Chicago Tribune Magazine
September 29, 2002
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by Karen Klages
photography by Tony Berardi

Let’s Twist Again
To celebrate their 100th birthday (his 50 years, her 50 years, a couple of years ago), Bryan and Christy Cressey decided to take their Barrington Hills basement back to the “Happy Days” of their youth. “We originally had made a simple ‘50s room that was not totally decorated,” but it did have a jukebox, explains Bryan, a venture capitalist whose courtyard ranch sprawls 8,500 square feet on a 50-acre horse farm. “When we had parties, they often ended up down there dancing to the ‘60s and ‘50s music.” So why not go the whole mashed potato? Architect Stephen Kadlec of Gary Lee Partners, Chicago, was given carte blanche to whip up a genuine Cressey Café, with all the accouterments of a vintage diner: Formica. Stainless-steel cabinets. Bar stools. Soda fountain. There’s also half of an actual 1957 Chevy BelAir-matador red-mounted to the wall. Christy says their three daughters sometimes hang out with friend down there. But the real regulars are those energetic hangers-on at their parties.