Have you always lived in Cook County or how did your life journey lead you here?

I grew up in Cook County! My family moved here when I was six and have been here ever since. After around five years in Minneapolis following High School, I moved back in 2016 to go back to school online with the intention of eventually leaving again. But the peace and community that the area brings has changed my mind and I now hope to stick around.

Where is a perfect go-to spot in the County for you on a day off when you want to relax?

In the summer I love bringing a book over to the Raven’s Nest at the Gun Flint Tavern. It always feels like I’m on vacation somewhere for an hour or so until I have to return to reality. I’m also very fond of the Elbow Lake landing and dock. It’s always quiet, the water is warm, and something about that spot is very spiritually fulfilling for me.

Tell us a bit about your work at Johnson Heritage Post.  How long have you been there and what parts of your job do you love?  Do you have a favorite artist?

I’ve been working at JHP since fall of 2021 and I absolutely love it. We’re a part of the Cook County Historical Society, so it’s very meaningful for me to be able to do a job I love while also contributing to preserving and caring for historical parts of the area I grew up in.  

I genuinely enjoy so many different parts of my job it’s hard to pick a favorite to highlight. I love engaging with the community at opening receptions and finding new goodies for our gift shop. I also really enjoy hanging shows. Unwrapping each artwork feels like Christmas, and it really sparks me to look at a wide body of work and see common threads or themes to feature together until you have a cohesive exhibition that flows naturally. It’s like looking at the exhibit itself as one big piece of art.

Choosing a favorite artist feels impossible! Everyone in the area is so talented and in such unique ways, it’s difficult to compare one to another. I find pieces I love in every show we do. Lately I’ve been really into moody, bold paintings from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, like The Reluctant Bride by Auguste Toulmouche or Death and the Maiden by Marianne Stokes. I want to put prints of both in my house!

Do you have any hobbies that you enjoy doing when you aren't working?

I cook! Food is my big passion, so I spend a lot of time thinking about what I’m going to eat next and how I want to prepare it. I also do some crafting and am just getting started with needle felting which has been very fun (so far I’ve made – you guessed it – food).

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Top of my bucket list right now is Seoul, Korea. I’ve gotten really into Korean food this year and would love to explore what the city has to offer. Their street food and pop culture scene is very engaging and vibrant. I’d also really like to go somewhere in British Columbia where I can see Orcas in the wild.

Do you have any New Year's resolutions or goals that you wish to accomplish for 2024?

My passion project, a seasonal food history publication called Table for One, is set to launch and run this year. I’m nervously excited. It’s something I’ve been marinating on for years and it’s a bit scary that the time has finally come to release it into the world! Getting that finalized and published is the biggest goal I have this year (follow along at @tableforonepc on Instagram if you’d like!)

I also have some travel goals I’d like to accomplish, including Germany and Luxemburg. And I’d like to buy a combination washer and dryer – gotta include a nice, boring adult one, right?