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April 2010
Weekend Photos: The Shady Lady
Cue the pipe organ: The Shady Lady (712 N. Clark St.; 312-624-9008), a new circus-meets-burlesque lounge in River North, opened to the public last Friday, and our photographer was onsite to catch early adopters mugging for the camera. The bar marks the return of the once and future nightlife entrepreneur Dion Antic to Chicago’s bar scene. Antic is... Read more
Garden Variety
 

Thousands of tulips and daffodils greeted guests at The Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques & Garden Fair this weekend. My heart really gets racing for the display inspiration here. The dealer booths are packed with enough ideas to send you straight home to reconfigure and recover your furniture, rehang your artwork, and spruce up the tabletops arrangements in every room and on your patio. A vintage baseball mitt collection, shell assortment, even ‘40s swimsuits became art when framed. A pristine pink Salterini wrought iron patio set from Martha Peck was a show stopper. Ginsing root burl chairs from Pagoda Red were also faves. Michael Del Piero conducted a standing-room-only tablescape demo that had everyone swooning. William Heffernan Landscapes created a yards-long French picnic complete with white kites, moss covered stone benches, and baguettes that was beyond perfect. Molly Flavin floral design of Lake Bluff is a new favorite for her custom arrangements. Just think—just 11 months til next year’s show!

–Barri Leiner Grant

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The One Question I'd Like to Ask Blago
By Carol Felsenthal
If I ever land another interview with Rod Blagojevich—I suppose I could wait until next Sunday and call his weekly WLS-AM talk show—I’d ask him why he didn’t just serve his terms as governor in a reasonably honest manner and then do what legions of retired legislators do: grab a job at a law firm and rake in a seven-figure salary... Read more
Glenview Foreclosure Sparks a Bidding War
By Dennis Rodkin
List Price: $990,000
Sale Price: $1,355,000
The Property: In another sign that homebuyers may be turning their attention to the bargains available on the foreclosure market, the bank that had control of this 16-room Glenview house received seven offers... Read more
Want to Meet a Whole New Crowd? Try Film School at Facets
By Penny Pollack
The 36-seat venue that plays host to Facets classes—six-week-long film series with facilitated discussions—is the most uncomfortable theatre ever. Some of the seats are broken. The ceiling has decades-old water stains. The room is usually too hot, although once in a while it’s too cold. The ladies' bathroom has all sorts of warnings about slow flush and seems always on the verge of running out of paper. Even the popcorn is bad... Read more
Best wedding gifts for spring
By Barri Leiner Grant, Rebecca Little, Megan Lovejoy, Bridget Maiellaro, and Hillary Proctor
April Showers: Spring’s most chic bridal gifts, fit for all types of stylish couples Read more