Photo: 3d printer experience

Hot Off the Press

Walk into the city’s new retail concept, The 3D Printer Experience (316 N. Clark St., 312-896-3399, the3dprinterexperience.com) and print—on the spot—a 3D version of anything you can dream up. “Welcome to the future,” co-founder Mike Moceri says.

Yes, the options are virtually limitless. You could design and print a piece of jewelry, an iPhone case, a working musical instrument, or the crowd favorite: a 3D replica of your own head. All it takes is about 30 minutes to take a 360-degree image of your noggin and print a scaled-down version that fits in the palm of your hand. The smallest size (approximately two inches tall) costs just $25. The technology can print objects in a variety of materials like metal, wood, nylon, or corn-based eco-plastic.

Moceri and co-founder Julie Friedman Steele wanted to create a playground allowing the general public to explore 3D printing, but the experience also serves a larger purpose. The store is quickly turning into a community center for artists, designers, and engineers who are excited about the possibilities. “We’re educating people on how to create businesses around 3D printing,” Moceri says.

Check it out for yourself (and scan your head while you’re at it) by visiting The 3D Printer Experience Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Top Sales This Week

To celebrate its new West Loop location, ULTA Beauty (16 S. Halsted St., 312-243-0411, ulta.com) is handing out freebies all weekend long. Each day from Friday to Sunday, the first 100 guests receive either a voucher for a free salon service or a gift certificate ranging from $5 to $100; the first 1,000 guests to sign up for the brand’s loyalty club receive a gift bag filled with four free products; and all weekend long, stylists from the salon will be available for complimentary makeovers and hair and skin care consultations. The shop will be open Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Brooklyn-based menswear line Mishka (mishkanyc.com) is holding a cash-only warehouse sale—slashing prices by as much as 75 percent—now through Sunday. Find the sale at 1448 North Milwaukee Avenue from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

 

The Best of the Rest

  • Furniture showroom Luminaire bids farewell to its pop-up store, LuminaireX (301 W. Superior Ave., 2nd floor, 312-664-9582, luminairex.com) with a night of fashion on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. featuring a runway show at 7 p.m. View runway presentations from Gallery Aesthete, Katrin Schnabl, and Robin Richman, and shop Luminaire showroom pieces marked up to 60 percent off. RSVP to info@galleryaesthete.com.
  • Shop vintage watches by iconic brands like Rolex, Omega, and TAG Heuer at Haberdash (611 N. State St., 312-624-8551, haberdashmen.com) this weekend. The menswear boutique hosts a vintage watch pop-up with Hodinkee (hodinkee.com) Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Glimpse the goods early at a private preview party held Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. (RSVP here).
  • neapolitan collection (neapolitanonline.com) previews fall fashion by Stella McCartney, Victoria Beckham, Alexander McQueen, and more at an “Evening of Hope” fashion show benefitting the Maryville Crisis Nursery. Festivities kick off Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Sunset Ridge Country Club (2100 Sunset Ridge Rd., Northfield). Call 847-294-1982 or visit maryvilleacademy.org to reserve your ticket ($125).
  • Try on (and purchase, perhaps?) a pair of handcrafted buffalo horn sunglass frames at the RIGARDS (rigards.com) trunk show at Robin Richman (2108 N. Damen Ave., 773-278-6150, robinrichman.com) on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. While you browse, you’ll be treated to cocktails, food-truck fare, and a 15 percent discount on glasses.
  • Old Town boutique cityblue apparel & denim hosts a Champagne Saturday shopping soiree at RM Champagne Salon (116 N. Green St., 312-243-1199, rmchampagnesalon.com) from 12 to 2 p.m. on Saturday. For $15, guests will be treated to cookies and two glasses of bubbly while they shop. All attendees will be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to RM Champagne Salon, one large box of gourmet macaroons, and a personal styling session at cityblue. RSVP at cityblueRSVP@bettiebombpr.com.
  • St. Louis native and Parsons School of Design graduate Emily Brady Koplar of WAI MING (waimingstudio.com) stops by Roslyn (2035 N. Damen Ave., 773-489-1311, roslynboutique.com) on Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. to showcase her full spring and summer 2013 collections. During the event, enjoy sparkling wine and a 10 percent discount on all WAI MING purchases.
  • Find unique wedding vendors capable of pulling off your dream theme—anything from a rock-n-roll bash to an eco-friendly soiree—at Wicker Park’s Wed Local Expo, held at the Double Door (1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-489-3160) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets ($10 in advance, $15 at the door) are available at wedlocalchicago.eventbrite.com.
  • Squasht Boutique (2556 W. Chicago Ave., 773-292-4123, squashtbyles.com) celebrates its third anniversary with giveaways, 20-percent discounts, booze-laced snowcones by Jo Snow, and other treats on May 29 from 6 to 9 p.m.
  • Who says you can’t be a professional pinner? Room & Board is running a “Room to Grow” contest on Pinterest. The winner will receive $7,500 worth of kid’s furnishings from Room & Board, $600 worth of painting services from YOLO Colorhouse, and a $1,500 gift basket from Annie’s Homegrown. Learn more at roomandboard.com/roomtogrow.