Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 77

(fhicaO (Tribune Friday, July 13, 1984 Section 5 7s Li! Li 1 post U.S. Hwy. 12 traverses storied route to nostalgia "1 By Jay Pridmore CLASSICAL: Grant Park Symphony Orchestra: Pianist Jeffrey Siegel In works by Lyadov, Prokofiev and Borodin, Friday; Grant Park Symphony Chorus in works by Handel, Mozart and Haydn, Saturday and Sunday, Petrillo Music Shell; pianist Andre Watts, Friday, and soprano Roberta Peters, Saturday, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus In Berlioz's "Romeo et Juliette," Sunday, Ravinia. REAT RIVERS tell stories, they say: Natural history is exposed in the cliffs that rise above them, while poets wax quality about it. People who want to pick apples drive up the highway to Lake Zurich and Wauconda, where the orchards have endured.

The lakes, set here by glaciers, have been attacked by power boats, but are large enough to offer a bit of romance in a rented rowboat. AND THE CHAIN o' Lakes, much of it a modern ecological nightmare, is in other places the same wild shoreline fhaf aitrantaA Phirn0n rwitlpcrcrprs COUNTRY: Roy Orbison, Friday and Saturday, Pheasant Run Resort. 7 i fiV It i bill uvv. uwva OO I 3 1. 1 1 fnllrs Ui AC uu u.u euner couiun i ur wuuiuu i juhi "nJ the pxhihitionistic social crowd ilc that wandered a bit farther north to Lake Geneva.

7- U.S. 12, which starts its track through the suburbs as a continuation of Elston Avenue, is a crowded and unsightly strip between the Tri-State and Pala JAZZ: Franz Jackson, Norm Murphy, Dave Remington, Eddie Calhoun, Wayne Jones and John DeFauw, all weekend, Jazz Showcase. MOVIES: "Stranger's Kiss," "This Is Spinal Tap," "The Natural," "Gremlins," "L'Argent," "Ballad of Narayama" and "Pope of Greenwich Village." ROCK: Heavy Manners Friday, Fitzgerald's; Bruce Springsteen the Street Band, Friday, Alpine Valley. philosophical o'er their waters. No one will write an ode to U.S.

Hwy. 12 a convenient escape route for harried Chicagoans for nearly 100 years but it, too, has stories to tell. Destinations can change with fashions and economic upheavals, but the roads to those destinations are more likely just to show their age. This highway, also known as Rand Road for most of the way north from Chicago to Lake Geneva, provides few poetic diversions. What it does offer, however, is a healthy bit of nostalgia, escapism and a look at the countryside away from the interstates.

It was along parts of this old stagecoach route that the first telephone lines were strung between Chicago and Minneapolis. And farmers from Arlington Heights and Palatine could be seen atop their produce-filled wagons as they made their way to the city. After the horses were forced off the road to make room for automobiles and trucks, the new highway became a sort of mecca for the churlish pleasures that we associate with such out-of-the-way pastimes as drive-in movies, amusement parks and miniature golf courses. The melange is strictly Americana. Today, the truck stops have been replaced by fast-food restaurants, but the corridor still has a memory-lane tinethe kind of road that makes esthetes wince.

But don't address your complaints to Charlie Bart-mann, who owns Twin Links miniature golf in Mt. Prospect. He has been tending the Astroturf greens and making the mechanical pitchers in his batting cage work for 20 years now. VARIETY: 26th annual Chicago Park District Air Water Show, Saturday and Sunday, between Ohio Street and Chicago Avenue along the lakefront. Business is good enough to make tne commercial developers wait on this valuable piece of land nprAfie frnm Knnrihnrct fihnn- Continued on page 4 7r LAST CHANCE: "Black Folk Art in America: 1930-1980," Field Museum; "Dreamgirls," Shubert Theater; "The Boys from Syracuse," Marriott's Lincolnshire Theater; "Careless Love," Wisdom Bridge Theater; "The Seven-Year Itch," Playhouse at the Drake Theatre.

For details, see the Weekond Guide on page 14 5 Dining out Scenic Spiaggia orchestrates a taste symphony By Paul A. Camp Restaurant critic LIKE A GREAT maestro In charge of his orchestra, chef Tony Mantuano stands at the front of the glass-enclosed kitchen directing his assistants in their feverish attempts to keep pace with the demands of the packed dining room. He walks to the end of the waiter's station and makes a motion with his hand as if dismissing something most distasteful, scolding as he goes. "More sauce," Mantuano commands, as he inspects a dish before allowing the waiter to deliver it to a table. He motions; he chides; he wipes each plate with a towel before it goes out to make sure no errant sauce mars the presentation; he re- Movies Splaggla Northern Italian.

One Magnificent Mile, 980 N. Michigan 280-2750. Hours: lunch 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., dinner 5-11 p.m. daily. Price range: pizza appetizers soups $4.50, pastas entrees desserts a four-course dinner for two including tax and tip: $100.

Reservations: Necessary. Extraordinary The rating reflects the reviewer's V4 Excellent opinion of the food In relation to Good price compared with similar res- Fair taurants In the Chicago area. Re- Poor views are based on no fewer than two visits; more visits are made when necessary. The reviewer makes every effort to remain anonymous. Meals are paid for by The Tribune.

'Muppets Take Manhattan' fans, too 4 "The Muppets Take Manhattan" Mini-review: A pig and her frog Directed by Jfcn Hwmod; crMnptoy by Frank Oi, Torn Patctwlt and Jay Tm; photograplMd by Robart rayntar; adHad by Evan LoMman; muate by Jalt Mom and Ralph Buma; produoad by David Law, a Trt-Star rilmi at tha Chaatnm Station and outlying tnaatara. Ratad Q. THE PERFORMERS KarmR, Row, Dr. Taatn, Rba tha Rat, Swadtah Chat, Waldorf Jim Hanaon OH Frog Stava WhrtnUra IMaa Piggy, Foxrta, Animal Frank Ox 8oootar, Janlca, Statlar Richard Hunt Oonao, Chaatar Rat, Camilla, Law Zaaland, Bid Frog, Zoot DavaOoata JanyNalaon By Gene Siskel Movie critic FTER BEING shunted aside by human guest CM stars in the second Muppet movie, "The Great I I Muppet Caper," the Muppets themselves once again take center stage in "The Muppets Take Manhattan." The result is a most enjoyable backstage musical, culminating, as you probably have heard, with a wedding ceremony between you-know-who and you-k no who Actually, the Muppet makers didn't have to throw in such a high-powered ending; the story that precedes it is satisfying enough. "The Muppets Take Manhattan" opens with the little critters graduating from college and Kermit getting the bright idea of taking their college revue to Broadway.

Of course, in the movies it's always easier to say, "Let's put on our own show" than it is to do it. Kermit Co. run into an unscrupulous Broadway agent Dabney Coleman and other problems. Disillusioned, they disband all over the Eastern seaboard, each seeking his or her own fortune, until Kermit hits paydirt. Assisting Kermit in his struggle are the film's three principal human players, a Greek restaurant owner Louis Zorich; his attractive daughter Juliana Donald and her fledgling young producer friend Lonny Price.

Along the way there are cameos by Art Carney, James Coco, Gregory Hines, Linda Lavin looking awful and Joan Rivers. Elliot Gould, Liza Minnelli, Brooke Shields, director John Landis and New York Mayor Ed Koch also appear briefly. BUT AGAIN AND again the story wisely returns to the Muppets themselves. Fresh characters include a bunch of rats who work in the Greek restaurant. These rats, including a leader named Rizzo get are a likable bunch and should receive an expanded role in the next Muppet movie.

arranges or adds a finishing touch. Through it all, Mantuano maintains a sort of detached aloofness, an air of boredom. Mantuano conducts his kitchen symphony at Spiaggia, the final jewel in the Levy Organization's signature One Magnificent Mile. Mark Levy acts a bit like a proud father toward his Northern Italian creation, frequently stopping in from his office. Of course, there's not much for him to do.

Oh, a touch here, an adjustment there, but mostly he comes down to admire his prodigy, perhaps a bit in awe of what he and his brother have wrought. And Larry Levy conducts business over lunch here, insisting that plates get passed around so everyone has the opportunity to sample. Three months old, the restaurant already draws large, sometimes noisy crowds. Even when conventions aren't in town, reservations can be difficult to come by. On the second floor of One Magnificent Mile, 980 N.

Michigan Spiaggia is appealing as much for its setting and decor as its food. From the marble hallway one enters a large vestibule flanked by wood and glass barriers in front of the restrooms on either side; the maitre d's station is straight ahead. BEYOND LIES THE main dining room with its spectacular view through 34-foot floor-to-ceiling windows. The three-tiered dining area allows Continued on page 12 Of course at the center of the Muppet story is the irresistible relationship between Miss Piggy and Kermit. Muppet freaks undoubtedly will treasure a dream sequence in which we see the Muppets as "children." Piggy is a cute little pork dumpling, and Kermit is an even cuter The key to the longevity of their relationship has to be Kermit cool.

He doesnrt want to be rushed into anything, and we can identify with that. It must be terribly difficult to act in a scene with puppets and not come across as exciting as a sock oneself. But screen newcomer Juliana Donald is most fetching as the bright-eyed daughter of Pete, the restaurant owner. During many of her scenes with Kermit and the other Muppets, I found my eye wandering to Donald, watching her work at appearing to be interested in helping these creatures. She seemed credible and not silly.

We can look forward to seeing her again soon in Woody Allen's next movie, "The Purple Rose of Cairo." One final note to parents. "The Muppets Take Manhattan" is a genuine rarity 4 rated for viewing even by the youngest of children. That doesn't mean it's baby stuff. What it does mean is that here is a film that one can take one's littlest child to see and not mind seeing it oneself. uJ i 7 4, Cutting on the Ritz with Miss Piggy in "The Muppets Take Manhattan," which opens Friday.

Only one little part bothered Where you misspelled my name. I have read it over and over. It made me 50 happy! Pear Sweetheart, I treasure your last letter. Smile Appetizers: Those little things you keep eating until you've lost your appetite. Coming Saturday Nicholas Coster right is finding new life on television, taking leave of "One Life to Live" to team up with Dame Judith Anderson on "Santa Barbara." For the latest on your favorite soap opera characters, turn to Saturday Tribune.

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