Northbrook’s Chris Nibeck is now technology director of 210 Restaurant, a local-source restaurant with live music in Highwood. He handles everything from computerized guest checks to sound quality to live-streaming of bands at the venue carved out of an old bowling alley at 210 Green Bay Road. Nibeck’s iMedia company also produces custom integrated business software and mobile apps. He recently took some time out to answer a few questions for the Pioneer Press.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I was born in St. Louis, moved to Cincinnati (at 2) for two years, Glenview for two years — went to Rugen School — then moved (back) to St. Louis for nine months, grew up in (Harrington Park,) New Jersey, first to eighth grade, then moved to Hinsdale, graduated from Hinsdale Central.
Q: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: A scientist.
Q: What was your first job?
A: I built a telewriter system for District 181 schools — a way that you could teach math in seven grade schools (remotely) from the junior high. I contracted, got paid, all that good stuff. I was a freshman in high school.
Q: Do you play any musical instrument?
A: A little. I play guitar. I sang in two churches: Gloria Dei (Lutheran, Northbrook) and St. John’s (Evangelical) Lutheran in Wilmette.
Q: Tell me something about yourself that most people don’t know.
A: I’ve been on a shamanic path, learning about subtle energies that exist in this world.
Q: If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
A: One of my dreams has been to rent a plane and fly all the way around the perimeter of Europe. One of my relatives was royalty, and that was the edge of the kingdom. William the Conqueror. He’s my 28th paternal grandfather.
Q: What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen?
A: A mass soul-clearing. We find spirits that are stuck here, then we can release them and let them go to the light. With infrared cameras, you can actually see images.
Q: What’s your favorite charity?
A: American Youth Foundation. I’ve been involved my entire life. We give kids tools for living: a balanced life, goal setting, understanding how to work in groups, getting to know themselves.
Q: Do you have any words of wisdom?
A: There are three kinds of people: People who will enslave, people who allow themselves to be enslaved and people who will do neither.
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