Photo: Courtesy Von Z

Sweet Shop

Between national labels such as Cynthia Rowley and Marc by Marc Jacobs and local gems like p.45 and Edith Hart, North Damen Avenue has become a real retail sweet spot. On Thursday, add one more storefront to that list: von Z (1872 N. Damen Ave., 872-206-5954, shopvonz.com), a new contemporary women’s boutique owned by Jenna Zielbauer (the designer behind the local label Cotton Candy Couture) and Patrick Zielbauer. Along with her own line of dresses, Zielbauer stocks a variety of shoes, accessories, and women’s apparel priced from $35 to $350. What we’re loving: embellished heels by Schutz ($220), beaded clutches by Moyna ($274), pleated shorts by Harlyn ($94), and summer blouses by YA ($40).

Zielbauer celebrates with a grand opening bash on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Stop by for freshly-spun cotton candy and other sweet treats, raffle prizes from local business, an Instagram contest to win a $50 gift card, and a jewelry trunk show with designer Ali’s Collection.

 

Top Sales This Week

To celebrate the grand opening of its first store in Illinois, the LA-based brand Splendid (Westfield Old Orchard, 4999 Old Orchard Center, Skokie, splendid.com) holds a “Tee” Party on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. Guests can style a Splendid tee with Ban.do accessories, mug for a photo booth, and sip and snack for free. Take 20 percent off your total purchase; spend $125 and you’ll receive a clutch filled with goodies.

Cerato Boutique (3451 N Southport Ave., 773-248-8604, ceratoboutique.com) wants to help you get spiffed up. Now until June 30, buy one dress and receive 10 percent off; buy two dresses, get 20 percent off; grab three or more dresses and take 30 percent off.

 

The Best of the Rest

  • The semi-annual Floor Model + More sale at Jayson Home (1885 N. Clybourn Ave., 773-248-8180, jaysonhome.com) kicks off Friday and runs through July 29. Floor model furniture, new back-stock furniture, home accessories, and vintage furniture and accessories will all be 30 to 50 percent off (online and at the store’s Lincoln Park location).
  • Pickers, collectors, and treasure hunters: Shop 250 vendors at the Randolph Street Market (1340 W. Washington St., 312-666-1200, randolphstreetmarket.com) this weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available online for $8 and at the door for $10.
  • The 56th annual Gold Coast Art Fair (amdurproductions.com) returns to Grant Park's Butler Field (Monroe and Lake Shore Drive) on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Expect a huge array of art—prices range from $25 to $25,000—thanks to a roster of more than 350 artists from all over the globe.
  • If you find yourself at North Avenue Beach this weekend between the hours of 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., keep your eyes peeled for the Tommy Hilfiger Surf Shack Bus. The mobile pop-up store showcases an exclusive capsule collection and a collection of surfboards designed by five contemporary artists.
  • CB2 (800 W. North Ave., 312-787-8329, cb2.com) and Characters Unite (charactersunite.com) have partnered to host a pride party on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. Write on the store’s graffiti wall to speak out against bullying, homophobia, and harassment. In addition, Characters Unite will provide an onsite t-shirt stamping station. There will rainbow-colored sweets for all, and one lucky attendee will nab a $500 gift card.
  • Shop arts and crafts this weekend in the DePaul neighborhood at the Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival (Racine Ave. and Fullerton Ave., chicagoevents.com). Steven Page (formerly of Barenaked Ladies) headlines the fest on Saturday and Howie Day performs on Sunday.
  • Haberdash (611 N. State St., 312-646-7870, haberdashmen.com) gets patriotic a bit early this year. Shop the Independence Day sale now for 20 percent off existing markdowns on men’s apparel, footwear, accessories, and apothecary. Use online promo code 20%OFFSALE.

 

Closings

On Monday, local children’s boutique Madison and Friends (43 E. Oak St., 312-642-6403, madisonandfriends.com) announced the store lost its lease and will close this fall. (Its sister shop, The Denim Lounge, will remain open.) A liquidation sale is underway; all children's merchandise and a selection of men's and women's clothing are marked up to 90 percent off. “This has been an extremely difficult decision and we hope to one day bring back Madison and Friends to another location in Chicago,” the shop’s owners say.