COUNTRY VS. TOWN: CARMEN WONG

When Carmen Wong left for college, she never planned to return to the suburbs. After living in Toronto, Canada, for almost a decade and graduating with her master’s degree, she returned to the Barrington area to be with family and figure out her next steps. An active volunteer since childhood, Carmen started looking for local opportunities to stay busy. She discovered the Barrington Area Volunteer Connect (BAVC) platform, which led her to help the Barrington Area Development Council (BADC) with archival, research, and social media needs. This experience jumpstarted her community engagement effort—she is now a Barrington Junior Women’s Club (BJWC) member and serves on the BAVC Advisory Board.

Mantra? I am exactly where I need to be Best grooming tip? An e-file manicure and pedicure Guilty pleasure? Anything sweet. Chocolates, cakes, donuts, cookies, ice cream… Favorite foods? Chinese, Japanese, Latin Music you love? Mariah Carey Best advice ever given to you? It’s not our external environment that dictates our happiness, but instead, our relationship to that environment Best advice you’ve given? Know your worth and where you are valued Earliest memory? Seeing a family of raccoons press their noses against our porch door waiting to be fed. I noticed them first and was excited to have cute and furry visitors but when I showed my mom, she freaked out. She started yelling and knocking on the door to scare them away Before bed, you? Apply hand cream, foot cream, and a lip mask What’s on your bookshelf? Whatever I’ve checked out from the Barrington Library. I recently read and enjoyed Julia Fox’s Down the Drain and my monthly magazine subscriptions, Costco Connection and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance You can’t live without? My family, friends, and skin care products (IMAGE Skincare and iS Clinical are staples in my routine) Love to escape to? Los Angeles, CA Advice you would give to your younger self? Be present. Don’t worry too much about the future

WHEN IN THE COUNTRY

Your style is? Comfortable—matching sweatsuit set and Crocs. I love my pair, which are fur-lined, sparkly, and decorated with Sanrio charms Can’t leave the house without? A water bottle, hand cream, and lip balm Transportation? Mercedes SUV and Metra Driving music? PinkPantheress and Lil Uzi Vert Place to eat? Gale Street Inn, Chef Ping, and Oberweis Ice Cream & Dairy Shop? Nordstrom Rack has good finds, but I don’t shop much anymore. I rent clothes every month from Rent the Runway Best thing about country? The fresh air, open space, and the occasional chance to play with my neighbor’s dogs Worst thing about country? Mosquitoes The perfect day is? Starting the day with a tennis class, followed by getting lunch with my family, and then working on my scrapbook while a murder mystery show plays in the background

WHEN IN TOWN

Your style is? Athleisure—cropped hoodie, leggings, and comfortable sneakers. Nike Air Force is my favorite brand. I walked approximately 22 miles in them on a weekend trip to New York Can’t leave the house without? My Olympus Infinity Stylus 35mm camera Transportation? Uber Driving music? 2000s pop and R&B, Afrobeats, House Place to eat? Phoenix Restaurant, Raisu Sushi, and Russian Tea Time Shop? Magnificent Mile—there are so many shops to visit and peruse Best thing about town? You can walk everywhere Worst thing about town? The traffic going into the city The perfect day is? Going for dim sum, visiting one of the city’s many museums (I like art museums), and getting a coffee before walking the lakefront trail