North Shore, IL February 2026

Love Local, Live Local

Dear North Shore,

February invites us to think about love in all its forms. Not just romance, but devotion. Commitment. Care. This month, we’re celebrating what it truly means to Love Local—the people, passions and purpose-driven businesses that make our community so special.

In these pages, you’ll meet neighbors who are building meaningful work right here on the North Shore while making an impact far beyond it.

We explore the world of travel with Expedia Cruises, a locally owned agency that operates as the concierge arm of the global Expedia Group. Their story beautifully blends the power of an international brand with the personalized care and trust of a neighborhood expert—proof that you don’t have to choose between scale and service.

You’ll also meet Sarah Reusche, a litigation attorney whose practice is rooted in advocacy, strategy and standing firmly beside her clients when it matters most. Her work reminds us that loving local also means having professionals in our community who fight with integrity and purpose.

This issue is rich with creativity and inspiration. Emmett Kyoshi Wilson, a 20-year-old abstract artist and budding philanthropist, shares a deeply moving story of resilience, self-expression and giving back. His art—and heart—are a powerful reminder that talent paired with intention can spark real change.

We also sit down with author Jackson Antonow, whose reflections on disconnecting from our phones feel especially timely. His perspective nudges us toward a quieter, more intentional relationship with our attention—something many of us could use more of this year.

Design lovers will be inspired by Matt and Rohan Kattan, the Evanston-based father-son duo behind the new timepiece line MADHU. Their journey blends craftsmanship, heritage and modern design into something truly meaningful—built together, across generations.

We also spotlight designer Jill Ryder, whose upcycled fashion line redefines sustainability with style and creativity. Her work proves that fashion can be both beautiful and responsible.

Finally, we spend time with Laura Comilla of Greatness Retreat, whose work centers on personal growth, mindset and intentional living. Through immersive retreats and transformational experiences, Laura helps individuals reconnect with their purpose, reset their priorities, and step into the fullest version of themselves.

This February issue is a love letter to the people who choose to create, serve and lead locally. Thank you for supporting them and for reading along!

With gratitude and heart,

February 2026

PUBLISHER

Keely Conrey | keely.conrey@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Cat Rolfes | cat.rolfes@citylifestyle.com

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

Katie Bode | katie.bode@citylifestyle.com

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Juliann Brown | juliann.brown@citylifestyle.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Peter Heisinger | peter.heisinger@citylifestyle.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Amee McCaughan | amee@ameemccaughan.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Amelia Levin

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Daniel Klutznick, Stephanie Bassos, David Spingola, Maureen T. Miller

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Kolich

LAYOUT DESIGNER Lillian Gibbs

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Marina Campbell

KEELY CONREY, PUBLISHER @NORTHSHORECITYLIFESTYLE

WELCOME TO WILD MOON COLLECTIVE

WHERE WELLNESS MEETS LUXURIOUS CARE

There are moments when life calls for a pause - a chance to slow down, check in, and return to the practices that truly support you. Radiance begins when care becomes intentional and consistent, rather than occasional or rushed. At Wild Moon Collective, we believe self-care is a ritual - one that nurtures your skin, body, and overall well-being over time.

5 STEPS TO RADIANCE

A Simple, Intentional Guide to Caring for Yourself

Here are five simple steps to support your skin, body, and well-being and cultivate lasting radiance.

1. Make Time for Yourself - Intentionally

Caring for yourself doesn’t require grand gestures or perfection. Sometimes it’s as simple as creating space - space to breathe, to reset, and to focus inward. When time for yourself becomes intentional and protected, it shifts how you show up everywhere else. Self-care isn’t something to fit in when life slows down, it’s something that supports you through it.

2. Commit to a Monthly Facial Ritual

Healthy, radiant skin is built through consistency. Monthly facial services support skin renewal, improve texture and tone, and help maintain long-term skin health. When facials become a ritual rather than an occasional indulgence, the results are deeper, longer-lasting, and more meaningful. Our Monthly Radiant Ritual Membership was created to support this consistency - combining customized facial treatments that evolve with your skin’s changing needs, month after month.

3. Support Your Skin at Home

In-office treatments are powerful, but what you do at home plays an equally important role. A medical-grade skincare regimen tailored to your skin helps maintain results, protect the skin barrier, and keep your complexion balanced and resilient between visits. Simplicity and consistency are key - thoughtful products used well will always outperform complicated routines.

4. Move Your Body in Ways That Feel Good

Movement is essential - not for perfection, but for vitality. Whether it’s walking outdoors, strength training, yoga, Pilates, or something entirely your own, movement supports circulation, hormone balance, stress reduction, and overall well-being. Choose movement that brings you joy and fits naturally into your life. Your body (and skin) will thank you.

5. Set Boundaries & Protect Your Energy

Radiance is influenced by more than skincare alone. Learning to protect your time, energy, and peace is one of the most powerful forms of self-care. It’s okay to say no. It’s okay to create space. Boundaries allow you to prioritize what truly supports you and that balance shows from the inside out.

Heirloom photographic art for your home. Because time flies & family is everything. Starting with an in-home design consultation to plan a unique portrait session or curate your existing images, we create artwork to celebrate the beauty of your most precious relationships.

business monthly

Custom Creations and Events from Touch of Jade Designs

Touch of Jade Designs, founded by Sarah Aseltine, offers custom apparel, gifts, events and parties that reflect each customer’s style. Inspired by her daughter and rooted in generosity, Aseltine donates a portion of proceeds to families affected by food insecurity. With a passion for creativity and attention to detail, Touch of Jade transforms moments into unforgettable memories, providing thoughtful gifts and interactive experiences that bring people together through crafting, celebration and community.

More at touchofjadedesigns.com | IG @touchofjadedesigns.

Lake Forest’s Wellness Way Offers Holistic Chiropractic Care

The Wellness Way–Lake Forest led by Dr. Paige Enwright, offers holistic health care through advanced chiropractic services, functional lab testing and personalized nutritional guidance. A Webster’s Certified chiropractor with a Doctorate from Palmer College and expertise in the Gonstead technique, Dr. Enwright specializes in immune, thyroid, gastrointestinal, hormonal and neurological systems. With published research in aromatherapy, she provides compassionate, science-driven care tailored to every patient’s journey.

More at thewellnesswaylakeforest.com

J.McLaughlin Celebrates 20 Years in Winnetka

The Winnetka-Northfield-Glencoe Chamber of Commerce recently honored J.McLaughlin’s 20th anniversary in Winnetka with a Ribbon Tying ceremony, a tradition recognizing longevity and community commitment. For two decades, the clothing boutique has offered timeless fashion, exceptional service and a welcoming shopping experience downtown. The celebration brought together Chamber leaders, local supporters and the J.McLaughlin team to commemorate the brand’s enduring presence and dedication to the community. Learn more at wngchamber.com.

Luxury, Without Compromise

ARTICLE BY CAT ROLFES

SARAH REUSCHÉ: ROOTED IN Community

CIVIL LITIGATOR, COMMUNITY ADVOCATE & QUIET FORCE FOR GOOD

On paper, Sarah Reusché is everything you’d expect of a rising civil litigator: sharp, articulate, relentlessly prepared. In person, what surfaces first isn’t intensity but empathy. “The best way to be a professional is by being a person first,” she says. “You get to know people, you build trust, and everything flows from there.”

At Lavelle Law, Reusché practices civil and commercial litigation and works within the firm’s dealership law group, handling disputes ranging from contract issues to franchise matters. Her docket is broad, but her approach is consistent. She treats legal representation as more than advocacy. It is, at its core, human connection.

Her path to law was not linear. She studied psychology and Spanish at Indiana University before earning her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School. A semester abroad in Barcelona proved formative. She remembers the sensation of being visibly “other,” of not belonging. That experience

“If I can use my skills to help create more equal opportunities for people with disabilities, that is such a blessing,” she says.

sharpened her awareness of how easily people can feel overlooked. It also clarified her purpose: to ensure clients feel seen, protected and heard.

That conviction guides her across a wide spectrum of cases, from multistate dealership groups to individuals navigating crises. One case, representing a client with cerebral palsy, reinforced her commitment:“If I can use my skills to help create more equal opportunities for people with disabilities, that is such a blessing,” she says.

Her service extends beyond the courtroom. Reusché sits on the board of directors of the Lake County Community Foundation, supporting nonprofits that assist under-resourced residents. She contributes to Lavelle Law Charities and the firm’s annual food drive. For her, community work isn’t separate from practice. It’s a continuation of it.

Away from litigation, she is rooted in local rhythms. Saturdays often begin at the farmers market, where she cooks with whatever’s in season. She and her husband, Tom, a Libertyville native, unwind with ping-pong matches, long walks and strategy games like Wingspan.

She’s also a regular at Mundelein Park District yoga classes, part of a book club and strolls the Skokie Lagoons with friends. She swears by Highland Park’s That Little French Guy cafe (“Adorable, amazing pastries, great lunch, right by the Metra”) when asked for a favorite North Shore gem.

Her playlist leans indie pop (Del Water Gap, Maggie Rogers, Olivia Dean). Her dream dinner guest is Ruth Bader Ginsburg. And if she weren’t practicing law, she’d open a bakery or teach Spanish—both ways of nourishing and connecting. Through it all, Reusché remains self-aware. “Sometimes in the day-to-day grind, it doesn’t feel like I’m making this huge impact. But I want to be someone’s attorney for life. Helping them through the hard things, that’s the part I love.”

It’s easy to list her accomplishments. Harder to capture the warmth behind them. But spend even a few minutes with Sarah Reusché, and it’s clear her work may be rooted in the law, but her impact begins with empathy.

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ARTICLE BY CAT ROLFES

Cruising Made Personal

Expert guidance turns every sailing into a tailored, stress - free escape

For many travelers, the idea of booking a cruise still carries a faint air of mystery, as if it requires insider knowledge or a tolerance for logistical chaos. Michael Beaver, General Manager of Expedia Cruises’ Glenview office, would like to gently correct that impression. “It’s actually really easy,” he says. “Give us a call, and we’ll help you through the entire process.”

Expedia Cruises operates as the concierge arm of the larger Expedia Group, which means travelers get the power of a global travel brand with the intimacy of a neighborhood agency. Beaver describes it as a hybrid model: the scale of a major platform paired with the personal attention of someone who knows your name, preferences and whether you’re more likely to spend your vacation in a spa robe or on a golf course.

“We ask a couple of questions, get to know your personality, and go from there,” he says. “Not every cruise line is for everybody, but there is a cruise line for everybody.” With access to more than 40 cruise lines—from contemporary favorites like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian to ultra luxury brands such as Silversea, Regent Seven Seas and Explora Journeys—agents can match travelers to the right ship, itinerary and onboard experience.

For North Shore couples dreaming of a warm weather escape, Beaver points to the ease of flying from Chicago to major cruise ports in Florida, as well as Los Angeles and San Diego. Three- to five-day sailings to the Caribbean, Bahamas or Mexican Riviera make for quick, sun-drenched getaways that require little more than a carry-on and a willingness to trade winter boots for sandals.

But the real magic, Beaver says, is in the tailoring. For spa-loving travelers, he often recommends luxury lines like Explora Journeys or Silversea, where thermal areas, salt rooms, saunas, and wellness programming create a floating sanctuary. “If you want to sit and relax all week, we can make that happen,” he says. “If you want yoga, healthy cuisine, or specific dietary accommodations, we’ll make sure the ship knows before you even board.”

Golfers, meanwhile, have an entirely different world available to them. Beaver highlights Azamara’s partnership with PerryGolf, which offers sailings built around world-class courses in Scotland, Japan, Australia and beyond.

“They take care of everything,” he says. “Your equipment, transportation, green fees, even clubhouse drinks.” And if only one person in the couple or group golfs, they ensure only the golfer pays those add-ons.

“Not every cruise line is for everybody, but there is a cruise line for everybody.”

Beyond the curated experiences, the value proposition is surprisingly straightforward. Thanks to Expedia’s partnerships, agents often have access to exclusive inventory, added perks and group rates that can include beverage packages, Wi-Fi or onboard credit. And in most cases, it costs travelers nothing extra to book through an agent.

“There’s no downside,” Beaver says. “You get one point of contact, and we handle the hold times.”

In other words, the only thing travelers need to do is decide what kind of vacation they want. Expedia Cruises will take it from there.

More at: expediacruises.com/NorthShore

Join Travel 100 for an unforgettable evening with the leaders in

Come out for an evening of light bites and engaging presentations, featuring our valued partners Abercrombie & Kent, Sanctuary Retreats and Ecoventura, and start dreaming of your next amazing adventure.

Thursday, February 19, 2026 5:30 – 7pm

HOW ARTIST EMMETT KYOSHI WILSON IS REDEFINING ABILITY THROUGH ABSTRACTION, GENEROSITY AND JOY

EVERYTHING

IS POSSIBLE

The first thing you notice when you step into Emmett Kyoshi Wilson’s house is not the art itself, but the way it has claimed the place. It spreads. Paintings cover walls, lean in stacks, rest against door frames. The Glenview ranch house where Emmett lives with his parents feels less like a home displaying art than one shaped by it.

Some of the work migrates beyond the house. Pieces rotate through Art + Science Salon, his father’s West Loop hair salon turned concept gallery, where haircuts happen beneath canvases.

Emmett answers the door wearing a blue T-shirt stamped with three darker blue letters: YEP. When I ask what it means, he grins. “Yes, Everything’s Possible!”

It sounds cheerful until you spend time with him and realize it is less slogan than worldview.

Emmett is an abstract artist with Down syndrome. He’s also a drummer, dancer, ventriloquism devotee, budding nonprofit founder and, depending on who you ask, a teacher. His middle name, Kyoshi, is Japanese for teacher, a choice his parents made long before they understood how literal it would become. Kathy Menighan tells me she realized early on that her son would be instructing them.

At 20, with his 21st birthday approaching this spring, Emmett carries the ease of someone who has been making art most of his life. Painting has been part of his world since early childhood, not as an extracurricular but as a language that arrived naturally. While reading and writing came slowly, painting showed up fluent.

The canvases are large, expressive and often explosive. Thick lines loop and collide. Colors clash, then find harmony. A painting titled “Dragon,”

“PAINTING ARRIVED FULLY FORMED, A LANGUAGE HE COULD SPEAK WITHOUT FRICTION.”

roars with saturated reds and electric blues, its sense of motion unmistakable even without a literal form. When I point to the original hanging near the kitchen dinette, Emmett nods proudly. He painted it for his father’s birthday.

“He has no preconceived ideas,” Kathy says. “He just walks up to the canvas and starts creating. It’s all emotion.”

That freedom began out of necessity. Emmett struggled to hold a pencil, so Kathy handed him sponge brushes instead. They turned it into a game, dancing to music as he painted. Over time, encouragement gave way to confidence, then fluency.

Music remains inseparable from the process. Emmett paints to Elvis, the Beatles, Michael Jackson and Coldplay. He sings, dances, sometimes recruits one of his beloved puppets to join in. His den feels less like a bedroom than an artist’s cave, complete with an electronic drum kit and band stickers lining the walls. YouTube is paused on Rick Beato. Kathy says he watches for hours, playing along. Dave Grohl is a favorite, especially “Learn to Fly” with the Muppets.

Over the years, Emmett has produced roughly 300 works, moving through distinct periods. There was a black-andwhite phase. A softer era built around pale hues, punctuated by purple and red. He often sketches before layering paint, then titles finished pieces with names that read like small poems: “Flow Like the Wind.” “Walk in the Path.”

When I ask what he wants for his life, he answers without hesitation. “To help the community.”

That answer sits at the center of everything that followed. Emmett paints, he tells me, because it allows him to help people. Proceeds from his work now support The VisAbility Foundation, launched in September 2025, with a mission to creatively reimagine and redefine ability. The foundation is both practical and philosophical. It allows Emmett to work, earn and give back without jeopardizing essential benefits, while elevating other neurologically divergent artists.

“He only wants to give his money away,” Kathy says, smiling. “So there will always be a component where he gives back.”

This spring, around his birthday, Emmett will stage a solo show unlike any he’s done before. For the first time, original works will be offered for sale. Until now, only three paintings have ever left the family’s hands. The goal is not exclusivity, but longevity — a sustainable business.

His public journey began years ago. Emmett’s first exhibition took place in 2017, when he was 12, raising thousands of dollars for the National Association of Down Syndrome. From there, opportunities unfolded organically. His work has appeared in corporate collaborations, international settings and academic conversations around neurodiversity, expanding his audience without narrowing his purpose.

This winter, that reach continues. In February, Emmett will travel to Houston as a featured artist for ReelAbilities Houston, exhibiting at Laura Rathe Gallery and Sabine Street Studios. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Celebration Company, which creates inclusive art-based employment. He’ll also bring technology from VibrantCast, a Chicago-based art platform he works with, using QR codes and interactive tools to deepen the experience.

Earlier this year, Emmett traveled to Las Vegas to visit Terry Fator, the ventriloquist he idolized as a child. Years ago, Emmett painted an entire collection inspired by Fator’s puppets. They are friends now. “Thick as thieves,” Kathy says.

As we talk, Kathy tells Emmett how proud he makes her. Emmett listens, then smiles. “You are the most wonderful mom I ever had.”

She laughs, then tells him he has a rare ability to bring people together. That he paints without ego. That he teaches acceptance simply by being himself. Watching them, I sense this is not a rare exchange, but one they return to often.

“HE PAINTS WITHOUT EGO. HE TEACHES ACCEPTANCE SIMPLY BY BEING HIMSELF, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH EMOTION, MOVEMENT AND GENEROSITY.”

One of Emmett’s lessons, she says, is about emotion. He invents words for feelings. Frustration is “squinto.” During the isolation of COVID, he painted through that feeling and titled the work “Squintotistic.”

When New York City comes up — where they will attend the National Down Syndrome Society gala in March — Emmett leaps up and moonwalks across the room. They saw “MJ the Musical” three times, he tells me. He loves musicals. He loves cities. He loves people.

I ask who his favorite artist is.

“Jackson Pollock is the most fantastic artist,” he says, grinning.

It tracks. Pollock’s work was about movement, freedom, instinct. About trusting the line.

Kathy points out the single transverse palmar crease on Emmett’s hand, a line that helped doctors identify his Down syndrome days after he was born. She traced it with her finger and told him someday they would make a documentary about his life.

“It’s going to be called ‘It Starts With a Line,’” she says.

In Emmett’s world, the line keeps moving outward. Across canvases. Across rooms. Across communities.

Yes, everything’s possible!

Enemy in Your Pocket

Lit & Local: Indie and local books that are bound to inspire.

On one of the coldest afternoons in December, Chicago native Jackson Antonow stood in the wind, hands tucked into his coat pockets, talking about the book he never planned to write. “Enemy in Your Pocket: How Using Your Phone Less Will Change Your Life and How to Do It,” currently for sale on Amazon, did not begin with a revelation or a manifesto. It began with a feeling he could no longer ignore.

At 18, a freshman adjusting to college life, Antonow was spending nearly eight hours a day on his phone. “That was pretty much the norm for Gen Z,” he says. What unsettled him was not the number itself, but the constant hum of unease that seemed to follow it. He felt distracted, scattered and strangely pressured by a device that was supposed to make life easier.

So he tried something modest. He used his phone less and paid attention to what changed. Almost immediately, things shifted. “I didn’t need studies to tell me I didn’t feel well,” he says. “I just

paid attention.” What began as a personal experiment slowly became a blueprint for a different way of living.

The book grew out of that shift. Antonow surveyed classmates and found average daily screen time hovered around five and a half hours. Using conservative assumptions, he calculated what that habit adds up to over a lifetime. More than 15 years spent looking down at a screen. The number felt abstract, so he reframed it. The average user spends about 84 days a year on a phone. Limit usage to an hour a day and that drops to roughly 15. The difference amounts to more than two extra months each year. “People can feel that,” he says. “That’s real time.”

After imposing the one-hour limit on himself, the results were tangible. His grades improved. His thinking sharpened. The pressure he’d carried for years began to lift. And he came to a simple but profound conclusion: many of us are “living on hard mode for no reason.” Intelligence,

he discovered, was less about innate brilliance than attention and effort. With fewer distractions, he had both. What surprised him most was not the math but the emotional weight of constant connection. Carrying every past social circle in your pocket creates an illusion of obligation. “You’re always bringing everyone with you,” he says. “People you barely knew then, and don’t know now.” Reducing his phone use didn’t just give him time back. It gave him clarity about where his energy belonged. Still, the most meaningful moment came when a classmate approached him after reading the book. “You changed the

trajectory of my life,” she told him. For a self-described “normal kid,” it was the kind of affirmation that stays with you.

Now a senior at the University of Wisconsin, Antonow is thinking about jobs, adulthood and possibly a refreshed edition of the book. But the heart of his message remains unchanged. He’s not selling a miracle. He’s simply offering a way to reclaim time, attention and a little more ease in a world that rarely hands those things out freely.

Know a local author? cat.rolfes@citylifestyle.com

Unplugged by Design

An

Evanston father-son watch brand built for calm, not notifications

In an age when time vibrates, buzzes and lights up our wrists, Matt and Rohan Kuttan are betting on something quietly radical: stillness. Their Evanston-based watch brand, MADHU, launched October 1, isn’t trying to outsmart your phone. It’s trying to help you put it down.

Sleek, automatic and entirely analog, the MADHU watch is powered not by batteries or Bluetooth, but by movement. One turn of the wrist activates a spring that keeps the watch running for up to two days. No charging. No pings. No distractions. “It connects to you, not Bluetooth,” Matt likes to say.

That philosophy—part design manifesto, part wellness credo—has struck a chord. Made in micro-batches in Evanston and sold primarily through Instagram and Shopify, the MADHU watch has already sold more than 100 watches, often in batches of just 10 to 20 at a time. Early runs sold out quickly, creating a quiet cult following among Gen Z minimalists and Gen X design purists alike.

The brand is very much a family affair. Matt Kuttan brings decades of design pedigree to the table, with a career that includes years at Leo Burnett and Saatchi & Saatchi, plus work on globally recognized brands like Happy Meal and Emirates Airlines. A lifelong watch collector, he designed what he calls “the perfect watch” during a career lull, pulling inspiration from iconic timepieces and refining them into a single, timeless form.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAT ROLFES

Rohan, fresh out of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, became the brand’s marketing engine. “My dad told me, ‘I’m going to put you in charge of figuring out how to sell it,’” he says. With firsthand insight into the 18–22 age group, Rohan leaned into grassroots marketing: campus pop-ins, posters in coffee shops, strangers trying on the watch at festivals, and an Instagram feed that favors restraint over hype.

“We’re totally going after an untapped market,” Matt says. “People think young people don’t care about time. We think they care about meaning.”

The watch itself reflects that restraint. There’s just one model for now: a bold and chunky, all-black automatic watch with a subtle red accent. It’s water-resistant up to 200 meters, tough enough for Lake Michigan, and features a twistable bezel that doubles as a tactile fidget, particularly appealing to students sitting through long lectures. The open case back reveals the movement inside, a

detail Rohan believes helps demystify analog craftsmanship for firsttime watch wearers.

Matt designed the packaging himself too, including a small booklet that tells the brand’s story. “I wanted the unboxing to feel intentional,” he says. “The first interaction should slow you down before you even put the watch on.”

Beyond style, there’s an unexpected wellness angle. Studies show constant screen-checking fuels anxiety and shortens attention spans. By replacing digital alerts with the physical ritual

Evanston-based founders Matt (left) and Rohan Kuttan wearing the all-black automatic watch they like to say “connects with you, not WiFi”

of checking the time, the MADHU watch offers a form of mental detox. Calm disguised as craftsmanship. (See “Enemy,” p. 24, for a Gen Z author’s take on reducing screen time.)

Scaling remains intentionally slow. Tariffs and hand-assembly mean each batch of watches can take up to a month to complete. The company has even paused advertising when demand outpaced production. “We don’t want to sell something we can’t stand behind,” Matt says.

Long term, the goal isn’t global domination. It’s something more personal: to build a Chicago-rooted brand that values simplicity, longevity and presence. A watch you wear to dinner, not the gym. A watch you pass down.

As Rohan puts it, “Simplicity can be cool. Calm can be fashionable.”

In a culture obsessed with faster, smarter, newer, the MADHU watch is content to just keep time.

For more information, head to Instagram @watchmadhu.

BLAZERS With a BACKBEAT

Upcycled concert tees become wearable local art

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAT ROLFES

Jill Ryder speaks about her blazers the way some people talk about first albums. There is affection, a little awe and the sense that each one carries its own story.

For years, Ryder repurposed vintage band T-shirts, cutting and reworking them into one-of-a-kind tops that sold briskly in boutiques. But fit was always a challenge. “One day I thought, a blazer seems more universal,” she says. So in September 2025, she pivoted. Blazers offered freedom. Worn open, oversized, or tailored by attitude rather than measurement, they felt timeless. And ready.

Under her label, Standout Upcycled Fashion, Ryder began sourcing high-quality men’s blazers that looked nearly new. Onto them, she layered concert tees sourced from vintage and resale shops, choosing darker palettes and familiar bands. The logic is visual more than literal. “My husband will say, those bands wouldn’t play together,” she laughs. “But to me, it’s about colors and shapes.” Genre matters, but harmony matters more.

The process is slow and deliberate. Each graphic is reinforced with adhesive, stitched by hand and heat-set. Placement takes the longest. Ryder treats each jacket like a composition, adjusting until it feels right. The result is wearable memory that holds up.

What excites her most is the research. Older logos. Forgotten eras. A country blazer recently sent her down a rabbit hole on

Sun Studio in Memphis when she came across that logo. “I learned Elvis and Johnny Cash recorded there,” she says. “I had an old Elvis pattern, so I put those together.”

Ryder sells through North Shore boutiques, Etsy and most actively through Instagram, where her process and finished pieces live side by side. Community, she says, is the engine. “This is where I live. These are my people.” She pauses. “Each blazer is like one of my babies. I just hope whoever buys it loves wearing it as much as I love making it.”

Her latest pieces appear on Instagram (@standoutbyjill ), with select jackets available on Etsy.

FINDING GREATNESS

ARTICLE BY AMELIA LEVIN

Laura Comilla is a high-powered healthcare executive by day. But a little over a year ago, seeking a break from endless to-do lists and wanting to give back, she began sharing her love of travel, hiking, culture and community with women looking to unplug from the daily grind.

She now leads retreats for women in their 40s and up—many of whom are seeking meaning in midlife or hoping to reconnect with themselves as empty nesters or new retirees. Excursions typically include

morning-long hikes, meals and snacks prepared by personal chefs, and quieter moments for meditation, journaling and self-reflection. Massage and spa treatments, yoga sessions, local wine tastings and shopping outings often round out the experience.

“It’s four to five days of a planned vacation with the intention of walking away finding your purpose and how you achieve it,” Comilla says. “We work through things together but also spend a lot of time on self-intention. The retreat setting immerses you in nature,

LOCAL EXECUTIVE OFFERS SOUL-SEARCHING RETREATS FOR WOMEN LOOKING FOR PURPOSE

allowing you to wander and ponder your life’s true course, surrounded by a likeminded community. Trust is naturally built and accountability maintained during and after the retreat.”

Participants can attest to the power of the program. “Laura spends time touring the areas beforehand to find secret gems and have everything planned so we can just show up and enjoy the experience,” says Roshan Stouwie, a Senior Engagement Manager at Amazon Web Services, who went on her first retreat in 2024. “I didn’t realize the benefits until I got back. Had I not had this opportunity to set new priorities, I would never have had those last moments with my father before he passed. I’m eternally grateful.”

For more information, visit greatnessretreat.com.

UPCOMING GREATNESS RETREATS

Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin February 20-22

The Art of Greatness offers a weekend of hiking, painting and self-discovery. Open to all levels, the retreat blends creative flow, supportive guidance and reflective hikes along the Ice Age Trail. With nature, art and meaningful connection, participants reset intentions and step into the new year with renewed presence.

Asheville, North Carolina  April 23-27

Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this Greatness Retreat unfolds amid waterfalls, winding trails and rich Cherokee and Appalachian heritage. Past retreats have included visiting a local reservation to learn the fading art of basket weaving. Surrounded by artists and craftsmen, participants immerse themselves in nature’s beauty and cultural depth—an inspiring backdrop for reflection, creativity and exploring.

FEBRUARY 2026

FEBRUARY 4TH

Book Cellar Book Club

4736-38 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago 6:30 PM

Gather at The Book Cellar, an independently owned, community-oriented bookstore in Lincoln Square, for the February Book Club. This month’s discussion features “Twenty Days of Turin” by Giorgio De Maria. Enjoy community conversation, wine or coffee, and help select future reads. The club meets monthly, with members voting on upcoming titles during each gathering. No registration required. More info: bookcellarinc.com

FEBRUARY 10TH - 21ST

February Music & More at North Shore Center in Skokie

9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie | Times Vary North Shore Center packs February with standout performances: Black Violin brings its genre-blending strings and modern beats on Feb. 10; The Morning Mix Live takes the stage on Feb. 19 with an uncensored, in-person version of the hit radio show; and award-winning Scottish powerhouse Skerryvore returns Feb. 21 with its high-energy fusion of folk, rock and global influences. For tickets and more info: northshorecenter.org

FEBRUARY 13TH - MARCH 15TH

Admissions at Citadel Theatre

300 S. Waukegan Rd., Lake Forest Times Vary

Joshua Harmon’s incisive drama lands in Lake Forest with urgency and bite. Set inside an elite prep school, “Admissions” follows an admissions officer whose progressive ideals are tested when her own son’s Ivy League

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future hangs in the balance. Directed by Beth Wolf, the play examines privilege, ambition and the moral gray zones of modern parenting. More at: citadeltheatre.org.

FEBRUARY 14TH

The Red Cape Gala 2026

Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire | 6:00 PM

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Super Jake Foundation’s biennial Red Cape Gala. Enjoy dinner, cocktails, auctions, games and live music with dancing while supporting the fight against neuroblastoma. Guests may donate or become sponsors to help kids with cancer and their families. More info and tickets: thesuperjakefoundation.org.

FEBRUARY 19TH

Abercrombie

& Kent, Ecoventura & Aqua

Expeditions with Travel 100

225 Northfield Rd, Northfield 5:30 PM

Discover immersive safaris, Galápagos yacht expeditions and luxury river adventures from three top travel partners—all in one place. Travel 100 guides you every step of the way and handles every detail, with exclusive value add-ons when you book. RSVP: events@t100g.com

FEBRUARY 26TH - MARCH 29TH

Two Sisters and a Piano at Writer’s Theatre

325 Tudor Ct., Glencoe | Times Vary

Experience Nilo Cruz’s moving drama “Two Sisters and a Piano,” directed by Lisa Portes. Set in Cuba in 1991, two sisters under house arrest dream of freedom and love as unexpected visitors alter their fate. A poignant tale of resilience, politics and human spirit from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Anna in the Tropics. More at: writerstheatre.org.

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