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October 2009
Insider Fabric Source, Pasquesi Party, Sales Galore
By Bradley Lincoln
Window treatments intimidate me. There are a lot of premade panels, blinds, poles, and gewgaws for hanging available, but I’m never sure where to measure or hang the rods, and I’m not a fan of big contrasting buttons, tabs, or clips. My partner Peter and I have been talking about changing up our sunroom window situation for quite some time... Read more
Virtu for You

Virtu is a cute little Bucktown shop that’s been around for a while, and every time I go in I’m reminded of why I like it so much. Owner Julie Hororwitz Jackson carries practical and fun items such as these FDA-grade silicone placemats ($18 each; shown above) by Modern-Twist, along with doilies ($25 per pair) and coasters ($23 for box of 4). Cute easy-to-clean placemats are a very good investment in my book.

—GINA BAZER

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Olympic Fallout
By Dennis Rodkin
Last Friday I was part of a panel on WBEZ discussing Chicago’s failed Olympic bid. Asked to anticipate the impact of the decision on the local housing scene, I responded essentially as I would have had Chicago emerged a winner: Not much. Read more
Made in Italy
   

I confess that European Furniture Importers on Grand is one of those showrooms I tend to forget about, even though I bought some stools there a few years ago. So I was happy to get a note from them about two new pieces, both from Cattelan Italia. The Goblin table by Modus Studio has a thick glass top on a solid walnut or oakwood stained wenge base. It comes in several sizes and shapes. The Kayak sideboard by Andrea Lucatello comes in polished white or black lacquered wood and has a three-dimensional jewel design on the doors.

—JAN PARR

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Bucktown's Newest Spa
By Bridget Maiellaro
Music to Our Ears
While working as a massage therapist for a handful of big-name spas, Chicago native Lizzie Harris decided she could do it better. The entrepreneur waited a year and a half for “the right moment,” and, despite the economic recession, recently opened her first business venture, Spa La La (2300 W. Armitage Ave.; 773-772-5252, spalalachicago.com), in Bucktown. “I figure if I can... Read more
Weekend Photos: Sweetwater Tavern and Grille
In the face of a 70-strong beer list, suddenly all of your past happy hours seem sort of … melancholy. Aiming to cure your 6 p.m. beer yen: Sweetwater, a new afterwork spot from the folks behind The Boundary that opened last Monday on Michigan Avenue. We gave it a few days, then sent our photographer down to scope things out. She found a Thursday-night crowd rosy with... Read more
Dead Reckoning
By Geoffrey Johnson
Part of O'Hare's expansion has stalled, blocked by the religious beliefs and constitutional claims of the 160-year-old St. Johannes Cemetery. With the court battle nearing its end, time may have run out for the old burial ground Read more