Sale Price: $5.2 million
List Price: $5.795 million
Nancy L. Hughes, the widow of the director John Hughes, has paid $5.2 million for the Lake Forest mansion owned by the developer Robert Shaw. John Hughes, who died of a heart attack on August 6th, was the director of a number of films…
Bringing new meaning to “open bar”: Double A (108 W. Kinzie St., lower level; 312-329-2444), the exclusive 65-seat lounge that launched downstairs from Mercadito last Thursday. Mixology takes centerstage at this sleek spot, where bartenders whip together elaborate drinks—dreamed up by the cocktail consultancy known as the Tippling Bros…
Jessica Lagrange on how to achieve elegance without trying too hard
The German company Vitra is best known for outfitting workplaces, but the furniture and accessories it manufactures—designed by some of the biggest names in the industry, from Charles and Ray Eames to Arik Levy—are too good to leave at the office. That’s why Manifesto (755 N. Wells St., 312-664-0733) has decided to pick up Vitra’s … Read more
Frugal Finds
The Chicago native Jill Sevelow loves finding great deals on clothing and accessories. “I’ve always been a bargain hunter,” she says. “I love the thrill of the hunt. I’ve never paid full-price for anything in my life.” So the former department store buyer opened…
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We are completely and utterly devoted to the Chicago design scene, and we love shopping at actual brick-and-mortar stores. But every so often, our eyes wander. While sourcing an item in our upcoming January/February issue (the chandelier in the private dining area at Sepia, which you will see if you pick up the mag in a month or so), I was introduced to Atlanta-based Pieces, from where the aforementioned fixture was purchased by local designer Gary Lee. This boutique has a great, user-friendly website. All of the merchandise is searchable by clicking on key (very key) words, like Brown (or Blue or Pink or Orange or Red or Black), Ceramic, Brass, Leather, Chrome, Lucite, Lamps, etc., displayed on a banner on the home page. Click on what interests you, and you will see all the options available in this category (above see a screen shot of some of what comes up under “Green”). It’s so very easy to shop this way… and the merchandise is a great mix of vintage and new, with a glam aesthetic. Just sayin’.
—GINA BAZER
Our pick of restaurants serving the best Thanksgiving dinners
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My phone is less than two years old and my friends say I have the equivalent of an early 90s bag phone with a two-foot antenna. I’ve been on the verge of pulling the trigger on an iPhone, but the pragmatist in me says to keep waiting to reap the benefits (and cost savings) of the next inevitable iPhone ‘upgrade’ Apple will launch—most likely the day after I buy one. But now I have one more reason to be jealous of my phone-fashion-forward friends, with the stylish new Elan Form Chilewich Case for the iPhone 3G and 3GS. Created through a partnership between Sandy Chilewich and Griffin Technology, the impact resistant cover features the signature strong and easy-to-clean basketweave vinyl textile you’ll find in all Chilewich products: from bags, placemats and utility mats to woven floor mats and window shades. It’s about $40, and available in two colors (gravel and light gray) through the Apple Store and MoMa. Between this great new modern phone cover, and my inability to remember song titles (there’s an app for that), I think it’s finally time to join the iCrowd.
–Adam Moroschan
Evanston, that most urban of suburbs, finally has a cool place for a bite and brew after the movie. A deep storefront decked with raw wood beams and pinpoint lighting, The Cellar—brought to you by the folks behind The Stained Glass Bistro—skillfully blends slick and hip with cozy and comfy. Maybe it’s the seating (a … Read more
List Price: $2.695 million
Sale Price: $2.1 million
The Property: This elegant Mediterranean house in River Forest was the town’s first home this year to sell for over $2 million. In 2008, five homes in River Forest sold for over $2 million. In 2007, there were three sales in that price range.
