Remembering Robert Redford and the impact his Ordinary People had on the North Shore pg 10
Meet the inspiring Joy McClure, Chief Admissions Officer at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture pg 8
Mix up this tasty Pomegranate Lemon Zest
Cooler cocktail for your next weekend soiree pg 17
“ OUR WHOLE FAMILY VISITS REGULARLY AND WE ARE ALWAYS GREETED BY THE MOST AMAZING STAFF ON THE PLANET. THE STYLISTS ARE INCREDIBLY SKILLED AND ATTENTIVE TO EACH OF OUR NEEDS. THE ATMOSPHERE IS WELCOMING AND RELAXED, MAKING IT EASY FOR US TO ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE – WHETHER IT’S A QUICK TRIM FOR THE KIDS OR A FULL COLOR AND STYLE FOR THE ADULTS –THEY CONSISTENTLY DELIVER GREAT RESULTS!”
Amazing at all they do!
Discover 1,000 handmade rugs in our exclusive clearance event, starting at $99. From Persian and Oriental classics to vintage, modern, runners, and oversized designs, each piece is one-of-a-kind.
Explore the collection online, call to book your appointment, and try a rug at home with easy returns.
5 north shore doings
Find out what’s happening in your neighborhood with our weekly calendar of local events
6 north shore sports
Standout wide receiver Lucas Gordon also covers wide receivers for Highland Park High School's football team
7 repair or replace?
With time running out to take advantage of tax incentives to replace HVAC systems, Cahill is here to help
8 #hashtag
Joy McClure, Chief Admissions Officer at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, shares a few of her favorite things
10 ordinary masterpiece
We reflect on the recent death of Robert Redford and the North Shore filming of his iconic Ordinary People
17 happy hour
Mix up this tasty Pomegranate Lemon Zest Cooler cocktail for your next weekend soiree
18 man about film
Our critic reviews Dead of Winter, a chilling survival thriller set in the remote Minnesota wilderness
22 sunday breakfast Lake Forest High School Alumni Association Coordinator Lesley Fisher spearheads the school's 90th anniversary celebration
DAVID OR GOLIATH?
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EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
OCTOBER 4 TO 5
THE GREAT HIGHWOOD PUMPKIN FEST
This year's Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival is benefiting SaLT (Service and Learning Together). Enjoy live music, pumpkins, skeleton displays, and spooky fun. Leashed dogs are welcome. celebratehighwood.com
OCTOBER 4
DISCOVER YOUR HOME’S STORY
Wilmette Public Library is partnering with a local historian to explore the history of Wilmette homes. This program is held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and is for teens and adults. Registration is required. wilmette.library.info
OCTOBER 4 TO 31
DEBRA DELBECQ EXHIBIT
Stop into Winnetka’s Vivid Art Gallery to see Indiana artist Debra Delbecq's work throughout October. Dolan is an abstract artist who creates waterscapes based on the beauty and power of Lake Michigan and the Aegean Sea to reflect the universal journey of life. vividartgallery.net
OCTOBER 4
HALLOWEEN HAUNTED HOUSE WORKSHOP
Chicago Botanic Garden presents a fun workshop from 10 a.m. to noon. Create a miniature Halloween decoration that can be a gift or trinket. Tickets are on sale now. chicagobotanic.org
OCTOBER 5
THEN AND NOW AUTO SHOW
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., enjoy food, fun, cars, and entertainment for the whole family. This car show will take place at West Lake Forest Train Station. More
than 100 cars will be on display and a food truck station will provide food and beverages. lflbchamber.com
OCTOBER 7
BATTLE OF THE BUSINESSES TRIVIA NIGHT
Join Winnetka-Northfield-Glencoe Chamber of Commerce for first trivia night. From 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., this event will be held at North Shore Country Day School. Ticket purchases include food and soft drinks. This is a BYOB event with ticket raffles and prizes. wngchamber.com
OCTOBER 8 TO 26
NIGHT OF 1,000 JACK O’LANTERNS
Experience Chicago Botanic Garden’s annual autumn event, held October 8 to 12; 15 to 19; and 22 to 26. This ticketed display of jack o’lanterns includes food and drink items available for sale, themed jack o’lantern carvings, and demonstrations by artists. chicagobotanic.org
OCTOBER 11
STEWS AND BREWS
Stews and Brews returns for its fourth year at Port Clinton Squar. Held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., this free event is for all ages and includes a chili cookoff, beer fest, pot pies, stews, a variety of soups, and more. enjoyhighlandpark.com
OCTOBER 12
KENILWORTH WALKING TOUR
Kenilworth Historical Society presents its annual walking tours to explore the wide range of architectural styles throughout the village. The two-hour tour begins at 1:30 p.m. and meets at the Kenilworth Train Station. Tickets may be purchased online. kenilworthhistory.org
OCTOBER 15
JOSSELYN’S COCKTAILS FOR A CAUSE
Josselyn invites you to an evening of celebration and impact at its signature fundraising event, with all proceeds benefiting Josselyn programming. This event will be held at the Glen View Club. josselyn.org
OCTOBER 16 AND 30
SIT AND KNIT
Spend an afternoon with fellow knitters from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Community Room at Northfield Public Library. All levels of experience are welcome. Basic supplies will be available and a library staff member will be present to help beginners. Registration is required. Wnpld.org
OCTOBER 17
TRUNK OR TREAT
From 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the community is invited to join the Lake Bluff Park District and Lake Bluff Library for the village’s annual Trunk or Treat event at Blair Park. Children are invited to dress up, trick or treat, and explore creatively decorated trunks in a safe, festive setting. Individuals may also register their trunk for free and join the fun. lakeblufflibrary.org
OCTOBER 18
GORTON’S OKTOBERFEST
The Gorton Center hosts its annual Oktoberfest fundraiser with an evening of food, drink, and entertainment. All fundraising proceeds will benefit Gorton’s cultural and educational programs. gortoncenter.org
OCTOBER 23
SAVOR AND SHARE
COOKBOOK CLUB
From 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., join the Savor and Share Cookbook Club at Northfield Library to create a dish from one of the featured cookbooks
listed on the event page and share it with fellow chefs. Registration is required. wnpld.org
OCTOBER 24
TRICK OR TREAT TREK
From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., travel through Highwood for a trick or treat. Visit participating businesses and take part in Halloweethemed experiences around town. cityofhighwood.com
OCTOBER 25
ST. JUDE DREAM CHICAGO
At 5 p.m., St. Jude will be taking over The Old Post Office, featuring food booths, bars, and activities for guests to visit, enjoying unique experiences and tastings from Chicago’s best restaurants. This charity event will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Tickets are available now. stjude.org
OCTOBER 26
ARTEMIS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA FREE CONCERT
Enjoy a free concert at Trinity Episcopal Church in Highland Park at 3 p.m. Reserve seats online. artemischamberorchestra.org
OCTOBER 27
TRICK OR TREAT AT THE LIBRARY
Children, teens, and adults can come to Lake Bluff Library during the week before Halloween for trick-or-treat. Check in with staff at the first floor circulation desk for treats. Costumes are optional but encouraged. lakeblufflibrary.org
OCTOBER 30
HALLOWEEK IN THE STUDIO
Stop in the Wilmette Public Library from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to work on your Halloween costume. Costume construction supplies will be available. Ideas and works in progress are welcome. wilmettelibrary.info
NOVEMBER 2
FALL CONCERT
The Music Institute of Chicago is hosting its Fall Fundraiser Concert at 3 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall. Donations are encouraged and there will be a photo booth, meet and greet, and sweet treats following the concert. musicinst.org
NOVEMBER 5
REVEL HOLIDAY
BOUTIQUE
Club of Hearts Presents Revel 2025, its fourth annual holiday shopping boutique at North Shore Country Club from 12
p.m. to 8 p.m. Gather your friends for a day of festive holiday shopping featuring more than 25 specially curated vendors, raffle, and a fun-filled community atmosphere. All proceeds benefit Charles H. Walsh Sr. Academy & Career Tech High School. clubofheartsil.com
NOVEMBER 8
MATTHEW HAGLE: JESTERS AND GARGOYLES
At 7:30 p.m., Music Institute of Chicago’s Nichols Concert Hall will host pianist Matthew Hagle for a night of humor and harmony. Tickets are $35 for general admission. musicinst.org
NOVEMBER 16
KENILWORTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY FALL OPEN HOUSE
From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., join Kenilworth Historical Society for an open house. Visitors can tour exhibit space, and request information about their Kenilworth homes. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is required. kenilworthhistory.org
To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.
SHORE SPORTS
BY BILL MCLEAN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER
Four games in, the 2025 Giants’ football team at Highland Park High School (HPHS) had its share of close contests. Four, to be exact.
Coach Anthony Kopp’s crew defeated Leyden High School 21-16 and archrival Deerfield High School (DHS) 28-21 in the first two weeks of the season before falling 26-24 to Schaumburg High School and 28-24 to Conant High School on September 12 and September 19, respectively.
HPHS was trailing visiting DHS in the fourth quarter when a fumble recovery by Gi ants senior defensive end Jacob Youra ignited a comeback win. The turnover led to a gametying touchdown.
“We’re not scared of games that have some drama,” said Kopp. “You can learn from such situations. Our team responds well to chal lenges.
“With a 2-2 record,” he added, “we’re sitting in a decent spot to make a run for a playoff berth.”
His Giants were sitting prettier on
September 26, after snapping their string of taut results with an emphatic 35-7 defeat of host Vernon Hills High School (VHHS) in a Central Suburban League North division opener for both squads.
The season’s third win also matched the Giants’ win total in 2024. HPHS won its last three games last fall after an 0-6 start.
Kopp’s current edition is paced by senior wide receiver/free safety Lucas Gordon, senior lineman Maxwell Leon, junior quarterback Gustav Crane, and senior middle linebacker Gabriel Leon. Gordon, who as a freshman was promoted to the varsity team with three games remaining in the 2022 season, owns virtually every HPHS receiving record. He had four touchdown receptions through four games this fall after amassing more than 1,000 yards receiving as a junior.
“We brought Lucas up,” Kopp recalled, “because
he was crushing it at the freshman level. This season, in addition to his role as a receiver, he’s the captain of our defensive backfield.”
Perhaps the Giants’ most vocal leader is Maxwell Leon, a guard along the offensive line and the Giants’ “glue guy,” Kopp noted.
“Max is that guy who knows what to say to the group in key moments,” said Kopp.
Gabriel Leon provides a physical presence, week in and week out, at a critical position.
“Tough kid,” Kopp said. “He’s that linebacker that owns the middle of the field. Great leader.”
Crane had passed for six touchdowns and run for four more before the game at VHHS.
“Our offense, it’s a nice run-pass mix,” Kopp said.
Other week five football scores: Loyola Academy (3-1) defeated DePaul College Prep 42-14; Lake Forest High School (2-3) lost 28-7 to Lake Zurich High School; and New Trier Township High School (New Trier) beat Deerfield High School 44-7 to improve to 3-2 overall.
New Trier hosts perennial power Maine South High School (4-1) in Northfield on October 3 (7 p.m.). Each team is 1-0 in the Central Suburban League South division.
With time running out to take advantage of tax incentives to replace HVAC systems, homeowners have an important decision to make. Lake Bluff’s Cahill is here to help.
BY MITCH HURST THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
With the signing of the Big, Beautiful Bill, the generous tax incentives homeowners replacing the HVAC systems have historically enjoyed will be gone January 1, 2026.
Until the end of the calendar year, homeowners can receive about $5,500 in rebates and other incentives when replacing their existing units with new quieter, efficient HVAC units built with new technology that reduces negative environmental impact and are lighter on the pocketbook when the monthly utility bills arrive.
“If your equipment is towards the end of its life, without a doubt, replace it before the end of the year,” says Brandon Delfino, co-owner of Cahill Heating, Cooling, Electric, Plumbing & Sewer in Lake Bluff. “The federal tax credits are gone January 1, but installations completed prior to that date still qualify.”
Lifespans of units vary, but generally after 15 or 20 years it’s a good time for homeowners to refresh, especially if they already are investing significantly in repairs.”
Delfino and his team of technicians have decades of HVAC installation and repair experience; they’ve earned the trust of long-time customers who count on Cahill to provide the very best advice to keep their houses warm in the winter and cool during the summer.
“Everything is repairable,” Delfino says, “but homeowners may want to look hard at if it’s more cost effective to purchase a new unit.”
That may sound counterintuitive, but there are three factors that make new, more efficient and quieter units an attractive option:
• Federal tax credits
• Utility company rebates (ComEd and North Shore /Nicor Gas)
• Manufacturer instant rebates
• Lower monthly utility costs
The technology in the units has also greatly improved over the decades. Most units today are multi-stage or fully variable systems meaning they only output the exact amount of heating or cooling required to keep your home comfortable. They’re quiet, energy efficient and do a phenomenal job at removing humidity. It is these newer, more efficient units for which the government and utility companies are providing incentives.
“As you go up the line and become more efficient, the rebates and incentives get higher,” says Delfino. “We’re experts at designing systems that maximize the available incentives so that our customers get top of the line equipment for less money than the bargain stuff.”
Delfino’s team at Cahill currently services more than 5,000 residential and commercial customers throughout the North Shore. A key value for the company is building relationships with the local customers they work for and aiming for those relationships to be long-term. Customer loyalty is a primary objective and that’s achieved partly by being a member of the local community at a time when the HVAC industry is going through consolidation and becoming less personal.
“Cahill was founded nearly 50 years ago by Dennis Cahill, and I’ve continued to run it,” Delfino says. “Dennis is an employee now. He’s here every day.”
Cahill has locations in Lake Bluff and Palatine. For more information, call 847-2501507 or visit cahillheating.com.
EDITED BY REDDING WORTH ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
I’m currently engrossed in The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. He has an extraordinary ability to craft vivid narratives that transport me completely into different worlds, cultures, and emotional landscapes. Alongside that, I’ve been reading Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, whose fascinating insights into human behavior and societal shifts continually resonate with me. Seeing him speak in Chicago brought a renewed appreciation for his sharp intellect and engaging storytelling.
I’m closely tracking the latest trends and breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, especially its impact in the marketing arena. I’m particularly intrigued by how AI-driven innovations can serve as positive disruptors, reshaping traditional marketing practices and opening exciting new possibilities for engagement, personalization, and creative strategy.
Lately, I’ve found great inspiration and thought-provoking ideas from podcasts such as Hidden Brain, which offers intriguing insights into human psychology and behavior. I’m also regularly tuning into Brené Brown’s podcast for her compelling conversations about courage, vulnerability, and authentic leadership, and Simon Sinek’s podcast for his illuminating perspectives on purpose-driven leadership. Each of these podcasts fuels my personal and professional growth, helping me become a more insightful and effective leader in my current role.
JOY MCCLURE has built her career around a powerful belief—that education is the great equalizer. Based in Northbrook, she serves as Chief Admissions Officer at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, where she’s spent more than 20 years helping students access opportunities that change lives, especially those seeking a hands-on, purpose-driven path outside of the traditional four-year college track. McClure studied psychology at Michigan State University and leadership and development at Loyola University Chicago. She combines her understanding of human behavior with deep expertise in admissions, marketing, and organizational development. Her leadership has helped modernize beauty education and opened doors for a new generation of professionals eager to make their mark in the multi-billion-dollar beauty and wellness industry. McClure’s passion doesn’t stop at education, she also serves on the board of Divas In Defense, helping empower women and girls with the tools they need to protect themselves and move through life with confidence. Her work is about more than building careers, it’s about unlocking potential, creating access, and helping people find purpose in their passion.
Senior Residential Real Estate Advisor Peter Cummins enjoys a distinguished career on the North Shore, where he went to school, raised his family, and still lives. Drawing on his experience in local leadership and development, Peter began selling real estate more than two decades ago. Since then, he’s built a reputation for integrity and client advocacy that enabled him to close nearly 800 deals valued at more than $500 million.
Now, Peter has moved his practice to Baird & Warner, which he considers the last vestige of a truly independent, locally owned brokerage where people come before profits.
“Joining Baird & Warner allows me to align with a firm that is growing, innovating and standing up to protect the integrity of the marketplace. I’m drawn to a company where local leadership is reinvesting in the business they’ve built to serve our communities, clients and consumers with excellence.”
“In today’s marketplace, corporate-owned brokerages control much of the market, which invites unfair practices and leaves consumers at a disadvantage. I’ve always believed in fair housing and an open market, and I’ve been outspoken in my opposition to practices like private office-exclusive listings, which I find fundamentally at odds with transparency.”
Peter’s experience extends beyond Chicagoland. He’s licensed in both Michigan and Indiana, and can leverage Baird & Warner’s extensive referral network across the U.S and abroad to help relocating clients.
“If you’re looking to buy or sell in this challenging market, I’m here to put my knowledge and expertise to work for you. Try the Baird & Warner difference — you won’t be disappointed!”
Call Peter: 847.710.6798
BY JEROME DAVIS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
When Ordinary People premiered in 1980, it arrived quietly — a beautifully restrained film about grief, guilt, and family dysfunction. But for those who live on the North Shore, it hit especially close to home. That’s because the film’s emotional power wasn’t only captured in the performances or Robert Redford’s directorial touch—it was literally embedded in the streets, parks, diners, and homes of Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Wilmette, Northbrook, and Highwood.
As news spreads of Robert Redford’s recent passing, we remember the film that defined not only his directorial debut, but also helped capture the subtle contradictions of upper-middle-class suburban life in the 80's—a life many North Shore residents knew well.
Ordinary People was Redford’s first turn behind the camera, and he chose to set his story in Lake Forest. Adapted from Judith Guest’s 1976 novel, the film follows Conrad Jarrett (played by a young Timothy Hutton) as he struggles to cope with the death of his brother and the unraveling of his family. Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore played his emotionally distant parents with icy brilliance.
But it wasn’t just the cast that brought the film to life—it was the setting. And that setting was us.
Locals still remember the production. Shooting locations included a McDonald’s on Sheridan Road in Highwood, various residential streets in Wilmette and Lake Bluff, and key scenes at Lake Forest High School and downtown Highland Park. One of the film’s most striking decisions was to shoot inside a real home—a stately colonial in Lake Forest that still stands today, currently listed for sale. That house wasn’t just a backdrop. It was a character in itself: tidy, elegant, emotionally repressed.
“Redford had an instinct for truth,” says longtime Lake Forest resident Tim Henry, who was 17 when the film was shot and even made a brief appearance. Henry was a student at Lake Forest High School and found himself cast as a loudmouthed teen in one of the film’s more uncomfortable scenes—where
Conrad’s fragile first date is derailed by teenage heckling at a local McDonald’s.
“I yell, ‘Hey, Jarrett, how ya doing?’—and it just crushes him,” Henry laughs. “I didn’t think much of it then, but watching the film
now, I see how even those small moments had weight.”
Henry’s casting came thanks to a friend’s mom, who happened to know the film’s casting director.
“We told Redford to stop by a party we were at—half-joking,” Henry recalls. “And sure enough, around 9:30, there’s a knock at the back door. It’s Robert Redford. And Mary Tyler Moore. He looked around and said, ‘I’m looking for my friend, Tim Henry.’ That was Redford—curious, gracious, very cool.”
Redford didn’t direct again for another eight years. But Ordinary People swept the
Oscars in 1981, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Hutton. The film's success was remarkable—a slow, serious drama without spectacle, built on silences, shadows, and emotional nuance.
And part of that nuance came from the North Shore itself. The geography mattered: tree-lined streets, tennis courts, country clubs, and waterfront homes—beautiful on the outside, brittle just beneath. Redford understood that a place like Lake Forest could be both aspirational and quietly isolating. That duality, and the performance he drew from Moore in particular, gave the film its emotional punch.
For longtime residents, the film endures not just as a cultural touchstone, but as a North Shore artifact—a cinematic preservation of what this region looked and felt like in the late ’70s.
With Redford’s passing, interest in Ordinary People has quietly resurfaced. The Lake Forest home where much of the movie was shot has been listed for sale, drawing film buffs and curious locals alike. It's more than a house—
it’s a capsule of North Shore history, immortalized in one of the most poignant films ever made here.
And while Redford would go on to become a cinematic legend—founding the Sundance Film Festival, directing and starring in dozens more films—there’s something about Ordinary People that still feels like his most personal work. Perhaps because it was his first. Perhaps because it was made here, in our towns, on our sidewalks, in the hallways of our schools.
It’s worth noting that Redford wasn’t from here. He wasn’t trying to glorify or criticize the North Shore. He just saw something in it—something that mirrored the quiet battles of the people in his story. That’s what great directors do: they find the truth in the setting, and they let it speak.
In the final moments of the film, Conrad sits with his father by the water. They don’t say much. They don’t have to. The silence holds everything that needs to be said.
Today, as we reflect on Redford’s passing, perhaps that’s the best tribute. Ordinary People was never about big drama. It was about the ordinary grief, love, and resilience that so often goes unseen—in life, and in places like the North Shore.
And because of Redford, it was seen.
New Classes on October 10th
Ten Threads and How to Use Them Basketweave and More
*Check our website for more details
Painting of the week. Bring in this ad for 10% off your purchase.
Now Open – local artist, gallery/studio
9 Highwood Ave, Highwood, IL • facebook.com/audoriginals2 (847) 579-8052 • Open Wed - Sat 12:30-4:30, or by appointment
BY
The magic of Paige Spearin’s fanciful paintings is how they draw you in. There is an immediacy to each one that transforms you from viewer into active participant.
Gazing at an image of rambunctious bunnies bouncing high upon their beds, it feels as if you’ve just opened the door to their room. Images of Spearin’s skating rinks, cocktail bars, or holiday living rooms make you feel as if you are there, cold nipping at your nose, cocktail in hand.
The experience is akin to the joy one feels flipping through the pages of Ludwig Bemelmans’ beloved Madeline stories—illustrations that Spearin adored as a child. “I love the Madeline books!” says Spearin, adding that when living in New York, The Carlyle’s Bemelmans Bar was a huge inspiration.
In fact, the Bemelmans connection is especially apropos right now. Spearin, famed for her 16 years as a textile artist for Lilly
Like Bemelmans, who adorned the walls at his namesake bar with paintings of his character Madeline and her cohorts in New York’s Central Park, Spearin just completed a mural at Plaza del Lago’s SPACE 519 in Wilmette. That mural features depictions of iconic North Shore spots including the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Home Alone house, Ravinia Festival, and the Deer Path Inn. Also, like Bemelmans, Paige prefers to paint with India ink, watercolors, and gouache.
But the closest association to the erstwhile illustrator?
“I’m writing and illustrating my own children’s book!” Spearin says. “It’s the project I am most excited about right now.”
While Spearin’s publisher and theme are still hush-hush, the book will certainly include whimsical animal friends with characters somewhat inspired by
her two little boys.
“I painted a lot of animals in my prints for Lilly Pulitzer,” she explains. “Bunnies, tigers, giraffes, frogs, and so many more. I started doing even more of the animals after having my boys. Over time, the characters slowly evolved to have more personality and to wear clothes. Now I find it entertaining to paint them in fancy beds and luxurious settings.”
Besides her boys, Spearin’s subjects are also inspired by everyday life on Chicago’s North Shore and her travels. She spends summers in Northern Michigan, so that region plays a significant role in her work. She’s also inspired by her travels to Florida, the Bahamas, Italy, Portugal, and France.
“My settings are often a mix of places,” explains Spearin. “And lately, I’ve been playing tennis, paddle, and golf, so that’s also appearing more in my work.”
Looking back, Spearin says she dreamed of being an artist, even as a little girl.
“It’s kind of funny how similar my interests were when I was 5,” she says. “I loved to paint and draw and dress up, and I still love those things. Also, I have a lot of creative women in my family and was always inspired by the way they dressed, decorated rooms, prepared meals, and hosted par-
ties. I notice and care about those little details. Now, a lot of those little touches appear in my work.”
In addition to working on her forthcoming children’s book, Spearin has been collaborating with Winnetka artist Sunny Esler of Tigre de Tartán on mahjong and home accessories—most recently a holidaythemed mahjong mat that takes inspiration from favorite New York places. She continues to design wedding invitations and has several stationery collections with Dogwood Hill. She also just illustrated a cookbook, The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook by Meridith Hayden. And, making her art available as needlepoint canvases, she recently entered an exclusive collaboration with Jessica Chaney of Lycette Designs.
Looking ahead, “I may go back to textiles again one day,” says Spearin, “but for now, I’m enjoying collaborating and producing art under my own name. People often ask me what it takes to get better at your artwork. Really, it’s a mix of just painting a lot every
day but also taking time to get out and see the world. Wander through a museum, go to a beautiful bar or restaurant, and notice what people are wearing! It all slips into your work.”
For more information about Spearin’s art, visit paigespearin.com. For more information about Spearin’s collaboration with Sunny Esler, visit tigredetartan.com, and for Spearin’s needlepoint canvases, visit lycettedesigns.com.
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY CHICAGO WINDOW GUYS
Windows do more than frame the view. They define curb appeal, protect against Chicago’s harsh climate, and play a central role in energy efficiency. Replacing outdated or leaky windows can improve a home’s efficiency by up to 30 percent, cutting drafts and preventing mold.
That’s where Chicago Window Guys (CWG) comes in.
Founded by Russell Armstrong, the company operates its own manufacturing plant in Chicago and brings decades of experience to every project. Having installed thousands of windows across the city and suburbs, Armstrong and his team know how to match the right product to each home’s needs.
“We offer the best product, with the best installation at the best price — guaranteed,” Armstrong says. “Because we manufacture here, we control costs and timelines, ensuring jobs are done on schedule and at a much lower cost than our competition, without sacrificing quality.”
CWG backs those promises with a price-match guarantee
and a lifetime warranty on all parts and labor, including glass breakage — rare in this industry. Armstrong adds: “We don’t play the ‘Buy one, get one free’ sales game. Our prices are straightforward and consistently lower for a better product and installation.”
CWG windows feature Argon/Krypton gas fills, multiple low-E coatings, foam-filled frames, and non-metal spacers to prevent seal failure. Every window is measured and made to order — from bow and bay to garden and projection styles. Installations are handled exclusively by CWG crews, never subcontractors.
Armstrong also makes every sales call himself, eliminating long presentations, commissions, and high-pressure tactics. “Over the years, we’ve built our reputation on happy customers who refer friends and family,” he says.
For more information, call Russ directly at 847-302-9171, or visit chicagowindowguys.com.
Ingredients
2 ounces Twisted Alchemy Pomegranate Juice
Lemon and pomegranate seeds twist for garnish
Method
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add Twisted Alchemy Pomegranate Juice, Twisted Alchemy Lemon Sour, and vodka to the shaker. Shake well until chilled. Strain the mixture into a chilled highball glass filled with ice. Top off with club soda. Gently stir to combine. Garnish with a lemon twist and a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds.
Emma Thompson stars in a chilling survival thriller set in the remote Minnesota wilderness.
BY FELIX MCMILLAN, MAN ABOUT FILM
ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
VERDICT: A cold, unrelenting thriller with heart. Emma Thompson gives the film its soul, even when the script lurches. Worth a night in the darkness.
Emma Thompson’s quietly ferocious turn anchors Dead of Winter, a chilling survival-thriller that marries elemental dread with domestic grit. Directed by Brian Kirk from a script by Nicholas Jacobson-Larson and Dalton Leeb, the film takes place in remote Minnesota, where a grieving widow named Barb (Thompson) ventures into the frozen wasteland to scatter her late husband’s ashes—only to stumble upon a sinister situation: a teenage girl held captive by a mysterious couple (Judy Greer and Marc Menchaca).
From the outset, Dead of Winter wears its conventions on its sleeve: the secluded cabin, the no-phone-service territory, the sudden intrusion of violence. Kirk doesn’t shy from the tropes; rather, he leans into them, trusting in Thompson’s screen presence to elevate the familiar into something raw and human. As Barb learns that the land she once shared with her husband conceals deadly secrets, the film lets the cold itself become an adversary—frostbite, isolation, and slick ice threatening as much as any human antagonist.
Thompson’s Barb is no invincible hero, but a character carved by loss and lived experience. She is resourceful, resolute, and quietly haunted—traits that play beautifully against the duplicitous villainy of Greer’s “Purple Lady,” who exudes a controlled volatility that keeps the tension taut. Marc Menchaca
is the grimmer half of the duo, lumbering beneath the shadow of his wife’s impulses. The performance pairings feel calibrated to generate unease: we never fully know whom to trust, or how far desperation may push anyone.
That said, Dead of Winter is not without its cracks. Critics have flagged conspicuous plot holes and tonal unevenness—the film sometimes struggles to balance character depth with the visceral demands of suspense. Some flashbacks are sentimental in a way that undercuts tension; some motivations strain for plausibility. But these faults seldom derail the experience; they’re more like frost scars than structural fractures. When the ice cracks and final confrontations take shape, the stakes land with enough weight to satisfy.
Visually, Christopher Ross’s compositions and Kirk’s direction use negative space and biting silence to amplify dread. The Minnesota wilderness becomes a character in its own right—stoic, punishing, unyielding. The cross-cutting between past warmth and present danger is occasionally heavy-handed, but it gives the film an emotional tether it might otherwise risk floating away from.
On balance, Dead of Winter is more than a genre exercise: it is an ode to survival, grief, and the courage to confront darkness in both nature and humanity. Its flaws are real, but they’re held in check by strong performances and a clear emotional core.
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E. Deerpath • Lake Forest, IL 60045
Lake Forest High School graduate and Alumni Association Coordinator Lesley Fisher serves as the fun-loving force behind the school’s 90th Anniversary Celebration.
BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
The woman who attended two Lake Forest High School (LFHS) proms with her future husband, raised three children who attended her alma mater, served as the school’s Boosters president, and became the LFHS Alumni Association coordinator has the most fitting initials—LF.
But what makes Lesley (nee Gimbel) Fisher the ideal LFHS ambassador/supporter/ cheerleader forever/ has nothing to do with a pair of letters.
The Class of 1990 graduate still truly appreciates the experiences she had at LFHS and threw herself into organizing last month’s stirring 90th Anniversary Celebration of the school during Homecoming weekend (September 19-20).
“It was touching, seeing many of the school’s retired teachers and staff members reconnect with the students—now adults— who were a meaningful part of their careers at Lake Forest High School,” says Fisher, referring to part of the All-Alumni gathering she spearheaded at the Gorton Center from 1 to 5 p.m. on September 20.
The event also featured live music from LFHS alumni Nic Barnum and Howie Martino, food trucks, face painting, fun and game for kids, and displays of LFHS memorabilia, ranging from letterman jackets to yearbooks to student handbooks. Fifteen generous sponsors, most of whom are alumni and own local businesses, helped to make the day possible.
At the Alumni Headquarters station near the LFHS West Campus stadium before the homecoming football game on September 19—the Scouts defeated Zion-Benton High School’s Zee-Bees, 28-24—Fisher greeted a 1946 LFHS graduate and the woman’s daughter, a 1975 LFHS graduate.
“Lake Forest High School Alumni As-
Jennifer Sturgeon
sociation’s purpose is to, ‘Honor the past, celebrate the present, and build the future,’” Fisher says. “Twenty Alumni Ambassa dors, representing the Class of 1957 through the Class of 2019, were named three years ago. We meet quarterly to consider opportunities to keep our graduates connected to each other, to current LFHS students, and back to our beloved building. The idea for this 90th Celebration came for this committed group.” Calling herself “just a regular high school student who had a ton of school spirit,” Fisher and her future groom,
one of the proms they attended was “Cooler
Among Lesley’s impactful LFHS teachers was Miss Carr, who taught English and Creative Writing.
“The comments she made about my writing were always encouraging,” recalls Fisher. “But she wasn’t just interested in me as a student; she was also genuinely interested in my life, and I so appreciated the talks we had about all kinds of topics.”
Lesley and Chris got married and have three children—24-yearold twins Jake and Danny and 22-year-old Molly, an Illinois Bone and Joint Institute rehab technician. Danny is a professional golfer, and Jake works for Sysco Corporation.
“It was touching, seeing many of the school’s retired teachers and staff members reconnect with the students—now adults— who were a meaningful part of their careers at Lake Forest High School.”
Chris Fisher (another 1990 LFHS alum), saw the movie Rain Man at a theater in Vernon Hills as 16-year-olds. The theme of
“Chris and I had positive experiences throughout high school, and so did all three of our children,” Fisher says. “High school
brought us a lot of joy. I love Lake Forest High School. It has done so much for me. My high school friendships have stood the test of time and I am grateful for these longlasting relationships.”
Fisher majored in Communications at the University of Kansas and earned her master’s in Education at Loyola University Chicago. She taught middle school in Vernon Hills. Instead of pursuing an administrative position at a school, Fisher, a Lake Forest resident as an adult since 2000, served as a “professional volunteer” for many years, she says.
Among the many organizations that benefitted from her leadership and boundless energy and positivity was District 67 Board of Education (K-8 schools in Lake Forest). Fisher served as its vice president.
Seven years ago, she launched Lesley Fisher Consulting, which focuses on supporting schools in pursuit of excellence. She helps individuals in schools thrive.
“My work as a consulting partner covers a broad spectrum,” says Fisher. “I serve as a communications coach, I assist with short- and long-term project planning and execution, and I lead team building retreats. In my work, I want to be approachable. I want school leaders to be approachable, too, to work in collaboration; some of their best ideas will come from their staff members, students, parents, and wider community.”
Entering a school, any school, still invigorates Fisher.
“When I do that, I look around and I see hope everywhere,” she says. “The possibilities are endless.”
Fisher has no idea who will organize LFHS’ 100th Anniversary Celebration in 2035. But she knows one thing for sure.
“That celebration will top the 90th,” she says. “My hope is that I was able, with plenty of help from others, to establish a foundation for future Lake Forest High School anniversaries.”
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Michelle Crowe, Erin Donaldson, Cheyanne Lencioni, Dustin O'Regan, Kemmie Ryan, Megan Weisberg
FOOD EDITOR
Monica Kass Rogers
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jerome Davis, Mitch Hurst, Bill McLean, Felix McMillan, Redding Worth DESIGN
Natalie Phillips PRODUCTION MANAGER/ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Mimi Lee GRAPHIC DESIGNER
PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART
George Pfoertner, Maggie Rife
PHOTOGRAPHY
Tom Bachtell, Barry Blitt ILLUSTRATION
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On Saturday, October 18th, Engel & Völkers will be hosting our sixth annual 60 Minutes for Special Olympics fundraising event. All Engel & Völkers Americas’ shops and network members are participating in the fundraiser and pledge to spend 60 minutes engaged in any form of exercise to support the cause. We invite you to join us in making a difference in the lives of Special Olympics athletes by making a donation. Together, we can help build inclusive communities through sports, leadership programs, and meaningful connections—creating a more respectful world for all. Join us as we amplify the great work of Special Olympics!
A heartfelt thank-you to everyone participating, donating, and cheering on this year’s event. Let’s amplify the incredible work of Special Olympics!
Participate:
Dedicate 60 minutes to any physical activity you love.
Fundraise: Rally
and community to support your efforts.
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