March 23, 2009 -- Chicago-based children's charity Common Threads hosted its fourth annual World Festival event on Monday, March 23rd at the Museum of Contemporary Art. This year's festival, where nearly 700 foodies munched and mingled, achieved net proceeds of $413,000, making it the organization's most successful fundraiser to date! Funds raised will directly support after-school cooking programming for low-income children in Chicago, South Central Los Angeles, and Miami.
Photos by Randy Lee Belice Read more
March 2009
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Two tips for lovebirds have been brought to our attention lately. The first is a bridal event on Sunday, March 29 from noon to 6 at Asrai Garden, a flower shop in Wicker Park that we’ve featured in our pages before (great for those who love unpredictable arrangements). Meet various vendors who might be of use to you in the planning of your big day.
Then, once you’re ready to start thinking about your real future together—as in what kind of kitchen you imagine yourselves cooking in for years to come—consider registering at Christopher Peacock. Why bother registering for knives and food processors? Go for cabinets! The company has created a bridal registry for its kitchens, mudrooms, closets, bathrooms, or whatever form of storage you may need for all those gifts.
—Gina Bazer
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What’s your cutlery situation? Looking to upgrade or fill in some pieces? Christofle is holding a two-day sale on flatware purchases Friday and Saturday.
—JAN PARR
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Jill Dryer has a background in architecture and design (she worked at Architectural Digest for seven years), so it’s a no-brainer that elements of those worlds show up in her current work as a fine artist and illustrator. The Chicagoan will be having a one-night showing tomorrow from 6 – 9 at a loft space in the building that houses Avec, easily one of my favorite restos in the city (get the chorizo-stuffed dates and the garlicky whipped brandade, when you stop in for a snack after the exhibition). “My friend owns the building, and currently doesn’t have a tenant so she offered me the space,” explains Dryer of the somewhat unorthodox venue. “It’s a nice open white loft with wood floors, high ceilings, big windows…perfect for a show, and ideal for my purposes!” She’ll be showing paintings and prints from the series she calls “Design Meets Nature” and I call clever, colorful, and not a little silly. The lamps In “Flamingo” are Castore Suspension by Artemide, the cup in “Sandpiper” is Russell Wright, and, in one of my favorites, “Robinson Zanuso,” a bird perches on a Marco Zanuso chair in front of a Vernor Panton lamp. As a bonus, Jill’s design is well within reach—signed prints are $30, and original paintings under $1,000.
—BRADLEY LINCOLN
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