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Rebecca Little
Sales Check
By Rebecca Little
A roundup of sales, store openings, and shopping news in June 2008 Read more
New Dress Boutique in Wicker Park
By Rebecca Little

Dress It Up

Who among us hasn’t waited until the last minute to find a dress to wear to an event or wedding, only to run to a department store and opt for the first black frock that fits? New Wicker Park boutique le Dress (1741 W. Division St.; 773-697-9899, ledresschicago.com) may not be able to cure the panic shop, but they do offer a boutique alternative, carrying more than 40 lines of dresses in every style, from day-appropriate to evening wear. Co-owners and sisters-in-law Eva and Robyn Anderson, who both have fashion degrees and have worked with...

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Get Out!
By Rebecca Little

Alfresco Fanfare for Free

Call it a lesson in carpe sunny diem: If we’ve learned anything this spring, it’s that winter lurks around almost every corner. So if the weather cooperates on Tuesday, June 3rd, don’t dillydally inside; head outdoors for Tuesdays on the Terrace at the Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E. Chicago Ave.; 312-397-4010). First up in the annual alfresco jazz series is local rising-star trumpeter Corey Wilkes, whose repertoire ranges from classic standards to his own funky compositions. What’s more, admission is free, and it’s...

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A Taste of Brooklyn
By Rebecca Little

A Store Grows in Wicker Park

Brooklyn Industries (1426 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-360-8182, brooklynindustries.com), recently opened its first store outside New York, offering T-shirts, totes, messenger bags, and other casual threads. The brand has a commitment to eco-friendly materials and limited edition, graphic print tees ($32) for men and women, made in runs of 200. Men’s selections include shorts and pants of the snug hipster variety, plaid short-sleeve shirts ($58), and comfy, everyday wear such as the...

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All Aflutter
By Rebecca Little

Eighth Wonder of Chicago

Chicago’s globe-trotting, Grammy-winning sextet Eighth Blackbird wraps up a much-lauded tour, including an acclaimed performance at Carnegie Hall, back on home turf, 7:30 p.m. Thursday the 29th at the Harris Theater (205 E. Randolph Dr.; 312-334-7777). The night’s program, The Only Moving Thing, plays out like a who’s who of cutting-edge composers (Steve Reich, David Lang, Michael Gordon, and Julia Wolfe, plus the seminal choreographer Susan Marshall), all of whom contributed new commissions for the ’Birds. Tickets are $30, but entering the code...

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New Shoes in Roscoe Village
By Rebecca Little

Shoe Me the Way

Newly opened À Pied (2037 W. Roscoe St.; 773-281-2210), which means “on foot” or “by foot” in French, fills a sorely empty niche in Roscoe Village. Owner Trudy Robinson Foley, who also owns the maternity store Kickin’ (2142 W. Roscoe St.; 773-281-6577) down the street, is building her own little empire in the neighborhood. Styled after European boutiques, the space resembles a parlor with...

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A Cut Above
By Anne Halliday with Rebecca Little
We canvassed friends and associates in search of Chicago’s top stylists and then sent anonymous “clients” of every hair type to test their skills. The stylists profiled here earned the best ratings. Read more
Sales Check
By Rebecca Little
A roundup of sales, store openings, and shopping news in May 2008 Read more
In with the In Crowd
By Rebecca Little
The Kids Are All Right
Want to know what the cool kids are doing this week? Comic artists, zinesters, and all manner of underground publishing types convene for the Hip Lit Fair, Saturday the 17th from noon to 4 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E. Chicago Ave.; 312-280-2660). Highlights include a Comic Art Battle, which local artist Ezra Claytan Daniels describes as “one of the only times the general public gets...

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Furniture Sample Sale at the Mart
By Rebecca Little
On the Hunt

Browse furniture, fabrics, rugs, lighting, and home accents, many that are usually available only to the trade, at the Treasure Hunt Luxury Sample Sale at the Merchandise Mart (222 Merchandise Mart plaza, 7th floor; 312-527-4141) on May 17th and 18th. The selection—including samples, one-of-a-kinds, and new merchandise—is up to 75 percent off at participating showrooms such as Betty M (which marked down a chair and ottoman from $7,295 to $3,500), Filsinger, and Oriental Carpet Gallery. You can also bring in floor plans or questions for free...

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