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May 2009
Housing Bulletin: South Loop Auction Helps Out a Neighbor
By Dennis Rodkin
The developers of two South Loop condo high-rises less than two blocks apart struggled through 2008 as they tried to sell units in the buildings. Then, this March, a big block of condos in one of the projects went on the auction block. The result was a flurry of sales not only at that building but, later, at the... Read more
Singled Out: Terzo Piano
By Penny Pollack
7 reasons to be excited about Terzo Piano, Tony Mantuano’s upcoming restaurant on the third floor of the Modern Wing of the Art Institute Read more
Big Sounds
By Kevin McKeough
This spring, astonishing works of classical music premiere all over town. Meet the emerging composers behind three of the most daring pieces Read more
Homes for the Holidays
By Lucinda Hahn
Renting a house near Lake Michigan is a great way to have your sand-and-surf vacation—and stay solvent, too. How to snag your dream cottage Read more
Afshar Moves to Logan Square
By Bridget Maiellaro
At Home with Ani Afshar
When the local jewelry designer Ani Afshar closed her eight-year-old Lincoln Park boutique in March, she already had a back-up plan in place: The collection would remain available online but, as an alternative to maintaining a costly retail storefront, Afshar would open her studio for appointments. Located in Logan Square, Afshar’s new... Read more
Everybody Must Get Stone
 

Studio Stone Design is a great new resource for those who are working with a kitchen designer but can’t decide on what kind of stone they want—and also don’t want to drive out to a huge, faraway location to make their decision. This smaller outpost of Stone Design (a major Midwest supplier with a Glendale Heights–based warehouse that contains some 14,000 slabs) features 120 panels, ranging from granite to onyx, allowing customers an edited menu of options from which to choose. For those who want more choices, there is also an onsite “virtual warehouse,” a 56-by-96-inch HDTV that shows high-resolution photos of the slabs at the Glendale Heights warehouse. Located at 1355 W. Concord Pl. (800-424-1332) in the former Casamonte space, 800-424-1332.

—Gina Bazer

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Weekend Photos: District Bar
Those who like a little mystery in their lives—besides wondering whether José Contreras will ever stop giving up runs—might want to make like our photographer and check out District Bar, the River North sports lounge that opened Saturday night with one not-so-well-kept secret: Head toward the bar’s library; locate a blue book by a classic American author; give it a tug; and—abracadabra—the bookshelf gives way to a hidden room just... Read more
Holland & Sherry
 

I stopped by Susan Fredman’s At Home in the City last week to see the store’s new tableware collection , which was fab (love the mix-and-match ideas), but also got acquainted with the exquisite linens of C&C Milano and Holland & Sherry. These fine linens are usually only available to the trade through the Mart, but are now exclusively available at the store. You can get ideas from samples at the store, but everything is available custom. The trims and details on these handmade linens blew me away. Shown here: Holland & Sherry pillows and C&C bedding.

—JAN PARR

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