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Rebecca Little
Guise and Gals
By Rebecca Little
Ladies and Gents

The Lincoln Park men’s store Guise has moved, expanded, and let the ladies in on the fun. Guise Chic (2128 N. Halsted St.; 773-929-6130), the new joint store, offers clothing, accessories, and a salon for both sexes, under one roof. “We offer styling from head to toe,” says owner Brad Habansky. The 3,800-square-foot store is housed in a former police station. The men’s side has a more contemporary look with minimal décor and stainless steel accents, while the women’s side is warmer, with exposed brick and chandeliers. Habansky, who still...

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The Union versus The Onion
By Rebecca Little
Cyprus Thrill
Sure, EU membership is monumental and all, but Cyprus just scored entry to the real power club: Chicago’s 11th annual European Union Film Festival. The first-timer joins 25 other countries for this year’s fest, which features a record 61 flicks. Things kick off 7 p.m. Friday the 7th with Estrellita, a Slovenian film about a famous violinist whose instrument...

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Sales Check
By Rebecca Little
A roundup of sales, store openings, and shopping news in March 2008 Read more
An Italian Newcomer on the Gold Coast
By Rebecca Little

Ciao, Bella

The Italian sportswear brand Dismero (50 E. Oak St.; 312-380-6590, www.dismero.com), opened its United States flagship store in Chicago (the other locations are in Munich, Germany and Verona, Italy) after its owner and designer Andy D’Auria fell in love with the city on a recent trip. The white, refined space creates a neutral backdrop for the luxury line, which is known throughout Europe for a fit that keeps a woman’s curves in mind, particularly in its stretch jeans. The color palette sticks to basics such as navy, taupe, white, and black, with an infusion of...

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Beauty and the Beasties
By Rebecca Little

Go through the looking glass this weekend with imaginative, off-the-wall entertainment.
For starters, the Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E. Chicago Ave.; 312-397-4010) plays host to a wacky rock show, Necessary Monsters, inspired by Jorge Luis Borges’s The Book of Imaginary Beings. Violinist Carla Kihlstedt and six other musicians don wild costumes for two dramatic concerts, 7:30 p.m. Friday the 29th and Saturday the 1st; a talk with the...

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Bucktown Gets a New Pair of Shoe Stores
By Rebecca Little
A Good Pair

Two suburban stores have opened a shared space in Bucktown at 1858 North Damen Avenue: Kinga European Children’s Shoes (1858 N. Damen Ave., 773-342-7724; 777 N. York Rd., Hinsdale, 630-321-1399; 1891 Tower Dr., Glenview, 847-724-1049, kingashoes.com) and Babydreams (1858 N. Damen Ave., 773-486-9445; 448 Central Ave., Highland Park, 847-432-4704). Kinga, which first opened in Hinsdale seven years ago, has opened its first city boutique in the former Red 21 space. “We had a lot of clients in the city who wanted us to open...

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Horton Hears a Hooray!
By Rebecca Little
The Hottest State

In 1995 Chicago suffered a heat wave that killed 739 people. Now, Pegasus Players and Live Bait Theater have teamed up to adapt sociologist Eric Klinenberg’s book about the disaster, Heat Wave, for the stage. Heat Wave, the play, written by Steven Simoncic, examines responses to the catastrophe, from the mayor to the paramedics. Previews run Friday the 22nd through Sunday the 24th at Truman College’s O’Rourke Center (1145 W. Wilson Ave.; 773-878-9761); the play officially opens Monday the 25th and continues through April 6th. Tickets are $15 to $25. For more on the show, read associate editor Nora O’Donnell’s interview with Klinenberg and Simoncic and check...

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V-Day Redo
By Rebecca Little

That whole line about love meaning you never have to say you’re sorry? Forget it. Guys who screwed up Valentine’s can make good by taking her to River North Chicago Dance Company’s passion-themed weekend engagement, featuring a world-première duet set to Etta James’s “At Last.” (FYI, dating illiterati: It doesn’t get much more romantic.) Shows run 8 p.m. Friday the 15th and Saturday the 16th at Harris Theater (205 E. Randolph Dr.; 312-334-7777). Tickets are...

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