You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘State Street’ tag.
The best advice I have ever received was from a man named Dr. Angus Lockyer. During my first time studying abroad in London, Angus was my London Social History professor. He is English, witty and wise beyond his years. As our professor, he would lead us on long tours through the streets of London, and even though I have roots in England and have spent a lot of time in London, he opened my eyes to things I never noticed before.
One day I told him that I preferred to leave very early in the morning to get to class downtown so I could walk through the streets for two hours and take everything in on foot. He just smiled and said, “That’s the way to do it. Walk everywhere. Question everything. And never forget to keep looking up.”
That advice stuck. If you take the L or bus everywhere in Chicago, you are either moving too fast to see everything this wonderful city has to offer, or you are underground and seeing…tunnel walls. If you choose to walk you will start discovering new things. If you look up, instead of just straight in front of you, you will notice all of the gorgeous, historical architecture that is just waiting to tell you its story. Yes, in Chicago the walls do talk, they are just waiting for you to listen.
"Pssst, I have a secret!" - The Monadnock
On Tuesday I joined a tour led by Chicago Architecture Foundation docent Barry Sears on the rise of the skyscraper downtown. Armed with my camera, mobile phone (I Twitpic’d a few photos while on the tour Tuesday), pen and paper, I bring to you know a recap of the tour with some of the most interesting information.
You heard right. In this tough economy, not even Santa’s reindeer and elves are safe. In the Christmas window displays at Macy’s on State Street, the windows feature robotic reindeer and elves overseeing the process of making sure childrens’ “Dear Santa” letters get to the Big Guy.
In an unofficial statement (READ: one that I have completely made up), a Macy’s spokeswoman said, “This year the reindeers and elves usually displayed in our windows joined a union and demanded better pay. We simply did not have the budget, so we hired a bunch of robots who would work for half the price.”
When I called the North Pole, a Chris Kringle spokesman said, “No comment.”
Macy’s Christmas window displays in Chicago have been getting a lot of heat lately, some people even saying they suck.
I think the displays are cute and fun to look at, though some of the robotic reindeers look scary (see above). Despite the complaints I think it is worth it to check them out and check out the Walnut room inside Macy’s while your at it. The tree this year is boring but shiny, and we all know how much you love shiny objects.
Dev xx
The inside of P.O.S.H., taken from their website
If Williams-Sonoma had a cool cousin that was into vintage home and kitchenware and always had her own unique style, then P.O.S.H., located at 613 N. State Street, would be her! If you are crazy about your home/kitchen like I am, then you will be delighted by the rare and interesting finds P.O.S.H. has to offer.
The warm, French-feeling store greets you with an array of old hotel silver, bright hostess aprons and an array of flatware, serveware and accessories that would make any house feel more like home. Where else can you find an adorable line of sunny yellow French gnome serveware or Laughing Cow tea towels from France? Campy stuff aside, P.O.S.H. has a lot of sophisticated and charming items that are reasonably priced and will set you apart from the rather sterile, picture-from-a-magazine look your IKEA crap will give you.
Right now, I am really excited for these delicate Amelie dessert plates that are just too cute for words. I love baking cupcakes, and the spring cupcakes I am about to bake will look gorgeous on these rosy French plates, adorned with fleurs-de-lis.
Dev xx
