Chicago tips

Anyone You Know Deserve A Pinata Party?

culture, shopping

Maybe someone close to you is up for a slightly different birthday fiesta.  Chicago is actually ringed with pinata stores!  Recently I found one of the La Dulceria Mexicana branches at 6718 N. Clark, inside an inauspicious strip mall, but check their website www.dulcelandia.com and you'll find the others. They are a kind of Spanish culture party store.  Pinatas are brightly colored papier mache decorations with a purpose since they're filled with wrapped candies and small toys.

The object is to blindfold players, one at a time, who try break the pinata with a stick or a bat, resulting in a shower of goodies for all to share.  It's not easy to do, especially since someone savvy is raising and lowering the pinata constantly. 

Excitement always builds.  I remember one of my sons ending up in tears at his own birthday, so you may want to consider a bit of adult cheating to ensure that everyone has fun.

I think this tradition is great for children's parties and it's good for Christmas or any other holiday.  A gifted party giver could alter theme, favors, etc. at will.

The large and varied selection of pinatas is inspirational in itself.  There are animals, cars, balls for all sports and of course superheroes. These places offer lots of candy, pre-packaged to go as well as many accessories that one can add.  Package deals are available for the lazy in several price ranges.  Or, you can add your own contents and favors.   I was enthusiastic about some of the celebratory candles available at reasonable prices and pictured in the lower photo.

In addition to the four Chicago stores there are others in Aurora, Melrose Park and Cicero.

La Dulceria Mexicana's office is at 773.523.8105.

Sure I Hate Home Depot! But...

shopping

Ever since they came out with those ubiquitous molded plastic chairs in beige, green, brown and white in dumb designs, I'd hoped for better.

You know, you can even find them in grocery or drug stores priced around $5 or $10 and intended for the outdoors but now used everywhere,  even (sadly) in a few restaurants that should know better.

Shockingly, Home Depot now offers a very decent looking chair (see photo) in charcoal.  I found this at the North Av. Home Depot and I suggest you race over now since I wouldn't count on their necessarily continuing a good thing.  At $14.98 you can hardly go wrong, right?

It's called "CADIZ #524-779, Hiback Stackable Chair, Charcoal."

You probably know from experience, it's useless to phone since you're likely to be on "hold" all weekend.  When I looked the other day, they were in the gardening building, adjoining the main building to the south.  There were some good-looking perennials outside too.

The Place For Canvas, Muslin, Photo and Theater Fabrics

shopping

I think Chicago Canvas & Supply is a wonderful city resource and not just for pros.  Check out the timeless-looking sign in the photo and you won't be surprised to learn that it's been here for 60 years!  Owned by two sisters, Karen Mangurten and Cheryl Warren, the business was started by their parents.

This place is especially known for wide seamless canvas and muslin.  I used their 10 foot wide natural muslin as a seamless "skirt" for a 60" round table.  It reaches to the floor and I can then add all kinds of different colorful tablecloths and fabrics on top to vary my table setting decor.  I've also used a wide panel as a bedspread and added a fine Indonesian weaving as a topper.

Many ideas come to mind such as murals, curtains and no end of craft projects.  The prices are terrifically low.  If you need custom sewing, that may be a possibility depending on the project.  (No, they won't make one tote bag).

Recently the company has added products such as photographers' gray backdrop fabric,  gauze and other fabrics used by theaters.   They stock many more specialized fabrics too, such as artists' canvas, linen and primed canvas.  Colored canvas and easy to use textile dyes, vinyl, and both canvas and synthetic dropcloths may be found here as well.

You can send for a free catalogue and/or check all this out at their website www.chicagocanvas.com .  They will ship goods anywhere in the U.S.

Chicago Canvas & Supply, 3719 W. Lawrence Av., 773.478.5700.  Mon-Fri, 8-12 and 1-4:15.  (Closed from 12-1PM for lunch).