April 2008
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My spirited little dog Lucy does not suffer novelty hats or seasonal sweaters gladly, but she’s developed an eye for nice home design, I like to think. My fave Chicago pet store, Streeterville Pet Spa & Boutique (401 E. Ontario St.) just got in some new Italian lines that rolled us both right over. Owner Marion Thompson has a great eye and always stocks a lot of stylish creature comforts, including a rotating display case of dog treats that look good enough to serve bipeds, made by a local pastry chef. She told me these Milanese EGR beds use that super-tough Sunbrella fabric that won't fade or stain, and they're about $50 to $85. The designs are sort of wiener werkstatte meets Japanese print, all in a mid-cent-mod color palette. With chic canine couches like these, who wouldn't mind a couple lying around the house? Good girl, Marion!
—BRADLEY LINCOLN
Photos from petego.com
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We were sad to see Modernica close its showroom in River North earlier this year. So imagine how happy we were to hear that the store’s fiberglass chairs, bubble lights, Noguchi tables and chairs, and other modern furniture has found a home at I.D., one of our favorite home accessories stores. A manager at I.D. tells us they have a sampling of Modernica’s most popular items, but that any item can be ordered through I.D.
—JAN PARR
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After seeing Laurie Anderson in concert last night, I have to say that I'm a convert. Anderson's blend of performance art isn't for everyone. Even Anderson herself will admit as much. But in her latest work, Homeland, it's clear that she's let go of some of the visual gimmickry of years past. The topics are serious (national security, global warming), but the delivery is, actually, kind of funny. It's almost a bit Jon Stewart, if Jon Stewart were a pixie-haired, 60ish art rocker...
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