Seek and Go Hyde
Lynne McDaniel, the ebullient owner of the Chicago Lawn antique furniture and vintage art store An Orange Moon (we told you all about it in the July/August issue, remember?), has an ambitious side biz running estate sales, and she told me about a whopper coming up this weekend in a Hyde Park Art Deco condo at 5000 S. Cornell Street. The consignee is a world-traveling 80-year-old widow with a penchant for mid-century-modern furniture, eclectic artwork, jewelry, rugs, French china, and mod clothing and furs, and it will all be offered for sale on-site this Friday thru Sunday, from 8 a.nm.-4 p.m. each day (cash only). “She also had a thing for the Chicago Bulls,” says Lynne. “I found autographed balls, tickets, and even Chicago Bulls handkerchiefs.” To make her tag sales social, Lynne likes to have jazz music playing and free drinks flowing, and as the sale progresses, prices drop. Everything is reduced 50 percent on Saturday and 75 percent on Sunday. If you can’t join the party, check out her shop, which she describes as “Erykah Badu meets South Beach meets Martha’s Vineyard!”
Baby Biennium
The cool-kids’ shop Green Genes is celebrating its two-year birthday this weekend, and there’s nothing terrible about that at all. Heather Muenstermann and Christina Isperduli (BFFs and partners) stock eco-sensitive children’s toys, furniture, room décor, and clothing—I get baby gifts there all the time, and have been known to pick up things such as candles, cards, and crafts for myself and other big babies as well. In customer appreciation, the pair have scheduled play sessions, demos, readings, and lectures (accompanied by balloons and cupcakes, of course) for this Saturday and Sunday. You can learn vermicular vernacular with the Urban Worm Girls (Sun. at 1 p.m.) create eco-crafts and plant organic sunflowers (Sat., 10 a.m.–2 p.m.), learn what you can coax out of a single square foot of gardening space (Sun., 3 p.m.), and join in an artist reception for the “embroidustrations” (one pictured here) of local artist Ben Rumback (Sat., 4 p.m.–8 p.m.). All inventory is at least 10 percent off, and every purchase gets you a chance to win prizes.
Jayson’s Journal
The spring issue of Jayson Home & Garden’s look book hits mailboxes this week, and I’m always impressed by its creative prop styling and artistic photos. (I’m not the only one who noticed—the graphic design industry magazine HOW just gave it a merit award in its In-HOWse design competition.) This page, for example, shows a tubful of carved Bamileke stools (starting at $695) from West Africa chilling with a faux-zebra upholstered Hadley bench ($2,550) and a Napoleon chair covered in black velvet ($495). Request a copy here or browse the goods online. And if your spring cleaning has turned up some things you’ve been meaning to mount, this Sunday, April 11, is Jayson’s monthly frame outlet sale, where you’ll find a great assortment of empty pre-cut options from Italy and Spain at up to 80 percent off, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at the 1867 N. Clybourn location.
Fish Specials
Beginning today and continuing through April 25, make a splash at Two Fish Art Glass’s annual storewide sale. The Forest Park studio and store sells great-looking Arts and Crafts, Mission, and Prairie style stained glass lamps, windows, and furniture, and they have a team of artisans to tackle custom projects. This month they’re baiting customers with 20 percent off everything in the pond, and if that’s not enough to lure in you, don’t carp—mention Domestica and they’ll shave off another 5 percent.
Design Star, Chicago Edition
Bucktown’s Painted Lady boutique is holding a cocktail party tomorrow night from 6–8:00 p.m. to celebrate the winners of owner Beth Brace’s home design contest, amateur edition. Three winners will be taking home gift baskets, Chicago Home + Garden subscriptions, and gift certificates. The judges are Beth, Annie Wasserman of Nate Berkus Design, and our own CH+G editor Jan Parr. It’s too late to enter home enhancements in this year’s competition, but you’re just in time to get some inspiration, peruse the hand-painted antique furniture and accessories, and share some drinks with some fun people.
Spring Forward
Architectural Artifacts has an international rep as a resource for historic salvaged elements from homes and offices, but this Sunday they’ll be having some modern love among the ruins with the annual Spring Show of juried contemporary artists and crafters. More than 50 painters, ceramicists, textile artists, stationers, clothing designers, and even a cobbler or two will be exhibiting in the atrium from 10–5:00, with no admission charge. The print here is by Hiroshi Ariyama, who creates paintings and screenprints inspired by urban Chicago scenes. Angel Food Bakery will be on hand with snacks. Got that Mother’s Day present picked out yet? I’m just saying.
World Wide Savings
For another 25-percent-off sale (with a much smaller window of opportunity), get thee to a Cost Plus World Market this Thursday through Sunday, pull out one of these coupons and say aloha to a quarter off the price of all home furnishings and décor. (You can also shop online in the same time period, just use code FFWEB410.) CPWM has put a lot of effort into their spring outdoor collection, and I was just last weekend considering freshening up our lanai with some of their colorful al fresco lighting, furniture, and rugs. At retail, they are affordable enough to play with for a season or two—this large Rio floral carpet is only 40 coconuts—with this discount, simply irresistible.