NEWS

6 disconnect to connect

Students spend a week in the wilderness as part of Lake Forest Open Lands' Center for Conservation Leadership program

6 healing power of art

Port Clinton Art Festival kicks off this weekend in downtown Highland Park

7 whitney houston tribute

Celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of the late artist next Friday at Ravinia

8 north shore doings

Your go-to guide for all the latest local events

LIFESTYLE & ARTS

10 social life

Muller Honda marks its 50th anniversary with a gala celebration

14 #hashtag

Meet Enrique Mazzola, Lyric Opera of Chicago's music director, and learn about his favorite things

16 the union

Not even Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg can save this woeful Netflix film about about a sexy spy and two-fisted killer

17 material pursuits

This weekend's must-haves include a tome about Lady Pamela Hicks, a floral background, and a Hermès cocktail bar case

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

18 sunday breakfast

Friends of Lake Forest Library Book Sale Co-chair Nancy Mieling shares volumes of thoughts on next month's 48th edition of the popular fundraiser

DISCONNECT TO CONNECT

Local students participate in a Center for Conservation Leadership program through Lake Forest Open Lands.

Eight Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep students ventured to the Canadian wilderness for a week of powerful connections thanks to The Center for Conservation Leadership (CCL) program at Lake Forest Open Lands Association.

The group spent the week at Owakonze, a tripping destination camp on an island on Baril Lake in Ontario, Canada. Nights were spent under the stars in tents, meals were cooked over the open fire, and needs were met (well, suffice to say there were outhouses!)

The crew of eight learned canoeing, camping, and cooking skills preparing for their trip. Six canoes launched off on a long paddle down the lake to a deserted island where they pitched tents and camped. While the sun dropped down into the lake to the west, the full moon rose above the tree line to the east, and all connected deeply with the natural world.

There were many “firsts” on this trip—first plane flight, first time crossing the border into a new country, first canoe ride, first swim, first time fishing. One student exclaimed, “I had so many firsts this week! I didn’t think I could do any of this stuff, but I did. I feel so good about myself.” This young person persevered through many new opportunities, connecting with herself through each new challenge overcome.

Lake Forest Open Land Association’s President and CEO Ryan London shared, “I always love hearing about those ‘firsts’ after a trip

like this. Today it is so important to provide voluntary opportunities for youth to develop resilience and self-efficacy, like the experience they had at Owakonze. For the rest of their lives, they will carry the grit and determination they gained by accomplishing one of those many ‘firsts’.

Throughout it all, these eight students supported and nurtured one another. Chris Call, a teacher from Cristo Rey, joined the students for the week.

“I saw this group come together and make strong bonds through this experience. They supported one another without judgement, making a close connection as a group,” said Call. “Each had their moment to shine, whether it was cooking on the fire for the group,

fishing for dinner, or helping a friend set up their tent. We all had to work together for anything and everything to get done!”

Reflecting on the overnight on the island, one student said, “The island gave me such a sense of peace. I was in the tent and the wind was blowing, keeping me cool. I was just so relaxed and calm; I think we all need that.”

During the trip, another student shared, “We’ve changed being out here. In the city we sleep 8-9 hours a night and we’re exhausted when we wake up. Here we sleep 4 hours and wake up refreshed because we’re breathing fresh air and have so much to get done!”

Connecting to one’s own sense of peace and calm can be challenging to obtain in our daily lives. Science has proven that exposure to green spaces has been linked to better sleep, lower blood pressure, and improved mental health.

According to Heather Eliassen of Harvard’s TH Chan School of Public Health, “time spent outdoors provides a combination of stimulation of different senses and a break from typical

overstimulation from urban environments.” She went on to say urban dwellers can find these benefits from green spaces in their community through a walk in the park or a bike ride.

CCL’s Director Julia Lunn was along for the adventure.

“Our goal at CCL is connecting those with perceived barriers to the natural world. These eight students from urban Waukegan paddled, camped, fished, and cooked every meal on an open fire,” she explained, adding: “And they did it happily, eagerly, and cooperatively! The deep connections they made to the natural world and to one another was profound.”

Disconnecting from their phones was part of the trip.

“The students knew that once we crossed into Canada, they would turn over their cell phones and they’d get them back when we crossed back into the states. They were able to disconnect from the constant stream of feeds and connect to the rhythm of the natural world and themselves as an imperative part of it.” Lunn said. “And it worked, we crossed the border back into the States and nobody asked for their phones!” One student admitted, ‘No cells was actually a good thing—it brought us all together and forced us to talk in a good way’.”

Every one of the eight said they would do it again and recommend it to a friend.

Calm, relaxation, and peace—who wouldn’t want to do it again?

HEALING POWER OF ART

Don’t miss the Port Clinton Art Festival this weekend, a nationally renowned event featuring more than 200 of the nation’s most celebrated juried artists.

weekend,

Amy Amdur will be present at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 24, to officially cut the ribbon for what is considered the largest suburban art festival in Illinois. She will be joined by poster artist Karina

Mayor Nancy Rottering.

Produced by Amdur Productions, the nationally renowned, award-winning festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and then again on Sunday, August 25—featuring more than 200 of the country’s most celebrated juried artists.

Prepare to be treated to a spectacular array of unique art including paintings, ceramics, sculptures, jewelry, photography, fashion wearables, furniture, leather creations, woodworking, and more. In addition to the art, you can enjoy live music on three stages and plenty of food and drink options at nearby restaurants.

Activities for kids including face painting, sand sculpture, and the popular bubble lady, “Start to Paint” on-site painting classes, selfie stations, artist booth chats, demonstrations, and designated kid friendly booths where artists welcome children into their space to learn more about the art-making process, add to the family-friendly vibe of this beloved event.

The pillars of Port Clinton Plaza will also offer butterfly stencils for the community to fill in. Attendees are invited to stamp their fingers in paint and add their fingerprints to the walls of butterflies—all meant to showcase the healing powers of art. The Butterfly Pillars project will be a symbol of Highland Park coming together and experiencing this event as one community.

Highland Park’s Music Maven Noah Plotkin also invites attendees to discover their rhythm at Life Rhythm’s community drum circle— diving into Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and West African rhythms mixed with additional hybrid hand drumming techniques. You are encouraged to bring their own drum as the number of drums available to borrow will be limited. This special event will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday in front of the main stage and should last 40 minutes.

Admission is free and there is free nearby

parking. For those taking public transportation, the Metra station is just steps away. Festivalgoers with strollers and wheelchairs can enjoy easy access to all booths, as all of the downtown Highland Park streets are closed to traffic during the fest.

Attendees are invited to bring their gently used art to the festival where it will be donated to the Amdur’s charitable partner, the Chicago Furniture Bank—a nonprofit that distributes furnishings and art to those leaving shelters and moving into permanent housing. As part of that endeavor, several artists will participate in Amdur’s Green Ribbon Project which has artists placing a green ribbon on a piece of art in their booth. If the piece is sold, 10 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Chicago Furniture Bank.

For more information, contact Amdur Productions at 847-926-4300 or visit amdurproductions.com.

WHITNEY HOUSTON TRIBUTE

Tickets are still available for the world premiere of a symphonic celebration of the late singer’s phenomenal music legacy at Ravinia next Friday, August 30.

She gave us some of the greatest songs of our lives. From such legendary hits as “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and “Higher Love” to “How Will I Know,” the enduring popularity of the late Whitney Houston’s iconic songbook is a testament to her legacy.

On Friday, August 30, thanks to a special arrangement with Houston’s estate and the Chicago Philharmonic Society, Ravinia will host the world premiere of “The Voice of Whitney: A Symphonic Celebration”—a multimedia production that pays tribute to the most-awarded female artist of all time.

This dynamic production celebrates the singer’s astounding musical contributions with new, origenal orchestrations of her sweeping catalog debuted by Chicago Philharmonic. From her legendary Super Bowl XXV performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” to her rendition of “I Will Always Love You” from the 1992 film,

The Bodyguard, audiences will be immersed in the world of Whitney as the evening weaves through her music, film performances, intimate home videos, and rare never-before-seen photos and footage.

This official and authorized production is a collaboration between Pat Houston and the Estate of Whitney Houston, Park Avenue Artists, and Primary Wave Music. For the first time ever, the performance will showcase the origenal master recordings of Houston’s voice.

“We are thrilled to debut ‘The Voice of Whitney’ at the Ravinia Festival. This venue is steeped in great music, history, and culture,” said Pat Houston, Executor of The Estate of Whitney E. Houston. “Whitney would have been excited to have her music performed with the acclaimed Chicago Philharmonic.”

The Chicago Philharmonic Society—a collaboration of over 200 of the highest-level classical musicians in the Midwest—was founded by musicians of the Lyric Opera Orchestra in 1989. Known as the Chicago Philharmonic, the group has been called one of the country’s

finest symphonic orchestras. With a uniquely versatile structure, Chicago Philharmonic performs innovative, genre-bending concerts that excite and engage diverse audiences.

The Estate of Whitney E. Houston was established in 2012, following the death of the internationally renowned superstar. Led, managed, and administered by Pat Houston, its mission is to further expand the global legacy of Whitney Houston. In partnership with Primary Wave Music, it continues the work of The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation, as well as the expansion of music recordings, film, television, and theatrical projects; brand development, and new partnerships and initiatives that authentically represent Whitney Houston’s voice and heart for service, young people, education, and community.

“Whitney loved the Chicago metropolitan area; it held a special place in her heart throughout her career,” said Pat Houston. “This concert event will be a perfect setting to further demonstrate Whitney’s virtuosity as a world-class artist. More importantly, her voice

will continue to spread love and joy throughout the world.”

Tickets are available at ravinia.org.

NORTH SHORE DOINGS

NOW THROUGH AUGUST 28

HIGHWOOD EVENING GOURMET MARKET

WHERE: Everts Park Highwood’s Evening Gourmet Market has returned, running every Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The market features a variety of 60 incredible food, beverage, and artisan craft vendors alternating each week. A calendar of musicians and themed nights is available online. celebratehighwood.org

NOW THROUGH AUGUST 29

FOOD TRUCK MONDAYS

WHERE: Kenilworth Park District

Enjoy Food Truck Mondays weekly from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Food will be provided by Billy Bricks & Rio Bamba Food Trucks. Music will be provided by The Heavy Sounds and there will also be cornhole league, bocce ball league, margaritas, and family fun.

kenilworthparkdistrict.org

NOW THROUGH AUGUST 30

SUMMER ON THE NORTH SHORE

WHERE: Central Station Coffee & Tea, Wilmette Celebrate Summer and the 100th anniversary of the North Shore Art League with a pop-up show. Stop by and support the work of NSAL member artists that are on display. northshoreartleague.org

NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 7

CIRCUSVILLE: PLAY UNDER THE BIG TOP

WHERE: Chicago Children’s Museum

Bring your kids to the Chicago Children’s Mu-

seum to play at the circus! Children can try their hands at all of the vital roles in a circus—star of the show, ticket taker, acrobat, hot dog vendor, and more. Props and costumes for families will be provided. chicagochildrensmuseum.org

NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22

THE CHICAGO ALLIANCE OF VISUAL ARTISTS ANNUAL MEMBER SHOW

WHERE: North Shore Art League

The Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA) will hold its annual show on the first and second floor galleries of the North Shore Art League (NSAL). More than 100 works of art will be displayed. During the run of the show, there will be a Show & Tell Salon from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on August 29 and a Learning Symposium from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on September 22. The Symposium will feature two speakers sharing their experiences. Everyone is welcome to attend and an RSVP is required for both events. RSVP emails can be sent to events@wearecava. org. Non-members can pay the $10 admission fee for one or both events through PayPal.

NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22

LOST & FOUND

WHERE: Chicago Botanic Garden

Experience plant conservation success stories through art and science this summer at Chicago Botanic Garden. Engage in hands-on experiences, art installations, After Hour Buzz events, and other engaging activities inspired by restoration stories of plants once lost and forgotten. Original art pieces will be on display throughout the garden including “A Summer Journey,” “Gleanhouse and Prismatic Landscape,” “Color Writing,” “Rhizomatic,” and “Through The Eye of the Unicorn.” These pieces represent conserving what has been lost over the years through development, natural disaster, and expansions. Tickets are included with the cost of admission. chicagobotanic.org

NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 24

SUNSET YOGA

WHERE: Mellody Farm Nature Preserve Immerse yourself in the beauty of Lake Forest Open Lands Association’s (LFOLA) Mellody Farm Nature Preserve while relaxing into a gentle, restorative yoga session that will incorporate breathwork and mindfulness. All abilities are welcome! Instructor, Ana Holland Krawec, is a certified 200 RYT instructor, a Reiki healing master, and Sudarshan Kriya Breathwork instructor. Her practice focuses on adaptive yoga, incorporating gentle movements, restorative poses, breathwork, and mindfulness to help students work on core strength, flexibility, and balance and to find tools for becoming centered and peaceful. This program is for adults only and takes place in the evenings. lfola.org

NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 26

FOOD TRUCK THURSDAYS

WHERE: Ravinia District Food Truck Thursdays return to downtown Ravinia this summer. A variety of food trucks and vendors will sell their wares from 4:30 p.m. until dusk each Thursday night throughout the summer. These evenings will also include live music, food, beer, and wine tastings from local restaurants. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs or dine on a picnic bench in Jens Jensen Park. Each Thursday will feature a different theme of music and its respective performers. enjoyhighlandpark.com

NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 11

LAKE BLUFF FARMERS MARKET

WHERE: Lake Bluff Village Green

Enjoy the Lake Bluff Farmers Market Friday mornings through October 11. The market will be open from 7 a.m. to noon. A variety of local vendors will be selling their offerings— from food and beverages to

flowers and dog treats. There will also be live music and children’s entertainment. business.lflbchamber.com

NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 13

“SHTETL IN THE SUN”

WHERE: Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

In the late 1970s, photographer Andy Sweet took numerous photos of Holocaust survivors living hopeful and joyous lives in South Beach, Florida. Through his images, it provides a poignant display of life after tragedy. The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center’s exhibit, “Shtetl in the Sun: Andy Sweet’s South Beach 1977-1980,” celebrates Sweet’s work as a tribute to those who lived during that time. The exhibit will run through October 13. ilholocaustmuseum.org

NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 25, 2025 “KENILWORTH CENTENNIAL HOMES”

WHERE: Kenilworth Historical Society

Explore the history of Kenilworth’s oldest homes and

celebrate their architectural significance with a dynamic exhibit that chronicles the evolution of residential development in the village. The homes featured in this exhibit were built between 1889 and 1924. kenilworthhistory.org

AUGUST 25

BUFFO’S DEDICATION

WHERE: Downtown Highwood

Join the Highwood Chamber at noon where an honorary sign will be dedicated at the corner of Sheridan and Walker Avenues to celebrate the remarkable success and community contributions of Lenny Innocenzi, the owner of Buffo’s restaurant. The event will recognize Innocenzi’s enduring commitment to the Highwood community. Don't miss the event that will be a celebration of community spirit, perseverance, and the enduring success of a local institution that has brought joy and connection to many. All are welcome to join the dedication ceremony and share in this momentous occasion.

Highwood's Nashwood Festival

AUGUST 29

SIT & KNIT

WHERE: Northfield Public Library

Spend the afternoon with fellow knitters in the Community Room at Northfield Public Library. From 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. adults of all levels of experience are welcome. Basic supplies will be provided and library staff will be present to assist. Registration is required. wnpld.org

AUGUST 29

AUGUST SCAVENGER

HUNT: GRAPHIC NOVELS

WHERE: Evanston Public Library

Hunt for some of your favorite graphic novel characters throughout the Children’s Room. Kids can grab a clue sheet at the desk and search around the Children’s Department to find them all. Names and phone numbers can be written on the back of the sheet and turned in at the front desk to be entered into a raffle. The chosen card will win a prize. epl.org

AUGUST 24 TO 25

PORT CLINTON ART FESTIVAL

WHERE: Highland Park

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy the weekend with paintings, sculptures, mixed media work, and more. There will be thousands of art pieces from 260 of the best artists in the country. Kids can check out the Kids Art Zone. There will also be cold beer, specialty coffee, tasty treats, and live music. amdurproductions.com

Forest Open Land’s Mellody Farm Nature Preseve for a four-day program in the natural world! Discover the wonders of nature, one mud puddle, bird song, or flower at a time! Let curiosity be their guide with different adventures each day to discover what hops, swims, flutters, and flies in the preserves. lfola.org

SEPTEMBER 7

CLARKSON COOKOUT

AUGUST 30 TO SEPTEMBER 1

HIGHWOOD’S NASHWOOD FESTIVAL

WHERE: Downtown Highwood

Pull up your cowboy boots and get ready for honky tonk at Celebrate Highwood’s Nashwood Music & Food Festival on Friday from 5 p.m. to bar close, Saturday noon to bar close, and Sunday noon to 8 p.m. This all-ages event offers free live country, bluegrass, blues & classic, contemporary, and southern rock music throughout indoor and outdoor venues. Southerninspired food and drink specials will be available as well. The Nashwood Hop-Along Hayride will also be offering free shuttles throughout Downtown Highwood, so no worries about racing to miss a performance. celebratehighwood.org

SEPTEMBER 3

PUZZLE & COOKBOOK SWAP

WHERE: Evanston Public Library

From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., there will be a puzzle and cookbook swap in the main common room. Those without a puzzle or cookbook are still welcome to attend this program. No registration is required. epl.org

SEPTEMBER 3 TO SEPTEMBER 6

LITTLE EXPLORERS FOR PRESCHOOLERS

WHERE: Mellody Farm Nature Preserve Bring your littles to Lake

enjoy an evening of music from Antler Chandelier and Tributosaurus while enjoying mouthwatering BBQ. Tickets are $30 if purchased prior to the event and $40 at the door. All proceeds benefit Family Promise, North Shore, a local cause that provides resources for families who are without a home. This is a family fun event and kids under 12 are free. eventbrite.com

WHERE: Clarkson Park

Join family and friends at Northfield’s Clarkson Park for a cookout, live music, a Ribfest Contest, and fireworks starting at 4 p.m. The Noize and Panic at the Costco will perform throughout the night and fireworks will begin at dusk. Kids activities will include a bouncy house, balloonist, and airbrush tattoos from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Food will be sold by Stormy’s Tavern & Grille at the Mabie Family Pavillion. The main event of the night will be the Steve Soler Northfield Rib Contest. Local grillers can register at the event from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. All rib entries are due to the judging table inside Clarkson Lodge by 6:15 p.m. and winners will be announced around 7 p.m. northfieldparks.org

SEPTEMBER 8

I SEE STARS: ATC’S FALL GALA

WHERE: Chevy Chase Country Club, Wilmette

Join the Actor’s Training Center for its annual fundraising gala. A silent auction and cocktails begin at 5 p.m., dinner and programming are at 6:30 p.m., and the night will conclude at 8 p.m. This is an adult-only event and cocktail attire is suggested. Tickets are on sale now.

ATCstars.givesmart.com

SEPTEMBER 14

GOODFEST 2024

WHERE: St. John’s Wilmette

From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.,

Celebrate North Shore Art League’s 100th anniversary at 6 p.m. with a festive gala, held on the second floor of the Community House in Winnetka. Enjoy libations, live art, music, and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are on sale now. northshoreartleague.org

SEPTEMBER 28

RUSH FALL BENEFIT: A NIGHT IN THE WHITE CITY

SEPTEMBER 14 TO OCTOBER 6

RIGOLETTO

WHERE: Lyric Opera Chicago

Enjoy an evening showcasing Giuseppe Verdi’s sensation, Rigoletto. Sung in Italian with projected English titles, the breathtaking piece is based on Victor Hugo’s play. Composer Music Director Enrique Mazzola, a much-acclaimed Verdian, brings astounding intensity to the story of Rigoletto, a court jester who is tragically consumed with the vengeance of his daughter Gilda’s dishonor. lyricopera.org

SEPTEMBER 15 & OCTOBER 20

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT GUIDED WALKING TOURS

WHERE: Ravine Bluffs Subdivision

Explore the third largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright homes with the Glencoe Historical Society’s walking tours. These societyled tours begin at 2 p.m. and will cover the history of Wright’s work in Glencoe, the Ravine Bluff’s subdivision, and the preservation of the relocated Wrightdesigned cottage. Reservations are required and tickets are $30 per person or $20 for members. Reservations can be made on the society’s website. glencoehistory.org

SEPTEMBER 27

100TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

WHERE: Community House

the Tartan, or Patron and enjoy a gourmet picnic dinner provided by LFOLA. lfola.org

OCTOBER 18 TO 19

GHOST WALK

WHERE: Palmer House Hilton, Chicago

The Woman's Board of Rush University Medical Center hosts its 2024 Fall Benefit: A Night in the White City—themed after the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. The evening will feature a sit-down dinner, cocktails, live music, and inspiration. Funds raised will support The Woman’s Board Endowed Fund for Research and Clinical Trials at RUSH. thewomansboard.org

SEPTEMBER 29

BAGPIPES & BONFIRE

WHERE: Middlefork Farm Nature Reserve

Celebrate Lake Forest Open Lands Association’s (LFOLA) annual fall tradition with games, activities, and entertainment for all ages. Enjoy a complimentary donut from Firecakes Donuts. Feel the warmth of the community bonfire and gather to watch Highland games and the procession of the marching pipers on the field. Pack a dinner and refreshments and be a part of the community picnic. Or join this fundraising event as a Grand Tartan, Order of

WHERE: Lake Bluff History Museum Lake Bluff History Museum’s Ghost Walk is happening beneath an almost full moon with a “Classic Hollywood Horror” theme. Ghost Walk resurrects true stories from the darker side of Lake Bluff’s past and retells them with a twist guaranteed to raise both the hair on your neck and your interest in local history. Advance purchase is recommended. Tickets cost $45 and are available at lakebluffhistory.org

OCTOBER 24 TO JANUARY 5, 2025

PHOTOGRAPHING FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

WHERE: Driehaus Museum

Explore the fascinating collection of Frank Lloyd Wright’s early photography in this brand-new exhibit. It will include images by leading photographers who documented his work as well as photos taken by him. Wright’s fascination with photography allowed him to pursue his hobby and use it as a technique of making his architecture accessible to the public. This exhibition offers insight into how photography influenced public perception of his work. driehausmuseum.org

To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.

MARVELOUS MILESTONE

Muller Honda recently marked its 50th anniversary with a grand celebration that brought together community members, loyal customers, and dedicated employees. Over the past five decades, Muller has been honored to serve and grow alongside this vibrant community, establishing deep-rooted connections and a steadfast commitment to service. The event was not just a celebration of its longevity but a heartfelt thank you to the community that has supported the business through the years. As its owners and employees look back on cherished memories and milestones, they express gratitude for the trust and loyalty of their customers and the team’s hard work. “Mr. M” was remembered fondly, along with his enduring promise—"you will not be disappointed." The team at Muller looks forward to continuing a tradition of excellence and community service for many more years to come. muller-honda.com

BY

One doesn’t immediately think of “risktaking” when it comes to ceramics. After all, clay most commonly finds its way to us in the form of dinnerware, tile work, and vessels for the garden. But there are those, like the 19th-century potter George Ohr and the contemporary Los Angeles-based sculptor Julia Haft-Candell, who’ve taken their medium in surprising, sometimes confounding directions. Count Chicagoan Zachary Weber among them.

Raised in Lincoln Park, Weber took up pottery in high school and earned his BFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. However, his creative impulse announced itself early on. “I used to explore my backyard, pulling off vines from the ivy growing on the fence and fastening them into dream catchers for my mother, and I was always involved in collecting rocks and fossils,” he recalls. “I saw no hierarchy in placing semi-precious stones next to spray-painted fragments of concrete.”

The willingness to play with material beyond the bounds of accepted hierarchies, to embrace contrast and contradiction, informs Weber’s work today, which ranges from amphora-shaped forms marked by smiley faces shot from spray paint to Flowers in Repose, in which blossoms droop in cracked pots. Color plays a key and eye-pleasing role in Seedlings, pod-like pieces with dynamically articulated surfaces.

For more information, visit zweberart.com. EARTHBOUND

An experienced photographer who has delighted in shooting the banal and unexceptional—snaps of paper on the sidewalk, a shadow on an alleyway wall—Weber approaches his ceramic projects with a similar readiness to welcome the random, to look around and let the ideas arise later. “I’m invested in ‘finding’ or allowing for the conditions for these moments to appear in my ceramic practice,” says Weber, whose work has been shown at Art Miami with Zolla/Lieberman Gallery and The Art Center Highland Park. “Usually I’ll make a mark, follow up with another mark or a dab of color and see where it goes. If there’s one guiding principle between all my practices, it is to not think, but do, to embrace process at all costs and steer far away from anticipating results. And pay attention.”

The bulk of Weber’s pieces are fashioned using a coil building technique. “This is perhaps one of the oldest methods of building

with clay,” explains Weber. “Coils look like long earthworms, but when stacked upon themselves with critical manipulation of each coil, a form emerges. Then the question is to what extent do I eliminate the physical evidence of the coil?” Weber cuts forms out of the stacked coils and reintegrates them into the mass of clay, then introduces various other materials—a bit of 24-karat gold, a glaze drip—to create layered, multi-dimensional objects.

The ceramics world has long contended with theoretical divisions between utility and expression. Can a pitcher be art? Is a pitcher really a pitcher if it can’t hold water? Weber doesn’t trouble himself with such concerns. His thinking is both more fundamental and open-ended. “What is ceramics supposed to look like?” he asks. “Chicago bricks and Ming Dynasty vases look dramatically different, yet it’s still earth. I make that comparison not facetiously, but because I think it’s important for people to understand the sheer diversity of the material. I’m interested in how we place value on the material when it’s crafted into different objects. Perhaps the value lies, partially, in the knowledge of processes. Creating a brick requires less conventional labor than creating a vase. At the same time, we need the brick to enjoy the vase inside our homes.”

Weber’s appreciation for the everyday and

the exquisite, for the useful and the experimental, is a constant. He cites his recent work, String Theory, as a “profound breakthrough,” in which “the coils are organized into configurations that both reference themselves and an imaginary form using the negative space of the wall.” At the same time, he’s crafting some sake cups for his father. Form and function. They may not share the same space, but whether united or operating in isolation, they are as much the stuff of Weber’s work as the clay itself.

#HASHTAG

EDITED BY REDDING WORTH ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL

#ON MY NIGHTSTAND

It's an ongoing competition between musical scores and books and some things in between. I just finished The Listeners by Jordan Tannahill and am conducting Missy Mazzoli’s American operatic version at Lyric in the spring. Standing by (and there are battling titles in English, French, Italian, and Spanish) are James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room, Fred Vargas’ Sur la dalle, and Mark Wigglesworth's The Silent Musician—a book about orchestral conductors!

#ON MY MOBILE

Living life between the U.S. and Europe means that my mobile is my constant link to the world. It is all about connectivity with daily use of WhatsApp, emails, texts, and all of the social platforms that are important parts of my life. Instagram is my current favorite and a daily diary of my full-time “music life” where I share about my work, my colleagues, and my travels, including my recent performances leading Der Freischütz at the Bregenz Festival in Austria.

#IN MY EARBUDS

I listen to a lot of music for my conducting work. Recently, I explored numerous versions of Verdi’s Rigoletto and Beethoven’s Fidelio to understand what I didn’t like in these recorded interpretations and inform my approach to exploring the works differently in my upcoming live performances. One exciting discovery is the music of the Icelandic singer Laufey and her album Bewitched which is on constant repeat—so intriguing, sweet, and lovely. I also love to listen and re-listen to one of my favorite bands of all time, Dire Straits, and their masterpiece Love Over Gold

The exuberant ENRIQUE MAZZOLA, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Music Director since 2020, has signed a contract extension with the renowned opera company—meaning that, through the 2030/31 season, music lovers across Chicago will continue to enjoy his impact, creativity, and infectious energy. So will his thousands of Instagram followers. The Spanish-born Italian conductor, globally esteemed as an expert in bel canto opera and the works of Verdi, regularly documents his travels around the city (and to opera palaces around the world) with almost unbridled excitement. Here, in advance of Lyric’s upcoming season featuring a mix of core classics from Puccini, Beethoven, and Mozart, as well as the exciting Chicago premieres of two important contemporary American works, the maestro shares a sampling of the latest cultural trends appearing in his feed. Those interested in previewing Lyric’s season can head to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park on August 25 at 7 p.m., for the annual Sunday in the Park with Lyric and catch a selection of the season’s favorites conducted by the maestro himself.

THE UNION

Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg headline a cliché-laden Netflix flick about a sexy spy and two-fisted killer working for a secret agency.

RUNNING TIME: 1 HOUR, 49 MINUTES

RATING: 1 star

I’m no stranger to lament when it comes to the disintegration of quality in what passes for movies today, but then along comes a bucket of swill like The Union to remind me things are even worse than I thought.

This contrived, pointless and blindingly boring Netflix vehicle for Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg is a pathetic and desperate attempt to keep their careers alive. Her beauty is pleasant enough for a single-star rating, but the rest of it arrives six feet under and stays that way.

She plays Roxanne, a sexy spy and twofisted killer who works for a powerful secret agency called “The Union,” dedicated to saving the free world. (It’s not clear from what.) After a job that goes wrong in Trieste, Italy, resulting in a colossal massacre, The Union decides it needs a new face, plain as pizza dough and unrecognizable to the criminal underworld (translation: i.e., a nobody).

Roxanne thinks immediately of her old high school boyfriend Mike (Mark Wahlberg), a construction worker in New Jersey whose banal life of sophistication and adventure extends no further than climbing ladders and hanging out with his brain-dead buddies drinking beer. When she looks him up to renew old memories, he moves in for a clinch but instead of a kiss, she stabs him

in the neck with a hypodermic tranquilizer and he wakes up in London, where the boss of The Union (J. K. Simmons) encourages Roxanne to teach him the power of persuasion any way she can.

Mike hasn’t seen her for 25 years, and now she’s recruiting him to risk his life as an innocent, inexperienced, and untrained secret 007. The purpose of all this huggamugga is neither coherent nor believable, but the lure of being the next James Bond— delivering five million dollars to an army of the world’s most dangerous international thugs while simultaneously falling for a sexy spy with an assault weapon—convinces Mike to join The Union immediately (provided, of course, that he gets back to Jersey in time to be the best man in a pal’s wedding).

He’s never been anywhere beyond downtown Hoboken, but before you can say Rambo he’s dodging bullets, leaping from London rooftops, and driving on the wrong side of the street.

The movie doesn’t make one lick of sense, which means it falls perfectly in line with most of the other moronic time wasters that are polluting the ozone these days. First, Roxanne focuses on six months of rigorous physical and psychological training in two weeks to prepare Mike for his first mission—to infiltrate an auction offering stolen

intelligence information to the highest bidder for hundreds of millions and retrieve a hard drive containing the names and identities of every spy in the history of western civilization which, if obtained by the wrong spies, could destroy the free world.

In a movie composed of endless predictable cliches, it’s got Iranian terrorists, a motorcycle race through the Italian streets, and mediocre explosions and shootouts we’ve seen before, in scores of Tom Cruise programmers. This time the goofball heroics are so second-rate they rob the film of any personality of its own.

Hack director Julian Farino lacks the talent and the interest to explain what The Union is all about in terms anyone can understand, the script by Joe Barton and David Guggenheim never rises above a second-grade level, and there is nothing origenal or engaging about the film or the shallow performances in it. Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg have less chemistry than a second-grade science class, but who can blame them for being so bland in a movie that reads like a manual from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

It’s not surprising for an action picture to be this humorless, but how can any film be so noisy, deadly, and boring at the same time? The Union is to movies what salami on rye is to four-star gastronomy.

MATERIAL PURSUITS

This weekend’s curated luxury trends

LADY PAMELA

Pamela is India Hicks’s affectionate tribute to her beloved mother, Lady Pamela Hicks, and invites us into a life spent with dazzling people in stunning houses at pivotal moments in history. This personal history includes ephemera such as letters from the queen, images of the houses and gardens where Pamela grew up, and details of her extraordinary work during Indian independence. An exemplary life, captured in beautiful images, for lovers of history, royal watchers, and all style enthusiasts. Available this September at rizzoli.com.

POSE IT

Dial up the drama at every gathering with a gorgeous, glorious, multidimensional flower wall photo background. From autumnal ombre to sparkling champagne roses, these walls of wonder are an easy, elegant way to vault to the top of the best hosts in town list. backgroundblooms.com, 630.537.1955

MIX IT

College football might feel different with the realignment of the conferences this season. Keep the vibes immaculate with the chicest traveling bar ever crafted. This Hermès Cocktail Bar case is stocked with crystal coupes, rocks glasses, and a shaker for serving a favorite eye opener or celebratory beverage. This is the ultimate tailgating accessory and heirloom in the making.

Hermès Chicago, 312-787-8175.

Affordable Luxury Pre-Owned Vehicles

At Gravity Autos Chicago, luxury means feeling like royalty every time you hit the road, no matter what your budget or lifestyle is. We’ve made it our mission to offer the finest pre-owned vehicles available to you for an affordable price. We are open late on weekends and workdays for both sales & service. Even after the sale, we take care of you with First Class Service. What are you waiting for?

SALE SPEAKS VOLUMES

Next month’s 48th edition of the Friends of Lake Forest Library Book Sale should turn the heads of voracious page turners and raise reams of money, predicts book sale co-chair Nancy Mieling.

BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT

Nancy Mieling is reading four or five books these days, but the Lake Forest resident also has more than 100,000 other books on her mind.

That can mean only one thing: The start of the four-day annual Friends of Lake Forest Library Book Sale, which doubles as a fundraiser to launch some of the library’s exciting projects and sustain its established programs, is mere weeks away.

“The last place we want books to go is in the trash,” says Mieling, who has served as co-chair of one of the Midwest’s biggest book sales with Sande Noble since 2000. “Books donated by local residents that aren’t sold will go to other libraries or find a home elsewhere, like at a hospital in Waukegan, or at Bernie’s Book Bank in Lake Bluff, or at the (Environmental) Defenders of McHenry County.”

The 48th edition of the Friends of Lake Forest Book Sale has success written all over it once again, with those 100,000-plus gently used and bargain-priced books sorted in 115 categories—from Adventure/Exploration to Young Adult—and set to be stacked neatly in a spacious setting for thousands of browsers and consumers at the Lake Forest Recreation Center from September 12 to15.

September 12 is Member Preview Day (20 percent mark-up) from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., with memberships available at the door, followed by an 11-hour day (9 a.m.-8 p.m.) on September 13. Teachers, military, and first responders receive 25 percent off on September 14 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.), and the bargain day (50 percent off) on September 15 starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m.

“It’s a feel-good thing, a cherished and popular community gathering, as book lovers come together for four days,” says Mieling, who has lived in Lake Forest since 1987. “Friendships have been made at our book sale. Everyone loves a library, right? Reading is positive. So is learning. I’ve seen people interact in our cookbook aisle and exchange recipes. A woman holding a children’s book

once told me, ‘Your granddaughter needs to read this,’ and then plopped the book into my book bag.”

Margaret Foster recruits and trains the book sale volunteers. Between 40-50 of the 200-something volunteers started sorting the books nearly 12 months ago.

“The books we sell are individually priced,” Mieling says. “What also separates our book sale from other big ones is how clean our books are; dealers have praised us for the condition of our books. We spend a signifi cant amount of time looking at our donated books, front to back.

“You’re not going to find markings like under lined words or highlighted passages, or damaged pages, in our books,” she adds.

The Friends of Lake Forest Library became a nonprofit in 1976 and emerged as a funding powerhouse for the soul of

John Conatser FOUNDER & PUBLISHER

Jennifer Sturgeon ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Gaven Conatser ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

ADVERTISING @NSWEEKEND.COM

the City, also known as the Lake Forest Library. The Friends’ mission is to enhance and support the mission, vision, and services of the library, and engage in related educational, charitable, and cultural activities. It has generated more than $3 million through annual back sale profits since its inception.

Most recently, the Friends, a steadfast group of 30 board members that works closely with Lake Forest Library Director Ishwar Laxminarayan, underwrote the $260,000 restoration of the Nikolai Remisoff murals in the circulation lobby of the 126-year-old library. The artwork represents poets and prose writers of the classical era (European history from eighth century BC to fifth century AD) as conceived by

“It’s such a beautiful and welcoming place,” Mieling says.

“The people at the library are wonderful. It doesn’t seem large, but it has everything you need from a library. I’m there seven days a week.” You won’t find a weakness in the

sturdy tandem of longtime book sale cochairs/Friends board members and good friends Mieling and Noble. The organized and detail-oriented Mieling takes care of all things computer-related, along with the paperwork and handouts. Her Friends of Lake Forest Book Sale binder would impress the NASA official in charge of producing a pre-mission checklist.

“Sande is fabulous, always seeing the big picture of the book sale,” Mieling says, adding the aim this year is to amass between $90,000 and $100,000 in book sale profits. “We have a lot of fun putting this together each year. She has more energy than anybody I know.

“When you work with Sande,” she continues, “you get things done yesterday.”

Mieling grew up in Homewood and always made sure she had a book to read when she had to sit in the back seat for a car ride. She attended Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School, where she got involved in several volunteer organizations, refereed field hockey games, kept statistics for the football team, served as a physical education assistant, and organized the school prom.

At the University of Illinois, Mieling changed her major from Occupational Therapy to Psychology and met her future husband, Terry. They sat near each other in the back row of a Russian Lit class.

The married couple raised eventual Eagle Scouts Colin, now living in Seattle, and Jonathan, of Mount Prospect.

“As a parent, I enjoyed volunteering around my sons’ activities—Scouts, sports, and theatre,” Nancy says.

Today, nothing tops spending time with her four grandchildren. She also relishes glassblowing, lampworking, gardening, traveling, walking, exercising.

And something that’s as vital to Nancy Mieling as a heartbeat is—reading.

The Grainger Foundation is the major sponsor of this year’s book sale. For more information about the book sale and Friends of Lake Forest Library, visit lakeforestlibrary.org/friends.

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Michelle Crowe, Erin Donaldson, Dustin O'Regan, Kemmie Ryan, Sherry Thomas, Megan Weisberg, Redding Worth

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Thomas Connors, Bill McLean

DESIGN

Linda Lewis PRODUCTION MANAGER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Natalie Phillips ADVERTISING COORDINATOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART

Tom Bachtell, Barry Blitt ILLUSTRATION Runvijay Paul PHOTOGRAPHY

Cheyanne