Shore Magazine

INCLUDINGxxxxxxxxx XXXXXXXxxxxxxxxx XXXXXXXxxxxxxxxx XXXXXXX

style & culture july 2010

INCLUDING

Lauri Harvey Keagle on RECLAIMING MICHIGAN’S LOST BLUFF

Jim Jackson on ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES

outsideEDITION

INVASION OF THE ALIEN SPECIES

BY SARAH TOMPKINS

INCLUDING

THE OLD-NEW, NON-BIG-LEAGUEBALL GAME

RECLAIMING MICHIGAN’S LOST BLUFF

RICK KAEMPFER ON THE

RV REVIVALINTERRUPTED

THROW THE BESTBEACH PARTY EVER

JUN

E 2010

1

711 Main Street • Schererville, IN 219-322-2700 • www.albertsjewelers.com

2655 Chopard-Alberts_115KMB.indd 1 4/15/10 9:34 AM

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

8

58 Alien Invaders BY SARAH TOMPKINSThey’re pesky, deadly and expensive. They’re invasive species. And they’re hurting our land and waters. But their infringement can be prevented.

62 Play Ball BY DAVE HOEKSTRA In a troubled economy, one industry is thriving: minor league baseball. Three teams in the lakeshore region are proof that the great American pastime is alive and well.

68 Will RVs Return? BY RICK KAEMPFERAt fi rst glance it may appear that the heyday of recreational vehicles is long gone, but history shows that this industry is the almighty comeback kid.

74 Party on the Beach BY KAREN HANSENHosting a beach party is an art, but a professional event planner gives insider secrets on how to not only pull it off, but to make it a party to remember for years down the road.

INCLUDINGxxxxxxxxx XXXXXXXxxxxxxxxx XXXXXXXxxxxxxxxx XXXXXXX

style & culture july 2010

INCLUDING

Lauri Harvey Keagle on RECLAIMING MICHIGAN’S LOST BLUFF

Jim Jackson on ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES

outsideEDITION

INVASION OF THE ALIEN SPECIES

BY SARAH TOMPKINS

INCLUDING

THE OLD-NEW, NON-BIG-LEAGUEBALL GAME

RECLAIM

RICK KAEMPFER ON THE

RV REVIVALINTERRUPTED

THROW THE BESTBEACH PARTY EVER

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEFFREY FURTICELLA

170 On Your Marks . . .BY JASON MILLER Lake Michigan contains all the best elements for boat racing, a sport that’s picking up speed in both Indiana and Michigan. We list some of this year’s races and talk to a man who won the world championship in his fi rst year of racing.

contentsJULY 2010

70

pho

tog

rap

h co

urte

sy o

f PA

UL

KE

MIE

L

26 282626262630

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

10

SHORELINES

21 INTRO Linda Barenie’s beekeeping hobby may be unusual, but the benefi ts it reaps are countless.

22 LISTEN The reasons we like the music we do have little to do with choice and everything to do with our psychological makeup . . . plus a pinch of good timing.

24 SHAW THOUGHTS When the noise and clatter of Windy City politics starts to overwhelm, this columnist fi nds respite in a hidden garden.

26 CULTURE NUT Ox-Bow and GRAM celebrate 100 years; outsider art steps into the limelight; and Lillstreet comes to Lakeside.

28 MOTORING Driving off-road may sound easy enough, but an education from the Land Rover Experience Driving School proves that fi nesse is a requisite.

30 INTERVIEW Outdoor enthusiast Dan Plath

combines his love of paddling with his passion for helping the environment, forming a group whose mission is to do both.

32 WHERE TO GO Downtown LaPorte transitions

from sleepy and quaint to an innovative, small business hotspot.

34 GREEN NOTES Before he could build a development

in Benton Township, Tony Floramo felt a personal responsibility to fi rst fi x the bluff’s erosion and lack of emergency access.

36 HEALTH CLUB Spending a hot summer day picking produce may sound unappealing, but the rewards that come from it (read: pie) far outweigh the costs.

38 HAUTE PROPERTIES Local builders enthusiastically discuss the latest trends in decks and porches, from new materials to three-season options to color suggestions.

21

pho

tog

rap

hy c

ourt

esy

of [

cloc

kwis

e, fr

om to

p le

ft]

DA

N P

LATH

, CA

ROL

FOX

& A

SSO

CIA

TES,

GR

EG

JAR

EM

FO

R M

ER

CE

DE

S-BE

NZ

USA

, RO

BER

T W

RA

Y, R

OBE

RT

WR

AY

80

contentsJULY 2010

CLICKS42 Steppenwolf Red

or White Ball44 Flamini Fashion Show45 Wine, Women and Music46 Marquette Dinner Dance47 Highland Centennial Ball48 De La Salle Gala49 KIA Ladies Night50 LARC Appreciation Dinner51 Lucky Dog Dance

HOUSE & GROUNDS 80 An Artist’s Abode BY TERRI GORDON Two artists leave the city

and settle down in Riverside, where their simple home and fl ourishing business take root.

LAST RESORT 96 Girl vs. Wild

BY JULIA PERLAThis totally feminine modern-day pioneer dares to admit her fondness for the not-so-feminine world of camping—but who will believe her?

HOTSPOTS52 Essential Events76 Bite & Sip

86 Shore Things 94 Shorecast

12 Publisher’s Letter14 Editor’s Letter

vis

itsh

or

em

ag

az

ine

.co

m

12

publisher’s letter

In some ways it seems like my family and I have lived in Northwest Indiana near the Dunes, just outside of Chicago, forever. Not that I still don’t have many wonderful dreams thinking about my beloved Black Hills, but just like those Black Hills we sometimes take the natural beauty around us—our

neighborhood, everything to see and do in the city and along lake Michigan—for granted sometimes. But I must say, being in the moment is pretty good right now. I got to experience my first Indy 500 race and Stanley Cup games all in the same weekend. And now the Blackhawks are Stanley Cup champions! Following the Hawks into summer has cut into many of my leisure activities that are now in full force. Haven’t we always been able to drive 20 minutes in any direction to a world-class golf course? (the newest is Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, and the grand opening is August 10th, so mark your calendars. Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer are among the luminaries who will be on hand that day.)

In May, my mom and stepdad (Dixie and Buck Calfy) came in for a visit and it was a great chance for Julie and me to see our world through their eyes. One of the most interesting days of their visit was a symphony fundraiser, where we were treated to a Cole Porter mini-concert and I was an underqualified judge of a fashion contest. (Fortunately, I had the good help and advice of Cynthia Bergland, who happens to also be an artist and landscape designer.) The food and company were excellent at the Radisson and, I understand from the receipts, so was the shopping. My parents were also treated to day trips that included a scenic ride up the Michigan coast to the Harbor towns and an expedition to the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago.

By the time you are reading this, we will be immersed in trips to Oklahoma and done with our daughter Shay’s graduation, where her brother Trey (and his buddies) and her sister Brooke surprised her by showing up to celebrate this special time with her. Which means Julie and I were once again tour guides to every hot attraction, from the Willis Tower to Fair Oaks Farms, with a stop over at the Shrine of Christ’s Passion in St. John and Tabor Hill in Buchanan on the way to Grand Rapids.

The reason we publish the “Best Of” winners at the beginning of the summer is simple: it’s the best time to start enjoying the best of our area. So look for the special edition at advertiser locations where you pick up Shore magazine, or subscribe (or renew) at visitshoremagazine.com and we will be glad to send you a copy of this special issue in the mail.

Have a great summer, and we’ll see you on the golf course.

Bill Masterson

269-925-6301 swmichigan.org

MICHIGANTOURIST COUNCIL

SOUTHWESTERN

Summer is here! Bring your family to the beach! Play in the sun-dappled waves. Cast a fishing line off the pier.

Ride a carousel beneath 1000 glittering lights. Bring home juicy peaches from our farm markets.

Mmmm.

Make memories that leave imprints on their hearts ...

not just in the sand.

vis

itsh

or

em

ag

az

ine

.co

m

14

For an outdoors issue, there is a lot of history, economics and environmentalism tied up in these stories. Erosion along Lake Michigan is nothing new, but environmental reporter Lauri Harvey Keagle found a public/private partnership in Benton Township that built

both a retaining wall that stabilized the bluff between St. Joseph and South Haven and a 15-foot wide switchback ramp giving emergency vehicles access to the beach.

The project, finished two years ago, has been successful enough that the state’s department of environmental quality removed the area from the “high-risk” category and it has been nominated for a state government’s innovation award. Kathleen Quilligan introduces us to Dan Plath, a kayaker—the technical term is “paddler”—with a new take on the persistent challenge of keeping waterways clean. Combining the idea of volunteerism with the local waterways that are underutilized was a solution that supports government services and educates the community about environmental stewardship. Minor league baseball, which dates back 150 years in some parts of the Lake Michigan area, is bigger than ever, as Dave Hoekstra reports. And the West Michigan Whitecaps, South Bend Silver Hawks and Gary SouthShore Railcats have gained strength during the recession by marketing and providing family entertainment as well as winning teams.

The Great Outdoors, whether you are having a beach party, taking a class at Ox-Bow or Lillstreet at Lakeside, racing boats or lounging on your incredibly easy-to-clean outdoor living room, inevitably puts humans in greater proximity to critters, so we have a few words about them, too. Sarah Tompkins has written the definitive document on invasive species that travel by air, by land and by sea, and gives a surprising list of small thing you can do—like cleaning your shoes after hiking—that can help stem the tide of alien invaders. Of course, there are always the insects we love, like bees and the orchards they help keep healthy. In addition, Jim Jackson analyzes all-terrain vehicles and Rick Kaempfer offers insight into the return of the recreational vehicle, which is more complex than you’re imagining.

Don’t forget to keep up with Shore between issues by subscribing to our e-newsletter, accessing the Shore Weekender and daily updates at visitshoremagazine.com.

Until next month,Pat Colander

Editor’S LETTEr

vis

itsh

or

em

ag

az

ine

.co

m

16

Publisher Bill Masterson, Jr.

Director of Product Development

Christopher Loretto219.933.3243

[email protected]

Senior Account ExecutiveLisa Tavoletti

Illinois/Indiana/Michigan219.933.4182

[email protected]

Account Executive Mary Sorensen

Michigan616.451.3006

[email protected]

Traffic ManagerTom Kacius

Pre-press SpecialistsMaureen Benak Rhonda Fancher

Tracy Hanson

Advertising DesignersDave Annable

Ryan Berry Kathy Campbell

Jacqueline Murawski

Published by Lee Enterprises

The Times of Northwest Indiana

Niche Division601 W 45th Street

Munster, Indiana 46321219.933.3200

Michigan/Indiana Sales1111 Glendale BoulevardValparaiso, Indiana 46383

219.462.5151

New Subscriptions, Renewals, Inquiries and Changes of Address:

Shore Magazine Circulation Dept., 601 W 45th St, Munster, IN 46321,

or 800.589.2802, or visitshoremagazine.com

Reprints and Permissions: You must have permission

before reproducing material from Shore magazine.

Single copy price is $4.95. One-year subscriptions $20 (8 issues)

Two-year subscriptions $25 (16 issues) Three-year subscriptions $35 (24 issues)

Editor / Associate Publisher Pat Colander219.933.3225

[email protected]

Art DirectorJoe Durk

219.933.3277 [email protected]

Managing EditorJulia Perla


Assistant Managing EditorKathryn MacNeil


DesignersApril Burford, Matt Huss

Online EditorAshley Boyer

Contributing EditorsJane Ammeson

Heather Augustyn Lois BergerSue Bero

Robert Blaszkiewicz Christy BonstellClaire Bushey

John Cain Laura Caldwell

Donna M. Chavez Tom Chmielewski

Juli Doshan Jane Dunne

Rob Earnshaw Jeremy Gantz Terri Gordon

Dave Hoekstra Seth “tower” Hurd

Jim Jackson Rick Kaempfer

Lauri Harvey Keagle Julie Dean Kessler

Mark Loehrke Joey Marburger

Sherry MillerVirginia Mullin

Andy Shaw Fran Smith

Megan SwoyerSharon Biggs Waller

Contributing Artists and Photographers

Lloyd DeGrane Jennifer Feeney Richard Hellyer

Callie LipkinDavid Mosele Johnny Quirin Gregg Rizzo

Christina Somers Robert Wray

Shore magazine invites readers and writers to submit ideas, comments

and feedback through email at [email protected] or

the post office at Shore Magazine, 601 W 45th St, Munster, IN 46321, or 1111 Glendale Blvd, Valparaiso, IN 46383.

style & culture volume 6 / number 5

I N D I A N A

A fantastic place to go for an exciting getaway weekend!

You and your family will surely fi nd plenty of fun waiting for you in Michigan City. From great gaming at Blue Chip Casino, to a host of events throughout the City, to superb shopping at the Lighthouse Premium Outlets and other specialty boutiques, to a plethora of museums and historical points of interest we have something for everyone.

During the summer months we host many outstanding events.

June 17th• – August 12th Michigan City Musical Band concerts, held every Thursday July 3rd• – The Big Drum Corp International (DCI) Show July 11th • – Michigan City Summer Festival‚ Award Winning Fireworks show launched from the lighthouse pier over Lake Michigan begins at dusk. Capping several days of activities in Washington Park.July 18th• – Skate Park Jam, at the Michigan City Skate Park with aggressive inline skating, skateboarding and BMX riding.July 18th • – The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra, Philip Bauman, Music Director, Concert in the Park, held at the Guy Foreman Theater in Washington Park at 7pm.August 5th-August 8th• – The Super Boat Great Lakes Grand Prix. See dozens of the world‚ fastest & largest offshore powerboats as they race in Lake Michigan off Washington Park.August 8th-August 10th• – DCI World Championship Open Class Quarter Finals at Ames Field. August 19th-August 22nd• – Lake Michigan‚ biggest in-water boat showAugust 21st-22nd• – Lakefront Art Festival in Washington ParkAugust 28th• – Smooth Jazz at South Shore concert. Where the smooth sounds of jazzand the beauty of the Lake Michigan shore meet. Event takes place at the Guy Foreman Amphitheater in Washington Park.

For more information visit our website www.emichigancity.com

shorelinesshorelinesJU

LY 2010

212121PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT WRAYPHOTOGRAPH BY PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT WRAYROBERT WRAY

Linda Barenie considers beekeeping more of an art than a science. After all, she says if you ask three beekeepers one question, you’ll get fi ve different answers. “There’s no absolute prescription,” she says.

For the past ten years Barenie, of Winfi eld, Indiana, and her husband Merv have been keeping thousands

of bees, and reaping the benefi ts in the form of honey and large, healthy fruits and vegetables that the bees have helped pollinate.

On a crisp April afternoon, Barenie walks past the chicken coop where she keeps about twenty chickens. The ladies come out to investigate if Barenie has a treat for them, and disappointedly cluck at her when they realize there’s no food. “They’re social, like the bees,” she says.

Barenie’s four hives are just past the chickens and look like white fi le cabinets. The hives are made up of several boxes, and each box holds a number of frames. The frames are where the bees make the honeycomb and the honey. Barenie calls the bottom box the nursery and anything higher is part of the pantry.

As the sun sets, the air gets even cooler, and all the hives appear to be completely still, although only one hive did not make it through the winter. Barenie says the spring is a good time of year for the bees because of the large number of blooms they can fi nd and pollinate.

About twenty years ago, Barenie began doing research on beekeeping because she wanted the bees to pollinate the large garden and fruit trees that fi ll a section of her yard. She spent many hours at the library, and joined some local beekeeping organizations, surprised at the number of local beekeepers.

Last year, the bees produced about 300 pounds of honey, some of which was sold as “wildfl ower honey” and some of which the Barenies ate on biscuits or put in their hot cocoa.

Now, Barenie can’t imagine her life without the bees, and loves the sound of them doing their job in her garden, making the pear trees buzz.

“They’re a part of our lives.” –KATHLEEN QUILLIGAN

listen | shaw thoughts | culture nut | motoring | interview | where to go | green notes | health club | haute properties

>> intro <<

Linda BarenieBusy as a Beekeeper

shorelinesshorelinesshorelinesshorelinesshorelinesshorelinesshorelinesshorelinesshorelinesshorelinesshorelinesshorelinesshorelines

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

22

>> listen <<

THE PSYCHOLOGY

OF MUSIC

5 OUTSIDE-THE-BOX HITS A few tunes that do an excellent job of violating our expectations:

I’VE BEEN LOVING YOU TOO LONG (1965), Otis Redding Redding’s vocal timing is impeccable, and the switching tempos from slow to fast and back keep us on our toes.

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE (1972), Lou Reed This experimental art rock song manages to squeeze drugs, transsexuality and male prostitutes into a gentle melody with warm saxophone and two different bass lines (bass guitar and double bass). The combination of Reed’s voice, lyrics and music is startlingly tender.

HEY JUDE (1968),The Beatles Although “Hey Jude” sounds melancholy at first, its four-minute ending surprised listeners and

made it the feel-good, last song of the night that it is now.

’ROUND MIDNIGHT (1957), Miles Davis Good for after a long day at work. The highs and lows of Davis’s trumpet give us exhaustion and happiness all in one song.

GOOD VIBRATIONS (1966), The Beach Boys 1960s psychedelic pop at its finest. The lines “Good, good, good” rise in pitch with each word sung—usually the signal of a happy song. And the freaky alien sound? It’s an instrument called a theremin (used a lot in horror and sci-fi films).

As soon as you open the door to a Starbucks, it’s warm. The scent wraps around your nose, your stomach perks up, even the light is toasty.

But what makes your brain feel warm? Where is that feeling of pleasant sophistication coming from? A barista walks by with more blueberry muffi ns for the kitchen, and she’s snapping her fi ngers and swaying her hips to the—ah! The music.

A little lesson in psychology can tell us a lot about how and why we connect so strongly to something we can’t even physically touch—a song. So why do we feel “chills” when we hear one song and not another? Why do we instinctively think of that one awesome party back in college whenever we hear Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer”?

Although studies have found that we start forming our musical preferences in the womb, the real action happens when we get out. Author of This Is Your Brain on Music Daniel Levitin writes that as we grow older, our neural pathways mature just like a bush is cut and pruned. Connections we don’t use eventually die off, and connections we use frequently grow wider and stronger, with more being added every day. The more we use these pathways, say, in music, the more we develop expectations about what music is and what kinds of music we like.

Our teen years are when we form our strongest musical preferences, says IU assistant professor of psychology Karin James, because they’re often the most emotionally charged years of our lives. Our brains have the power to use music as a trigger for times when our emotions are at an extreme level, which is why we think of specifi c memories when we hear specifi c songs.

“It’s an old saying that what fi res together,

wires together,” James says. “When two things get wired at the same time, then they get activated at the same time, too.” So, when you hear “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen, you think of the year 1975, when it was released and when you met your beloved Bill (or Sally) at the barbeque party your friend Jim throws every year.

Our musical preferences are also infl uenced by more obvious reasons, like where we grew up or whom we hung out with. But un-fortunately, developing those new neural connections doesn’t go on forever, accord-ing to Levitin. After our teen years, this growth slows down because we’ve already formed our framework for music, and we instinctively compare any new music to the music we’ve already heard and are familiar with. This explains why we identify music from our teens as “our” music.

Levitin writes that the most successful musicians are ones who can keep us tuned in to something that’s both familiar to us and musically surprising in some way—they know how to violate our expectations to please us. Example? The good ol’ Beatles, of course. On their albums, the Beatles threw in classical, jazz, music hall and traditional Indian music and experimented with sound effects in the recording studio. In our “rock and roll” schema, they were still a rock band in the sense of guitars, bass and drum kit. But they surprised us, for example, with a 40-piece orchestra right in the middle of psychedelic pop song “A Day in the Life.”

The next time you cruise into that Starbucks or the elevator at work, or even pass a car bumping along the street to its stereo, take a listen—it could do your psyche some good. –MALLORY JINDRA

As soon as you open the door to a Starbucks, As soon as you open the door to a Starbucks, it’s warm. The scent wraps around your nose,

wires together,” James says. “When two things wires together,” James says. “When two things get wired at the same time, then they get

HOW AND WHY WE CHOOSE THE MUSIC WE LIKE

HEY JUDE (1968),The Beatles Although “Hey Jude” sounds melancholy at first, its four-minute ending surprised listeners and

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

24

ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID MOSELE

shorelinesshorelines

The “great outdoors,” like its occupants, comes in all sizes, shapes and colors. The natural beauty of deep woods, rolling dunes, little towns, quaint back roads and magnifi cent sunsets over a mighty lake draws us from the Chicago area to our getaways in Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan with the power of a giant magnet. And nature’s wonders have always been a key factor in the vacation planning of urban denizens who fi nd their fi xes all over the world. But city residents also need refuges within the confi nes of their urban bunkers, and those, paradoxically, turn out to be some of the best “outdoor”

experiences. Not vast landscapes, giant vistas or sweeping panoramas—there’s not enough open space. Instead we get a quaint combination of contrast, character, history and creativity. And stolen moments when noise, pollution, traffi c jams and work pressure give way to a quiet, spiritual sense of joy. Time and place,

>> shaw thoughts <<

The City’s Hidden Garden

like a second phone call, put on hold until we’re ready to answer. And not a moment sooner.

My favorite outdoor refuge in Chicago is the restored Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool off Fullerton just north of the Lincoln Park Zoo. It’s a hidden treasure that most people walk, run, ride or drive by without a second glance, and oh, what a mistake that is. The sanctuary that was once called the Rookery epitomizes Chicago itself: an architectural treasure that arose in an early burst of artistic and cultural creativity, sagged and calcifi ed from years of inattention, and then, thanks to the vision of preservationists and the contributions of philanthropists, got a sorely-needed makeover, emerging fresher and more vibrant than ever.

The space was initially landscaped as a Victorian pond in 1889 and designated as a place to cultivate tropical water lilies. Its seminal redevelopment came in the late 1930s, when landscape architect Alfred Caldwell—a Chicagoan who was infl uenced by Frank Lloyd Wright and Jens Jensen—created a Prairie School masterpiece, a one-and-a-half-acre naturalistic sanctuary fi nanced in part by Roosevelt’s WPA.

The design for the pool area included plants indigenous to the Midwest, stone croppings, a pavilion, a cascading waterfall and a council ring on a hill, all arranged around a lily pool to create the look of a creek running through the limestone bedrock of a Midwest prairie.

In 1942 Caldwell called the pool “a hidden garden for the people of the Megalopolis” and it was enormously popular. So popular, in fact, the human traffi c caused signifi cant erosion and damage to the plantings. The

pool became overgrown and neglected. Weed trees and shrubs kept the

sunlight out, stonework was broken and the lagoon was fi lled with

debris. This is where Caldwell had once cashed in his own life

insurance policy to pay for the needed perennials. Now, there were no fl owers growing.

Caldwell was not pleased. “It’s a dead world,” he

lamented when he revisited the site in the early 1990’s. It should be noted,

parenthetically, that the entire city of Chicago experienced a similar decline

JULY

2010

25

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FUN TO DO THIS WEEKEND?

Shore’s own Joe Durk and Julia Perla talk about what’s going on in the Lake Michigan area, in the Shore Weekender video every Thursday.

visitshoremagazine.com / nwi.com

with joe & juliaW E E K E N D E R

when the initial burst of Midwestern ingenuity that created Sandburg’s “City of the Big Shoulders” sagged under the weight of patronage, greed, corruption, pollution and inattention.

But, like the city itself, the sanctuary came back new and improved. In 1997 the Friends of Lincoln Park and the Chicago Park District launched a fundraising drive

to restore the site to its original splendor. The Driehaus Foundation stepped up big-time and a two-year rehab project painstakingly recreated Caldwell’s original design. Sunlight once again pours into the clearing and the sanctuary is alive.

It’s fun to read the comments of Chicago bloggers after their initial discovery of a national landmark that’s tucked so discreetly into a corner of Lincoln Park:

“I needed to fi nd my Zen,” writes Lauren H., “so I came here with a book, hunted down a sunny silent spot and just lived the moment . . . soaking up the rays, listening to the birds, reveling in the natural beauty.”

Jesse S. adds that “it still has the feeling of a secret garden where you can escape the roaring cars of Lake Shore Drive and the crowds at the zoo.”

“A slice of peace in the middle of the big city!” exclaims Allie B.

“Pure bliss,” Jerry M. says.And then we have LuLu R., who

writes, “Call me crazy, but this is the type of place where I can see myself getting proposed to.”

Or even getting married, as my oldest daughter did in front of 150 friends and family members, on a magnifi cent July day in ’08. We rode over in quaint little tourist buses from our Lincoln Park home half a mile away for a ceremony that we’ve been glowing over ever since.

The City of the Big Shoulders opens one hand, gently protecting and caressing us in its soft palm, in our magical secret garden, metaphorical miles from the roaring metropolis right outside its wooden gate.

The truly great outdoors. –ANDY SHAW

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

26


>> culture nut <<

Cooler by the LakeLillstreet at Lakeside

Chicago’s Lillstreet Art Center is road-tripping this summer, retreating to the serene wooded lakefront studios of Michigan’s Lakeside Inn, where from June through October the center will offer a mix of

art classes, one- and three-day workshops, open studio time, kids’ camps and a family-friendly jazz concert series, featuring both local and international musicians. The workshops—which include such topics as “Nature and Clay,” “Raku,” “Etching with the Sun” and “Yoga, Life Drawing and Painting”—are offered for all ages and skill levels, and will be taught by nationally renowned artists and members of Lillstreet’s staff.

Lillstreet founder Bruce Robbins explains, “Behind the Lakeside Inn are studios for artists. The hotel owner really wanted an

artists’ center, an art residency. He asked us to take it over, so last May we did, and we’re still in transition, fi guring out what we want to do. We really want it to be a place for artists to have quiet time to work. We’re not doing this to make money; we’re doing this to add on to what we do at Lillstreet, where we do a lot of things to support artists.”

“A lot of things” may be an understatement. Robbins says, “I started Lillstreet 35 years ago. I was an art history major at Lake Forest College, and my pottery teacher had a business in his garage where you make clay for artists and sold equipment. He asked me to take it over, because he was renovating his house, so I did, and that was 1972. I met this guy who became my partner, and

we had this idea: Let’s start an art center! Really, that was about as thoughtful as we were. We found this old horse barn on Lill Street, built in the 1880s. We started with 12 studios and a classroom, and it just sort of grew over the years. We moved into this building on Ravenswood seven years ago in August, and it’s three times the size: we have 22 classrooms, 50 artist studios and over 1,500 students.”

Robbins laughs, “I didn’t even want to be in business. I always thought I’d be a teacher or social worker. I said I’d do this until I found a job—and I guess I never found one.”

And why the retreat? Robbins explains, “It’s idyllic up there, right on Lake Michigan. In the country, everything changes. It’s so peaceful. And not only is the retreat in the country, but it’s also a more concentrated situation, so instead of a 3-hour class, it’s an all-day workshop for three days. I think the combination of really great studios, the housing, and the opportunity to spend your day working in what you want to work

in and then going to the beach or hanging out—it’s pretty great for urban Chicagoans. So people are very excited about it at Lillstreet.” —KATHRYN MACNEIL

A lot can happen in 100 years, yet this summer’s collaborative exhibition celebrating the joint centennials of Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists’ Residency and the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) aims to prove art, at least, transcends time. As two of the oldest art organizations in West Michigan—both founded in 1910—Ox-Bow and GRAM launch a unified effort to demonstrate public and private issues explored by artists centuries ago that remain relevant in today’s culture.

Representatives from GRAM and Ox-Bow, a 115-acre artists’ community situated in rural Saugatuck, began planning the joint celebration last July. “We discussed the concept and discovered, much like GRAM, Ox-Bow has provided their community with respite, education and inspiration,” says GRAM’s education director Jon Carfagno, who played an instrumental role in coordinating the Ox-Bow-GRAM Joint Centennial Exhibition.

“It’s an opportunity to share their wealth of resources with our community and vice versa. We’re so excited about this event. We’ll see and hear how artists have grappled with major issues over the years and how art from a long time ago can enrich our understanding of the world today.”

The exhibition, which includes about 45 pieces and features 30 artists with various connections to Ox-Bow, runs through August 22. According to Ox-Bow executive director Jason Kalajainen, the show incorporates multiple disciplines and themes, with works from recent and former Ox-Bow students, faculty, visiting artists and artists in residence. “Ox-Bow serves as a haven for artists; this has remained consistent,” Kalajainen says. “We wanted to find a way to share the history and work from Ox-Bow with the community.”

GRAM also showcases Ox-Bow connected works from its permanent collection. The coinciding 2010 Art Now—The Ox-Bow Series features national art, art history and experts from artists’ communities on Fridays at GRAM from July 9 through August 20. GRAM also hosts a special Ox-Bow reception from 5-9 p.m. on July 9. –MOLLY KIMELMAN

100 YEARS OF ARTCelebrating the Ox-Bow/GRAM Centennial

THE LAKESIDE INN15251 Lakeshore RdLakeside, Mich.Call 773.769.4226 or visit lillstreet.com/lakeside for a detailed schedule of events

pho

tog

rap

hy c

ourt

esy

of [

this

pag

e] C

ARO

L FO

X &

ASS

OC

IATE

S; [

opp

osit

e p

age,

top

] PH

OTO

BOO

TH.N

ET,

[b

otto

m]

cour

tesy

of I

NTU

IT: T

HE

CE

NTE

R F

OR

INTU

ITIV

E A

ND

OU

TSID

ER

AR

T

She was outside, literally.

No alleys for this bag lady, though. The stringy-haired eccentric haunted storefronts on Boul Mich in the mid-1980s. Meet her gaze, and she might unscroll a “painting.” Her

favorite subject: elegant women. Lee Godie died in 1994, but the self-

billed “French Impressionist” is revered as Chicago’s grand dame of Outsider art. Collectors and museums vie for her lipsticked ladies today. Drawings she peddled for $5 to $25 command up to $15,000.

Raw beauty is truth, truth, raw beauty, in Outsider art.Some people just behold that beauty faster.Artists recognize visionaries fi rst, says Cleo Wilson, executive

director of Intuit—The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art in Chicago. It takes one to know one. Even if the second one lacks formal training, a hallmark of Outsider artists. Imagist painters Karl Wirsum and Roger Brown were the fi rst to admire Godie’s glamour girls.

In the case of Henry Darger—the Lincoln Park recluse who spent decades compiling a dreamy manuscript and collages of the fi ctitious Vivian sisters—“his landlord was noted photographer Nathan Lerner,” Wilson says. “He knew when he saw the work that it was art. Henry didn’t know it.”

Unlike folk art, Outsider works fuse personal style and vision with internal immediacy. Veteran dealer Carl Hammer likens the works to the Paleolithic cave paintings of Lascaux in France. They communicate on a primal level that transcends language. The need to create “is an obsession,” says Hammer, owner of the Carl Hammer Gallery in River North.

French artist Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985) was an early champion of Art Brut (rough art), extolling “the values of savagery . . . instinct,

passion, mood, violence, madness.” True artists were devoted to self-expression, not money and esthetic norms, he argued.

As time passed, Art Brut evolved into Outsider art, a realm where unknowns labored outside the mainstream. Once-rejected, now-celebrated masters include Bill Traylor (1854-1949), an illiterate ex-slave in Alabama; and Rosemarie Koczy (1939-2007), a German-born survivor of two Nazi death camps. Asylums and prisons have proven fertile ground for Outsiders, suggesting that these self-taught artists use brush strokes, clay or any medium at hand to transform their lives.

Greater Chicago has embraced a gallery of raw talents since the late 1960s. Besides Godie and Darger, notables include David Philpot, Joseph Yoakum, William Dawson, Aldo Piacenza, Pauline Simon, Derek Webster and Gregory Warmack (“Mr. Imagination”).

As is often the case, the more an “unknown” artist is spotlighted, the savvier his/her work is marketed. Yet many Outsiders cherish life on the outside. One Northwest Indiana artist, who shall remain nameless, exhibits in distant galleries to protect his anonymity. “I am pretty much a nobody,” he says. –MOLLY WOULFE more shore

To see the full story on Outsider art, please go to visitshoremagazine.com.

Looking into Outsider Art

William Hawkins, Indian Hunting Buffalo, Enamel on Masonite, Collection of Daniel S. Berger, MD.

pho

tog

rap

hy c

ourt

esy

of [

this

pag

e] C

ARO

L FO

X &

ASS

OC

IATE

S; [

opp

osit

e p

age,

top

] PH

OTO

BOO

TH.N

ET,

[b

otto

m]

cour

tesy

of I

NTU

IT: T

HE

CE

NTE

R F

OR

INTU

ITIV

E A

ND

OU

TSID

ER

AR

T

Lee Godie

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

28

pho

tog

rap

hy [

this

pag

e] c

ourt

esy

of L

AN

D R

OV

ER

NO

RTH

AM

ER

ICA

; [o

pp

osit

e p

age]

cou

rtes

y of

GR

EG

JAR

EM

FO

R M

ER

CE

DE

S-BE

NZ

USA

shorelines

Driving off-road isn’t natural. It involves skill unlike anything taught in high school driver education. And with speeds that peak at 5 mph, it’s not for the heavy-footed. But, there is a silver lining to learning how to drive on roads not found in a Rand McNally Road Atlas. British Land Rover, Europe’s four-wheel drive innovation leader, has established Land Rover Experience Driving Schools at the Biltmore

Estate (Asheville, North Carolina), Quail Lodge (Carmel, California) and Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello (Quebec, Canada). Recently, I visited Land Rover’s fourth location at the Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in Manchester Village, Vermont.

Land Rover advocates outdoor lifestyle. Their partnership with the historic Equinox is an extension of that standard of living, blending the world’s premium sport utility brand with world-class

luxury accommodations set in the spectacular backdrop of New England. The Land Rover Experience Driving School is one of many outdoor ventures Equinox guests can enjoy. More than just a dirt road experience, the driving school seats guests behind the wheel of provided Land Rovers to teach off-pavement driving techniques on hilly terrain, mud-laden logging trails and through tree-choked wilderness.

Land Rover driving school instructors are patient, lessons purposeful and the experience unique, offering a challenging avenue for Land Rover owners or fi rst-timers to learn the technical methods of true off-road driving. My classroom was the 2010 Land Rover LR4. The LR4, priced at $48,100, is a mid-size SUV with style that refl ects the new look of Land Rover with a fresh two-bar mesh grille, unique headlamps, revised front fascia, fender vents and restyled rear tail lights. Inside, a newly designed instrument panel greets the driver and front passenger, separated by a clean and

>> motoring <<

Outdoor EducationLearning to tread lightly

Traveling at 3 miles per hour might seem like a dull drive. But, in the world of off-road

journeys,moving slow leads to the path of rapid adventure.

THE EQUINOX3567 Main St Rte 7A

Manchester Village, Vt.800.362.4747

equinoxresort.com

LAND ROVER EXPERIENCE

DRIVING SCHOOL802.362.0687

landroverusa.com/drivingschools


JULY

2010

29

pho

tog

rap

hy [

this

pag

e] c

ourt

esy

of L

AN

D R

OV

ER

NO

RTH

AM

ER

ICA

; [o

pp

osit

e p

age]

cou

rtes

y of

GR

EG

JAR

EM

FO

R M

ER

CE

DE

S-BE

NZ

USA

Those of us who would rather raise the roof only in case of rain can now enjoy the lap of luxury of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet with style and technology that make driving with the top

down a pleasure year-round.The Cabriolet ($56,850) is the third

model in the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class lineup preceded by the redesigned E-350 and E-550 sedan and coupe. Ger-man engineers have created two groundbreaking technologies for the E-Class convertible that places sunny-day warmth in the four-pas-senger cabin to raise the bar and lower the roof on convertible innovation.

Warmth comes together with the combination of four elements. The E-Class Cabriolet’s classic insulated fabric top is one inch thick and can be raised or lowered in 20 seconds while driving up to 25 miles per hour. Once the top is lowered, all four windows are simultane-

ously raised with use of a single button in the center console.

Mercedes’ AIRSCARF is then en-gaged to direct warm air out of the front headrests directly onto the neck and upper shoulders of the driver and front passenger. The air flow is regulated by the speed of the car and has a 36-degree register range for personal adjustment.

The fourth element is a new Mercedes innovation called AIRCAP—a wind de-flector that automatically raises above the upper windshield frame to deflect wind

force up and over the open-air cabin.

A rear seat mesh windscreen, located between the head rests of the second row seats, prevents the backwash of wind turbulence from entering the cabin. With that, all passengers ride in warm turbulent-free space.

The end result is a cocoon of warm

air, physically captured within the cabin, courtesy of a dome of airflow that acts as a natural aerodynamic roof over the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet for year-round top-down driving pleasure. –JIM JACKSON

FOUR SEASONS, FOUR PASSENGERS

clutter-free center console with easy-to-manage switch positions. Front and rear seat styling is also changed, as is the door panel design.

But it is Land Rover’s inherent off-road grit that moves LR4 to the head of the class. Leading the muster is a new 5.0-liter V-8 engine that generates 375 horsepower with a matching 375 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm. That, teamed with Land Rover’s Terrain Response system, provides sure-footed back-country bite. Ground clearance of nearly 10 inches and fording depth of more than 27 inches make a trek in the forest a woodland adventure. On surface roads, Land Rover’s Trailer Stability Assist helps manage LR4’s 7,716-pound towing capacity.

The Equinox Land Rover Experience Driving School is run by location manager and advanced driving instructor Josh Williams. There, Williams and his team of instructors teach essential skills with off-road driving lessons that fi t an individual’s skill level, from seasoned adventurers to the curious novice, in a controlled and predictable environment while traveling in the comfort of a Land Rover. On the course, drivers will encounter numerous technical obstacles, helping to develop and hone essential off-road driving skills. Sessions utilize many miles of scenic and challenging trails on the Equinox grounds. The Experience starts at $250 for up to three people and instructor in a single vehicle.

Want to just go along for the ride? Land Rover has developed an instructor-driven Adventure Course that exposes the thrill of traversing outback obstacles with a 30-minute ($25) spin that will tickle your fancy. By evening, you’ll return to the Equinox for dinner to refl ect on the day and the earthy experience of treading lightly through Mother Nature’s backyard. –JIM JACKSON


pho

tog

rap

h co

urte

sy o

f DA

N P

LATH

What made you decide to start the NWIPA? It kind of built up for a couple years, but in January 2009 a group of us got together and started it. We really needed to get a stakeholder group in place to work

with different municipal governments and [we needed to] get volunteers together to do the cleanups and really get a face to the idea of creating these water trails up here.

The other main [reason] for why I helped organize it was more of a personal thing. I picked environmental science and policy as a profession. I grew up on the water and saw how underutilized our waterways are and wanted to do something about it and help clean them up. I thought that by getting people out connected to their communities and to their waterways, they become a lot better environmental stewards. They think a little more about their actions and how they live and how it interacts with the water in the area they live. I don’t think a lot of people realize how everything—from how they mow their lawns to picking up their dog poop—can affect our waterways.

What are your main objectives? There are really three things that we do. One is organized paddling events that help unite the paddling community. We [also provide] paddler education, outdoor education and environmental education from the vantage point of being on the water and paddling. The third component is called blueways stewardship . . . What that really amounts to is doing cleanups, opening up log jams for paddling. We do it in an environmentally responsible way where we don’t go


>> interview <<

Dan PlathCLEANING LOCAL WATERWAYS, ONE OUTING AT A TIME

Growing up on the shore of Lake Manitou in Rochester, Indiana, some of Dan Plath’s earliest

memories are of riding in the back of his brother’s kayak across the lake when his brother paddled to

work. And although Plath started as a passenger, he quickly became a paddler himself, participating

in national competitions, and falling just short of paddling on the U.S. Olympic team. Now employed

as an environmental coordinator for NiSource, Plath, of Westville, is also the president of the

Northwest Indiana Paddlers Association [NWIPA], a group just over a year old dedicated to the

waterways of the region. ¶ Sitting at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk on a brisk spring morning,

Plath talks to Shore about where the association has come from and where he and the rest of

the board hope to take it.

JULY

2010

31

pho

tog

rap

h co

urte

sy o

f DA

N P

LATH

in and take everything out. We just open it up enough so kayaks and canoes can get through, but we leave enough behind for habitat for the great fi shery we have up here.

When you hear “cleaning up,” you don’t always think of fun. Do you guys have fun cleaning?It’s really going out paddling . . . but if you come across something that needs to be disposed of, you throw it in the boat and keep on paddling. It’s not as fun as going out and doing regular paddling, but it’s a lot more fun at the end of the day because you’ve gone out and done something and made it look a heck of a lot better.

Even though it’s the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association, you get people from all over the state? Yeah. One of the things we’re trying to create is a Lake Michigan Water Trail all the way around Lake Michigan. I was actually out in Washington DC talking about that. Right now, Chicago and Indiana have water trails but Michigan and Wisconsin have a loose construct of a trail. We’d really like to create a national trail under the National Parks Service, creating a national scenic waterway all the way around Lake Michigan.

How is NWIPA helping the community overall? I think that connecting people to the waterways and getting people out and active makes them a lot healthier, makes them better stewards and makes this a more attractive place [to live]. Communities that have embraced the paddling community have really, really thrived. It’s good for the paddlers, but it’s good for the community, because businesses grow up around it. It brings in tourism . . . It helps open up a dialogue between different communities . . . As you create these water trails it starts a dialogue on a different level that maybe it will create some more regional unity, too. –KATHLEEN QUILLIGAN

more shoreTo see more of the interview with Dan Plath, please go to visitshoremagazine.com.

in and take everything out. We just open it up enough so kayaks and canoes can get through, but we leave enough behind for habitat for the great fi shery we have up here.

When you hear “cleaning up,” you don’t always think of fun. Do you guys have fun cleaning?It’s really going out paddling . . . but if you come across something that

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

32


“This doesn’t belong in LaPorte.” • That’s the response Ashley Thunder Salo, manager and buyer for Urban

Thunder, has been getting since her hip clothing store arrived on State

Street in May 2008. Nevertheless, it is in LaPorte, and in fact, so

are quite a few other interesting, convenient and mouthwatering businesses. • Lifelong LaPorte

residents remember going to soda fountains and department stores on

Lincolnway, but for a long time empty buildings have sat where once were

JC Penny and the old Levine’s. As of late, though, things are changing. •

“I’ve been impressed with the new store openings,” says Jack Allen, co-owner of the Vintage Rose antique

and gift shop, which opened last October. “There used to be six or

seven empty stores [downtown], and now there are only two or three.” •

Allen, whose family has long been on the LaPorte entrepreneurial scene,

says he and his daughter, Tina Pierce, chose LaPorte for their business because it’s home. He and other

downtown business owners—new and old—are banding together in hopes of continued growth. Their

networking efforts are part of LaPorte’s Business Improvement

District, which celebrated its tenth anniversary last year. • “There are

no rivalries,” he says. “We’re all pretty close and happy to share business with each other. The more stores,

the better for everyone.” • And that includes shoppers and diners. Here

are some new places in downtown LaPorte that you’ll want to check out:

–AMY VAEREWYCK

>> where to go <<

LaPorte Downtown WAKING FROM SLUMBER

pho

tog

rap

hy c

ourt

esy

of A

MY

VA

ER

EW

YC

K

GALLERY BOTTLE ROCKET824 Indiana AveThe Gallery Bottle Rocket—which will have its grand opening celebration on July 11—is located right at the main intersection of downtown LaPorte, across the street from the courthouse, but it’s a bit of a hidden gem—which seems fi tting for a cutting-edge gallery in a small Midwestern town. Once you track down the entrance and make your way up to the third fl oor, you’re in for a dose of L.A. art right here in Northwest Indiana. Artist Joshua Clay’s new contemporary paintings and drawings are a vibrant addition to LaPorte’s downtown.

ENGSTROM JEWELERS820 E LincolnwayAnother new fi xture of LaPorte’s downtown is a branch of the Munster-based Engstrom Jewelers. Offering fi ne-quality jewelry, diamond and gemstones, as well as repairs and custom design, Engstrom adds a shimmer where once was a pawn shop. Brands include Gelin Abaci, Citizen Watch and Movado.

THE VINTAGE ROSE316 E LincolnwayLaPorteans may mourn the loss of Cheap Chic and Talullah’s teahouse, but in their place is an antiques and gift shop that adds some dazzle to the east end of Lincolnway. Its father-daughter duo owners are hawking classy antiques, regionally produced gifts and a festive atmosphere that’s bringing

in quite a few customers. Popular items include hand-made beaded socks, intricate fl oral arrangements and melt-in-your-mouth treats from the South Bend Chocolate Company.

FINEST MEATS DELI LAPORTES525 E LincolnwayFinest Meats Deli Laportes just opened last November, but people are already talking about the delicious homemade guacamole at this new Latino grocery store. Spanish-language music greets you upon entry, along with shelves full of tropical produce, such as prickly pear cactus, guava and tomatillo. The store also features a sparkling meat counter and racks and racks of Latin American pastries.

URBAN THUNDER508 State StIt’s the sister store of Whittaker House in New Buffalo, but Urban Thunder offers clothing and accessories that you’re more likely to see on MTV than on TLC. The store boasts jeans for every body type and has a clever T-shirt Deli, where you can design your own tee. All of the clothes are bought in small quantities

pho

tog

rap

hy c

ourt

esy

of A

MY

VA

ER

EW

YC

K

Urban Thunder

JULY

2010

33

Young Professionals GroupAs business develops in LaPorte and its surrounding communities, a new group has formed in order to keep the growth coming.

The Young Professionals Group of Northwest Indiana (YPG) was formed by lifelong LaPortean

Molly Ohime, who saw a need to generate excitement and establish more permanence regarding career opportunities in LaPorte County and beyond.

“We want to attract and retain young talent in the Region,” Ohime says. “We don’t want to educate our people just to send them out. We want them to have a reason to want to stay. Not only do we want to provide them with the tools to network and get involved, but to have fun doing it . . . and create lifelong friendships.”

YPG meets twice monthly—at a luncheon and an after-hours event. “We also plan to continue partnering with organizations that already host events and benefi ts, to future their awareness,” Ohime says. “We did so by sponsoring two Junior Achievement teams [in March], raising over fi ve hundred dollars.”

YPG members currently come from LaPorte County and are in the 18 to 40 age group, but Ohime is reluctant to put limits on age and geography. “We want to break the divides, especially in our state of the economy,” she says. “YPG is for the young and the young at heart.” Those interested in joining can email Ohime at [email protected]. You can also fi nd YPG on Facebook and LinkedIn.–JULIA PERLA

pho

tog

rap

hy c

ourt

esy

of A

MY

VA

ER

EW

YC

K

from boutiques, so you don’t have to worry about seeing someone else wearing the same off-the-shoulder sweater you bought there.

MUCHO MAS609 E LincolnwayOwned by two brothers from Southern California, Mucho Mas offers fresh and healthy Mexican food that is reminiscent of Baja Fresh. Although this vegetarian- and vegan-friendly restaurant has quick, partial service, its modern décor and salsa bar make you want to linger over your fi sh taco a little bit longer.

THADDEUS C. GALLERY822 E LincolnwayNext door to Gallery Bottle Rocket is an art gallery that’s already made a name for itself as one of the top fi ne art galleries in Northwest Indiana. Featuring both contemporary and traditional American and international fi ne art, Thaddeus C. Gallery celebrated its fi fth anniversary last year. In addition to paintings, the gallery also showcases some functional art, such as pottery and jewelry.

Mucho Mas

The Vintage Rose

shorelinesshorelinesshorelinesshorelines

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

34

Tony Floramo had a mission and a problem.

In 2005, the New Lenox, Illinois, developer wanted to build a luxury subdivision on the shores of Lake Michigan while helping Benton Township’s economy. “Now, how do you do this, given the terrain, and let everyone have a view?” Floramo says. “The bluff is 110 feet and it’s eroding all over the place. Sure, you can put up a wall, but what about beach safety? If someone has a heart attack down on the beach, the only way to get to him is to bring in a helicopter and airlift him out of there.”

For nearly 30 years, the beach from St. Joseph to South Haven was designated by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as a high-risk erosion area. “The bluff here is really a cliff,” he says. “It’s vertical. We have a 100-foot drop.”

Floramo set out to change that.Through a public/private partnership between Benton Charter Township and Floramo’s

TTM Development Group, the bluffs were stabilized, emergency access to the beach was provided and another engine for bringing property taxes to the region was born.

Construction began in 2006 on a retaining wall to stabilize the bluffs and in 2008, a 15-foot-wide “switchback ramp” road from the state highway to the shore was cast in concrete. The ramp takes drivers on a sloping ramp that snakes down the bluff like a cordoned-off line for an amusement park ride or movie tickets. Because of the 15-foot width, Floramo says, emergency vehicles can now drive down to the beach, eliminating the need for pricey air rescues in case of medical emergencies. “Now, the erosion issue is protected and we’re helping increase public safety,” Floramo says.

The project was so successful the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality removed the high-risk erosion area status from the beachfront. It was also nominated for a Council of State Governments Innovation Award, which is expected to be announced this summer.

With the erosion risk behind them, developers are now ready to offer home sites. The gated, luxury subdivision, dubbed Palazzo Sul Lago (Palaces on the Lake), features 14 home sites on 8.5 acres of property, each of which features an unobstructed view of the lake.

The pool and cabana are 27 feet above the lake with a panoramic view of the water. As of April, two Mediterranean-themed homes were built and ready for purchase and one lot had closed. Eleven other lots are available and ready for purchase and construction.

“We’re gearing for Chicagoans or people from out of state to make this their vacation home,” Floramo says. –LAURI HARVEY KEAGLE

CLEAN YOUR BEACH Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup, the world’s largest trash removal and documentation effort, is set for 9 a.m. to noon on September 25 along Lake Michigan’s shores in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. The Alliance for the Great Lakes is organizing the event. More information is available at greatlakes.org. –LAURI HARVEY KEAGLE

>> green notes <<

Saving the BluffDecreased erosion, increased public safety

ABOUT PALAZZO SUL LAGOPalazzo Sul Lago amenities include 600 feet of acces-sible private Lake Michigan beach, Lake Michigan wa-

ter, city sewers, a pool and clubhouse facing Lake Michi-gan, a golf cart path to the beach and pool/club-house, exclusive gated community, Tuscan architec-tural theme and an unobstructed view of the lake from each lot. The homeowners asso-ciation assessment per month is $225. Lots range from $499,900 to $1.4 million and with lots and homes combined, from $999,800 to $2.98 million.

Now, the erosion issue is protected and we’re helping

increase public safety.”

For more information: Palazzo Sul Lago 2160 M63Benton Township, Mich.815.723.6660 ext 10palazzosullago.com

YIELD AHEAD

There are dozens of U-pick options throughout the Northwest Indiana and

Southwest Michigan regions, so consider this

short list to be just a starting point. Most U-pick

farms have everything a would-be harvester

could need—from bushel baskets to ladders (where necessary) to helpful staffs ready to demonstrate the ideal picking technique. But like most outdoor endeavors, U-pick is a weather-dependent

activity, so be sure to call ahead for current hours

and fi eld conditions.

THE EXTRAORDINARY BERRY

3091 Riverside RdRiverside, Mich.

269.470.4645theextraordinaryberry.com

JULY: Blackberries, Red Raspberries, Blueberries,

Peaches, PlumsAUGUST: Pears, Tomatoes

GARWOOD ORCHARDS AND FARM MARKET

5911 W 50 SLaPorte, Ind.219.362.4385

garwoodorchard.comJULY: Red Raspberries, Green

PeppersAUGUST: Black Raspberries,

Tomatoes, Eggplant

OVERHISER ORCHARDS6405 109th Ave

South Haven, Mich.269.236.6312

overhiserorchards.comJULY: Apricots, Cherries (tart

and sweet), PeachesAUGUST: Pears, Plums

SCHULTZ FRUITRIDGE FARM

60139 CR 652Mattawan, Mich.

616.668.3724schultzfruitridgefarm.com

JULY: PlumsAUGUST: Peaches

STATELINE BLUEBERRIES9957 N Frontage RdMichigan City, Ind.

219.874.7721statelineblueberries.com

JULY: BlueberriesAUGUST: Blueberries

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

36

shorelinesYIELD

shorelines

Still, the underlying notion of a reward in exchange for the effort has long been one of the hallmarks of U-pick and is therefore well worth invoking, despite the afore-mentioned potential for far-too-easy sarcasm or uninten-tional insult. A day of farm

labor is indeed a tricky sell—work and leisure generally occupying opposite ends of the hap-piness spectrum for most people—but a bushel full of fresh, mouthwatering fruits or vegetables (and, more importantly, the delicious creations into which they can be incorporated) is just the kind of payoff that can overcome even the staunchest opposition. To recap this scenario in shorthand: U-pick = pie. Mule goes for carrot. Problem solved.

In all honesty, a day hunched over inspecting the business end of a blueberry bush or up a ladder stretching to grab the perfect peach may start out as a tough proposition when squared off against a round of golf or an afternoon by the pool—particularly in light of the fact that most of the produce in question is likely just a short, convenient trip away at the local super-market. Fair enough. But in this day and age of all things simple, straightforward and locally sourced, it certainly doesn’t get any greener or more organic than actually pulling one’s own sustenance from the Earth.

Chuck McCallum grew up on a fruit farm, returning to the business after a forty-year absence to welcome U-pickers to his modest

6-acre Michigan patch at the Extraordinary Ber-ry. While he certainly agrees that the movement toward fresher homegrown produce has been one of the big reasons for the annual uptick in U-pick business he’s seen for his raspberries, blackberries and blueberries over the past four years, it really comes down to something much more elemental.

“It’s the taste,” he says. “A few more days on the vine means a much sweeter taste for these berries, and that’s something you just can’t get from mass-harvested fruit. That’s why we hear so many comments like, ‘These don’t taste any-thing like the ones at the supermarket.’”

Then, of course, there’s the farm experience. Let’s face it—nobody dreams of chucking their desk job for a rural existence because they long to calculate crop yields or fret about equipment maintenance. It’s not the plowing or seeding or worrying that draws folks to the farming day-dream, it’s this stage of the game. The bounty. The harvest. The payoff. But that refers to more than just the fruit in the basket.

“We try to give people a unique family out-ing that’s not real common anymore,” McCal-lum explains. “Parents remember when their parents took them to the farm, and they want to give their kids the same experience. So the older folks love reliving the memories and the little ones just love running around and having a ball.”

And did we happen to mention the pie?–MARK LOEHRKE

>> health club <<

Farm Hands THE REWARDS OF U-PICK

statelineblueberries.commore shoreFor a list of additional U-pick farms in Michigan, please go to visitshoremagazine.com.

Perhaps there’s a better analogy to be used when trying to convince a friend or loved one to venture into the U-pick fi elds for a day of outdoor fun than the old trope of the mule and the carrot. After all, the temptation to equate the

proposed activity with the plight of a common beast of burden will likely already be hanging in the air long before the suggestion even has a reasonable chance to take root. Besides, it’s probably better to avoid any chance that your disagreeing

friend might assume that you’re even offhandedly calling him or her an ass.

YIELD AHEAD

There are dozens of U-pick options throughout the Northwest Indiana and

Southwest Michigan regions, so consider this

short list to be just a starting point. Most U-pick

farms have everything a would-be harvester

shorelinesYIELD

shorelines

HandsTHE REWARDS OF U-PICK

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

38

shorelines

“People are using more composite material for decking,” partly because of its appeal as an environmentally green alternative, says Greg Powell, owner of Powell Construction Services LLC in St. Joseph, Michigan.

A popular example is Trex, a composite of wood derived from such

throwaway sources as sawdust and pallets, and recycled plastic otherwise destined for landfi lls. Brad Ericks of Cook Builders in Crown Point, Indiana, says the boards are “low-maintenance, unlike treated lumber. With composite, you clean it off once a year, with a hose or pressure washer.” Director of operations and president of Building Industries Association of Northwest Indiana, Ericks says homeowners are happy they don’t have to worry about staining or painting—or splinters. “Composite has the look of wood, but it’s not supposed to split, rot or warp.”

Another alternative is Azec—not a composite but a cellular PVC that’s stain resistant.

Going green isn’t all about the material, though, says Marla Bruemmer, owner and residential designer of Design Evolutions in South Haven, Michigan. “A product may be labeled green, but just because you put it on the building that doesn’t make its use green.

“Say we use composite decking, considered a green product,”

Bruemmer says. “It comes in certain lengths, but there may be all kinds of cuts in the design.” That can mean a lot of throwaway, so “it’s about designing and using the materials effectively.”

Composite materials are available in a limited choice of colors, Ericks says, with hues in light, medium or dark brown, and a range of grays and a dark red. And for some, “composite is an affordability issue,” notes John Kremke of J Kremke Construction in Porter, Indiana. “It’s more expensive. But people would rather go with a material that requires less maintenance.”

If you’re looking for decking material that lasts a lifetime, vinyl is “a step above composite,” says Rob Walworth, sales consultant at FFC Fencing, which serves Northwest Indiana, Southwest Michigan and northeast Illinois. It’s also a step up in expense, but “we choose tongue-and-groove vinyl over composite because composite has some wood in it that could rot or mold. And for decking around pools, it doesn’t hold water like wood or some composites do,” Walworth says. Its wood-grain surface helps wet feet grip, and because of air pockets through the boards, it doesn’t get hot for those bare feet, staying approximately at the air temperature.

New porches are also refl ecting changes, but of a more personal nature. “Many of my clients are going back to the old farmhouse look, wanting to be more social,” Bruemmer says. For die-hard nature-lovers, she designs two-story porches with upper balconies to view Lake Michigan, enjoy the woods from a tree-top vantage

With vistas of Lake Michigan and its surrounding lush countryside beckoning, perhaps it’s not surprising that porches and decks are making a big comeback. The surprise may be that often the materials in new construction are nothing like the ones your grandpa used.

>> haute properties <<

Decks and Porches The latest materials for outdoor rooms

shorelines

JULY

2010

39

point, or simply gaze a bit closer to the stars.

If you’re looking to extend the porch season for as long as possible, consider a three-season porch. “More people are wanting three-season rooms, with windows and even fi replaces,” Powell says.

“The three-season porches we’ve been creating,” Ericks says, “have been typically completely enclosed, with insulation and with tile or hardwood fl ooring.”

Don’t forget the details: Powell says customers want more detail to

go into porches and decks. “Examples are choosing metal balustrades, or using glass in the railing.”

If you like the look of wrought-iron railings, you’re not alone. It’s a big trend, Ericks says, but with a techno twist. “We offer 100 percent aluminum railings with paint powder coated on. It gives you the look of wrought iron, but it’s a lifetime product that won’t rust like wrought iron can.” Vinyl railings are another option.

As for colors, “Earth tones never die,” Bruemmer says, “but I see livelier colors coming in for summer cottages.”

Whatever you choose, “Think about what your goal is,” Kremke advises, whether it’s privacy, the view, or protection from sun and rain. “Most new homes are including a porch,” he adds. He knows of one community where a porch is a requirement.

Making it a requirement to enjoy the Lake Michigan-area seasons even more sounds, well, delightful. –JULIE DEAN KESSLER

TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS“Plan so the porch doesn’t look like it was tacked on. A porch should accent the property, not take away from it.” MARLA BRUEMMER, DESIGN EVOLUTIONS

“Inadequate or failing attachment to the main structure can happen when fasteners become corroded or if the proper number of fasteners aren’t used. If you can get under the deck, then the fasteners should be checked. Also, new porch and deck materials require a better grade of fastener.” GREG POWELL, POWELL CONSTRUCTION

“Once you take the old deck material off, check the wood underneath; if it’s not sound, that can make the new deck unstable. Also, the ground underneath the deck can sink; if you see that, fill it in so that water can’t fall back towards the house.” BRAD ERICKS, COOK BUILDERS

“Understand what the benefits and limitations of the material are for each situation’s site and conditions.” JOHN KREMKE, J KREMKE CONSTRUCTION

“If support posts for a porch aren’t properly attached to an overhang, the overhang eventually sags. We reinforce all posts with vinyl or wood for extra support.”ROB WALWORTH, FFC FENCING

point, or simply gaze a bit TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

40

430 S WHITTAKER STREET • NEW BUFFALO, MI 269-469-9180 • CUSTOMSIMPORTS.COM

OUR PLANET’S BEAUTIFUL BEASTS!These wildlife paintings and sculptures

will touch your heart and enhanceyour desire to save our planet.

While in indonesia, I put togetherthis collection passionatelycreated by artists of Bali.

40' containers are now arriving,fi lled with treasures from

around the globe.

OPEN

YEAR ROUND

7 DAYS A WEEK

430 S WHITTAKER STREET • NEW BUFFALO, MI 269-469-9180 • CUSTOMSIMPORTS.COM

430 S WHITTAKER STREET • NEW BUFFALO, MI

YOU MUST PASS THRU CUSTOMS WHEN IN NEW BUFFALO

around the globe.

430 S WHITTAKER STREET NEW BUFFALO, MI

PASS THRU CUSTOMS WHEN IN NEW BUFFALO

vis

itsh

or

em

ag

az

ine

.co

m

42

steppenwolf red or white ball, chicago • flamini fashion show, griffith

• wine, women and music, st. joseph • marquette dinner dance, laporte

• highland centennial ball, highland • de la salle gala, chicago • kia ladies night, kalamazoo • larc appreciation dinner, munster • lucky dog dance, st. joseph

3

4 5

6 7

9

10

8

on stagesteppenwolf red

or white ball chicago

photography by kyle flubacker

More than 550 influential young professionals attended

the eighth annual Red or White Ball, raising over $90,000 to

benefit Steppenwolf for Young Adults programming. Guests

were treated to signature red or white cocktails by Grey Goose,

paired with samplings from Blue Plate Catering,

and bid on more than 60 amazing packages.

1 Laura Schalekamp, Alecia

Dantico and Loren Johnson

2 Melissa Grund,

Michael Masters and Anna Davlantes

3 Yadira Correa, David

Hawkanson and Tanya Saracho

4 Brian Atwood, Michael

Treon and Hunter Bradford

5 Sarah Beardsley and Ted Tetzlaff

6 Colette Cachey Smithburg

and Tom Smithburg

7 Francis Sadac,

Latoya James and Kahindo Mateene

8 Jenny Gillespie and

Andrew Mason

9 Dianna Di Iorio, Sarah

Rauh and Shareena Amin

10 Govind Kumar and

Betty Gabriel

1 2

want more? please go to visitshoremagazine.com

to view and purchase click photos

all clicks compiled by sue bero

vis

itsh

or

em

ag

az

ine

.co

m

44

glitz and glamflamini fashion show | griffith

photography by bernie zemen

Guests enjoyed fabulous food, a

perfect venue and remarkable fash-ions by Chicago designer Steven

Rosengard—who appeared on

season four of Project Runway—at

the first Flamini Foundation fashion

show. Ben Mollin of Bang Bang Salon

and Boutique hosted the event.

1 Rita Bais, Crystal Graham and

Sally Dattull, all of St. John

2 Julie Flamini of Crown Point and

Jacklyn Gelatka of Dyer

3 Michelle Arvia of Schererville,

Melissa Szatkowski of Dyer and Robin Best of St. John

4 Sue and Carly Blue,

both of Dyer

5 Melissa Bajt and Jennifer

Griahovac, both of St. John

6 Jim and Tracy Flamini, both of St. John, with Ben Mollin of Chicago

1 2

4 5

3

6

want more? please go to visitshoremagazine.com to view and purchase click photos

july

2010

45

stylish notewine, women and music | st. joseph

photography by gregg rizzo

An evening of fashion to benefit the Southwest Michigan

Symphony Orchestra featured the spring line and new resort

wear line of local designer Angela Wolf of Abo Apparel in

Benton Harbor. Some 280 guests previewed the fashions while

enjoying wine, appetizers and live music.

1 Mary Hughes of St. Joseph

2 Johnathon Clark and Lilia Sladky,

both of St. Joseph

3 Calli Berg of Coloma and

Vicki Franks of Benton Harbor

4 Jennifer Sipla of Coloma,

Amy Witkowski of St. Joseph and Sally Bridges of Sawyer

5 Carol Hafer and Jeanne Stoner,

both of St. Joseph

6 Marcia Fettig and Cindy Ehrenberg,

both of St. Joseph

1

2

3

4

5 6



vis

itsh

or

em

ag

az

ine

.co

m

46

high classmarquette dinner dance | laporte


Some 200 friends of Marquette Catholic High School attended the Spring Fling dinner dance, vying for auction items that included a trip to France, a backyard barbeque for 25 and a Lebanese dinner for 12. The event raised $65,000 for the school; the live auction netted $20,000 for tuition assistance.

1 Sarah Bardol and Greg Mack

of Michigan City

2 Carrie Alexander, Lisa Albers and Anne Robson, all of Long Beach

3 Doug and Renee Buell

of Michigan City

4 Danielle Kelley and Carli Albers of

Long Beach with Hayley Mussman of Michigan City

5 Doug Bobillo of Michigan City with

Sue Quinlan of Chicago

6 Meghan McClintock and Allison Mack,

both of Michigan City

1

2

3

4

5 6


july

2010

47

cheers to yearshighland centennial ball | highland

photography by bernie zemen

Some 300 guests celebrated the town of Highland’s 100-year

anniversary at Wicker Park. At-tendees viewed a photographic history, with many stopping to

pose with a cardboard cutout of the town’s first council president

Charles Wirth. After dinner, G & K Entertainment brought

townspeople to the dance floor.

1 Patty and Gene Dunham

of Highland

2 Senator Frank Mrvan and Jean Mrvan

of Hammond with Jane and Frank Mrvan of Highland

3 State Rep. Dan Stevenson and Patti Van Til with Christy and

Michael Griffin, all of Highland

4 Colin and Shannon Peterson of Munster with Karen and

Terry Trusgnick of Crown Point

5 Amanda and Dan Grimmer

of Highland

6 Judith Mayer with Nick and Pat Popa,

all of Highland

1

2

3

4

5 6



VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

48

alumni shinede la salle gala | chicago

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF DE LA SALLE INSTITUTE

Alumni and sup-porters of De La

Salle Institute included Chicago

Mayor Richard M. Daley at the

third annual Great Futures Gala. Some 300 guests attended

the champagne reception and

program, bidding in a silent auction

on learning oppor-tunities to support

scholarships and other educational

programs.

1Maceo Johnson of Chicago with

Mayor Richard M. Daley

2Michael Passarelli and Iris Gist

Cochran, both of Chicago

3Fr. Paul Novak with Mr. and Mrs.

Marshall Blake of Chicago

4Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Jacobson

of Chicago

1 2

3

4

WANT MORE? please go to visitshoremagazine.comto view and purchase click photos

First. Best. In Local News.

spring flingkia ladies night | kalamazoo


Spring was in the air at this year’s Ladies Night Out at the

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Guests gathered for wine and

hors d’oeuvres, viewed a runway show of spring fashions from

prominent local retailers, and perused artist fashion bazaars.

Proceeds will help benefit future programming at KIA.

1 Kathy Damron of Mattawan with

Kim Duval of Battle Creek

2 Marcia Miyagawa and Suzanne Zieserl,

both of Kalamazoo

3 Annette Markovich of Paw Paw and

Mary Brill of Kalamazoo

4 Elianna Marble of Portage and Desiree Carolla of St. Joseph

5 Catherine Martin of Delton and

Dawn Edwards of Plainwell

6 Vickie Sullivan of Vicksburg

1

2

3

4

5 6



many thankslarc appreciation dinner | munster

photography by robert wray

Some 340 guests helped celebrate LARC’s continuing tradition of serving people with developmental disabilities at the Center for Visual and Perform-ing Arts. The evening included recognition of LARC employees, supporters and clients for their exceptional service, plus dinner and a silent auction.

1 Michelle and Rob Potter

of Lansing

2 Barbara Pressler and Betty Bayer

of Munster

3 Carrie Will of Cedar Lake

and Ivy Drobac of St. John

4 Cyndy and Jerry Paliga

of Chesterton

5 Terry, Dawn and Marilyn Reed

of Park Forest

1

2

3

4

5


cause for pawslucky dog dance | st. joseph


A “fun-raising” benefit at Shad-owland Pavilion for the Humane

Society of Southwestern Michi-gan drew some 200 supporters. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres,

desserts, unlimited carousel rides, Bingo and pots o’ cash

prizes, random lucky giveaways and dancing into the night with

“Rockin’ Randy” Poole.

1 Kelly Sebrechts of Stevensville

2 Josh and Linda Kane

of Stevensville

3 Robert and Myrna Tiehl

of Baroda

4 Rebecca Cincoski and Nicole Beltz

of St. Joseph

5 Kalle Sebrechts of Stevensville with

Holly Shaffer of Berrien Center

6 Sarah Obstfeld of San Francisco

and Kate Payne of Lansing

1

2

3

4

5 6



VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

52

essential EVENTS HAPPENINGS 52 EXHIBITIONS 55 FILM 56 PERFORMANCE 56 INTEREST 58

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

52

happeningsIndianaThrough Oct 1 Quilt Gardens Tour, various locations, Amish Country. 800.377.3579. quiltgardenstour.com. This one-of-a-kind event allows viewers to visit 17 large, quilt-patterned gardens planted with 90,000 annuals along the Heritage Trail. Walk through and enjoy being outdoors while learning about gardening and the intricate art of the quilt.

Through Oct 16 Old Sheriff’s House Foundation Tours, 9am-1pm every Sat, 226 S Main St, downtown Crown Point. The Old sheriff’s House and former Lake County Jail, where John Dillinger was kept before escaping using a wooden gun, will be open for tours throughout the summer.

Through Oct Chesterton’s European Market, 8am-2pm every Sat, Broadway & Third St, downtown Chesterton. chestertonseuropeanmarket.com. Celebrating its 8th year, vendors from Michigan, Indiana and Illinois will be selling gourmet and specialty foods, artisan baked goods, handcrafted items, personal products and more.

Through Oct Farmers’ Market, 8am-1pm every Sat, S Main St, Crown Point. 219.662.3290. crownpoint.in.gov/farmers. An increase in live cooking demonstrations that will offer samples, safe canning method information, tips from Master Gardeners, giveaways and much more will be introduced at this year’s market, in addition to the usual produce, fl owers, meat and cheese.

Jun 25 4th Friday Arts, 6-9pm, Crown Point town square. 219.662.3290. 4thfridayarts.com. The historical downtown square of Crown Point is alive and active with the arts. stroll through the town square and visit the local businesses that turn into artistic sanctuaries on one 4th Friday each quarter. see website or call for specifi c events.

Jun 26 Civil War Ball, 6-9pm, LaPorte County Historical Society Museum, 2405 Indiana Ave, LaPorte. 219.324.6767. laportecountyhistory.org.Travel back in time and experience the mid-1800s at this historical ball. Dance-goers are invited to dress in period attire or wear modern clothes but all will be treated to traditional food, drink, music, dancing and surroundings from the nineteenth century. Also, 9am-4pm: Civil War Encampment and Living History.

Jul 10-11 Gary’s South Shore Air Show, noon-4pm, Gary/Chicago Airport, Gary. garyairshow.com. Air show performers will return to the skies of Lake Michigan to wow and amaze the public in the 11th year of this show.

Jul 13-18 Festival of the Lakes, Wolf Lake, George Lake, Lake Michigan, Hammond. 219.853.6378 ext 316. festivalofthelakes.com. Musical acts such as soulAsylum, Clint Black, Everclear and Nicole Jamrose will headline this annual event. Multiple venues throughout Hammond and Whiting will feature food, games, boat rides and free entrance to all concerts. Jul 16: senior Day; Jul 17: Fishing Derby, Mayor’s 5K Walk/Run, special Person’s Day; Jul 18: Hot Rod & Custom Car show, Polka Party.

Jul 17 Shake, Rattle & Roll, 4pm, Sullair, 2700 E Michigan Blvd, Michigan City. 219.861.5105. michigancityfestivalsinc.com. Now in its 14th year, this car cruise, show and swap meet will travel to Washington Park, where it will be followed by a street dance, concessions and a raffl e.

Jul 17 Valparaiso/Porter County Garden Walk, 9am-4pm, Garden of Heroes, 653 Hayes Leonard Rd, Valparaiso. 219.465.3555 ext 21. pcgarden.info. Three gardens from this walk—which will feature Master Gardeners answering questions and explaining plants—have been profi led by garden magazines in previous years.

Jul 23-25 Pierogi Fest, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat, 11am-5pm Sun, 119th St, Whiting. 877.659.0292. pierogifest.net. A truly one-of-a-kind festival, this tribute to Whiting’s ethnic heritage offers authentic Polish food, ethnic dancers, a beer garden and the Polka Parade.

MichiganOngoing Douglas Socials, 5:30-9pm every other Thu, Beery Field, Center St, downtown Douglas. douglasmichigan.com. Kicking off on July 1, this free event features music, beer, wine, food vendors and a park area for family fun and good times in a small town atmosphere.

Through Aug 25 2010 Summer Concert Series, 7pm, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 1000 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids. 800.585.3737. meijergardens.org. Honoring the 15th anniversary of Frederik Meijer Gardens & sculpture Park, this year’s concert series boasts the largest lineup ever. The 1,750-seat outdoor amphitheater is one of the most unique and intimate venues in West Michigan and features acclaimed artists in blues, rock, country, folk, bluegrass and more. Jul 9: Mary Chapin Carpenter; Jul 16: Umphrey’s McGee; Jul 25: Indigo Girls; Jul 26: Natalie Merchant; Jul 29: Chris Isaak with Marc Broussard.

Through Oct 3 Antiques on the Bluff, 10am-3pm fi rst Sun of every month, Lake Bluff Park, downtown St. Joseph. 269.985.1111. sjtoday.org. This annual fair on the shores of Lake Michigan is a premier event for antiquers, featuring more than 50 vendors from around the Midwest.

Through Oct 3 Niles Bensidoun French Market and Artisan Fair, 9am-2pm every Thu, Sat, downtown Niles. 269.687.4332. nilesmainstreet.org. This legendary open-air European public market comes to Niles, offering merchants selling food, arts and crafts, clothing and more.

Jul 15-18

St. Joseph Venetian Festivalvarious times and locations, St. Joseph269.983.7917. venetian.org

This highly anticipated festival celebrates life on the waterfront with such events as a classic car show, fi reworks, a River Run & Walk, a sand sculpture contest, wine tasting, live music, the traditional Lighted Boat Parade and much more.

The information presented in

Essential Events is accurate as of press time,

but readers are encouraged to

call ahead to verify the dates

and times. Please note

that Illinois and most Indiana

events adhere to central time,

and Michigan events are

eastern time.

CALENDAR COMPILED BY

JULI DOSHAN

essential essential essential EVENTSEVENTSEVENTS HAPPENINGS 5252 EXHIBITIONS 5555 FILM 5656 PERFORMANCE 5656 INTEREST 5858

essential EVENTS HAPPENINGS 52 EXHIBITIONS 54 FILM 56 PERFORMANCE 56

pho

tog

rap

h co

urte

sy o

f TH

E V

EN

ETI

AN

FE

STIV

AL

JUN

E 2010

53

HAPPENINGS 52 EXHIBITIONS 55 FILM 56 PERFORMANCE 56 INTEREST 58 HAPPENINGS 52 EXHIBITIONS 54 FILM 56 PERFORMANCE 56

pho

tog

rap

h co

urte

sy o

f TH

E V

EN

ETI

AN

FE

STIV

AL

destination: sT. JOsPEH

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

54

essential EVENTS

Through Oct 9 St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 9am-2pm every Wed, Sat except Jul 17, Lake Blvd between Broad & Pleasant Sts, St. Joseph. sjtoday.org. New vendors and an expanded market will offer more choices for all taste buds at this farmers’ market in Lake Bluff Park.

Jun 26 Fenn Valley Wine Fest, 1-5pm, Fenn Valley Vineyards, 6130 122nd Ave, Fennville. 269.561.2396, 800.432.6365. fennvalley.com. Wine tastings outside among the vines, a barrel aging demonstration, great live music, specialty foods and an overall great afternoon await guests of this festival.

Jul 2 Independence Day Celebration, New Buffalo Beach. newbuffalo.org.This free, festive event includes volleyball activities on the beach with prizes, a free concert by the southwest Michigan symphony Orchestra, and of course, fi reworks at dusk.

Jul 3 The Waterfront Invitational Fine Arts Fair, 10am-5pm, Cook Park, Culver & Lake Sts, Saugatuck. 269.857.2677. saugatuckdouglasartclub.org. This free, juried fair will feature artwork in the form of original paintings, photographs, jewelry, ceramics and mixed media, along with a parade, fi reworks and other Independence Day activities.

Jul 10 Lakeside Garden Walk, 11am-5pm, various locations, Lakeside. thelakesideassociation.org. Eight unique garden designs will be on display, showcasing a variety of wonderful settings, from expansive lake views and woodland cottage gardens to country estates that mirror their surroundings and sustainable vegetable gardens. The Chikaming Township community organic gardening project will also be highlighted.

Jul 10-11 49th Annual Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff, 10am-6pm Sat, 10am-5pm Sun, Lake Bluff Park, downtown St. Joseph. 269.983.0271. krasl.org. In addition to fi ne art and crafts—including drawings/pastels, paintings, prints, jewelry, sculpture, pottery, photography and more—there will be food and music all weekend at this popular juried event. This year features smooth jazz with singer, songwriter and jazz saxophonist Mindi Abair on saturday evening.

Jul 31 The Village Square Arts and Crafts Fair, 10am-5pm, Butler & Main Sts, Saugatuck. 269.857.2677. saugatuckdouglasartclub.org. The parks on the four corners of the intersection will be fi lled with art booths at this free fair, which is part of the Venetian Festival weekend. The day-long activities will culminate in evening fi reworks.

Jul 31-Aug 1 Saugatuck-Douglas Jazz Festival, 7pm Fri, 11:30am Sat, various venues, Saugatuck and Douglas. 313.965.0505. s-djazz.com. An assembly of an impressive and broad range of musicians and instruments will greet visitors to this two-day jazz festival. In concerts from the small Marcus Miller Quartet to the large 18-piece Flat River Big Band, vocalists will be accompanied by all kinds of horns, strings, trumpets and percussion.

IllinoisThrough Jul 22 Music without Borders, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Chicago. 312.742.1168. millenniumpark.org. Eight double-bill concerts highlight this celebration of international music, featuring traditional

folk and pop artists from around the globe. Jun 24: Noche Mexicana—Doc severinsen and El Ritmo de la Vida with sones de Mexico Ensemble; Jul 1: Orchestre septentrional d’Haiti with Batata y Las Alegres Ambulancias; Jul 8: Dobet Gnahore with Victor Deme; Jul 15: Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou with La 33; Jul 22: Renato Borghetti with Boris Malkovsky & the AGAM string Quartet.

Through Aug 26 Cruisin’ Frankfort, 5-9pm every Thu, downtown Frankfort. 815.469.2177. villageoffrankfort.com. Every Thursday night, the streets of downtown Frankfort will be lined with classic, antique and collector cars. All makes and models of cars are welcome, but each week a different car category will be highlighted.

Through Aug 29 Concerts on the Green, 6:30pm every Sun, Breidert Green, Frankfort. 815.469.3356. villageoffrankfort.com. Every sunday evening offers a different concert, featuring everything from Motown and a marching band to blues and a traditional German band. In case of rain, the concerts will be held at the Frankfort Park District’s Founder’s Center.

Through Aug 30 Grant Park Music Festival, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Chicago. 312.742.7638. grantparkmusicfestival.com. Now in its 76th year, the nation’s only remaining free outdoor municipally supported classical music series will start with a bang. Admission to the lawn and general seating section is free for all concerts. Jun 23: Pink Martini; Jun 25-26: The Pulitzer Project; Jun 30: Muzyka Polska; Jul 4: Independence Day in Millennium Park; Jul 7: Memoria del Fuego; Jul 14: Petrushka; Jul 16-17: The Magic Toy shop; Jul 23-24: A Child of Our Time; Jul 28, 30: The Fairy’s Kiss.

Through Sept 6 Cirque Shanghai—Cloud 9, Pepsi Skyline Stage, Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago. 312.595.7437. navypier.com. Cirque shanghai returns for a fi fth straight season with a brand new theatrical experience that features gravity-defying ladder balances, spinning platform roller skating, juggling, contortion, choreographed aerial daredevils on sway poles suspended high above the stage and more.

Jun 21 Play for the Cure Golf Outing,11 am, Glen View Club, 100 Golf Rd, Golf. 312.926.7133. lynnsage.org. The Lynn sage Center Research Foundation is hosting the 19th Annual Play for the Cure. In addition to the 18-hole round of golf, golfers can donate to win a “pop-a-pink-balloon” raffl e prize and bid on the silent auction. Before tee-off, golfers can enjoy lunch on the patio and cap the day off with an evening cocktail reception and seated dinner in the clubhouse.

Jun 23, Jul 28 Farm Dinners, 5-8pm, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe. 847.835.5440. chicagobotanic.org. This celebration of Midwestern farmland and the food it provides will feature a multi-course meal in the beautiful setting of the Chicago Botanic Garden. Chef Cleetus Friedman will prepare fl avorful dishes for guests and help them explore the relationship between the earth and the food he serves. Local farmers, winemakers and brewers will be on hand to talk with the diners, who can also enjoy a tour of the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden.

Jun 24-Jul 1 17th Chicago Underground Film Festival, The Gene

Siskel Film Center, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 164 N State St, Chicago. 312.846.2600. cuff.org. One of Chicago’s leading fi lm events, this event stands out on the festival circuit for having unique programming with accessible, savvy fi lm and video that ignore the limitations of genre. screenings are followed by great nights of parties, events and concerts.

Jun 25-26 Chicago Pride Fest, 3-10pm Fri, 11am-10pm Sat, Halsted & Waveland, Chicago. chicagopridecalendar.org. Now in its 7th year, Pride Fest showcases a diverse group of arts and crafts, food, various other vendors and entertainment. This non-stop, early-summer party paves the way for sunday’s 41st Annual Pride Parade at noon, which begins at the corner of Halsted and Belmont, and continues to Cannon Drive in Lincoln Park.

Jun 25-Jul 4 30th Annual Taste of Chicago, starting at 11am each day, Grant Park, Chicago. 312.744.3315. tasteofchicago.us. A highly anticipated Windy City tradition, this celebration of gastronomical delight feeds three million visitors each year, featuring cuisine from more than 70 Chicago restaurants, as well as a variety of activities and live entertainment for the whole family.

Jun 26-27 Green Music Fest, noon-10pm, Chicago Ave between Ashland & Noble, West Town. 312.850.9390. greenmusicfestchicago.com. Refl ecting an ecoconscious city, the second annual Green Music Fest fuses environmentally friendly bands with all green vendors, local retailers, arts and crafts and educational kids’ activities. Artists slated to perform include the Wailers, the Aggrolites, Cloud Cult and Fang Island.

Jul 1-4 Naperville Ribfest, noon-10pm, Knoch Park, Naperville. ribfest.net. Voted the best festival in the Midwest, Ribfest features Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Famer sammy Hagar and country music artists LeAnn Rimes, Julianne Hough and Jason Michael Carroll. Offering 17 world-class rib vendors and dozens of other foods, Ribfest also has a carnival for all ages.

Jul 9 Rock & Roar, 6:30pm-midnight, Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N Clark St, Chicago. 312.742.2020. lpzoo.org. This black-tie gala features cocktails, entertainment, dancing and gourmet dining to the sounds of lions in the background and modern rock music streaming in the air, giving the event a nightclub feel. Proceeds from the ball go to benefi t the Women’s Board of Lincoln Park Zoo’s $2 million pledge to transform south Pond in Nature Boardwalk.

Jul 29-Sept 2 Made in Chicago—World Class Jazz, 6:30-9pm every Thu, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Chicago. 312.742.1168. millenniumpark.org.Featuring Chicago’s leading jazz artists and world premiere commissions, international collaborations and centennial celebrations, this six-concert series is completely free to the public. Jul 29: Tortoise 2.0.

exhibitionsIndianaThrough Aug 8 The Art and Magic of Africa—Selections from the Lawrence P. Kolton Collection, Brauer Museum of Art, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso. 219.464.5365. valpo.edu/artmuseum. This exhibit, which includes masks, pottery, carved fi gures and bronzes from a variety of countries and tribes, will conclude the

Brauer Museum’s 2009-2010 season. The African artwork and ceremonial objects have been collected by Beverly shores resident Lawrence P. Kolton.

Jul 17-Sept 12 Phil Shore & Sherry Giryotas—Place, Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 101 W 2nd St, Michigan City. 219.874.4900. lubeznikcenter.org. Two artists bring the relationship between humans and the environment to the forefront in their sculptural and painted works. shore’s artwork is infl uenced by his travels in Ancient Greece, while Giryotas’s inspiration comes from Michigan. Also, through Jul 11: Tony Fitzpatrick—No. 9, An Artist’s Journey; Carl Holzman—New Still Lifes; Drawn to Tattoos; Twila Beahm—Busting Out; through sep 12: sharon Gilmore & Donna Hapac.

MichiganThrough Jul 25 Paintings by Anthony Droege—Nature’s Seductions, Clark Lecture Hall and Gallery, Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, 13988 Range Line Rd, Niles. 269.695.6491. fernwoodbotanical.org.Vibrant brushwork and rich color help express the emotional and joyful response Anthony Droege experiences in the presence of the regional landscape. His plein air paintings of Michiana, on display at Fernwood, represent just a sample of his still life, landscape and fi gure paintings.

Through Sept 12 Flowers in Art—Selections from the Collection,Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 314 S Park St, Kalamazoo. 269.349.7775. kiarts.org.Flowers have a long tradition in the history of art, as they are beautiful, natural, a symbol of rebirth and a reminder of mortality, and make an appearance in more than 400 works in the KIA collection. Flowers’ color, form and texture will be featured in selections on view in the lower level all summer. Also, through Aug 14: On Paper—Lincoln Center Art.

Through Sept 30 Chihuly—A New Eden, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 1000 E Beltline NE, Grand Rapids. 616.957.1580 or 888.957.1580. meijergardens.org. Thousands of colorful glasswork pieces from the legendary Dale Chihuly will adorn the Frederik Meijer Gardens & sculpture Park as it celebrates its 15th anniversary. Chihuly’s second exhibition at this site will include chandeliers, glass towers up to 30 feet high, the sun, the moon, a rowboat full of glass and more. Designed to be fused with nature, these pieces will evolve with the surrounding nature as the season changes.

IllinoisThrough Sept 6 Mammoths and Mastodons—Titans of the Ice Age, The Field Museum, 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago. 312.922.9410. fi eldmuseum.org. Through monumental video installations, interactive displays and the best-preserved baby mammoth in the world, museum-goers will be able to explore the lives of the fascinating creatures that once roamed the earth. Guests will learn the difference between the behemoth animals, what may have caused their extinction and how today’s scientists excavate and analyze their fi ndings.

Through Sept 19 Untitled (Alliance), Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago. 317.443.3600. artic.edu/aic. Using unusual materials to disquieting ends, much of London-based artist Roger Hiorns’s artwork has focused on the form

JUN

E 2010

55

destination: sOU

TH H

AV

EN

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

56

of automobile and airplane engines. His Untitled (Alliance) is no exception, with two Pratt and Whitney TF33 P9 engines representing a dominant 20th-century object within the context of art and the art museum. Also, through Jun 30: 500 Ways of Looking at Modern; through Aug 16: Prints and H. C. Westermann—See America First; through sep 1: Kindly Cable Me at the Earliest Moment—James Henry Breasted’s Role in Building the Egyptian Collection; through sep 6: Stanley Greenberg—Architecture under Construction; through sep 7: Highlights from the Department of Architecture and Design.

Through Sept Sanctuary—Flight of the Majestic Monarch, The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N Cannon Dr, Chicago. 773.755.5100. naturemuseum.org. The U.s. premiere of this interactive exhibit will utilize paintings, photography, multimedia video and sound installations to help transport visitors through the Monarch butterfl y’s 2,500-mile fl ight from Canada through Chicago to Mexico. Iconic graphic panels will also inform on the various cultures the species interacts with on its annual migration.

Jun 26-Oct 17 Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art—Form, Balance, Joy, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago. 312.280.2660. mcachicago.org. This is the fi rst exhibit to explore Alexander Calder’s signifi cance for a new generation of contemporary artists emerging in the mid-1990s and early 21st century. It includes works from the MCA’s extensive holdings and both national and Chicago-area public and private collections, which exemplify Calder’s hands-on explorations of form, balance, color and movement. The show also features works from seven sculptors directly infl uenced by Calder.

filmIndianaCinemark at Valparaiso, 700 Porter’s Vale Blvd, Valparaiso. 219.464.0260. cinemark.com. This brand new theater, which opened in May 2008, has 12 screens and digital sound, and the all-stadium seating has comfortable chairs that rock to your comfort.

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

MichiganThe Vickers Theatre, 6 N Elm St, Three Oaks. 269.756.3522. vickerstheatre.com.Home of the annual “sound of silents Film Festival,” this painstakingly restored turn-of-the-century art house screens a variety of notable independent fi lms. A lofty, two-story gallery space, showcasing the works of Midwestern artists, is open to the public before and between shows. Further enhancing its art-house cachet, the Vickers hosts live music, performance art and poetry readings on its stage.

IllinoisThe Gene Siskel Film Center, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 164 N State St, Chicago. 312.846.2600.

siskelfi lmcenter.org. This fi lm center—renamed in 2000 for its most passionate supporter, the late fi lm critic Gene siskel—has been exhibiting critically acclaimed, as well as entertaining “motion picture art” in its state-of-the-art facilities since its inception in 1972. Presenting more than 100 fi lms each month, the center showcases cutting-edge, independent features and classic revivals, as well as premieres of new American and foreign fi lms. A focus on education is supported by guest lecturers, discussions and courses, and fi lm-related exhibits can be viewed at the on-site gallery/café.

performanceIndianaChicago Street Theater, 154 W Chicago St, Valparaiso. 219.464.1636. ctgonline.org. Now in its 55th season of bringing live theatrical entertainment to the greater Northwest Indiana region, the CsT presents a variety of plays and musicals each season, in addition to regularly scheduled theater classes for both adults and children. Jul 16-Aug 1: Chess.

DeBartolo Performing Arts Center,University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Campus. 574.631.2800. performingarts.nd.edu. The state-of-the-art, 150,000-square-foot facility, newly opened in 2004, is host to some of the world’s most celebrated artists. In addition, its stages showcase student, faculty and community performers, as well as the south Bend symphony Orchestra, southold Dance, the Notre Dame symphony, the south Bend Civic Theatre, and more. Jun 30: University of Notre Dame Band summer Concert; Jul 7: Volunteers of the U.s. Army Field Band.

Dunes Summer Theatre, 288 Shady Oak Dr, Michigan City. 219.879.7509. dunessummertheatre.com. The Dunes Arts Foundation provides this venue for the performing arts, which also furnishes classes for children, youth and adults. Jun 25-27, Jul 2-3, 9-11: The Producers; Jul 16-18, 23-25: Lend Me a Tenor.

Horseshoe Casino, 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond. 866.711.7463. horseshoehammond.com. World-class gambling and top-name entertainment combine to create an unprecedented experience at this 350,000-square-foot casino. The Venue, the casino’s 90,000-square-foot entertainment facility, hosts some of the hottest Chicagoland entertainment. Jun 25: Comedians of Chelsea Lately; Jul 9: Charlie Murphy; Jul 17: Dave Koz & Jonathan Butler with Peabo Bryson; Jul 24: Ringo starr & His All-starr Band; Jul 30: Don Rickles; Jul 31: Al Green.

The Memorial Opera House, 104 E Indiana Ave, Valparaiso. 219.548.9137. memorialoperahouse.com. As the name suggests, this renovated, 364-seat building—with red, white and blue stained-glass windows—was built as a living memorial to the Civil War veterans of Porter County. Built in 1893, the theater has a rich history as a venue for musical and dramatic performances, including appearances by John Philip sousa and the Marx Brothers. Jun 25: Jerrod Niemann; Jul 8: An Evening with stephen Kellogg.

The Morris Performing Arts Center, 211 N Michigan St, South Bend. 574.235.9190, 800.537.6415. morriscenter.org. The home of the Broadway Theatre League, the south Bend symphony Orchestra and the southold Dance Theater, the 2,560-

seat Morris Performing Arts Center has enraptured audiences in the heart of downtown south Bend for more than 75 years. Jun 21: Harry Connick Jr. & Orchestra.

Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival,various times, dates and performance locations. 574.631.2800. shakespeare.nd.edu. For 10 years, the Notre Dame shakespeare Festival has been bringing world-class theater and educational outreach to Northern Indiana and southwest Michigan. Jul 17-18: ShakeScenes (Washington Hall, University of Notre Dame).

Star Plaza Theatre, I-65 & US 30, Merrillville. 219.769.6600. starplazatheatre.com. With 3,400 seats arranged in two intimate seating levels, the theater consistently hosts premier performers year-round. With its convenient location in the heart of Northwest Indiana’s shopping and dining district and its proximity to the adjoining Radisson Hotel, the star Plaza offers a total entertainment package to area theatergoers. Jul 9: “Weird Al” Yankovic; Jul 13: Alice Cooper; Jul 20: Ted Nugent.

The Theatre at the Center, Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.3255. theatreatthecenter.com. This theater, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago, has the distinction of being the only professional equity theater in Northwest Indiana, and showcases the artistry of professional actors, musicians and designers from throughout the Midwest. Jul 8-Aug 8: Jesus Christ Superstar.

Towle Community Theater, 5205 Hohman Ave, Hammond. 219.937.8780. towletheater.org. To honor its mission of nurturing and celebrating local talent in the arts, the Towle Community Theater presents exhibitions, theatrical productions and musical performances in the heart of downtown Hammond. Jul 9-11, 15-18, 22-25: Rent.

MichiganThe Acorn Theater, 6 N Elm St, Three Oaks. 269.756.3879. acorntheater.com. The 250-seat Acorn is home to a carefully reconstructed, rare Barton Theater Pipe Organ and boasts bistro tables and occasionally offbeat entertainment options. Jun 26: Anne Harris Band; Jun 27: Dear Mr. Fidrych; Jul 10: Opera at the Acorn presents The Three Other Tenors—A Night in Italy; Jul 17: Las Guitarras de Espana with Wendy Clinard; Jul 23-24: The sweat Girls; Jul 31: super Happy Funtime Burlesque.

Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids. 616.454.9451 ext 4. grsymphony.org. Recognized as one of America’s leading regional orchestras, this Grammy-nominated symphony provides the orchestra for Opera Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Ballet Company. The orchestra’s eight concert series with performances designed for young children through adults feature a wide range of repertoire. Jul 8-9: Classical Fireworks; Jul 15-16: sWING! Big Bad Voodoo Daddy; Jul 22-23: Motown’s Greatest Hits; Jul 29-30: A Tribute to the Beatles.

The Livery, 190 5th St, Benton Harbor. 269.925.8760. liverybrew.com. As its name suggests, the Livery is a former horse stable, residing in the Arts District of downtown Benton Harbor. Not content to just offer its twelve taps of microbrew, an

outdoor beer garden, an appetizing soup and sandwich menu, and a coffee bar, the Livery is also a venue for an eclectic variety of musical performances. Jul 4: Bonerama; Jul 9: Doug & Telisha Williams; Jul 11: Black Lillies; Jul 16: sarah Borges.

Mason Street Warehouse, 400 Culver St, Saugatuck. 269.857.4898. masonstwarehouse.org. The professional theater company at this “uptown theater in downtown saugatuck” offers a diverse and intriguing array of plays and musicals in the heart of western Michigan. Jun 25-Jul 18: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; Jul 21-Aug 1: Dixie’s Tupperware Party.

Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, various venues. 269.982.4030. smso.org. This versatile orchestra offers a traditional Mendel Mainstage series, small ensemble works in the Around Town series, and the Performing Artists series, which showcases a wide range of styles with guest artists. Jul 3-4: Independence Day Concerts; Jul 8: Euclid Quartet; Jul 24: Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Van Andel Arena, 130 W Fulton, Grand Rapids. 616.742.6600. vanandelarena.com.Ranked second on Billboard Magazine’s 2003 Top 10 Arena Venues for its size, this $75 million 12,000-plus capacity arena offers world-class family shows, concerts and sporting events to the increasingly popular Grand Rapids area. Jun 24: Chris Tomlin and TobyMac Hello Tonight summer Tour 2010; Jul 3: American Idol Live! Jul 14: star Wars—In Concert.

IllinoisAuditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E Parkway, Chicago. 312.902.1500. auditoriumtheatre.org. A National Historic Landmark and a mainstay of Chicago architecture and theater since 1889, the Auditorium continues to provide unparalleled ballet performances and a variety of artistic productions. Jun 27: On stage with Joan Curto; Jul 18: On stage with Megon McDonough; Jul 22-Aug 8: The Mistress Cycle.

The Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W 111th St, Chicago. 773.445.3838. beverlyartcenter.org. Founded in 1967, this institution has enjoyed more than 30 years of exposing Chicago’s south and southwest sides to a comprehensive program of cultural enrichment, including the performing arts, education, fi lm and fi ne-art exhibitions. The center recently moved into a new, 40,000-square-foot facility, an arts complex that houses a 410-seat mainstage, a dance studio, art gallery, classrooms, café and gift shop. Jun 26: Outlaws; Jul 1: Uriah Heep; Jul 10: Celebrating Queen; Jul 23: James Cotton; Jul 29: Gaelic storm.

Broadway in Chicago, various venues, Chicago. 800.775.2000. broadwayinchicago.com. A joint venture between the two largest commercial theater producers and owner/operators in the U.s., Broadway in Chicago offers the fi nest of professional stage productions in multiple theaters, all residing in Chicago’s lively Loop. Auditorium Theatre, 50 E Parkway. Through Jul 25: Fuerza Bruta—Look Up. Bank of America Theatre, 18 W Monroe. Jun 18-20: Jackie Mason—No Holds Barred. Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W Randolph. Jul 13-sep 5: Shrek the Musical. Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre, 24 W Randolph.Ongoing: Billy Elliot the Musical.

The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University, 1 University

siskelfi lmcenter.org. This fi lm center— seat Morris Performing Arts Center has

essential EVENTS

JULY

2010

57

Pkwy, University Park. 708.235.2222. centertickets.net. The Center for Performing Arts is celebrating 11 years of promoting cultural enhancement on the south side of Chicago through world-class performing arts productions and arts education. Jul 31-Aug 7: The Wedding Singer.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, 800 E Grand Ave, Chicago. 312.595.5600. chicagoshakes.com. Prominently located on Navy Pier in Chicago, this venue mounts renowned productions of the plays of William shakespeare, as well as works from distinguished American and international playwrights and directors. The theater’s mission to reach out to younger audiences is well accomplished with its offerings of children’s productions and student matinees. The architecturally dynamic structure, new in 1999, houses both an engaging, 500-seat courtyard theater and a 200-seat black box theater. Jun 30-Aug 29: The Emperor’s New Clothes.

The Chicago Theatre, 175 N State St, Chicago. 312.462.6300. thechicagotheatre.com. The Chicago Theatre has been a prototype for area theaters since 1921. With its lavish architecture and an elegant stage, the Chicago Theatre seats 3,600 and stands seven stories high. Jun 22-23: Harry Connick Jr. & Orchestra; Jul 10: Julio Iglesias; Jul 15-17: Widespread Panic; Jul 22: Natalie Merchant; Jul 23: Daryl Hall & John Oates; Jul 25: Family Bridges Presents a Family Portrait; Jul 28: Keane.

The Goodman Theatre, 170 N Dearborn St, Chicago. 312.443.3800. goodmantheatre.org. since 1925, the Goodman Theatre has provided entertainment to the Chicago area; however, a new, state-of-the-art two-theater complex was completed in 2000—75 years to the day after the dedication of the original—and resides in the vibrant North Loop Theater District within walking distance of fine hotels and restaurants. Jul 7-25: Latino Theatre Festival. Harris Theater, 205 E Randolph, Chicago. 312.704.8414. harristheaterchicago.org. Now in its fifth season at its home in the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, this modern state-of-the-art theater guarantees that the audience will enjoy a wide variety of performances in an intimate setting. Jul 17: Cultural Bridges—The Pearl Primus Project.

Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago. 312.397.4010. mcachicago.org. Reflecting the modern atmosphere of the adjoining museum, the state-of-the-art MCA Theater features elegant oak-paneled walls and tiered seating, which guarantees that every one of the 300 seats can boast the best seat in the house. Jun 22: Julia Huff; June 29: Fred Anderson.

Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E Main St, St. Charles. 630.584.6342. pheasantrun.com. Acclaimed throughout Chicago and the Midwest for its entertainment, Pheasant Run Resort features theater at its new Mainstage and studio theaters, comedy at Zanies Comedy Club, and live music, entertainment, art exhibits and shopping at its own version of Bourbon street. Jul 9-11: The Wonder Bread Years; Jul 10: Louie Anderson; Jul 23: The Wizard of Oz; Jul 24: The second City 50th Anniversary Tour.

Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N Halsted, Chicago. 312.335.1650. steppenwolf.org. The Chicago-based cast—recently joined by William Petersen—is an internationally renowned group of 42 artists, committed to the art of ensemble collaboration. Now in its 34th season, steppenwolf continues to fulfill its mission by offering intriguing performances and taking artistic risks. Jul 1-Aug 29: A Parallelogram.

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

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

58

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

58

INVASIVE SPECIES CAUSE IMMIGRATION HEADACHES FOR THE ‘SHORE’ REGION

BY SARAH TOMPKINS

INVASIVE SPECIES CAUSE IMMIGRATION HEADACHES FOR THE ‘SHORE’ REGION

Hydrilla

They sneak aboard cargo ships, cling to cars and travel undetected to new communities. And once an invasive species settles in, it can wipe out native life and cost residents and towns thousands of dollars in damages. • Invasive species cost the United States more than $120 billion each year. By 2004, about 50,000 invasive species had made America their home, according to a study by Ithaca College, and more are expected to have taken up residence since. • Though some species—like corn, wheat and poultry—provide more than 98 percent of the U.S. food supply, invasive species have caused more than 40 percent of the threatened or endangered species to be at risk of extinction.

ome of these foreign plants and insects were unwelcome, and others, like the gypsy moth, were transported to America intentionally and escaped from captivity.

E. Leopold Trouvelot brought gypsy moths to Massachusetts in the late 1860s to see if the insect

could be used to produce silk, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The larvae wriggled away and began defoliating trees in New England in the early 1900s.

The moth found a permanent home in Michigan in the 1970s, and twenty years later was responsible for millions of acres of leafl ess trees in the state, according to Mike Philip, pest survey program manager with the Michigan Department of Agriculture. “They eat the leaves voraciously, and in a big population they will completely strip the leaves off of every tree in the forest,” Philip says. “But like an oak tree, which is their favorite to eat, they can tolerate the defoliation for a year or several years if they are healthy trees.”

Philip says the gypsy moths weaken trees and make them susceptible to other threats, but the moths are normally not the sole cause of a tree’s death. But they do kill tourism and irritate homeowners. “With millions, probably billions of caterpillars covering everything, covering your house . . . as fast as they’re eating those leaves, it’s coming out of them,” Philip says of the caterpillar waste. “In a big infestation it will sound like rain coming down on the forest fl oor.”

The gypsy moth travels by laying its eggs on the bottom of boats, cars, lawn furniture and other objects and hitching a ride to a new location. In this way humans speed up the spread of invasive species, which deprives scientists of the time needed to discover solutions and Mother Nature of the time to introduce natural predators, says Warren Goetsch, bureau chief of the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s environmental programs.

“As our world becomes smaller in terms of world trade, we continue to see these kinds of problems,”

Goetsch says. “But if we as a society move this material everywhere, then the likelihood of being able to come up with an appropriate solution is much less.”

The emerald ash borer—which is more deadly to trees than the gypsy moth—is spread by humans moving fi rewood. “Buy your fi rewood locally and burn locally, don’t move fi rewood,” says Phil Marshall, head of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources division of entomology and plant pathology. “It’s a dead tree . . . something killed it, and that could be emerald ash borer.”

The small green beetle hid in wooden shipping planks from Asian imports and started to wreak havoc near Detroit in 2002. The beetle is also found in Indiana and Illinois. The insect can single-handedly kill a tree by eating its insides and destroying the vascular system.

“When an ash borer comes through a neighborhood, you have all these ash trees dying at the same time,” Philip says. “It’s a big expense, an urgent issue. Ash trees tend to be brittle after they die, and they tend to not stand for very long. Some trees will stand for years and years, but not ash.”

When storms cause

JULY

2010

59

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

60

WHAT YOU CAN DO

EXPERTS SAY YOU CAN HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF

INVASIVE SPECIES BY:

Cleaning your boat before moving it to a different body

of water. Some species are transported in their early

stages of life, and you cannot see them with the naked eye.

Cleaning your boots before hiking into a new area, to get rid of hitchhiking

seeds and insects.

Throwing out food and inspecting pets before

traveling. Fruits, vegetables and animals can carry

invasive species or become one themselves.

Not releasing aquarium fi sh and plants, live bait or

exotic animals into the wild.

SOURCE: Indiana Department of Natural Resources

The cost of fi ghting

high winds, these dead trees can fall and cause serious damage to power lines. Scott Simon, spokesperson for DTE Energy—which provides electricity to southeastern Michigan, where the insects were originally found—says the company cannot do much to prevent the destruction or delays in restoring power. “We clear limbs within

10 feet of our power lines, but ash trees can grow tall, sometimes 50, 60 feet,” Simon says. “They grow outside of our trimming easements, so we have no control when they fall.”

But invasive species do not just affect trees. Aquatic life, such as Asian carp, zebra mussels and certain plants, can cause headaches of their own.

Zebra mussels have been found in the region since 1988, says Doug Keller, aquatic invasive species coordinator with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The species was carried from Asia to the United States aboard large ships in the ballast water—water ships take in before leaving their ports to balance the ship with the cargo. After ships make their deliveries, they adjust for the reduced weight by releasing the ballast water—along with the many organisms in it—into local waters.

And since the mussel’s initial arrival, commercial boats have spread the

species across inland waters, including 65 bodies of water in 44 counties of Northwest Indiana, Keller

says. “One of the misconceptions is that if they don’t actually see the things clinging

to their boat, a lot of people are under the impression their watercraft

is clean and they’re not going to be

spreading them,”

Keller

says. “Unfortunately, the way they are probably spread around the most is in the larvae form.”

The mussels make water look clearer and cleaner by fi ltering it for food, Keller says, but that clarity can cause an increase in weed growth. The mussels eat plankton, which serves as the base of the food chain. “The zebra mussels are stripping out the entire building block of the aquatic community,” Keller says, adding that people may notice less fi sh as a result.

But like the other invasive species, aquatic animals can cause industry problems as well. “They can clog pipes and pumps, which can cause an improper amount of water to cede to the operating equipment,” says Courtney Boone, spokesperson for U.S. Steel. “Without proper service water feed to the equipment, the equipment can be damaged.”

For industry and tourism alike, Asian carp pose a serious threat to the region. Experts say the fi sh—which can grow up to 100 pounds and hit boaters when leaping out of the water—could wipe out the multibillion-dollar fi shing industry in the Great Lakes.

And plants like the hydrilla can destroy aquatic ecosystems in a short span of time. Keller says the water weed grows thick and at depths most water plants cannot—almost pitch dark at one percent sunlight. This chokes out other aquatic species and creates a ripple effect down the food chain. Some hydrilla patches are so thick, he says, that boats are unable to drive through the water in which they grow.

ndiana spent more than $1 million in three years on herbicides to try and eradicate hydrilla from Rochester’s Lake Manitou alone. The federal government offers some fi nancial aid to states to help control certain invasive species, but the cost still adds up for local and state governments.

Companies like ArcelorMittal are also helping fi nancially combat invasive species. The global steelmaker donated about $70,000 between the Save the Dunes Conservation Fund and the Shirley Heinze Land Trust to control invasive species and restore habitats in the Indiana Dunes region.

States use fungus and pheromone fl akes to slow the spread of gypsy moths. The pheromones, which are scents that attract species for mating, confuse the males by drawing them to the fl akes instead of the females. “We call it looking for love in all the wrong places,” Marshall says with a laugh.

The federal government has stepped in and enacted a quarantine for Indiana, Illinois,

southern Michigan and other states to prevent the spread of the emerald ash

borer. Interstate trade materials

Emerald Ash Borer

JULY

2010

61

must be inspected and approved before being transported.

Scientists are also importing exotic insects to serve as “natural” predators of invasive species like the emerald ash borer. Tiny, non-stinging Asian wasps have been brought to America to attack the insect. “What they do is they lay their eggs either on or in the egg of the larvae of the emerald ash borer, and it feeds on that larvae and eventually kills it,” Goetsch says. He says the state will also put up about 5,000 purple sticky traps this year to catch the bugs and serve as a form of public outreach.

The best method of combating Asian carp has become a national issue, with the state of Michigan fi ling a lawsuit to force the closure of Chicago-area shipping locks. Michigan offi cials argue it would prevent the fi sh from entering Lake Michigan, while critics say it will hurt the region’s trade when there are other ways of stopping the fi sh.

“Recent environmen-tal DNA tests show they still aren’t blocked from moving toward Lake Michigan,” says Joel Brammeier, president of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. “Carp don’t respect state lines, so the region must migrate toward the only solu-tion we know is effective: a permanent physical separation of these two great waters.”

While state and federal governments fi ght invasive species, Philip says there is some solace in knowing that for every invasive pest we receive, we are most likely exporting some of our own.

“We’ve moved stuff over to other countries,” Philip says. “It’s called fair trade, I guess.”

ERADICATION IN CHICAGO: A SUCCESS STORYThe Asian Longhorned Beetle fi rst landed in Chicago in 1998 in a shipping container that held plumbing parts. Hundreds of millions of dollars and almost a decade later, Illinois has successfully eradicated the insect.

But Warren Goetsch, bureau chief of the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s environmental programs, says it was not an easy task.

The female beetle lays up to 90 eggs under the bark of hardwood trees, such as maple and birch. During the fall and winter the insects are hidden while the larvae feed on the tree, and in the spring they burrow out and mate, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Illinois enacted a state quarantine to protect the hardwood trees, and more than one thousand infested trees were cut down. “There were places where entire neighborhoods’ trees were taken out,” Goetsch says, adding that thousands more trees were replanted across the state.

Goetsch says he doesn’t expect the state to fi nd another infestation, but that it is always hard to tell with invasive species. “We could have a new introduction,” he says. “Anything is possible . . . so we need to keep watching.”

The cost of fi ghting

SOME OF THE PESKIER PESTS

ASIAN CARPNATIVE TO: EurasiaU.S. ARRIVAL: 1960s, intentionally, for controlling aquafarmingIMPACT: Competes with native species

ROUND GOBYNATIVE TO: EurasiaU.S. ARRIVAL: 1990, unintentionally, through ship ballast water IMPACT: Competes with and preys on native species

GYPSY MOTHNATIVE TO: EuropeU.S. ARRIVAL: 1869, intentionally, to study silk productionIMPACT: Defoliates trees

ZEBRA MUSSELSNATIVE TO: Eurasia U.S. ARRIVAL: 1988, unintentionally, through ship ballast water IMPACT: Clogs pipes, competes with native species

EMERALD ASH BORERNATIVE TO: AsiaU.S. ARRIVAL: 2002, unintentionally, in Asian importsIMPACT: Destroys ash trees

ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLENATIVE TO: AsiaU.S. ARRIVAL: 1996,

unintentionally, in Asian importsIMPACT: Destroys hardwood trees

HYDRILLANATIVE TO: AfricaU.S. ARRIVAL: 1960, intentionally, through aquarium tradeIMPACT: Crowds out native species

PHRAGMITESNATIVE TO: the U.S., but the invasive strains originated in EuropeU.S. ARRIVAL: Late 1800s, unintentionally, through ship ballast water IMPACT: Crowds out native species

PURPLE LOOSESTRIFENATIVE TO: Eurasia U.S. ARRIVAL: Early 1800s, intentionally, as ornamental plants and accidentally through ship ballast water IMPACT: Crowds out native species

SOURCE: United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Library

PESTS

JULY

2010

61

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

62

The recession has put a squeeze play on America, but no place has been hit as hard as the Rust Belt. Unemployment in Michigan reached 14.3 percent

in January, the highest in the country.

But minor league baseball continues to prosper in Michigan, notably with the Midwest League’s West Michigan

Whitecaps outside of Grand Rapids. On the Indiana side, the South Bend Silver Hawks are branching out into the

community, and the most remarkable upswing can be found with the Northern League’s Gary SouthShore RailCats—a

team that is defying odds with its spiffy downtown ballpark.

Baseball can thrive during bad times.

PLAY BALLPLAY BALLPLAY BALLPLAY BALLPLAY BALLPLAY BALLTHE STATE OF MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

DURING THE RECESSION

PLAY BALLPLAY BALLPLAY BALLPLAY BALLBY DAVE HOEKSTRA

JULY

2010

63

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

64

emember, the Cubs were in the World Series in 1932, at the depth of the Great Depression. “Times were

tough for just about everybody, in-cluding young men who tried to make their way as professional baseball play-ers in a decade of persistently discour-aging prospects in almost all kinds of employment,” Charles C. Alexander writes in Break-

ing the Slump—Baseball in the Depression Era. He continues, “Yet the period featured

a galaxy of memorable personalities and some of the most memorable baseball ever played.”

Gary actually saw its attendance increase to 166,334 (47 home dates) in 2009 from 159,586 in 2008 (46 home dates) at its beautiful U.S. Steel Yard in downtown Gary.

“Of the 200 minor league teams, 81 percent went down in attendance,” says RailCats general manager Roger Wexel-berg. “The affordability of our product worked in our favor with the economy, because we’re so close to Chicago. Instead of mak-ing a choice of going to a Cubs or White Sox game, they came here. People still want to have family entertainment.”

As the 2010 major league base-ball season began, the Cubs fi nally fi nished fi rst in something: Accord-ing to an analysis by Team Market-ing Report, the Cubs have the highest average annual ticket price in major league baseball at $52.56. The White Sox rank fourth at $38.65. Tickets to see the RailCats top out at $10.

The RailCats’ Northern League (not affi liated with major league teams) also has teams in nearby Joliet and Schaum-burg, Illinois. South Bend is a major league affi liate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. “We don’t have any set minor league competition,” Wexelberg says. “We did a survey last year based on 5,000 people and the highest percentage [10 percent] of fans come from Valparaiso. About 8.5 from Por-tage, 8.4 from Gary, 8.3 from Crown Point, 7.3 from Hobart. Those are the top fi ve.

“Our demographics are old Northwest Indiana.”The South Bend Silver Hawks have used a new approach

to draw fans. The team’s 2009 attendance dropped to 155,403 from the previous year’s 163,479. Earlier this year the Silver Hawks named Lynn Kachmarik their new vice president and general manager. Kachmarik, 52, is not a baseball lifer. She previously was executive director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau of South Bend-Mishawaka and athletic director at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. What does she see that others might miss, especially in a diffi cult economy?

“The attraction aspect of what we have,” replies Kachmarik, one of the fi rst women inducted into the Colle-giate Water Polo Hall of Fame. “It’s constant entertainment. It’s how you tie in your audience to the game. This year members of our team went to the convent for the Sisters of the Holy Cross and met all the sisters. And now the sisters

are coming to games. I’ve spent my life in athletics and I believe it is so much more than the on-fi eld expe-rience.

“And we’re telling our story. Our baseball history goes back 150 years to Studebaker-Singer [sewing machine] plants teams, Negro League and women’s baseball.” The South Bend Blue Sox were one of the charter teams in Philip K. Wrigley’s All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, formed in May 1943.

Despite the rich history, during the Silver Hawks’ 2005 championship season the

team nearly moved to downstate Marion, Illinois. Former In-diana governor (and former South Bend mayor) Joe Kernan purchased the team and kept it in South Bend.

Whitecaps general manager Scott Lane has been at West Michigan since the team was born for the 1994 season. “I didn’t know this until I got here,” says Lane, who had been assistant GM for the Kane County Cougars outside of Chi-cago. “You draw a line down the middle of the state. The west side of the state has an economy that is pretty well diver-sifi ed. They’re totally into medical. The east side is bad. Last year we beat our sponsorship budget by $100,000.”

West Michigan enjoyed a honeymoon period that is common in baseball. Lane says, “In ’94 and ’95 we broke attendance records; in ’96 we drew 547,000 people. But we knew it would last fi ve or six years. What we’ve done

well is become part of the community. West Michigan is the lakeshore, President Ford’s library and the Whitecaps. From a baseball perspective we’ve settled around 370,000 fans a year.”

The Whitecaps made a key move in late 1996 by affi liat-ing with the parent Detroit Tigers, just a two-hour drive east. The Tigers have a presence at the Whitecaps’ Fifth Third Ballpark. For example, on the June 4 Jack Morris Bobble-head Day, the former Tiger ace appeared at the game.

“Going with Detroit was a diffi cult move,” Lane says. “We made it after the ’96 season when [former affi liate]

World Series in 1932, at the depth of World Series in 1932, at the depth of

ers in a decade of persistently discour-ers in a decade of persistently discour-

are coming to games. I’ve spent my life in athletics and I believe it is so

aging prospects in almost all kinds aging prospects in almost all kinds of employment,” Charles C. of employment,” Charles C.

Break- Break-ing the Slump—Baseball ing the Slump—Baseball

in the Depression Erain the Depression Era. . He continues, “Yet He continues, “Yet the period featured the period featured

a galaxy of memorable personalities and some of a galaxy of memorable personalities and some of

166,334 (47 home dates) in 2009 from 159,586 in 166,334 (47 home dates) in 2009 from 159,586 in

much more than the on-fi eld expe-rience.

“And we’re telling our story. Our baseball history telling our story. Our baseball history telling our story. Our baseball history goes back 150 years to Studebaker-goes back 150 years to Studebaker-goes back 150 years to Studebaker-Singer [sewing machine] plants Singer [sewing machine] plants Singer [sewing machine] plants teams, Negro League and women’s teams, Negro League and women’s teams, Negro League and women’s

are coming to games. I’ve spent my life in athletics and I believe it is so

2008 (46 home dates) at its beautiful U.S. Steel 2008 (46 home dates) at its beautiful U.S. Steel 2008 (46 home dates) at its beautiful U.S. Steel

product worked in our favor with

close to Chicago. Instead of mak-ing a choice of going to a Cubs or White Sox game, they came here.

As the 2010 major league base-ball season began, the Cubs fi nally fi nished fi rst in something: Accord-ing to an analysis by Team Market-ing Report, the Cubs have the highest average annual ticket ing Report, the Cubs have the highest average annual ticket ing Report, the Cubs have the highest average annual ticket price in major league baseball at $52.56. The White Sox rank price in major league baseball at $52.56. The White Sox rank price in major league baseball at $52.56. The White Sox rank fourth at $38.65. Tickets to see the RailCats top out at $10.fourth at $38.65. Tickets to see the RailCats top out at $10.fourth at $38.65. Tickets to see the RailCats top out at $10.

teams, Negro League and women’s teams, Negro League and women’s baseball.” The South Bend Blue baseball.” The South Bend Blue Sox were one of the charter teams Sox were one of the charter teams in Philip K. Wrigley’s All-American in Philip K. Wrigley’s All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, Girls Professional Baseball League, formed in May 1943.formed in May 1943.

Despite the rich history, during Despite the rich history, during the Silver Hawks’ 2005 championship season the the Silver Hawks’ 2005 championship season the the Silver Hawks’ 2005 championship season the

team nearly moved to downstate Marion, Illinois. Former In-team nearly moved to downstate Marion, Illinois. Former In-team nearly moved to downstate Marion, Illinois. Former In-team nearly moved to downstate Marion, Illinois. Former In-team nearly moved to downstate Marion, Illinois. Former In-diana governor (and former South Bend mayor) Joe Kernan diana governor (and former South Bend mayor) Joe Kernan diana governor (and former South Bend mayor) Joe Kernan diana governor (and former South Bend mayor) Joe Kernan diana governor (and former South Bend mayor) Joe Kernan purchased the team and kept it in South Bend.purchased the team and kept it in South Bend.purchased the team and kept it in South Bend.purchased the team and kept it in South Bend.purchased the team and kept it in South Bend.

telling our story. Our baseball history telling our story. Our baseball history goes back 150 years to Studebaker-goes back 150 years to Studebaker-Singer [sewing machine] plants Singer [sewing machine] plants teams, Negro League and women’s teams, Negro League and women’s

pho

tog

rap

h co

urte

sy o

f [p

revi

ous

pag

e] G

ARY

SO

UTH

SHO

RE

RA

ILC

ATS

; [th

is p

age,

top

to b

otto

m]

GA

RY S

OU

THSH

OR

E R

AIL

CA

TS, M

AR

K N

EW

MA

N; [

opp

osit

e p

age]

GA

RY S

OU

THSH

OR

E R

AIL

CA

TS

“The affordability of our product worked in our favor with the economy, because we’re so close to Chicago. Instead of

making a choice of going to a Cubs or White Sox game, they came here. People still want to have family entertainment.”

RailCats general manager Roger Wexelberg

pho

tog

rap

h co

urte

sy o

f [p

revi

ous

pag

e] G

ARY

SO

UTH

SHO

RE

RA

ILC

ATS

; [th

is p

age,

top

to b

otto

m]

GA

RY S

OU

THSH

OR

E R

AIL

CA

TS, M

AR

K N

EW

MA

N; [

opp

osit

e p

age]

GA

RY S

OU

THSH

OR

E R

AIL

CA

TS

Oakland won our fi rst Midwest League champion-ship [managed by current Cubs third base coach Mike Quade]. Quite frankly, Detroit courted us rather than we courted them. And it’s been a great relationship. This is Tigers country. You have a few goofs who are Cubs fans, but its Tigers all the way.”

Since the Whitecaps hooked up with the Tigers for the 1997 season, West Michigan has won four more Midwest League championships. “That’s un-heard of,” Lane says.

The RailCats also won Northern League champi-onships in 2005 and 2007. “Minor league baseball is fun, affordable entertainment and that is the core of what you sell,” Wexelberg says. “But part of that fun is winning. We were also successful last year be-cause we brought in celebrities for the fi rst time. We had a Blackhawk night with Stan Mikita. [Cubs Hall of Famer] Fergie Jenkins came out for a promotion where ten fans got to hit off him. If someone hit a home run, they won $1,000.” Jenkins will return to U.S. Steel Yard on June 30.

The economy has forced professional sports to use venues year-round. Minor league baseball is no different. “We have 70 home baseball games,” Lane says. “We have 70 other events here during the year. That’s the direction our business is going.” For example, on October 1 the high-profi le Rockford Rams-Muskegon Big Reds prep football game will be held at the Whitecaps’ Fifth Third Ballpark.

After the death of Michael Jackson, the Gary ballpark hosted a memorial concert for its hometown hero that drew a record 10,000 fans to the stadium (capacity 6,139). U.S. Steel Yard has seen country and blues concerts, and a Mixed Martial Arts event was held

there in early June. “I’ve been in 100 minor league stadiums through my tenure in baseball,” says Wex-elberg, former GM of the Cubs Class AA club in Orlando, Florida. “For its size, there isn’t one nicer than Gary. That’s the biggest thing for us.”

U.S. Steel Yard opened in 2003 at a cost of $45 million. At the time the ballpark boasted the “World’s Largest Bennigan’s.” The restaurant with a large banquet facility shut down in January and the RailCats are taking bids for a new tenant. Until then, fans can expect a pregame weekend buffet in the facility with a deck overlooking right fi eld.

The center fi eld back-drop for hitters at U.S. Steel Yard offers a clear view of smoke billowing out from the U.S. Steel mill. The South Shore railroad runs in tandem

with traffi c on I-90. You know you are in America’s midsection, where the heart of baseball still beats in the toughest of times.

fun foods at the ballpark

Minor league baseball fans will get a major bang for their buck this summer when they check out the Cudighi Yooper, a creation from the West Michigan Whitecaps. Cudighi Yooper is not a slugging first baseman from the Far East.

It is a regional addition to the unique Whitecaps concession items.

The Yooper is a spicy sausage patty smothered in cheese, onions, green and red peppers, and

marinara sauce, and served in a sub roll ($5.75). It is popular in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The sandwich was created by an Italian immigrant who settled in Ishpeming. He used mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce.

The Yooper was chosen by fans in a preseason contest that drew more than 23,000 votes. It edged the Declaration of Indigestion, which is a half-pound, foot-long hot dog covered with Italian beef, green peppers, onions and Philly cheese sauce, served on a large hoagie bun ($6). Only 56 votes separated the two items, so the Whitecaps added each item on the menu for this season.

“Years ago I stole the 8-ounce center cut pork chop from Kane County,” says Whitecaps GM Scott Lane, who was assistant GM of the Kane County Cougars in suburban Chicago. “When I came here, that was our signature food product. Employees named it ‘The Swimmin’ Pig’ [because it’s slathered in barbecue sauce] and we started to become known for our food. Then we came out with a deep-fried Twinkie.” And Apple Cider Floats.

Last year West Michigan attracted national press with its Fifth Third Burger, a 4,889-calorie gutapalooza consisting of five one-third pound burgers with cheese on each slice, crunched tortilla chips, a half cup of salsa, lettuce and tomato served on a custom-made 12-inch bun ($20). Any fan who downs the burger in one sitting is given a free T-shirt. And hospital gown. (Just kidding.)

This year marked the first season the team turned over food voting to the fans. “We also made the items and sampled them,” Lane says. He did not belch.

Weird concoctions that were rejected in fan voting included the Pink Panther—a hot dog bun covered in icing and filled with pink cotton candy—a Twinkie Cheese Dog and the third place finisher, chocolate-covered bacon that attracted an amazing 6,326 votes.

Other real-life items introduced to the ballpark menu this season include Cole’s Garlic & Cheese Breadsticks (three for $3.50), Italian Grinders ($5.75) and Texas Toast Barbeque Sandwiches ($5.75). —DAVE HOEKSTRA p

hoto

gra

ph

cour

tesy

of [

far

left

] M

AR

K N

EW

MA

N; [

LEFT

] G

ARY

SO

UTH

SHO

RE

RA

ILC

ATS

July

2010

75

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

68

This past spring the RV industry cel-ebrated its centennial—100 years of producing recreational vehicles for resale. “And the industry has grown every decade since 1910,” points out Al Hesselbart, the historian for the RV Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana.

John Filko has been an RV owner for nearly twenty years, and he’s con-tributed to that growth. “It’s like an addiction,” he says with a laugh. “You

start out with a pop-up camper, which is a big step up from camping in a tent, but it doesn’t have any amenities. Then, before you know it, you move onto the hard stuff. That’s what happened to me. The bigger the RV, the more you can fi t in there. We bought our Class C RV in 1999, and I like to

say we bring everything on the road with us, including the kitchen sink.”

Pamela Wollert shares Filko’s enthusiasm. “We bought our RV because my husband Kurt loves traveling and I could no longer stand leaving our three dogs behind with a house sit-ter so often. So I told him I wanted to check out the next RV show to see what was out

there for us as far as options and pricing. We found a deal I didn’t want to pass up and left the show RV owners that day.”

Pamela bought her RV in early 2007, which was a heady time for

the industry; 2005 and 2006 had been record years, and it looked like

2007 might follow.But as the RV industry celebrates its

100th anniversary in June 2010, and the states of Indiana, Louisiana and Iowa offi cially recognize “RV Centennial Celebration Month,” the industry is mired in one of the worst downturns in its history.

Steve Hornyak is the president of S&H RV Superstore in Michigan City. He has been in business for 34 years and has

never seen anything like this. “I have observed our fellow dealers closing their doors, and manu-

facturers going out of business. Some companies had been around for 40 years or more.”

Fleetwood Enterprises fi led for Chap-ter 11 bankruptcy in 2009. Country Coach Holdings Inc. was liquidated. By the end of 2009, seventeen companies had suffered similar fates.

According to Statistical Surveys Inc., which tracks sales fi gures in the RV industry, sales were down 27 percent in May of 2008, compared to the same time in 2007. They were down 39

percent in 2009 from the same period in 2008. And in the fi rst few months of 2010,

they were down another 13 percent.

IN ITS CENTENNIAL YEAR, THE RV INDUSTRY

HOLDS ITS BREATH

The camping lifestyle is centuries old, but it really took a step up a hundred

years ago when the automobile became commonplace. The car made it easier

to carry cargo and tow a bed, and soon people were making homemade

traveling campers. It didn’t take long for entrepreneurial Americans to take note,

and soon an industry was born.

TTThe camping lifestyle is centuries old,

BY RICK KAEMPFER

includingPamela Wollert shares Filko’s enthusiasm. “We bought our

there for us as far as options

the show RV owners that day.”

2007, which was a heady time for the industry; 2005 and 2006 had been record years, and it looked like

2007 might follow.But as the RV industry celebrates its IN ITS CENTENNIAL YEAR,

JULY

2010

69

“I haven’t sold a new unit in fourteen months,” Hornyak says.

“I stopped going to the RV shows,” says Filko, the devoted RVer. “I get the ‘I want’ syndrome, and I know I can’t afford one in these tough times, so I don’t even go.”

A struggling industry facing decreased demand, a credit crisis, and infl ated gas prices has had a dev-astating impact on towns like Elkhart, Indiana, one of the RV capitals of the world. In March 2010, Elkhart had the highest unemployment rate in the state, at 15.2 percent.

But despite the dire news, there are signs that things are beginning to turn around.

“There have been fi ve comparable downturns in history,” Hesselbart notes. “And each time within fi ve years of the beginning of the economic recovery, the industry has been larger than it was before. It’s not like people don’t want RVs anymore. When the economy recovers, there’s a good chance there will be another boom. That pattern has happened after each previous downturn.”

If history is a guide, Hesselbart may have a point. After all, the fi rst economic downturn that affected the industry was the Great Depression, and by the mid-1930s, the RV industry had recovered. The same thing happened during World War II, when many potential customers were sent overseas, and war rationing limited production. By the late 1940s the industry was back, and it boomed for twenty years.

It wasn’t until the early 1970s that the in-dustry felt the pinch again, this time sparked by the oil embargo. In the late ’70s it happened again, but this time it was even worse because that embargo happened at a time of incredibly high interest rates.

“The downturn in the late ’70s and early ’80s is exactly the mirror image of this downturn,” Hes-selbart points out. “In those days gas was scarce and credit was abundant but unaffordable. Now credit is scarce and gas is abundant but unaffordable.”

That has forced people to hang on to their RVs longer, choosing to get them repaired or buy used RVs instead. “Repairs are up 35 percent,” Hornyak points out. “People are upgrading their present RVs as opposed to trading them in.”

“We travel shorter dis-tances now,” Filko adds. “We try to stay within one tank of gas in each direc-tion. Our trips are more local and less cross-coun-try, but we still love it.”

Wollert still loves her RV too, even though she has felt the pinch. “We went to California when gas prices were $5 a gallon. Ouch! But we said the hell with it and have no regrets over the costly, wonderfully sce-nic trip. Nowadays airfare out west costs just as much for two people round trip with hotel stay anyway.”

While sales aren’t quite yet recovering, there are encouraging signs that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Joni Stuker is the president of sales for Morgan Companies, which just took over Motorcoach Resort at Bay Harbor in

2009. Their resort for Class A Motorcoach users remains quite popular for the high-end crowd. In fact, the sister property in Naples, Florida, which opened in January 2010, “enjoyed a completely sold out fi rst full month of business,” Stuker points out. “While the industry has certainly suffered in many ways, the well-knowledged RVing enthusiast not only appreciates, but is very excited about the opportunity to experience a brand new beautiful property.”

There are other heartening signs as well. According to Robert W. Baird & Co., which tracks the RV industry, wholesale shipments are up, dealers are beginning to replenish inventory at a more normal rate, and there’s a feeling in the air that a recovery will follow as it has after previous downturns.

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” Hornyak says. “The American RV Industry will always hold the ground for innovation and originality.”

KNOW YOUR RVsCLASS A MOTORHOMES are usually 30-40 feet in length, the top of the line in the RV world. They range in price from the low $100,000s to upper $500,000s, and have gone for as much as $2 million in extreme cases.

CLASS B MOTORHOMES (also known as van-conversions) are the smallest fully-enclosed motorhomes (around 17-19 feet long), and range from $40,000 to slightly more than $100,000.

CLASS C MOTORHOMES are scaled down Class A’s, approximately 20-30 feet long, and can cost from $50,000 to $150,000.

TRAVEL TRAILERS are towable RVs, and come in all different sizes and price ranges.

FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS are similar to travel trailers in that they are also towable, but they are designed in such a way that makes towing easier by placing the trailer load in the center of the tow vehicle instead of behind it. These also come in all sorts of sizes and price ranges.

FOLDING CAMPING TRAILERS (also known as pop-up campers or tent trailers) are the least expensive and, depending on the model, cost as little as $4,000 and as much as $25,000.

WHERE TO GO

RV HALL OF FAME

21565 Executive PkwyElkhart, Ind.

800.378.8694

S&H RV SUPERSTORE

625 E US 20Michigan City, Ind.

219.872.1023

MOTORCOACH RESORT

AT BAY HARBOR 5505 US 31 S

Bay Harbor, Mich.231.348.2400

THE RV HALL OF FAMEHALL OF FAMEHALL OF FAME

To hear and see the 100-year

history of the RV, visit the RV Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana. Among the many classic

RVs there, you can see the oldest RV

in the world, a 1913 Travel Trailer hitched to a 1913 automobile. Also,

see one of the very fi rst celebrity

coaches, Mae West’s trailer from the 1930s. The RV

Hall of Fame is just past milepost 96 on Interstate 80.

vis

itsh

or

em

ag

az

ine

.co

m

70

words By Jason Miller

photography By paul KeMiel

Everyone knows about Chicago.

It’s common knowledge that, as one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan cities in the world, the Windy City—the largest on Lake Michigan—has a

million and one things to offer both city dwellers and the millions of visitors that segue through the city each year.

But when you think about the southern end of Lake Michigan, the City of Big Shoulders is really just the big brother—holding court over everyone else in the family with its attention-grabbing lights, glitz and glamour.

Ask the thousands of seafarers who race their various and sundry boats to and from ports along Lake Michigan’s ample southern shore each summer, though, and you’ll get a different story.

It’s the younger siblings that oftentimes steal the show for those who enjoy their time on the water.

“Chicago is the major market, but it’s places like Michigan City that make events like this

july

2010

71

On YOur Marks . . . Boat racing on Lake Michigan

july

2010

73

really work,” says John Carbonell, long-time president of Su-per Boat International, which held its inaugural Great Lakes offshore powerboat race in Michigan City last year. “Every-thing is right here. The racers love it, because everyone is friendly and there’s a lot to do when they’re not racing.”

Whether the events begin on the southern shore and race north or they race in entirety in one spot, boat racing—re-gardless of boat type—has long been a boon to the communi-ties in the boats’ paths.

The inaugural Great Lakes Grand Prix in 2009 brought more than $5 million into the small Northwest Indiana city, thanks in great part to the nearly 90,000 spectators who flood-ed into town to watch the world’s fastest and most powerful boats race a 6-mile track off Washington Park Beach.

The turnout was impressive for a first-year event and was a testament to the cachet Lake Michigan racing holds with boaters of all types. The lake itself plays host to more than 100 races each year, from kayak paddles to Star sailing regattas to cardboard boating events.

Lake Michigan’s lure for boaters can be seen through-out the area, most specifically in the sails and hulls that dot the lake during the decade-old Chicago-to-Mackinac sailboat race.

“This race is the pinnacle distance event on the Great Lakes, which makes it one of the top races in the world,” says Christie Denson, race spokeswoman and commu-nications director with the Chicago Yacht Club, which hosts the race. “It’s a 333-mile race that lasts overnight. [Racers] face lots of different weather patterns and the conditions are never the same.

“Racing sailboats on Lake Michigan makes this a world-class event. Beginning on the southern end makes it even better.”

It’s not simply the water and conditions that bring racers to the big lake in droves, howev-er. It’s also the amenities. Lake Michigan is known worldwide for its ports of call, which in-clude many of the country’s best shopping, eating and lodging establishments.

From sports bars with fish-ing nets and buoys strung from ceilings to classic, re-fined cafés and restaurants known to cater to the large yacht and larger wallet, cities like Holland, New Buffalo and Michigan City cater to the boater.

When you can top off a race win with a first-class meal and a great night’s sleep in a four-star hotel, the draw of south-ern Lake Michigan becomes even more intense. “The draw of the small towns is great, because the people are very friendly and the things they offer really appeal to sailors,” Denson says. “Lake Michigan racing is a huge draw for that very reason.”

Major races on southern

Lake Michiganjune 25

Queen’s Cup raCe south shore Yacht club

june 26 dunes Cup regatta

Michigan city Yacht club

juLY 9-11 ColumBia yaCht raCe

juLY 17 lutz regatta

jackson Park Yacht club, chicago

august 6-9 north ameriCan Challenge Cup

chicago Yacht club

august 19-21 2010 Vanderleek Cup

hospiCe regatta holland, Michigan

sePteMber 3-5 tri state regatta

sePteMber 13-19 J105 north ameriCan

Championships chicago Yacht club

So when he saw that Michigan City—a place he’d discovered through powerboating around 2002—was hosting a race sponsored by Super Boat International, he decided to sign up and give professional racing a shot.

Five races later—after he’d won his class at the inaugural Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City—the first-year racer was hoisting the glass trophy awarded to Super Boat

International world champions in Key West, Florida.“When I heard SBI was coming to Michigan

City, I figured it was time to give it a shot and see how I stacked up,” says Davies, who owns Earth Werks, a land development and improve-ment company in Batavia, Illinois. “There was a lot of anticipation. We’d done a poker run and a lot of practice runs, but there were nerves. I decided it was time to step it up and . . . hit it.

“It’s turned into a lot of fun. And now we’re world champions.”

Davies took his 40-foot Fountain Vee hull from part-time poker run boat to world cham-pion in less than one full season—his first as a sanctioned racer. He cut his teeth late, only about eight years ago, as a recreational boater with a big racing vessel.

As he got more used to the massive power of two 525-horsepower motors, he began tak-ing his wife and kids on excursions around the southern tip of Lake Michigan. It was on one of those trips when he dis-covered Michigan City, the town that has become a favorite destination for Davies and his family. Not only because of the restaurants, the shopping and the hospitality, but also because his raceboat Global Warmer—painted yel-low and highlighted by a snarling skull and crossbones on the nose—began its quick run to fame off Washington Park.

“I brought my wife and kids for lunch one weekend and the feel of the town was just awesome,” he says. “Since then it’s always been a destination for us. For the racing, Michigan City is special because that’s where it all started for me in more than one way.”

“It”—more wins and a world championship in 2009—began as would any job that traps its practitioner in an enclosed missile of a race boat with over 1,000 horsepower and the capability of topping 120 mph on the speedometer: with a healthy dose of fear. Fear not only about the speeds, but about success and failure, injury and death, and stacking up with guys who’ve been negotiating the waters of oceans, lakes and rivers for decades.

And beginning that job in one of the more infamous freshwater lakes in the world made his anticipation even more palpable. “I was so nervous. I didn’t know if I could do it,” Davies says of his maiden competitive voyage in Michigan City. “I can’t remember the last time I was that nervous. I had to keep myself in check to make sure I didn’t do anything too crazy.

“It all worked out.”It worked out for Michigan City, as well. Thanks to Davies’s success, all

of which began in Michigan City, Global Warmer is now the official “home-town boat” for the Great Lakes Grand Prix—scheduled for August 4-8, 2010. The number 47 Fountain will appear in promotional events for the race, will be featured on T-shirts and will give local residents something to really root for come August.

“I think it’s awesome,” says Jack Arnett, executive director of the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which hosts the race. “Dan came to us and said he wanted to represent Michigan City and LaPorte County and we couldn’t be happier. We can’t wait to begin our promotional activities and get Dan and Global Warmer into town. It’s a great deal.”

The UnderdogLast summer, after he’d spent the better part of three years doing just about everything he couLd do in his powerboat short of competing in a sanctioned offshore race, dan davies figured he was ready to race against the big boys.

bite & sipfood feature

words and photo by karen hansen

Being at the beach is one of life’s pure pleasures. The sound of waves lapping at the shore, the feel of sand underfoot, and the colorful sight of sunbathers and sailboats just naturally lift the spirits. They also make beaches and beach towns sensational places to celebrate the fun, freedom and festivities of summer.

party on the beachhow to host a spectacular

soiree on the shore

july

2010

75

Life’s a beach, so have a party Like any good beach area worth its reputation, summer par-ties in Michiana are a way of life. From impromptu gather-ings of friends to grand soirees celebrating special occasions, the Lake Michigan shoreline provides the perfect backdrop for entertaining in style.

Planning a memorable beach party begins with the loca-tion. Though municipal restrictions and permit require-ments limit the types of celebrations that can take place on public beaches, dozens of party-worthy private beaches line the shore. Access is gained via arrangements with inns and hotels, rental properties and individual residences. Putting on a great beach party at one of these invitation-only venues means the only limits are space, imagination and budget.

If a sliver of shore is not available, then a beach party be-comes more a state of mind. While nothing quite compares to an authentic, on-the-sand event, there are plenty of op-tions for bringing the spirit of the beach to decks, backyards, gardens and docks. Just keep color, casual comfort, fresh air and a relaxed ambience in mind.

it’s aLL about the eLementsAs this year’s Michiana beach party season is in full swing, it is time to raise the creativity level and delight summer guests with something truly special. These ideas and tips—gleaned from years as a professional event planner and stager— should inspire and help party hosts throw the best beach parties ever.

What is most exciting about designing an event on the beach are the endless possibilities for creative expression. A beach is really a blank canvas with a breathtaking backdrop already built in. Style influences can run the gamut from Miami’s South Beach to the luxurious strands of the south of France, from Egypt’s Bedouin Beach to a sultry crescent of sun and sand in Brazil. Just pick an inspiration and run with it. Bringing authentic beach style to life simply requires the addition of a few inspired touches and the know-how to make it fabulous.

While the all important creative elements—lighting, decorative accessories, linens, music, seating, and of course, the right food and beverage—go into designing the perfect beach party, when it comes to the Midwest, the natural ele-ments also have to be considered. Smart hosts plan ahead for whatever Mother Nature has in store, whether it’s a sudden downpour or strong breezes off the lake. Tents, cabanas and sturdy beach umbrellas not only offer welcome shelter and protection, but they also serve as festive décor. Lease a shel-ter or two from a local rental company, or build your own from bamboo or birch poles draped with lightweight fabric and illuminated by candles and torches.

eat, drink, pLay, LoveFresh air seems to sharpen the senses—drinks are more

refreshing, food tastes better, and the spirit of celebration is heightened whenever the party goes alfresco. Wonderful food and drink are the cornerstone of any successful beach party. Michiana has a nice selection of talented caterers capa-ble of creating mouthwatering beach party menus. A quick poll of my favorite chefs turned up some delicious ideas:

Chef Gary Sanders of Miller Bakery and Bartlett’s fame likes to make it interactive with mouthwatering beach buffets and assorted fun cocktails to liven up the party. On one occasion, he even brought in an electric freezer to serve hand-dipped ice cream sundaes.

For chef Diane Botica, a long-time New Buffalo resi-dent and caterer, “it’s all about fresh.” Her idea of the perfect party is a relaxed barbeque dinner on the beach with “steaks, chicken and corn-on-the-cob, fresh from the grill, followed by desserts at sunset.”

Judy Kite-Gosh, owner of Kite’s Kitchen and Ret-ro Café in New Buffalo, has catered just about every kind of beach party, from a burger barbeque to whole roast pigs. She often serves a room temperature buffet featuring cold poached salmon, turkey roulades, and a host of fresh local fruits and vegetables.

Known for her exquisite pastries and desserts, Tonya Deiotte, proprietor of Tonya’s Patisserie in Chesterton, Indiana, suggests a different menu approach with chilled soups, flavorful pastas and wonderful breads.

Whatever the menu, pairing it with the perfect wine is essential. A Union Pier mainstay for sixteen years, the Wine Sellers has often consulted on the ideal wines for all types of summer beach events along the shores of Lake Michigan. According to owner Jacqui Schiewe, the formula for the perfect beach par-ty pairing is simplicity itself: “Picture beaches all over the world and recommend just what dedicated beach partiers have enjoyed over the ages!”

Where there’s a beach, there’s a place to celebrate summer in memorable style. Start now to plan your perfect summer soiree on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Karen Hansen is owner of ENHANS Event Group, a boutique event and sports hospitality company based in Chicago, with strong ties to the Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan region. See more about Hansen and her work at enhansevent.com.

Fortunately, great beaches—and great places to party—aren’t limited to the coasts or tropical islands. right here in our own backyard, the lake Michigan coastal region of northwest indiana and southwest Michigan boasts miles of sandy beaches, wind-swept dunes, and charming waterfronts. From fabled harbor country to ludington, there are 200 miles of spectacular coastline. no wonder residents and visitors often call this region the riviera of the Midwest.

Indiana AMORÉ RISTORANTE AND 109 SUSHI & MARTINI LOUNGE109 Joliet St, Crown Point. 219.663.7377. amore109.com. The ultimate two-for-one, this sleek restaurant features Italian cuisine on its fi rst fl oor at Amoré Ristorante and Japanese cuisine, including sushi and sashimi, upstairs at the 109 Sushi & Martini Lounge. But eating at one doesn’t preclude ordering off the menu at the other as the food goes both ways—up and down the stairs. Carnivores will want to try the monster-sized 20- to 22-ounce bone-in rib eye steak, the 16-ounce Kansas City bone-in strip steak or the braised pork shank osso bucco. Seafood lovers get to order lobster in a myriad of ways, including in the sushi, bisque and linguini as well as the decadent twin 6-ounce lobster tails served with drawn butter. Other seafood favorites are the seafood risotto piled high with shrimp, scallops, mussels and more lobster and the peppercorn-encrusted fresh ahi tuna. Save room for bananas foster, crème brûlée and a quadruple assortment of cupcakes—chocolate, vanilla bean, black and white (swirled chocolate and vanilla) and red velvet topped with cream cheese frosting.

BARTLETT’S GOURMET GRILL & TAVERN131 E Dunes Hwy 12, Beverly Shores. 219.879.3081. eatatbartletts.com. Bartlett’s is a new gourmet grill by husband-and-wife team Gary Sanders and Nicole Bissonnette-Sanders. Located in the heart of the National Lakeshore, Bartlett’s has a cozy but very modern ambience. The menu is an exceptionally creative take on upscale roadhouse-type food. Starting off the meal are appetizers such as andouille sausage corndogs and surf & turf potstickers, as well as family style offerings like Low Country spiced boiled peanuts and smoked venison sticks. Entrées include 5-hour pot roast, whitefi sh fi llet and linguine bolognese, ranging in price from $10 to $20. The wine list is modest but well-crafted.

BISTRO 157157 W Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.462.0992.

bistro157.net. Trained in Paris at Le Cordon Bleu, chef and owner Nicole Bissonnette-Sanders has created a menu of classics—like a decadent sautéed veal and gulf shrimp, a pork rib chop with apple horseradish ham, and an herb-rubbed roasted half chicken—combined with her own creative takes on nouvelle cuisine with a number of fresh fi sh selections. Desserts include black chocolate-infused confections that have become standard for fi ne dining, and also sorbets and ice cream made from fresh fruit. There are some treasures on the extensive list of bottle wines, and many solid choices by the glass. BUTTERFINGERS 2552 45th Ave, Highland. 219.924.6464. 921 D Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.4202. Every day, Butterfi ngers prepares a selection of ready-to-heat-and-eat entrées, along with freshly baked breads and salads, all without preservatives. The chicken almond salad has long been a crowd favorite, but the rest of the lunch menu is equally gratifying. What Butterfi ngers is best known for, however, is their famous desserts. The restaurant’s two pastry chefs—whose training hails from the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and Johnson and Wales in Rhode Island—create an array of gourmet desserts, which includes beautifully decorated and delicious cakes (the double chocolate mousse cake is a must), and an assortment of cookies and brownies, all of which have been satisfying dessert lovers for more than twenty-fi ve years. And to every party planner’s delight, Butterfi ngers does offer catering.

CIAO BELLA 1514 US 41, Schererville. 219.322.6800. ciaobellaonline.com. The cuisines of three different regions of Italy are featured at the newly opened Ciao Bella, a ristorante, pizzeria and wine bar. Patrons can sample a 12-inch gourmet pizza with a creative array of toppings like the Pizza Quattro Stagioni—tomatoes, artichokes, prosciutto and black olives—or the sauceless Pizza Al Fichi topped with goat cheese, fi gs and onions and drizzled with a balsamic glaze. For those who like more traditional pies, there are

thin-crust options with toppings such as sausage, fresh garlic, salami and jalapeños. Or try such entries as Ciao Bella’s signature dishes, Rigatoni Boscaiola—spicy Italian sausage and rigatoni noodles topped with a tomato cream sauce—and the Chicken Pollo Ala Romana, a chicken breast sautéed in a white wine sauce with roasted tri-color peppers and then sauced in a tomato cream. There’s also a great selection of seafood, pork and beef. Desserts change frequently, but the tiramisu is always on the menu. The extensive wine list focuses on European and Californian wines. Delivery and take-out available.

DON QUIJOTE 119 E Lincolnway, Valparaiso. 219.462.7976. Proprietor Carlos Rivero’s authentic Spanish cuisine, lively and friendly atmosphere, and conviviality with his return customers make this downtown Valparaiso restaurant a destination for Chicagoans and Michigan residents alike. The exciting menu features dozens of small courses, including a well-known classic paella with saffron rice and fresh-grilled seafood chunks. Grilled steaks and lamb and veal chops are abundant and cooked according to family recipes handed down for generations. The house specialty is a fl an-textured vanilla cake. Lunch entrées average $15, dinner $25.

GINO’S STEAK HOUSE1259 W Joliet St, Dyer. 219.865.3854. 600 E 81st Ave, Merrillville. 219.769.4466. ginossteakhouse.com. The chefs at Gino’s, who have more than thirty years of combined experience, use only the freshest ingredients in their homestyle cuisine. Starters include traditional minestrone soup from a family recipe, salads with fresh, locally grown produce, and crusty bread with crocks of butter. The nine-ounce prime steak tops the menu and is itself topped with Roquefort cheese in its most popular rendition. All main dishes are served with the restaurant’s signature marinated peppers, and entrées include fi sh and lobster delivered daily. The dessert menu features créme brûlée and various cheesecakes, but the housemade tiramisu is the highlight—a rich blend

Duneland Beach Inn3311 Pottawattamie Tr, Michigan City, Ind.800.423.7729. dunelandbeachinn.com

Located in the wooded dunes just east of Long Beach, the cheerful dining room at this charming inn—which features well-spaced tables with white napery—buzzes with activity, especially on weekends. Starters may include calamari, Crab Louis, or grilled fl atbread with such toppings as sautéed portobellos with garlic and carmelized shallots. Main courses—which come with soup or salad—include crab cakes with chipotle aioli, red snapper with citrus beurre blanc sauce or prime rib with horseradish sauce. An extensive wine list features selections in the $20 to $30 range. Key lime pie and cheesecake head the dessert list.

The informa-tion presented

in Bite & Sip is accurate as of press time,


call ahead to verify listing information.

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

76

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

76

bite & SIPbite & bite & SIPSIPbite & SIP

pho

tog

rap

h b

y RO

BER

T W

RA

Y

pho

tog

rap

h b

y RO

BER

T W

RA

Y

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

78

bite & SIPof coffee, chocolate and cream cheese fl avors. A premium selection of wine, beer and cocktails is available at the full-service bar, and there is a special children’s menu so the entire family can enjoy the dining experience.

GIORGETTI’S RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA Washington Park, Michigan City. 219.809.4000. 28 N Elm St, Three Oaks, Mich. giorgettis.com. Expanding on its successful takeout and delivery-only pizzeria in New Buffalo, Giorgetti’s has renovated the waterfront space that was, until recently, the Harbor Grill, at Washington Park’s Yacht Club facility. “When we say we have fresh homemade lasagna, it means we made our own noodles,” says general manager Steve Vargas, explaining the concept. “When we say fresh fi sh, that means we get the whole fi sh and cut the fi llets ourselves.” Using old family recipes, including one for pizza sauce that dates back half a century, the Michigan City restaurant not only serves the thin-crust pizzas which gained them such a following at their former New Buffalo location, but they also offer an extended menu featuring Italian sandwiches with their housemade sausage and garden salads with romaine, tomato, green onion, black olives, Romano cheese and Italian dressing (made in house of course). Desserts change weekly but can include their killer tiramisu and chocolate chip cookies. Be sure to watch the sun set over the harbor while sipping a martini, a locally crafted beer, cocktails or a glass of wine on the outdoor patio that seats 75. There’s live music at night during the summer. “We’re family friendly,” says Vargas, noting that their most expensive item is $12 for the lake perch.

KELLY’S TABLE 5727 N 600 W, Michigan City. 219.872.5624. kellyscreekwood.com. Tucked away amidst 30 acres of woodland, the Creekwood Inn, built in the 1930s as a second home, is a delightful spot for those wanting to get away. But you don’t have to spend the night to enjoy a great repast at Kelly’s Table, located inside the inn. It’s here that chef/proprietor Patricia Kelly Molden creates a seasonal menu using the local bounty of the neighboring farms and orchards. Recent appetizer offerings include a rich Onion Soup Savoyarde with egg yolks and cream, topped with Gruyère toast as well as crabmeat and artichoke-stuffed mushrooms. Entrées range from the simple but delicious chicken tetrazzini to grilled cumin-crusted tuna with a mango habanero salsa, and rabbit braised in wine and served with summer vegetables. Fresh pumpkin custard—topped with whipped cream and fl avored with Grand Marnier and crystallized ginger—and chocolate mousse served in chocolate tulip cups accompanied by a berry sauce are among Molden’s to-die-for desserts. For cocktails, consider Kelly’s Table Cosmopolitan: a delightful concoction of Absolut Citron, Triple Sec, Chambord, lime and cranberry or a capirinha made with Brazilian cachaça, fresh limes and turbinado sugar.

MILLER BAKERY CAFÉ 555 S Lake St, Gary. 219.938.2229. For two decades this famous stop on the Lake Michigan shore has introduced the gateway community to the beach, and to the versatile and eclectic menu. Part European, part New Orleans, and all clever. The lightly sautéed crab cakes and the signature molded polenta and pepper appetizer; wood-grilled steak with peppercorn sauce; salmon coated with a sweet tangy glaze; rack of lamb over garlic smashed potatoes; and cafe chocolate, a slab that tastes like the center of a truffl e,

are always on the menu. Selections of wines by the glass are as creative, and the waitstaff are connoisseurs of food and drink by hobby as well as trade. The bar has a complete martini and cocktail menu and frequently hosts live jazz on weekend nights. For a special occasion or telling secrets, reserve the very private table in the glass-enclosed wine cellar. A two-course lunch averages $18, dinner entrées $25.

SAHARA1701 Franklin St, Michigan City. 219.871.1223. sahara-restaurant.net. A cozy, casual bistro serving Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine in downtown Michigan City, the menu at Sahara refl ects the traditional dishes of owner Moe Mroueh’s homeland. “I like to cook what I grew up eating,” says Mroueh, who isn’t afraid to add a defi ning touch to classics as he does with such menu items as feta-stuffed dates in a pomegranate reduction sauce, a cucumber Napoleon—slices of cucumber topped with housemade hummus and feta—and a Greek Isle Salad with the usual toppings of cucumbers, onions and feta with an added fl ourish of gyro meat. Those who want to graze can order one of the combination plates. Patrons are encouraged to linger and enjoy the music with a cold beer or glass of wine.

STRONGBOW INN2405 E US 30, Valparaiso. 800.462.5121. strongbowinn.com. The menu at this classic institution still includes a wide variety of turkey selections, but with daily specials that include barbecued pork ribs, seafood choices, prime rib and other comfort foods, one would never guess that the bakery and restaurant started as a sandwich stand during the Depression. Many families have had Thanksgiving catered by Strongbow—the meticulously prepared traditional meal that can be ordered as take-out is virtually indistinguishable from that produced by a family team working in the kitchen for ten hours. Also, the bakery has exploded with a range of treats created daily, including cinnamon rolls, cakes, pies, brownies, fruit tarts, truffl es, crème brûlée and strawberry napoleons. Lunch entrées average $8, and dinner is $18.

Michigan BISTRO ON THE BOULEVARD521 Lake Blvd, St. Joseph. 269.983.6600. theboulevardinn.com/bistro. This French bistro on Lake Michigan has a well-deserved and unrivaled reputation in Southwest Michigan. The view through the French doors overlooking the bluff is spectacular no matter what season, though dining outside on the porch has its own special charm, particularly at sunset or on a starry summer night. The interior of the dining room and cozy adjacent bar is impeccable, right down to the tinted water glasses, burnished wood and wood-burning fi replace. The menu changes frequently to accommodate seasonal, fresh and available fruits and vegetables, much of which are grown locally, but the basic entrée list—created by executive chef Ryan Thornburg, who worked as the restaurant’s sous chef for three years when it fi rst opened—is extensive. Thornburg returned last year after working as executive chef at Tosi’s Restaurant and then the Orchard Hills Country Club, to replace longtime executive chef Ali Barker, who moved from the area. Thornburg’s menu items include Horseradish Crusted Faroe Islands Salmon accompanied by sautéed spinach in a Michigan cherry vinaigrette, Steak Frites—a tallgrass 8-ounce top sirloin with

JULY

2010

79

pomme frites and herb butter—and Crispy Duck Confit with sautéed garlic potatoes and mixed greens dressed with an aged sherry vinaigrette. Prices are reasonable, starting at $17 for the macaroni and cheese made with aged white cheddar, mascarpone, gruyere and country ham topped with garlic bread crumbs, to steaks for around $30. Be sure to check out the Wednesday sushi menu for such delights as Black Dragon—broiled eel, shrimp tempura, avocado and cucumber with wasabi topikiko—as well as the choice of sakes. Reservations are always helpful, especially on the weekends.

SCHU’S BAR & GRILL501 Pleasant St, St. Joseph. 269.983.7248. schulersrest.com. The restaurant tradition of Schuler’s goes back four generations in Michigan and continues with Schu’s Bar & Grill in St. Joe. Diners can enjoy a breathtaking view of Lake Michigan and cozy up to the hand-crafted fieldstone fireplace. Good conversation and good food are all part of the experience at Schu’s, where the start of a tasty night includes Schu’s potato soup—the restaurant’s famous original soup served with cheddar cheese, bacon bits and diced scallions. Gumbos and a selection of distinctive salads, like the sweet chili shrimp salad, also make great starters before the hearty portions of pasta or a sizzlin’ rib eye steak. Also, try the terrific fall-off-the-bone barbeque ribs presented on a wooden plank with tangy molasses sauce served with crispy French fries. Schu’s is also a great place to stop for lunch. A homemade egg salad sandwich is made exceptional with shallots and a touch of tarragon topped with lettuce and tomato, or devour the salmon B.L.T. made with a generous six-ounce portion of grilled salmon with crisp bacon, mixed greens and fresh tomatoes, topped with tarragon Dijon sauce and served with housemade chips. TABOR HILL WINERY & RESTAURANT185 Mt Tabor Rd, Buchanan. 800.283.3363. taborhill.com. Tabor Hill Winery’s restaurant is all at once elegant, urbane and semi-casual. Its windows afford ample, rolling vineyard views; the menu is sophisticated. Chef JohnPaul VerHage, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, gives a modified California-cuisine touch to signature dishes like raspberry chicken and the salmon wrapped in grape leaves. The extensive appetizer menu includes items like mini Morel Mushroom Pizzas and Kobe Beef Carpaccio. Though the restaurant is easy to find—just a half hour north of South Bend and 20 minutes east of New Buffalo—it’s not always easy to get in. Reservations are suggested—but those who wander in unannounced can sip at the complimentary wine bar or purchase a glass and enjoy it on the stone terrace overlooking the vines. Tabor Hill produces a wonderful variety of award-winning wines, but for those who desire a harder libation, a full bar awaits.

WHEATBERRY RESTAURANT & TAVERN 15212 N Red Bud Tr, Buchanan.

269.697.0043. wheatberrytavern.com. Nestled on a bend of the slow-moving St. Joseph River just north of Buchanan—a town transforming into trendiness with its historic downtown filled with eclectic shops—the owners of the recently opened Wheatberry Restaurant & Tavern see their place as a gathering spot for lovers of regional American cuisine. “We cook everything from scratch,” says Mike Hoyland, one of the restaurant’s owners. Besides a dedication to using the best of local farms and food producers, there’s also an emphasis on the smoked ribs, pork and chicken that come out of the large Southern Pride Smoker in the back of the restaurant. Other entrées include prime sliced sirloin topped with Wisconsin’s wonderful Mindoro Blue cheese, basil and toasted pine nut butter, as well as cedar-planked salmon and wood-roasted chicken Vesuvio. Soups, sandwiches, salads and killer hamburgers, thick and juicy and cooked to order, are also on the menu. Dessert specialties include Texas sheet cake—a dense, rich brownie-like cake—and Key lime pie.

WILD DOG GRILLE 24 W Center St, Douglas. 269.857.2519. Sam Kendall, co-owner of the Wild Dog Grille, says their Italian-inspired cuisine, with a new-age twist, has been delighting the public ever since they opened their doors in June 2007. Start out with fresh spring rolls stuffed with crab meat and wrapped in a thin rice paper, or try the crab cake served with three dollops of Creole remoulade for a flavor enhancement. Another tasty option is the pesto spinach cheese dip served with flat breads fired fresh in the stone oven. Their trademark stone oven pizzas are fired in the best stone oven on the market for an old-world, thin-crust flavor. Fresh-cut steaks, such as the popular filet mignon and New York strip, are exceptional. Finish the meal with a vanilla panna cotta made from scratch from the chef’s family recipe, the Oregon berry cobbler or a Key lime tart. The restaurant has a liquor license, and the owners pride themselves on offering a laid-back atmosphere with the quality of high-end restaurants. Prices go up to $25.95 for the filet mignon, with most selections under $20.

IllinoisBALAGIO RISTORANTE17501 Dixie Hwy, Homewood. 708.957.1650. balagio-restaurant.com. Now in a new location, this popular Italian restaurant has changed its menu offerings, with many entrée prices now under $12.95. Some of the specialties created by chef/owner Mike Galderio include chicken scaloppini—thin breast cutlets quickly sautéed with white wine—Italian sausage and roasted red peppers served with braised escarole, and a salmon club sandwich with broiled salmon, crisp bacon, avocado, lettuce and tomato. There are also Galderio traditional family recipes like the chopped salad with chicken, salami and hearts of palm, housemade marinara sauce and spaghetti and meatballs. There’s an extensive wine

list as well as live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings. Private dining is available for any group from 10 to 200, either family style or custom designed.

CIBO MATTO at THE WIT HOTEL201 N State St, Chicago. 312.239.9500. cibomatto.therestaurantsatthewit.com. At the corner of State and Lake, in the heart of the Loop, a new and beautiful fine-dining restaurant offers sophisticated traditional Italian dining with a twist. Cibo Matto means “Crazy Food” but there is nothing off the wall here—just plenty of innovation by Chef Todd Stein in a setting with many seating options: a 12-seat counter-height chef’s table overlooking the kitchen, cozy leather booths, or free-standing tables with views of the 2,000 bottle glass-enclosed wine tower. There are window tables with a western view and, above, a 30-foot ceiling fresco by prominent artist Todd Murphy. Start with a rabbit terrine served in two pancetta-wrapped slices over orange and white pureed carrots. Try the short ribs topped with gremolata and served with a flavorful ricotta-creamed spinach, or the perfectly grilled veal tenderloin. Fish, pastas and desserts are all amazing. Dinner nightly, reservations necessary.

THE COURTYARD BISTRO21 S White St, Frankfort. 815.464.1404. The ambitious menu is inspired by the cooking of Italy, France and the American Southwest, but this south suburban bistro adeptly meets the challenge of its own making while getting results that delight both newcomers and regulars. Signature dishes include Santa Fe lasagna and artichoke ravioli on the Neapolitan side, and onion tart and gorgonzola-seared beef tenderloin are straight out of a sidewalk café near the River Seine in Paris. The martini menu is as innovative as the food, and the wine list is better than average with interesting possibilities for complementing the entrées. The seafood is very fresh and well-prepared with garnishes and light sauces, and main dishes are economical in the $9-15 range. The atmosphere is always friendly and can range from celebratory for special luncheons on the weekends to cozy, romantic couple dinners in the evening. But it is the attention to detail at every level from customer comfort to the dessert selections and coffee service at the end of the meal that gets the repeat customers.

SIAM MARINA THAI CUISINE 80 River Oaks Center Dr, Calumet City. 708.862.3438. 1669 Sibley Blvd, Calumet City. 708.868.0560. Chef-proprietor Tammy Pham has evolved into a legend for her mastery of a full menu with dozens of vegetarian options as well as traditionally spiced and marinated poultry dishes. The spring rolls and peanut sauce are prepared in-house daily, along with special soups. The authentic pad Thai has a loyal following, and fresh coconut works in many of the dishes, including dessert. A multi-course lunch averages $12, dinner $15.

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

80

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

80

house&GROUNDS

ANARTIST’S ABODE city slickers

go simple

GROUNDSwords by TERRI GORDON

photography by ROBERT WRAY

Life in the city had become unbearable. It was noisy, taxes were high, and gang activity was such that sculptor Janet Sullivan’s daily routine included painting over the previous night’s graffiti. She had left the school system where she’d taught art for twenty years. There was nothing to keep her in Chicago.

Life in the city had become unbearable. It was noisy, taxes were high, and gang activity was such that sculptor Janet Sullivan’s daily routine included painting over the previous night’s graffiti. She had left the school system where she’d taught art for twenty years. There was nothing to keep her in Chicago.

ANARTIST’S ABODE city slickers

go simple

JULY

2010

81

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

82

house&GROUNDS

Sullivan and her partner Mark Toncray, also a sculptor, began searching for a new home. “We started making circles,” she says. She was looking for the “white elephant,” the odd property nobody wanted. She found it in Riverside, Michigan. It had been a grocery store and had two adjoining apartments on the second level.

Meanwhile, in Chicago (“proper,” she emphasizes), Sullivan owned, oddly enough, what had been a grocery store with two apartments, on fi ve city lots. The new owners planned to raze the property. She and Toncray had six months to take all and whatever they wanted. They took cabinets and sinks, light fi xtures and more. They took the gardens—four lots full—and they moved it all to Michigan.

In Riverside, they took up residence in the apartment(s) and turned the downstairs space into two studios and a store called “You’ll go GAGA!” (GAGA stands for gifts, antiques, garden, art.)

Then, the adjacent property came up for sale. Afraid they would end up with a Dairy Queen next door, Sullivan purchased it. The pair now lived on almost three-and-a-half acres.

With much of their stuff (the cabinets, sinks and light fi xtures, not to mention art and miscellany they had collected over the years) in storage, it seemed only logical to build a house, to get their things out, use them, and enjoy them.

Sullivan knew what she wanted. She drew the fi rst sketch on a cocktail napkin. A do-it-yourself design software program gave her sketch life, and Toncray built a model. Finally, an engineer turned it all into blueprints, and they started to build.

The design is simple—one might be tempted to call it ranch-styled if it weren’t for the 22-foot ceilings. It’s all on one level, except for the loft area off the kitchen, the reference library, accessed by ladder. It is also—except for the loft—universally accessible, with

wide doors, walk-in showers, and barrier-free entries. The living room, dining room and kitchen occupy a central open space.

The walls are structural insulated panels (SIPs). “I liken them to an ice cream sandwich,” Sullivan says. “The ice cream is the [insulation].” A geothermal system heats and cools. Sullivan and Toncray built the house leaving less than a full

dumpster of waste. “Reduce, reuse, recycle,” Sullivan says.A ramped deck wraps around the house to the front door.

An enclosed porch doubles as foyer with ample space for coats. Botanical prints Toncray’s grandmother painted grace the wall. Another door leads into the living room, where wooden cabinetry houses all things media; only a fl at panel television and the combined record collection of Sullivan and Toncray are visible. “Between us, we have a whole lot of albums,” Sullivan says.

Another collection hangs on the wall: Sullivan’s shoeshine kits. “My fi rst one is right there in the middle,” she says. “It says, Shine 5¢.” Her father shined shoes as a 10-year-old during the

a trip to Thailand inspired Sullivan to install a Spirit House near the front entrance [opposite, top]. Gifts are left to encourage good spirits to protect the house. Toncray took the head and foot boards of an old child’s bed [opposite, bottom] and combined them to make the headboard for the master suite. night stands are affi xed to the wall to allow drawers built into the bottom bed frame to open. Sullivan’s collection of shoeshine kits [this page] covers the living room wall. Toncray won’t tell how he hung them, but Sullivan says, “if you want any two things fastened together, Mark’s the guy to talk to.”

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

84

Sullivan stitched squares of fabric

samples together [above] to create

the silk-curtain closet doors in

the master suite; children’s chairs

line the shelf above. Votive

candles [right] match the color

of the kitchen cabinets, fresh

fl owers brighten the dining room table, and a bird motif lamp adds

color. The master bath [below]

features a walk-in slate shower. an

urn from a trip to Greece [far

right] occupies a special niche

above Sullivan’s oil can collection.

Special corbels [top right] support the eaves covering the front entrance,

making only one column, covered in corrugated steel to

match the house, necessary.

house&GROUNDS

JULY

2010

85

Depression, and she appreciates the entrepreneurial spirit the boxes represent. “Kids had to cobble these together,” she says. “They’re so unique.”

A wood-burning stove sits on a backdrop of gold tiling—a flea market find. “It’s real gold leaf,” Toncray says. “It came in unopened wooden crates dated 1933—made in Japan.”

A guest room, painted periwinkle blue and decorated with rustic fur-niture and hand-stitched quilts, is country themed. “When people come to visit, I want them to feel like they’re out of the city,” Sullivan says. For long-term guests, there is also a guest suite with a sitting room, bed-room, bathroom and its own door to the outside.

In the master suite, children’s plank chairs line the walls above the clos-ets. “These would have been made by farmers for their children,” Sul-livan explains. Silk curtains act as closet doors. Sullivan made the curtains from fabric samples found among a bag of remnants she’d bought.

In the master bath, a spa tub looks out over the back gardens. Much of the room, including the shower, is slate. A large rock serves as a shower seat. The sink is from the Chicago building.

The kitchen, all 500 square feet of it, occupies the west end of the house. French doors open onto the back deck, extending it into the gar-den. It is built for two. “Lots of times, we’re in here working together,” Sullivan says, “and there’s nothing worse than bumping into each oth-er.” The cabinets are also from Chicago. They are mismatched, but only a good eye would notice. Glass block windows let light in above the cabinets and cast diffuse prism patterns across the room.

Collections make the home, and the home was made for collections. There are several—trench art and folk art and all sorts of art. There’s a collection of oil cans, and even “laundriana,” clothespin bags and other laundry-related materials. Pocket doors help maximize wall space. “Peo-ple’s homes reflect their lifestyles,” Toncray says. “We needed an artist’s house. It had to look like that from the outside, and it had to perform certain tasks on the inside. So, we built an artist’s house.”

Plaques by deceased painter Kid Mertz [above] offer wise and humorous aphorisms from the wall, where they hang above two identical library card catalogues—one Sullivan’s, one Toncray’s, both collected from different libraries in different cities, and before the two met. Eric Lindsey’s PaPEr airPLanE [center left], in steel and limestone, dives perennially nose-first into the north garden. a ceramic sculpture by artist Dan Lowrey [bottom left] finds a place in the couple’s vast art collection.

shore THINGSshore THINGS

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

86

buildIndianaBONTRAGER POOLS23695 US Hwy 33, Elkhart. 800.875.6550. bontragerpools.com. This pool store—with additional locations in South Bend and LaPorte—offers pools, spas and their accompanying accessories. Installation, service and maintenance are also available. The website features instructional videos and also offers online shopping.

HORIZON AWNING2227 E US 12, Michigan City. 219.872.2329. horizon-awning.com. For more than 25 years, this company has built canvas and aluminum awnings for the home and business, plus custom boat covers. Canvas awnings are made of long-wearing, fade-resistant fabrics, and the aluminum variety come with whimsical scalloped edges.

HULTMAN FLOORING35 E US Hwy 20, Porter. 219.926.1966. Hultman Flooring, a member of the National Wood Flooring Association, specializes in the design, installation and refi nishing of real wood fl oors.

J KREMKE CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES314 Spring View Dr, Porter. 219.309.0360. mygreenbuildingsolutions.com. This construction company specializes in sustainable eco-friendly and energy-effi cient homes at reasonable rates. Aside from new construction, remodeling and land development, J Kremke Construction also provides maintenance for bank-owned properties.

MARUSZCZAK APPLIANCE7809 W Lincoln Hwy, Schererville. 219.865.0555. For nineteen years, Maruszczak has been selling and servicing major home appliances in the Munster area. Its broad inventory includes fridges, stoves, dishwashers, washer/dryers and more, made by virtually every brand in the market. The company is also factory-authorized to service everything it sells.

TRAINOR GLASS COMPANY202 N Dixie Way, South Bend. 574.855.2380. trainorglass.com. Since 1953, Trainor Glass has specialized in commercial glass and glazing. Their state-of-the-art glass can be installed just about anywhere, from partitions, walls and doors, to the shower and bath. Trainor serves all of Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan.

MichiganWATER PLACE188 W US 12, Ste 3, New Buffalo. 269.231.5153. The Water Place is a decorative plumbing and hardware products superstore. With whirlpools, faucets and cabinets, this has “everything you need for plumbing services.”

cleanMichiganFISH WINDOW CLEANING4188 N Roosevelt Rd, Stevensville. 269.408.0400. fi shwindowcleaning.com. The highly trained professionals here specialize in cleaning interior and exterior windows for both commercial and residential clients. Pressure washing services are also available.

designIndianaTHE BEACH HOUSE619 E 3rd St, Hobart. 219.942.0783. The 1,000-square-foot showroom at the Beach House features “beachy,” cottage-style home furnishing and accessories. In the store’s lower level, the Wicker Gallery, custom orders are accepted. The store began as and still houses an upscale showroom of very current, high-quality, pre-owned furniture known as Like New.

MC INTERIORS1102 Franklin St, Michigan City. 219.872.7236. mcinteriorsin.com. MC Interiors offers a variety of

home décor products including window treatments, fl oor coverings, draperies and upholstery. Services include free in-home consultation and estimates, plus installation of drapery, blinds, carpet, hardwood and ceramic fl ooring.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME110 Elmwood Dr, Michigan City. 219.879.9140. 400 E Randolph St, Ste 3414, Chicago. 312.938.9140. nplhinc.com. This eco-minded interior design fi rm has multiple specialties, including space planning, architectural design consultation, kitchen and bath design and renovations, custom cabinetry design and installation, and selection of additional materials, plus decorating and staging services.

MichiganBAYBERRY COTTAGE510 Phoenix Rd, South Haven. 269.639.9615. One of South Haven’s most well-known shops, Gwen DeBruyn’s Bayberry Cottage features home furnishings and accessories which include furniture, wall décor, rugs, fl orals and bath and body products. Interior design services are also available, and items can be special ordered if not in stock.

CUSTOMS IMPORTS430 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo. 269.469.9180. customsimports.com. This exotic gallery hosts a large, distinguished inventory of global art, furniture and antiques from India, Indonesia, China, Morocco and Vietnam. Dee Dee Duhn’s new showroom features teak root benches, textiles, Indonesian pottery, unique new furniture and an extensive mirror gallery. Claudia Labao’s Global Dreams jewelry—popular with the stars of Desperate Housewives—can also be found here.

IMPERIAL FURNITURE57530 M-51 S, Dowagiac. 269.782.5020. imperialfurniture.net. This family-owned furniture store boasts an old-fashioned atmosphere that makes customers feel comfortable. The inventory is up-to-date, however, featuring brands like Bassett, Lane, and Stanley. Special orders are welcome.

Outpost SportsLocations in New Buffalo, St. Joseph and South Haven, Mich., and Mishawaka, Ind. outpostsports.com

Whether bicycling, kayaking, surfi ng or simply sunbathing, any summer sports fan will fi nd a large inventory of sporting products here. Owner JV Peacock emphasizes a life-is-short/seize-the-day philosophy throughout his inventory, events, lessons and staff. Clothing, beach accessories and eyewear are also available.

The informa-tion presented

in Shore Things is accurate as of press time,


call ahead to verify the listing

information.

shore THINGSshore shore THINGSTHINGSshore THINGS

pho

tog

rap

h co

urte

sy o

f OU

TPO

ST S

POR

TS

pho

tog

rap

h co

urte

sy o

f OU

TPO

ST S

POR

TS

POWERED BY THE TIMES MEDIA COMPANY

When it comes to accessing exclusive discounts and special

offers from the best of Northwest Indiana ...

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

88

shore THINGSPRIEBE’S CREATIVE WOODWORKING2113 Plaza Dr, Benton Harbor. 269.926.2469. priebeswoodworking.com. For more than twelve years, the craftsmen at Priebe’s have created custom cabinetry, countertops (in granite and quartz), entertainment centers, mantels and surrounds, and millwork. Priebe’s offers installation services, and a custom three-dimensional computer-assisted kitchen design service is also available.

SAWYER HOME & GARDEN CENTER5865 Sawyer Rd, Sawyer. 269.426.8810. sawyergardencenter.com. The Sawyer Garden Center offers a large inventory of items for the garden, including annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees, plus a variety of high-quality lawn accessories. A large gift shop and gourmet shop—featuring produce, breads, sauces and cheeses—are also on site.

SEA GLASS COTTAGE402 Eagle St, South Haven. 269.639.1200. seaglasscottage.com. As its name suggests, this specialty shop features hundreds of collected sea glass items, along with a tasteful collection of beach-inspired home furniture and décor. Purses, jewelry, sunglasses and other accessories are also available here.

driveIndianaDORMAN GARAGE, INC.1317 Lake St, LaPorte. 219.324.7646. dormangarage.com. With more than twenty years of experience, Dorman Garage specializes in classic car restoration. Aside from offering restoration services, there is also a large inventory of restored classic automobiles for sale.

MichiganRUSSELL’S FOREIGN CAR REPAIR8754 US Hwy 31, Berrien Springs. 269.473.3088. This dealer alternative provides service, repairs and maintenance during the vehicle’s factory warranty and beyond. Russell’s Foreign Car Repair services all imported car makes, but specializes in upscale European and Asian vehicles.

eatIndianaCHESTERTON’S EUROPEAN MARKETCorner of Broadway and Third Sts, Chester-ton. 219.926.5513. chestertonseuropean-market.com. More than 150 vendors set up shop at this well-known outdoor market, which features a wide range of products, in-cluding gourmet breads, cheeses and foods, along with plants, produce, rare books, ac-cessories and gifts. Guests can also watch art-ists at work and enjoy live entertainment. The market takes place every Saturday through the end of October.

GREAT LAKES CATERING701 Washington St, Michigan City. 219.898.1501. greatlakescatering.com. With a combined 75 years of experience, father and son Ed and Matt Kis have formed one of the area’s leading catering companies. A full range of services is available for all kinds of events, including catered foods and beverages, bands, tents, tables and more.

MichiganKILWIN’SMultiple locations in Illinois and Michigan. kilwins.com. For more than 60 years, Kilwin’s has been a quality confectionery shoppe in northern Michigan, providing quality products and excellent services. Despite growing throughout the United States and changing ownership, they still use only the fi nest and freshest ingredients in their hand-

paddled fudge, custom chocolates and truffl es.

SEASON’S HARVEST13686 Red Arrow Hwy, Harbert. 269.469.7899. seasonsharvest.com. This quaint shop along Red Arrow Highway features natural gourmet provisions like barbecue sauces, salad dressings, dipping sauces and olive oil, among others. Products can be purchased either online or at the shop, and gift sets are available.

giveIndianaOPULENT VODKAopulentvodka.com. This award-winning vodka, made of a grain distinctively native to America, is fermented and distilled “fi ve times for a purity of less than 1 micron,” according to the website, which also hosts an extensive list of cocktail recipes.

RIBORDY LIQUORS2 W Dunes Hwy, Beverly Shores. 219.871.1111. 1454 W Hwy 30, Valparaiso. 219.465.7507. This upscale liquor store features fi ne wines, top-shelf liquors, and import and craft specialty beers. Kegs and ice are also available.

ST. JOHN WINE & SPIRITS9540 Poplar Ln, St. John. 219.558.8911. stjohnwineandspirits.com. Both the connoisseur and the beginner alike will feel comfortable in this shop, which features a wide variety of fi ne wines, beer and spirits. The staff is trained to assist customers with selection needs, in order “to take the intimidation out of shopping for wine and spirits.” Wine tastings are held here often, and gifts and accessories are also available.

MichiganDECADENT DOGS505 Phoenix St, South Haven. 866.459.5437. This dog-exclusive boutique features high-end canine products, including designer dog collars and apparel, toys and gourmet dog treats. For the humans, dog-oriented gifts and décor items are also available.

LAMBRECHT’S LIQUORS2926 Niles Ave, St. Joseph. 269.983.5353. lambrechtsliquors.com. Lambrecht’s features a comprehensive selection of wines, beers, spirits, cigars, pipes and tobacco products. Specialty items include beer and winemaking equipment and supplies and gourmet coffees and cheeses. Occasional tasting events and seminars are offered as well.

healIndianaCENTER FOR OTOLARYNGOLOGY9120 Columbia Ave, Ste A, Munster. 219.836.4820. Bethany Cataldi, D.O., specializes in ear, nose and throat surgery and facial plastic surgery. In fact, she is the only female facial plastic surgeon in Northwest Indiana who’s been specifi cally trained in surgery of the face, head and neck. Dr. Cataldi’s expertise in such procedures exclusively ranges all spectrums, from topical treatments like skin peels, to hair removal, to full nasal construction.

DIGESTIVE DISEASE CLINICSLocations in Merrillville, Michigan City, Valparaiso, and St. Joseph, Mich. 800.422.9080. stomachdoctors.com. Rakesh Gupta, MD, and his medical staff specialize in treating a variety of problems occuring in the stomach, intestines, pancreas, liver, gallbladder and esophagus. The clinic operates with a philosophy of balanced management and will work with patients’ schedules to ensure treatment.

NORTHWEST ORAL SURGEONS601A US Hwy 30, Schererville. 219.322.0501. 548 Ridge Rd, Ste G, Munster. 219.836.0004. northwestoralsurgeons.com. Drs. Joseph Lovasko, D.D.S., and Paul Wolf, D.D.S., are oral and maxillofacial surgeons whose services include oral pathology, corrective jaw surgery, wisdom tooth removal, dental implants and more.

OBSTETRICAL & GYNECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, INC.1101 E Glendale Blvd, Ste 102, Valparaiso. 219.462.6144. 3630 Willowcreek Rd, Ste 1, Portage. 219.364.3230. The board-certifi ed obstetrician-gynecologists—Drs. Short, Strickland and Murphy—at this clinic specialize in pregnancy care, family planning, infertility and menopause, along with general women’s wellness. Patients are made to feel at ease because of the clinic’s state-of-the-art equipment and a skilled staff.

PORTER HOSPITAL814 LaPorte Ave, Valparaiso. 219.263.4600. 3630 Willowcreek Rd, Portage. 219.364.3000. 650 Dickinson Rd, Chesterton. 219.926.7755. porterhealth.org. Since opening in 1939 as a community-owned, not-for-profi t hospital, Porter has served area families by providing quality care and programs. With ten facilities in two counties, Porter provides health care that is recognized on local, state and national levels and offers a continuum of specialized services such as emergency/trauma, cardiology, family medicine, surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, orthopedics, oncology, sleep lab, physical rehabilitation care and more.

ST. ANTHONY MEMORIAL301 W Homer St, Michigan City. 888.879.8511. saintanthonymemorial.org. This acute care hospital, serving LaPorte, Porter and Berrien Counties, boasts an integrated health care network that is made up of an intensive care unit, a new birthing unit, emergency department, behavioral medicine, rehabilitation services, surgery units, oncology, pediatrics and a multidiscipline physician practice.

IllinoisUNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER888.824.0200. discover.uchospitals.edu. Since 1927, the University of Chicago Medical Center has been one of the Midwest’s most reputable hospitals. Aside from basic health care, the Medical Center consists of a children’s hospital, a maternity and women’s hospital, multiple outpatient facilities, and the renowned Pritzker School of Medicine.

investMichiganMUTUAL BANK, KATHY SELLERS307 W Buffalo St, New Buffalo. 269.469.5552. bankwithmutual.com. Kathy Sellers is a Mutual Bank agent who services both fi rst-time home buyers and seasoned investors. Mutual Bank specializes in investments and wealth management for businesses and personal clients.

learnIndianaLA LUMIERE SCHOOL6801 N Wilhelm Rd, LaPorte. 219.326.7450. lalumiere.org. Located on a secluded 155 acres—but still only 60 miles east of Chicago—this boarding and day college-preparatory high school offers world-class education by its notable faculty. Facilities include fi ve newly renovated dormitories,two athletic playing fi elds, and two gymnasiums.

MichiganOX-BOWCampus: 3435 Rupprecht Way, Saugatuck. 269.857.5811. Administrative offi ces: 37 S Wabash Ave, Chicago. 800.318.3019. ox-bow.org. This 96-year-old summer school of art and artists’ residency is located in Saugatuck and is affi liated with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Ox-Bow offers one- and two-week intensives for aspiring and experienced artists in six studio areas.

liveIndianaAVANT GARDENS6833 Fail Rd, LaPorte. 312.455.2778. avgardens.com. An eco-friendly development, Avant Gardens features twenty home sites set on 103 acres of woods and natural prairie. The houses feature modern design, and owners can choose what level of green features to include in their home. The community itself includes a private clubhouse, inground pool, and a 60-acre wildlife and forest preserve.

CENTURY 21 MIDDLETON CO., INC.219.874.2000. 1dwelling.com. Bonnie Meyer, an award-winning agent, is well-known around LaPorte County for her real estate prowess. Featuring properties in Indiana and Michigan, Meyer has gained expertise on Lake Michigan and inland lake properties, city dwellings, farmland, building sites, land and residential development.

COLDWELL BANKER, DAWN BERNHARDT748 E Porter, Chesterton. 219.241.0952. dawnbernhardt.com. Dawn Bernhardt is the go-to agent for homes in Chesterton’s luxurious Sand Creek subdivision, along with other properties in Porter, LaPorte and Lake Counties. The website offers an abundance of resources for both buyers and sellers.

COLDWELL BANKER, DONNA HOFMANN219.331.1133. dhofmann.com. Donna Hofmann specializes in helping clients with buying and selling lakefront properties in Ogden Dunes, Dune Acres, Porter Beach, Beverly Shores, Chesterton and Valparaiso.

MICKY GALLAS PROPERTIES2411 St. Lawrence Ave, Long Beach. 219.874.7070. mickygallasproperties.com. The experienced brokers and agents at this real estate company help clients fi nd homes for purchase or for rent throughout Indiana and Michigan. Some of the many services provided include assistance in scheduling inspections, and a complimentary comparative market analysis.

MichiganAMERICAN HOMES, SHARON HALLIBURTON4532 Red Arrow Hwy, Stevensville. 269.983.2526. sharonhalliburton.com. For 30 years, Sharon Halliburton has specialized in property management, having been licensed as a real estate agent and a broker more than 10 years ago. Her expertise covers residential, lakefront and vacation properties, plus farms, golf courses and vineyards.

BRIDGEWATER PLACE225 N Whittaker St, New Buffalo. 269.469.9500. bridgewaterofnewbuffalo.com. Two- and three-bedroom condominiums are available at this luxury development, which is situated in downtown New Buffalo. Amenities include a fi tness center, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, elevated patios and a rooftop terrace with kitchenette.

JULY

2010

89

COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE10 N Whittaker St, New Buffalo. 269.469.3950. coldwellbankeronline.com. This New Buffalo real estate firm features more than 200,000 properties in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Both the in-office staff and the Coldwell Banker website offer multiple services and resources for buyers and sellers.

HARBOR SHORES REALTORS584 Lake St, Saugatuck. 269.857.3900. harborshoresrealtors.com. Principal broker Tammy Kerr and team specialize in helping their clients buy and sell properties in the Saugatuck/Douglas area. Each of the agents are members of the National Association of REALTORS.

HARBOR SHORES RESORT269.932.1600. harborshoresresort.com. Southwest Michigan’s biggest, most talked-about project is underway in Benton Harbor. The residential community will include a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, marinas, an indoor water park and a luxury spa. The property is surrounded by two rivers and five beaches. Custom homesites and cottages are available.

MILL POND REALTY747 Water St, Saugatuck. 269.857.1477. millpondrealty.com. Mill Pond Realty provides real estate sales and vacation rentals in Saugatuck, Douglas, Glenn, Ganges and Fennville, Michigan. Owned by Laura Durham, the award-winning company has been recognized by the likes of Smart Money, Business Week and Where to Retire magazines. In addition to buying and selling services, Mill Pond’s rental management department can assist clients with earning income from a second home.

PRUDENTIAL RUBLOFF PROPERTIES439 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo. 888.257.5800. rubloff.com. Since 1930, Rubloff has been one of the premier real estate firms on the local scene. Serving clients all along Lake Michigan’s southern coast and beyond, the certified sales associates at Rubloff proclaim great success in buying, selling and renting properties along the lakeshore.

SHORES OF SOUTH HAVEN300 Kalamazoo St, South Haven. 269.637.8555. shoresrealestate.com. This reputable firm provides assistance with development, sales and leasing of condominiums, single-family, vacation and retirement home sales, along with lots, boat slips and commercial property. Shores also manages and leases property for investor-buyers.

IllinoisDEWITT PLACE900 N DeWitt Pl, Chicago. 312.642.7020. dewittplace.com. This 82-unit vintage building, built in 1924, offers corporate housing, temporary furnished apartment rentals and long-term temporary housing solutions. These studio and one-bedroom apartments come with a variety of amenities, including a fully equipped kitchen, wireless Internet access, DirecTV satellite service and an exercise room.

pamperIndianaCOSMEDIC SKIN & BODY CLINIC210 E 86th Pl, Merrillville. 219.795.1255. 58 E Walton, Chicago. 312.377.3333. cosmedicclinic.com. Available by appointment. Dr. James Platis, who has been featured on local and national news

programs and has been applauded by Dr. Phil, specializes in all forms of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures, particularly breast surgery, body contouring and facial aesthetic surgery. Less invasive procedures include tanning, waxing and facials.

ELLE SALON113 W 8th St, Michigan City. 219.874.3553. This upscale salon, situated in Michigan City’s historic district, offers full-service hair care, manicures, pedicures and facial waxing. Retail products include skin care, body care, a men’s line, wooden styling tools, a full line of Aveda products, and other calming items such as Aveda teas, candles and oils.

REVERIE SPA RETREAT3634 N 700 W, LaPorte. 219.861.0814. spareverie.com. Located on more than fifty acres of deep woodlands, this spa retreat offers an imaginative menu of personal luxury care which includes facials, massage therapy, reflexology, botanical treatments, envelopments and azulene waxings. There are five guest rooms blending calming Asian and classically antique influences and a dining room, which serves twenty-six people vegetables from the garden and other goodies.

TIMOTHY JEFFRY SALON2411 St. Lawrence Ave, Long Beach. 219.872.6567. timothyjeffrysalon.com. This quaint Aveda concept salon is situated near the lake in Long Beach and features hair and spa services, including unique options like hair damage remedies, exfoliating scalp treatment for men, Caribbean therapy pedicure and makeup application.

VANIS SALON & SPA221 US 41, Ste J, Schererville. 219.322.5600. 1620 Country Club Rd, Valparaiso. 219.465.6414. 107 N Main St, Crown Point. 219.663.5200. vanis.net. One of Northwest Indiana’s premier salons, Vanis features a well-trained, professional staff for haircare, nailcare and spa body treatments. Group and corporate retreats (for four to twenty people) can be arranged.

MichiganHEATH & COMPANY419 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo. 269.469.4247. This Aveda-concept salon is one of the familiar businesses greeting visitors to New Buffalo from the south. Owner Rick Heath and his staff gel their expertise and friendliness, making a trip to this salon more of an experience than a necessity. Services include hair care, nail care, massage therapy and waxing.

YOGA GLOW6 Linden St, Three Oaks. 269.697.4394. yogathreeoaks.com. This renowned yoga studio features group yoga classes and private lessons for all levels, plus work-shops every month. Patrons are encour-aged to visit Yoga Glow’s website for class schedules, teacher bios and other yoga-related information.

partyIndianaJEFF BROWN TRIO219.465.0638. jeffreycbrown.com. In the music business for more than 30 years, Jeff Brown has earned legendary status in the Valparaiso area and beyond. The Jeff Brown Trio, which performs a varied repertoire that is ideal for both listening and background music, is available for

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

90

shore THINGSprivate functions throughout Illinois, Indiana and southern Michigan.

MARQUETTE PARK PAVILION1 N Grand Blvd, Gary. 219.938.7362. This his-toric pavilion is one of the only event facilities in Indiana located right along the lakefront. Recently renovated in 2008, the pavilion can be rented for events of all sizes, from weddings to family reunions to business functions.

MichiganSHADOWLAND ON SILVER BEACH333 Broad St, St. Joseph. 888.404.7587. shadowlandonsilverbeach.com. St. Joseph’s newest event venue is located right on the beach, in the same building as the famed Silver Beach Carousel. Shadowland, which can accommodate more than 300 guests, partners with Bistro on the Boulevard for a dynamic catering menu. The venue is available for wedding receptions, business meetings and other special occasions.

playIndianaBLUE CHIP CASINO, HOTEL & SPA777 Blue Chip Dr, Michigan City. 888.879.7711. bluechipcasino.com. The ca-sino portion of Blue Chip features 65,000 square feet of gaming, all on one level, includ-ing more than 2,100 slot games and all the classic table games. Brand new to the facility is the 22-story Spa Blu Tower, which features a state-of-the-art hotel, luxury spa and conven-tion center. Dining options include It’s Vegas Baby! and the Game, along with the fi ne-dining restaurant William B’s Steakhouse.

BRIAR RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB123 Clubhouse Dr, Schererville. briarridgecc.com. 219.322.3660. The homes, condos and homesites on this country club property are situated among three nine-hole championship golf courses, dining facilities, banquet and meeting rooms, tennis courts, a playground and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

MichiganFOUR WINDS CASINO11111 Wilson Rd, New Buffalo, Michigan. 866.494.6371. fourwindscasino.com. With 3,000 of the most recent types of slot machines and more than 100 tables games, including blackjack and craps, New Buffalo’s Four Winds is the only casino in the area that offers million dollar jackpots. This brand new casino also has the Midwest’s only World Poker Tour poker room.

NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK319 Center St, South Haven. 269.637.8216. southhavenneedle.com. This cozy shop not only offers natural fi ber yarns for knitting and crochet, but patrons can also hang out there to knit. There are several knitting and crocheting classes as well as group knitting events. Kits and gifts are also available.

stayIndianaDUNELAND BEACH INN3311 Pottawattamie Tr, Michigan City. 219.874.7729. dunelandbeachinn.com. Nestled in a private wooded community on the beach, yet only minutes from

Michigan City’s best shopping and dining, this cozy inn provides guests with comfort and convenience. Also on the premises is Duneland Beach Inn’s fi ne dining restaurant, which features steaks, chops, pasta and seafood.

MichiganTHE BOULEVARD521 Lake Blvd, St. Joseph. 269.983.6600. theboulevardinn.com. Warmth and coziness are a theme at this historic hotel in St. Joseph. From the plush furniture in the lobby to the comfort food at the Bistro, to the luxurious amenities in the hotel’s suites, the Boulevard offers more than just a place to stay. Business and fi tness centers are also available for use.

viewMichiganBOX FACTORY FOR THE ARTS1101 Broad St, St. Joseph. 269.983.3688. boxfactoryforthearts.org. This multi-use arts center features the studios of more than 30 artists who specialize in ceramics, fabric art, painting, printmaking, photography and more. Artists give classes and also have their work on display for various exhibits and for purchase. The center also hosts a performance stage, classrooms and meeting space, and events are held there regularly.

BLUE GALLERY16 S Elm St, Three Oaks. 269.756.9338. bluegalleryart.com. Run by owner and art director Judy Ferrara, this well-known gallery features the works of more than 15 artists,

including local notables like Joe Hindley and Kellie Pickard. Several art-related events take place here, including a gallery walk every third Saturday of the month, when the facility is open until 9 p.m.

COWLEY FINE ARTS315 State St, St. Joseph. 269.982.8077. cowleyfi neartgallery.com. This art gallery represents more than 100 regional artists, with contemporary art, fi ne crafts and custom jewelry. Interior design consultation—by artists Jane Cowley and Nancy Eggen—is another available service.

visitIndianaTHE SHRINE OF CHRIST’S PASSION10630 Wicker Ave, St. John. 219.365.6010. shrineofchristspassion.org. This peaceful, prayerful environment consists of an interactive half-mile winding pathway that takes visitors from the Last Supper to the Ascension of the Christ. The journey features 40 life-size bronze statues that are accompanied by a listening station that gives a description of the scene. The Visitor’s Center and Gift Shop carries a unique selection of books and gifts for people of all faiths.

MichiganFERNWOOD BOTANICAL GARDEN & NATURE PRESERVE13988 Range Line Rd, Niles. 269.695.6491. fernwoodbotanical.org. Situated on 105 acres of cultivated and natural land, Fernwood is composed of gardens, forests and trails for visitors to peruse. An art gallery, fern

JULY

2010

93

conservatory, nature center, cafe and gift shop are also on site, and there are several learning and enrichment opportunities as well.

ST. JOSEPH TODAY120 State St, St. Joseph. 269.985.1111. sjtoday.org. Visitors to St. Joseph will fi nd a variety of helpful information—on shopping, dining and events—at this welcome center. St. Joseph Today is a nonprofi t organization that assists and encourages local business and tourism development.

SILVER BEACH CENTER333 Broad St, St. Joseph. 269.982.8500. silverbeachcarousel.com. Brand new to St. Joseph is this family-friendly center, which features an abundance of fun and unique activities for people of all ages. The primary attraction is the Silver Beach Carousel, a spectacular structure that features 44 colorful, hand-carved horses. Also at the center is Curious Kids’ Discovery Zone, the Shadowland Ballroom, Whirlpool Compass Fountain, and Michigan’s tallest kaleidoscope.

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN TOURIST COUNCIL2300 Pipestone Rd, Benton Harbor. 269.925.6301. swmichigan.org. The natural attractions of Southwest Michigan—the dunes, miles of scenic Lake Michigan beach, rivers and parks with hiking trails and biking paths—offer beauty in every season. The friendly staff at this nonprofi t organization can assist travelers whether they seek solitude or a group learning experience.

wearIndiana ALBERT’S DIAMOND JEWELERS711 Main St, Schererville. 219.322.2700. albertsjewelers.com. Besides the fact that Albert’s showcases 5,000 square feet of jewelry, the store in itself is an entertainment destination. A bar, large-screen TV, dance fl oor and karaoke are among the many ways that patrons can let loose while browsing every type of fi ne jewelry imaginable. Brands include Tacori, Bulgari, Cartier and Bez Ambar, and the store’s entire back wall is devoted to bridal jewelry and accessories.

AMY LAURIE’S ECLECTIC BOUTIQUE613 N Main St, Crown Point. 219.661.8094. This boutique features clothing for women of all ages and sizes, including jackets, wraps, sweaters, evening wear, accessories and shoes. Owners Judith Kaye and Nancy C. Goodwin update the inventory regularly, while also offering frequent sales.

INDIAN SUMMER131 S Calumet Rd, Chesterton. 219.983.9994. 126 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo, Mich. 269.469.9994. This women’s clothing boutique offers casual and contemporary clothing and jewelry from around the world. Indian Summer features brands such as Sympli, Oh My Gauze, Big Buddha and San Miguel shoes. The new space in Chesterton offers a larger selection of summer apparel, jewelry and accessories, while the original New Buffalo storefront continues to feature its quality inventory for those on the other side of the lake.

LUX & MIE 404 E Lincolnway, Valparaiso.

219.464.3330. luxandmie.com. Fashions and accessories in contemporary, trendy and casual-chic styles come together at Lux & Mie, an upscale boutique owned by mother-daughter pair Kate and Jamie Salan. The fashionable selection appeals to both men and women, from high school age to those in their 50s and 60s. Featured designers include English Laundry, Covet and Wish Collection.

TIP TEE TOE2411 St. Lawrence Ave, Long Beach. 219.861.6012. tipteetoe.com. The Tip Tee Toe golf shoe features a unique wedge sole design, allowing proper weight distribution, weight transfer, and therefore a more powerful golf swing. The shoes come in a variety of colors and can be worn on and off the course.

MichiganCRESCENT MOON413 Phoenix Rd, South Haven. 269.637.5119. Situated in downtown South Haven, this boutique features women’s apparel that ranges from dressy to casual to sportswear. Brands include Lole, Fresh Produce, and Pure. Also available are shoes, jewelry and home décor items, including Mariposa serving pieces.

DK BOUTIQUE213 State St, St. Joseph. 269.983.7313. dkboutique.com. This contemporary women’s clothing boutique in downtown St. Joe offers limited edition designer apparel, cool new accessories and the latest designs in jewelry from Pandora Jewelry. With something for everyone, from teenagers and older, DK Boutique provides the most current styles that are full of fl air.

EVE319 State St, St. Joseph. 269.983.4372. This boutique for women is a longtime favorite among visitors to downtown St. Joseph. Owned by Rachel Arent, Eve specializes in artisan-designed clothing and trendy jewelry and accessories. Some of the more popular designers found here include Linda Lundstrom, Lee Andersen, Sympli, Painted Pony and Fenini. Eve’s selection of linen clothing is wildly popular among customers.

MOXIE’S BOUTIQUE321 State St, St. Joseph. 269.983.4273. moxiesboutique.com. This fun and festive boutique features women’s fashions, accessories and gifts. Apparel—from designers such as Belamie, Flashback Couture and Nic & Zoe—comes in a range of styles and prices. Many local artists’ works are available here as well, including handbags, scarves, jewelry, furniture and art.

PHILLIP & SON JEWELRY23 Center St, Douglas. 269.857.8738. This charming shop features distinctive jewelry and accessories in every price range—from high end to affordable for every patron. A selection of vintage pieces is available as well.

conservatory, nature center, cafe and gift 219.464.3330. luxandmie.com. Fashions

shore THINGS

shorecastPREDICTIONS BY FRAN SMITH

For more astrological advice, be sure to check out Fran Smith’s regular blog on visitshoremagazine.com.

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

94

[leo] JULY 23-AUGUST 22KEY WORDS in July: Private Calls and Strategy-Planning Sessions. Under usual conditions, you relish center stage—even when the stage is only a small offi ce. But now, you’re completely involved with another type of setting—the one that’s hidden away. You’ve got some major questions fl oating out there. And true to your resourceful nature, you intend to resolve those questions. Good. Find the right-for-you place, have your source material at hand, and go to it. The answers are most defi nitelyin there. SIDESTEP a refusal to budge even an inch—about anything. [virgo] AUGUST 23-SEPTEMBER 22KEY WORDS in July: A Close-to-the-Heart Objective. We’re talking about important things now. This is nothing less than your secret agenda—the part of your existence that no one knows anything about. Relax. Actually, relaxation is the key to obtaining that close-to-the-heart objective. It’s being stiff and tense (you’re very good at this) that blocks everything from coming through to you in tangible form (be it a person, place or thing). The Moon (the intuition) rules this month. Step back—and let this heavenly body do its work. SIDESTEP scattering your energy.

[libra] SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 22KEY WORDS in July: Taking Charge. There you are, faced with several new developments—and new possibilities—within your tenth house of career and advancement. What to do? That’s the question. And it’s a valid one that you have no immediate answer for. The answer to what not to do is more readily available. Do not go back and forth; more to the point, do not allow yourself to go out of balance. Stay centered. And know that you’re a superb dealmaker. What do you want? Answer that—and you’re on your way. SIDESTEP a reluctance to take direct action. [scorpio] OCTOBER 23-NOVEMBER 22KEY WORDS in July: People, Plans and Projects—near and at a distance. Others might get distracted, even overwhelmed, by the myriad of things (new opportunities, far-fetched schemes, impossible people) that face you right now. But not you. In fact, July has all the markings of a remarkable month—one in which some of your more fantastic concepts turn into reality. Profi table reality, at that. Look neither to the left, nor to the right. Steer an utterly straight course, because right now, you know exactly where you’re going. SIDESTEP a refusal to take along a special passenger.

[sagittarius] NOVEMBER 23-DECEMBER 21KEY WORD in July: Revitalization, on all levels—mental, emotional, physical, fi nancial and spiritual. You’re a Fire sign—and this month contains a Water sign. Not to worry, your brilliant light won’t be extinguished. Actually, the refl ective nature of these weeks in July goes a long way toward rejuvenating several key elements in your life. So, settle down—and search for those areas which now need healing, even a new beginning. Given your innate quickness, they shouldn’t be diffi cult to identify. Now, go to work. SIDESTEP verbal and/or physical aggression. [capricorn] DECEMBER 22-JANUARY 19KEY WORDS in July: On the Best of Terms. Breeze into July at an even pace, as you have a considerable amount of new agreements and special arrangements to put together. Several, in fact, that you aren’t even aware of as the month begins. However, everything (including the possibility of a desirable new contract) will come across

your personal radar screen, soon enough. To arrive at the very best agreements and arrangements, all you’ll really need is You—and your total reliance on your innate intuition. SIDESTEP spinning out of control—mentally and/or physically.

[aquarius] JANUARY 20-FEBRUARY 18KEY WORDS in July: Your Work. In most places, July is the middle of the summer. And being the Universal Person that you are, you’d rather be at play than at work. But that’s not the way it goes. Because right now, our solar system is bestowing superb planetary backup on you that enables you to restructure—and to improve—the whole of your working life. Know that this extraordinary backup has a time limit. So, dive into that work scene. And let your brand of stunning intuition lead the way. SIDESTEP keeping a low profi le when you should be seen, heard, adored.

[pisces] FEBRUARY 19-MARCH 20KEY WORDS in July: Hearts Afi re. This is absolutely the best time of the year—the time when love and close relationships fl ourish. Nothing that’s too good to be true is out of reach. First, however, you must be willing to release (be it person, place or project) from your life that which doesn’t belong to you. That’s the hard part—the part that often blocks your own from coming through to you. Look closely at your relationships. And resolve to be happy. It’s possible. But you have to be the one to make it so. SIDESTEP going North, South, East and West—simultaneously.

[aries] MARCH 21-APRIL 20KEY WORDS in July: Base of Operations—where you live and where you work. Truly, like a warrior (in any civilization, in any century—especially the young twenty-fi rst) returning from the wars, you absolutely love your home. And now, with those two scintillating planets, Jupiter (Lady Luck) and Uranus (the unusual and the unexpected), spinning through your sun-sign, Aries the Ram—you can make the improvements within your base of operations that you once dreamed up. Think well—and make only good choices. SIDESTEP skipping over your personal bookkeeping. [taurus] APRIL 21-MAY 20KEY WORDS in July: Getting That Message Out—in all forms. This entire area—calls, emails, the Internet, FedEx and, of course, the U.S. Postal Service—now receives the divine benefi t of the planet Mars (raw energy) going through Virgo (your fi fth house of close relationships and creative matters). That works, since this planetary placement relates beautifully to your fi rst house of personal endeavors—and the ways in which you get that message out. Don’t be resistant. Your timing is right on target. Let yourself advance. SIDESTEP an uncharacteristic disregard for detail.

[gemini] MAY 21-JUNE 20KEY WORDS in July: One Plus One Equals Two. Involved here is your income as well as your spending habits and your lifestyle at the moment. Keep in mind: it all changes. Maybe not every day, but frequently. So, this is the ideal time in which to collect those relevant documents (such as receipts and bills), to sit down, and to courageously face doing the necessary math. Your goals: 1) to see where you’re really at, fi nancially, and 2) to construct a realistic budget for right now. It’s not impossible. Just do it! SIDESTEP being sarcastic at the absolutely wrong moment.

Notorious gangsterJOHN DILLINGER

[cancer]JUNE 21-JULY 22

KEY WORDS in July: All Eyes Are

On You. Please—do not hide out. While

you don’t have to rush into the

blazing sunlight, you do have to (at least it’s advisable

to) be aware of time and place—at

this moment. It’s July—a time when

both the Sun and the Moon are

happily working together in your favor. Which, in

turn, means that those close-to-the-

heart projects of yours stand a fine

chance of success. And you’re

surrounded by a force field geared

to attracting new—and significant—

opportunities. Let’s hear it

for our team! SIDESTEP being overindulgent—

because you can.

Jun 25-Jul 4 30TH ANNUAL TASTE OF CHICAGOstarting at 11am each dayGrant Park, Chicago312.744.3315tasteofchicago.us. A highly anticipated Windy City tradition, this celebration of gastronomical delight feeds three million visitors each year, featuring cuisine from more than 70 Chicago restaurants, as well as a variety of activities and live entertainment for the whole family.

Jul 3 THE WATERFRONT INVITATIONAL FINE ARTS FAIR10am-5pm, Cook ParkCulver & Lake StsSaugatuck. 269.857.2677saugatuckdouglasartclub.org. This free, juried fair will feature artwork in the form of original paintings, photographs, jewelry, ceramics and mixed media, along with a parade, fi reworks and other Independence Day activities.

Jul 10-11 GARY’S SOUTH SHORE AIR SHOWnoon-4pmGary/Chicago AirportGary. garyairshow.com.Featuring the precision aerial maneuvers of the USAF Thunderbirds, this annual event returns to the skies of Lake Michigan to wow and amaze the public for its 11th year.

Jul 23-25 PIEROGI FEST11am-10pm Fri-Sat11am-5pm Sun119th St, Whiting877.659.0292. pierogifest.net. A truly one-of-a-kind festival, this tribute to Whiting’s heritage offers authentic Polish food, ethnic dancers, a beer garden and the Polka Parade.

shore PICKS

Lake Michigan

WANT MORE? please go to page 52 or visitshoremagazine.com for a full listing

of the area’s best events and watch the Shore Weekender with Joe and Julia for the absolute best picks for a great weekend.

last

reso

rt

VIS

ITSH

OR

EM

AG

AZ

INE

.CO

M

96ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTINA SOMERS

I blame my parents. (Don’t we all?) They established this confl icting double nature in me from an early age. My mother taught me to look my best at all times. My shirt was always tucked in, my hair always brushed. When I became of age to wear makeup, she told me to “never leave the house without lipstick and earrings.”

Nevertheless, there were times when I was allowed to get dirty—on our frequent camping trips during my childhood summers. While my parents believed it was important for us kids to look neat and put-together, they also understood the value of living off the land every once in a while. Living without running water or mattresses. Or mirrors.

As I grew older, my girly nature further developed on its own. I’ve never been much of an athlete, I’m rarely seen without a purse hanging from my shoulder, and I admit I cannot stand the feeling of my hands being even remotely dirty.

So maybe that’s why, whenever a group of friends suggests a camping outing, they give me a concerned expression and say things like, “Don’t worry, Julia. We’ll get a cabin.” Or, “Are you okay with this? Are you sure? We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.” One time a friend even said he thought my idea of “roughing it” was “a bad room at the Holiday Inn.”

And when I tell these people that I grew up camping, that it’s actually one of my favorite things to do in the whole world, they laugh it off with a sarcastic “Yeah, okay.” Or they just ignore me altogether and continue believing that Camping and Julia Perla do not belong together.

Being a victim of a stereotype can do a number on one’s self-esteem. One fi nds oneself looking in the mirror a lot (this time not because one is concerned about one’s looks), trying to see oneself from everyone else’s

point of view. There is much self-evaluation that takes place. Am I really that prissy? Do they think I’m uptight? Why DO I wear heels everywhere? Then self-abandonment kicks in, when one begins to succumb to the stereotype. Maybe I DON’T like camping. After all, it is dirty and

messy and a lot of work . . . But no! One cannot let these weak moments dominate the

mind! Because I—and only I—know what the truth is. The truth

is that camping is a sweet escape from the pressure and expectations of everyday life. The truth is that a day at the campground is like a day in another world—a world where I can be my natural self, where it doesn’t matter how I look but how I feel. The truth is that I would rather wake up to the cheerful chatter among birds than an invasive alarm clock; I’d rather fall asleep to the crackling of a hearty campfi re than the drone of the evening news.

The truth is that I can still look and act like a lady while also enjoying the simple, raw elements that come with camping.

I’ve tried many methods to convince my friends of these truths, but to no avail. I’d be the fi rst to roast a marshmallow at the backyard fi re pit

(they attribute that to my love of sweets); I’d bring a hoodie instead of a fashionable sweater to an

outdoor party (it’s usually so warm outside that I don’t even need it). But I’ve found the only way to show them that I do, in fact, enjoy camping, is when they see me in action. I love seeing the looks on everyone’s faces when I lie down on the tent fl oor without complaint, or when I’m the

fi rst to want to go hiking, or when the campground

bathroom’s one and only outlet doesn’t work and

I let my hair dry naturally. Slowly

but surely the stereotype breaks and my fellow camp-mates get to know the deeper, diverse layers of my otherwise manicured self.

So I’ve decided to bask in these moments of surprise. The next time someone decides for me that camping isn’t “my thing,” I’ll let them believe that until we step foot on the campsite . . . my home away from home.

Girl vs. Wild DOES IT HAVE TO BE ONE OR THE OTHER?

by JULIA PERLA

I’m living a double life. • I don’t mean to be. I would be happy to combine both lives, but it appears that would make the rest of the world uncomfortable. • Here’s my dilemma:

I’m an über-feminine girl . . . who loves camping.

Date post:	03-Mar-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	the-times-of-nwi
View:	212 times
Download:	1 times

Shore Magazine

Documents