make it better june 2013

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north shore —family, community and you JUNE 2013 + GUY GARB THE BEST PIZZA COLLEGE VISITS EUROPEAN CAR TOURS Ben Harper performing at LIFT benefit at Park West DIGITAL VERSION

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Men We Love: Featuring Ben Harper, John Borling, Scott Turow. Also including tips for College Visits and European Car Tours.

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Page 1: Make It Better June 2013

north shore —family, community and you

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+GUY GARBTHE BEST PIZZACOLLEGE VISITSEUROPEAN CAR TOURS

Ben Harper performing atLIFT benefi t at Park West

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contents V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 7

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on our cover Ben Harper, performing at LIFT benefi t at Park West in Chicago.Photo © Mark Battrell

features

22 Men We Love By Julie Chernoff, Susan B. Noyes and Lindsay Roseman

28 Teens and Prescription Drug AbuseBy Laura Hine

30 7 Tips to Make the Most of College VisitsBy Jody Buck

36 A Real Road TripBy Andrea Guthmann

38 Man-Centric, Family FriendlyBy Tate Gunnerson

48 Guy GarbBy Evangeline Politis

home

44 Lighten Up Your Window TreatmentsBy Kristina Tober

a better you

52 Look Younger Without Plastic SurgeryBy Jenny Muslin

54 Get Your Guy to the DoctorBy Christy Coughlin

56 Men, Women & MoneyBy Meghan Streit

58 How to Talk to Your ManBy Marjie Killeen

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in every issue

8 you said it

10 editor’s letter

14 new in the northern suburbs

16 recommended events

18 events listing

20 make it better column

65 music by val

66 give time, give things, give support

74 closing thoughts

dining and entertainment

60 Guildhall Brings the CraftBy Julie Chernoff

62 The Best Pizza Search is On!By Julie Chernoff

64 Books for the Beach BagBy Kelly Konrad

make a difference

68 Better Makers and Their Impact

72 EcoMyths AllianceBy Susan B. Noyes

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you sa id it

We love to hear from you, so please keep sending us your stories, comments, opinions, ideas and reviews!

Email [email protected]

OnlinEmakeitbetter.net

FacEbOOkfacebook.com/makeitbetter.net

TwiTTEr @makeitbetterNS

makE iT bETTEr TwEETsThanks for the shout outs! Don’t forget to follow us @makeitbetterNS.

Family Focus @familyfocus_orgThank you to @makeitbetterNS for featuring the great work of Family Network of Family Focus! ow.ly/keUKw

Make It Better @makeitbetterNSNeed a good book suggestion? You can follow our book editor here (The girl LOVES to read!): ow.ly/k0g1O

Teresa Stallone @tstallone@makeitbetterNS Can readers make suggestions, especially books written by local writers?

Make It Better @makeitbetterNS@tstallone We love getting suggestions from our readers! You can tweet them to @LitzyDitz or send them to [email protected]

Fabio Viviani @fabiovivianiThank you so much for the review @makeitbetterNS!! So glad you enjoyed @SienaTavern :-)

8 j U N E 2 0 1 3 makeitbetter.net

TruE cOnFEssiOns TuEsday! Do you think you, the spouse or the kids spend too much time with a digital device? Who’s addicted to

technology?

“Definitely me.” —Inna Feldman-Gerber

“My husband and my son! If you don’t limit the time spent on it you will get nothing else accomplished.” —Tammy Fones-Smock

“Every single person I know, including myself. And it worries me. I keep thinking about the comedy sketch I saw that had eight individuals sitting at a conference table, speaking to each other via text. It’s funny, yet prophetic.” —Pamela Thatsme

“Who ISN’T addicted to technology?” —Greenfield Cabinetry

Watch for our July issue for tips to “unplug” and enjoy a tech-free summer (for a few days, anyway!).

lasT mOnTh’s mOsT TalkEd abOuT arTiclEs:Daytripper: Lincoln SquareLaura Hine explored the cute, compact Lincoln Square area and shared her favorite places to spend an afternoon.

“You covered some highlights, not sure I would say ‘all.’ What about Timeless Toys and the gelato shop? There’s the cute boutique with no name, several interest-ing gift shops, three charming ethnic restaurants, and Huettenbar, where they remove the front wall when the weather is nice. I could go on....” —Deborah Beien

“All of my favorite places! Hope everyone enjoys it as much as we have.” —Liz Costello-Kruzich

Protecting Your Grown Child During a Medical CrisisLisa Zimbler shared great information about power of attorney that all parents of college-aged children should consider when packing the suitcases this fall. Read more on page 33.

“Very important information, thank you for getting the word out there!” —Hope Wasserman Weis

“Great information. Perhaps colleges should include this in their orientation of new students. I will forward this article to my grandchildren and their parents.” —Claudette Forss

Treasure Hunting at Chicago Home Storesjenny Muslin gave us a look inside some of the best Chicago stores for gathering home inspiration or doing some serious shopping.

“jenny, your article is great! Can’t wait to check out these stores! Thanks for the great ideas!” —Brooke Hoffman

“Great article jen, you know how I love home stores! How about an article on the best little boys clothes stores?” —Denise Michaels

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founde r’s let te r

Welcome to our “men We love” issue.

We hope that you enjoy reading about the men fea-tured as much as we enjoyed getting to know them. This eclectic group—musician, author and lawyer, general and poet, educator, money managers—are united by one outstanding trait. They use their gifts and expertise to do their best by others as they achieve success for themselves, too.

Their lives remind us of our mission. As you may already know, the mission of Make It Better is to be a most trusted, easiest to use community resource and magazine that helps you make your life and the lives of others better—online, in print and in person. We take this mission so seriously that we count the number of people who report that our work has helped them. This could result from something we wrote, a success-ful ad, or from a community development partnership or media sponsorship that helped amplify good works by others.

We track this on a spreadsheet, which we call our “Lives Made Better” log. As of this printing, we know that we have helped 93,990 people.

Rock musician Ben Harper, featured on our cover and in the photo at left with me, is one of them. When I ex-plained how he and others can and should use this story to help spread the word about LIFT, with the goal of getting the good word all the way to the White House, he grinned and gave me this giant bear hug.

If our work helps you too, because you learned some-thing useful or were inspired to make a needed change or help others, please send me an email. We would love to include you on this ever-expanding list!

Thank you,

[email protected]

lives made better93,990

including Ben!

counting lives made betterb y S u S a n b . n o y e S

In the green room at Park West

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586 Lincoln AvenueWinnetka, IL, 60093 | 847-256-4642

Founder & Editorial Director Susan B. Noyes Senior Editor Kelly Konrad

Art Director Sarah Philippart Dining Editor Julie Chernoff Fashion Editor Evangeline Politis Finance Editor Meghan Streit Fitness Editor Christy Coughlin Home Editor Tate Gunnerson Make a Difference Editor Laura Tiebert Senior Living Editor Stuart Greenblatt Sex & the Suburbs Editor Marjie Killeen Contributing Writers Jody Buck Andrea Guthmann Val Haller Laura Hine Jenny Muslin Kristina Tober Lead Photographer Nathaniel Perry Contributing photographers Britt Anderson Tate Gunnerson Web Editor Lindsay Roseman Proofreader Julie Chernoff Creative Director Cheryl Berman

CEO & Publisher Kimberly Carroll Co-Founder & Vice President of Marketing Mindy Fauntleroy Chief Financial Officer Sandy Tsuchida

Ad Sales Director Michelle Weiss

Director of Community Development Sandra A. Miller Senior Account Executives Patti Augustyn Megan Holbrook Julie Carter Account Executive Jenny Newman

Make It Better Foundation Sharon Krone

Got feedback? E-mail [email protected]

to advertise: Contact [email protected]

Make It Better North Shore (ISSN No. 2151-0431) is published 12 times per year by Make It Better LLC, 1150 Wilmette Ave., Suite J, Wilmette, IL 60091-2642. Phone: 847.256.4642. Copyright 2013 by Make It Better LLC. All rights reserved. Application to Mail at Periodicals Rates is pending at Wilmette, IL and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Make It Better, 1150 Wilmette Ave, Suite J, Wilmette, IL 60091-2642. Make It Better is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Copyright 2013 by Make It Better LLC. All rights reserved.

Carrying forward the best of

magazine

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ONLINE

O U R B E T T E R H A L F I S O N L I N E

email newsletterWe update content on makeitbet-ter.net daily and highlight the best articles, tips and things to do in our biweekly Better Letter emails.

Sign up today at MAKEITBETTER.NET/

BETTER-LETTER

iPad editionIf you have an iPad, you’ll want to down-load our Make It Better app, which gets you each month’s magazine for free!

Download the free iPad app today MAKEITBETTER.NET/IPAD

download our iPad edition to winDownload our June iPad edition (for free!) and enter for a chance to win a $100 Lettuce Entertain You gift card, which can be redeemed at any of their many participat-ing restaurants. MAKEITBETTER.NET/IPAD

pinspirationOur followers can’t get enough of these pins. Follow Make It Better on Pinterest to repin your faves and read more.

PINTEREST.COM/MAKEITBETTERMAG

what’s hot on makeitbetter.netBEAUTIFUL HOME Treasure Hunting at Chicago Home Stores

RECIPES Sautéed Shrimp with Fresh Mango Salsa

FASHION & BEAUTY 5 Fashion Tips to Always Be In Style

FAMILY LIFE Protecting Your Grown Child During a Medical Crisis

Ditch the matching furniture sets, and blend both modern and vintage pieces for a unique look.

Restaurant remake: Noodles & Company Pesto Cavatappi. This recipe is SUPER easy and delish.

SO obsessed with these J. Crew shorts for summer.

must-read op-edsLaura Tiebert: Do You Have an Underwater Mortgage? Let GoRead how one North Shore family let go of their dream home, went from being homeowners to renters, and changed their lives for the better. bit.ly/188AjRY

Katie Gronendyke: For the Love of a Family: Why You Should Consider Foster CareIt might be a life-changing commitment, but becoming a foster parent could pro-vide a child with the stable, loving home they need to succeed. bit.ly/155j3y4

OP-ED

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vote win

we want to know your favorites!What are your favorite places and spaces? Get online and vote—the more categories you vote in, the more prizes you’ll have an opportunity to win!

vote now: makeitbetter.net/bestof2013

health & beauty

home & design

fashion

shopping

food

pets

services

just for kids

tech mamma

arts & entertainment

fitness & recreation

local sites

Gift Cards, Goodies, Fitness Classes, Delicious Dinners & More!

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Get GorGeous at Cos BarThis Aspen-based luxury cosmetics and skin-care boutique comes to Highland Park on the heels of the closing of Saks Fifth Avenue. The store will offer high-end brands, such as Laura Mercier, Tom Ford, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Dior and many more. Known for their super smart, professional staff and standout customer service, Cos Bar is sure to be the premiere destination to pick up your favorite products and fragrances. COS BAR: 655 Central Ave., Highland Park, 847-432-6249, cosbar.com—LR

erwin @ aromaFoodies all over Chicago were saddened by last summer’s closing of seasonally driven restaurant erwin. But Chicago’s loss is the north Shore’s gain, because Chef erwin Drechsler has taken over dinner service at Café Aroma in downtown Winnetka. Owner Mitra Ryndak is thrilled to welcome erwin and his crew to her delightful storefront, long a favored stop for breakfast, pastries, soups and sal-ads. erwin @ Aroma will feature many delicious options, like Green Garlic Soup, Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Prosciutto, Bar Harbor Mussels with Shrimp and Chorizo, and Vesuvio Chicken Thighs. Dinner will be served Tuesday thru Sat-urday; reservations will be accepted. eRwin @ AROmA: 749 Elm St., Winnetka, 847-881-2601, cafearomawinnetka.com —JC

family travel Done riGhtWant to show your kids the world? Book a luxurious, yet family-friendly trip with Awe-some Odysseys, a new local travel agency that specializes in family vacations. each season, Winnetka’s Liz and Mike Kohler offer trips to destinations that kids have learned about in school or the movies (this summer is england, France and Italy). They do all the research and activity planning for you, while you explore and enjoy the culture. join other families on the trip for activities like biking, canoeing, visiting mu-seums and chocolate factories, or organize your day on your own. Bon voyage! Awe-SOme ODYSSeYS: PO Box 8116, Northfield, 888-834-8675, awesomeodysseys.com—LR

Bat 17 renovationLong an evanston favorite, downtown deli Bat 17 has more than doubled its size with a recent expansion. It’s the place to be to watch televised northwestern sports, play pool, or to wrap your mouth around one of their enormous sandwiches, always made with world-class bread from Bennison’s Bakery. So pull up a seat at their new 35-seat bar, order a craft beer from their extensive menu, and split a “Bodacious” (roasted turkey breast, Swiss cheese, cole slaw and Russian dressing on grilled rye bread) with a friend. It’s the only way to finish one of those babies! BAt 17: 1709 Benson Ave., Evanston, 847-733-7117, bat17evanston.com—JC

b y j u l i e c h e r n o f f a n D l i n D s a y r o s e m a n

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Chicago Blues Festival June 6–9 | Grant Park and Millennium Park, Chicago | cityofchicago.org

If your bucket list includes attending the world’s largest free blues festival (and it should!), then it’s your lucky month. Head downtown to catch the best of the best as they put their heart and soul into each and every performance.

Printers Row Lit FestJune 8–9 | Dearborn St., ChicagoThe Lit Fest is here! The Lit Fest

is here! It’s Christmas for book-lovers at this five-block-long festival that celebrates the written word. Don’t miss bestselling authors, great kids activities and more, all weekend long.

TBS Just for Laughs FestivalJune 11–16 | Various locations justforlaughschicago.com

If comedy is your vice, this week-long festival is sure to deliver. Catch top flight entertainment from the biggest names in the business.

27th Annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games June 14–15 | Hamilton Lakes, Itasca

chicagoscots.comIt’s like walking onto the set of Pixar’s “Brave”—except there’s more. From ham-mer throwing to haggis hurling, this fest is all about the fun. Don’t forget your kilt!

Wagner Farm Dairy BreakfastJune 15 | 1510 Wagner Rd., Glenview wagnerfarm.org

Kick off summer with an old-fashioned breakfast on the farm—complete with dairy demonstrations, wagon rides, live music and really, really good food.

Custer’s Last StandJune 15–16 | Main St. and Chicago Ave., Evanston | custerfair.com

The summer’s outdoor arts festival season kicks into high gear this month, and this evanston fest never fails to entertain. Family-friendly, great entertainment and a wide variety of arts and crafts make for the perfect summer stroll.

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67th Annual Winnetka Children’s FairJune 7–8 | Village Green,

Winnetka | winnetkachildrensfair.comA perennial north Shore favorite for families, this festival carries a lot of memories for the grandparents and parents now taking their little ones for carnival rides, games and summer fun.

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SausageFest ChicagoJune 15–16 | Sheffield and Addison Sts., Chicago | chicagoevents.com

It’s the second year for this raucous meat fest, featuring some of the best links in the city—try one or try them all, just get ready to eat.

Father’s Day at Arlington ParkJune 16 | 2200 Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights | arlingtonpark.com

Father’s Day is for everyone at Arlington this June—complete with activities from Shedd Aquarium and LEGOLAND Discov-ery Center, and free pony rides that will have your kids testing their jockey skills.

Barrington Country Garden & Antique FaireJune 21–22 | 800 Hart Rd., Barrington

handsofhopeonline.org/faire.aspOne of Barrington’s signature summer events and well worth the visit—grab a girlfriend and enjoy the French Market and Avant Garden, and get inspired with the latest in outdoor entertaining designs.

Chicago Craft Beer Festival June 21–23 | 1633 N. Cleveland St., Chicago | chicagoevents.com

Held at beautiful St. Michael in Old Town, this is THE place for lovers of the micro-brew. Festivalgoers will enjoy great live entertainment and can taste special brews native to the Midwest, as well as national brands.

Long Grove Strawberry FestJune 21–23 | Downtown Long Grove visitlonggrove.com

Sweet, sweet strawberries—June is harvest time for one of nature’s best treats, and Long Grove celebrates the season with all things fruity. From chocolate covered to frozen drinks, you can have your straw-berry just about any way you like.

The Art Center’s Festival of Fine CraftJune 22–23 | Highland Park

amdurproductions.comHead to Highland Park this weekend, where more than 100 artisans will fill the streets with fantastic art—and with the city’s lineup of great restaurants and shop-ping, you’ll be kept busy.

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ongoingAnimals Inside Out Museum of Science and Industry | 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | msichicago.org

Fashion and the Field Museum: Maria PintoField Museum | 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | fieldmuseum.org

Shedd Aquarium: Jellies1200 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago sheddaquarium.org

Welcome to the UniverseAdler Planetarium | 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | adlerplanetarium.org

Dinosaurs AliveBrookfield Zoo | 1st Ave. and 31st St., Brook-field | brookfieldzoo.org

Creatures of Light: Nature’s BioluminescenceField Museum | 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago | fieldmuseum.org

week of june 1–7Play, Pretend and Dream: Caldecott Medal and Honor Books, 2010 – 2013Opens June 1The Art Institute of Chicago | 11 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago | artic.edu

World Environment DayJune 1Chicago Botanic Garden | 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe | chicagobotanic.org

WoofstockJune 2Pooch Park | 3220 Oakton St., Skokie skokieparks.org

Dave Specter’s Adventures in Guitar with Donald KinseyJune 5SPACE | 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston evanstonspace.com

week of june 8–15Promenade of ArtJune 8–9Downtown Arlington Heights amdurprodcutions.com

Sex and the Suburbs: Sizzling CouplesJune 13Wilmette Theatre | 1122 Central Ave., Wilmette | wilmettetheatre.com

Dearborn Observatory StargazingJune 142131 Tech Dr., Evanston planitpurple.northwestern.edu

week of june 16–22Malott Japanese Garden Family SundaysJune 16Chicago Botanic Garden | 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe | chicagobotanic.org

Golden Dragon Acrobats from ChinaJune 17Ravinia Festival | Highland Park amdurproductions.com

june highlightsB y K e l l y K o n r a d

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s p o n s o r e d l i s t i n g s

North Shore Youth Football Now Open for RegistrationSaturday, May 25Registration: bit.ly/nsyfootball | General: nsyfootball.org | 773-550-2729the north shore Youth Football Club offers the premier competitive football experience for youth athletes on the north shore. We are in our 9th season of competition, hosting visitors at new trier and loyola High school fields.

Music Institute of Chicago Summer SessionWednesday, June 12Evanston, Winnetka, Lake Forest | 847-905-1500 | musicinst.org/summerthis summer, join the Music institute of Chicago for lessons, classes, sum-mer camps, festivals, performances and more!

I Can Laugh About It NowJune 21Metropolis Performing Arts Centre 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights metropolisarts.com

week of june 23–30Darius RuckerJune 28Ravinia Festival | Highland Park | ravinia.org

Family Beach CampoutJune 28–29Glencoe Beach, Glencoe glencoeparkdistrict.com

Gold Coast Art Fair at Grant ParkJune 29–30Grant Park, Chicago | amdurproductions.com

Evanston Garden WalkJune 30Various locations | evanstonenvironment.org

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2 0 J U N E 2 0 1 3 makeitbetter.net

M A KE A DIFFERENCE COLUMN

HOW MUCH OF YOUR family narrative centers on the silly—the mistakes, imperfections and ability to rise above hard times? According to a growing body of research, the answer to that question is likely to contribute to your children’s resilience and success as adults.

More experts than ever believe that silliness, recognition of imperfection and unconditional love are far more important to developing a healthy adult psyche than accomplishments.

This is great news! I’ve been a most imperfect mother. And our family’s fail-ures are discussed and giggled about at the dinner table as much as the success-es. My favorite Noyes’ family tradition is our birthday dinner roasts—we tell embarrasing stories about the celebrant.

According to Dr. Marshall Duke, an Emory University psychologist spe-cializing in family relationships, there are three types of family narratives:

• Ascending (Our forebears came to this country with nothing and every generation has been more successful than the last.)

• Descending (Back in the day we had it all, but we lost it and have no hope of recovery.)

• Oscillating (We stick together through good times and bad, but we stayed strong as a family and recovered.)

The oscillating family narratives are the healthiest. They embed the psy-chology of resilience and unconditional love in children.

Recently, New York Times columnist and family life expert Bruce Feiler stat-ed, “The bottom line: if you want a hap-pier family, create, refi ne and retell the story of your family’s positive moments

and your ability to bounce back from the diffi cult ones. That act alone may increase the odds that your family will thrive for many generations to come.”

Duke takes this concept even fur-ther, and recommends silly family traditions. In that spirit, my family tells embarrassing stories about the celebrant at our birthday dinners. We are sure to be reminded of the dumb-est thing we did that year—with great affection.

Renowned Harvard University psy-chologist Dr. Howard Gardner says, “Two of the most common traits of highly successful adults are good sib-ling relationships and growing up in a home with regular family dinners.” Siblings who laugh, dine and grow up in homes where they receive uncondi-tional love are the most likely to grow up to become adults who thrive.

Please share your silliest family traditions with us. They might inspire others to have more fun with their kids, too! Email [email protected]

be silly, be imperfect, raise great kids

B Y S U S A N B . N O Y E SB Y S U S A N B . N O Y E S

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b y j u l i e c h e r n o f f , s u s a n b . n o y e s & l i n d s a y r o s e m a n

June is the time of year when most of us think about the important men in our lives—thanks to Father’s Day and the arrival of the outdoor grilling season. In honor of this, we found fabulous fellows worthy of celebration by our entire community. These smart-with-heart men leverage their talents to make a difference both here and across the country.

We are pleased to introduce you to these men we love.

major general john BorlingOne of the most deco-rated fighter pilots and military leaders in our nation’s history—also a Vietnam prisoner of war and a published poet.

Ben harperA two-time Grammy Award winner dedicated to inspiring change, especially through his work to combat poverty.

Scott turowA best-selling author and ciil rights advocate who combines his pas-sion for writing with his law knowledge to create brilliant thrillers.

ron levin & Ben KovlerInvest For Kids co-founders raise money and amplify most effective nonprofits for children in Chicago sim-ply by doing what they do best—their jobs.

Burgwell howardnorthwestern univer-sity’s Dean of Student engagement and an avid, committed com-munity volunteer.

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Major General john borlinG, uSaF Ret., of Rockford, admits to more failure than most highly accomplished men. And that makes him all the more inspiring … and endearing.

His response to those failures, embodied in his motto “to quit is to die,” has led Borling to an extraordinary life. His accom-plishments include surviving 6 ½ years of extreme deprivation as a P.O.W. in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton,” becoming one of the most decorated fighter pilots in our nation’s history, creating and leading a northern Europe NATO post, and, most recently, pub-lishing an acclaimed book of poetry.

Talk about the power of a positive attitude! Borling’s drive, de-termination and leadership are impressive, but he combines those traits with a poet’s heart, and that makes him truly special in our eyes. Despite being shot down, badly wounded, stripped naked and imprisoned, Borling spent his confinement trying to lift the spirits of the other prisoners by doing the forbidden—communi-cating with them. Each night, he tapped his poetry, in secret code, on the walls.

Many of those poems are included in “Taps On The Walls: Po-ems from the Hanoi Hilton,” (Master Wings Publishing, 2013). The book was published earlier this year to celebrate the 40th an-niversary of the Hanoi Hilton prisoners’ release. Borling’s hope is that “the messages of personal, community, state and nation re-newal will continue to resonate.”

Borling’s description of a life overcoming personal failures also inspires belief in renewal. He failed to get into the Naval, Army or Air Force academies when he graduated from high school, but persevered, attending college at Navy Pier until the Air Force Academy finally admitted him. Borling came perilously close to “washing out” of flight school—he just couldn’t solo. But he over-came those fears, too, and graduated at the top of his class.

“I wanted to be a Thunderbird and an astronaut; time in pris-on put both out of reach,” he explains. “But this did not deter my ability to get back and compete with peers.” Borling went on to earn more medals than any of those peers and lead commands around the world.

Service and flying are great loves. But Borling’s wife of 33 years, Myrna, is his greatest love of all. She is also his muse—Borling started writing poetry for Myrna. As you can infer from reading “Taps On The Wall,” Myrna has inspired his determination not to quit—poetry or life—ever since.

—SBN

majorgeneraljohnborling

To watch video of Borling reciting one of his poems, download our iPad app through the app store or at makeitbetter.net/ipad

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Not EvEN a towEriNg april storm front could stop two-time Grammy winner Ben Harper from coming to town.

As a board member and long-time supporter of LIFT, a nonprof-it organization that helps community members achieve economic stability, Harper was going to do whatever it took to make their annual benefit concert in Lincoln Park. Fresh off a performance at the White House, he caught a flight to Milwaukee with his mom, band and crew members, and road tripped to Chicago.

Harper first joined forces with LIFT 10 years ago, when he had been looking to start up a similar organization himself. “Then I met Kirsten (Lodal, CEO and Co-Founder of LIFT), and it was all over,” he says. “We just knew immediately that there was work to do in an interconnected way between us, and I signed right on.”

LIFT provides comprehensive services to help bring low-income individuals and families out of poverty. Through résumé work-shops, mock interviews, and one-on-one sessions with college vol-unteers, LIFT arms people with the tools they need to secure hous-ing and land jobs.

Between world tours and recording sessions, Harper has made his work with LIFT a priority. He’s offered his support through fundraising concerts and visits to local chapters, and by raising awareness of the organization to people in positions of power.

Coming from a family in need, Harper has a personal connec-tion to the cause and insists that giving back should be a require-ment for everyone. “Not that you can teach philanthropy or teach giving, but you can certainly teach the principles of generosity.”

Harper’s passion for helping others often works its way into his mu-sic, seeing as he draws inspiration from social justice. “A song like ‘With My Own Two Hands’ feels so different playing it tonight than in front of a paying crowd,” he says. “Not only am I singing it, but I’m doing it, and that’s what it was written for. I get chills talking about it.”

Music has always been central to Harper’s life. Growing up with his mother, also a musician, and spending time at his grandparents’ music store, Folk Music Center Store & Museum in California, he knew he’d found his calling early on.

Eleven studio albums later, his music has resonated with millions of people around the world. But he counts his work with LIFT as one of his biggest accomplishments.

“You can give for your appreciation, you can give because you have to, you can give because you know it’s the right thing to do, whatever reason I don’t care,” he says. “Just do it; step up. Find a way to give back in any way you can.”

—LR

For more information on LIFT, see our Founder Susan Noyes’ article “LIFTing Struggling Families, Student Volunteers and Perhaps Eventually Society” at makeitbetter.net/make-a-difference

benharper

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To describe evansTon’s scoTT Turow as a best-selling author would be a vast understatement.

He has been a fearless advocate for civil rights since he was a teen, a prosecuting or defense litiga-tor for decades, and a multi-term leader of a national organization helping authors and independent book stores. Most recently, he was inducted into the New Trier High School Hall of Honor.

Currently, Turow’s most important roles are those of proud father to Rachel, Gabe and Eve; doting grandpa to Rachel’s son, Jonah; and President of the Writer’s Guild, the largest society of book authors in America. He recently returned from a visit to our nation’s capital, where he found time to visit with Jo-nah while lobbying Congress on behalf of the Guild, fighting for authors in a battle over domain name rights with web giants Amazon and Google.

“No one will ever hold a tag sale for me or other best-selling authors; we will survive,” Turow says. “The Guild is fighting for newer or less successful au-thors and the independent bookstores that promote them. We’re also working to stop online book piracy and to get e-book royalties on par with those paid on physical books.”

He has long championed fairness and inclusion. While a student at New Trier, Turow served as youth head of the Evanston Urban League and sat on the NAACP’s Junior Board. “I’ve always believed in the capacity of America to change,” he says. “In high

school, I marched in Evanston to protest that black people couldn’t rent an apartment there. Now we have a black President.”

He’s a strong believer in the power of education, too. His path took him to Amherst College as an under-grad, then to Stanford’s creative writing program. He famously attended Harvard Law School, and became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in high-profile corruption cases before publishing “Presumed Innocent,” the first of his blockbuster legal thrillers, in 1987.

He tells young adults to “use your education to figure out what you believe in and try to live your life by those lights … I blundered around in my 20s. Five years at Stanford trying to be a writer, then law school, which was not an accepted move [at the time]. But it was right for me.”

Turow was able to combine his writing skills with his law knowledge to create highly engrossing novels. And he’s still writing. His next novel will be released in October. “Chicagoans will recognize echoes of the Valerie Percy murder; it also draws on the Castor and Pollux myths. It’s about identical twins in Kindle County, one running for mayor at the same time the other is being released from serving 25 years in prison for murder,” he says.

Sounds like the perfect fall book, but maybe not bedtime reading for his beloved grandson ... at least for a few more years!

—SBN

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“CREATING AND MEASURING IMPACT IS the name of the game,” says 34-year-old philanthropist Ben Kovler as he describes Invest For Kids (IFK), Chicago’s Investable Ideas Conference. Kovler founded IFK with Ron Levin fi ve years ago. Creating and measuring IFK’s impact—social, fi nan-cial and professional—is a labor of love for both men.

Kovler, who lives in Lakeview with wife Amy and two young children, is a University of Chicago Booth School of Business graduate. He is an investment manager for both the Kovler family businesses and their private foundation. Kovler speaks almost as passionately about IFK as he does about his own family. Levin, 54, who resides in Highland Park with his wife Fifi and two daughters, is a Harvard Business School graduate and Managing Director of Goldman Sachs.

The IFK concept is simple and smart, like most successful venture philanthropy. Leading money managers, including some who otherwise do not share their insights publicly, give their best advice to an eager audience at the annual confer-ence. Because Kovlar and Levin underwrite the conference expenses, 100 percent of the ticket proceeds (at $1,000 a pop) and sponsorship donations are given to thoughtfully selected charities benefi ting under-resourced children in Chicago.

Kovler and Levin choose small to mid-sized nonprofi ts with strong leaders, active boards and data demonstrating

effective use of donations. They intend for these six-fi gure gifts—usually between $100,000 and $200,000—to substan-tially accelerate each nonprofi t’s growth. To date, IFK has awarded these impact grants to 26 charities. In honor of the Conference’s 5th Anniversary this October, Kovler and Levin anticipate substantially growing that number this year.

IFK also measures the impact of its investment advice content. “Our speakers are best in class,” Levin says. “In ag-gregate, the investment ideas presented at the last four con-ferences have dramatically outperformed the broad market indices.” This means that money invested in equities recom-mended by IFK speakers over the last four years would have grown substantially more than the same amount invested in more generic portfolios.

The social impact of IFK should not be underestimated. “This has become a do-not-miss conference for the Chicago investment community,” Kovler says with a smile. “People come looking for the content and camaraderie. They leave feeling great about what they supported.”

—SBN

RONLEVIN&BENKOVLER

Learn more about IFK at investforkidschicago.org

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BURGWELL HOWARDBURGWELL HOWARD, OR BURGIE, as he is better known, has a lot of kids—about 8,000 of them. But that’s what happens when you’re in charge of student engagement at Northwestern University. That, and you wear an awful lot of purple.

Howard and his wife Jennifer Richeson, NU Psychology Professor and holder of the MacArthur-endowed chair in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, have lived in Evanston since 2005. They met in Hanover, NH when he was visiting college friends. Richeson was an assistant professor at Dartmouth, and he was assistant Dean of Students at Bowdoin. So they know about long-distance relationships. Moving here, Howard laughs, was “a chance for us to be in the same ZIP code, working at the same school for once.”

Now, happily ensconced in a lovely home with their frisky yellow Lab, Achilles, Howard shares his philoso-phy about being an integral part of the community you live in. “NU is all consuming, but a big part of my job is getting students to engage in their community as best they can. It’s easy for university folks to simply pay rent in a community, particularly if you don’t have kids in the school system. It’s easy to be in your disconnected little world. But it’s harder to hide in a small commu-nity. Taking part in it is important.”

Howard follows his own advice. He serves actively on the board of the Evanston Community Foundation, and in his spare time, he volunteer-referees youth la-crosse games throughout the North Shore. You might catch him at Evanston Township, New Trier, Lake Forest or Loyola high school lacrosse games, running down the fi eld with the action.

For the students of NU, learning happens in the classroom, but also outside of it. “NU students have a strong sense of social justice, which plays well in this community. They are active in social services, donating their time, doing internships. They have an economic impact. They need to participate, and we encourage it.”

So you can see why we love Burgie. He helps his stu-dents and his community by bringing them together, creating opportunities for both to succeed and prosper. He might bleed green—he is a Dartmouth graduate, after all—but now, Burgie Howard is truly devoted to the color purple.

—JC

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fa mily

you might worry about your teenager drink-ing alcohol or smoking pot, but statistics show, you also need to worry about the misuse of prescription drugs. In the University of Michigan’s 2011 longitu-dinal study, “Monitoring the Future,” they found 15 percent of teens misused prescription drugs, with Vi-codin and Adderall the two most commonly abused.

Easy accEss to mEds

Dawn Smith found out the hard way that not only is Vicodin attractive to teens, it’s easy for them to get. Her 16-year-old son refilled his father’s prescription for Vicodin simply by using the prescription number and calling in a refill. He picked it up without any questions from the pharmacist.

Mike Patton, Executive Director of the Illinois Pharmacists Association, notes that under current law, Vicodin, which is made from hydrocodone, is a Class III drug, and is subject to far fewer restric-tions than a Class II prescription, like Oxycodone or Ritalin. An ID check is not required, and there are no age restrictions. This classification may be chang-ing soon, as an FDA panel on drug safety voted in January to reclassify hydrocodone drugs as Class II. However, the FDA has not made a final decision, so the drug is still widely available.

According to Smith, it’s so easy to refill a pre-scription that kids are using their cell phones to take photos of prescription drug labels while at friends’ houses. No pills are taken, so parents don’t suspect anything, and then the teen uses the prescription number to call in a refill.

dangErous for tEEn brains

“It’s probably the most abused of the CIIIs,” says Sanford Foreman, pharmacy manager at North-Shore University HealthSystem, talking about Vico-din. He explains that if you’re not in pain, but you

take a drug like Vicodin, then the drug works on the brain instead of the pain and you feel high.

And for an adolescent brain that’s still develop-ing, that is big trouble, says Dr. Laura Parise, who is an expert in addiction psychiatry. “Drugs change the way your brain functions. It makes it harder to feel good without them,” she says. And she notes that drug use often runs in families for two reasons. First, if it’s in the house, then it’s accessible. Second, there’s a strong genetic component to addiction.

PrEvEnting PrEscriPtion drug abusE

So what’s a parent to do? All the experts inter-viewed for this article agree that prescription drug abuse flies under the radar for many parents. There are no bloodshot eyes, no water bottles filled with vodka and many teens are moody one minute and euphoric the next without any substance use.

The first step? Look at your own prescription drug use. According to the Partnership at Drugfree.org, 28 percent of parents have taken a prescription drug that wasn’t prescribed for them. This sends a message to kids that it’s fine to use prescription drugs for reasons other than the original condition.

Next, keep your drugs locked and out of sight. Parents should be as vigilant about their prescrip-tions as they are about alcohol if they have teens around.

Finally, don’t feel like it’s dorky to ask your kids about what they know. It’s not an easy topic to bring up, but you can be sure your teen won’t raise the sub-ject, so it’s up to you.

Smith’s son entered an inpatient program and she didn’t see him for six months. When she talks about missing her son, you can hear the sadness. “I could hide this and pretend it didn’t happen,” Smith says. “But I feel a moral obligation to get this [issue] out there and not wait for someone to die.”

A growing problem

B y L A u r A H i n e

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fa mily

tips to make the most of college visits b y J o d y b u c k

1. Take NoTes & PicTures

If you and your child are visiting several schools, it can be easy to forget what he or she liked and didn’t like, and which school had the small dorm rooms or particularly tasty food. En-courage your child to take notes on these types of observations and their overall feelings about the school. And while you’re on the tour, take pictures to help jog your student’s memory when it’s decision time.

2. ask for sToriesTour guides can dish out tons of facts, but if they can’t share a

story with you about how they used the college’s writing center or how the career center supported them in finding an intern-ship, chances are these things don’t actually happen. Anecdotes also help students visualize themselves at the school in a way that statistics don’t.

College visit season is picking up, and families are venturing to college campuses across the country to decide which school will be “the one.”

Sounds romantic, right? It’s not as glamorous as it seems—especially when you’re on school number five, and it’s starting to rain.

We asked students and parents for their best tips to make college visits worth your while. If you do a visit right, there’s much more to be gained than frequent flyer miles and a stack of admissions brochures.

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3. Look for ConstruCtion

This one might seem counterintuitive, as building con-struction is often an eyesore, but new facilities means that the school is flourishing and investing in its students.

4. Eat in thE Dining haLL

The cafeteria is a great chance to observe the student body. Do the students seem friendly and welcoming? Are they chatting happily with their friends or complain-ing about their classes? The dining hall can offer candid insight into what the students are like and whether your child thinks he or she would fit in.

5. rEaD thE PaPErPick up a copy of the student newspaper while you’re on

the tour, and be sure to read through it on the way home. The paper can give you an inside look at the hot topics on campus, what events are going on and how much school spirit there is.

6. ExPLorEAfter the tour, take some time to wander around cam-

pus and explore the buildings and facilities. A less formal view of campus can give your child a better idea of the campus vibe. This is also a chance to explore areas of the school that aren’t on the general tour.

7. hit thE townKeep in mind that this could be your child’s home for

the next four years, so it’s important to see what the sur-rounding area is like, and if your student could see them-self not just at the school, but in the town as well.

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Matthew Pietrafetta, PhD

Matthew Pietrafetta is the Founder of Academic Approach, a test preparation company with offi ces in Chicago and on the North Shore. Matthew founded Academic

Approach in 2001 to introduce a highly custom-ized model of test preparation with a strong emphasis on high student achievement and mean-ingful academic enrichment. Matthew holds MA, MPhil, and PhD degrees in English from Columbia University in NewYork City.

Contact [email protected] or visit academicapproach.com

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD THROUGH THE standard-ized testing process can raise some age-old anxieties. Am I starting too early and overwhelming her? Am I starting too late and neglecting him? What is Mrs. So-and-So doing for her child and Mr. Such-and-Such for his?

Although these feelings intensify as SAT and ACT testing approach, they are by no means new. From potty training to summer camps to course se-lection, it’s always been the same concern: Am I do-ing the best thing for my child?

With summer at hand, parents of sophomores and juniors are asking, “What is the best thing for my child when it comes to test preparation?”

HERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES TO PLAN FOR THE SUMMER:

• Identify your child’s needs. First determine what your child needs. Is it her reading? Is it that gap in his geometry skills? A good test-prep solution helps you answer these questions with in-depth diagnos-tic test analysis.

getting the most out of test prepB Y M A T T H E W P I E T R A F E T T A , P H D

• Find the right fi t. Some students prefer working alone with an off-the-shelf book; some learn better in a classroom environment; and others learn best through one-on-one instruction. One size does not fi t all.

• Insist on quality teaching. Be sure that your test-prep solution offers a strong curriculum taught by experts. A few notes on a loose-leaf sheet of paper will not do.

• Maximize the learning. When a student struggles in reading, math or grammar on a standardized test, they may also struggle with that subject in school. A good test-prep solution goes beyond test-taking strat-egy to cultivate academic skills necessary for success both on the test and in the classroom.

OH, AND ONE MORE, PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT—

• Make the process educational. As a family, you can learn meaningful lessons through good test prepara-tion, gaining a deeper understanding of your child’s educational needs. What does he like or dislike? Where does she struggle or excel? And what does this child need to succeed during the years of educa-tion that lie ahead? With the best approach, you can do the best thing for your child—and even enjoy the process!

SPONSORE D CON TEN T

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Protecting Your Grown Child

During a Medical Emergency

B Y L I S A Z I M B L E R

Highland Park mom Sheri Warsh still vividly recalls the

frantic 5 a.m. phone call she received from her son’s col-

lege roommate in October 2011.

Joey, 18 and a freshman at the University of Michigan,

was being transported by ambulance to an area hospital

with severe chest pains.

“My son was petrifi ed, in a lot of pain and wasn’t able to

relay to me what was happening,” Warsh says. “It was an

absolute nightmare.”

As scary as that already was, what happened next was

the biggest shock of all. When Warsh fi nally got through

to nurses in the ER, they told her that the hospital could

not release any information about her son or the treat-

ments he was receiving.

“When I called the ER, they said, ‘I’m sorry, but do you

have a power of attorney?’” Warsh says.

Even though Warsh herself is a practicing attorney

who specializes in family estate planning, she and her

husband didn’t realize they needed a medical power of

attorney for their son.

CONTINUE READING AT MAKEITBETTER.NET/FAMILY

WANT MORE GREAT FAMILY CONTENT? FIND THESE ARTICLES ON OUR WEBSITE:

MAKEITBETTER.NET/FAMILY

Girls and Science: Toys Encourage Future Careers

Managing Your Parents’ Health & Happiness Long Distance

Should You Find Out Your Child’s Myers-Briggs Type?

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“MOST PEOPLE ASSUME THAT THE

fi rst symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is memory loss,” says Melanie Chavin, MS, Vice President, Program Services, Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter. “While issues with recent memory can be an early sign, other signs may come fi rst, such as challenges in problem-solving or diffi culty completing familiar tasks. The person’s memory may appear to be fi ne, but they may get lost when driving or walking to a familiar location.

“People with younger-onset dementia (dementia diagnosed before the age of 65) often notice changes at work, such as missing appointments, being unable to complete reports cor-rectly, or fi nding it diffi cult to use computers or technology,” Chavin explained. “Their main concern may be diffi culty in organizing their thoughts.”

According to the Association, detecting the disease and receiving a

diagnosis gives affected people more time to plan their remaining years and the greatest opportunity to benefi t from available treatments.

EARLY DETECTION MATTERS

The Association offers the follow-ing 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s:

• Memory changes that disrupt daily life

• Challenges in planning or solving problems

• Diffi culty completing familiar tasks

• Confusion with time or place• Trouble understanding visual im-

ages and spatial relationships• New problems with words in

speaking or writing• Misplacing things and losing the

ability to retrace his or her steps• Poor judgment• Withdrawal from work or social

activities• Change in mood and personality

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

CHICAGO-AREA WALKS:North Shore Walk to End Alzheimer’s Gallery Park, Glenview, Saturday, Sept. 21

Chicago Walk to End Alzheimer’s Montrose Harbor, Sunday, Sept. 29

Lake County Walk to End Alzheimer’s Independence Grove in Libertyville, Saturday, Oct. 5

By participating in this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, you will help the Alzheimer’s Association continue to deliver important education programs, such as “Know the 10 Signs: Early Detection Matters,” and provide services to those affected by dementia throughout your com-munity. Learn more at alz.org/walk.

do you know the warning signs of alzheimer’s?It’s not always about memory loss

B Y T H E A L Z H E I M E R ’ S A S S O C I A T I O N

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are not a normal part of aging.

SPONSORE D CON TEN T

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FA MILY | travel

DREAMING ABOUT A TRIP TO Europe? The road to a budget-friendly, fun-fi lled European vacation might be the European auto delivery program. A handful of luxury auto makers— BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, Audi and Porsche— offer a special program where you can pick up your car at its factory in Europe, then drive it for up to two weeks with your insur-ance covered. Think of it as the ultimate road trip.

I don’t want to steer anyone wrong. There are bumps in the road with European auto delivery for the average consumer. However, if you’ve been fanta-sizing about traveling to Europe, picking up your car there might give you a good excuse to start mapping out your European vacation.

S T A R T Y O U R E N G I N E S

European auto delivery isn’t that tough to navi-gate. First stop: your local dealer, who will coordinate the entire purchase for you. Alexander Ilic handles many of the European auto delivery sales, around 20-30 cars per year on average, for Fields BMW in Northfi eld. “It’s defi nitely the lowest price you’ll be able to get on a BMW,” Ilic says. “You save about 7% off the base price, and it’s a set price, so there’s no

negotiating, which some customers really appreciate. You also get to drive the car for two weeks through Europe with the insurance covered. So, you can take a driving trip through Europe without having to rent a car. Then drop off the car at any of 18 dif-ferent drop-off locations throughout Europe, free of charge. The only country where you’ll have to pay a drop-off fee is Italy.”

Ilic considers picking up the car at the BMW fac-tory and museum in Munich to be one of the perks. “They give you the red carpet treatment, putting your name up in lights, then walking you down this grand staircase to see your car up on this rotating turnstile. Then you get to drive your new car on the Autobahn and have the European adventure of your dreams.”

C A U T I O N , D R I V E R S

Sounds wunderbar, huh? Not so fast. European auto delivery also comes with a few inconveniences. “This is not for everybody,” Ilic says. “If you’re trading in a car, you need to turn in that car when you close on the purchase, a few weeks before traveling, and the new BMW doesn’t come back from Europe with you. It takes up to two months for the car to be shipped

a real road trip

by

A N D R E A G U T H M A N N

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back to your dealer in the U.S. Meanwhile, you need to pay for the car up front and make a couple monthly car payments before receiving the car in the U.S.”

If European auto delivery still sounds like a good option, each of the luxury automakers has its own re-strictions and incentives. The Swedes offer the sweet-est deal—two round-trip tickets to Scandinavia, air-port pick-up and a free night at a first class hotel in Gothenburg, if you buy a Volvo.

H a p p y t r a v e l s

Ira Gordon participated in the overseas delivery program through Fields Volvo. “It was fantastic!” she says “We drove the car in Europe for five weeks without any problems. We just had to pay the cost of extending the two weeks of car insurance. We visited Sweden, Poland, Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzer-land and Denmark. Volvo picked us up at the airport in Gothenburg, arranged for our hotel, drove us to the factory for our delivery and returned us to the air-port for our return trip to the U.S.”

“Mercedes-Benz was the first luxury automaker to offer European auto delivery,” says Oleg Shmuy-

lovskiy, senior sales rep-resentative at Autohaus on Edens. “Mercedes saw early on that the whole process encourages cus-tomer loyalty. Picking up your car at the factory center in Stuttgart, seeing how the car is made and then touring the magnifi-cent Mercedes-Benz Mu-seum is a very unique and memorable experience. Mercedes also provides you with taxi vouchers to and from the delivery center, an overnight stay at a luxury hotel in Stuttgart, and assistance in planning your travel itinerary through Germany’s Black Forest and the Austrian Alps, even setting up your hotel reservations.”

Is European auto delivery for you? You’re in the driver’s seat—contact your local car dealer for all the details. Maybe you’ll decide to say au revoir to your old car and bonjour to the European vacation of your dreams.

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bet te r you | sex and the suburbs

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BET TER YOU | sex and the suburbs

Although happily married today, the owner of this Cedar Shake home

on the lakefront in Winnetka was a divorced father of three grown children

when he began construction on the house six years ago. “Building the

house was a special project and a way to keep busy,” explains the owner, a

retired company executive who serves on several boards of directors.

A Winnetka man’s one-time bachelor pad includes many

family-friendly features.S T O R Y & P H O T O S B Y T A T E G U N N E R S O N

CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

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that are likely to appeal to men of all stripes, including a basement recreation room, with a 1,100-bottle wine cellar as well as video and pinball games. Not to mention a cozy den in the third story turret, which overlooks Lake Michigan. “In the winter, the ice is along the shoreline, and it’s really pretty,” the owner says. “I go up there to read, and reading often becomes a nap.” Also on the property is a newly renovated 900-square-foot boathouse with a garage, where he stores his motorized dock on wheels.

When the owner remarried three years ago, his new wife completed furnishing the home and softened up the décor. In the basement rec room, she swapped out the basketballs au-tographed by Michael Jordan in favor of African baskets and other decorative accents.

The properTy includes many feaTures

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the owner says that his new wife and their respective children find plenty to love as well. “The family room is al-ways busy,” the owner explains, noting that the lake is the real draw. “Summers are fun, because we’ll take the boat out, turn off the engine and just drift in the lake.” Other times, they just enjoy sitting on the deck atop the boathouse where they watch the ever-changing colors of the lake and the sight of boats and steamer ships cruising by. “I come out here in the mornings to read The Wall Street Journal and have a cup of coffee. It’s really special.”

While the house remains “man-centric,”

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The days of heavy-handed window treatments are over.

IT’S TIME TO LOSE THE hefty cornices, ornate hardware, overdone tassels and trim, and opt for window treatments that offer warmth and style, and still let the light shine in.

So whether you revise or redo your window treatments, here are some decorating ideas from local interior design experts Victoria Lidstrom and Carol Carani of Leggy Bird Designs, and Steven Rosengren, retail market manager of Room & Board.

Go for timeless and tasteful window treatments

Window treatments add warmth to a space and fi nish a room. But that doesn’t mean they have to steal the show. • Drapery and shades can be beautiful

backdrops to the décor in your room. Follow design trends with more ver-satile elements in your room, like pil-lows and accessories.

• It’s easy to get tired of something that’s over-stylized, Rosengren says. Fashion is fl eeting, but style is time-less. Classics like pinch pleat draper-ies and roman shades will always re-main relevant, no matter your décor.

Decorate with clean lines and natural materials

While the current trend leans toward simpler, more eco-friendly elements, it’s safe to say clean lines and natural mate-rials have everlasting appeal.• For Leggy Bird Designs, natural

woven shades are a standby, beautiful on their own or layered with drapery. They offer infi nite versatility in tex-ture and color.

• Ornate hardware, with its glitzy fi n-ishes and large fi nials, tends to over-whelm a window and its view. In-stead, opt for leaner, simpler wood, bamboo and metal rods.

HOME

Simple pinch-pleat drapes add warm and style with privacy from roller shades, by Room & Board.

B Y K R I S T I N A T O B E R

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• Natural materials like linen and bamboo balance our need for privacy and the desire for more light in our northern climate.

• Regardless of what you use,choose high-quality materials for functional window treatments to ensure that your investment lasts.

Patterned fabrics can workNot every style or room needs neu-

tral solids, and gorgeous, patterned fabrics will always be in style. The trick is to keep the design timeless.• Let the fabric speak for itself; limit

the use of trims and decorative hard-ware to keep it light.

• Carani and Lidstrom recommend us-ing a geometric as it’s easily paired with other patterns and accents and can go traditional, modern or in between.

• Make sure it’s a pattern you really love and not just a whim.

Drapery is still a good decorating idea

Drapery is probably the most versa-tile and mobile window treatment. • More than a few times, Leggy Bird

has worked with clients to retro-fit drapery used in a former house to a new setting, by adding a panel of fabric to the bottom third of the drapery, using decorative panels rather than functional drapes for a larger window, or raising the height of the rods.

• Drapery continues to be the biggest seller in the Room & Board line, largely because of its ability to offer function and flair. Even more con-temporary treatments like ripple-fold drapery read as timeless and fit with any décor, particularly when fabricated of natural linens or silken sheers.

1 While contemporary in feel, ripple fold drap-ery adds timeless style to a transitional room, by Room & Board.

2 Patterned drapes don’t overwhelm a room grounded by rich wall color and natural woods, by Leggy Bird Designs.

3 Simple yet luxurious drapes layered with fabric shades create a rich, neutral backdrop to a richly textured bedroom, by Leggy Bird Designs.

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In lieu of window treatments, Leggy Bird Designs uses a garden wall to ensure privacy while highlighting the strong architecture of the windows

Consider the “no treatment” window option

Why not let the architecture of your windows make a style statement, sug-gest the gals at Leggy Bird. Whether your goal is to let the most light in or preserve the view, think about ways to create privacy from the outside in, whether using landscaping or a garden wall.

Preserve your investmentRegardless of style, custom window

treatments are an investment. Rather than ditch treatments that may be over-stylized or dated, consider work-ing with a professional to brainstorm ways to repurpose or reuse what you’ve already got.

Lidstrom and Carani offer a few suggestions:• Remove heavy swags, jabots and va-

lances, but keep the drapery panels.• Swap out ornate drapery hardware

(rods, finials) for simpler, cleaner de-signs.

• Remove decorative trim or tassels.• Paint the walls in your room.

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bet te r you | fashion

Peter Millar blazer, $295, Neiman MarcusSpread collar, large check linen shirt, $165, J. McLaughlin

Chinos, $60, Banana RepublicJohn Varvatos slip-ons, $198, Neiman Marcus

Salvatore Ferragamo messenger bag, $1500, Neiman Marcus

Soft-wash twill shirt, $60, Banana RepublicTom Ford polka dot tie, $235, Neiman Marcus

Theory five-pocket pants, $215, Neiman MarcusLacoste driving shoe, $150, Nordstrom

Victorinox Swiss Army Night Vision watch, $695, Smart JewelersWarner Sunglasses in gunmetal, $369, i2i Eyecare

guygarb B y E v a N g E L i N E p o L i t i S | p h o t o S B y N a t h a N i E L p E R R y

refined&Handsome

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Cardigan, $90, Banana RepublicStriped t-shirt, $30, Banana Republic

Splendid Mills blue shorts, $90, Neiman MarcusConverse Jack Purcell sneakers, $85, Neiman Marcus

Sailcloth duffle, $225, J. McLaughlin

Loro Piana chambray shirt, $595, Neiman MarcusPeter Millar shorts, $85, Neiman MarcusBraided leather belt, $85, J. McLaughlin

Sperry’s canvas top sider, $80, Neiman MarcusEbel X1 watch, $3400, Smart Jewelers

Vinson Sunglasses in matte midnight blue, $409, i2i Eyecare

COMFORTABLE&RELAXED

This summer is all about color for men. From a bright blazer to a bold pair of shorts, invigorate his wardrobe with some shots of color.

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more for your manDownload our iPad edition for

8 more great looks for your guy.Download the free iPad app today MAKEITBETTER.NET/IPAD

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J. McLaughLin Sip and ShopMay 30, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.J. McLaughlin, 567A Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, 847-784-173015 percent of all purchases during the event will be donated to St. Joan of Arc.

LourdeS chavez for faLLJune 6–8The Lake Forest Shop, 265 East Market Sq., Lake Forest, thelakeforestshop.comGorgeous evening wear from the Lourdes Chavez collection for fall—not to be missed.

MagaSchoniJune 14–15Frances Heffernan, 810 Elm St., Winnetka, 847-446-2112, francesheffernan.comFind pure and simple cashmere—com-bining classic elegance with exquisite craftsmanship.

Lafayette 148June 21–22Frances Heffernan, 810 Elm St., Winnetka, 847-446-2112, francesheffernan.comCollections are designed for the modern woman and her multi-faceted lifestyle.

Sara gabrieL veiLing and headpieceSJune 26–27Bella Bleu Bridal, 143 N. Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, 847-696-7152, bellableubridal.comFrom flowing laces and elegant beading to vintage inspired headpieces, this collection is nothing short of breathtaking. Sip wine, nibble on sweets and enjoy 10 percent off all orders placed at the show.

S p o n S o r e d L i S t i n G S

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THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH—WE’RE

ALL trying to fi nd it, but many of us don’t want to go under the knife to get the results.

Where should you start? Unfurrow that brow, there are many pathways to beautiful, youthful skin. Here are a few that meet a variety of needs and budgets.

Anti-Aging Products MAKEUP

Invest in an effective concealer and highlighter. Yves Saint Laurent Tou-che Èclat concealer works wonders on lids and under eyes to instantly lift and luminize. Choose liquid and cream foundations, which are less drying than powders.

EXFOLIANT

A physical exfoliant buffs away dead skin cells and helps increase the skin’s natural renewal process, which leads you to brighter skin tone. A chemical exfoliant uses alpha hydroxy acids to improve complexion and produce col-lagen and elastin. If you use any type of topical prescription or Retin A, make sure you consult with your dermatolo-gist before trying an exfoliant.

SPF

According to Dr. Matthew Harris of the Illinois Dermatology Institute, “Both men and women should get in the habit of using a daily sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher.” Make sure to reap-ply every 2-3 hours during warmer months.

RETINOL

“There is signifi cant data that shows retinol creams can smooth and regener-

ate skin without a lot of down time or irritation,” Dr. Harris says. “Many

over-the-counter versions are quite good and can be less

irritating than stronger, prescription-version reti-noids.” He recommends starting with a mild over-the-counter retinol, such as Neutrogena’s Rapid Wrinkle Repair line. You can start using products with a light retinol as early as age 30.

look younger without plastic surgery B Y J E N N Y M U S L I N

BET TE R YOU | beauty

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Doctor-Required, Anti-Aging Treatments Botox and Fillers

“Botox treats and prevents dynamic lines like crows feet, frown lines and forehead lines,” Dr. Harris says. “Fill-ers go under the skin to fill in wrinkle lines and can also add lots of volume, which you lose with bone density and collagen loss, by filling in the cheek-bones, temple area, jaw line, etc.”

Peels and lasers

He also recommends chemical peels, which improve skin tone and texture when used as a superficial peel. They can also diminish fine lines and mild scarring when used as a moder-ate-to-deep peel.

Lasers improve redness, spider veins, brown spots and reduce scarring. New devices use radiofrequency and ultrasound to tighten the skin and give a mini face lift without the surgery.

Spa Services for a Younger Look Vitamin C

This antioxidant slows the rate of free-radical damage and helps keep skin supple. Mario Tricoci Hair Salon & Day Spa exclusively offers the Cellular Age Reversal Therapy Facial. The treat-ment employs an anti-aging serum that contains a high concentration of vitamin C. They claim the serum protects skin from environmental damage, increases skin elasticity, firmness and tone, and re-duces wrinkles and pigmentation spots. The facial is best for those over 30 and is gentle enough for sensitive skin.

PePtides and stem Cells

The Perfect Lift Facial at the Ely-sian Spa at Waldorf Astoria Chicago uses peptides and stem cells along with microcurrents to combat premature aging and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

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BET TE R YOU | fi tness

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME your husband had a complete physical? Is he current with vaccinations? Has he had a whole-body skin check? What about that nagging pain in his low back? Does he know his blood cholesterol numbers?

Women are accustomed to regular doctor visits. Childbirth, gynecological exams and mammograms make going to the doctor part of our routine. Men, unless something seems terribly wrong, rarely seek out the guidance of a physician. It’s our job to con-vince them to get regular screenings and take action when good health is at risk.

EXECUTIVE PHYSICALS

We spoke with Dr. Lorrie Elliott at Northwestern’s Executive Health about which clients come in for ex-ecutive physicals. Dr. Elliott explained that often, male patients haven’t seen a doctor in more than fi ve years. Some of these men are the “unconcerned sick” with high cholesterol and excess body weight, or who suffer from other side effects of their high stress jobs.

Dr. Elliott suggests men age 50 and older consider these health screens/exams:

• Expanded blood and urine tests

• Cholesterol• Blood pressure• Blood sugar • Body composition• Colonoscopy

• Prostate cancer screening (psa)

• Whole-body skin exam

• Eye exam• Hearing test• Vaccination review

The executive physical at NU takes a holistic, comprehensive view of a person’s health. Dr. Elliott says the goal is to get clients to achieve and maintain

optimal health. These daylong physicals allow phy-sicians to delve more deeply into each client’s health profi le to address acute issues, like knee pain or skin abnormalities, and critical exams, like the cardiac stress test and complete blood analysis. These physi-cals permit exploration into wellness issues including fi tness, nutrition, sleep and stress management that are so important in the broader perspective of health.

This type of physical is sometimes partially cov-ered by insurance or as a part of a benefi t package. For the very busy executive, this daylong, total physi-cal may be the best way to get one-stop shopping for all critical healthcare services.

Another option, rather than dedicating a whole day to testing, is to make a regular old appointment with his primary physician, so they both can go over which specifi c tests he might need. Dr. William Rhoades, of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, recommends this approach to avoid unnecessary testing.

The bottom line is that men need to be proactive with their own health and medical care. Waiting for something to happen is not the road to a long, healthy life. Routine screenings, visits to specialists for eye ex-ams, and consultations with a dietician are examples of critical healthcare services that your guy should use.

Help him help himself. Have him reserve one hour a month to commit to his own health. Encourage a visit to his primary care physician for routine screen-ings. Suggest a visit to a specialist for an orthopedic issue and get an eye exam on the calendar. Regular, routine visits will make him feel better, accountable for his own health, and may alert him to trouble ahead. Get him to the doctor today, and contemplate your long, bright future with many tomorrows.

B Y C H R I S T Y C O U G H L I N

get your to the guy

doctor

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Adri Miller-HeckMAn is A forMer

financial advisor who now coaches other advisors about how to get—and keep—female clients. She recently penned the book entitled “The Keys to the Ladies Room.” We caught up with Miller-Heckman and picked her brain on the differences between how men and women manage finances.

What money management lesson would women be well served to learn from men?

Risk is not a four-letter word. Wom-en’s lack of financial understanding often causes them to play it too safe. Without a growth component, which often requires calculated risk, you in-crease the chance of falling short of your investment goals and/or poten-tially running out of money—a serious concern for single women.

Where do women excel when it comes to money management?

All that glitters is not gold. Just because everyone is talking about an

investment does not mean it will con-tinue to perform. Men have a greater tendency to get caught up in the hype or decisions promoted by their peers, while women tend to stay more focused on personal long-term goals and objec-tives. Every investment decision should be driven by your pre-determined phi-losophy and financial plan rather than the latest hot stock or mutual fund. Women, hold your ground here.

How can couples leverage strengths that tend to come naturally to each sex to put their household in the best possible financial position?

Women need to step up and men have to back down. Women have a tendency to shy away from getting involved with the big money and in-vestment decisions in the household. Women’s resistance to investing and financial issues has, in a large part, been fueled by the financial services industry, which was built by men to help male advisors attract male clients,

incorporating methods that are almost abrasive to women.

What questions should women ask potential financial advisors to avoid hiring someone who takes a mostly male-centric approach?

• Why do you care about me? Be sure the financial advisor can validate why he/she cares about women, what experience in his/her life has motivated him/her to take the time and effort to focus on the needs of women.

• How will you make my life easier? Learn how the advisor is commit-ted to enhancing your knowledge and understanding about your fi-nancial life.

Miller-Heckman will be in Chicago Thursday, June 13 to lead a workshop for financial professionals who want to learn how to better serve women. For more information, visit adrimiller heckman.com/keys.

B y M e g h a n S t r e i t

bet te r you | finances

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“When she starts in the middle of the issue, I can’t track. I’m a linear thinker, please start at the beginning.”

Here’s a surprise—men are needier than women when it comes to intimacy.

WOMEN OFTEN GET EMOTIONAL SUPPORT from other women—friends, mothers and daughters, for example. Men, however, crave intimacy and affi rmation from their spouses, because according to a recent Chicago Tribune article, it’s the only place they get it. And after speaking to a North Shore men’s group recently on the topic of building intimacy, it was clear that men are often confused and frustrated by the way we women talk with them.

Men rely primarily on their partner when it comes to expressing their feelings and seeking affection. Good news, right? The men in our lives want to connect with us! The bad news is that they fi nd our style of relating diffi cult and distressing.

Here are a few things the men told me that morning.

“I wish my wife would do me the courtesy of talking as directly to me as she does to the dog. She gets down to his level, looks him in the eye, and tells him clearly what she expects.”

“Tell me what you really think, not what you think I want to hear. Don’t shut down if I don’t get it—tell me what you need.”

“I see my wife talking with her friends and she’s smiling and speaking with intensity, passion and humor. Why can’t she talk to me like that?”

BET TE R YOU | sex and the suburbs

B Y M A R J I E K I L L E E N

talkhow to

to your man

To women, our circuitous, collabor-ative conversation style makes perfect sense, but to men, it feels disjointed and rambling. So on behalf of the guys, who I’m convinced really, really want to connect with us, I’ve developed these communication guidelines. Hopefully they’ll bring us all closer.

How to talk to your man• State your purpose. Do you just want

to share a story or are you looking for his help? Men are solution driven, so telling your guy what you want will help him actively listen.

• Start at the beginning and proceed sequentially. Men are logical think-ers and get frustrated when women bounce between subjects or go off on tangents.

• Touch him. Men are less verbal than women and value affectionate physi-cal contact. Hold his hand or touch his shoulder, and he’ll pay closer at-tention to you.

• Don’t expect him to guess how you feel. He really doesn’t know, and would appreciate you telling him.

• Focus on him. You can chat with your girlfriend while folding laun-dry or balancing your checkbook, but men operate by giving their full attention to one thing at a time and fi nd other activity distracting.

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Sex & the Suburbs — Live!Sizzling Couples

For a deeper exploration of inti-macy, join columnist Marjie Killeen at the Wilmette Theatre Thursday, June 13. Hot couples share how they keep the sexual energy fl ow-ing in their relationships.

June 13 | 7:30 p.m.Tickets: $20

Wilmette Theatre1122 Central Ave.

847-251-7424wilmettetheatre.com

• Turn up the charm. According to “The Normal Bar,” (thenormalbar.com) a comprehensive relationship study of more than 70,000 people, criticism and bossiness undermine intimacy in a relationship.

BUT GUYS, YOU’VE GOT TO DO YOUR PART AS WELL. HERE ARE A FEW TIPS FOR YOU:

How to talk to your woman• Give her verbal and physical cues that

you are listening. Nod, smile, look her in the eye, and make encourag-ing sounds (yep, mm-hmm, go on.) This confi rms you’re interested, so she knows she has made her point and can move on.

• Ask questions. If you’re confused, simply ask. Your questions show you care about what she’s saying.

• Introduce something sensory to the conversation. Women often think about many things at once and can get a little stressed out. A walk, some music, a candle or bath – these things are soothing and help a wom-an get out of her head, relax and slow down.

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Put downtown Glencoe—yes, you heard me—on your restaurant radar. Guildhall, a seasonal American restaurant, is open and already packed to the rafters.

The team behind Guildhall is a veritable who’s who of Chicago food: Glencoe’s Eric Fosse, founder and CEO of HomeMade Pizza; restaurant real es-tate macher Albert Friedman; and General Man-ager Phil Marienthal (Blue Mesa, Canoe Club).

The building has been gutted; the brick walls, origi-nal tin ceiling and wood floors have been restored; and the space has been cleverly divided into bar, dining area, public/private dining space, with an open kitchen and spectator seating in the back room, all clad in soft whites and greens, with plenty of warm wood surfaces.

They’ve brought in exec chef Christian Ragano (late of NoMI) to preside over the seasonally driven menu, paired with a beverage program of hand-craft-ed cocktails, old- and new-world wines, craft beers and ciders. Their motives are clear, as spelled out on the menu: “We believe cooking is a craft. We are com-mitted to working with local and artisanal purveyors to source the highest quality ingredients available.”

Adult Beverages and Pimento Crack

Start with a cocktail ($11). The Guildhall G&T is a cut above the standard, featuring City of Lon-don Gin, herby house-made tonic “syrup” and lots

of fresh limes, and the beautifully balanced Barrel-Aged Manhattan (Rittenhouse Rye, Carpano Anti-ca, and Amargo Montenegro) is deep, dark and mys-terious. While imbibing, dig in to the terrific, warm epi bread, served with a ramekin of pimento butter. I suspect it might actually be crack—very addictive.

We loved the luxe Tarte Flambée Forestière ($12), an Alsatian-style flatbread, laden with nutty Gruyère Cheese, sautéed wild mushrooms and on-ions, crème fraiche and Nueske’s bacon. I could eat that all day.

The English Pea Soup ($6), a glorious bowl of deep bright greenness, glistened with a drizzle of bright lemon oil and a tangle of pea tendrils and ba-con nubbins. The server was careful to note which dishes had bacon in them—they are very respectful of dietary restrictions here.

There seems to be an issue with underseason-ing in the kitchen. The deconstructed Tuna Niçoise ($14) was woefully short on flavor, although the tuna tartare was clearly fresh. The dish did not lack for elements (two roasted cherry tomatoes, dressed arugula, finely chopped hard-boiled eggs, and “bal-samic chips”), but it didn’t really come together. The chips lacked the billed balsamic flavor, and I didn’t understand the plating. The otherwise beautiful Farm to Bowl Salad ($8), featuring local greens and paper-thin slices of radish, cucumber, carrots and

Guildhall694 Vernon Ave.

Glencoe847-835-8100

guildhallrestaurant.com

by J u l i e

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guildhall

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squash tossed in a buttermilk Green Goddess dressing, could have benefitted from salt and pepper.

The Next Great Burger

Looking for the next great burger? I think we’ve found it. The Guildhall Burger ($16), featuring juicy house-ground beef, more bacon, caramelized onions, earthy Morbier cheese, and whole-grain mustard on a pretzel bun, was fantastic. The pommes frites were hot, well salted and just the right ratio of outside crunch to soft inside. Preemptively ask for extra homemade pickle slices and thank me later.

There’s no faulting the perfectly cooked, medium rare Rack of Lamb ($29), three nice meaty chops over a ragout of chickpeas and piquillo peppers, strewn with mint. But I wondered what happened to the menu-billed, house-made merguez sausage as it was non-existent on my plate. The ragout had a lovely flavor, though the chickpeas weren’t quite tender enough.

Fresh Rushing Waters Trout ($23) filets, served skin on, were topped with piquillo pepper jam and served with an arugula salad. Tasty, but we weren’t jumping out of our seats. We did love the light-as-air Housemade Ricotta Cavatelli ($17) with a sauce of spinach, lemon and Parmesan, sprinkled with chopped hickory nuts.

Do not pass up the side of Creamed Spinach with Per-nod ($6). I could have eaten a gallon of it, but then my jeans would have posed a serious problem. That is a side dish of the gods.

Sweets for the Sweet

About the desserts: the weird thing is that nothing was as titled. The Apple Clafouti ($8) was more of a pureed apple tart (it had a crust!) than an eggy, flan-like fruit pan-cake, while the Milk Chocolate Cremeux ($8) was more akin to a delicious gelato than a pudding. I’m not com-plaining about the taste, mind you, just the nomenclature. The tangy Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta ($8), served in a little crock, was topped with almond crunchies, fresh rhu-barb and citrus, was so yummy I didn’t care that it wasn’t a true panna cotta. I just wanted more.

Let’s face it. Although the northern suburbs have plen-ty of restaurants, there aren’t many with downtown cred. So you know that Guildhall will pack ‘em in.

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Bar Toma110 E. Pearson St., Chicago | 312-266-3110 bartomachicago.comTony Mantuano’s wood-burning oven sends out some wild combinations, like the one with Caprino goat cheese, hazelnuts, melted leeks, dates and thyme, drizzled with aged balsamic vinegar. Wow.

Barnaby’s960 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook | 847-498-3900 | barnabysofnorthbrook.com I’d be terrifi ed to leave this off the list, ‘cuz this place has a serious following. I’m fond of spinach and mushroom on their thin cornmeal crust.

Burt’s Place8541 N. Ferris Ave., Morton Grove 847-965-7997 Order ahead, and your pizza will greet you. Otherwise, you’ll wait awhile. Load up

with veggies and you’ll be a happy camper (spinach, mushrooms, mixed peppers, onions).

Candlelite7452 N. Western Ave., Chicago | 773-465-0087 | candlelitechicago.comThe thin-crust, Candlelite White pizza is sassy. Your breath will be, too. Roasted gar-lic spread, caramelized onions,mozzarella, provolone, parmesan and goat cheeses. Hello, lover.

Francesca Intimo293 E. Illinois Rd., Lake Forest | 847-735-9235 miafrancesca.comI’ve got a thing for their Napoletana pizza, topped with arugula, cherry tomatoes, garlic, EVOO, provolone and shaved Parmesan, especially if you add prosciutto for an extra $2.

La Madia59 W. Grand Ave., Chicago | 312-329-0400 | dinelamadia.comMy favorite summer pizza combination, this indulgent white pizza romances with burrata cheese, fi re-roasted Nichols Farm summer squash, and cherry tomatoes.

Merlo’s581 Roger Williams Ave., Highland Park | 847-266-0600 | merlosrestaurant.comI was not expecting this to be as tasty as it was. We went simple with prosciutto and arugula. Well, kind of simple.

Panino’s1968 Dempster St., Evanston | 847-475-6200 | 28 S. Fairview, Park Ridge | 847-823-3450paninospizzeria.comHead straight for the Artisan-Style Pizza section on the menu, and order the Ca-priciossa: fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, artichokes, roasted cremini mushrooms, prosciutto, Kalamata olives, and EVOO.

Piece1927 W. North Ave., Chicago | 773-772-4422 piecechicago.comThis is the only New Haven-style pizza in town, so treat it with respect: go for the classic White Pizza with clams, bacon and fresh garlic. No, really. PH

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MUCH TO MY ENDLESS CHAGRIN, I totally missed the boat when it came to the late, lamented—and highly lauded—Great Lake Pizza in Andersonville. I just couldn’t deal with the lines, and the uncertainty that they could run out of dough while I was standing in said line, which translates to (horror of horrors): NO PIZ-ZA. So this year, my mission is to seek out pizza perfection. Listen, it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta take one for the team. Here are some of the pizzas I recom-mend so far, chosen from all around Chicago and the North Shore.

B Y J U L I E C H E R N O F F

best pizzathe

search is on!

Lamb Sausage at Union Pizzeria

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Saranello’s 601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling 847-777-6878 | saranellos.com This thin-crusted pan pizza is mighty fine, especially when topped with crispy pep-peroni, fresh garlic and hot peppers.

Siena Tavern51 W. Kinzie St., Chicago | 312-595-1322 sienatavern.comEven if I wasn’t infatuated with Chef Fabio Viviani, I’d still crave this Pear and Prosciutto Pizza, slathered with roasted garlic cream and topped with oozy mozzarella and taleg-gio cheeses, grilled pears, and fresh arugula. And the crust… yum!

Spacca Napoli1769 W. Sunnyside Ave., Chicago | 773-878-2420 | spaccanapolipizzeria.comI’m in love with the combination of Salsiccia e Broccoletti: Italian sausage, broccoli rabe, and provolone cheese. È molto bella.

Trattoria D.O.C.706 Main St., Evanston | 847-475-1111 trattoria-doc.comThis Neapolitan-style, thin-crust pizza needs a minute to sit on your table before you dig in. I like the Gustosa: fresh moz-zarella, asparagus, ham, egg and shaved Parmesan.

Trifecta Grill501 Chestnut St., Winnetka | 847-441-1700 trifectagrillwinnetka.comThere’s something about their BBQ Chicken Pizza. Maybe it’s the addition of gorgonzola cheese and cilantro…

Union Pizzeria1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston 847-475-2400 | unionevanston.comI dream of their wood-oven pie, especially the Pinn-Oak Lamb Sausage with roasted eggplant, greek olives and rosemary. Forgive me for my sins.

Viccino’smultiple locations | viccinos.comTry the Chicken Bravo, with marinated chicken breast, tomato, broccoli and roasted garlic on whole-wheat crust.

Are you mad that your fave isn’t on this list? Send me a note at [email protected]

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En tE rta inmE n t | book list

best books for the beach bag

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Summer sun means summer fun. If you are daydreaming about calm waters and cool breezes, we’ve got the book to complete your day at the beach.

Where’d You Go, Bernadetteby Maria SempleYou think your mom is crazy? My guess is Bernadette Fox has got her number. join daughter Bee as she tries to decipher her mother’s whereabouts, along with her past, in this wickedly entertaining novel.

One Last Thing Before I Goby Jonathan TropperGreat for guys, too. Drew Silver is a washed up rocker who spends his days lounging poolside with other divorced dads. But some-thing’s different—now he’s dying. Can he make things right with his family before he draws his last breath?

This Explains Everythingby John BrockmanIf you need something more intel-lectual (or just want to impress the beachmates), this is the book. Rife with reasoning on everything that’s deep, you’re certain to find the answer to your most vexing questions.

Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owlsby David SedarisIt’s Sedaris, need I say more? These essays will have you laugh-ing out loud with little ability to explain why—perfect for poolside entertainment.

And the Mountains Echoedby Khaled HosseiniFrom the author of the wildly popular The Kite Runner and sure to be on everyone’s book bucket list comes a story of fam-ily and choices that transcend generations.

The Engagementsby J. Courtney SullivanHow’s your marriage? And just why did you take your vows? escape into the tale of four unions, wrapped around a history of diamonds here in America.

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Dr. DaviD Center, DDSDelivering experienced cosmetic and family dentistry for 30+ years.Services include new laser den-tistry, in-office laser whitening and Invisalign orthodontia. Check out our National Dental Reviews on our website.

Call about our New Patient offer!

9933 Lawler Ave., Skokie847-677-0080davidcenterdds.com

Calligraphy by KatherineCalligraphy is the art of beautiful handwriting. Set the tone of your event with elegantly addressed invitations and envelopes.

Specializing in weddings and special occasions.

Wilmette847-251-3242calligraphybykatherine.net

plaStiC Surgery anD MeD Spa of Dr. MiChael byun Awarded “Best Plastic Surgeon 2012” by Make It Better, Dr. Byun has locations in both the North Shore and downtown Chicago. He special-izes in procedures for the face, breasts, body and skincare.

1775 Walters Ave. Northbrook847-513-6899chicagocosmeticsurgery.com

See your buSineSS here!Are you a local business owner? Learn more about advertising in the Local Marketplace!

Contact Michelle Weiss, Advertising Sales Director, at 847-256-4642 or [email protected]

manlymusicb y v a l h a l l e r o f v a l s l i s t

I have four sons, two

brothers, two fathers, three brothers-in-law, five uncles, seven nephews, and one hus-band. I live in a veritable sea of testosterone.

A few years ago, my friend and I wanted to make a photo coffee table book called House of Boys. We took hundreds of pictures of our real-life, all-male households. What fun we had, documenting the habits of the American male—through photos. The empty laundry baskets with dirty clothes laying next to it. Heaps of teenage boys’ shoes in the front hall—including tennis shoes with no laces, a Birkenstock with front end bitten off by a dog, topsiders with broken down backs, just to name a few.

Our front closet included eight black North Face fleec-es that couldn’t all be ours. Bedrooms all have the same thing: unmade beds with cyclone-twisted sheets, and wet towels on the floor. Desktops piled with everything but books and desk items. The TVs all tuned to ESPN. The sink is filled with plates that haven’t been rinsed. Our garage looks like a sporting goods store.

My boys have grown up to be men, and soon they will share their habits with some lucky new woman. And I will miss them.

ShowS For Your Man June 1Dispatch at Charter One Pavilion (take your teens)

June 2Stephen Kellogg at SPACE (for the family)

June 3Calexico at City Winery (have dinner, too)

June 8Zac Brown Band at Alpine Valley (country fave)

June 14Fleetwood Mac at Allstate Arena (flashback)

June 15House concert at Val’s—Emily Hurd & Stone Blind Valentine, contact Val [email protected] (for bluegrass lovers)

June 17 & 18Leon Russell at City Winery (flashback)

MuSic For Your Man

Hilltop Hoods Australian hip-hop band for fans of Eminem

Peatbog Faeries Celtic rock—best with volume up

The Lone Bellow Alt-rock with a vintage vibe

Duologue Chill electronic—great background music for working

Matt Costa Indie rock for fans of Dylan, George Harrison

local marketplace

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SUPPORT RESEARCH AND CONSERVATIONShedd Aquarium 312-939-2438 | sheddaquarium.orgYour donation supports research and conserva-tion efforts to help sea animals at this iconic Chi-cago institution and in the wild around the world. Connect with and support best practices locally and globally. Learn more at sheddaquarium.org.

HELP THE “ABILITY LAB”Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago312-238-1000 | ric.org/donate.Support the “Ability Lab” at RIC, which allows this world-class institution to pioneer better ways to help injured individuals recover and live as fully as possible. Please donate at ric.org/donate.

DONATE TO THE FUTURE OF THEATERThe Music Theatre Company847-579-4900 | themusictheatrecompany.org/silverstein Support the Elana Ernst Silverstein scholarships for youth in second grade through college, in the musical theatre education wing of this critically acclaimed professional Highland Park theater. Donate online at themusictheatrecompany.org/silverstein or call 847-579-4900.

DANCE TO KEEP THE LINCOLN PARK ZOO FREE FOR ALL Lincoln Park Zoo312-742-2296 | lpzoo.org Give support (and have a great time) by attending this year’s Zoo Ball—Wild At Heart—presented by the Women’s Board and Guggenheim Partners. Dance under the stars with the animals, to help keep the zoo free for all families and continue its leadership in wildlife conservations. For more information, call 312-742-2296 or visit lpzooball.org.

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GIVE BROKEN CHINA AND OLD JEWELRY A NEW LIFEThe Douglas Center847-674-1921 ext. 245 | thedouglascenter.comDonate your broken china, wall tiles, pottery and costume jewelry to The Douglas Center, where individuals with disabilities recycle them by making and selling art creations. Call or email Linda Cordero, Development Coordinator 847-674-1921 ext. 245 or email [email protected]

DONATE TECHNOLOGY Silent Stars Foundation847-644-6591 | silentstars.orgDonate your gently used iPads or iTouches to this foundation, which helps speech-impaired children using appropriate apps. Silent Stars loves volunteers to work with kids, too.

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RAISE MONEY FOR ALSLes Turner ALS Foundation 847-679-3311 | lesturnerals.orgVolunteer at the Soldier Field Walk, which will help raise funds for research at the northwestern university labs dedicated to finding the cure for ALS, formerly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

TALK TO TEENSNational Runaway Safeline773-880-9860 | 1800runaway.orgLocated on Chicago’s north side, this na-tional organization supports troubled teens who call in for help. Volunteers are asked to commit to one year of service answering phones, as an administrator or member of the Board of Directors. Learn more at 1800RunAWAY.org

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better makers and their impact

UNICEFMessage of Hope GalaApril 12, 2013Four Seasons Chicago$900,000+ raised

(1) Casey March of Chicago, Managing Direc-tor, U.S. Fund for UNICEF Midwest Region; Dawn Rewey of Chicago, Midwest Region Board Member; Joe Silich of Chicago, Midwest Region Board Chair; Martha Metz of Glencoe and Tina Trott of Winnetka, Gala Co-Chairs; Dave Otte, Ken Zaugh, Mary Lou Giustini, all of Chicago, Midwest Region Board Members; (2) Adam Gifford, UNICEF’s Next Generation Chi-cago Chair, and Nora Gifford, both of Chicago; (3) Impact: two young children are able to ac-cess clean water; (4) Paul Harvey of Evanston, Midwest Region Board Member; Marian Arens of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, major donor.

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JUNIOR LEAGUE OF EVANSTON-NORTH SHOREBaby Steps ProjectApril 20, 2013Evanston Hospital$13,000 raised

SHOWN IN PHOTOS: (1) Junior League of Evanston-North Shore new member class with Maryanne Kennedy of Evanston Hospital (left) (2) Kris Hagen of Winnetka, Paige Ellwood of Winnetka, Natalie Smith of Evanston, Rinne Evans of Winnetka; (3) Caroline Fla-nigan of Evanston, 2013 Baby Steps Project Chair.

Jane Evans, New Member Com-mittee Chair; Caroline Flanigan, Baby Steps Project Chair

Make It Better was the media sponsor of this event.

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YOUTH JOB CENTER2013 GalaApril 13, 2013Art Institute of Chicago$250,000

SHOWN IN PHOTOS: (1) Val Warner of Chicago, from ABC Channel 7’s Windy City Live, was the host for the evening; (2) Marcia Mead, YJC Board member; Ann Jennett, YJC Founder; Clifton Williams, former YJC client and his wife Brenda Williams; all of Evanston; (3) Three YJC clients on the job at Jewel; (4) Front row: Tresa Simmons, Val Warner, Sacella Smith, Ebony Dill, Kevin Gordon, Michelle Johnson; Back Row: Darnell Cloud, Vanessa Tate. Chi Mba-chu, Aundria Hopkins, Stacey Johnson, Justin Brissette, all of Chicago.

Make It Better was the media sponsor of this event.

IMPACT

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YOU MIGHT KNOW THAT SHEDD

Aquarium is one of the world’s larg-est indoor aquariums that welcomes 2 million visitors annually, but did you know that Shedd also supports rescued marine mammals and the work of sci-entists who track and protect endan-gered species?

Behind the scenes, Shedd runs na-tionally recognized programs in ani-mal care, conservation and research, learning, community access and sus-tainability. Here’s a peek at what goes on behind the exhibits:

Animal Care: Rehabilitating Cruz, the Blind California Sea Lion Pup

In January, Shedd, a recognized leader in marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, rescued a sea lion pup that was found blinded by gunshot

wounds on a beach in Santa Cruz, Ca-lif. Shedd trainers have taught Cruz to follow the sound of a rattle—an audio cue that allows him to learn about his environment as well as build trust with the animal care team. He’s learned that the sound of the whistle means he will get a fi sh. Dr. Bill Van Bonn, vice presi-dent of animal health, says, “Cruz has a disability that will stay with him the rest of his life. But he’s a spunky animal with a lot of personality, and he’s adapt-ing remarkably well.”

Conservation and Research: Tracking Ancient Arapaima

Shedd’s Dr. Lesley de Souza is work-ing in Guyana, studying the arapaima, one of the largest freshwater fi shes in the world at over 6 feet in length and 220 pounds. This riveting New York Times blog post (nyti.ms/YQR7cP) has her catching the giant fi sh in a net, get-ting kicked in the gut by one and man-aging to tag it, roasting piranha over a campfi re for dinner and avoiding mid-dle-of-the-night bathroom breaks for fear of jaguars. Dr. de Souza is working to save the commercially extinct fi sh, which is a victim of overfi shing.

Learning: Supporting Service Programs for Teens

Through the Shedd Stewards pro-gram, teens gain service hours while

learning about Chicago’s ecosystem and participating in hands-on stewardship activities that include canoeing on the Chicago River, removing dandelions and invasive buckthorn and exploring how organic lawn care practices contribute to the health of the Great Lakes.

Community Access: Bringing Chicago’s Children to the World’s Aquarium

Last year, Shedd subsidized nearly $1.45 million for school children in Il-linois, helping almost 53,000 Chicago Public Schools students learn through free fi eld trips and classes. In addition, 114,370 school children visited with free admission, seeing in real life the animals they learn about in school.

Want to support Shedd’s efforts? Go to sheddaquarium.org/give_now and help make a difference in our community and around the world. PH

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SPONSORE D CON TEN T

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Kate SacKman, of LaKe foreSt, believes that hu-mor and fun will entice more people to adopt green living practices than lectures. So, she founded Eco-Myths Alliance with a group of like-minded en-vironmentalists affiliated with major institutions, such as The Field Museum, Alliance For The Great

Lakes, Lake Forest Open Lands and the National Wildlife Federation, to do just that—make environmental advice fun and easy to understand.

Think Kermit The Frog meets Ghostbusters meets environmental-ism. EcoMyths makes it easier to be green by busting environmental myths with original cartoons and ar-ticles created in partnership with lead-ing experts. They hope to add a cur-

riculum for schools soon, too.The content delivered on their website has caught

the attention of the media, including Chicago’s pub-

lic radio station WBEZ, which does a monthly Eco-Myths segment on the show “Worldview.”

An entrepreneur at heart, Sackman founded Aurora Technology, a medical software and systems company, with her father and sold it nine years later, in 2003. Sub-stantial volunteer service with the Lake Forest Open Lands followed, including her tenure as President.

Sackman started discussing with other passionate environmentalists and experts how to make green liv-ing more accessible to the general public. Thus Eco-Myths Alliance was born three years ago. “With Eco-Myths I get to channel my twin passions for business and the environment,” Sackman says. “The goal is to inspire and empower people to make more sustain-able choices, with bite-sized, entertaining content.”

Sackman’s hope for the future? “That millions and millions of people will be intrigued and eventually inspired to make small, daily changes in their lives.” Those simple choices can be the difference between a habitable and unhabitable planet in the future.

Kate Sackman

ecomyths allianceUsing humor to make environmentalism fun

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CLOSING THOUGHTS

CUBS SECOND BASEMAN DARWIN BARNEY makes it better both on and off the fi eld. He brought a whole lot of joy to now 4-year-old Drew Boedigheimer, who spent the early years of his life in a hospital waiting for a heart transplant. Drew had been to more than 50 baseball games, and was beyond excited when the Golden Glove winner paid a special visit to him in the hospital, with gifts and a personalized jersey in tow.

I THINK IT’S A GOOD TIME TO TRY AND GIVE BACK AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. WE’RE ALL VERY LUCKY TO BE HERE, SO YOU CAN’T TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.

—DARWIN BARNEY

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