The Vintage Advantage
Like resale bargains with hipster cred, but not the schlepping all over town, from parks Wicker and Rogers to Andersonville, to peruse the inventories of our dozens of dealers? This Saturday is the first of Katherine Raz’s (left in pic) and Libby Alexander’s (on the right) pop-up flea markets, called The Vintage Bazaar, with more than 40 invited vendors setting up shop at the DANK Haus, 4740 North Western Ave., a German cultural center with a big, beautiful ballroom on the fifth floor (the gals rented it out for the occasion). “We wanted a location that wasn’t, well, Wicker Park necessarily,” says Raz, who also pens the thrifty shopping blog BackGarage, and Alexander, who writes AlexanderSalvage. “Libby’s in Edgewater and I live in Albany Park, so this was our happy medium. It also has a cash bar, and nothing goes together better than shopping and drinking!” There will be music provided by CHIRP (the Chicago Independent Radio Project), food from Tipsy Cake Bakery and “great vintage finds of furniture, housewares, and clothing at affordable prices,” Raz promises. Get your thrift on and your drink on from noon until five, February 27.
Argentinean Artifacts
After the big sale at Architectural Artifacts last year, I was wondering how they were going to be able to restock the huge Ravenswood store. No worries, as owner Stuart Grannen is an inveterate traveler, and crates of his latest handpicked shipments have recently arrived from South America. This trip, Grannen grooved on some rare sports cars in Argentina and had them shipped stateside, as well as a cool 1959 Argenta mini-pickup truck that functioned as his ride in Buenos Aires. “It runs great and can also haul some weight,” he says. “It’s really so ugly it’s cute.” Yes it is, and the novelty of items like this are one of the reasons I like to stop by AA and check out the inventory. Also just in from Argentina (and a smidge more practical for most of us) is a folksy collection of patchwork furniture and obelisks made of vintage, reclaimed wood. This colorful bench is $1,200. Olé!
Southern Exposure
Leslie Hindman has gone fishing. (For consignments, not seafood—although I’ll wager she’d come up with a good use for a hammerhead shark and some paddlefish at her next sale.) The established Chicago auction maven has cast a net down in Naples, Florida, with the hopes of reeling in lots and lots of lots for upcoming sales. Southern Florida has long been a popular retirement spot for wealthy Midwesterners with a penchant for pastel twin sets and blindingly plaid pants, and Leslie got the idea to open a regional branch of her business when she was vacationing there herself. The sunny offices are in the Third Street South shopping district, and they’ve already had opening parties and brought in jewelry specialists to provide free consultations and woo clientele. Here’s Leslie at the opening, flanked by a couple of Neapolitans.
Cushy-Cushy-Coup
The spring upholstery sale starts this Friday at Jayson Home & Garden, and this year it includes all in-stock and custom orders of sofas, chairs, ottomans, and beds. Through Sunday, March 28 you can save a plush 20 percent off all of these items, and the savings are offered in store and online. This handsome Olivier chair, for example, upholstered in beige cowhide with antique brass nailheads, was originally $2,795, so with the discount, that’s—hold on . . . carry the one . . . two goes into nine . . . AAACK—it’s a good deal, that’s what it is!
Moseying Moser
The lease is up on Thos. Moser’s handsome space in the landmark Tree Studios building, and it’s with a heavy limb that I’m reporting they have decided not to renew or relocate, and will be closing the nearly decade old Chicago branch of the Maine furniture maker on March 28. Until then, they are having an inventory clearance sale and will be marking down prices on seating, tables, beds, desks, and sideboards. I’ve enjoyed many receptions, presentations, and exhibits at Moser over the years, and will miss the smart, friendly staff and classy, impeccably crafted handmade furniture. The company’s Maine shop and customer care center will remain open, as will six other showrooms on the East and West coasts.