New Photographer, New Exposure

A year ago, Melissa Findlay went to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska to take pictures. "It was then that I knew this what I wanted to do, no matter the cost." After moving to Chicago, she began shooting more and more frequently...

Shots of the city


And of people...

She was walking with her camera one day and this guy just asked to have his picture taken.

Hello Dolly

Tatyana Merenyuk’s designs are, as the name of her line reddoll suggests, reminiscent of the miniature petticoats and frilly doll dresses of her girlhood.

But while she wants to,”make all ladies look like beautiful dolls,” her first concern is making clothes that are flattering, wearable, and comfortable.

Tatyana’s fascination with fashion began as was a child in Kiev, Ukraine. Her mother was a seamstress and fashion icon. Growing up, she made all Tatyana and her sisters’ clothes.

Tatyana’s clothing line blends elements of her childhood with the artistry of movies, costumes, culture, and history. Now living in Chicago, she draws inspiration from people with personal she sees on the street.

“I love Chicago. It’s truly an amazing city with super nice people and unique style.”

On Etsy: reddoll

And oh what a frill! Tatya designs custom-made dresses in addition to her clothing line.

V-Day Overload?

I know, it's another V-Day item, but I could not resist this bag by MABel. As Chi-Town designer Jessica Miller-Webster says, she "designs all her bags with personality. Who needs clothes?"

She Wears Her Heart On Her Sleeve

He's got the candle-lit dinner and night full of surprises planned. You've got, well, nothing to wear. Bless Cupid's little heart for Chicago's own Spiderlily Clothing line just in time for Valentine's Day. Spiderlily proposes wearing your heart on your sleeve or neckline for your V-Day soiree. I adore the purple heart shirt. It's just so dainty.

In The Barren Deli Chicagoland, I Miss Steve's

Steve's Deli

When I first moved from Detroit to Chicago, one of my first questions was: “Where are the good delis?” My question was promptly followed by the answer: “There are none.”

“Really? There must be a few. There are a lot of Jews in Chicago.”

“Nope, no good delis.”

I tried Eppy’s— horrible. The Bagel in Lakeview was decent, but a deli calls for more than decent. It calls for, well, the kind of reaction Meg Ryan had at Katz’s in When Harry Met Sally. Seriously, I’m asking for a damn good corned beef sandwich.

But I’m not expecting a Second Avenue Deli or a Katz’s, I’m asking for well, Steve’s. Steve’s is easily the best deli in Detroit and soon-to-be the best in Chicago.

When my younger sister heard that Steve’s was opening up in Chicago, I was elated. Their website listed the new Chicago location across from the East Bank Club so I decided to check it out one day. Not open. It was a sad day.

Metromix says their target open date is late February to early March, but for Jews, take that target opening date and bump it back at least a month. So until then, I will wait not-so patiently for Steve’s Deli to show Chicago what real Jewish deli food tastes like.

Nature vs. Industry: A Rising Artist's Canvas

Chicago Painter: Amanda Sears

TCG: Your pieces are all very different, but still have a certain cohesiveness. Is that on purpose?

AS: The building blocks of my work; lace-like patterns, typography, texture are always encouraging me to explore ideas in different ways, but I never really think about the "cohesiveness" of my work. I just paint whatever is currently inspiring me. I suppose I go through phases using certain patterns, colors, or techniques, but I rarely intentionally create them as a series.

TCG: Why are you drawn to the contrast between nature and industry?

AS: I love the raw, edgy feel of industrial design. It's slick and gritty, but there is something that inherently warns you to keep your distance. It can feel dangerous. Nature is this beautiful organic flow; warm, inviting, very alive, but it dies and there's something about decomposition that I find beautiful. I think of industry being this modern, steely, glamorous monster, but if it is not maintained nature will irrevocably take it over or break it down. I don't know if it is so much a contrast between the two that I try to express as much as it is allowing them to live together in a peaceful way.

TCG: How do you think your perception of your own work is different form your audience's perception?

AS: All anyone can ever be completely sure of is their own perception. All I know is where my inspiration might come from and how satisfied I am with the result of that expression. Once my process is finished, the viewer's begins and their perception is all that matters. I think a lot of the art world has lost sight of that and waits for other people to tell them what to think is important.

The Boy Short Of It

Chi-Town artist Sharon Parmet designed this illustration for TCG blog. And boy oh boy, it doesn't come short.

Art In The Everyday

Artist: Mike Dewar
On Deviant Art


Number 13 more or less grew out of a scrap heap of photos. While going through pictures to find intriguing things to mix, I kept finding small moments within them that seemed worth saving. When I went back through the pile, I found there was a sort of story already formed - a story about those little lost moments spent waiting for the L to take you home, or work, or into the arms of loved ones.

Red Line: One day I went down to the subway to get on the Red Line. The train came, I got on, and sat down. Lost in thought or a song or looking at something interesting, the train started moving. I felt a breeze and thought, "Wow,someone left the window open in the winter! That's a dick move." It took a second or two to realize that the subway's windows don't go down, and that in fact, the window I was sitting next to was nothing more than a gaping hole devoid of glass. I waited until we stopped then stuck my camera out the window. Click. Some people ride that subway several times a day, but who really knows what it looks like between the train and the walls?

Cuckoo For Coq Au Vin

Chicago's first French specialty store, Coq Au Vin is opening today.

Satiate that craving for saucisson (so zis saison) and cheer up your palate with a free wine and cheese tasting. Coq Au Vin means rooster in wine in French and The Chicago Girl is hoping this hen-picked event will be somewhere where you can feather your nest.

Coq Au Vin Grand Opening

Time: 7:00 pm

Location: 2256 N Elston Ave Chicago 60614 (see map)

Dress code: Casual

Five Ways To Feign Being Cultured

1) Talk about that incredible Ethiopian restaurant you ate at last night. The wat was to die for.

2) Recount your last trip to Italy (even if you've never been.) Find out the best places to stay on Fodors.com and talk about your stay at The d'Inghilterra. Throw in a few Italian sayings now and then. "Niente di nuovo sotto il sole!" Then follow up with: "That means, there's nothing new under the sun. The Italians in the little villa I stayed in love that saying."

3) Say you play squash, but if anyone asks you for a game say you injured yourself in the British Open. Still, you don't regret that day because you made it to the semi-finals.

4) Your prep school was so prestigious, you're sure they haven't heard of it.

5) Subscribe to a few contemporary art blogs and tell everyone about up-and-coming artists. You own their paintings and they're going to be worth millions.

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Q & A With Chicago Artist Katie Cooper

View Katie Cooper's artwork

The Chicago Girl: I was looking at the painting "ceci c'est pas la realite." Is Magritte your favorite artist and why? From where do you draw your inspiration?
Katie Cooper: I do adore Magritte. He is not necessarily my favorite artist, but is one who had made a huge impact on me. It was through getting to know Magritte that I fully realized that art can, and should be so much more, than "something to look nice, above a couch." Artwork is supposed to have purpose. It is supposed to raise questions. Magritte helped to make this clear to me.

TCG: How would you describe your style?
KC: My personal style could be described as a mishmash of humor, realism, surrealism, and consumerism.

TCG: Do you think about the meaning behind what you want to paint?
KC: I am interested in those things that we, as consumers, can't get enough of. I like to take this idea, and blow it up to a sort of grand scale. I take things that we use and see everyday, and blow them up in a sort of masterful style. These things then become almost holy.

TCG: What is your process?
KC: Once an idea, or an image has stuck with me for a few weeks, I go to my stretched canvas, and begin sketching in thin layers, with oil paint. Many, many layers later, I have a piece worthy of heightening the "Wal-Mart" experience to that of a holy and ritualistic one.

Hip Hip Beret

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Zannoah Chodosh creates custom-made knit-wear. She says she can custom make just about anything. I wonder how she'd respond to my request for a full-body knit suit. It's cold out there! But hey, if not, I'll take one of her berets. Find her clothing at The Silver Room in Wicker Park or contact her though Myspace.

Thank You Artists

Thanks for reading.
I'm happy to announce 1) my move to a .com 2) a substantial increase in readership and 3) that I've been getting an incredible response from artists eager to share their work on The Chicago Girl blog. I'm trying to interview and post as many artists as I can so stayed tuned and keep submitting your work. If you're a Chicago artist, designer, performer, what have you, contact me and let's get you noticed!

Best,

Melissa
a.k.a. The Chicago Girl

Gawker Artist Page

Set To Swing

Click For Chicago Culture

Goldstar is an online email service that posts events at half price.

I found this 4-session swing class for $30. They even give user ratings so you can decide whether to spend half price or not at all. That's not too shabby. I'm paying $50 for a 4-session salsa class right now.

Painting In Reverse

Artist: Meg Shea

This Chicago artist paints in reverse.\siht ogacihc tsitra stniap ni esreveR

Here's how it works. She starts sketching what she wants to paint, keeping in mind that the viewer will see a mirror image. She hones in on the details like the reflection in the pupil of the eye. Then she paints the colors in layers as they dry and overlays the white of the eye. It's a time consuming process, but it makes the colors pop.

Five, Six, Pick Up Sticks

I love local artist,

Gisela Insuaste's

installations. This one reminds me of a giant game of pick-up sticks.

Chicago Mosaic Art: Piecing Together The Parts

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I interviewed Chicago mosaic artist Valerie Fuqua to find out about how she puts the pieces together.

Why mosaics?

Mosaics allow me to take something broken and form a new whole. It's an incredibly therapeutic art form. I love combining the old with the new, creating a marriage of sorts and giving items a second life. Glass can range from chunky and fierce to delicate and wispy. I never tire of the rich textures and reflective qualities of my tesserae.

What do you like about doing commissions?
Commissions help me grow as an artist. Whether it's incorporating a broken piece of heirloom china into a mosaic or matching colors in upholstery, it's always an exciting challenge. Some of my commissions have involved building a mosaic around a treasured family keepsake or found object. It means the world to me to be entrusted with something so close to someone's heart.

Sundance: Warm Up To Short Films At Home In Chicago

From the movie Scaredycat

You have to appreciate the ingenuity of Sundance films and now you can appreciate them free and from home. So cut that trip to Utah short and watch this year's short flicks in the Windy City: Sundance movies.

The Chicago Girl wants to know--what's your favorite Sundance film?

Eye-Catching Chicago Art

Chicago artist Jeremiah Ketner

Cute Softies Oolala

Mr. Taxidriver & Miss Tangerine

Wood Carving = Good Or OK?

Would you go crazy if you had to make 1,000,000 wood carvings? I would not want to make all that wood. Would you?

One Chicago artist thinks it would be “OK.” Take a look at Cool Hunting’s profile of the artist. You can also buy an “It’s OK” carving here.

Awesome Aussies

Quick, what's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Australia? Kangaroo.

You can't bring a 'roo home to Chicago, but you can import local Aussie artwork. Here's an idea that will make you jump for joy--a self portrait shipped form down under on madeit.

Tree For Jewelry

I own a lot of jewelry and it's all stuffed in the boxes they came in. I have been wanting to get organized. Now after seeing this adorable birch jewelry stand on Urban Outfitters, I think I might have to invest.

I'm Listed On...

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Tooth & Hair Flair

The murderer took each of his victim's teeth and hair and stowed it away as a keepsake. Sounds like a real serial murder case, right? I'm not sure where jewelry artist Polly van der Glas drew her inspiration for her human tooth & hair collection from, but I'm not sure I can get past the creepiness factor--especially this tooth piece. If this catches on, kids will be begging to keep the tooth fairy away.

Email: pollypollypollypolly@hotmail.com for jewelry with a human touch.

Source: Cool Hunting

Here’s the Ticket

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly

(Le Scaphandre et le papillon)

The images are indiscernible. You can only make out shapes and even the shapes are blurry. You can focus in on a few things—TV, doctor… You hear, “Monsieur Bauby, Monsier Bauby…” You’re in a hospital.

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly begins through the vantage point of “Jean Do” Bauby, the former editor of Elle and details his post-coma life with “locked-in syndrome,” a rare illness where the mind is sharp, but the body cannot function.

Based on Bauby’s auto-biography written entirely by blinking one eye in a sort of Morse code system, the story is fascinating, sad with a dash of dry humor, and makes you think.

Bauby’s coming to terms with his sickness by using his imagination is a lesson for those of us who have ever felt trapped.

I was captivated by the movie even though it was a little slow. I wish they would have focused more on his life as an editor to get a better feel for how writing his auto-biography helped him make amends. Overall, the film’s cinematography was worth the ticket alone and was a great story about the human spirit.

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A Dashin' Of Fashion

Joanna Shadrina keeps busy between modeling, waitressing, and going to school for biology. But she still makes time in her busy schedule to hit up the stores at 900 N. Michigan.


winter style

PB And J Sammich Cupcakes

This Chicago baker says these cupcakes are the reason her husband married her. They must be some tasty PB And J Sammich cupcakes. They look delicious...

PB & J Cupcakes

What's Going On Now

Chicago's now home of the blues--fingers and toes that is. Midnight blue polish is a trend to take note of. Blue Polish

Take your blue fingers and toes and take them to: I haven’t seen the show “Rescue Me,” but if you’re a fan of Daniel Sunjata, he’s hosting the Chicago Fireman Calender Party. Even if you’re not a fan there are firemen without their shirts. I repeat: there are firemen without their shirts. This is also about the only place you can justifiably use the pick-up line: “It’s getting hot in here. Could you help put out my fire?” Relieve the fireman party Sex and the City episode at Crobar:
Friday, 1/11, 9 PM The Official 2008 Chicago Firemen Calendar Party 1543 N. Kingsbury http://www.chicago-scene.com/banads2/crobar/crobar-01-11-08.htm

$5 tango lessons tomorrow at 7, 8, and 9 p.m. South Loop Tango

2nd Fridays Gallery Night Galleries surrounding 18th and S Halsted Streets 6-10p.m. Educated Outsider Artist Reception @ Logsdon 1909 S. Halstead St. , Chicago , IL The reception goes until 10 p.m., and the show runs from Jan. 7 to Feb. 2. Cost: FREE! Official Site: http://www.logsdon1909.com Now 70% off at Express…I might just need to stop by after work

Tonight D.O.C. Wine Bar Lincoln Park 2602 N. Clark St. 6-9 p.m. No cover Event Phone Number:773-883-6000 Manicures, hand massages and specials on champagne and wine flights.

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Love It, Don't Leaf It

Inspired by these gorgeous mother-of-pearl and gold earrings by Delicate Raymond, I set out to find a few earrings you won't want to 'leaf' behind.

Metal leaflets- $8

Glass adds a little sass - $5.99

You won't find this color in nature - $4

Owl At The Moon

Owls are a hoot! You know that owls love the night life. But now you'll find more and more of these crazy creatures polishing off their morning hangover beer and tottering into the daylight. Hungover or not, these owls are so hot.


Cheeky Monkey jewelry makes eco-friendly necklaces using endangered animals as their focal point.



I'm obsessed with the hand-made arts, crafts & jewelry at Etsy.com.


More Etsy owls...You can hang this guy on your door.

Photos And Trinkets

Chicago Uncommon has some beautiful and bright prints of the city. I'm thinking about buying one for my apartment.

I'm having an egg-istential dilemma. Should I buy art for my apartment or art for my neck? This necklace by Stephanie Simek is made from a real quail egg.

Baby Bites

Haven't heard of Challah bread? Then you haven't tried the best French Toast (unless you've had brioche,) which is pretty similar to challah. Here's a recipe tip from Jew to you: Challah French Toast. I made it this last night substituting creme for skim milk. Who am I kidding?

Speaking of your bread and butter, I went to a free wine tasting at Lakeview wine shop, Que Syrah. They had a wine chart that showed you the flavors wine can taste like. One was toast and another was butter. Anyone had a glass of wine that tasted like toast? While Que Syrah is a clever name for a wine store, I wouldn't recommend the wine tasting. I didn't really like any of the wines they had to taste. I inquired as to how they chose the wines. They were mostly chosen because those wines were overstock. Next time I'll go to Chicago's, The Tasting Room for the free Saturday wine tasting.

What else are people drinking these days? Well, Juno likes to drink Sunny-D and you'll enjoy the hilarious dialogue in Juno. The soundtrack is pretty awesome too. Check out the title track ,“Anyone Else But You“ by The Moldy Peaches.

Chicago Art

Looking for beautiful and moderately priced artwork? U Gallery
has some gorgeous artwork done by student artists. Find artwork by students at Columbia and School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Art by
Maryam Garber
Kate Puenner

My First First Friday

Tomorrow will be my first time going to "First Fridays" at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Do two firsts make a second? I don't know, but I hope they don't make a third so said the two virgins.

http://www.mcachicago.org/programs/ff.php?page=friday

Tickets are $10 online plus a $3 handling fee. What exactly do they handle?
$15 at the door

I Have Found The Underground

I had heard about this allusive Chicago "Pedway," but today was the first day I took my route to the L below ground level. The ped-people have done a pretty good job of hiding this pedway from plenty of pedestrians I thought.

Upon first entering the pedway, I was in awe. There's a Starbucks down here? You know you're somewhere when there's a Starbucks. Then I felt frustration. Why couldn't I have known about this on previous cold days? Then anger: why was this pedway kept from me?

As I went to get my coffee at Starbucks, I told the barista: "I never knew this existed."
"Me neither," he said. Pause. "Oh, yeah, I work here...But I didn't know two weeks ago. What was I doing?" "Getting me coffee." "Oh, right."

The Ped makes people act in funny ways.

My initial theory was that this Pedway was meant to be kept from the public. Only a certain elite group of pedestrians would get to relish in this underworld.

Try asking someone for directions to the Pedway and they'll say, "Oh, just turn left, another left, right through some glass doors and another right and it's right there."

But it's not widely used because, for most, it takes longer to get places. But for me, it makes sense. I learned that I can walk directly from work to the L without ever walking outside.

Scarf Or 'Chute?

While beautiful, this Mulberry printed silk & wool blend scarf is way out of my price range. Yeah, I think I'll take a plane ticket to Mexico instead. That's cheaper. If I were rich, maybe I'd wear this scarf in Mexico. If I were rich and and eccentric. More likely: me buying this scarf or me parachuteless parachuting? $595. I wonder how much the skydiving trip costs...





http://www.net-a-porter.com/Shop/Accessories/Scarves