Culture | Aug. 2024
THE BUZZ: AUGUST 2024
By Megan Weisberg
Peonies. Acrylic on canvas
JWC Media’s guide to the area’s people, places, and things that you must know about.
BEN ROSELAND EXHIBITS HIS CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS AT AREA ART FAIRS
Ben Roseland received a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the Columbus College of Art, but he has been creating art since childhood. Encouraged by his mother, she took him to local art fairs to view art and visit with artists. That ignited a passion for art that inspired him to show his artwork at art fairs around the country. He has mastered a unique style of painting lush landscapes and florals that features patterns and intricate brushwork. Roseland’s boundless passion for painting and his deep love of the land have become constant inspirations, and his talent was recognized with the “Best in Painting” category award at the June 2024 Deerfield Art Festival in Deerfield, IL. To meet the artist and view his work, visit the Wilmette Art Fair in Wilmette, IL, from August 3 to August 4, and the Port Clinton Art Festival in Highland Park, IL, from August 24 to August 25. Attendance is free and open to the public. For more information, visit benroselandart.com.
LADY PAMELA
Lady Pamela is India Hicks’s affectionate tribute to her beloved mother, Lady Pamela Hicks, and invites us into a life spent with dazzling people in stunning houses at pivotal moments in history. Daughter of the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the last Viceroy of India, Lady Pamela was a first cousin to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and a bridesmaid and lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth II before marrying legendary interior designer David Hicks. This beautifully illustrated personal history includes ephemera such as letters from the queen, images of the houses and gardens where Pamela grew up, and details of her extraordinary work during Indian independence, her marriage to David Hicks and the homes he designed for them, and the assassination of her father in Ireland. India also shares the wisdom gleaned from a woman who had a front-row seat to many historical events. An exemplary life, captured in beautiful images, for lovers of history, royal watchers, and all style enthusiasts. Available this September at rizzoli.com.
WALK & ROLL TO CURE FSHD
The Walk & Roll to Cure Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) is the only national event focused solely on funding progress for FSHD. Led entirely by dedicated volunteers and supported by staff, events take place all over the U.S. and Canada. Since its beginning in 2018 it has been a life-changing event, letting fellow FSHDers know they are not alone. This year’s Chicagoland Walk & Roll event is being held on Saturday, September 28th at Citizens Park, 511 N. Lake Zurich Road, Barrington. Registration starts at 9:00 a.m. Walk ceremony starts at 10:00 a.m. and the event will conclude at 12:00 p.m. For more information, visit give.fshdsociety.org/chicagowalkroll24.
CAROLINE SMITH PLAYED IN THE WOMEN’S WESTERN AMATEUR AT ONWENTSIA
Caroline Smith, a 2020 Barrington High School graduate and Indiana University senior-to-be who helped the Hoosiers capture the Big Ten Conference Women’s Golf Championship in the spring, qualified to compete in May at the U.S. Women’s Open Championship at the Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania. Smith is an Inverness native who’s a seven-time Women’s Western Amateur participant. She’s working toward a master’s degree in sports management at IU and is one to keep an eye on.
WE’VE GOT COMPANY
Hudson Grace offers a lesson in low-maintenance summer entertaining with its fun new take on the paper plate. The Melamine Street Eats Collection blends durability and playful style. Perfect for outdoor barbecues or indoor dinner parties, these plates are dishwasher safe, built to last, and make post-party cleanup a breeze. Hint: they would be an especially good canvas for Monica Kass Rogers’ Lobster Avocado Salad. hudsongracesf.com
SUMMER OF SPRITZ
Move over margarita. The hottest drink this season is the spritz. Francesca’s Intimo in Lake Forest was an early adaptor of the trend and recently launched a cocktail list full of summery spritzes—think homemade limoncello infused with strawberry puree and Aegean tonic or mijenta reposado tequila scented with agave, black walnut, and orange bitters. The feeling of a Mediterranean vacation is just a spritz away in downtown Lake Forest. miafrancesca.com
RISING STARS
If your August includes a downtown staycation or if you’re tasked with planning a dinner in the city, here’s some food for thought. Six Chicago restaurants were just added to the Michelin Guide. Cariño, John’s Food and Wine, Maxwells Trading, Sifr, Taqueria Chingon, and Warlord now have a place on the prestigious guide’s list of recommended restaurants, joining 152 other Chicago eateries with that same distinction. While inclusion in the guide is no guarantee of a coveted Michelin star, it is does indicate a high-quality restaurant that would make an impressive choice for a night out. guide.michelin.com
BEJEWEL IT
Helen Yarmak’s jewelry collection has an extraordinary origin story. In the 1990s, she was invited to a gala at Buckingham Palace. With no jewelry to wear, this resourceful artist went to a stone store where she bought several Topaz specimens. These bacame her first ring, necklace, and earrings. The Helen Yarmak Summer Jewelry Collection is perfect for an Olympic year, with its gold, silver, rubies, and diamonds, celebrating dance, acrobatics, and the human form.With figures dancing on rings, earrings, keyrings, and bracelets, it’s a celebratory, artistic collection to wear on summer travels. This collection of treasures is carefully handcrafted in Italy from gemstones, 18 karat gold, pearls, and diamonds. Many pieces feature the turquoise-colored Paraiba Tourmaline stone, a rare gemstone that is found in Brazil that is renowned for its bright, neon-like blue hue that is breathtaking in its beauty. helenyarmak.com
RITZ IT
On the 12th floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, the Rooftop at Torali boasts stunning city and lake views, providing an elegant alfresco ambiance perfect for enjoying seasonal cocktails and light bites. The hotel celebrated the start of the season on June 6 with a “Summer Soirée” featuring live music by DJ Eliana and Tamila Viola. All summer long, guests and locals can indulge in sharable plates, handcrafted cocktails and scenic vistas while supporting Anti-Cruelty, a Chicago-based nonprofit at the forefront of animal welfare and humane education. For every Tito’s Vodka Blueberry Shandy cocktail sold, the hotel and Tito’s will each donate $1 to the organization (up to $3,000). Rooftop at Torali will also feature live music every Friday from a rotating lineup of local talent, including Annalee Hooson, Matt Kysia and DJ Eliana. ritzcarlton.com
SAVOR THE SUMMER SUNSET
Make August epic at every opportunity. In addition to feasting on fresh corn and juicy farmers market peaches as often as possible, press pause on routine with a special outing or two. There’s something so special about being out on Lake Michigan in the hazy, waning days of summer. Wrangle an invitation from friends or rent a vessel up to 105’ for the ultimate adieu to summer. yachtlife.com
LA VACANZA X VERSACE
Savor the remaining days of summer wearing Versace’s new print—Barocco Sea for the Versace La Vacanza Collection. This captivating graphic continues Versace’s rich heritage of prints created with a nod to the natural wonders of the sea. Drawing from the intricate motifs of Barocco and the timeless elegance of Trésor de la Mer, Barocco Sea emerges as a stunning fusion of marine motifs and opulent flourishes. Explored in different color combinations and material techniques, the print is available in women’s and men’s shirts with matching shorts, knit cardigans and bralettes, a full selection of dresses, gathered jersey skirts, and more. The collection is also rich in accessories with a series of sunglasses and beach items including bathrobes, towels, crystal-embellished travel cups, and swimwear to complete the full vacation experience. Embrace the dog days of summer in this gorgeous Versace graphic, whether you’re strolling the streets or sunning on the sand. For more information, visit versace.com.
IN THE NAME OF BEAUTY
Guerlain stands as a pioneer in the beauty industry with its ability to cultivate quality fragrances, skincare, and makeup with nature and art as inspiration. Guerlain’s mission prioritizes the fundamental component of nature and is committed to protecting bees and preserving biodiversity on a broad scale. Efforts in this area include the Conservation for Bees Program, Women for Bees Program, and Bee Schools dedicated to training and incentivizing female beekeepers worldwide. In honor of World Bee Day and to showcase the power of bee products, Guerlain created a limited-edition bottle of its most popular oil—Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil. The cult status oil has become a staple of the brand, both as a product and a symbol for its dedication to conservation and natural ingredients. Use Guerlain Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil to create a beauty routine that loves your skin and the environment. For more information, visit guerlain.com.
ANNIVERSARY
Tiffany & Co. celebrates the 50th anniversary of Elsa Peretti’s groundbreaking Bone Cuff design. As artful as it is beautiful, the cuff showcases the ergonomic sensuality that informs the designer’s jewelry. Introduced in the 1970s, the cuff is a testament to the designer’s curiosity and creativity. Inspired by Peretti’s visits as a young girl to a Capuchin crypt in Rome and her admiration for Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Milà in Barcelona, the cuff exemplifies the designer’s trailblazing craftsmanship. Designed in various precious metals and sizes, the cuff is specifically sculpted to conform to the left or right wrist. This intentional choice allows the design to become one with the body, whether the cuff be worn on one or both wrists. Happy anniversary to an extraordinary design. For more information, visit tiffany.com.
