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Chicago Creation: Ali's Collection

Local designer Alicia Mohr's unique cuffs are perfect for summer.

June 18, 2013

Ali's Collection blue agate cuffs.
Ali's Collection's blue agate cuff ($75) is our pick for a standout summer accessory.

A crop of perfect-for-summer cuff bracelets comes from right here in Chicago. Alica Mohr's Ali’s Collection comprises everything from earrings to rings and necklaces and bracelets, but we're especially fond of the extra-wide cuff bracelets that feature multi-hued agate pieces—no two are exactly the same—affixed with prongs to a gold or silver band ($75). Our favorite is the blue agate for the way it mimics the ocean’s vibrant colors.

It’s no accident that we associate water with Mohr’s deep blue agate. “[One thing] that repeatedly influences my designs is the beautiful chaos and organic shapes found in nature,” the designer says. “I grew up in rural Vermont and am at home in the outdoors.” Other notable inspirations are the bright hues she discovered traveling through Malaysia, Thailand, and Northern Africa; and “the dynamic movement created by the laws of physics that can change the look and feel of a piece throughout the day,” Mohr adds.

Though Mohr likes to keep production close to home by using materials from US-based companies if an option, the gorgeous agate comes from Brazil. “When I source things outside of the US, it’s because I am going to the best source of the materials,” she says. “Brazil is the number one source for the world’s agate.”

This summer, pair the cuffs with basic, monochromatic whites or neutrals for a beach-chic ensemble. The bracelets are available locally at Cerato (3451 N. Southport Ave., 773-248-8604), Comfort Me Boutique (701 W. Armitage Ave., 312-255-1412), and Handle With Care (1706 N. Wells St., 312-751-2929), or online at shop.aliscollectionjewelry.com.

by elle eichinger

 

Haberdash Pops Up at theWit

The men's store opens a Loop outpost for the summer season.

June 17, 2013

Chicago’s stylish hotel, theWit, gets an extra dose of chic with the opening of a Haberdash pop-up in its lobby. The shop opened at the end of May and will run through Labor Day, providing men with perfect pieces all summer long. 

We’re most excited about the inventory: the store will stock the same rare brands as the original side-by-side State Street locations, Haberdash Bespoke and Haberdash EDC. Guests can shop footwear, apothecary goods, and accessories from Quoddy, Malin + Goetz, Filson, Ashland Leather, and more.

But the pop-up is much more than just a shopping destination, as the Haberdash brand infuses its signature style into other aspects of the hotel, too. Both the bellmen and the front-desk staff will be real-life models for the store, donning new uniforms created and styled by Haberdash. Plus, theWit is offering a style-and-stay package which sets guests up with a $50 credit to Haberdash, as well as a personalized styling session, a face and body set from the apothecary, and a custom tie or pocket square. Click here to book the package.

If you’re not interested in an overnight stay, stop in at State and Lake, the hotel’s adjacent bar and restaurant. For the duration of the pop-up, the bar will offer a signature cocktail in partnership with Koval Whiskey—dubbed the Suit and Tie, it’s made with Koval Whiskey, orange bitters, and huckleberry. 201 N. State St., 312-239-9542

by elle eichinger

 

Brooklyn Cruiser Rolls into Chicago

These high-end city bicycles add style to your commute.

June 17, 2013

NYC-based Brooklyn Cruisers come to Chicago.
Brooklyn Cruiser's signature Driggs 3 three-speed bicycle in Tangerine ($579) and handcrafted wooden bike crate ($80).

Just in time for summer, NYC-based bicycle brand Brooklyn Cruiser makes its Chicago debut, introducing a line of stylish, vintage-inspired commuter bikes to the city. Logan Square’s Boulevard Bike Shop—which celebrates its tenth anniversary this month—is the first retailer in Chicago to carry the bikes.

Though Brooklyn Cruiser has only been around for two years, founder Ryan Zagata looked further into the past for his design aesthetic. The bikes are vintage-inspired—reminiscent of Raleighs from the 1950s—with old-school touches like double kickstands, leather accents, and the brand’s signature cream-colored tires.

The stylish bikes allow their riders to be just as chic. Step-through models such as the Willow 7-speed ($579), new this summer, are practical for skirts and dresses, and chain guards protect your white pants or pricey pumps. Add a handcrafted wooden bike crate ($80) featuring Cruisers’ laser-etched logo to hold a briefcase or purse.

Though the look is vintage, the functionality is always up-to-date—Zagata works with customers and stockists to constantly improve the design. The alloy and stainless steel construction and front and rear wheel fenders are super-sturdy and the internally geared hubs require almost no maintenance (should it require a rare tune-up, Boulevard Bikes employs expert mechanics). 2535 N. Kedzie Blvd., 773-235-9109

by elle eichinger

 

What We're Reading

Jay Cutler gets hitched, the Blackhawks' playoffs run, Charlie Trotter's hits the market…

June 14, 2013


Former Michigan Avenue cover star Jonathan Toews sports facial hair for good luck during the playoffs.

In honor of a tradition started in the 1980s, the Blackhawks players—and many fans—are growing out their facial hair during the Stanley Cup playoffs. Here, playoff beards in photographs. [Huffington Post]

It seems Chicago sports stars have a lot to celebrate this week. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler tied the knot with fiancée Kristin Cavallari in Nashville over the weekend. Catch a first look at the bride’s beautiful Monique Lhuillier gown. [E Online]

Back in Chicago, Charlie Trotter’s has auctioned off most of what was left behind after it shuttered last summer—including a stocked wine cellar—and now the restaurant itself is accepting bids. The Lincoln Park space hit the market last week for $3.8 million. [Chicago Eater]

In style news, Chicago retailer Lance Lawson—the eclectic mind behind the 900 Shops’ space519—spends 48 hours in London and shares his shopping picks. [The Richmond]

Meanwhile, a local bakery creates the first-ever “dossant.” [Chicago Magazine

by elle eichinger
Photography by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

 

3 Father's Day Dining Picks

Chicago restaurants offer an array of specials for dad this weekend.

June 14, 2013

Rockit Burger Bar's The Macdaddy Burger.
Rockit Burger Bar's MacDaddy burger (specially priced for Father’s Day) features a black angus patty with braised short rib, mac and cheese, and caramelized onions.

Japonais
For dads with a taste for authentic Japanese, this River North restaurant is grilling up Robata items paired with a craft beers. For example, smoked wagyu, plated with house ponzu and wasabi, is perfectly complemented with the dark and hearty Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. A lighter Sapporo is served alongside Australian baby lamb chops with miso mint sauce, shaved scallions, and grilled summer peaches; and seafood lovers will enjoy the Australian rock lobster with miso butter and shiitake mushrooms paired with Japanese Snow Weizen. Specials are available Sunday, June 16, 5 pm-close. 600 W. Chicago Ave., 312-822-9600

mk The Restaurant
Chef and owner Michael Kornick—along with executive chef Erick Williams—is introducing diners to his coming-soon restaurant venture, County, by gifting dads with a bottle of the new resto’s homemade barbecue sauce and a gift card to be among the first to try County when it opens. In the meantime, feast on mk’s meaty dishes like the bone-in filet, a 14-ounce filet mignon with garlic-scented fiddlehead ferns, fava beans, and fennel, served with a choice of cognac peppercorn, béarnaise, or horseradish cream. Reservations recommended; dinner service on Father’s Day starts at 5:30 pm. 868 N. Franklin St., 312-482-9179

Rockit Burger Bar
The Wrigleyville outpost of River North’s Rockit Bar & Grill is offering a few brunch items inspired by the man of the family. Start dad off with a Manmosa—a signature Rockit creation, the cocktail features the traditional mimosa ingredients of Champagne and orange juice supplemented with Grand Marnier and topped off with a Goose Island 312 beer. To eat, try the aptly named MacDaddy burger, a black angus patty piled high with braised short rib, mac and cheese, and caramelized onions. Sunday brunch is served 10:30 am-4 pm. 3700 N. Clark St., 773-645-4400

by elle eichinger

 

Weekend Recommender: June 13-16

Celebrate Dad's Day with a Porsche preview and boat show, or plan a night out with the girls.

June 13, 2013

Progressive Insurance's Chicago In-Water Boat Show.
31st Street Harbor is home to the 2nd Annual Chicago In-Water Boat Show this weekend.

Progressive Insurance's Chicago In-Water Boat Show
Thursday, June 13-Sunday, June 16
The In-Water Boat Show returns to Chicago, anchoring at the 31st Street Harbor. Seasoned guests can shop for sailboats while amateurs may sign up for boating lessons. Or, dive into fun summer activities like stand-up paddleboarding on the lake. $10 tickets can be purchased on chicagoinwaterboatshow.com. 3155 S. Lake Shore Dr.

Girls Night Out at The Bar Method
Thursday, June 13, 7:30 pm
It’s ladies night at The Bar Method’s newest studio, where guests will enjoy a rigorous barre-based class and hear a post-workout presentation from dating expert Bela Gandhi. The Chicago-based Gandhi is the founder of Smart Dating Academy, one of the top dating coaching firms in the nation. Reserve a spot by calling the studio at 312-573-9150. 1 E. Delaware St.

Paella Cooking Demo at Café Ba-Ba-Reeba
Saturday, June 15, 10 am-12 pm
Lincoln Park’s Café Ba-Ba-Reeba is known for its Spanish-inspired fare, like their takes on tapas and paellas, which guests will learn to cook in this class. Attendees will taste test their dishes alongside wine pairings, and everyone will leave with a tapas recipe booklet and paella cookbook. Reserve a place ($35) by calling the restaurant at 773-935-5000. 2024 N. Halsted St.

Porsche Concours
Sunday, June 16, 10 am-2:30 pm
The Porsche Club of America-Chicago Region hosts its annual Concours in Long Grove this weekend, where dozens of Porsches will be on display for judging. Check out the different models, chat with the owners, and enjoy lunch at a cozy Long Grove resto. To enter your own Porsche for judging ($25), call Michael Grove at 708-363-1294 or e-mail mgrovecpa@comcast.net; admission is complimentary otherwise. Towner Green, near The Village Tavern, 135 Old McHenry Rd., Long Grove

Rebuilding Exchange’s Father’s Day Workshop
Sunday, June 16, 10:30 am-1:30 pm
Dads can spend their dedicated day in the workshop at Rebuilding Exchange, the reclaimed wood design shop whose unique creations can be seen in restaurants like Big Star and Longman & Eagle. Attendees will learn to use woodworking tools like a band saw and spindle sander, and go home with their own handcrafted beer caddy, perfect for summer barbecues. Visit eventbrite.com to purchase $105 tickets for couples. 1740 W. Webster Ave., 773-252-2234

by elle eichinger

 

George Clooney's Casamigos Tequila

The actor's 'house' tequila launched recently, and would make a perfect gift for dad.

June 13, 2013

Casamigos Tequila.
George Clooney’s Casamigos Tequila (available in Blanco and Reposado) is available at nightlife destinations like Paris Club.

Launched in early spring, Casamigos Tequila recently made its Chicago debut, appearing on cocktail menus at hot spots like Paris Club, American Junkie, RPM Italian, and the Bar at the Peninsula. The liquor is the brainchild of Academy Award-winning actor George Clooney and his close friend Rande Gerber—a restaurateur with one liquor label, Caliche Rum, already under his belt—and named after Clooney and Gerber’s side-by-side retreats in Mexico. (Mike Meldman, CEO of Discovery Land Company, is also a partner). Though this is the first time the public gets a taste, Clooney and Gerber have been sipping Casamigos for more than five years while perfecting it.

And perfect it they did. Available in both Blanco and Resposado, the resulting tequila is an incredibly smooth blend, so much so that it requires no salt-and-lime chaser. The fine taste is the result of an intricate distillation process that begins with 100% Blue Weber agaves from the Jalisco Highlands of Mexico and ends with Gerber and Clooney personally testing each and every batch.

Even the bottle is a work of art. Clooney imagined the classic John Wayne scene—a bartender slides a bottle down the bar and Wayne uncorks it with his teeth—as an inspiration for the stopper. The rest of the bottle follows suit with unadorned glass as smooth as the contents inside, and a primitively-styled label that bears Clooney’s signature. It’s the type of bottle you might imagine washing up on shore with a message inside, preferably along the beaches of Mexico.

Casamigos is available by the bottle at Binnys (213 W. Grand Ave., 312-332-0012) and would make the perfect Father’s Day present. 

by elle eichinger
Photography by Andrew Macpherson

 

Trunk Club's Jason Smith on Roscoe Village

The VP of merchandising—and new dad—shares his favorite neighborhood spots.

June 12, 2013

Trunk Club's Jason Smith.   
Jason Smith, Vice President of Merchandising at Trunk Club, with his son, Griffin.  

Having just wrapped Trunk Club’s second successful designer series partnership—this time with ETON—the vice president of merchandising for the luxury menswear delivery service, Jason Smith, finds himself with something else to celebrate.

This weekend, he’ll enjoy Father’s Day with his 16-month-old son, Griffin. Smith gave us his favorite spots in Roscoe Village, where his family resides.

What do you like about living in Roscoe Village?
JASON SMITH: Roscoe Village is for guys like me that still want to feel like they live in the city, but don't want to be out on the town until 5 am. It is a fantastic neighborhood filled with a lot of young professionals and families. We can walk to our favorite restaurant, coffee shop, and bar, and tend to run into our neighbors pretty frequently when we are out and about. It feels like a real community that exists within the city.

As an expert in the field, how would you describe men’s fashion in the area?
JS: Overall, when you compare a city like Chicago to a city like San Francisco, guys in our city just dress much better; they care about how they present themselves. Roscoe Village has a very different feel than, [say], Logan Square or Bucktown. On a workday, I see lots of sport coats, some suits and ties, and chino-based work wear. On the weekends, it tends to be denim-based looks with oxfords or a patterned sport shirt. What I am seeing more and more is guys focusing on fit, and buying clothes that complement their bodies.

Father’s Day is coming up—what are some of your favorite spots to take your son?
JS: We spend a lot of time at a park right around the corner from our house on Lincoln [Avenue]. Griffin just figured out how to walk up a slide and is very proud of himself. I also have a bike with a seat on the back for Griffin. We love jumping on the bike and heading down to the lake. Chicago is just a fantastic city for kids, given how much there is to explore and do: The Children's Museum (700 E. Grand Ave., 312-527-1000), Lincoln Park Zoo (2001 N. Clark St., 312-742-2000), [and] the Shedd Aquarium (1200 S. Lake Shore Dr., 312-939-2438).

Where do you go in your neighborhood when you want to get away for a date night?
JS: [My wife and I] love to explore new restaurants and make a point to pick a new one each month. We tend to head out on the town to get our culinary fix, [but] Endgrain (1851 W. Addison St., 773-687-8191) just opened in our neighborhood and we have been hearing great things about it—it’s on our list for our next date night.

Do you have any other Roscoe Village favorites?
JS: Roscoe Village Bikes (2016 W. Roscoe St., 773-477-7550) is fantastic. [It has] exactly what all retailers should shoot for: great service, a knowledgeable team, an awesome assortment, and just really friendly people.

by elle eichinger

 

Nora Dunn at Drury Lane in Boeing Boeing

The SNL alum performs in a comedic play previewing this Thursday.

June 12, 2013

Nora Dunn in BOEING BOEING at Drury Lane.
Chicago's own Nora Dunn stars in Boeing Boeing as a '60s housekeeper.

Drury Lane begins its preview run of Boeing Boeing tomorrow (June 13), and officially unveils the play next Thursday (June 20). The production’s subtitle, “non-stop comedy,” isn’t just a clever play on words—with funnywoman/Saturday Night Live alum Nora Dunn in a starring role, the audience will be in stitches even after the final curtain.

Boeing Boeing may have debuted in 1962 but its comic capers are timeless. The plot follows Bernard, a playboy architect courting three separate flight attendants at the same time. Dunn plays Bernard’s housekeeper, Berthe, who reluctantly—but hilariously—helps him keep track of his affairs. Eventually, the scheme begins to fall apart due to the introduction of a new Boeing airplane, flight delays, and schedule changes.

With elaborate sets made to mimic the play’s Parisian setting, and retro costumes, the Boeing Boeing production offers as much creatively as it does comically. The play runs through August 14 and, if you can’t get enough of Chicago-bred Dunn, check out her one-woman show Mythical Proportions opening August 20. Tickets for Boeing Boeing, $35-75, are available on ticketmaster.com. 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, 630-530-0111

by elle eichinger
Photography by Brett Beiner

 

6 Gift Picks for Father's Day

From a bourbon-based spa treatment to a luxe steak for grilling, see our unique gift ideas.

June 11, 2013

by elle eichinger

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