I could have been answering trivia questions at that dark and somewhat creepy bar in Dundee. I could have been at home hunched over a crossword puzzle with Grace and Frankie fighting in the background. But instead, there I was, fighting for a parking spot in the jam-packed parking lot of Woodman’s Food Market, our favorite weekly stock-up store. But this was no routine weekly stock-up!

As I maneuvered past cars snarling up the parking lot, Barb snagged a hard-to-find stray shopping cart, nearly being side-swiped by a hulking SUV for her efforts.

We met up in the produce aisle. I grabbed the last remaining bananas from the shelf display, looking around at the mob of people around us. We were all there stuffing our carts with paper goods, and canned goods, and frozen goods (frozen veggies were hard to find,) but I am not sure any of us knew exactly why.

Were we preparing for self-quarantine? Were we stocking up before the apocalypse happened and the zombies rose from their graves? Were we there because someone in our office had mentioned it would be a good idea to be prepared, though prepared for what was never quite clear? Did all these people in one store really do anything to flatten the contagion curve?

In any case, it was a friendly mob, a quiet riot. Every shopping cart appeared to be filled to the top–an 18-pack of toilet paper takes up a lot of cart space. Yet I didn’t see anyone dragging more than one cart–people were intent on fulfilling their needs but no one was in panic mode. There were no face masks and fortunately, no one was coughing. There were also a lot of upscale shoppers we suspected had never entered a midscale Woodman’s store before. We hoped they were aware of the limited credit card policy before they waited in line at the checkout counter.

About those lines at checkout. The lines were long and moved slowly, the wait in the 45-minute range, but I didn’t hear a single complaint. People had confabs with their line neighbors, comparing purchases. Our son Michael happened to be midway through one line, but I passed up the chance to do a Larry Davidesque chat-cut. I might have tried it another day, but on Corona Thursday, I assumed that particular technique would not have been appreciated by the dozens of shoppers behind him. As it turned out, our line moved much faster than Michael’s, saving my 5 lb bag of frozen blueberries from an in-store thaw.  Eventually, it was our turn to have our cartload rung up and leave the party behind.

A shout out of appreciation to the Woodman’s workers. While our cashier was only in the 3rd hour of his shift, our bagger was on his 13th. I heard one cashier apologizing to her boss that she just couldn’t work more than 12 hours. And she really seemed depressed about it. I think she felt guilty for not working more.

This morning the world is still spinning, and I assume there will be some bar trivia in my future. And to that tired cashier at Woodman’s at the end of her long shift–don’t sweat it girl, you will get another chance to serve us on another day.

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photo credit: Darren Johnson / iDJ Photography BOBBY. via photopin (license)

Chicago theatres suspend productions
due to Coronavirus and at guidance of Governor and Mayor

Although in New York, Broadway has gone dark because of COVID-19, in Chicago at this point individual theaters are making individual decisions.

According to Deb Clapp, Executive Director, League of Chicago Theatres, “The safety and health of our audiences, artists and theatre staff remains our highest priority. As the situation around COVID-19 evolves, we will continue to share with our member organizations precautions they can take as outlined by federal health authorities and state and local officials to ensure that theatres are ready to welcome patrons back after this temporary shut-down.”

At a press conference yesterday, Mayor Lightfoot and Governor Pritzker asked and strongly recommended that public gatherings of more than 250 people be suspended possibly until May 1. This would include all the Broadway in Chicago Theaters who have not officially responded to this but will be making an announcement later today. This also includes many other theaters in Chicago.

They also mandated that gatherings of more than 1000 be suspended for the same amount of time. The League is working to support members with venues fewer than 250 as they decide the best course of action for their individual venues.

Clapp elaborates, “COVID-19 will have a significant financial impact on our industry in the near and long-term. We want to thank our philanthropic partners, as well as our city and state officials, for their continued support as we all navigate the aftermath of this situation.”

In a statement from the Goodman Theatre they said,  “In an effort to help mitigate community spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), Goodman Theatre is suspending performances starting tomorrow (Friday, March 13) until further notice. This action is consistent with the directive of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The suspension affects the current production of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Lili-Anne Brown, a Chicago premiere that is currently in previews and was slated to open Monday, March 16—as well as all production-related events. Molly Sweeney by Brian Friel, directed by Robert Falls, has been postponed to an April 20 opening.”

Broadway in Chicago has suspended Hit Her With the Skates saying  “in accordance with the Chicago Theater League advisement for the health and safety of everyone, is suspending performances effective immediately. The world premiere of the Chicago production at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 North Halsted St., Chicago, IL, will now be held on Thursday, April 23, 2020. Preview performances will resume on Tuesday, April 21. Previously purchased tickets may be refunded or exchanged.

City Lit will stay open saying “City Lit is making every effort to combat the spread of COVID-19 so that our patrons can safely attend our theater.  Currently, under guidance from Governor Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot given on March 12, 2020, our shows will be going on as planned.  Our theater seats 99 in its audience and the suggested size to cancel social gatherings is more than 250. “

Patrons with tickets for performances during this time are encouraged to contact individual theatres directly for more information.

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Baseball, the beach, picnics, outdoor music. All a huge part of why we love summer. It’s only three months away. Summer is close enough that we can smell it.

When it comes to outdoor music, concerts at the Ravinia Festival has been a constant since 1904. Located in the Highland Park, just north of Chicago, Ravinia is the oldest outdoor music festival in the United States.

Today, Ravinia announced their schedule for the upcoming season. Here’s a look at the popular music coming to the festival this summer:

The opening week begins with Sheryl Crow, followed by Judy Collins and Patti Labelle. The end of June-early July features The Indigo Girls, Steve Miller and John Fogerty. The mid-season is highlighted by performances of country music stars Carrie Underwood and Willie Nelson. Late summer sees the return of Train for three nights, John Hiatt, Diana Ross and Tony Bennett. The season ends with September shows from John Legend, Lauren Hill and the Beach Boys.

The commonality of all these acts is they are returning Ravinia veterans. If you’re looking for new or groundbreaking music, Ravinia is not the place you’ll be going…at least not this summer. However, if you want a nice outdoor evening, with food, wine and friends, this again will be your go-to home.

Here’s a look at the full Ravinia calendar. Tickets go on sale April 28.

Related Post: Tony Bennett turns 90

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At this point, Ravinia Festival is going full steam ahead with their summer season, hoping that by opening day, May 30, the COVID-19 pandemic will be in the rear view mirror.

In that regard the Festival released the following statement:

It’s difficult to anticipate what impact the disease may have on our 2020 season, which is still three months away. Ravinia is committed to appropriately addressing this quickly evolving situation….focused on the safety of our audiences, guest artists and the general public.

Ravinia Festival 2020 Season

An Overview

Ravinia crowd before Stevie Nicks concert at Ravinia Festival. Photo: Carole Kuhrt-Brewer

The 2020 season boasts more than 120 events from May 30 through September 15, including the annual summer residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, with MacArthur “Genius” Marin Alsop stepping into the role of Chief Conductor and Curator, a position created specifically for her.

This summer will also bring 35 artist debuts, including Wayne Marshall, Teddy Abrams and My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James, Ziggy Marley, six-time Latin Grammy winners Jesse & Joy, and Dispatch. Repertoire features 24 festival premieres, including Ravinia’s co-commission of Paola Prestini’s Hindsight for Piano and Orchestra as part of a summer-long celebration of the talents and achievements of women who have paved the way, as well as the centennial of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote.

Big Names

Tony Bennett performing at his 90th birthday bash at Ravinia Festival in 2016. Photo: Carole Kuhrt-Brewer

Returning favorites include: Tony Bennett, Carrie Underwood, John Legend, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Diana Ross, Trombone Shorty, The Roots, John Fogerty, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Jill Scott, Train (three nights), Gladys Knight, Ms. Lauryn Hill and the Beach Boys.

Other Highlights

Final Season for Welz Kauffman

This will be the final season for Welz Kauffman who announced he would retire at the end of the 2020 season as the President and CEO of the festival where he has served for the past 20 years.

New Chief Conductor

Marin Alsop takes up new position as Chief Conductor and Curator, leading the CSO in five concerts, including Legendary Women’s Voices gala starring Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo.

Focus on Women

The cultural contributions of women will be a summer-long focus to mark the centennial of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote.

RaviniaMusicBox Opens

Immersive RaviniaMusicBox opens with wrap-around movie experience, Bernstein’s Answer, and the National Museum of American Jewish History’s Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music, the first major exhibit on the Jewish identity of America’s most celebrated musician.

Bernstein Celebration

Multi-season Bernstein celebration continues with Alsop conducting Slava!, Wayne Marshall leading the Ravinia premiere of A White House Cantata starring Patricia Racette and Rod Gilfry, Jamie Bernstein hosting the collection of Anniversaries, and RSMI Singers sharing Arias and Barcarolles.

Birthday Celebrations

Festival celebrates milestone birthdays of Christoph Eschenbach at 80, Itzhak Perlman at 75, Misha Dichter at 75, Bob Marley at 75, Isaac Stern at 100, Clara Schumann at 200, and Beethoven at 250.

Tickets and more

What: Ravinia Festival Summer 2020
When: May 30-September 15, 2020
Where: Green Bay Rd. just north of Lake Cook Road in Highland Park
Tickets: Tickets will be available to donors beginning March 17. Tickets for the public go on April 28 for June and July concerts and April 29 for August and September concerts, exclusively online at Ravinia.org.
Season calendar: For the full season calendar, click here.

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Le Sud

With neighborhood French restaurants increasingly scarce, restaurateur Sandy Chen decided to go against the flow. The result is Le Sud, a charming spot that celebrates the food, wine and decor of southern France.

the main dining room at Le Sud

“I’d  been doing Chinese restaurants for more than twenty years, and I was ready to do something else,” she says. “Le Sud is a casual neighborhood restaurant, a place where people who live nearby can dine on a regular basis.”

honey glazed duck

To encourage that kind of repeat business, Chen has developed an interesting list of special events. Tuesdays through Saturdays from 5-6:30 (Happy Hour), select drinks and apps are half price. On Tuesday nights, select bottles of wine are half-price, and on Wednesdays, there’s a three course prix-fixe for $36. Children 12 and under eat free on Sundays. For a complete list and all the specifics, check the restaurant’s website.

pommes puree

Which brings us to the food. Steak/frites is the crowd favorite, but it’s always difficult for me to pass up a chance to have duck, something most of us don’t tackle on a regular basis. At Le Sud, the duck is glazed with honey and served with turnip puree, confit chestnuts, pickled cherries, fennel and mache. The wonderfully rich Coquilles St-Jacques made with scallops and a cognac scented cream sauce is listed as an appetizer. But if you pair it with a salad or soup, it could work as a light entree.

Le Sud’s decor is a departure from all of the minimalist, loft-style interiors that are seemingly de rigueur. Check out the tiles on the tables in the upstairs space, and take time to look at the tableware, serving dishes and furnishings. Chen says she combed the antique stores and resale shops to find just the right pieces. Suffice to say, she did a good job.

Le Sud, 2301 W. Roscoe Street,  773.857.1985

photos by Judith Landesman

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Craft Beer Festival

Historic downtown Long Grove is hosting its fourth annual Craft Beer Festival on April 25 from 1pm-5pm. According to Mike Marr, Vice-President of the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association and Owner/Brewmaster of Long Grove’s Buffalo Creek Brewing, the event is a place where “people with a passion for craft beer can come together and and experience many of the Chicagoland’s finest offerings.”

One of the event’s plusses is the opportunity to meet the actual beer-makers, and with upwards of twenty breweries participating in the festival, guests should plan on having a very busy four hours.

Live music and multiple food vendors will also be on-hand, though the food is not included in the price of admission. Guests must be at least 21 years years old to attend, and no pets are allowed. A full access ticket is $40 in advance through EventBrite and at the Long Grove Visitors Center or $50 at the door, depending on availability. A non-drinker/designated driver pass ($10) includes unlimited water. Parking is available in the Stempel Parking Lot in front of Buffalo Creek Brewing 340 Historical Lane, Long Grove.

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George Trois and Temporis

Two of the area’s top restaurants, George Trois in Winnetka and Temporis in West Town, and- with twenty seats apiece- two of its most intimate, are collaborating on a series of dinners. Chef Michael Lachowicz will host the first, a 10-course dinner ($215) at George Trois on Tuesday, March 17, while Chef Troy Jorge will host the second, a 12-course dinner ($200) at Temporis on Tuesday, April 21.

Reservations for both dinners are on Open Table.  Beverages, gratuity and tax are not included.

George Trois, 64 Green Bay Road, Winnetka

Temporis, 933 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago

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Wow Bao

Breakfast Potstickers are on the menu at the Wow Bao venues at 225 N. Michigan Avenue (7 am-10:30 am) and at 1 W. Wacker Drive (8 am-10:30 am). Think 5, 8 or 12 pan-seared potstickers filled with fluffy eggs, pork sausage, spinach, scallions and various  seasonings. Three sauces (sweet Thai chili, soy ginger and chili oil) are served with the potstickers. 

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St. Patrick’s Day

On Tuesday, March 17, everything that can be green will be green.

“Testing, testing, testing.” — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today, emphasizing the importance of testing for the coronavirus.

So glad that Pelosi and her Democrat and left-wing allies are finally getting around to supporting testing to control a rampaging epidemic.

Democrats and liberals staunchly opposed testing and, as importantly, contact tracing when HIV was rampaging across America and the world.

Their argument was that “forcing” people to be tested and to trace people that HIV-infected people were in contract with was a “privacy” violation.

Even though testing and contract tracing were–and still are–were an essential public health tool to control epidemics.  Anyone who urged testing and contract tracing was described as a homophobe. As I was when I wondered in my Chicago Sun-Times columns why we should toss out well-studied and well-document methods to control epidemic, especially when AIDS was then described as certainly fatal.

In other words, to hell with anyone who was “at high risk,” such as partners, spouses, infants, patients who were receiving blood transfusions and drug users.

Originally, the Left even opposed encouraging voluntary testing, because they said it would, ironically, discourage testing. Contract tracing was out of the question. Sadly, the public health profession caved in to the ideological nonsense. It also weakened testing and contract tracing provisions for sexually transmitted diseases.

As HIV and AIDS continued to spread at an alarming rate, the Left eventually softened its opposition to testing, agreeing that encouraging voluntary testing was okay.

How satisfying that today Democrats and the Left are emphasizing the importance of testing and contact tracing. How ironic that they are hammering President  Trump for being “anti-science” by supposedly not doing enough testing.

A history of how the AIDS epidemic affected public health policy is found here.