List Price: $7.95 million
The Property: When I first visited this Lake Forest house (in 2002, when it was only a year old), I could hardly take my eyes off the living room ceiling, a soaring masterpiece of beams, arches, and planking, all crafted from trees from the same Wisconsin grove. Recently I made a... Read more
To Be Perfectly Frank
Alexander Brunacci kept the opening of Lincoln Park’s new Franks ’N’ Dawgs (1863 N. Clybourn Ave.; 312-281-5187) quiet, despite having some serious coattails to ride—his brother, Frank, is the chef at Sixteen, the Trump tower restaurant. Read more

Here’s what’s on my radar after a recent spin (OK, make that trend-seeking triathlon) around the International Home and Housewares Show. Purple royally ruled the runways and furnishing forecasts last season; now it’s trying on housewares. Fav execution? Le Creuset’s enamel cast iron and utensils in Cassis and their Lilac and Violet stoneware counterparts. Aluminum frying pans sporting anchors, Union Jack and bright finishes on their meant-to-be-seen bottoms were swoon-worthy! For the kitchen sophisticate, go for shimmery mineral tones sure to match countertop and tile trends. Two examples: Kitchenaid’s Artisan Series mixer in lush metallic and Farberware’s pots and pans in black and bronze with a hint of glimmer. Wesco’s breadbox and knifeblock in New Silver looked retro-fabulous. Garbage cans got the treatment in prints from The Macbeth Collection; keep an eye out for their new line (we heard The Container Store chain is a fan). Loved their chic prints on shower curtains—even tub mats! On the cleaning scene, I’d like the mini Mint automatic floor cleaner to come dust and mop my hardwood floors. Even germophobes can delight in high design with touch-free paper towel dispensers from Clean Cut and iTouchless. If the person who swiped the Pantone color-sample books (worth hundreds of dollars) from that company’s booth happens to be reading this—please return them immediately, and shame on you.

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Roll Out
Steven Song, who owned Tsunami, the Gold Coast sushi temple that closed last spring, returns to the scene with Masu Izakaya (1969 N. Halsted St.; no phone yet), scheduled to open late this month in the space that housed Minnies. It'll be the second izakaya—Japanese after-work bar—to open in two months (Izakaya Hapa was first). “Izakaya dishes are a little bit... Read more
The International Vintage Poster Fair is rolling into Chicago again this weekend at the Chicago Cultural Center, and this year there will be more than 10,000 vetted art nouveau, art deco, and mid-century modern posters on display and available for purchase from worldly dealers including our own Poster Plus and the Chicago Center for the Print. A feature exhibit within the exhibit is “The Art of Persuasion: 100 Years of Propaganda Posters,” exploring advertising and promotional posters designed to persuade (They really-really-really want you to see it. Pretty please?)... Read more
There's a competition for everything, I guess—ugliest dog, extreme ironing, worm charming—but it never crossed my mind that somewhere, some people are going head-to-head over beer pouring. Tonight, that somewhere is Chicago, as the St. Patrick's Day festivities swing into action and Guinness brewmaster Fergal Murray presides over a "pour the perfect pint" competition at Grace O'Malley's in the South Loop... Read more