Spring Cleaning Extravaganza! LGS at Perchance

If your closet is bursting at the seams, we've found a solution for you. Luxury Garage Sale (the ultimate consignment service for the fashion-consious set) is going to be at Perchance this Thursday accepting your gently loved designer duds. Should they consign items from your closet, you in turn get 20% off to shop for some new goodies at Perchance (located in the newly dubbed Waldorf Astoria Chicago). Pretty much a win-win on all fronts!

 See details below and start cleaning out those closets now! click on image to enlarge

Starting THIS Sunday

*photo via Paris Club

Tonight!

North Coast Lineup: Take 1

First round of lineup announcements for North Coast Music Fest went live last night. Tickets available here. More headliners to be announced soon.

Thoughts? We're a little underwhelmed over here.

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Lolla Lineup 2012

It's here! It's here!

The Lolla line-up was officially announced this week and Perry Farrell did not disappoint this year. With an eclectic mix of indie, mainstream and electronic acts, our biggest concern is how they are going to fit in all this amazing music in just one weekend.

Now that the acts are announced, we will be on the lookout for the schedule. Let's just say that if Florence + the Machine and Avicii are playing at the same time, we are going to have a MAJOR dilemma on our hands.

What do you think of this year's line-up? Is it better or worse than years past?

click on image to enlarge

Lagunitas Hits the Chi

This just in: Lagunitas owner Tony Magee took to Twitter last night announcing the opening of a Lagunitas brewhouse in Chicago. Though based in Cali, Magee was born and raised in the Chi – so the new addition is a natural fit for for the crew.

What we can expect: a 250-barrel setup ready to churn out the first mash in late 2013. Location is set at 18th and Rockwell.

As the craft beer scene continues to make a home in the Midwest, we’re excited for the addition of a “Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’” right here in the Chi.

Best of 2012 Dining

Chicago Magazine recently unveiled their picks for the top 20 new restaurants to hit Chicago in the past year. What we learned from the list? We still have a lot of eating to do.

Included in the list are a few of the expected heavy-hitters (a la Next, Tavernita and Slurping Turtle), along side some surprises (Goosefoot snagged the #1 spot).

Check out the full list here.

*photo via Goosefoot

Bottega Veneta Designs Suite for Park Hyatt

As if NoMI didn't already wow us, the Park Hyatt Chicago just upped the ante. The luxe hotel has partnered with iconic fashion brand Bottega Veneta to design the ultimate suite. Titled, The Lake Suite, the 1,400 sq. foot room beautifully mirrors the label's understated elegance while also featuring a full living room, kitchenette and two bathrooms.

While we aren't sure of the room rate quite yet, if it mirrors the prices of Veneta's handbags, we should probably start saving now.

Photo via Park Hyatt Hotel

Tonight! Luxury Garage Sale at Spiaggia

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Go See: Cascabel

Love story meets circus meets Mexican feast. Basically three of our fave things rolled into one three-hour show.

Oh. And did we mention there’s comedy and dance involved as well?

Chicago chef-extraordinaire Rick Bayless has joined forces with creators of Lookingglass and award-winning author/producer Heidi Stillman to introduce Cascabel, an interactive dining and wining (via pours from an aerialist…of course) experience combined with a theater production that Bayless himself acts in.

From the show:
"In this sensual tale of love and hunger, the audience will join the guests of the boardinghouse Cascabel at their courtyard table. From his meager kitchen, the mysterious new cook conjures an enchanting cuisine, which seems to give those who eat it fantastic and magical abilities. But he is singularly focused on the proprietress of the house, a melancholy woman with no interest in his food, who barely ever leaves her room. Will she ever try a bite? And what will happen if she does?"

We don't know what will happen if she does, but we can't wait to find out. Get your tickets now – Cascabel runs through the end of the month.

*photo via Chicago Tribune

Celeb Stylist Occupies Trump

What do you, Gwyneth Paltrow and Michelle Williams have in common? Unless you have an Oscar, the answer is probably, not much. That is, until now. This summer, Anthony Cristiano (celeb hairstylist to the likes of the above, Demi Moore, Uma Thurman and more), will open a 3,400 sq. foot salon in the Trump Tower. Offering everything from cuts, color, waxing, make-up applications and manicures/pedicures, the new salon will overlook the Chicago river in a space that has been vacant since the Tower's opening. In addition to a full-time staff of stylists, Cristiano has promised that he will be leveraging his network of celebrity beauty experts on the coasts to make occasional stops in Chicago.

While cuts will run you anywhere from $75-$350, (the higher end being for a cut from Cristiano himself), we'd be willing to try it out considering Gwyneth rarely steers us wrong.

French Market Amps up Offerings

For those Metra riders and River North/West Loop dwellers, you now have even more to love about Olgilvie's French Market. One of this city's best hidden secrets, the French Market will be adding new stations to its already impressive resume of fresh produce, quality meats and a well known vendors (RAW, Saigon Sisters and Pastoral, to name a few). Joining the market will be Klay Oven (an Indian restaurant with locations in River North and Oak Park) serving up organic vegetables with Indian flavors, Wisma (a gourmet food and wine shop with two north suburban locations) with prepared salads, sandwiches and desserts, EJ Sushi and Superior Nut and Candy.


If it's been awhile since you made your last visit to the French Market, now seems like the perfect time to give it another go. (131 N. Clinton, Open Monday thru Saturday)