From comedy to coastal cuisine, here’s what should be on your North Shore to-do list this fall.
R&B powerhouse Ms. Lauryn Hill makes a triumphant return to the Ravinia stage Sept. 25.
LISTEN
Capping off a triumphant return season, the internationally renowned Ravinia Festival welcomes guests for a much-anticipated performance from iconic musical artist Ms. Lauryn Hill. More than 20 years after her blockbuster album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill received a record-breaking five Grammy Awards, the hip-hop superstar’s legacy lives on generationally as artists like Drake, Cardi B and Rihanna have been influenced by her sharp rhymes. Sept. 25, 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park, ravinia.org
SEE
Northlight Theatre premieres the one-woman tour de force Songs for Nobodies, which delves into the imagined encounters of fans meeting their beloved singing legends. In an homage to iconic 20th century female vocalists, renowned Chicago singer-actress Bethany Thomas flexes her versatility with performances of the works of Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Édith Piaf and Maria Callas. Songs for Nobodies intimately illuminates the power of song to heal heartbreak and inspire a dream. Sept. 23-Oct. 31, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, northlight.org
A 1956 edition of pioneering gay rights publication Mattachine Review is just one of the artifacts on display at the Illinois Holocaust Museum’s new LGBTQ -focused exhibition.
VISIT
More than half a century after the 1969 police raid of Stonewall, the question of LGBTQ+ rights and representation is as relevant as ever as the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center presents its upcoming exhibit Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBT Rights Movement. Known for its educational programs on the First Amendment, Washington, D.C.’s Newseum developed this exhibit to offer a blend of historic artifacts, images and print publications uplifting the meaningful stories of the LGBTQ community. Oct. 17-April 24, 2022, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, ilholocaustmuseum.org
LAUGH
Expect an entertaining night of comedy when Emmy-winning actor Jane Lynch (Glee) and TV quipster Kate Flannery (The Office) hit Skokie to perform their show, Two Lost Souls, at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts this season. With an “anti-cabaret” spin on beloved melodies from Broadway to The Barry Sisters to the swinging ’60s, this dynamic duo is ready to deliver a lively performance filled with humorous banter. Oct. 15, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, northshorecenter.org
New Highland Park dining destination The Summer Inn beckons with a breezy vibe.
EAT
Located in the heart of historic downtown Highland Park, recently opened dining destination The Summer Inn serves up coastal flavors paired with an alluring bungalow-style environment for your next night out on the town. Savor the unique twists on modern classics including Maine lobster guacamole with charred lemon, wood fire-grilled strip loin marinated in chimichurri sauce, and a rustic prosciutto and fig flatbread with a balsamic drizzle. Sip the signature Summer Inn gin cocktail with notes of blackberry and mint while you relax in this inviting atmosphere. 1850 Second St., Highland Park, thesummerinn.com
Photography by: COURTESY OF RAVINIA FESTIVAL; COURTESY OF NEWSEUM; BY VICTORIA KENT
