Ad Categories: Home and Garden

If you’re jonesing for some Gallic gifting this year but can’t swing a trip to the Paris fleas, the Lycée Français de Chicago can hook you up this weekend at their annual Fall Market. The Northside French language school has rustled up more than 40 dealers and creators of antiques, linens and tabletop items, jewelry, and food and bath specialties, all with a French twist, including local faves Marguerite Gardens (see chairs above), Vintage Pine (we especially love Jeanne Steen’s Figaro Antiques), Heather Gentile Designs (see paintings above), Katherine Anne Confections, and Virtu. Get a sneak peek for a sawbuck this Friday, Oct. 19 from 7–9 at the opening, with nibbles, bubbly, and an appearance by Chicago appraiser Gary Piattoni. The fair runs through Sunday with cooking demos, supervised activities for les enfants, and an onsite café. (The $5 admission fee aids the école.)

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

I stopped by June Blaker’s sparkling River North store to check out my favorite stylista’s fall finds, and was tres impressed with her home accessory offerings. June made a big, arty splash in 1980s Chicago by introducing the cerebral fashions of Comme, Yohji, and others at City (where the CHIC cooking school now stands, visible from the back windows of her new shop) and later her eponymous Wells Street location. She still has a few racks of frocks, but told me that she’s concentrating on home design these days. Loved these thick, creamy Illuminated Candles in shell forms—they’re all wax, but have replaceable votives tucked inside so you can actually use them. The line runs about $75 to $160, and you clean them just like porcelain, with a damp cloth. The dimmable light-up bench/table they’re resting on is pretty sweet too—it’s a $750 Pablo Pardo design.

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

I think I will never again stay in a hotel that doesn’t have floor-to-ceiling windows. We went to see the new Dana Hotel & Spa last week, and, standing in a guest room, thought how great it is to feel like you’re floating on the skyline. The rooms are impressively designed with modern and eco-friendly elements by EDI Architecture of Texas. I loved the reclaimed Australian Jarrah wood floors (I can’t recall ever having seen wood floors in a hotel room—it’s so great.) Philippe Starck spa-inspired benches in the double shower are also a great touch.

—JAN PARR

Photos: Craig Dugan/Hedrich Blessing

Basil Hayden scored a hat trick with the last of the debutant parties for their Tastemaker’s design competition. This one was held at Angels and Kings and celebrated Bryan Lump’s winning entry—a sleek coffee table with a mid-century-mod surfer vibe (pictured above). I’m looking forward to seeing all three prototypes at the final fiesta at Crimson Lounge on Oct. 16, where partygoers will pick the winner. If you’d like to mingle with Nate Berkus, snag some swag, and put your own two cents in to help decide who goes home with $10,000, RSVP here.  

—BRADLEY LINCOLN

Photos by Frank Failing