By Jay Pridmore
A giant Ziploc is but one proposed protection against the flooding that plagues Farnsworth House, the glorious landmark by Mies. But are floods yet another natural disaster we just can't outwit? Read more
December 2008
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How cool is this industrial metal chair, circa 1920, part of a new shipment from France that’s just arrived at The Golden Triangle? Or the club chair, circa 1930? Co-owners Chauwarin Tuntisak and Douglas Van Tress took a few trips to Paris markets recently, and filled a crate with some amazing vintage furniture and accessories, all at nice discounts over last year’s prices (the combo of a lower Euro and widespread discounting). While in Paris, they tapped the connections and expertise of, among others, Didier Milleriot, our favorite Frenchman, who operated Le Magasin here til he moved back to Europe a few months ago. These new pieces are set in the shop amid the “Exposed” collection of modern, reclaimed wood pieces. “It’s a dry, angular backdrop to the curviness innate to the French things,” says Van Tress. “The intent is not to create a French shop in my store, but to create powerful, earthy, often industrial” items that are complementary to the rest of the store’s merchandise. We think he’s done it!
—JAN PARR
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On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a PBR with a whiskey chaser—or so went the caroling this past Saturday at the annual 12 Bars of Christmas pub crawl, a lubricated all-day slide through the watering holes of Wrigleyville. Early birds got started at the Cubby Bear at 9:30 a.m.; we snapped revelers a little later in the day at Harry Caray's Tavern... Read more 
Greg Steffens of Haus in Andersonville just emailed with a smart alternative to traditional holiday décor: these porcelain logs from the Brooklyn-based art studio KlienReid, he says, are not only perfect for putting in your non-functioning fireplace, but also make for a cool-yet-cozy centerpiece for your dining room table or a sideboard. Evoke the spirit of the holidays in less predictable way.
—Gina Bazer
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List Price: $1,299,000
Sale Price: $820,000
The Property: The builder who replaced an older home with this house did not complete it before his lender ended up selling it in November—for less than the builder had paid to buy the lot in 2005. The new owners are not only completing construction, but they are re-doing some of what...
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One of our favorite local design studios, Unison Home, is holding a Holiday Market, the next two Saturdays (Dec. 13 and 20 from noon to 6 p.m.) and also from Dec. 16 to Dec. 19 from 4 to 7 p.m. at 2000 W. Fulton St., 312-492-7960. This is a rare chance to shop straight from the source (Unison’s fun wares are sold at CB2 and a few other local retailers) and get your hands on some exclusive items (Unison aprons, Christmas tree skirts, holiday table runners, and ornaments). The Greater Chicago Food Depository will receive 15 percent of all sales.
–JAN PARR
Read moreWhat’s on Tap
Caroling is so anaerobic. You haven’t experienced “Winter Wonderland” until it’s been sweated out by a pack of hardcore hoofers. Case in point: Chicago Tap Theatre’s Tidings of Tap!, featuring choreography set to seasonal tunes from the Grinch theme to Hanukkah songs. Performances run 8 p.m. Friday the 12th and Saturday the 13th, 3 p.m. Sunday the 14th at U.I.C. Theater (1044 W. Harrison St.; chicagotaptheatre.com). Tickets are $18 to $30. Across town, Reggio “The Hoofer” McLaughlin leads his annual production The Nut Tapper (get those snickers out of the way now), a loose interpretation of, yes, The Nutcracker...