Fourth of July heralds hot days; it brings kids clutching melting red, white, and blue rocket popsicles and local politicians handing out booster buttons. We get fun runs and freedom. In one day, we pack in fairs, fireworks, parades and potlucks. When you show up at a neighborhood barbecue, dish in hand, you want to […]
This past Halloween, Sarah Stegner followed her daughter, Jaya Nambiar, through their Wilmette neighborhood. As they made their way through the deepening shadows of early evening, she was struck by the feeling of community engendered by this rite. “We were trick-or-treating in a group, with Jaya and her friends Maxine Finks, Owen Merrill and Delia […]
My summer motto is: Entertain more, stress less. Summer dinner parties are less about matching china and more about the backyard. Forget starched white napkins, printed invitations and planning every last detail. Instead, pick up the phone, call a few friends, and let everyone bring something.
