Over winter break in 2008, eight Highland Park graduates birthed the brainchild that would become Cards Against Humanity, an irreverent-bordering-on-offensive party game that has since become one of the most popular games on Amazon. Josh Dillon, Daniel Dranove, Eli Halpern, Ben Hantoot, David Munk, David Pinsof, Max Temkin and Eliot Weinstein are all presumably quite […]
This summer, Ravinia welcomes not only its usual star-studded lineup but also the 50th year of their annual charity gala. Hosted by the Ravinia Women’s Board, the gala will benefit Reach*Teach*Play, a nonprofit dedicated to engaging underserved communities in music education. For this very special year, Maestro James Levine will also be returning to Ravinia nearly […]
Alice Pfaelzer and Emma Endres-Kountz founded the Merit School of Music in 1979 in an effort to combat the disappearance of music education in public schools. Today, more than 35 years later, the school serves more than 5,000 children both on-campus and off. On May 10, Merit held its annual gala where two distinguished alumni […]
Joshua Bell started experimenting with music at age four, wrapping rubber bands around door handles and dressers and picking out tunes. His parents, both psychologists, thought it wise to encourage such behavior. Today, Bell is one of the most famous and well-respected violinists in the world; he is the recipient of innumerable awards and has […]
It’s no secret that Chicago’s inner-city public schools face an ever-increasing list of challenges. Chief among them are low test scores and widespread learning difficulties. In 2014, 43.6 percent of third through eighth graders did not meet the Illinois Standards Achievement Test benchmark for reading proficiency. Luckily, students in 16 different schools are getting help […]
Goodman Theatre’s “Carlyle” is a twisted political romp of a play-within-a-play that follows the trajectory of a black Republican. As you watch him move through identity after identity, Carlyle becomes more than just a character — and it is here the brilliance of both actor James Earl Jones II and director Benjamin Kamine really shines. Here are […]
May is fast approaching, and with it, high school graduation. There’s always a lot of pressure to find the perfect gift — after all, it’s a relatively momentous occasion and sometimes cold hard cash just feels too impersonal. But teenagers are notoriously difficult to please. Luckily, this handy gift guide offers something for everyone. Cue […]
On Thursday, April 14, YWCA will host a special screening of “In the Game” at the Wilmette Theatre. This 2015 documentary highlights the inequalities facing the girls’ soccer team at a south side high school, throwing into sharp relief the unthinkable challenges many girls (and even more students) face every day. Local director Maria Finitzo […]
The Den Theatre is a fantastically quirky playhouse in the heart of Wicker Park that feels more like a rabbit warren crossed with your great-aunt’s living room than anything else. On stage now, “New Country” is not to be missed. Eighty-five minutes of nonstop action (no intermission, FYI) yield a surprisingly nuanced show that defies […]
Most recently updated: December 2020 Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation is devoted to making a difference in the lives of children with physical deformities. History The Foundation provides no-cost medical services to children ages 1 through 17 through surgery weekends and follow-up medical care. A majority of the surgery hours and follow-up care are donated […]
