This Chinese-born artist has been doing impressionistic oil portraits in Chicago for a dozen years. Don’t bother emailing a photo—Qian won’t paint from it. She requires at least six hours of live posing in her Bridgeport studio. “She is a master in painting the richness of the colors of the skin,” says Patric McCoy, a … Read more
Whether you want a chauffeured stretch to impress your rich uncle or just a hassle-free ride from the Loop to O’Hare ($75), this reliable car service offers the best variety of wheels for the buck, says local event planner Anthony Navarro of Liven It Up Events. (Other fans include the Chicago Fire, the Cubs, and … Read more
When an expensive porcelain vase owned by Gary Metzner broke, the Sotheby’s senior vice president brought it here, to the largest art conservation facility in the nation. He calls the 32-year-old company a “one-stop shop”: It employs specialists in paintings, drawings, furniture, gilded frames, textiles, and much more.
The biggest difference between this frame shop and others may be its staff. Everyone touching your heirloom photograph, print, or other 2D treasure has been or still is a gallerist or artist and likely has more than a decade of framing experience. The skill of its people, combined with their patient advice regardless of your … Read more
Kent Mikolite, the proprietor of this Jewelers Row shop, is one of only two people in the city certified as a master watchmaker by the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute. Rolex chronographs, Vulcain Crickets with mechanical alarms, ultrahigh-frequency Bulova Precisionists—he knows them all. Mikolite charges $600 or so for the typical Rolex repair—including an inside-out, ultrasonic cleaning—but … Read more
Those towering, flowering breathtaking spectacles in so many Gold Coast homes and hotels (Drake, Four Seasons) likely came from this century-old, family-owned florist. Mangel’s specialty: roses that would make Gertrude Stein gawk. If you’re looking to wow, this is the place. Prices start at $50 for a basic arrangement.
No jewelry repair or redesign is too complex for these pros, who’ve accessorized everyone from Billy Crystal to Sylvester Stallone. They’ll replicate a lost earring, shorten bracelets, and restring pearls. The painstaking process often includes sketches, wax models, and castings, all before the trinket is polished to a like-new glow. On a recent visit, staff … Read more
This year’s exhaustively researched list delivers big on the essentials (hair cutting, carpet cleaning, shoe repair) while adding a dollop of luxury (bespoke suits, custom portraits). Read on for the 72 winners—plus 46 additional picks from your fellow Chicago readers.
Picky clotheshorses such as Michelle Obama and Chicago History Museum costume curator Timothy Long swear by this 59-year-old establishment, which can handle anything from delicate suede to elaborate beading. (Even Vogue endorses it.) Each garment gets photographed and cataloged. For a 10 to 20 percent surcharge, Davis will pick up and deliver anywhere from Hyde … Read more
A self-defense technique designed for the Israeli military may seem a bit extreme for the mean streets of the North Shore. But Sue Garstki’s courses are so good that even local police officers love them. No-bull coaching from this U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame member will prepare you for real-life fight-or-flight scenarios such as … Read more
