COUNTRY VS. TOWN: GINA SCOLA

Gina Scola was born in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago and grew up in Hoffman Estates. The past nine years, Scola has lived in South Barrington with her husband and two rescue pit bulls. Scola’s interest in philanthropy started when her children attended various private schools, and she became more involved when she joined The South Barrington Garden Club in 2019. Meeting people within the community, forming relationships, and giving back is extremely rewarding for her, and her work with The Garden Club has been very fulfilling. When time allows, Scola looks to place “furry friends” in their forever homes as she also volunteers with several rescues.

Mantra? Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today Best Grooming Tip? Thrive Causemetics, makeup for a good cause. They are natural looking and have great colors. I get ready in minutes and always get compliments, and I absolutely love their mascara Guilty pleasure? Ice cream and chocolate. Turtle sundaes are my favorite. Chocolates from Cocolotte in the Arboretum and Sanders Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels are my go-to chocolates Favorite foods? Pasta, especially ricotta gnocchi or tagliatelle with braised short ribs Music you love? Anything country! Luke Combs, Jason Aldeen, Old Dominion Best advice ever given to you? Believe in yourself and others will too Best advice you’ve given? You are entitled to nothing. Respect, loyalty, friendship, promotions, etc. If you want something, work for it. Never stop reaching for the stars. Earliest memory? Until the age of 5, I lived on the first floor of a two-flat below my grandparents in the city of Chicago. I always remember sneaking up the back stairway to go see them. They were my everything Before bed? I make a bowl of ice cream, usually chocolate peanut butter or mint chocolate chip and watch TV in bed with the dogs What’s on your bookshelf? I’m embarrassed to say that I can never sit still enough to read a book! However, I do have cookbooks as I love to cook. Fabio Viviani’s 30-minute Italian is front and center You can’t live without? My family, friends, dogs, espresso, MAC lip gloss, my cell phone, oh, and my UGG slippers Love to escape to? Lake Geneva (so close but so far away), Maui, and Italy Advice you would give to your younger self? Live within your means

WHEN IN THE COUNTRY

Your style is? Depending on the day, either leggings with sneakers, a T-shirt, and jean jacket or jeans, with a pair of ankle high booties, and a cozy sweater Can’t leave the house without? My phone, sunglasses, lip gloss, and a bottle of water Transportation? My Audi Q7. It’s enough zip to have fun but enough space to take the dogs with me. Driving Music? Current country music. I also enjoy the ‘80s of course Places to eat? Cooper’s Hawk, Hampton Social, Perry’s Steak House, and Culver’s Shop? White House Black Market, Evereve, Nordstrom Best thing about the country? The small town feel. Getting to know so many people, within the community. For me, a lot of that was due to my involvement with the South Barrington Garden Club. It has allowed me to build relationships with individuals and businesses that I may not have otherwise Worst part about the country? The time it takes to now get to the city with the traffic The perfect day is? Dancing the night away at the summer concert series with my husband/friends at The Arboretum and grabbing dinner

WHEN IN TOWN

Your style is? Jeans, with a cute top and leather jacket or leather dress pants, depending on where we are going, with a sweater. Can’t leave the house without? My phone, sunglasses, lip gloss, and bottle of water Transportation? My car. I hate public transportation! I rarely take a private car service unless I am going to the airport or something. I’m simple. Besides, I can listen to my music and sing (even though I stink at it) Driving music? Mainly country; occasionally ‘80s Places to eat? Siena Tavern, Bar Siena, Quartino, Aba, Black Barrel Tavern Shop? I rarely go shopping in the city anymore, but when I do, it’s Nordstrom Best thing about Town? Besides some of the restaurants, and the sports, it is where I get to visit my youngest son Worst thing about the town? The traffic. Also, the city has changed quite a bit in recent years. That’s a discussion for another day The perfect day is? Going to watch my husband play a game of hockey at Johnny’s Icehouse in the West Loop. My son will meet us there and we will all go for dinner