News Briefs: Indian restaurant now open, tee times available at renovated course, Wilmette Art Fair to return Aug. 3-4, Joseph Sears’ new asst. principal

Indus Progressive Indian Dining celebrated its opening in Highland Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 16.

The restaurant is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Sukhu and Ajit Kalra, who are best known for their successful restaurant, Bhoomi Modern Indian Grill.

The concept for Indus Progressive Indian Dining takes a modern approach to traditional Indian cuisine, with a menu that showcases the diverse flavors and textures of the country. The menu includes signature dishes such as biryani and curries, with a focus on using the freshest ingredients and natural spices.

The restaurant is open to all, but reservations are required for dining.

“Indus is introducing Chicagoland to progressive Indian cuisine that reimagines what modern Indian food should be, with a menu that will appeal to all palates — from Indian food aficionados to the uninitiated,” said Ajit Kalra, the son of culinary Indian giant Jiggs Kalra.

“Since our opening June 7, we have been booked solid with reservations every night, and regularly sell out of our top dishes. We have had an incredible opening period thus far.”

The restaurant also offers a selection of unique Indian wines and cocktails.

“Indus Progressive Indian Dining offers an immersive experience of Indian food and drink, but an environment of purpose-driven, meaningful and positive impact on the community,” said Sukhu Kalra, who grew up in Chandigarh, India.

Tee times available for Aug. 1 course opening

Tee times are now available for The Evans at Canal Shores Golf Course, where 12 holes of preview play will open on Aug. 1, about a year after construction began.

The course was renovated to accommodate modern amenities and support youth golf development, and it recently reached its $5.9 million renovation goal.

The first 12 holes feature: No. 7, the 65 yard putting hole; No. 4, with the cross canal tee shot; No. 8, with the Rodan green; No. 11, with the Biarritz green; and many other special features.

The Evans at Canal Shores Golf Course also plans to open its pro shop on Aug. 9 for limited food and beverage sales on Friday and Saturday nights. The shop will offer a selection of golf apparel, equipment and accessories.

For more information and to schedule a tee time, visit the Evans at Canal Shores Golf Course website.

Second Wilmette Art Fair to bring 100 artists, kids activities to town

The weekend-long Wilmette Art Fair will celebrate local artists and designers Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3-4.

For the event, in its second year, Wilmette’s downtown area will be transformed into a unique celebration of art featuring 100 juried artists who will sell paintings, photography, ceramics, furniture, jewelry, wood, fiber, and more.

The festival also features live music, artist demonstrations, activities for kids and more.

One of the highlights of the Kids Art Zone is the “Start to Paint” program, featuring on-site painting classes. At the event, you can also find a selfie station, where families can capture fun moments.

All festival attendees are invited to bring their gently used art to the festival for donation to the Chicago Furniture Bank, a nonprofit organization that supports artists and families transitioning out of shelters.

New assistant principal for Sears School

The Kenilworth School District 38 Board of Education recently approved the appointment of Geoffrey Perlman as the new assistant principal of The Joseph Sears School.

A graduate of Northeastern Illinois University with degrees in elementary education and educational leadership, Perlman has served in various elementary school classrooms, including as a director and dean of academics at Rowe Elementary School in Chicago, where he also taught science and English language arts.

“Geoff will be a wonderful addition to the Joseph Sears community. He is student-centered, and his experiences align well with our strategic plan initiatives,” District 38 Superintendent Kate Donegan said in a statement.

Sears School Principal Dr. Stephanie Helfand added: “It was clear, after a thorough process, including interviews with multiple stakeholders, that Geoff was the perfect fit for our assistant principalship. In addition to seeing his educational philosophy is student-centered, he also demonstrated he is knowledgeable, approachable and hard-working. We are excited to have him join our team.”

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