Fantasy Shopping for the Magazine Antiques

When The Magazine Antiques' web editor Carolyn Kelly asked me to select my favorite things at Chicago's Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair this weekend, my first thought was "how fun!" But when it came down to it, I realized I needed a strategy: do I choose an object because it is "important" and "best example of its kind" or because it appeals to me personally.

In the end, I decided to pursue an altogether different path, which I hope you'll find more interesting: objects which are beautiful as well as intriguing - whether in design, materials, or history.

Click here to view the slide show and let me know what you think - what you REALLY think.

The EEE Artropolis Travel Guide

If you are also going to Chicago for Artropolis, here are a few recommended sights to see, boutiques to shop, and restaurants to dine courtesy of lady-on-the-scene and fellow Sotheby’s Institute alumna Mia Lewisman.

To See

The Chic Chicago exhibit is going on which is a great way to see some of the costume collection from the Chicago History Museum. The museum is a great way to get a sense of Chicago’s past and the Great Fire. 1601 N. Clark St
Tel: 312.642.4600

The Chicago Architectural Boat Tour ….Mia’s fave thing to do in the city."If the weather is nice…it will be fantastic." Ticket booth directions: Go to 465 N. McClurg Court (just south of Illinois Street and McClurg) and walk east on the River East Art Center’s promenade to the Ticket Office. Tel: 312.527.1977.

A walk through Millennium Park

The Driehaus Museum Access to museum at 50 Erie Street. Tel: 312.932.866 You may remember the photo of Mr. Driehaus' living room in the Neoclassical Moderne chapter of RR.

To Eat

Blackbird 619 West Randolph Tel: 312.715.0708

Avec 615 West Randolph Tel: 312.377.2002

Le Colonial…937 No. Rush Street (between Oak and Walton Streets) Tel: 312.255.0088 an old favorite, right across from the newly opened Barneys which in turn is located at 15 Oak Street St and does have a Fred’s

RL ….great ambiance and great people watching. You can do lunch or dinner there. [Editor's note: Yes, RL as in Ralph. Located adjacent to the world's largest Polo store] 115 East Chicago Avenue Tel: 312.475.1100

Tempo… an old fashioned Greek diner with reasonable eats on the corner of State and Chestnut. The omelets are huge and amazing! Open 24/7. 6 East Chesnut Street Tel: 312.943.4373

To Shop

Ikram – of course! [Editor’s note: too bad you can’t buy Mrs. Obama’s biceps as well] 873 North Rush Street

Blake…It is located in an old post office and on Chicago Avenue near the gallery district (River North). 212 W Chicago Ave (between Franklin St & Wells St)

If you are at Blake…head up to Wells street to walk around and see some of the new galleries and shops popping up. This area is not far from the Gold Coast…so all easily walking accessibility. Both beautiful stores with fantastic clothes…..

Branca 17 East Pearson Street (two short blocks west of Michigan Avenue- between Wabash and State) Tel: 312.787.1017

Further Afield….

Buck Town/Wicker Park - Great little boutiques and restaurants and you can see the old punk shops and thrift shops on Milwaukee. However…this area has changed in the last two years with Scoop NYC and Marc by Marc Jacobs opening…more “trendy” now than arty but still a cool area. Francesca Forna is a great place for lunch/brunch or dinner. Hejfina is a cool store/gallery…cool clothes (Comme, Maison Martin Margiela, etc) coupled with furniture, books, etc.

The Miss Havishams Come Home

For more than a year, this pair of bergeres have haunted our living room. Their exposed stuffing and hanging shreds of ivory damask gave us no choice but to nickname them the Miss Havishams.

After purchasing oh-so-many different fabrics from my favorite online sites, I eventually committed to this Scalamandre Willow pattern lampas found on designdivafabrics.com Its muted pinks made me think of Newport in the 20s.


Then, with the help of Beth Martell of Randall Ridless LLC, I navigated the dark waters of the D&D Building and bought this smashing Glen plaid raffia from Schumacher. Although those nailheads look a smidge too big for my eyes, these snappy numbers are definitely not Dickensian anymore.



Stay tuned for my tufted homage to MC!

A Design A-Ha Moment

How could I be so foolish? How could I be so thick?

I have long been smitten by this room Emilio Terry designed for the Raymond Guests' Paris residence, not least of all because of the incongruity of the graphic carpet among the gilded old world opulence.

While in Los Angeles for the antiques show, Mr. EEE and I visited the Getty Villa in Malibu which replicates the Villa dei Papyri at Herculaneum in its prime 2000 years ago. Boom! Here in the Outer Peristyle Gardens was this mosaic...

which must have been the inspiration behind Terry's rug, no?

Click here to read more about the Guests' apartment courtesy of the incomparable Aesthete.

Top photo from Nouvelles réussites de la décoration française, 1960-1966

Chicago Artropolis May 1 Lecture: The Regency Revival from Deco Greco to Hollywood Glam

EEE will discuss the interpretations of neoclassicism during the twentieth century—from the Art Deco designs of Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann to the silver screen set designs of Hollywood. With an exploration of how during the turbulent years between the two World Wars, many people—from socialites to housewives—turned to the high style and comfort of the Regency style instead of the cold tubular steel of Modernism, and how such legendary designers as Dorothy Draper and David Adler were able to find their voice in the Classical tradition to create spaces that were as modern as they were timeless

Where: The Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair

When: May 1st, 1:00pm

Book signing of Regency Redux to follow. To R.S.V.P. click here or call or 312.527.6885. Generously sponsored by CINOA and the Magazine Antiques.

Special for EEE readers: click here and enter promotion code: CINOA for a complimentary pass to all three Artropolis events.

Photo: Stephen Tennant's Wilsford Manor - originally decorated by Syrie Maugham but amply embellished by Tennant