Even I could feel the intensity. Thirty or so local clothing designers (when you count accessories, there were 70 in all) had trucked their wares up to the 9th floor of Macy’s in the hopes that they’d get picked up by a major department store. By "picked up," I mean that Macy’s had set aside budget money to add pieces by local designers to their collection. This is huge, seeing as how Marshall Field’s (and later Macy’s) used to buy on consignment only. Now they were going to buy entire “lots” up front—a purchase that could make an indie designer’s year...

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Even I could feel the intensity. Thirty or so local clothing designers (when you count accessories, there were 70 in all) had trucked their wares up to the 9th floor of Macy’s in the hopes that they’d get picked up by a major department store. By "picked up," I mean that Macy’s had set aside budget money to add pieces by local designers to their collection. This is huge, seeing as how Marshall Field’s (and later Macy’s) used to buy on consignment only. Now they were going to buy entire “lots” up front—a purchase that could make an indie designer’s year...

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Even I could feel the intensity. Thirty or so local clothing designers (when you count accessories, there were 70 in all) had trucked their wares up to the 9th floor of Macy’s in the hopes that they’d get picked up by a major department store. By "picked up," I mean that Macy’s had set aside budget money to add pieces by local designers to their collection. This is huge, seeing as how Marshall Field’s (and later Macy’s) used to buy on consignment only. Now they were going to buy entire “lots” up front—a purchase that could make an indie designer’s year...

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Even I could feel the intensity. Thirty or so local clothing designers (when you count accessories, there were 70 in all) had trucked their wares up to the 9th floor of Macy’s in the hopes that they’d get picked up by a major department store. By "picked up," I mean that Macy’s had set aside budget money to add pieces by local designers to their collection. This is huge, seeing as how Marshall Field’s (and later Macy’s) used to buy on consignment only. Now they were going to buy entire “lots” up front—a purchase that could make an indie designer’s year...

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My parents are celebrating their 40th anniversary next month, and the occasion got me thinking about relationships and compromise. Mom is a media mogul who goes out for work functions almost as much as I do; Dad is a circuit court judge who's asleep by eight every night. She does the cooking; he does the eating. She cleans up; he feeds the dogs. She has a standing manicure appointment every Saturday; he has a standing tee time every Sunday. Their schedule seems to work for them, despite personalities on the opposite ends of the spectrum. She's a Type A; he's a Type XL (as in extra laid-back). She's a social butterfly; he has a hard time remembering all of his friends' names.

They're not necessarily what you'd expect from soul mates, but since getting set up at the University of Illinois in 1965... Read more

Wilco is coming to Millennium Park!

I know, I know; like you, I just crowded into the park to see The Decemberists, and it stunk because there were too many people. But consider this: Like the Tori Amos show a few years back, they are going to sell tickets, which will control the crowd. I can attest that the Amos show was pleasant—even on the lawn—and way more fan-friendly than The Decemberists show last week.

So, here are the details...

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