Jonathan Nesci of Hale fashions his pieces of powder-coated steel and spun aluminum, as well as concrete. Wright auction house alums Sam Vinz and Claire Warner have joined forces to offer emerging design at affordable prices via intermittent pop-up exhibits under the name The Volume Gallery. The first such exhibit, March 19 through 23, will … Read more
Erin Schultz and Laura Nelson were frustrated by how complicated recycling was in their Little Village neighborhood. So when Perrier bottles started piling up in their trash bins, they got their hands on a glass cutter and a sandblaster and started ReUseful Objects. Now they’ve got a budding business on Etsy, repurposing beer, wine, … Read more
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For tabletop settings, there is no place like Tabula Tua. Owner Grace Tsao Wu has an amazing eye-just look at the mini works of table art shown above, which she created. On March 14 from 1 to 4 p.m., she will host a bridal event at her store featuring the settings above, in addition to others inspired by some of Chicago’s most iconic landmarks, including the The Art Institute and Millennium Park. Other event participants include florist Heffernan Morgan, caterer Calihan Catering, wedding cake designer Bittersweet, and invitation designer Sarah Drake Design. Admission is $35. To buy tickets, go to Tabula Tua’s website.
-GINA BAZER
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Kenmore is heating up. Last December, the brand rolled out a string of stylish appliances. I’m smitten with the retro-looking Elite Steam CareT Washer and Dryer. The Elite Stand Mixer is on my wish list, too—it’s certainly charming enough to coax me into the kitchen. Thursday at 7 p.m., the brand will debut Kenmore Live Studios, a pop-up gallery meant to showcase its design-savvy. Appliances will be spot lit, suspended from the ceiling, and generally displayed as if they were works of art. Swankier than shopping at Sears, eh? Top Chef Stephanie Izard will also be on-hand to host cooking demos, and a troop from The Second City will perform sketch comedy about domestic duties. Thursday is the just the beginning, as the Studio is slated to span at least four weekends. Stop by 678 North Wells Street, Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m. or Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 6 to 9 p.m. Look for more guest chefs to appear, including from Roger Herring of Socca and Matt Wile of Moonshine.
–Bridget Herman
The 20-30-40 Glass Society of Illinois has put together what looks to be a smashing exhibition of historic American-made glass for its 37th annual Antique American Glass Show and Sale at the Midwest Conference Center in Northlake this weekend. The society was founded…
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If you love Arclinea kitchens and cooking demos of Italian food (that you later get to eat!), we recommend stopping by Arclinea Chicago at 314 W. Superior St. on Thursday, March 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. for the event Italia in Cucina. Chef Federio Comacchio of Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush will be manning the stove.
—GINA BAZER
Thos. Moser The untrendy yet always-in-fashion pieces here, made in Maine (as they have been for 38 years, under the guidance of master craftsman Tom Moser, a Chicago native), have a timeless quality. Most are made of American black cherry, and are built to last at least as long as it takes that tree … Read more
@WorkDesign Given how many of us work from home these days, it was high time somebody created a one-stop source for stylish home-office supplies. Julia Archer did just that with @WorkDesign, which carries everything from mod desks and cool messenger bags to slick standing files and spill-shaped rubber coasters (shown below, right). With lines … Read more
Rexx Rug Get ready to find yourself in a 6,000-square-foot crush of high-end carpet—silk, wool, cashmere, yak, jute, and more. Some stock is ordered directly from mills and in quantity, so it can run half the price of buying elsewhere. Offerings from Missoni, Schumacher, Wilton, and Rexx’s popular exclusive line, S. Julian (which clients can … Read more
FourSided, TwoSided Filled with such quirky items as old rubber Big Boy figures ($32), theatre marquee letters ($5-$13), and vintage educational flashcards ($.50-$5 each), Andersonville’s FourSided (primarily a frame store) and Lake View’s TwoSided inspire all manner of inventive gift-giving. Owner Todd Mack is also a fantastic collage artist and represents several other people who … Read more
