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June 2009
Got Twenty Bucks?
By Penny Pollack & Jeff Ruby
Eat Here. Now.
More often than not, we know all about any remotely promising restaurant months before it serves its first meal, but every now and then, a true gem comes out of nowhere. Han 202 (605 W. 31st St.; 312-949-1314), a chic 38-seat Amercian/pan-Asian BYO that opened two months ago in Bridgeport, is just such a place. Guan Chen, the chef-partner and his wife, Yan Ruan (former owners of Evanston’s Nine Fish), push the envelope with their prix fixe menu (five courses; $20. “That’s nice value, right?” asks Ruan, in the understatement of the year). On a recent visit... Read more
Neality TV
By Josh Schollmeyer
Tapping into nostalgia for classic shows and movies, Neal Sabin has built plucky Weigel Broadcasting—operator of WCIU, Me-TV, and the new This—into a regional TV dynamo  Read more
Fashion Columbia 2009
On Tuesday, May 12 more than 250 fashionistas, Chicago fashion industry professionals, and media gathered at the Harold Washington Library Winter Garden for Fashion Columbia 2009 to celebrate the senior collections of 13 Columbia College Chicago fashion design students. Afterwards, guests met with the designers during a Designers' Circle where they had an opportunity to view their portfolios, place orders, and make appointmetns with the designers. Proceeds benefited the Nena Ivon Scholarship Fund for fashion design and fashion retail management. Read more
Heavy Metal, Brimfield, Unison Sale
By Bradley Lincoln
Kramer sent pics of a new project he just completed, which he describes as one of his more challenging (“Anytime I quote a job that’s bigger than my van, I get nervous,” he fesses up.) This 90” x 70” mirror with a floating circular pattern was designed by Lee Weitzman for a Lincoln Park home, and weighs more than 150 lbs... Read more
Maybe This Year
Don’t-miss events for 06.10.09 through 06.16.09: We Believe @ Chicago Theatre … Strauss at Midnight @ Storefront Theater … A Lovin’ Spoonful @ Sidetrack … more! Read more
Good Deal
Don’t forget about everyday retail discounts, which aren’t strictly recession relief but have sprouted like mushrooms since the recession began. Read more
Royal Treatment
 

Even during this economic downturn, certain luxuries can be attained at bargain prices-that is, if you're willing to shop for them online during restricted hours. The Web-based upscale-home-accessories dealer One Kings Lane holds sales daily-usually representing one or two manufacturers per day-offering discounts of up to 70 percent off retail. Sales last for only 72 hours and who knows when any given company will be back to play again? Click on Sales Event Calendar to see whom they've got lined up. When we last checked, linens, pillows, and bath accessories from Dransfield & Ross were having their moment (a celadon-colored faux-crocodile-with-nailhead-trim tissue box, normally $80 retail, was sold out-it had been going for $39; some elaborate embroidered pillows that are normally $475 were available for $199). Coming up this week, selections from Arte Italica (see photo above) and Arteriors Home.

-Gina Bazer

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