For Chicago Magazine

Donald Liebenson

‘Relative,’ produced by Skokie man, coming to Gene Siskel Center

July 25, 2022 at 3:24 p.m.

For Skokie resident Aaron Wertheimer, producing film festival award-winning director Michael Glover Smith's new film, "Relative," was his declaration of independents. Wertheimer, 44, has written and directed two well-received feature...

Renaissance Place Cinema in Highland Park, closed since March 2020, reopened on Sept. 10, 2021.

Highland Park’s arthouse Renaissance Place Cinema reopens after pandemic closure

September 14, 2021 at 9:35 p.m.

Renaissance Place Cinema, which had been shuttered during the pandemic since March 2020, reopened earlier this month, Landmark Theatres confirmed. The art house cinema at 1850 Second Street in Highland...

Colton Goehle, 6, practices hockey on his family's front yard ice rink Dec. 29, 2020 in Highland Park.

Faced with pandemic limitations on public ice skating, some Highland Park families ‘bring the rink to the house’

January 8, 2021 at 10:22 p.m.

With the novel coronavirus pandemic showing no signs of abating and public ice rinks closed to lessons, hockey practice and recreational skating, some local families are seemingly taking inspiration from...

Pino Cisternino is retiring Dec. 31, 2020 after operating Franco & Pino Hair Styling, located in Highland Park, for 50 years.

After decades in Highland Park, Franco and Pino barbershop closing for good

December 22, 2020 at 4:51 p.m.

Mark Richmond's upcoming haircut appointment with Pino Cisternino at Franco & Pino Hair Styling in Highland Park will mark the end of an era, as the barbershop is set to...

Artist Brandin Hurkey depicts a "lovely patch of hope" in her contribution to the "Messages of Hope" art installation at the Heller Nature Center in Highland Park in December 2020.

Art exhibition offers ‘Messages of Hope’ on trail at Highland Park nature center

December 15, 2020 at 10:09 p.m.

An art installment now on display through Jan. 1 along the Red Trail at the Heller Nature Center in Highland Park offers an artisan complement to the natural wonders already...

Alexandra "Sasha" Zoric owns Baker Boys bakery, at 733 St. Johns Ave. in Highland Park, pictured Dec. 1, 2020. The bakery is one of at least 70 woman-owned businesses in the city.

Highland Park shines spotlight on its women-owned small businesses, as part of state and national focus

December 1, 2020 at 9:04 p.m.

Before pushing Small Business Saturday, which promotes locally owned businesses after the traditional post-Thanksgiving bargain rush of Black Friday, Highland Park highlighted women-owned enterprises. In October, the city celebrated National...

Some 300 playful, creatively-posed skeletons have been posted around Highwood in celebration of Halloween. The display replaces the city's annual "Pumpkinfest," which was canceled this year due to the novel coronavirus.

Display of skeletons takes over Highwood, replaces annual Pumpkinfest amid COVID-19 pandemic

October 30, 2020 at 3:38 p.m.

Make no bones about it, during the pandemic, Highwood has had to pivot in the way it mounts its signature annual festivals. When its popular annual "Pumpkinfest" Halloween celebration was...

Kohl Kaplan Fountain plays backup for blues group during pop-up concert

October 23, 2020 at 12:28 p.m.

The Kohl Kaplan Fountain continues to make a big splash for passersby on the Green Bay Trail past the Ravinia Festival's west gate. Highland Park's answer to Chicago's Buckingham Fountain,...

North Shore Line performed at the Patty Turner Center's first-ever "Parking Lot Music Palooza" event Oct 11, 2020.

Patty Turner Center hosted a live music ‘Palooza’ for seniors

October 23, 2020 at 4:34 a.m.

The Patty Turner Center in Deerfield staged its first in-person concert since being closed for roughly seven months due to the pandemic. Its first-ever "Parking Lot Music Palooza" Oct. 11...

Kristi Overgaard, left, and Josh Engel watch the skies above the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Oct. 2, 2020 as part of the all-volunteer Fort Sheridan Hawk Watch.

Volunteers in Highland Park gazing skyward, counting hawks and other migratory birds of prey

October 16, 2020 at 10:15 p.m.

Dedicated volunteers who meet daily at the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve have their own version of "stop and smell the roses": Stop and count the hawks. With the support of...

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