Chicago artist Jan/Feb issue, is currently on display on the walls of the Second Bedroom Project Space, a seven-by-twelve-foot room with 10-foot ceilings and an intrusive flashing blue light courtesy of the neighboring Hyde Park Art Center. Happy anniversary to HPAC, Happy Memorial Day to Design Dosers, and go to your room, Ben! -BRADLEY LINCOLN
The completion of the $300-million Modern Wing by the starchitect Renzo Piano bumps the Art Institute of Chicago up a notch in the museum world. When the 264,000-square-foot addition opens on May 16th, the museum will display nine times as many contemporary art works as it did in the past and boast the title of the second-largest art institution in the United States (up a spot from third). Here, a primer
As soon as the temperature tops 65, I become obsessed with rosé. So, after polishing off an 80-degree Wednesday in the Loop, all I wanted was a dry, crisp glass. I pinned my hopes on Saluté, the new wine bar that opened last Thursday in the Gold Coast, and was disappointed: nary a glass or a bottle on the wine list. Luckily, I found a replacement to turn my pout into a happy pucker…
The contemporary art curator, James Rondeau, weighs in with five must-see works from the new Modern Wing.
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The threat of bad weather wasn’t enough to keep a crowd from last Friday night’s grand re-opening of Andersonville Galleria. This unique indie-market/bazaar now offers three floors and more than 90 local vendors of art, fashion, sweet treats, and home décor. Some of my favorites included colorful hanging votives from City Scents; graphic silk pillows from Design Hut; organic hand-printed canvasses by Kuketa; and some fantastic chrome-plated log stools from Blue Bell Bazaar. If you missed the party, make the Galleria a must-stop on your next home-shopping foray through Andersonville, which we thoughtfully already mapped out for you in our March/April 2009 issue (check it out here).
—Adam Moroschan
List Price: $7.45 million
The Property: This classical revival mansion overlooking Lake Michigan in Winnetka was built in 1897 for Otto Butz, a prominent Chicago attorney. It has had only five owners; the fifth, Manucher and Jena Khodadad, have lived there since 1977…
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It’s summer, and that means finding reasons to head to Harbor Country. Two good ones in the next few weeks: an event called Revive Your Green Retreat on May 30 at Susan Fredman’s At Home With Nature in Union Pier, and the Heartland Alliance house walk June 6. At the Revive Your Retreat event, speakers throughout the day (including me, talking about green décor trends) will discuss the nuts and bolts of creating a healthy, environmentally friendly home. Learn about eco-color trends, composting, finding tax breaks and home loans for green homes, and creating a green wedding. For the kids: ice cream, and getting crafty with recycled materials. See the full schedule and RSVP on the site. The next Saturday, The Heartland Alliance Celebration of Home & Garden Tour starts at 10 a.m. and features seven impressive Harbor Country homes, from an antiques-filled Normandy-style house to a Hamptons-style cottage. Proceeds go toward the development of affordable housing.
—Jan Parr
Little Italy, Big Oven
Nella Grassano, Spacca Napoli’s former pizzaiolo, is now working with Scott Harris (Mia Francesca) on a second Nella Pizzeria Napoletana at 1359 West Taylor Street (the old La Vita space)—and the pair haven’t even opened the first one yet. “I have so much trust in her golden fingers,” says Harris, who plans to open…
My friend Suzie Schnepp is an objects conservator at the Art Institute, and she invited me to a gala artists’ opening for the new Renzo Piano–designed Modern Wing last Friday. I’m sure you’ve heard a little something about it, as rave reviews of the perfectly proportioned, spacious galleries, LEED-level eco strategies, and just general awesomeness have been splashed about the media for months, making our town the talk
The Five
Spend Memorial Day in Chicago—and love it—with these don’t-miss events for the long weekend:
1. The Crowd You’re
in With @ Goodman
2. Eric Bogosian @ The Gift
3. Warm/Cool Decorator @ Second Bedroom …
