Blog

By Bailey Angel Citadel Theatre recently welcomed the community to its first Mamma Mia! Sing-Along, an outdoor fundraiser on the lawn of the Gloria Dei Center at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart. Over one unforgettable July weekend, about 500 audience members packed elaborate picnic baskets, donned feathered boas and enjoyed music, laughter and community. The fundraiser brought together an all-star cast made up of familiar faces from throughout the Citadel family, incl

By Laurie Stein One hundred years ago this summer, Lake Forest entertained royalty. The Crown Prince Gustavus Adolphus and Princess Louise of Sweden visited the town on June 25, 1926. The Princess, the former Louise Mountbatten, was the great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. The royal party traveled up from Chicago to the Great Lakes Naval Station by motor yacht, where they were welcomed by Captain Hines in full regalia while great guns roared a royal salute. After drivi

By David A. F. Sweet Those driving west on Illinois past Gorton Center will notice a vibrant new mural to their left. Members of CROYA (Committee Representing Our Young Adults) spent a week this summer painting a flowing, red-white-and-blue 250 between the words America and Illinois. Rick Day and others from CROYA gather before the finished mural. “A number of people drove by offering a supportive honk, which meant a lot to be able to feel the community support through the

By Carol Summerfield In 1897, Illinois became the first state to provide women with the opportunity to become a registered and licensed architect. And, in 1898, Marion Mahony Griffin passed the Illinois state exam, making her the first officially licensed female architect in United States history. She was also the first employee hired by Frank Lloyd Wright. But women architects were a limited group, with only one other female in the licensed architect ranks through 1920. In

By David A. F. Sweet For the first time recently, Gorton Center welcomed members of the community to Sing at Gorton, where guitarist Dave Hiltebrand played well-known songs from the 1980s and 1990s, and visitors to the Stuart Room sang heartily. “Sing at Gorton is about creating space for people to connect,” said Amy Wagliardo, Gorton’s executive director, about the free gatherings. “Singing together is deeply human. It breaks down barriers, brings people into the moment, an

By Kristin Elliott What a weekend! While the forecast kept us guessing, the weather came through just in time, allowing thousands of residents and visitors to come together to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. From great food and live music to fireworks and sweet treats, the holiday weekend was filled with hometown pride, patriotic spirit, and unforgettable memories. Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, performed, sponsored, and helped make this Independence

By Kristin Elliott For generations, Bank Lane has served as a discreet connector (essentially a service alley) in Lake Forest's Central Business District, helping residents access local shops, restaurants, and services and accommodating deliveries. This year, it is taking on a new role: a place to gather. Completed in the fall of 2025 concurrent with the Deerpath Streetscape Project, the first phase of the Bank Lane Pedestrian Corridor Enhancement Project transformed the blo

By Tess Uihlein The following talk was given by Senior Class President Tess Uihlein during the Lake Forest High School graduation this month. When telling people I was given the opportunity to write a graduation speech, I was typically met with wide eyes, quickly followed by unsolicited advice. My oldest brother Mac said, “As long as you don’t talk about the definition of a Scout.” The senior class president of 1988, Vince Vaughn, told me to make people laugh, but quickly

By Laurie Stein This year marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, or “Semiquincentennial” if you’re a lover of large words. Such a milestone provides a wonderful opportunity to look back and celebrate our history – and with a full slate of events on the docket in 2026, residents will have ample opportunity to do just that. With the anniversaries of our nation, our town, and our many longstanding institutions to commemorate, the annals of such a history-loving co

By Carol Summerfield From movies and television shows, we have all seen the hall or the stairway bedecked with dozens of paintings of different generations in gilded frames, in their place of honor on the wall of a stately home. These ancestral portrait collections have been a part of society -- particularly European high society -- for hundreds of years. That tradition of having portraits of the family patriarchs and matriarchs migrated with its people to the United States.