The Chicago Traveler

Do you like to shop in Consignment stores?  I absolutely love to.  I used to turn up my nose to them because I really didn’t know what was there.  Imagine my surprise when I went for the first time.  I loved it.  There are so many great finds there.
Consignment is of course buying someone else’s product whether it is clothes or furniture.  Some stores will sell items for you for a percentage of the amount it sells for.  Others will pay for them outright and you really won’t know how much it goes for.  We all know about Goodwill and …read more

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The current economy may not support lavish travel, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get special treatment. Guests at the Fairmont Hotel can be treated like royalty and customize their own gourmet ice cream.
Made with all-natural ingredients, the decadent dessert is made overnight and can satisfy your unique cravings. So, if you want guacamole-flavored ice cream, the chef can whip up the perfect recipe for you.
This service, which premiered in June of last year, is available daily. For less than $20, you can enjoy a pint of your own signature ice cream, designed exclusively by you for you.
From one luxurious …read more

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• If you’ve ever been to a garage sale, you’ve probably seen the chance video cassette for sale that no one wants. Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher have been collecting these tapes from garage sales, thrift stores, and trash bins. They will present them in the Found Footage Festival at Lakeshore Theater. Expect a hilarious look at workout videos, training films, and random recordings. (Oct 24)
• Costumed representatives from the Chicago White Sox, the Chicago Sky, and other businesses will compete in the relay race Freaky Fast 500 (hosted by Jimmy John’s) outside the Thompson Center. A cash prize goes …read more

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Alright, I’ll admit it. The whole retro fashion fad? I don’t get it. I stopped wearing my ‘80s outfits for a reason. But if vintage is your thing, then browse through the racks at Strange Cargo.
The racks and shelves (just north of Purgatory Pizza) are full of retro clothes, shoes, jeans, pea coats, accessories, and more. While most of the customers found perusing here don’t look like they even remember the ‘80s, they appreciate the quirky store for its old trading cards (“Saved by the Bell”?!), button-pins, and hundreds of iron-on T-shirt decals.
And just in case you don’t find a …read more

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You’ve had your eye on that super-cute fellow gym bunny on the treadmill next to you for a few days now, but you’re not going to impress anyone in that sweat-stained t-shirt and those funky (in a bad way) shorts. It’s time to update your workout wardrobe.
Just because you want to be comfortable doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish. Check out the athletic wear at lululemon. This Bucktown store (just north of Skewerz) specializes in a wide variety of sportswear—for both men and women—that has received national and international acclaim from both athletes and yogis.
Fortunately, the garments do a lot …read more

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• The 44th Annual Chicago International Film Festival begins this weekend, featuring over 100 films from 46 countries. (ends Oct 29)
• More than five dozen vendors from Chicago will sell art, antiques, jewelry, and more at the Fall French Market. The fair also includes French cooking demonstrations and kids’ activities. (Oct 17-19)
• Sixty local and national chefs are featured at the 20th annual Celebrity Chef Ball, including Top Chef: Chicago winner Stephanie Izard, contestant Valerie Bonan, and Top Chef: New York contender Radhika Desai. (Oct 17)
• Oracle Productions holds their third installment of terrifying entertainment, Disturbed III. The audience stands …read more

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• The 11th Annual Chicago Art Open presents drawings, paintings, photographs, and more by nearly 300 artists at Merchandise Mart. (ends Oct 19)
• Several local spas are taking part in the Pretty in Pink Fundraiser and offering fixed-price ($31) massages, facials, and other beauty treatments. Every participating spa and salon has made a donation to Breast Cancer Network of Strength. Be sure to mention “Pretty in Pink” when booking your appointment. (ends Oct 31)
• Want to see something spooky? Take the Chicago Hauntings Ghost Tour, featuring Hull House, the sites of the St Valentine’s Day Massacre and Eastland Disaster, and …read more

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Sometimes, there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Between work, chores, family, and friends, it’s no wonder your home is a little out of sorts. And you don’t even want to think about the stress of shopping for the holidays coming around the corner.
When you need an extra pair of hands, call Messy Mandy.
Messy Mandy, a.k.a. Amanda Wood, will help make your life unmessy. If your home office looks more like storage space than work space, she’ll help you get things in order. Too tired after work to go shopping? No worries; Mandy will pick up your groceries, jewelry, …read more

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As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, I make a monthly trip to visit family in southwestern Michigan. The trip usually takes about three hours, and I pass through several small towns along the way. In fact, in that rural area, it is not uncommon for us to visit one town to go grocery shopping, another town for dining out, and yet another to go see a movie! Of course, all the towns are within a few minutes of each other, so driving from town to town is much like driving to different neighborhoods here in Chicago.

One road that we …read more

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When was the last time you used a typewriter, or saw one for that matter? The last time I used one was over ten years ago, to write up a speech I gave in high school. And even then, it was by choice, as I had other more modern options I could have used. There is a unique joy in the sound of typewriter keys click-clacking. However, in this world of computers, laptops, and smartphones, you’d think it’d be impossible to find a typewriter. Not so.
In a small storefront in Ravenswood, you’ll find hundreds of these writing tools of days …read more

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