MacKenzie-Childs’ Play
Crosell & Co. home store has devoted the entire second floor of its charming Bucktown cottage setting to the MacKenzie-Childs line of country-crafty ceramic and enamel dinnerware, wooden painted furniture, and other bed-bath-and-beyond items. This Thursday, May 20, from 5—8 p.m. you can get a sneak preview of the goods at an opening party to celebrate the expanded offerings, and pick up a free heart plate ($65 value) if you splurge on $150 or more in other M-C purchases. That offer stands for the entire weekend-long trunk show as well. MacKenzie-Childs merch, which you may very well have spotted at Neiman Marcus and Saks, is produced on a 65-acre former dairy farm in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York by more than 100 artisans. It’s pretty distinctive, whimsical stuff, and this shop-within-a-shop will be a good opportunity to experience its full, fanciful effect. These dishes are in the new Flower Market pattern.
Glamour Grills
Vesta kitchen and home showroom is feeling summery, and hosting a kickoff event Thursday to celebrate the upcoming grilling season and introduce these sleek new Element grills by Fuego. They’re portable, sell for $450 to $650, come in a range of finishes, and are a stylishly compact alternative to behemoth rectangular grills that require a major space commitment. (If you pick one up tomorrow, Vesta will toss in a free pizza- stone accessory.) There will also be tips and trends on general outdoor entertaining and decorating by Chicago Home + Garden’s editor Jan Parr. The party gets cooking at 5:30 at 1355 West Concord Place, and continues until 8 p.m., parking is available, and you should RSVP to crhornof@vestachicago.com.
Pooch Party
Chicago artist Anne Leuck Feldhaus is a huge dog person, and has developed a reputation for her colorful, commissioned pop art portraits of mans’ best friends (cats and other critters too, don’t fret), as well as the quirky cartoonish sculptures and paintings she sell at her Roscoe Village gallery and studio, online at her Etsy shop, and at art festivals all over the Midwest, including fairs Bucktown, Wells Street, and Gold Coast (which is moving this August to Grant Park, by the Art Institute—go figure). This Friday, 5—9 p.m., Anne is inviting dog and art lovers and their human and canine friends over for some art, wine and treats. There will be an adoptable (and I’m guessing adorable) guest from Chicago Canine Rescue in attendance, and anyone that brings in items for CCR’s Roscoe Village shelter will get a certificate good for 20 percent off any of Anne’s original artwork. Paper towels, garbage bags, and detergent are of special need to the shelter.
Pendleton Plushies
The Portland, Oregon–based Pendleton company has been making iconic, preppy woven wool blankets and coats for something like 140 years, but the family-owned business has taken a fun new direction and started to offer its American Indian patterns in bedding and bath options. Urban Outfitters is now carrying the company’s oversized, vibrant bath towels in a softly sheared cotton velour. Measuring 70” by 40” and priced at $48, these are great for adding some spicy Southwestern panache to a cabin or summer-home bathroom, or even to take to the beach or pool.
Chiasso Closeouts
One of my favorite shops for affordable modern home design options is Chiasso, and this weekend is their semi-annual clearance sale at the company’s Bolingbrook warehouse. Prices on overstock, returns, and samples will be 25 to 75 percent off on furniture, rugs, clocks, lighting, and office accoutrement, and if you show them this coupon you can take an extra 5% off purchases over $75. Punch 473 Woodcreek Drive into your GPS and head out there Saturday and Sunday for the savings, from 10 a.m.—6 p.m. both days.
Scandinavian Selections
Last month’s Eames auction at Wright didn’t play out exactly as planned (an ownership dispute between the consigners of several lots and Lucia Eames, the daughter of Charles and stepdaughter of Ray Eames, forced Wright owner Richard Wright to understandably hold off auctioning those lots until proper proprietorship has been determined), but no such shenanigans are anticipated for next week’s sale of high-standing Scandinavian furniture, lighting, and tabletop items. This plumply proportioned floor lamp is among the 47 lots to be offered—it’s by BjØrn Wiinblad, stands at more than five feet tall, once lit up the lobby of a Dallas hotel, and is expected to sell for between $7,000—$9,000. Items are available for viewing now through Monday, May 24, and hammer time is Tuesday at noon.