Chicago tips

Recycled Pencils Point Way To Innovative Gifts

shopping, culture

You just knew, didn't you that the Intuit store, a discreet but lively corner of the non-profit outsider art organization Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art would save the day for you re those hard to please but special people on your holiday list. 

Sue Lowenberg has fashioned great looking bracelets, necklaces, picture frames and more from ordinary but colorful pencils.  It's not just anyone who'd be lucky enough to enjoy this amazing but utilitarian pencil covered wastebasket in their home or office.  Then there's the tie on necktie for the off  beat tie wearer;  photos of both shown.  Prices range from $38 for the bracelets to $175 for the wastebasket and $330 for the necktie.

Lou Robinson, another local artisan has carved handsome spoons and other wooden items including hair sticks, letter openers and cheese spreaders which are also available at the store.  Many other gift suggestions here that you won't find elsewhere in town.

While at Intuit, enjoy the current exhibit of drawings by AG Rizzoli, a California outsider artist who began work in 1936 as a draftsman for an architectural firm in San Francisco.  His large renderings are minutely detailed to depict his very personal  and surprising ideas.  People he knew and loved have been transformed into buildings by his careful hand!  The image at right is courtesy The Ames Gallery, Berkeley, CA.  Although Rizzoli died in 1981 his work lives on through the efforts of Intuit and others including San Francisco art dealer Bonnie Grossman.  Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art is at 756 N. Milwaukee Av., and is open Tues.-Sat. from 11AM-5PM and Thursday from 11:30AM-7:30PM.  Street parking available.

Check out Intuit's shockingly cool domain name plus at http://www.art.org   for a list of choice activities now and in the future.

Scary Sounding Shoe Sale December 13

shopping

You don't have to be Imelda to love shoes.

Within the last few years I've discovered the best selection of shoes in town is always at Nordstrom on Michigan Ave.  I usually check them out before I buy a pair of shoes since I want to consider all possible style options within reason.  Normally I buy comfortable black shoes that I can wear all day long to most places.  If they're a bit weird, so much the better.

This Thursday, December 13, Nordstrom State Street Rack will open their doors at 8AM because they'll be offering over 3000 pairs of women's shoes from their Michigan Ave. store at 50-75% off their original price.  I have visions of hundreds of women knocking each other over to get that perfect shoe.  Who knows?

So if you're brave enough to deal with the crowds that will no doubt gather at this fairly ridiculous hour you might find something special at a great price.  I'm thinking hard about seeing you there which entails confronting my claustrophobic tendencies.

This is a semi annual event you can put on your calendar.

Nordstrom State Street Rack is at 24 N. State.

Olympic Store Fixtures Has A Huge Inventory

services, shopping

I've passed this place numerous times on my way to Midway Airport and today I stopped for a visit.  Olympic is a family business that's been around over 30 years;  father Tony and mother Vicky are joined by their daughter and son Harriet and Tony.  All seem to know their business "cold."

Harriet says that Olympic has the greatest variety of commercial equipment in the city.  They can  order from all manufacturers.  I noted many brands of those currently cool commercial stoves but all kinds of kitchen machinery (coffee systems, hot dog grills, french fryers, slicers and some mystery machines are just a sampling of items on view) are readily available.  Reconditioned equipment is carried as well and is fully warrantied.

If your mom's kitchen is always "open" here's the place to find a pretty reasonable electric sign that says so.

Clients include small restaurants just starting out as well as large chains, hotels, fast food places, churches, schools, etc.  Any home cook with a desire for a tortilla container or an amazingly substantial looking self cleaning stainless garlic press (just $10!) can find it here.  Every kitchen tool I could imagine is in stock along with multitudes of pans.  There are great ones for baking muffins in quantity.

Olympic has become known mostly through word of mouth.  Employees speak Spanish and Greek, both helpful in today's restaurant world.  English too, of course.

You might want to check out www.olympicstorefixtures.com but I recommend a personal visit as a lot more satisfying.

Hours are weekdays only from 8AM-6PM.  Olympic is at 4758 South Cicero Av.  Call 773.585.3755  for more specific info and prices.

A Fine New Boutique In The Loop. It's Florodora!

shopping, architecture

Florodora is such a cool shop!  It's remarkably located because Michael Blossom, its' far sighted owner figured that there's nothing like it in the Loop, an area hardly known (until now) for small intimate shops that can yield a great fashion look. 

It's on the ground floor, tucked inside the majestic Monadnock Building  bounded by Dearborn, Federal, Jackson and Van Buren Streets and listed on The National Register of Historic Places.

The main focus is contemporary fashion, much with a feminine look, a la the Florodora Girls who starred in the very successful Broadway musical ca 1900.  Besides, Michael's grandmother Florence had worked in the Monadnock building years ago.  The building was built at about the same time; 1889-93.

Make a special trip downtown to discover it for yourself and do it soon.  Fall merchandise is in so it's a great time to choose from the wide selection.  I saw loose, wrinkled effect belted tweed trousers, a marvelous 3/4 length semi opaque black sweater with handmade looking crochet details and what may very well be the most handsome leather handbag in town (see photo).  The "rock candy" bag has three huge compartments and at $325 is a steal compared to its' overly festooned sisters that are looking a bit old these days.

The separates pictured, a turquoise top with co-ordinating turquoise and brown skirt, sheer at the bottom are from Sofada, a Florodora exclusive in Chicago.

Additionally, there are small carefully chosen gifts and unusual jewelry from Chicago designers.  Check out the "spring" ring for a handsome, yet whimsical piece.

Florodora is at 330 South Dearborn.  Hours are 10-7 Monday-Friday and 11-4 Saturday.  312.212.8860.

Suzanne Cummings Flowers Are Truly Special

services, shopping
I've had my eye on this handsome shop window for a number of weeks now and was really delighted to visit recently.  Suzanne Cummings Flowers has been open since October, but it's not immediately apparent, tucked away in a place you might not expect to find commerce.   It's  just across from Oz Park and around the corner and west of Lincoln Av. at 630  W. Webster.

The space is pristine and so are the floral arrangements.  They're elegant in a kind of Oriental understated way.  Most flowers are imported directly from Holland, so they're quite unique.  I found myself eager for an occasion to send these elegant groupings to a deserving friend.  Understated containers are available for purchase separately or of course, with flora.

Suzanne trained with the highly regarded London florist, Jane Packer, whose client list once included Princess Diana.  Peek into the websites of both for additional insight.  www.suzannecummingsflowers.com  and just google jane.

The shop may be rented for special events.  It includes an efficient kitchen along with convenient "rollaway" store fixtures designed to facilitate enlargement of the space.  It had a recent mention in Shelter magazine.

Victor, the store assistant pointed out "party roses" as being particularly popular.  They're a deep pink and white and actually appear to be striped with paint at first glance.

There's a new art exhibit every 6-8 weeks as a kind of frosting on the cake.

Visit Suzanne Cummings asap.  You'll be as delighted as I am.

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).

A Swell New Place For Old House Salvage

shopping, architecture

I live in an old house, ca 1900 and nearly every day I despair over the new townhouses and apartment buildings that are being foisted on the unsuspecting, innocent (mostly) young Chicago buyers by developers seemingly addicted to shoddy construction.

I moved into my house a long time ago from another vintage row house so you might call me addicted which is fair enough.  I've refurbished these houses with vintage doorknobs, especially.  My son just bought a ca 1915 house in Brooklyn so I couldn't resist passing on my remaining doorknob collection to him and his understanding wife.  Their friends came over to visit and I could just tell that they thought Dan's mother to be slightly wacky, changing doorknobs for hours at a time.

About a week later my husband and I were riding our bikes on Hubbard Street, a usual route, when what should I see but Eric Nordstrom's new shop, Urban Remains at 410 N. Paulina.  Inside I found tons of doorknobs along with many, many assorted and useful pieces of vintage household hardware, not a reproduction in sight!

Eric says he has the largest collection of vintage hardware in the city and I don't doubt it.  I plan to comb my house for areas I might still be able to restore, thanks to this great new source.  You'll also find stained glass, lighting fixtures, millwork, ironwork and more.

Eric, in photo above, opened this place in August of  '06.  He plans to open an architectural museum on the second floor of the building.  Among things he plans to feature in the museum are old photographs, blueprints and renderings of furnishings, rare books on the subject and molds that were used to create the decor for vintage Chicago buildings.

If you don't have "this old house disease" you might stop by anyway because you'd learn some things about the city and its remaining treasury.  Who knows, you might even help to save some of its' history yourself someday.

Urban Remains, 410 N. Paulina.  Mondays-Sundays, 11-7.  312.523.4660.

 

Huge Rat Invades The Loop

architecure, culture, shopping

I'm always on the prowl for unusual happenings and earlier this week as I was emerging from my dentist's building in the Loop, I couldn't help noticing a giant rat being inflated right on the sidewalk in front of the Pittsfield Building at 55 W. Washington near Wabash.

There were some strikers there too so I asked one if the rat had some relation to their mission.

"Sure," he said, "there's demolition going on in the building and they're using non-union workers."

Not sure how to respond to that, I went across the street to take a picture.  It's not clear to me who's the rat, the building management, its' tenant, the workers or all three.  Mostly, I just loved the big rat there in such a public place.

You might want to stop by and take a look, especially if you're downtown anyway.

Be sure to check out the inside of the Pittsfield Building,  a Chicago Landmark.  The unusual five story lobby atrium is ablaze with elegant brasswork and marble.  The building is Art Deco style and also includes Neo Gothic elements.  It was designed by the noted architectural firm of Graham, Anderson, Probst and White and completed in 1927.

You never know when you might need to "rent a rat" or another inflatable creature but this one is from Big Sky Balloons and Searchlights in Plainfield.  You can reach them at 800.769.8000 or at www.bigskyballoons.com.  No price list there but plenty of ideas for the adventuresome advertiser or party giver.  My personal favorite is the cockroach.