COUNTRY VS. TOWN: EMILY BOWER

EMILY BOWER grew up on the coast of Palos Verdes, California, watching her mom design, remodel and decorate their homes and her entrepreneurial dad brainstorm new ways to bring excitement to his employees and dealerships. She loved summers at the beach, teaching art, roaming Balboa Island with her cousins, and oil painting with her grandma amongst the fruit trees in Rancho Mirage. Emily studied Economics and Accounting at Claremont McKenna College with a minor in Film Studies from summer courses at USC and Chapman. Back at CMC, she never missed a home game and was destined to marry her favorite baseball player, aka college sweetheart, Brian.

Emily worked for Pierce Brosnan and Beau St. Clair at Irish DreamTime while earning her MBA in Strategy and Marketing, then worked for Producer Lloyd Phillips at the Sony Pictures Studio Lot. She later joined the family business as a Fleet Manager and sold Chevrolets, Fords, and commercial trucks, sometimes in Spanish.

Emily and Brian lived in London for five years. While there, Emily produced music videos and organized activities and trips as the Antiques Chair of the American Women’s Club.

Their first daughter was born during this adventuresome time. The Bowers moved to Chicago in 2014 and then to Hinsdale. “Dawn McKenna prophesized that if we moved to Hinsdale, we would become a family of six and to our surprise, she was right,” Emily says. Emily and Brian are now fully emersed in their new hometown with Charlotte (11), Teddy (9), Izzy (5), and Maggie Cat (5).

The Zion Lutheran Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) holds a special place in Emily’s heart. She co-chaired the Preschool Prom at Hinsdale Golf Club this spring. She is active in Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club (HJWC), where she has chaired several committees and served as 2nd vice president. Emily is a proud Trustee of the Hinsdale Historical Society and soon to be Co-President this fall.

In 2021, Emily created the society’s Good Old Fashioned Family Fun days held at the Hinsdale History Museum each summer where families enjoy crafts, outdoor games and fun activities that have transcended the ages. She says, “I love that we are bridging Hinsdale’s past, present and future through preserving and teaching the history of our village and making it a valued part of our everyday lives.”

Mantra? Don’t be so serious, life is mysterious! My parents and grandparents gifted me a childhood full of imagination, optimism, color and warmth. I try to embrace life’s magic and provide that same sense of joyous wonder and possibility for my children and others. On your reading stack? I’m currently into the history of Illinois and Hinsdale. I discovered Mary Sterling’s discontinued books and drove all over Illinois to get my hands on them. Right now, I’m enjoying Hinsdale & the World. Favorite workout? Fitness, Inc. and tennis drills with friends. Best grooming tip? Tailored clothing, manicured nails, and SPF! Music you love? I enjoy just about every genre, and what I listen to depends on the mood I’m in or want to set. I love using music to create ambiance with what I’m serving for dinner, often playing Frank Sinatra, Italian mandolin, Gypsy Kings, French bistro or the Lumineers. Favorite foods? Crab legs, pasta, my husband’s ribeye and anything made from a potato. Guilty pleasures? Getting lost in gardening, oil painting, creating flower arrangements, snuggling with my four little loves and savoring coffee, pinot noir, Aperol spritzes, extra dirty Tanqueray martinis with blue cheese olives and yes, this is a divisive one: chocolate covered fruit. Early memory? During my sophomore year in college, I kept feeling like I heard my last name mentioned in other people’s conversations. While on a double date in Santa Monica, I heard the other couple mention, “The Sopp Experiment,” and learned that I had indeed been hearing my last name! My college had an overall relaxed and sporty feel, with most people dressing in athletic wear. People apparently noticed that I made an effort to look put together and tended to wear skirts and dresses. The women’s basketball team created “The Sopp Experiment” as a challenge to put more effort into their overall appearance and to wear skirts and dresses for one month to see if that would result in people treating them differently. It worked, and a couple of them began long-term relationships during the experiment. Advice you would give to your younger self? Sometimes you need to go out on a limb, for that’s where the fruit is. While studying in college, I was seeking an internship in film, which the program didn’t offer. I contacted United International Pictures and asked if they would consider allowing me to intern with them. I became their first intern and had the time of my life promoting Universal and Paramount films in Europe with an incredible team of coworkers. They even let me be Robbie Williams’ personal escort at his Nobody Someday premiere.

WHEN IN THE COUNTRY

Your style is? A sundress or tennis outfit. Can’t leave the house without? A catch-all bag with nourishing lip gloss, sunnies and kid activities Transportation? My Pacifica filled with kids. Place to celebrate? Over a seafood tower at Vistro Prime. Best hidden gem? Playing the squiggle game on a big round table during a delicious meal with my family at Il Poggiolo. Shop? The Farmer’s Market, Yankee Peddler, Virgil Catherine Gallery, The Courtyard, Sweet William and Alixandra Collections. Favorite festival or special event? Hinsdale’s 4th of July Parade has my heart. After living in another country for five years, I teared up experiencing my first parade with my family. Best thing about the country? The close-knit community always ready to step in and help others. I also love watching our neighborhood kids play pickup baseball in our yard. The perfect day is? A free day of fun in the sun with my family and dinner outside in the garden under bistro lights with family and friends.

WHEN IN TOWN

Your style is? A feminine dress or jeans with a solid-colored top, trendy shoes and lipstick. Favorite walk? Around the Lincoln Park Zoo or Maggie Daley Park with my littles. Can’t leave the house without? Lip gloss and my iPhone. Transportation? Uber Places to eat? You must try the stone crab at Joe’s Stone Crab, ribeye at Bavette’s, chimichurri at Tango Sur, lunch at Eataly, Turkish fare at Turquoise and the rooftop patio at Aba. Favorite festival or special event? Concerts at Joe’s Bar and the Windy City Smokeout. Shop? Warehouse 55, Eataly and Nordstrom. Best thing about town? The concerts, restaurants and Cubs games (especially when the Dodgers come to town). Worst thing about town? Parking and traffic. The perfect day is? An afternoon Cubs game with family then dinner with friends at one of our favorite restaurants.