COVER STORY
E-EDITION
MARCH/APRIL 2026
First Audience
How music begins at home and grows into a lifelong passion BY LAURA MICHAUD AND MELISSA G. WILSON The Living Room Debut Before there are stages, spotlights, or packed auditoriums, there is almost always a living room. Or a kitchen. Or the back seat of a car. For many performers, the first audience is family—people…
Model Student
HCHS senior named to Forbes 30 Under 30 BY ANNA HUGHES Hinsdale Central High School senior Momin Ahmed is making a name for himself on an international scale: he’s the youngest honoree named to the highly-esteemed 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Ahmed, honored in the Forbes “Education” category, is the founder of Model UN…
In Harmony
Teen musician brings message of healing to international stage BY ANNA HUGHES It started with a love of music. At six years old, Oak Brook resident Sophia Ibrahim first learned to play the piano. She found the process joyful and therapeutic. “Growing up, [music] had a big healing power in my life,” Ibrahim said. She…
Renovations Worth Every Dollar
The home upgrades that bring the biggest return COURTESY OF MAINSTREET REALTORS® We’ve always known that first impressions matter, but did you know the same is true of your home? Replace an outdated front door with a new steel door, and you’re likely to recoup 100% of the value when it comes time to sell.…
Built for the Times
A look at how homes evolve with us BY HINSDALE MAGAZINE GROUP STAFF Home styles reflect how people live at different moments in history. From early formal houses to today’s flexible layouts, architecture has changed alongside family life, technology, and cultural priorities. These familiar home types trace the evolution of suburban living. Colonial &…
Laying the Foundation
Local nonprofit turns plastic into purpose BY ANNA HUGHES | PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOTTLES2BRICKS At the intersection of creativity and change, Bottles2Bricks is redefining what it means to make a difference. The Bottles2Bricks mission is straightforward but bold: empower people and safeguard the planet by transforming plastic waste into innovative structures that uplift communities across…
Behind the Lens
Atticus Fair on storytelling, technology, and building a business BY LARRY ATSEFF Based in Westmont, Atticus Fair is the founder of two emerging companies—SkyPath Productions and SkyPath Aerial Data—focused on video production and aerial data services. Over the past four years, Fair has also contributed video work to Hinsdale Magazine Group, supporting its digital storytelling…
A Gala for Giving
Upcoming fundraising benefit supports healthcare access BY ANNA HUGHES For over 75 years, the Clarendon Hills Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society (CHIW) has been supporting families across the Chicagoland area. Founded in 1948 by nine women with a shared mission to support mothers and children, CHIW has grown into a powerful force of 50…
Just Having Fun
Sunday Funday Sports offers low-key games for youths BY JEFF VORVA James Epsom’s goal is to play in the National Football League. He is 7 years old. He is 4 feet tall and weighs 60 pounds. Oh, and he just beat leukemia. Time will tell if the Burr Ridge cancer survivor ever obtains that dream…
Chef Showdown
Culinary Competition for Community Impact BY HINSDALE MAGAZINE GROUP STAFF | PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOAVES & FISHES COMMUNITY SERVICES Loaves & Fishes Community Services will bring together culinary creativity and community impact at its popular Chef Showdown, taking place Thursday, April 16, from 6 to 9 pm at the Linnea Eleanor Rutkowski Food Distribution Hub…
First Audience
How music begins at home and grows into a lifelong passion BY LAURA MICHAUD AND MELISSA G. WILSON The Living Room Debut Before there are stages, spotlights, or packed auditoriums, there is almost always a living room. Or a kitchen. Or the back seat of a car. For many performers, the first audience is family—people…
Mahjong Madness
A captivating game, equal parts strategy and social, is sweeping its way through the suburbs BY VALERIE HARDY Step back, bridge, and bunco. There’s a new game in town—mahjong—and it’s spreading like wildfire across the western suburbs and throughout the nation. The History of the Game Many Americans only recently learned mahjong, but the game…
