April 2008
Today in Australia, I ate a wood-fired kangaroo pizza, and the guilt was overwhelming. The kangaroo is a national symbol, for pete's sake; it appears on the Australian coat of arms and on various currency—which made my lunch the equivalent of eating braised bald eagle in the States. I felt like Ted Nugent. And the pizza kind of sucked: a bland, soggy mess full of chewy 'roo meat and pumpkin squash. Even Hannah rejected it, tossing scraps onto the floor from her high chair...
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The other day we did a photo shoot at Room & Board for a story about throw pillows (learn everything you ever wanted to know about them in our upcoming July/August issue). The pillows were obviously the stars of the show, but we also used a rug in the shoot that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since. It’s the Cable rug in Heather (see photo at left), and the reason I love it so much is that it looks and feels like a big old sweater. Problem is I’m not sure if it pills like one, too, so if anyone has any experience with this rug, please share. It’s new to Room & Board so it’s unlikely anyone has lived with it long enough to know what will become of it in a couple of years… Still, any insight on 100-percent undyed wool would be great. This reminded me that a few years ago, I was considering getting similar wool carpeting by Ralph Lauren (see photo at right). I was planning to have it cut to an 8-by-10-foot size and bound with fabric, and it was going to cost about $1,300—the Cable rug costs $1,599 for around 7 by 10 feet (granted, it is a lot softer). Unfortunately, I can’t remember the name of the carpet store on Lincoln Avenue that carries the Ralph Lauren floor coverings collection (anyone have a clue?). Be sure, I have put in a call to RL corporate to figure this out. I will report back when I have more information. I love the idea of having a cozy sweater underfoot.
—GINA BAZER
Photography: Courtesy of Room & Board and Ralph Lauren
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Turns out you can judge a beer by its six-pack. Meet Wheach, the "peach wheat beer" from Missouri's O'Fallon Brewery that comes in a big yellow carton with its very own mascot. No, that's not Pac-Man. It's a peach.
In honor of four consecutive days of yes-god-there-is-a-spring weather, I went looking for the sunniest beer I could find—and I defy anyone to top this baby, a spiked popsicle of a sipper just released on April 1st ($11.99 at Vas Foremost, 2300 N. Milwaukee Ave.)...
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If you haven't been to the new Elements store yet... well, shame on you. You're missing out on a bevy of edgy/elegant home design finds, delicious jewelry, great bags, gorgeous coffee table books, treats catered by Southport Grocery when you saddle up to the iPod bar, and more. We covered the store's opening in the mag long before the dust settled, so here's our reminder... get there now! OK, now back to La Door. After owners Jeannine Dal Pra and Toby Glickman decided to scoot off Oak Street in favor of trendier digs on Wells, they took a buying trip extraordinaire, scoping the globe for all things inspirational. Among their discoveries in London: "We admired the way people's front doors really showed their individuality," says Glickman. When the two hit upon a stellar door pull at an antique store, the deal was sealed. Dal Pra scribbled a sketch, and they had a carpenter build a totally unique door for their shop. They painted it Rumba Orange (Benjamin Moore #2014-20), et voilà. Entering the loo has never been so fabulous.
—BARRI LEINER
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List Price: $2,099,000
Sale Price: $1,975,000
The Property: It’s only four years old, but with its low arches, brick corner quoining, and hefty, detailed chimney, this ten-room home in Lake Forest looks as if it might have been plucked out of the English countryside a century ago. That’s what makes it so well suited to its surroundings, a hilltop neighborhood of about 50 gentry homes that overlook one of the prettiest pieces of countryside...
Photographer Lisa Predko shot our April cover story, "Who Makes What," in early February. There was snow on the ground, frozen nosehairs in our nostrils, and bitterness in our hearts. Winter seems like like a distant memory now, but we feel we must share these photos with you.
Check out our behind-the-scenes look at the photoshoot for Miss Maya Sinstress, a fetish diva whom we interviewed for the salaries article. She brought with her several latex costumes, various fierce whips, and a bottle of lube (you'll see why in the photos)...
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