List Price: $1.4 million
The Property: In the early 1980s, the modernist sculptor Ruth Duckworth converted this former pickle factory into her home and studio, with work space on the first floor and living space above. Now 91 years old, Duckworth is retiring and moving to England, where she has family. She listed the building for sale last week.
Clearing Customs
Big shakeup at Custom House (500 S. Dearborn St.; 312-523-0200): Shawn McClain, the original exec chef/partner/driving force, is on his way out at the South Loop standout. While still a part owner, McClain and his long-time partners at Custom House, Green Zebra, and Spring, Sue and Peter Drohomyrecky, are trying to figure out how to divide…
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
Window treatments intimidate me. There are a lot of premade panels, blinds, poles, and gewgaws for hanging available, but I’m never sure where to measure or hang the rods, and I’m not a fan of big contrasting buttons, tabs, or clips. My partner Peter and I have been talking about changing up our sunroom window situation for quite some time…
 |
 |
Virtu is a cute little Bucktown shop that’s been around for a while, and every time I go in I’m reminded of why I like it so much. Owner Julie Hororwitz Jackson carries practical and fun items such as these FDA-grade silicone placemats ($18 each; shown above) by Modern-Twist, along with doilies ($25 per pair) and coasters ($23 for box of 4). Cute easy-to-clean placemats are a very good investment in my book.
—GINA BAZER
Last Friday I was part of a panel on WBEZ discussing Chicago’s failed Olympic bid. Asked to anticipate the impact of the decision on the local housing scene, I responded essentially as I would have had Chicago emerged a winner: Not much.
 |
 |
I confess that European Furniture Importers on Grand is one of those showrooms I tend to forget about, even though I bought some stools there a few years ago. So I was happy to get a note from them about two new pieces, both from Cattelan Italia. The Goblin table by Modus Studio has a thick glass top on a solid walnut or oakwood stained wenge base. It comes in several sizes and shapes. The Kayak sideboard by Andrea Lucatello comes in polished white or black lacquered wood and has a three-dimensional jewel design on the doors.
—JAN PARR
In a North Side townhouse, Old World elegance meets modern joie de vivre
Music to Our Ears
While working as a massage therapist for a handful of big-name spas, Chicago native Lizzie Harris decided she could do it better. The entrepreneur waited a year and a half for “the right moment,” and, despite the economic recession, recently opened her first business venture, Spa La La (2300 W. Armitage Ave.; 773-772-5252, spalalachicago.com), in Bucktown. “I figure if I can…
In the face of a 70-strong beer list, suddenly all of your past happy hours seem sort of … melancholy. Aiming to cure your 6 p.m. beer yen: Sweetwater, a new afterwork spot from the folks behind The Boundary that opened last Monday on Michigan Avenue. We gave it a few days, then sent our photographer down to scope things out. She found a Thursday-night crowd rosy with…
