Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Our lake is great. Show her you care. April 23

Revetment Splash by Ted Glasoe



Pitch #1: What have you done for our Mother Earth lately? This Sunday go to the beach and clean her up a bit. She'll take care of us, if we take care of her.

Pitch #1.5: Saturday is Earth Day. It comes every April. Do your Earth Day observance at Evanston's Lee Street Beach this Sunday.

Pitch #2: This Sunday you can go to the gym to bend, stretch and walk or you can go to the beach to do all that, plus get some vitamin D in the process, while hanging out with some very fine people and helping the health of our planet.

Pitch #2.5: Forget the gym. Go to the Lee Street Beach this Sunday.

Pitch #3: Have you met environmentalist/photographer Ted Glasoe yet? Nice guy, and talented, too. He'll be cleaning up Lee Street Beach this Sunday from 9-11 a.m. In case you need a reason to go to the beach on a partly sunny day, meeting him and other lovely people is a good one, plus bags will be provided to help with some beach cleaning as long as you're there.

Pitch #4: Got kids? Looking for something worthwhile and low-cost to amuse them? Take 'em to Lee Street Beach this Sunday. There will be things to look at, collect and catalog on the beach.

Pitch #4.5: Free fun at Lee Street Beach this Sunday.

Pitch #5: Want to influence policy and strategy for reducing pollution and keeping the water clean, clear and safe? Join Ted Glasoe and cool neighbors for some beach clean-up and cataloging at the intersection of Lee St. and Lake Michigan this Sunday.

Pitch #5.5: Spend time with Lake Michigan and some nice people, while influencing policy at Lee Street Beach this Sunday.

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The weather is predicted to be nice on Sunday.

A series of Chicago-area Earth Day events start on Thursday.
Chicago Parent has a nice list of Earth Day events.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Evanston's Entrepreneur and Leadership Women’s Conference a hit


Hewn's Julie Matthei and Ellen King


Northwestern's
Dr. Robert C. Wolcott



Marketing Intelligence on Demand's
Tricia M. Spellman



Journalist and author
Maudlyne Ihejirika

 









































Enjoyed Evanston's first annual Entrepreneur and Leadership Women’s Conference organized by Evanston Woman Magazine. Kudos to Linda Del Bosque and the conference sponsors.

The intimate conference, held on Monday, April 10 in the Holiday Inn-Evanston's Ridgeville Room, included no more than 35 women, which surely contributed to the feeling of camaraderie among participants.

Julie Matthei and Ellen King, co-owners of Hewn Artisan Bread Co., talked about growing their business from Ellen and her family personally delivering bread to customers to a recently expanded brick-and-mortar shop on Dempster St. with a parklet and a church pew, transparency with their clientele, and brave decisions.


Dr. Robert C. Wolcott, co-founder and executive director of Northwestern University's Kellogg School Innovation Network, discussed growth, innovation and change management.

Tricia M. Spellman, founder and chief of Marketing Intelligence on Demand
talked about smart planning and patience when it comes to marketing.

City of Evanston’s Economic Development Manager Johanna Leonard reminded us about what the city is working on to spur economic success in the city and introduced the final speaker. 


Sun-Times columnist and author Maudlyne Ihejirika closed the conference with a presentation about her family's flight from Nigeria as refugees in the late 1960s, a story recounted in her mother's memoir, Escape from Nigeria: A Memoir of Faith, Love and War. It's good she closed. She inspired tears.

The half-day conference was covered by the Daily Northwestern's Maggie Burakoff.

I covered it with my camera primarily for y'all who could not be there. More pictures are up on Facebook.

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Maudlyne Ihejirika talks to Daniel French and I in January on WCGO's Everyday with French and Friends show.

Dr. Wolcott participated in a TEDx talk at University of Chicago in 2011.

Monday, April 10, 2017

Where, oh where to eat on Easter

You're not up for cooking yourself, so...decisions, decisions. Want to stay close to home? Check out these offerings.
 
Found, 1631 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 847-868-8945; FoundKitchen.com. Celebrate Easter Sunday with spring-centric, family-style menu, available from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Chef Nicole Pederson offers kale and swiss chard salad with cranberries, candied nuts and seeds, as well as pan-roasted salmon with crispy polenta, arugula and Meyer lemon. The family-style brunch menu is $38 for adults and $18 for kids. The standard a la carte dinner menu also will be offered from 5 to 8:30 p.m. with certain specials available.

Pete Miller's, 1557 Sherman Ave., Evanston, 847-328-0399; www.petemillers.com. Listen to live jazz music by Nicole Kestler (10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) and Jeannine Tanner (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) while you enjoy a buffet featuring carving and omelet stations, a seafood and raw bar and a sweets table. Admission is $46.99, $23.50 for kids ages 6-10 and free for kids younger than six and entitles you to a two-hour reservation.

Hearth Restaurant, 1625 Hinman Ave., Evanston, 847-570-8400; www.hearthrestaurant.net. 
Start your meal with complimentary freshly baked breakfast breads, then order a la carte. Dishes including cinnamon roll pancakes, skirt steak benedict and avocado toast. Mimosas, bloody marys, bellinis, fresh squeezed orange juice and coffee and tea are also available. Brunch is served from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Stained Glass, 1735 Benson Ave., Evanston, 847-864-8600; www.thestainedglass.com. Enjoy made-to-order omelets and eggs benedict, carved leg of lamb with mint pesto and ham with pineapple chutney, and other fare including doughnut French toast, tomato mozzarella salad, and scones. Brunch is $32, half-price for kids ages 4-12 and free for kids under age 3. Adults get a complementary mimosa or bloody mary. The buffet is available from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Ten Mile House, 1700 Central St., Evanston, 847-905-0669, www.tmhevanston.com. Brunch will feature brisket and ribs, house-smoked salmon, pastries and eggs made to order, and more, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $32 for adults, $15 for kids.

The Barn, rear of 1016 Church St., Evanston, 847-868-8041, www.thebarnevanston.com. The Barn is offering a special three-course brunch with options such as Soup de Poisson ($9.95); Little Gem Salad and Creamy Dijon Salad ($11.95); The Grand Central Caviar Sandwich ($18.95); a choice of Prime Heritage Angus steaks, Za'Atar Roasted Half Chicken ($22.95); and more.

Convito Cafe and Market, 1515 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, 847-251-2654, ConvitoCafeandMarket.com. Easter brunch includes grilled rack of lamb, honey lavender roasted ham and convito hash will be offered with the regular menu from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Restaurant Michael, 64 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, 847-441-3100; www.restaurantmichael.com. A three-course menu offers a choice of starters such as a duo of chilled jumbo lump crab and crab cake with sweet pea sauce. Entrees include rack of lamb and grilled garlic lamb sausage and a dessert such as strawberry soufflé with candied kumquat. Brunch is $54, $26 for kids younger than age 10 and reservations are available every half hour from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Bar Louie at Holiday Inn Skokie, 5300 Touhy, Skokie, 847-763-3068. The Easter brunch buffet is spread out and includes cold and hot food tables; carving, pasta, waffle, omelet and dessert stations and a bakery corner. The $26.95 tab for adults includes a choice of champagne or mimosa; children aged 5 to 12 are charged $14.95. Service goes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The weather forecast expects no rain for Sunday and to get as warm as 61 F with some clouds, some sunshine. If you’re in the mood for a drive, consider these places.

Maya del Sol, 144 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, 708-358-9800, www.mayadelsol.com. Bring some Latin fare to your celebration, with a brunch buffet featuring tilapia ceviche, chipotle-marinated skirt steak, vegetable enchiladas and sweet corn tamales with poblano cream sauce. Brunch runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and costs $29 or $14 for kids ages 4-12. Kids younger than age 4 eat free.

Rob Roy Golf Course, 505 E. Camp McDonald Rd, Prospect Hts., IL 60070. 847-296-4653. This River Trails Park District golf course club house offers Easter champagne brunch buffet on Sunday. First seating: 9:30 a.m – 11:30 a.m. Second seating: 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.. Bill will be $24.95 Adults, $14.95, Children 4-12, Free, Kids 3 and younger. Let them know you're bringing kids so the Easter bunny can deliver a special gift. Reservations required: 847-296-4653 x6.

Magnolia Café & Bakery at Lambs Farm
, 14245 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville, 847-362-4636; www.lambsfarm.org. A buffet offers carved meats, classic breakfast fare, fresh fruit and vegetables and bakery treats. Reservations are available at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. and the meal costs $24.95 or $10.95 for kids ages 2-12. Kids younger than age 2 eat free.

Chicago Botanic Garden, Nichols Hall, Regenstein Center, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe, 847-835-5440. Easter brunch menu includes breakfast pastries, turkey and glazed ham from a carving station, a spring vegetable quiche and vanilla french toast bread pudding among other dishes. Bloody Marys, Mimosas and champagne cocktails are available for purchase. Tickets are $32 for adults and $24 for children 3 to 12 years old; members get a discount. After brunch, stop in the Rose Garden for an Easter egg hunt.

Allgauer's on the Riverfront at Hilton Chicago/Northbrook, 2855 N. Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook, 847-664-7999, www.northbrookallgauers.com. Choose from more than 100 items offered at this champagne brunch including oysters on the half shell, dozens of fresh salads, peel & eat shrimp, snow crab, hand-carved beef, made-to-order omelets, kids items and desserts. The Easter bunny will also make an appearance. Brunch is served from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and costs $42 or $18 for kids ages 4-12.

Monastero's, 3935 E. Devon Ave., Chicago, 773-588-2515, www.monasteros.com. Champagne brunch will take place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Entrees begin at $22, with a children's menu starting at $16. Cost includes choice of entree; soup, fruit or salad; dessert trip, coffee, tea and choice of a glass of champagne, orange juice or mimosa.

Cafe Touche, 6731 N. Northwest Highway, Chicago, 773-775-0909, CafeTouche.com. Full brunch offerings available between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Lucky Monk, 105 Hollywood Blvd., South Barrington, 847-898-0500, www.theluckymonk.com. Easter brunch entrees will include corned beef hash, short rib benedict, stuffed French toast and chicken and waffles. Kids eat for $8.95, which includes an ice cream sundae station. Brunch begins at 10 a.m.
Good idea for big families…

White Eagle, 6839 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles, 847-647-0660, www.whiteeaglebanquets.com. Seatings for a family-style menu including bread, soup, roasted chicken with gravy, mashed potatoes, beef brisket with gravy, Polish sausage and sauerkraut, pierogi, Honey-baked ham and dessert, will take place from noon to 6 p.m. with a cost of $27.50 per person. A buffet-style menu will be available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a cost of $29.50 per person and feature a breakfast station, fish station, carving station, Italian station, Polish station and a dessert station.

White Pines Golf Club & Banquets, 500 W Jefferson St., Bensenville, 630-766-0304. The Easter brunch, a family event, has a lineup that will include traditional favorites as well as some culinary surprises from Executive Chef Rich Mancini. The tariff for adults is $35.95 and for children 5 to 10, $15.95. Seatings run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Bloody Mary and champagne bars are available at an additional cost.

Hyatt Regency O'Hare
, 9300 Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont, 847-696-1234 Ext. 4602. This popular brunch is designed to offer something to appeal to a broad spectrum of diners as they stop at buffet stations highlighting seafood, breakfast fare, waffles, Italian specialties, sushi, carved delicacies and desserts – including many gluten-free choices. Prices are $48 per adult and $26.50 for children aged 5 to 12. Seatings will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sources: Skokie Review, Skokie Patch’s bulletin board, Northbrook Star