September 30, 2009 -- Local fashionistas, designers, city officials, and business leaders gathered at the Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace on Wednesday, September 30th for the annual Chicago Sister Cities International's World Fashion Chicago runway show. World Fashion Chicago is the city's premier runway event featuring internationally inspired creations from fashion designers representing Chicago's 28 sister cities. Read more
Don't-miss picks for 10.07.09 through 10.13.09: A tale of two Lucindas … and two Joshes … plus, two much-anticipated stage adaptations … a free peek at Lincoln's pockets … free days at the MSI … and more Read more
September 10, 2009 -- The ‘Art of Fashion’ Cocktail Party, held at The Art Center in Downtown Highland Park, was part of Fashion Week Highland Park, an annual event celebrating Highland Park as Fashion Central on Chicago’s North Shore. For more information on fashion retailers in Downtown Highland Park visit www.downtownhp.com. Read more
The Fifth Element

The team behind Volo, Paramount Room and two Kitsch’ns plans to open a new concept in mid-October. “It’s our fifth spot, and we are calling it The Fifth,” says Jon Young of the 75-seat restaurant in an undisclosed location. (All Dish knows is... Read more

To celebrate 34 years of business, the family-run antique store Griffins & Gargoyles is having a 34-34-34 sale (sounds like the measurements of a very sturdy Centerfold, but it actually just means they are discounting all merchandise by 34 percent for 34 days). The celebration commences this Friday, Oct. 2 at 2140 W. Lawrence Avenue, with extended store hours from 11–9 p.m., and the deals continue through Nov. 4. G&G primarily handles American and European antique wooden furniture and accessories and customizable contemporary pine pieces... Read more
Don't-miss events for 09.30.09 through 10.06.09: New LaBute … scenes from the Great Plague … puppets from the dark side—and then there's the free beer and tours of Blago's campaign office Read more
     

The husband-and-wife architectural team Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker have published a book of their residential work. Transforming the Traditional (The Images Publishing Group, $50), features mostly homes on the North Shore of Chicago, in styles “informed by both modern and classical principles.” Given that some of these homes were built or remodeled as many as 10 years ago, it’s evident that the firm’s work holds up.

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This is one of the rougher properties we have, but somebody’s going to turn it around,” Kristian Harris said as we stood in the bashed-up bathroom of the house at 6027 South Marshfield in Englewood. The plumbing fixtures were all out of order, the floors and walls were beaten up, and... Read more
September 23, 2009--Chicago magazine and Chalk boutique in Evanston hosted a fall fashion event for guests and clients to shop the trends with fabulous results. Fashion editor Stacy Wallace-Albert gave a presentation on how to wear the season’s top picks to perfection. Read more
All in the Family
In the early ‘90s, Susan Lurie opened her first boutique in the northern suburbs. Named ENAZ (444 Central Ave., Highland Park; 847-433-6466, enaz.com), which stands for energy, nature, attitude, and zest for life, the shop catered to the busy mom. Within time, however, Lurie’s three daughters—Melinda Kaplan and Lena and Samantha Lurie—joined her management team, and the shop expanded its collections to include... Read more