Greener and Cleaner in the West Loop

Ms. Green Jeans The West Loop boutique Pivot (1101 W. Fulton Market; 312-243-4754, www.specialoccasionseparates.com) hosts a sample sale on Sept. 6th, prior to its grand opening at its new Gold Coast location, to liquidate all spring and fall merchandise, accessories, and samples. You’ll find coats, jackets, skirts, and pants as well as items from the … Read more

A Collector’s Sneaker Boutique

Encore, Encore Sneakerphiles, you have a new mecca. The owners of West Loop lifestyle-and-footwear shop Self Conscious have opened Encore (3941 N. Sheridan Rd.; 773-477-4007), which co-owner LaVelle “V-Dot” Sykes says is more sneaker driven than the other store. Sykes, who has designed shoes for Nike for 13 years, says the store cultivates exclusivity with … Read more

Glamorama Yee-Haw

My Glamorama experience, in a nutshell: Lots of cowboy hats and sparkly shirts—and a midget zooming by on a scooter.

(Actually, he might have been a dwarf. I’m sure someone will write in and correct me, so I’ll just say right now that I’m not sure which category he falls into. He was small. That much I know. He is part of the MusikMafia, the country supergroup fronted by Gretchen Wilson, Big and Rich, and the rappin’ Cowboy Troy, who all played at the main runway event. Who knew that Chicago people would lose their cool during the song “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy?”)

Baby Needs A New Pair of Shoes?

Kiddie Kicks Seems kids aren’t excluded from the recent explosion of shoe stores in the city. Sole Babies (2033 W. Division St.; 773-342-7653) in Wicker Park carries cute and orthopedically correct shoes for kids from first walkers to youth size 5 (which fits an 8 to 10 year old). Baraka and Teresa Nevels, the husband-and-wife … Read more

Good Gwyneth Hunting

Gwyneth Paltrow has a lovely light pink pedicure. This is all I can see. I’ve crowded into the press “pit,” which is kind of like a cattle corral. The reporters and photographers in front of me have mostly blocked my view. So after a few minutes, I squat down, and peek between Bill Zwecker’s legs. Finally, an unobstructed view of Gwyneth—her feet…

Marquee: Everybody Cut Footloose

Dancing with the All-Stars Think of it as the Pro Bowl of Chicago dance—with extra calf muscle and a better cause. A selection of the city’s top troupes team up for the 16th annual Dance for Life benefiting HIV/AIDS organizations. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, River North Chicago Dance Company, Giordano Jazz Dance … Read more

Two Craft Mavens Open Shop

Exceptional Craftsmanship Rejoice, fans of the popular Renegade Craft Fair. The fair, which happens next month on September 15th and 16th along Division Street, in conjunction with the Do Division Street Fest, has spawned a permanent extension-a new store called Renegade Handmade (1924 W. Division St.; 773-227-2707) that carries high-style, handmade items from 60 designers, … Read more