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Mother's Day Gift Guide

Article and Photography by Check out these fresh finds to drop hints for Mother’s Day gifts. Organic and natural skincare products by Farmhouse Fresh at Randoons & Co., 962 ½ Green Bay Rd. Winnetka New reads for the book lover from The Book Stall, 811 Elm St., Winnetka D Porthault robes and slippers from Maze Home, 735 Elm St. Winnetka Diamond heart and Tahitian freshwater pearl necklace by Asia Borycka at AVAASI Concept Store, 2705 Waukegan Ave., Highland Park All-natural, luxury...

Sports + Recreation

Game Changer

Inside ESPN reporter Brooke Weisbrod’s journey from college athlete to leading advocate for women’s sports Article by Amelia Levin “That was the worst demo tape I’ve ever seen.”    This was the feedback ESPN reporter Brooke Weisbrod got on her first-ever demo tape she submitted.    The year was 2003. Weisbrod, then 23, was an all-conference winning basketball, softball and tennis player at Coastal Carolina University who had come off a bad back injury waterskiing a couple years prior to...

Local Services

Shared Spaces

Inside Dayhouse Coworking, Jen Luby’s welcoming, community-driven workspace Article by Amelia Levin | Photography by Amee McCaughan When you walk into Dayhouse Coworking, the abundance of plants, soft natural lighting, photos of happy members, freshly brewed coffee, and warm greetings from manager Jessica Erickson create an immediate sense of belonging—like a home away from home.    Full disclosure: we’re Dayhouse members, but that’s not why we chose to run this article. We’re simply in awe...

Local Services

Once a Dragonfly, Always a Dragonfly

Jessica Merar builds a haven for families fighting pediatric cancer Article by Amelia Levin | Photography by Amee McCaughan “We are family.”   That’s the tagline literally printed on the back of the Dragonfly Chicago T-shirts that Director Jessica Merar and her team wear to events.   “We support pediatric cancer patients and their families at time of diagnosis, throughout treatment and beyond,” says Merar. “By collaborating directly with our partner hospitals, we are able to help children...

Food + Beverage

Enchiladas Verdes

Makes 8 enchiladas (about 4 servings) Article by Margarita Challenger | Photography by Amee McCaughan Margarita Challenger’s Guanajuato Contemporary Mexican Restaurant remains a go-to spot in Hubbard Woods. A trained chef, Challenger immigrated to the U.S. in 1992 from Guanajuato, known for having "very traditional food like enchiladas, moles and carnitas, but also Italian, Chinese and other international influences,” she says. Perfect for a Mother’s Day gathering, these enchiladas can be made...

Professional Services

Refocus, Reframe, Renew

Practical strategies for mental resilience from therapist Lynn Zakeri Article by Lynn Zakeri, LCSW May is Mental Health Awareness Month—it also happens to be the perfect time to refocus, reframe and renew. As women, we’re very busy. We're taking care of our kids, our parents, our friends, our households, our work and more. I use a variety of modalities in my practice to help women—and all clients—empower themselves and manage overwhelming thoughts and emotions. Here are four ways you can start...

Finance + Legal Services

Investing Smarter

How AI Is Shaping the Future of Trading Article by The Editor It’s no secret—high net worth individuals and institutions seek investment opportunities that deliver innovation, stability and consistent returns. In today’s complex financial landscape, people want diversified strategies that are not necessarily correlated to traditional stock market returns. We caught up with Dieter Marlovics, chief executive officer of RoboSig, a Chicago-based financial technology company, to learn more about...

Local Services

Bright Beginnings

Maggie Pisarczyk invests in kids and teachers with Celebree School Article by Amelia Levin | Photography by Jackie Kardesh “We grow people big and small.” That’s the tagline for Celebree School, the newly opened early childhood center and preschool in Northbrook. But for owner Maggie Pisarczyk, it’s more than just a motto—it’s a mission. Pisarczyk’s approach to early childhood education starts with treating her educators right so they can, in turn, help their little ones grow. “If teachers...

Finance + Legal Services

Financially Fearless

Five steps for taking charge of your finances Article by Barbara Provost, EdD, and Maggie Nielsen, MBA Women are the most powerful market on the planet, yet the financial industry has historically underserved us—leaving $700 billion on the table. With women leading the largest wealth transfer in history, becoming financially fearless is no longer an option; it’s a necessity. We are a mother-daughter duo who created Purse Strings to empower women with financial knowledge and tools. After two...

Food + Beverage

Risky Business

How Celebrity Chef Fabio Viviani is redefining restaurant success in an industry known for high stakes Article by Amelia Levin | Photography by Jenny May Singer Fabio Viviani is the type of chef and restaurateur who will walk you into his restaurant with an umbrella when it’s raining. He trains his staff to warmly welcome guests at the door and always say, “Thank you for coming,” on the way out. He once even gave a dog a bone—literally—wrapping up the leftovers from a perfectly cooked prime...