|
 |
September 26th, 2008
Hey, hey, whaddya say? Go Cubs go! What a week. Our best friend and her new hubby returned from an adventurous Australian honeymoon, their glowy happiness just dripping off of them after one heckuva rock n' roll wedding and Daft Punk-infused reception three weeks prior. They're lighting up the city with love, and we think love may be in the air for all of us this fall. Regardless of the Forbes list (Chicago was named the "most stressful city"), we think things are looking up. Like Ed Vedder says in the new Cubbie anthem, "When you're born in Chicago, you're blessed." And it looks like if our starry city skies align just right, our beloved team may in fact go all the way. (Cue the refrain: Yeah, someday we'll go all the way!) Not to mention, we are on the cusp of Chicago's Fashion Week (Oct. 1–8), a delectable display of our city's fabulosity. And when you read Chicago Picks, you know you're loved too. Because one lucky reader will score a free stay at the luxurious Hotel Allegro! Just forward this issue to 10 friends and CC picks@chicagopicks.com for your chance to win! (And check out last week's Chicago Picks for more on the Hotel Allegro.) |
||
Chicago Picks: |
|||
| 1 | Bad-Hair Heaven Over the years we've accumulated many a blow dryer. We have something similar to a styling tool graveyard. A coiffing mausoleum, if you will. Why? Because our hair sometimes… blows. It's pretty unruly. And our windy city surely blows the heck out of it. When it's just us against the elements, the elements win every time. Much to our delight, there is a new place in town destined to take our hair from flat to fab, and fast. Co-founders Sue Leonis and Lori Montana have just opened Blo.Dri, a new hair-finishing salon modeled after specialty salons in other cosmopolitan cities. Blo.Dri keeps the focus on "blo" outs and chic updos. You get plenty of bangs for your buck too—the blo.outs are only $25–30 a pop. It's a great way to gather with girlfriends and get gussied up while catching up. Especially if you opt for the "Champagne blo.out" with champagne and a gift. Another reason to love Blo.Dri? They use locally designed hair products from Natomy, as well as the fabulous Farida B from France. It's time to get Farah Fawcett fabulous. Frequent Blo.Dri nine times, and the tenth time is free! Blo.Dri |
|
|
| 2 | Take the Dive We don't want to brag, but we're pretty cultured. We're true aficionados of all things French—well, French fries, that is. The fry factor often becomes the key standard by which we evaluate a menu. Sub-par spuds are grounds for an immediate breakup, but tasty taters can signal the start of a beautiful relationship. Well it was head over heels, shout it from the rooftops, love at first sight at Ukrainian Village's High Dive. Hands down, this cozy neighborhood bar has the best fries and tots in the city with crispy cuts in original, Cajun, or ranch seasoning—any which way you can't go wrong. A close second to the fries are the Buffalo chicken and steak fajita wraps, the Ahi tuna tacos, Buffalo wings, and oh, just about everything on the menu. We also dig the indie rock playing on the jukebox and the ginormous booths that are perfect for a large party. Set a date with romance… and a fryer! Tried and true, High Dive is the real deal, ladies. High Dive |
|
|
| 3 | Peace of Cake We all have recurring New Year's resolutions (can you say, “lose 10 pounds”? Or how about, “clean out the back of the closet”?). Our prime culprit is to "find inner peace,” and with a few months left in the great '08 we're determined to not let it show up on the fine '09 list. We're not hopping aboard a flight to India to meditate, but thanks to the opening of Chaos Theory Cakes, we've successfully upped the culinary piece-of-mind factor. Brought to us by Michelle Garcia of the Bleeding Heart Bakery, the Lakeview pastry shop offers bold twists on classic desserts. Topping the list is a treat fit for Popeye—the spinach-based green apple and purple onion cake. Other concoctions include chocolate tarts with a curry mousse, sweet potato cupcakes with a cranberry topping, handmade root beer marshmallows, green tea sponge cakes garnished with red beans, and chocolate cupcakes infused with bacon and topped with a peanut butter and smoked bacon frosting. Peace, love, and cake for the rest of '08! Chaos Theory Cakes |
|
|
| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Grandma Chic During our travels, we’ve come to realize that comfort has taken a whole new style definition. In Brooklyn and Seattle, for example, if you’re going to do effortless chic it must include a pair of grandma shoes. All the hipster girls are pairing Worishofers (a classic German comfort shoe) with uber-cute dresses and boho tops. It’s so fug-a-liciously adorable we instantly had to jump on the bandwagon; and we’re so glad we did. Now we can walk for hours without the fear of blisters—plus they complement our ragamuffin editrix wardrobes. |
 |
|
| 2 | Yes, We Shawl Fall can be a precarious season to navigate. With daytime temps fluctuating between the 50s and the 70s it can be a bit challenging when it comes to outdoor apparel. Our solution? Wrapping up in the cozy-chic shawl we spied on Etsy. This offbeat beauty is hand-woven on a loom from 100% organic wool. Completely seamless, it can be reconfigured in a variety of ways for maximum versatility, plus it comes in a myriad of cool colors to please every palate. |
 |
|
| 3 | Rock Steady Seems like the tween set is on to something. They have all become budding Miley Cyrus rockstars! Very cool indeed. Had we been playing drums instead of doodling all day, we'd be well on our way to sexy rockstardom, right? We can always fantasize. And indulge in Rock Star perfume from Rich Hippie. Chemical-free and 100% natural, with scents of tropical flowers and Madagascan vanilla bean, it’s sensuous and racy—just like our inner rockstar. www.rich-hippie.com |
 |
|
Hip Happenings: |
|||
| 1 | Sweet Shecky's Swag Sip on unlimited cocktail and beverages while perusing over 50 emerging designers, all on sale! This is an event not to be missed as Shecky's sales and Girls Night Outs are notoriously amazing all across the country. Look for saucy finds from Chic Ztudio, Divine Sole Boutique, Cookie Lee Jewelry, Soul Rang, Volang, and many more! What: Shecky's Girls Night Out |
 |
|
| 2 | Fashion Freak-Flag Time What: Gen Art's Fresh in Fashion |
 |
|
| 3 | Fashion is Power Fashion is about feeling beautiful, sexy, and empowered! Stop by for a night of fashion shows, burlesque acts, a silent auction, and complimentary drinks from 4–5 pm. Your donations will help prevent sexual violence in schools, enhance the PAVE empowerment program (Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment) and create a national network of affiliates. What: Fear No Fashion Charity Event from PAVE and Lather Chicago |
 |
|
Playing at Wrigley, our diamond, our jewel. The home of our joy and our fears. Keeping traditions, and wishes anew, the place where our grandfathers' fathers they grew. Someday we'll go all the way. Yeah, someday we'll go all the way. Let's go Cubs!!! |
|||
Be sure to visit www.chicagopicks.com and check out past issues in our archives. If you like what you see, forward to a friend and encourage them to check out www.chicagopicks.com and subscribe for free! It's easy--there's a box in the upper left to enter your email address. If you would like to make a suggestion, please email us at contribute@chicagopicks.com. Share your favorite ideas for Picks, tell us about terrific products or services, announce a sale or event, or let us know what you think of Chicago Picks! Website and weekly issues maintained by Studio Ridge.com. |
|||
