Introducing my new project

Many of you know that I spent 20 years as a graphic design professor at Parkland College before retiring in 2019. What you may not know is that I’m also a lifelong movie buff who believes that cinema is the greatest of all the visual arts. We watch films with our eyes, but we also hear them with our ears and feel them through the power of storytelling. At their best, movies fuse theater, photography, music, performance, and pure imagination—creating a kind of magic no other medium can match.

Because the best movie experience is a shared one, I’m thrilled to announce a new community project: FILM FANATIC MOVIE NIGHTS at Gallery Art Bar in downtown Urbana. Our premiere event takes place December 18, and we’ll be screening THE FALL, one of the most visually breathtaking films ever made. This is a movie that goes where only cinema can go—deep into the soul, where images, sound, and ideas intertwine into an unforgettable experience. I’m excited to introduce the film and lead a discussion afterward.

This “movie party” is more than a screening; we’re recreating a film festival atmosphere complete with:

• A host introduction
• A surprise short film
• A post-film discussion
• A full bar and elevated concession stand (far beyond popcorn!)
• A complimentary appetizer buffet during intermission
• And a special themed cocktail—Blue City Punch—invented just for this night

Join us for this special one-night-only cinematic celebration. Register here: www.film-fanatic.club

More information about my cooking classes and pop-up events can always be found on my website, where you'll also find over 200 recipes from my classes (no ads!). You can also subscribe to my email newsletter or follow me on Instagram or Facebook and like my posts. Bon appétit!