By Sophie Bross       Gemini in Lincoln Park has always been a revered neighborhood favorite often referred to as the “Cheers” of the area by locals. With a deep and loyal following it is no surprise that Ballyhoo Hospitality opened a twin restaurant, Gemini Grill in late March. Nestled in the heart of the One Chicago building, Gemini Grill is poised to captivate the city’s trendsetters offering a nod to the original Gemini in Lincoln Park while holding reign as the latest and greatest new venture among Chicago’s vibrant dining scene. For those who love the origi ..read more

By Stephanie Van Alyea Quirk     Emily Robertson Opening Night at Villa Terrace          Photo Courtesy Laura Couture Photography   So much is happening this spring around town. Firstly! on April 18th the exhibition “Dyed Well the Feminist Rug Hooking Practice of Emily Robertson.” opened at Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. Emily Robertson is an American textile artist who uses traditional rug making techniques to create complex and imaginative designs.   Chelsea Garden rug by Emily Robertson          Photo courtesy of ..read more

    By Adrian Naves       Outside view of The Choo Choo diner located at 600 Lee St in Des Plaines.   There was a time when cell phones were something only secret agents had access to, by taking off their shoe and placing it on their ear. A time when TVs had antennas and 16 inches was considered a big screen. A time when people would go to a diner and grab a burger and milkshake – a place where people would hang out and grab a bite without hurting the wallet. Nowadays it’s quite a rarity to find a low-cost eating joint that you can take your friends and family t ..read more

      By Judy Carmack Bross       Board Member Kipper and Bud Hendrick at the Irish Georgian Society’s week of celebration in Palm Beach   They might have been seeking sunshine in Palm Beach, but  several Chicagoans found themselves in their imaginations in Irish 18th century homes non pareil in fine architecture and spectacular interiors.   Through lectures and parties at some of Palm Beach’s chicest locations, The Irish Georgian Society invited Chicagoans and others to live the legacy of the Honorable Desmond Guinness who first came to Palm Beac ..read more

    By Judy Carmack Bross       Photo credit to Victoria Sprung Photography.   If you are a child or one at heart, think tree house and something wonderfully peaceful happens. For a cat, the Tree House Humane Society can mean compassionate care and hope for a loving home. For the community, it means vaccine pop-up sites, helping outdoor cats find long-term living solutions, and affordable pet care for our city with emphasis on vaccination, spaying and neutering.   Photo credit to Victoria Sprung Photography.   Working Cats are a significant part of t ..read more

      By Judy Carmack Bross       Jacqueline Stewart, Director and President of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures   With Chicago native Jacqueline Stewart now Director and President of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and host of Turner Classic Movies as honoree and producer, author and entrepreneur Chaz Ebert as her interviewer, everything about FACETS Screen Gems Gala May 1 says hurray for Hollywood.  Even the online auction glitters with movie related prizes.  What about a meet and greet with Stewart at the Academy Museum as part of a ..read more

    By David A. F. Sweet       As beautiful as murals can be, even indoors they begin to deteriorate (albeit at a glacial pace) once the final brushstroke is applied. The process accelerates if unforeseen factors occur — especially if water leaks upon them.   Workers restore the eight murals — including the one of Homer to the right — at Lake Forest Library.    That’s what faced Lake Forest Library seven years ago. Built in 1931 and dedicated to the late bibliophile Kersey Coates Reed, thanks to a donation from his widow and sister-in-law, cracks in it ..read more

1550 North State Parkway         By Megan McKinney   In continuing our series on Chicago’s great co-op buildings we are suggesting that  the leading developer of these may well have been Benjamin Marshall.   Benjamin Marshall   Among Mr. Marshall’s loveliest designs is the glorious wedding cake building at 1550 North State Parkway, above.  Built in 1911 as a co-operative—with an individual unit, including servants’ quarters, to each floor—the building converted to condominium in 1977.   Mr. Marshall’s handsome buildings dominate what is pos ..read more

    By Philip Vidal       I clearly remember the terribly, cold, windy and rainy weather the first week of May when I helped a friend move into a new apartment. I also vividly remember when I was the best man at a wedding during the first week of May.  It was so hot that the groom fainted not once, but twice.  Though at the wedding, it may have been the prospect of marriage, not the heat.   Every Chicagoan has experienced the city’s changeable weather in May, and with few exceptions, events this month are held indoors, even though it feels like summer i ..read more

    By Michelle Crowe       Chic sunglass style, photograph by Andrea Placquadio   Sunglasses are the favorite accessory of style icons everywhere. Nothing else adds glamour as quickly as throwing on a pair of statement shades. Some seasons are especially loaded with striking sunnies shapes. This seems to one of them.   Classic aviators, photograph by Nitin Dhumel   Aviators Aviator sunglasses are an iconic symbol of timeless coolness and adventure. Originally designed for pilots in the early 20th century, these shades have since become a staple acces ..read more