Results tagged “magnificentmile”

Dozens of wide-eyed shoppers pranced into the new Zara store on Michigan Avenue during the Spanish retailer’s first hour of its grand opening this morning, with several people opting to go into the office late, or not at all, in an effort to slowly absorb all 35,000 square feet of the largest Zara store in the U.S. (Hello, H&M? Hi there. Your competition has finally arrived.)

• As expected, Mayor Daley named Richard Rodriguez to replace Ron Huberman as President of the CTA. Daley also appointed Rosemarie Andolino as aviation chief.
• Former Bulls player and television analyst Norm Van Lier passed away today at the age of 61. Van Lier was a three-time all-star for the Bulls from 1971-1978.
• The Republic Windows and Doors plant where workers staged a sit-in last year has been bought by the California-based Serious Materials, who plans to rehire the plant's former workers.

This Thursday, The Glass Experience opens at the Museum of Science and Industry. We are super excited to see work by artisans like Dale Chihuly and Tiffany, among others, and maybe Benjy can go pant at the pieces by Frank Lloyd Wright. Glass pieces from renowned schools and studios from around the world will also be on display.

The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association wants us all to “Feel Magnificent,” and this month apparently that means knocking back the bubbly. Throughout February, businesses on the Magnificent Mile and its surrounding area have been serving champagne to diners and shoppers all along the Avenue, which means we have T minus 7 days to score some free (or reduced) sparkling goodness. The Mag Mile web site can fill you in on everywhere that’s filling flutes, but here are our suggestions on where to stop along your own personal “Champagne Crawl.”

Every morning on our way to work, the Brown Line takes us past a building declaring itself as Noble Horse Theater. We always peered down from our perch up on the L and wondered what this place is all about, and could sometimes even see horses hanging out in a paddock the size of three Old Town brownstones.

Here are some newsworthy items to dwell on while we still wonder why Karl Rove can't leave now. The Mercantile Exchange cuts 380 jobs as it continues its merger with the Board of Trade. St. Sabina's roof is in disrepair, forcing services to their school auditorium. A fire that killed a mother and two children in Naperville this weekend was set by the mother. Lakeshore Athletic Club is closing its 441 N. Wabash location...

There's about to be some empty spaces on North Michigan Avenue, the likes of which haven't been seen on the Magnificent Mile for 15 years. Lord & Taylor will soon shutter the doors at its Water Tower Place location, and it will be 2008 before American Girl Place moves from its current spot on Chicago to take over a portion of the space. With CompUSA closing up shop on Chicago as well, retail vacancy for...

This weekend many MLS fans were expecting to hear about new acquisitions to their teams via the Major League Soccer SuperDraft, which takes place tomorrow in Indianapolis. Los Angeles has upstaged the entire MLS SuperDraft hullabaloo by finally, after months of rumors, inking a deal to bring soccer star David Beckham to play with the L.A. Galaxy. Beckham agreed to a five-year, $250 million deal with the Galaxy and will leave Real Madrid at the...

Despite the overall increase in department store shopping, 2006 has been a disappointing year for such shops in the city. From Macy’s takeover of Marshall Fields (and the resulting low sales) to the closing of Carson’s on State Street, the department stores where many of us grew up shopping have been having a tough time with Chicago buyers. While the plight of Macy’s/Marshall Fields and Carson’s is well-known, two other Magnificent Mile mainstays are struggling,...

Yesterday marked the return of the Fannie May flagship store on Michigan & Wacker. The store is now four times the size of the store that was there, which is awesome because that store could get totally cramped. Expecially around the holidays. The new design was done by Chicago-based Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture and is supposed to be more warm and contemporary. For the history buffs, there's now a "Heritage Wall" that shows Fannie May's Chicago roots, dating back to 1920, and has a collage of vintage photographs.

The latest in a string of new gadget peddlers will be making themselves a new home on Chicago's Magnificent Mile.

As some of you may know, a lot has been said on Chicagoist regarding the issue of street performers. A lot.

Tomorrow night, the Chicago Historical Society kicks off their "Out at CHS" lecture series with a look at how modern historians interpret same-sex relationships in the 19th Century. Scholars from area universities will discuss the lives of Jane Addams, Walt Whitman, and Charlotte Cushman through the modern perspective.

After a rainy, rotten week, Chicagoist is counting down the minutes to the weekend. All that junk about "cellar door" being the most beautiful phrase in the English language? Buh-buh-buh-bullshit. Try "it's Friday." Or "my treat." Or "open bar." Really anything that involves a) not working and b) recreation. To the Batcave! Um, check that, to…the newspaper listings!

Chicagoist needs a tropical vacation, and bad. It's been so dank the last few days that the only way to combat our sniffles is to spend several days under the warm, delicious sun, drinking margaritas, and playing Marco Polo. Drunk Marco Polo. Just kidding, water safety is really important. Too bad we're not part of the Illinois legislature's Latino caucus, cause if we were, we'd be freshly back from a vacation to Puerto Rico, paid for by lobbyists and large companies with local interests. Marco!

Chicagoist stopped by the Chicago Tribune Magnificent Mile Art Festival this morning before work since it is right outside our office in Pioneer Court. We were really impressed by the quality of work displayed.. this is not your average weekend art fair! The show will be going on today through Sunday and includes sculptures, photography, jewelry, pottery, ceramics, and paintings created by over 200 award-winning artists from across the country. The festival was rated one of the top 100 art festivals in the nation by Sunshine Artist magazine, the art industry�s leading publication. It will also feature live music every day.

For two days Modern Bride and Bride's magazines are taking over Michigan Avenue and hosting the Wedding March on the Magnificent Mile. This event features celebrity seminars, top Chicago wedding experts, a 'Bridal Bash' kick-off party, a bridal fashion show, bridal makeovers, chef demonstrations, wine tasting, cake and floral displays, private shopping, gift bags and more. Chef Charlie Trotter's class is tempting to Chicagoist, but we would rather gouge our eyes out with a spork than surround ourselves with all this bridal fanfare.