custom installation services are also available.

HECHTS LANDSCAPING INC. 219.322.5296. hechtslandscaping.com. One of Northwest Indiana’s largest landscaping companies, Hechts has expanded their services over the last twenty years to include landscape renovation, new home landscape construction, retaining walls, paver brick walks, patios and borders, irrigation, and more. Free estimates are available.

HOMENCLATURE 1948 45th Ave, Munster. 219.697.2548. myhomenclature.com. This furniture store’s ever-changing high-quality inventory includes new and gently used home furnishings— complete living room sets, armoires, footstools, candlesticks and more—and original one-of-a-kind décor. Homenclature offers a range of styles from traditional, modern and contemporary to retro and eclectic.

Michigan

INDIANA FURNITURE 1807 E Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.465.0545. athomeatlast.com. Since 1980, this familyowned and operated company has offered quality home furnishings and customer service. A wide range of home furnishing providers are represented here, including Ashley, Lane and La-Z-Boy.

design Indiana

INTERIORS ETC. 301 Lincolnway E, Mishawaka. 574.259.7717. interiorsetcdetails.blogspot.com. Interiors Etc. features stylish furnishings, accessories, ornaments, antiques and gifts, along with custom window treatments, wallcoverings, area rugs and carpet. The store’s professional interior designers can help with home décor decisions including paint colors, window treatments and furniture. Several seasonal events take place throughout the year, and the inventory changes frequently.

BEACH COMBERS New Buffalo. 269.469.3293. This locally owned and operated cleaning service offers professional detailed cleaning for both residential and commercial clients on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or one-time basis.

Estimates are an available option.

4TH STREET MARKET 402 Broadway, Chesterton. 219.929.4111.

This upscale gift shop features a wide array of pampering and home décor products, including South Bend chocolates and spa products, candles and jewelry by Blue Butterfly. Also available are Asian furniture and collectibles by Champion Home, metal art for the garden, gourmet foods, books and works from local artists.

THE BEACH HOUSE 619 E 3rd St, Hobart. 219.942.0783. The 1,000-square-foot showroom at the Beach House features “beachy,” cottage-style home furnishing and accessories. In the store’s lower level, the Wicker Gallery, custom orders are accepted. The store began as and still houses an upscale showroom of very current, high-quality, pre-owned furniture known as Like New.

FIRESIDE HEARTH & HOME 1152 Marsh St, Ste A, Valparaiso.

219.548.3555. fireside.com. This fullservice business offers a reputable selection

MC INTERIORS 1 1 0 2 F r a n k l i n S t , M i c h i g a n C i t y.

219.872.7236. mcinteriorsin.com. MC Interiors offers a variety of home décor products including window treatments, floor coverings, draperies and upholstery. Services include free in-home consultation and estimates, plus installation of drapery, blinds, carpet, hardwood and ceramic flooring.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME 1 1 0 E l m w o o d D r, M i c h i g a n C i t y.

219.879.9140. 400 E Randolph St, Ste 3414, Chicago. 312.938.9140. nplhinc. com. This eco-minded interior design firm has multiple specialties, including space planning, architectural design consultation, kitchen and bath design and renovations, custom cabinetry design and installation, and selection of additional materials, plus decorating and staging services.

PARK AVENUE FLOORS 2315 45th St, Highland. 219.924.5060. Park Avenue prides itself in the quality installation

PIECES 905 Calumet Ave, Valparaiso. 219.531.4763.

This boutique, located in the fabulous downtown Valparaiso retail scene, features vintage home and garden décor, gifts, original art and cottage furniture.

SETTINGS 120 Main St, Crown Point. 219.661.8017. shopsettings.com. It’s all about the setting at this antiques and interiors shop, which is located in an old drug store, equipped with built-in walnut cabinetry, railings and ladders that move along the length of the building.

Patrons will find items for their personal settings as well, such as antique and new home décor and kitchen islands made from architectural salvage, plus vintage jewelry and purses.

STRATA SHOPS 800.985.9495. stratashops.com.

StrataShops, based in Elkhart, Ind., operates multiple online stores featuring furniture for all tastes and budgets. Six of the stores offer outdoor furniture—made of wicker, recycled polywood, teak, eucalyptus and other sustainable materials—and the company’s newest store features modern indoor furniture. StrataShops prides itself on fair prices, fast shipping and an easy online shopping experience.

TILLES 901 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.1530. For more than sixty years, this family-owned and -operated retail furniture store has been embedded in the Northwest Indiana community. Tilles carries middle- to upperend brands of furniture, including a full range of accessories and window treatments, and the staff adds a personal touch by helping clients through the entire decorating process.

Michigan

ALAN ROBANDT 114 E Front St, Buchanan. 312.560.7482. alanrobandt.com. Alan Robandt, formerly an antique dealer who owned Alan Robandt & Co. in Chicago, moved to Buchanan to open a new shop that goes by nearly the same name. This time, though, while antiques are in the mix, the inventory is more modernized and eclectic.

BAYBERRY COTTAGE 510 Phoenix Rd, South Haven.

269.639.9615. bayberrycottage.com. One of South Haven’s most well-known shops, Gwen DeBruyn’s Bayberry Cottage features home furnishings and accessories which include furniture, wall décor, rugs, florals and bath and body products. Interior design services are also available, and items can be special ordered if not in stock.

BLAIS DESIGN 1 Oak St, Three Oaks. 269.783.5335. blaisdesign.com. This company offers rustic, chic items for the home as well as jewelry.

BLUE GALLERY 16 S Elm St, Three Oaks. 269.756.9338. bluegalleryart.com. Run by owner and art director Judy Ferrara, this well-known gallery features the works of more than 15 artists, including local notables like Joe Hindley and Kellie Pickard. Several art-related events take place here, including a gallery walk every third Saturday of the month, when the facility is open until 9 p.m.

CUSTOMS IMPORTS 430 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo.

269.469.9180. customsimports.com. This exotic gallery hosts a large, distinguished

inventory of global art, furniture and antiques from India, Indonesia, China, Morocco and Vietnam. Dee Dee Duhn’s new showroom features teak root benches, textiles, Indonesian pottery, unique new furniture and an extensive mirror gallery. Claudia Lobao’s Global Dreams jewelry—popular with the stars of Desperate Housewives—can also be found here.

FORM 210 State St, St. Joseph. 269.982.7025. bretbortnerdesign.com. Gifts and decorative accessories can be found here, including table lamps, framed art, candles, clocks, picture frames and glassware. This unique shop is also home to two studios featuring the works of owner and artist Bret Bortner.

The product design studio features Bortner’s white porcelain dinnerware and tabletop accessories, and his clay designs are displayed at the Pottery Shop.

FRONT 207 E Front St, Buchanan. 269.695.0230.

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.

HARBOR TOWN INTERIORS 613 Broad St, St. Joseph, Michigan, 269.983.7774. harbortowninteriors.com.

Harbor Town Interiors offers home decor items such as furniture, mattresses, bed coverings, rugs, and home accessories. Gift items and full service design consultation are available.

KITCHEN WEST 1 0 - 1 / 2 B l u e S t a r H w y, D o u g l a s .

269.857.8880. kitchenwest.com. Kitchen West features cabinetry and interior design for the kitchen, bath, bar, and any other space that requires cabinetry. Every project is customized, but Kitchen West’s new, fully equipped studio features a number of innovative displays that might offer clients ideas best suited to their own needs.

MARCO POLO 1 3 5 6 5 R e d A r r o w H w y, H a r b e r t .

269.469.6272. marcopoloantiques.com. In a shop that mixes mid-century with primitive, industrial with rural, and a range of lighting and art with oddities and curiosities from around the world, Brian Overley and Alan DeBaugh show collections that are at once functional, relevant and beautiful.

MILLIE’S ANTIQUES 1 3 8 1 5 R e d A r r o w H w y, H a r b e r t .

269.231.5245. This shop offers an intruguing collection of antiques and more, handselected by owner Karen Tarple.

NATURE’S WAY LANDSCAPING 1113 John Beers Rd, Stevensville.

269.429.1694. natureswayinc.com. Since 1976, this well-renowned, award-winning company has specialized in landscape design, construction and maintenance. Nature’s Way can also design and install walks, patios, driveways, retaining walls, waterfalls and lighting.

PRIEBE’S CREATIVE WOODWORKING 2113 Plaza Dr, Benton Harbor. 269.926.2469. priebeswoodworking.com. For more than twelve years, the craftsmen at Priebe’s have created custom cabinetry, countertops (in granite and quartz), entertainment centers, mantels and surrounds, and millwork. Priebe’s offers installation services, and a custom three-dimensional computer-assisted kitchen design service is also available.

RED ARROW GALLERY 1 3 6 4 8 R e d A r r o w H w y, H a r b e r t .

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

FENKER’S HOME FURNISHINGS AND GIFTS 1114 Lincolnway, LaPorte. 219.362.3538. fenkersfurniture.com. For more than 100 years, Fenker’s has been a regular fixture in downtown LaPorte. Among the large inventory is quality home furnishings for every room of the home—from the largest sofa to the smallest accessory. Fenker’s carries reputable lines such as La-Z-Boy, Kincaid, Howard Miller, Lane and many others.

LIFESTYLES THE GALLERY 122 E Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.465.9167.

This home décor store is a feast for the eyes, with a large inventory nestled into a large, inviting space. Items range from lamps and furniture to clothing and jewelry, and even unique toys for children.

of all of its products. Flooring materials include wood, ceramic, carpet, laminates and vinyl. Multiple displays can be found in this showroom.

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of fireplaces and supplemental products, including inserts, stoves, gas logs, and mantels and surrounds. Customer service here runs the gamut, from the selection process to installation, to a start-up visit.

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manufacturers, as well as from quality domestic manufacturers. Flooring material options include carpet, ceramic, porcelain, laminate, vinyl and wood, and area rugs are also available.

shore things 269.469.1950. redarrowgallery.com.

Red Arrow Gallery is the largest gallery in southwestern Michigan dedicated to bringing art lovers a vast selection of art from the most talented and unique artists in the area. The collection includes oils, acrylics, sculptures, jewelry, art lamps and sculptural furniture.

Furniture artists are available to design and construct one-of-a-kind pieces that could be the centerpiece of a home.

SANCTUARY at CUSTOMS IMPORTS 430 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo.

269.469.9180. customsimports.com. Born out of a desire for inner peace amidst the nation’s current economic turmoil is Sanctuary, the new store-within-a-store at Customs Imports. Owner Dee Dee Duhn has dedicated this space to feature items promoting quiet and tranquility, including art, music, candles fountains and incense. Patrons will receive a CD of the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra, chanted by the Dalai Lama, with any purchase.

SAWYER HOME & GARDEN CENTER 5865 Sawyer Rd, Sawyer. 269.426.8810. sawyergardencenter.com. The Sawyer Garden Center offers a large inventory of items for the garden, including annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees, plus a variety of high-quality lawn accessories. A large gift shop and gourmet shop—featuring produce, breads, sauces and cheeses—are also on site.

SEA GLASS COTTAGE 402 Eagle St, South Haven. 269.639.1200. seaglasscottage.com. As its name suggests, this specialty shop features hundreds of collected sea glass items, along with a tasteful collection of beach-inspired home furniture and décor. Purses, jewelry, sunglasses and other accessories are also available here.

THINK DESIGN STUDIO 560 5th St NW, Ste 301, Grand Rapids.

616.458.8370. thinkdesignstudio.com. This innovative firm specializes in the interior design of residential and commercial properties, focusing on adjacency planning, design layout, material selections, color coordination and more. Designers Melanie Rogers and David Weston proclaim a devotion to harmony within the space and also are committed to using green building and decor materials where possible.

Illinois

ART 4 SOUL 18135 Harwood, Homewood.

708.206.1026. art4soul.com. Patrons love the one-stop-shop factor of this place, which offers jewelry, hand-crafted home décor items and personalized gifts, plus a paintyour-own ceramic studio and bead shop where customers can make their own jewelry.

BELLA VITA HOME ACCENTS 1 8 1 1 1 D i x i e H w y, H o m e w o o d .

708.798.2355. bellavitahomeaccents.com.

This boutique, whose name means “beautiful life” in Italian, features high-quality home décor items (lamps, furniture and accessories are the main highlight), a bath and body line, gift items, candles and items for every holiday and season. Bella Vita, which opened in June 2007, won Homewood’s annual “Beautification Award.”

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LOTTON GALLERY 900 N Michigan Ave, Level 6, Chicago.

312.664.6203. 24760 Country Ln, Crete.

708.672.1400. lottongallery.com. The beautiful hand-blown glass at Lotton Gallery has gained national acclaim. Charles Lotton is known as “The Tiffany of the Twenty-First Century,” and his sons David, Daniel and John have followed in his footsteps. The Lotton look is characterized by colorful, floral patterns on lamps, bowls, vases, perfume bottles, paperweights and more. Visitors to

the Crete location can view the artists at work in the studio.

THE VILLAGE DOOR 18139 Harwood, Homewood. 708.798.8665.

All of the items in this store are either donated or consigned, with the profits benefiting the Jennifer S. Fallick Cancer Support Center in Homewood. (All of the Village Door’s employees are volunteers.) Items include highquality fine furnishings and home accessories, lamps, dishware and paintings.

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.

HARBOR AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 9911 W 300 N, Michigan City. 219.879.6789. harborcars.com. This auto dynamo features new and pre-owned vehicles by Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, GMC, Honda, Jeep and Pontiac. On-site parts, servicing and financing are also available.

THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON SHOP OF MICHIGAN CITY 2 9 6 8 N H w y 4 2 1 , M i c h i g a n C i t y.

219.878.8885. hdmichigancity.com. While the Harley-Davidson brand needs no introduction, the Michigan City store stands out in the crowd, being a member of the largest Harley dealer in the state. A large selection of new and pre-owned motorcycles are available for purchase or for rent. The store also offers accessories, repair services and periodic events.

LEXUS OF MERRILLVILLE 3957 US Hwy 30, Merrillville. 219.769.4545. lexusofmerrillville.com. Lexus vehicles and customer-service focused sales teams can be found at this dealership, which features new and pre-owned vehicles—including luxury and sport sedans, SUVs and convertibles.

Financing, vehicle services and parts and accessories are also available.

SCHEPEL AUTO GROUP 2 9 2 9 W L i n c o l n H w y, M e r r i l l v i l l e .

866.724.3735. schepel.com. 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, helps consumers find the car most suited for their needs. Repair services are also available.

Michigan

RUSSELL’S FOREIGN CAR REPAIR 8754 US Hwy 31, Berrien Springs.

269.473.3088. This dealer alternative provides service, repairs and maintenance during the vehicle’s factory warranty and beyond. Russell’s Foreign Car Repair services all imported car makes, but specializes in upscale European and Asian vehicles.

eat Indiana

AU NATUREL MARKET 1708 E Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.465.1984. aunaturelmarket.com. This renowned market features all things organic, from beef and poultry to chocolate and dairy products.

Those with food allergies can find gluten-free, wheat-free and dairy-free products here. Also available are natural cosmetics, skin care, lotions, soaps infused with herbs and other natural beauty products.

GREAT LAKES CATERING 701 Washington St, Michigan City.

219.898.1502. greatlakescatering.com. With a combined 150 years of experience, Ed Kis and family 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. For 10 years in a row, Great Lakes Catering has been voted Northern Indiana’s premier caterer and special event planner.

MESCOLARE 1 Courthouse Square, Crown Point.

219.663.6095. This “deliciously different” shop, located in the Old Lake County Courthouse, offers gourmet food items and kitchen wares.

MOLLY BEA’S INGREDIENTS 761 Indian Boundary Rd, Chesterton.

219.983.9401. mollybeas.com. This specialty grocer is a “haven for people who cook, bake and eat.” Pretty much any baking and cooking ingredient can be found here, including flours, pastas, seeds, nuts, sprinkles, chips and more. A selection of fair trade and organic products are available, including coffees, and loose and packaged teas. Molly Bea’s also boasts the largest licorice selection in Northwest Indiana. There are many sugarless gluten-free products as well.

Michigan

CHOCOLATE CAFE 300 State St, St. Joseph. 269.985.9866. sbchocolate.com. This delicious stop in downtown St. Joseph features all things chocolate—fudge, creams, gourments, even sugar-free chocolate. There are options for non-chocoholics as well, including coffee, fruits, nuts and ice cream. Specialty gift boxes are available, and the company features licensed treats from several local universities as well.

OLIVE MILL 220 Culver St, Saugatuck. 269.857.5900. The Olive Mill offers imported and flavored olive oils, nut oils, aged balsamic vinegars, and dipping spices for bread, along with chips and dips, tapenades, spreads and sauces. Patrons can sample from the wide variety of olive oils and balsamic vinegars in the store, and items can be purchased online as well. Several tasty gift sets are available, as well as serving pieces and bath and body creams, oils and shampoos. The Olive Mill also has locations in Geneva and Naperville, Illinois.

SEASON’S HARVEST 1 3 6 8 6 R e d A r r o w H w y, H a r b e r t .

269.469.7899. seasonsharvest.com. This quaint shop along Red Arrow Highway features natural gourmet provisions like barbecue sauces, salad dressings, dipping sauces and olive oil, among others. Products can be purchased either online or at the shop, and gift sets are available.

WHITE PINE WINERY 317 State St, St. Joseph. 269 281.0098. whitepinewinery.com. White Pine’s goal is to produce wines from Michigan’s Great Southwest to showcase the region’s wonderful vineyards. Owner Dave Miller’s philosophy is to let the vineyards express themselves in his wines with as little intervention as possible. He also is a firm believer in using sustainable principles in grape production, using the latest methods to reduce the impact on the environment.

heal Indiana

CENTER FOR IMPLANTS, SEDATION AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY 890 Richard Rd, Ste A, Dyer. 219.322.2171.

chicagonodentures.com. The doctors at this state-of-the-art dental office—Dr. Irfan Atcha, Dr. Jasmine Sandhu, Dr. Nilofer Khan and Dr. Romal Sediq—specialize in full or partial implant services. The staff at the center is up to date on the latest technology and offers a pleasant, peaceful and even fun experience with friendly service and a gentle touch.

CENTER FOR OTOLARYNGOLOGY 24 Joliet St, Ste 302, Dyer. 219.865.4368.

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.

CONFIDENTIAL CARE 750 45th St, Munster. 219.934.6410. confidentialcare.com. Drs. Sanker and Vijay Jayachandran are board certified psychiatrists who provide intensive psychiatric outpatient care for adolescents and adults. The doctors and their staff—two nurse practitioners and six clinical therapists—specialize in social and school behavior, family counseling, drug and alcohol addiction treatment, and ADHD in adolescents, among many other services.

OBSTETRICAL & GYNECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, INC. 1101 E Glendale Blvd, Ste 102, Valparaiso.

219.462.6144. 3630 Willowcreek Rd, Ste 1, Portage. 219.364.3230. The boardcertified obstetrician-gynecologists—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.

PINNACLE HOSPITAL 9301 Connecticut Dr, Crown Point.

219.756.2100. pinnaclehealthcare.net. This acute care hospital prides itself on its small facility; with only 18 beds and five operating suites, each patient receives high-quality care and undivided attention. Owned and operated by physicians, Pinnacle offers a full range of specialties, including orthopaedics, spinal surgeries and women’s health, and is the home to the Indiana Breast Center, led by Dr. Marylyn Rosencranz.

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 communityowned, 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, pediatrics, orthopedics, oncology, sleep lab, physical rehabilitation care and more.

ST. ANTHONY MEMORIAL 3 0 1 W H o m e r S t , M i c h i g a n C i t y.

888.879.8511. saintanthonymemorial.org.

This acute care hospital, serving LaPorte, Porter and Berrien Counties, boasts an integrated health care 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.

ST. MARY MEDICAL CENTER 1500 S Lake Park Ave, Hobart. 219.942.0551. comhs.org/stmary. Innovative women’s health services are available here, including

shore things

DR. KASEWURM’S PROFESSIONAL HEARING SERVICE 5 1 1 R e n a i s s a n c e D r, S t . J o s e p h .

269.982.3444. prohear.net. When patients walk through the doors at Professional Hearing Services, they are greeted with an enhanced patient experience. Professional Hearing Service provides the highest level of professional patient care and customer service in a warm, comfortable, state-of-theart setting.

Illinois

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER 888.824.0200. discover.uchospitals.edu.

Since 1927, the University of Chicago Medical Center has been one of the Midwest’s most reputable hospitals. Aside from basic health care, the Medical Center consists of a children’s hospital, a maternity and women’s hospital, multiple outpatient facilities, and the renowned Pritzker School of Medicine.

invest 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

COLDWELL BANKER, DAWN BERNHARDT 748 E Porter, Chesterton. 219.241.0952. dawnbernhardt.com. Dawn Bernhardt is the go-to agent for homes in Chesterton’s luxurious Sand Creek subdivision, along with other properties in Porter, LaPorte and Lake Counties. The website offers an abundance of resources for both buyers and sellers.

COLDWELL BANKER, DONNA HOFMANN 219.331.1133. dhofmann.com. Donna Hofmann specializes in helping clients with buying and selling lakefront properties in Ogden Dunes, Dune Acres, Porter Beach, Beverly Shores, Chesterton and Valparaiso.

Michigan

AMERICAN HOMES, SHARON HALLIBURTON 4532 Red Arrow Hwy, Stevensville.

269.983.2526. sharonhalliburton.com. For 30 years, Sharon Halliburton has specialized in property management, having been licensed as a real estate agent and a broker more than 10 years ago. Her expertise covers residential, lakefront and vacation properties, plus farms, golf courses and vineyards.

CAROL BRYCHTA REAL ESTATE 1 3 6 6 1 R e d A r r o w H w y, H a r b e r t .

269.469.7766. carolbrychta.com. Carol Brychta Real Estate is a family business with a reputation of 27 years of excellent service.

Their primary mission is to find the right buyer for each property that they list so that both parties walk away from the table well satisfied with the outcome.

COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE 10 N Whittaker St, New Buffalo.

269.469.3950. coldwellbankeronline.com.

This New Buffalo real estate firm features more than 200,000 properties in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Both the inoffice staff and the Coldwell Banker website offer multiple services and resources for buyers and sellers.

HARBOR SHORES RESORT 269.932.1600. harborshoresresort.com.

Southwest Michigan’s biggest, most talkedabout project is underway in Benton Harbor.

The residential community will include a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, marinas, an indoor water park and a luxury spa. The property is surrounded by two rivers and five beaches. Custom homesites and cottages are available.

NADRA K REAL ESTATE 16678 Red Arrow Hwy, New Buffalo.

269.469.2090. nadrak.com. Nadra K Real Estate was established in 1980 and the current organization consists of eleven agents and a support staff of two. Their record of success and excellence is demonstrated by their consistent increase in annual sales transactions, a history of handling successful project developments and a sales staff who, year after year, ranks in the top percentile of the area’s Multiple Listing System.

PRUDENTIAL RUBLOFF PROPERTIES 439 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo.

888.257.5800. rubloff.com. Since 1930, Rubloff has been one of the premier real estate firms on the local scene. Serving clients all along Lake Michigan’s southern coast and beyond, the certified sales associates at Rubloff proclaim great success in buying, selling and renting properties along the lakeshore.

SHORES OF SOUTH HAVEN 300 Kalamazoo St, South Haven.

269.637.8555. shoresrealestate.com.

This reputable firm provides assistance with development, sales and leasing of condominiums, single-family, vacation and retirement home sales, along with lots, boat slips and commercial property. Shores also manages and leases property for investor-buyers.

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

ANTHONY’S SALON 2 5 0 0 C a l u m e t A v e , Va l p a r a i s o .

219.465.1525. For more than thirty years, Anthony Voltattorni has been a fixture in the Northwest Indiana hair care market, with salons in Merrillville and Valparaiso. The salon carries Aveda and Schwarzkopf products and offers full-service hair care—with a specialty in custom color—as well as waxing, nail care and reflexology.

THE CINNAMON TREE 505 Silhavy Rd, Valparaiso. 219.548.8383. thecinnamontree.com. 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.

ELLE SALON 113 W 8th St, Michigan City. 219.874.3553.

This upscale salon, situated in Michigan City’s historic district, offers full-service hair care, manicures, pedicures and facial waxing. Retail products include skin care, body care, a men’s line, wooden styling tools, a full line of Aveda products, and other calming items such as Aveda teas, candles and oils.

necessity. Services include hair care, nail care, massage therapy and waxing.

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

BLUE CHIP CASINO, HOTEL & SPA 7 7 7 B l u e C h i p D r, M i c h i g a n C i t y.

888.879.7711. bluechipcasino.com. The casino portion of Blue Chip features 65,000 square feet of gaming, all on one level, including more than 2,100 slot games and all the classic table games. Brand new to the facility is the 22-story Spa Blu Tower, which features a state-of-the-art hotel, luxury spa and convention center. Dining options include It’s Vegas Baby! and the Game, along with the fine-dining restaurant William B’s Steakhouse.

TALTREE ARBORETUM & GARDENS 450 W 100 N, Valparaiso. 219.462.0025. taltree.org. This breathtaking 360-acre reserve is filled with formal gardens, woodlands, wetlands and prairies. Visitors can hike on the trails or view themed displays such as the Native Plant Garden, Oak Islands and—new this year—the Railway Garden.

Several outdoor concerts and special events take place at Taltree throughout the season.

Michigan

FERNWOOD BOTANICAL GARDEN 13988 Range Line Road. Niles.

269.695.6491. fernwoodbotanical.org.

Fernwood is a special place where people, plants and nature come together. Beautiful gardens surrounded by forest are tucked into a landscape of 105 acres of cultivated and natural areas along the scenic St. Joseph River valley. Miles of trails await, and indoors, visitors may enjoy an art gallery, fern conservatory, nature center, cafe and gift shop. Fernwood offers many possibilities for learning and enrichment, including classes, workshops, lectures, concerts, trips, exhibits and special events.

PET PALS, INC. 1 0 3 8 8 W 4 0 0 N , M i c h i g a n C i t y.

219.879.2898. petpals90.com. This upscale pet hotel and grooming salon pampers pets with all-suite runs, ample exercise, highquality meals, modern grooming equipment, flea treatments, hair bows and nail polish.

The 6,000-square-foot building features 65 boarding suites, a separate cat boarding area, and a state-of-the-art grooming facility.

FOUR WINDS CASINO RESORT 11111 Wilson Rd, New Buffalo, Michigan.

866.494.6371. fourwindscasino.com. Four Winds offers 130,000 square feet of gaming.

Patrons can enjoy 3,000 slots, featuring the area’s biggest progressive jackpots and a large selection of table games including blackjack, craps and traditional and automated poker in a World Poker Tour poker room. Dining includes four restaurants, from Copper Rock Steakhouse to an all-you-can-eat buffet.

VANIS SALON & SPA 221 US 41, Ste J, Schererville. 219.322.5600.

1620 Countr y Club Rd, Valparaiso.

219.465.6414. 107 N Main St, Crown Point.

219.663.5200. vanis.net. 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.

HOOSIER VALLEY RAILROAD MUSEUM 507 Mulberry St, North Judson. hoosiervalley. org. 574.896.3950. Situated near the former junction of the Erie, PRR, C&O and NYC in historic North Judson, HVRM offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the sights, sounds and smells of railroading during its heyday. Visit the museum or take a train ride on an authentic caboose pulled by a vintage diesel locomotive.

Michigan

HEATH & COMPANY 419 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo.

269.469.4247. This Aveda-concept salon is one of the familiar businesses greeting visitors to New Buffalo from the south.

Owner Rick Heath and his staff gel their expertise and friendliness, making a trip to this salon more of an experience than a

LOST DUNES GOLF CLUB 9 3 0 0 R e d A r r o w H w y, B r i d g m a n .

269.465.9300. lostdunes.com. The Lost Dunes Experience begins at the front gates and glides past the rolling natural grass dunes into some of the most dramatic golf of the Midwest. Tucked just off the Southeastern tip of Lake Michigan, Lost Dunes is a truly privileged golf experience. The centerpiece is a 6,900-yard, par-71 course, where acclaimed

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

SOURCE ONE REAL ESTATE 855 E North St, Crown Point. 219.662.5445. source1re.com. This independent real estate company provides residential and commercial real estate sales to individuals, small businesses, large corporations, nonprofit organizations, home builders and developers throughout Northwest Indiana. Owners Roger Lain and Joe Gambril bring a combined 24 years of experience in real estate sales and customer service.

CAMP BUFFALO COTTAGES 106 South Franklin St, New Buffalo.

269.469.9090. campbuffalocottages.com.

Camp Buffalo is an intimate community of 19 enchanting homes designed to be more than just cottages. They remind people of simpler, less complicated times. Experience the best of both worlds—enjoy quiet seclusion amidst mature trees and rolling hills, yet be within just a few blocks of the charming harbor town of New Buffalo and the beach.

Stunning architecture at an amazing value is just part of the appeal.

Illinois

7

Michigan

BE OUR GUEST 269.487.9530. beourguestmi.com. Be Our Guest has the best in style and comfort Southwest Michigan has to offer by providing housing and customized concierge services.

Local housing accommodations range from condominiums and family-style houses to Lake Michigan estates. Now is the time to book a vacation spot for the upcoming Senior PGA Championship sponsored by KitchenAid in May.

10

complete gynecologic and obstetrical care, plus treatment for high-risk pregnancies and menopause. Functional, metabolic and nutritional medicine is practiced wherever possible.

shore things architect Tom Doak molded 18 distinctive holes to the contours of a reclaimed sand quarry engulfed by 60-foot dunes.

NEW BUFFALO BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 888.660.6222. newbuffalo.org. The New Buffalo Business Association is made up of more than 100 members representing New Buffalo and neighboring communities.

OUTPOST SPORTS Locations in New Buffalo, St. Joseph, South Haven and Mishawaka, Ind. outpostsports. com. 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-is-short/seize-the-day philosophy throughout his inventory, events, lessons and staff. Clothing, beach accessories and eyewear are also available.

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.

INN AT ABERDEEN 3158 S State Rd 2, Valparaiso. 219.465.3753. innataberdeen.com. Located in the beautiful and prestigious Aberdeen neighborhood, just minutes from downtown Valparaiso, the Inn at Aberdeen is a comfortable and convenient place to stay. A variety of unique rooms and suites are available, as well as a Flavia coffee and tea bar, a full gourmet breakfast every morning, and all of the amenities needed for both a personal and business stay. A conference room is available for business meetings and private parties.

Michigan

THE BOULEVARD INN 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.

SNOOTY FOX 1 3 4 1 6 R e d A r r o w H w y, H a r b e r t .

269.469.1805. snootyfox.com. The Snooty Fox strives to provide a unique lodging experience in which each guest cabin will possess its own piece of nature. The Main Lodge provides luxuries and modern amenities such as kitchen facilities, library, sauna and a private single-occupancy bathroom, all state-of-the-art and only a stones throw away from the cabins.

8 VISITSHOREMAGAZINE.COM 10

view Michigan

ANNA RUSSO-SIEBER GALLERY Barentson Candy Co. 147 Fifth St. Benton Harbor. 269.208.4409. annarussoart.com.

Anna Russo-Seiber has been creating and selling art for more than 20 years. At her studio, she offers gallery space and classes for people of all ages.

CENTER OF THE WORLD WORKSHOP 1 3 4 0 0 R e d A r r o w H w y, H a r b e r t .

269.469.5687. centeroftheworld.net.

Center of the World showcases furniture

designed and built by master woodworker Terry Hanover as well as numerous other local woodworkers. Like Terry, these artisans approach their work with a reverence for the medium. They also offer home accents created by artisans throughout the United States, and in their new One World department, visitors will find an eclectic mix of Fair Trade, recycled, and organic specialties.

GALLERY ON THE ALLEY 611 Broad St, St. Joseph. 269.983.6261.

The works of over 175 of the country’s most talented artists are beautifully displayed in this charming and pleasant art boutique.

Gallery on the Alley specializes in the unique and unusual—from whimsical windsocks, furniture and clocks to exquisite blown glass, elegant lamps and distinctive handcrafted jewelry. Visitors will also enjoy the framed color prints of St. Joseph in the early l900s and the black and white photos of downtown St. Joseph and Silver Beach in the 1950s.

GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM 101 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids.

616.831.1000. gramonline.org. The Grand Rapids Art Museum is the first art museum in the world to be certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Its glass walls, natural light, and reflecting pool further illustrate the fusion between the indoors and outdoors. With its impressive permanent collection as well as changing exhibitions, this 125,000-square-foot facility is truly a gem in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.

NEW TERRITORY ARTS ASSOCIATION 210 Water St, Benton Harbor. 269.926.1926. newterritoryarts.org. This organization seeks to create a vital Benton Harbor Arts District through community outreach and advocacy of the arts.

RUBINKAM STUDIO 20 E Center St, Douglas. 269.857.7100. rubinkam.com. 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.

WATER STREET GLASS WORKS 124 Water St, Benton Harbor. 269.925.5555, waterstreetglassworks.org. Qualified instructors guide class participants through the exciting learning process of working in the fire arts. Learn to blow or cast molten glass, weld and hammer metal, form glass beads over a torch or create a colorful selfexpression in fusing, stained glass and mosaic studios.

visit Indiana

CITY OF WHITING 1417 - 119th St, Whiting. 219.659.0292. whitingindiana.com. Whiting is a “A lakeshore destination embracing traditional values.” Located twenty minutes from Chicago, the city offers a rich ethnic heritage and a multitude of festivals, summer concerts and parades.

LAGRANGE COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITOR’S BUREAU 780 S Van Buren St, Shipshewana.

800.254.8090. backroads.org. Great food, fun and hands-on experiences await individuals and groups in Shipshewana along the Amish Backroads. Visitors may dine in a relaxed atmosphere of family style restaurants or in an Amish home, shop the quaint specialty shops downtown, tour

the beautiful countryside, visit the famous outdoor flea market, auctions and antique shops, or attend one of the many festivals or events throughout the year.

PORTAGE PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Rd, Portage. Portage Yacht Club, 1370 State Rd 249, Portage, Ind. 219.762.1675 ext 300. ci.portage.in.us/parks. Portage Parks & Recreation Department offers a multitude of activities for people of all ages, and the Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk is the crown jewel of the park system. Amenities include a pavilion with an educational classroom, a cafe, restrooms, boardwalk and a pier.

Michigan

ST. JOSEPH TODAY 421 State St, St. Joseph. 269.985.1111. sjtoday.org. 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.

SILVER BEACH CENTER 333 Broad St, St. Joseph. 269.982.8500. silverbeachcarousel.com. Brand new to St. Joseph is this family-friendly center, which features an abundance of fun and unique activities for people of all ages. The primary attraction is the Silver Beach Carousel, a spectacular structure that features 44 colorful, hand-carved horses. Also at the center is Curious Kids’ Discovery Zone, the Shadowland Ballroom, Whirlpool Compass Fountain, and Michigan’s tallest kaleidoscope.

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN TOURIST COUNCIL 2300 Pipestone Rd, Benton Harbor.

269.925.6301. swmichigan.org. 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 nonprofit organization can assist travelers whether they seek solitude or a group learning experience.

wear Indiana

ALBERT’S DIAMOND JEWELERS 711 Main St, Schererville. 219.322.2700. albertsjewelers.com. 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.

DUNE CLOTHIERS AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE SHOP 278 E 1500 N, Chesterton. 219.926.5001. duneclothiers.com. This boutique, features a wide variety of affordable clothing and accessories for both men and women. A large selection of scarves can be found here, including the celebrity-favorite brand Tolani.

Jewelry and accessories are also available.

INDIAN SUMMER, CHESTERTON 131 S Calumet Rd, Chesterton.

219.983.9994. This women’s clothing boutique offers casual and contemporary clothing and jewelry from around the world. Indian Summer features brands such as Sympli, Oh My Gauze, Completo, Flax, Connie’s Moonlight, Minnetonka, Big Buddha and San Miguel shoes. The Chesterton shop offers a large selection of 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.

L.R. MEN’S CLOTHIER & TUXEDOS 205 Lincolnway, LaPorte. 219.324.5072. lrclothingco.com. High-quality menswear and tuxedos are the highlight at this shop, which is one of the only men’s clothing shops in downtown LaPorte. Tuxedos come from brands like Ralph Lauren, Perry Ellis and Ecko, while menswear designers include Austin Reed and Tallia.

MARTIN BINDER JEWELER 23 Lincolnway. Valparaiso. 219.462.5931. martinbinders.com. Martin Binder Jeweler travels the world to bring the best values in diamonds, jewelry and timepieces, with honesty and integrity—since 1940.

URBAN SOLES 6 2 4 F r a n k l i n S t , M i c h i g a n C i t y.

219.221.6508. urbansolesinc.com. This brand new boutique—located in Michigan City’s downtown arts district—features a diverse array of high-quality shoes and accessories from brands like Poetic Licence, Dansko, Ugg, Toms and Sanuk. Jewelry, hats, purses and scarves are available, and there’s even a men’s room with men’s shoes, hats and sunglasses, plus comfortable seating, a TV and a stocked refrigerator. Art from local and Chicago artists is featured throughout the store.

Michigan

THE CEDAR CLOSET 415 State St, St. Joseph. 269.983.7174. This extraordinary consignment boutique in the heart of charming downtown St. Joe carries an appealing assortment of upscale resale items and new or gently worn designer apparel and accessories.

DORAJANE 1 3 6 3 0 R e d A r r o w H w y, H a r b e r t .

269.612.1600. Located in the original Harbert post office building, this unique, upscale store offers shoppers their favorite lines of designer clothing, jewelry and accessories, as well as funky and eclectic gifts—from reading glasses to gourmet treats and CDs. INDIAN SUMMER, NEW BUFFALO 126 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo.

269.469.9994. This women’s clothing boutique offers casual and contemporary clothing and jewelry from around the world. Indian Summer features brands such as Sympli, Oh My Gauze, Completo, Flax, Connie’s Moonlight, Minnetonka, and San Miguel shoes. The Chesterton shop also offers a distinctive selection of apparel, jewelry and accessories.

MOXIE’S BOUTIQUE 321 State St, St. Joseph. 269.983.4273. moxiesboutique.com. This fun and festive boutique features women’s fashions, accessories and gifts. Apparel—from designers such as Belamie, Flashback Couture and Nic & Zoe—comes in a range of styles and prices. Many local artists’ works are available here as well, including handbags, scarves, jewelry, furniture and art.

PHILLIP & SON JEWELRY 23 Center St, Douglas. 269.857.8738. 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.

For more business listings, please go to visitshoremagazine.com.

nwi.com

Your Automotive Source for Northwest Indiana

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

HONdA

TeaM chevRoleT • 48

paT FiTzgibbon’s MiTsubishi • 41 113 W. 159th Street, South Holland, IL

1856 W. U.S. 30, Valparaiso, IN Joe Rizza acuRa • 3

219-462-1175 • www.teamchevyinc.com

8150 West 159th Street, Orland Park, IL 708-403-7770 • www.rizzacars.com

CHRYSLER

AUdi

gRiegeRs chRysleR • 5

3990 E. RT 30, Merrillville, IN

shaFFeR MiTsubishi • 43 1000 W. U.S. Hwy. 30, Merrillville, IN

HYUNdAi

219-736-2277 • www.shaffermitsubishi.com

shaFFeR hyundai • 43

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219-736-2277 • www.shafferhyundai.com

1000 W. U.S. Hwy. 30, Merrillville, IN

9604 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN

BUiCK

708-333-1060 • www.FitzMits.com

219-462-4117 • www.griegersmotors.com

(One mile east of the mall) 888-805-3689 • www.teamvwaudi.com

Just 10 minutes from the IN border!

219-947-3900 • www.teamhondaon30.com

1756 U.S. 30 West, Valparaiso, IN

TeaM audi • 50

TeaM honda • 51 4613 East Rt. 30, Merrillville, IN

NiSSAN souThlake nissan • 34

219-924-6100 • www.thomasautogroup.com

webb hyundai • 45

Rt. 30, 1 Mile E. of I-65, Merrillville, IN

9236 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN

888-471-1241 • www.southlakeautomall.com

dOdGE

219-923-2277 • www.webbhyundai.com

gRiegeRs dodge • 5

JEEP

ciRcle buick • 65 2440 45th Street, Highland, IN

SUBARU

IN. 219-865-4400 • IL. 773-221-8124 www.circleautomotive.com

nielsen subaRu• 22

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

CHEVROLET

5020 U.S. Highway 6, Portage, IN

1756 U.S. 30 West, Valparaiso, IN

888-710-9159 • www.nielsen.subaru.com

219-462-4117 • www.griegersmotors.com

ThoMas dodge • 11

aRnell chevRoleT • 14

gRiegeRs Jeep • 5

SUZUKi

9604 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN

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

219-924-6100 • www.thomasautogroup.com

ThoMas Jeep • 11

chRisTenson chevRoleT • 2

FORd

219-924-6100 • www.thomasautogroup.com

sMiTh FoRd • 36

KiA

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9604 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN

9700 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN 888-999-9141 • www.christensonchevy.com

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

TOYOTA

1777 E. Commercial, Lowell, IN aRnell kia • 14

219-769-1090 • www.smithautogroupusa.com

Mike andeRson chevRoleT • 4 The Chevy Giant on I-65 I-65 and 61st Avenue, Merrillville, IN

webb FoRd • 71

219-947-4151 • www.mikeandersonchevy.com

9809 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN

I-94 AutoMall, Hey. 20 & I-94, Burns Harbor, IN

TeaM ToyoTa • 44

219-787-9200 • www.arnellmotors.com

9601 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, IN 219-924-8100 • www.teamtoyota2000.com

souThlake kia • 34

888-869-8822 • www.webbford.com

Rt. 30, 1 mi. East of I-65, Merrillville, IN

ToyoTa on 30 • 46

GMC

888-478-7178 • www.southlakeautomall.com

4450 E. RT 30, Merrillville, IN

ciRcle gMc • 65

ThoMas kia • 16

Ridgeway chevRoleT • 1 17730 Torrence Ave, Lansing, IL 60438

219-947-3325 • www.toyotaon30.com

708-474-4990 • www.ridgewaychevy.com sMiTh chevRoleT - haMMond • 37

2440 45th Street, Highland, IN

9825 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland, IN

6405 Indianapolis Blvd., Hammond, IN

IN. 219-865-4400 • IL. 773-221-8124

219-934-2266 • www.thomasautogroup.com

219-845-4000 • www.smithautogroupusa.com

www.circleautomotive.com

2

VOLKSwAGEN

2

MiTSUBiSHi

(One mile east of the mall)

sMiTh chevRoleT - lowell • 7

888-805-3689 • www.teamvwaudi.com

nielsen MiTsubishi • 22

700 W. Commerical, Lowell, IN

TeaM volkswagen • 50 3990 E. RT 30, Merrillville, IN

5020 U.S. Highway 6, Portage, IN

219-696-8931 • www.smithautogroupusa.com

888-710-9159 • www.nielsenmitsubishi.com

3

3 SOUTH HOLLAND ORLAND PARK

41

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43 MERRILLVILLE

5

34

51

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5

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shorecast predictions by fran smith

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

actor/director JOHN MALKOVICH

[sagittarius] NOVEMBER 23DECEMBER 21 KEY WORDS in December: Definitely, a Fine Time! For you, this is an extraordinary month, since the New Moon (new starts) occurs in your first house of personal efforts and endeavors. Decide what you really want. And then, take those steps to go after it—immediately.

SIDESTEP an inclination toward hostility.

KEY WORDS in January: The Money Picture. Facts consume you, as your attention now turns to your income— and to the new ways in which to increase it.

Weave what you discover into your current lifestyle.

It will be a surprisingly smooth process. SIDESTEP a critical tone, even in casual conversation.

KEY WORDS in January: Back to Basics. The New Year always finds you working behind the scenes on new plans for the year ahead. Given your sense of pacing, you may still be closing out last year. That’s fine. Just keep working. SIDESTEP the broad-brush approach to situations; detail still counts.

KEY WORDS in January: Excellent Alliances. A surprisingly good start exists for you in the New Year, as a new agreement—possibly, that sought-after contract—comes into existence. Pace yourself and be certain that everything you want is included. SIDESTEP pressuring others to see your point of view.

[pisces] FEBRUARY 19-MARCH 20 KEY WORDS in December: Reaching the Top. Only you would be devoted to career plans and projects right in the middle of the holidays. But since your style is so low-key and so effortless, few people realize this. Enjoy! Advancement is on the horizon. SIDESTEP taking anything, or anyone, for granted.

[leo] JULY 23-AUGUST 22 KEY WORDS in December: At Long Last! Great developments in your personal life are now in the making as you enter the holiday season. Keep it that way, by living and loving in the present. This isn’t the time to bring up the past.

Only this moment in time matters. SIDESTEP criticism—by you, by others.

KEY WORDS in January: An Optimistic Note. Take time to switch your focus. It must now shift from your career to your current objectives. Not to be treated lightly; deciding what you want to do—and to have—in the New Year is vital. And details are a major part of it. SIDESTEP icy tones; the abrupt manner.

KEY WORDS in January: Starting Early and Staying Late. The New Year is here—and you’re hard at work. This is excellent, for there are several new projects—and possibilities—waiting for your special can-do touch. However, details count now.

Keep that firmly in mind! SIDESTEP uninvited suggestions and points of view.

[aries] MARCH 21-APRIL 20 KEY WORDS in December: Higher Ground. What’s involved are new plans and projects—near and at a distance. And allow yourself to be optimistic about those new possibilities that appear out of nowhere. Long distance travel is part of the package. SIDESTEP backing away from familiar conditions.

[virgo] AUGUST 23-SEPTEMBER 22 KEY WORDS in December: A Place for Everything. Every December is an extremely important time for you, as your base of operations—where you live and where you work—surges to the forefront. Allow holiday warmth and good cheer to set the standard for your personal outlook.

SIDESTEP an uncharacteristic inertia.

KEY WORDS in January: Great Results. The existence of more than one superb outcome fills this month. Applies to both your professional and your personal worlds. The pace is quick and it is focused. Keep it that way, in order to maximize gain.

SIDESTEP being doubtful about your own skill and ability.

musician EDDIE VEDDER

[capricorn] DECEMBER 22JANUARY 19 KEY WORDS in December: Behind Closed Doors. Every year, it happens this way.

In the midst of holiday celebrations, your attention is divided. While you relish the festivities, you’re also absorbed with private matters and closed-door strategyplanning sessions. Good!

SIDESTEP meetings with no objective.

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KEY WORDS in January: In the Moment.

The start of the New Year—every New Year— always works well for you, since it’s also the New Moon (new starts) in your first house of personal efforts. And you can’t wait to begin those new plans and new projects. What fun! SIDESTEP any sense of urgency.

[cancer] JUNE 21-JULY 22 KEY WORDS in December: A New Outlook. The work scene now demands much of your time and attention, even though this is a holiday month. Do whatever needs to be done—and do it with enthusiasm. You won’t regret it, since gain and advancement are on the horizon. SIDESTEP delaying tactics.

[taurus] APRIL 21-MAY 20 KEY WORDS in December: Noteworthy Gain. Revitalization, on all levels—mental, emotional, physical, financial and spiritual—permeates your existence. Don’t back away; instead, forge ahead—knowing that with Jupiter (Lady Luck) in Taurus, you have strong planetary backup. SIDESTEP impatience.

KEY WORDS in January: Ideal Developments. Outlines and formats—all created to focus on new projects—are an important part of January. Advancement, as well as tangible gain, have your undivided attention. You’ll be the one now in control. Keep it that way. SIDESTEP introducing last-minute changes.

KEY WORDS in January: The Reward Factor. Close relationships—and their current status in your life— permeate your thoughts. Don’t hesitate to sort them out.

You may want to make at least one major adjustment. Give yourself permission to do so. SIDESTEP whatever makes you feel uncomfortable. [libra] SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 22 KEY WORDS in December: Good News. Communications— calls, emails, meetings—surge to the forefront during this holiday season—and since Jupiter (abundance) governs this sector, you’ll be happily talking throughout the month.

SIDESTEP game-playing that defeats your objectives.

KEY WORDS in January: The Strong Foundation. As the New Year gets underway, home base has your undivided attention. It’s a quick switch from the frivolity of last month.

But you now have the confidence to move ahead and adjust whatever needs to be adjusted. SIDESTEP the cutting and hurtful remark.

[gemini] MAY 21-JUNE 20 KEY WORDS in December: The Right Way. New arrangements make this a significant time for you. Be certain that you’re pleased with agreements, as everything will come to a halt—if you’re not happy. This is the moment for an even-handed approach. SIDESTEP the sudden appearance of a dictatorial You.

[scorpio] OCTOBER 23-NOVEMBER 22 KEY WORDS in December: Favorable Conditions. Gain, of all kinds, is definitely on your radar screen. And since you’re forever fortified with your own finely tuned system, nothing gets in your way. Look great, press on, and select exactly what you want—with care. SIDESTEP being difficult to reach.

KEY WORDS in January: Major Improvement. A sense of renewal, in every area of your life—mental, emotional, physical, financial and spiritual—is underway. Have allimportant facts and figures close by. Making adjustments will be easier than you think. SIDESTEP skepticism before the results are in.

KEY WORDS in January: The Clear-Cut Decision. As the New Year begins, you discover that the existence of nononsense communications permeates your world. However, it’s vital that you listen to your own inner voice—first. It will always keep you focused. SIDESTEP a disregard for the feelings of others.

photos courtesy of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[aquarius] JANUARY 20-FEBRUARY 18 KEY WORDS in December: Plans, Everywhere. Your secret agenda permeates this month, although no one knows what that agenda contains. Now, since Uranus (the unusual), is your planetary ruler, it could be anything. And this is the month to go after it! SIDESTEP scaling down this month’s fast pace.

For more about what’s going on in the firmament, check out Fran Smith’s website at starcast12.com.

WANT MORE? please go to page 38 or visitshoremagazine.com for a full listing of the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best events.

shore picks

Nov 23-Dec 24

HOLLY DAYS 5-7pm, downtown Valparaiso. 219.464.8332 valparaisoevents.com Valparaiso kicks off its holiday season with this free family event, which offers caroling, a live nativity scene, hot refreshments, train rides, holiday shopping and Santa riding into town on a fire truck.

Jan 13-15

8TH ANNUAL HUNTER ICE FESTIVAL downtown Niles. 269.687.4332 nilesmainstreet.org This popular event pays tribute to the Hunter Brothers Ice and Ice Cream Company. The festival includes ice sculptures, world-class ice carvers, an ice cream tasting tent, kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; activities and more.

Jan 26-29

STRICTLY SAIL CHICAGO Navy Pier, Festival Halls A and B, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago strictlysailchicago.com This event is the largest U.S. indoor sailboat show and attracts more than 20,000 sailing enthusiasts each year for hands-on education and a selection of the latest sailboats all in one place.

Lake Michigan

DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012

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16TH ANNUAL CHRISTKINDLMARKET Daley Plaza, 50 W Washington St, Chicago. 312.492.2175 christkindlmarket.com Fashioned after century-old markets in Germany, the Christkindlmarket features German and international vendors displaying handcrafted ornaments, toys, foods and other unique gifts. Most days, there will also be musical entertainment to put visitors into the holiday spirit.

last resort

Master Plan HOW TO AVOID HOSTING THE HOLIDAYS

BY RICK KAEMPFER

When it’s time to celebrate the holidays with my family and my wife’s family, one thing is certain: We will be traveling to someone else’s home to do the celebrating. • A few years ago one of my in-laws noticed that my wife and I have never hosted Christmas at our house and he asked, “How have you managed to pull that off all these years?”

S

uffice it to say, it takes years of hard work and planning. For most of you, it’s already too late. For our younger readers, gather ‘round.

I’m revealing the details of my seven-step plan here publicly for the very first time.

STEP 1 Marry into a huge family You can’t choose your family, but you can choose your spouse. If you come from a smallish family, you must make finding a spouse from a huge family a priority.

There are all sorts of different ways of doing this, but I’ve discovered that finding a good Catholic will give you the best chance. My wife has five sisters and a brother. That’s a perfect size.

STEP 2 Make sure your new family celebrates Christmas on the same day as yours Some rookies will make this mistake. They’ll marry into a huge family, but forget about their own families. Let’s say that your family traditionally celebrates on Christmas Eve. If your new family celebrates on Christmas Day, you’ve lost the advantage of Step 1. Now your own family can still expect to be entertained at your home, unless you’ve taken the precaution of being born into a large family yourself.

STEP 3 Buy a small house When you and your bride are house hunting, it’s important to look for homes that have small living rooms, family rooms, dining rooms and basements. Any home with a large room that can accommodate lots of guests should be eliminated immediately.

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STEP 4 Have lots of kids There’s no hard and fast rule about how many kids you should have, but I like to go with the “one extra” method. Simply count the number of bedrooms in your home, and then have one extra kid. This will eliminate the chance of any out-of-town company staying in your “guest room”

because you don’t have one, and the kids can’t double up because they’re already doubled up.

STEP 5 Make sure your children are born in cold weather months I recommend the months of November, December, January, February and March, but in a pinch September and October will probably work, too. The plan here is to make sure that you can’t have an outdoor birthday party. Even a small backyard can accommodate many more guests than your small house. I know what you’re thinking: What does that have to do with Christmas? See the next step for an explanation.

STEP 6 Have at least one big party in your home I always recommend a kid’s birthday party, because that’s really the best of all worlds. You’ve already ensured that it will be an indoor party (Step 5), and that the guest list will be huge (Step 1), and that there won’t be enough room to congregate (Step 3), and now you’re adding the extra element of screaming, squealing children opening gifts (a good simulation of Christmas). Once you’ve packed fifty people into a room made for twelve, and one of them is a screaming and/or squealing child, you’ve sealed the deal.

STEP 7 Offer to host Christmas every few years This is a key step, because it eliminates the “deadbeat” label that some families are much too quick to pin on you. When you offer to host, everyone will instantly remember that incredibly unpleasant birthday party you threw for Junior several years ago. Then, their minds will automatically add in the sound of many other screaming/squealing children opening their presents, and before you know it . . .

“Um, that’s okay. We’ll host it this year,” one of them will say.

Trust me, it works every time.

I’ll admit that my seven-step plan is a lot of work, requires years of planning, and will cost you more in gas money, but you’ll never host Christmas at your house again.

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One thing I’ve noticed in my time here is a certain spirit that feels like it’s been around forever.

As human beings, we naturally divide our lives into hours, weeks and years.

But here, there’s something timeless.

A way of treating people; of comforting them and giving them the attention they need.

Of course we offer the most modern technology and advanced treatments.

But it’s the people behind these things that set us apart.

I am a Franciscan Alliance nurse.

And I walk in the footsteps of St. Francis.

When St. Francis walked out into the world and began his ministry, he left everything behind.

It was a selfless act, symbolic of his desire to care for those in need. Today, in the halls of our hospitals, we follow in the footsteps of a single man whose timeless mission continues to inspire the 18,000 doctors, nurses and health care professionals of Franciscan Alliance.

14 hospitals. One mission.

Divisions of Franciscan Alliance 14hospitals.org