Filed under: EVENTS!
We can’t wait until Fridays in June when we will be towing the Eye Spy Airstream pop-up shop to some of our favorite creameries in Chicago ! Check out our spectacular sunnies *and* indulge in ice cream from 5-8pm with us!
We will be giving out free cones to the first 10 people that take a photo in our specs, post it on instagram and hashtag #eyescreamcrawl 
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Filed under: EVENTS!
We are putting the final touches on our plans for the Anne et Valentin trunk show! Here’s what’s going on:
Obviously, we will have all of the Anne et Valentin collection here!! Every single, perfectly-crafted frame in all of their glorious colors. Oh, and did we mention just how dreamy their sunglasses are for this season?! Le Sigh…
We have got some other delectable things lined up for you! We will have an assortment of delicious savory hand pies from Pleasant House Bakery ! If you haven’t had one of these delicious pies from this Beverly bakery, then get your cute face in here and chow down on Thursday, May 7th! When you are finished with the savories, move on to our sweets from Flirty Cupcakes, which will surely give you the energy to pick out the dreamiest glasses in town…
We will have crafted our own cocktails for the event as well, so after being fed and watered, you can pick out your favorite pairs from the lovely Anne et Valentin collection. And be sure to snag a pair of shades! After this winter, we all need to be outside as much as possible…so, that means we need sunglasses for all the margaritas we will be having on patios!
Feel good about your purchase of simply spectacular eyewear; We are donating a percentage of our sales from the day to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation
See you on Thursday, May 7th from 3-7pm, and bring your appetite!
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Filed under: Mykita, NEWS!, Oliver Goldsmith
Congrats to our optician Clara for passing the American Board of Opticianry test! She is a rockstar…and a certified optician too!! We celebrated by taking these yearbook-style photos…
Not everyone who sells and fits eyewear and lenses is a certified optician…but at Eye Spy, three out of our four opticians are board-certified…and proud of it!
You might think all we do is tell you if you look good in your eyewear, or not, but there is a lot more to being an optician. We take measurements that determine how your prescription lenses are made, decide on the design of the lens and the optimal material for your prescription, fit the the frame properly, select a frame that will look good with your prescription lenses, make sure that the lenses are made to the correct parameters, trouble-shoot and solve adaptation problems…and more!
So, next time you pop into Eye Spy, ask for Clara, the Optical Oracle, to help you select your eyewear!
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Filed under: Shop Local. Shop Lincoln
In order to highlight our fellow independent small business owners on our stretch of Lincoln Ave., we asked our photographer, Dave Rentauskus, to take portraits of our comrades in our spectacular specs….along with a few shots of their shops.
Alissa Fields, Queen of Specs at Eye Spy Optical
Alissa is wearing her signature Theo Cinquante in Hot Pink. The bright color really pops on this classic shape and is anything but ordinary – just like Alissa!
Also known ’round these parts as The Queen of Specs, Alissa is the colorful and funky owner of Eye Spy Optical.
Eye Spy Optical came into being after many fruitless searches for red and purple glasses. Realizing that there was a lack of fun, colorful and funky glasses in Chicago, Alissa (a.k.a the Queen of Specs) decided that the folks in Chicago deserve glasses that have some personality!
Since Alissa was a kid, she wanted to start her own business. She had lemonade stands, worked in retail starting at 4 years old in her grandparents’ lamp store and earned an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Alissa’s parents’ design background guided her interests towards well-designed and beautiful objects. The Queen of Specs wore glasses since the age of 12, and always helped her friends pick out their specs. One day, it finally dawned on her … she would love to have an eyeglass shop and fit people with spectacular specs.
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Fun Facts About Alissa:
How long have you been in business? 17 years
Who was your teenage celebrity crush? Charlie Sheen
If you could be any animal, what would it be? Mandarin Fish
Are you right or left handed? Right handed
What color are your eyes? Hazel
Where did you grow up? Rogers Park, Lakeview, Glencoe, Wilmette and Evanston…Whew!
What hood do you live in now? Mayfair
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Alissa and her staff pride themselves in outfitting customers with frames that are bit out-of-the-ordinary. Many of their customers say that they are surprised at what eyeglasses they choose for them. They always hear how much our customers love their new glasses, how many compliments they receive, how much fun they had picking out frames…and how they will return to Eye Spy again and again!
They stock frames in every color of the rainbow, and sell more red and purple glasses than black glasses. They also do a ton of special orders, so if you are looking for something specific or more sedate, they can help you find it. They have spectacular specs and shades for men, women and kids.
Eye Spy Optical offers personalized fittings, “Try-before-you-buy” digital photos of you in your glasses, expert advice, comprehensive eye exams and contact lens fittings, and honest opinions…about anything and everything!! If you let them guide you and listen to their opinions, it will be easy to decide on your new pair of simply spectacular specs.
Eye Spy Optical * 3350 N Lincoln Ave. Chicago IL 60626 * 773-477-2670
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Filed under: EVENTS!
We could not be more tired of this winter! Whew. With that, comes the all too familiar need for change… and we are here to help you out! Swing by Saturday, March 7th, from 12-4pm and get a make over! While you are waiting to get your makeup done by the wonderful Brenda Arelano, you can shop some of Milk Handmade’s lovely selection of accessories! The fun does not stop there! We will also have on hand some lovelies from Pretty Quick, who will be signing you up for free manicures! 
You know you can’t have a good party without some snacks! We will have wine, bruschetta and a few other tempting delights, to help you make some good decisions! We have had all too much of this winter, so get out of the cold and into some hot new specs at our March 7th makeover celebration!
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Filed under: NEWS!, SpexWax
When David from SpexWax came strolling into Eye Spy a few weeks ago, we could not contain our excitement!!
He sent us a sample frame the week before….and we all wanted to keep the frame for ourselves. It was a green cat-eye…..made from discarded, colorful, vinyl records!
The records were pressed by a music house in Ohio named Gotta Grooves, but were not exactly perfect. So….they were shipped to David in Cali-forn-I-A. Then, David bonds three records into one and cuts a unique piece of eyewear!!
We went crazy and bought over a dozen on the spot!! Do you love them as much as we do?? Take a peek…
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Filed under: EVENTS!
Over here at Eye Spy, thirteen is our lucky number:-) So, combine it with a Friday, and we get very excited!!! It’s about time for a celebration on our favorite day…so we are having a party!!
Join us to get your angel and fairy cards read by Noury….and enjoy some delectable macarons from Flirty Cupcakes and cocktails by us! We will be partying from 3-7pm, so on your way home from work, step on a crack, walk under a ladder, and stop by Eye Spy:-)
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Filed under: Anne et Valentin, Anni Shades, EVENTS!, Francis Klein, Lafont, Niloca, Rapp, RES/REI, RVS, Theo
We are even more excited than you are!! Why you ask? Well, we have a new custom, colorful, handmade line on the way to Eye Spy in January…and frankly, we need somewhere to put all the new frames. We don’t have any extra room at Eye Spy, so that’s where the sale comes in!!
For the ENTIRE MONTH OF JANUARY, our handmade eyewear will be discounted from 25% to 75% off, with prices as low as $99!
Swing by to check out deals over a 100 pairs of frames including Theo, Anne et Valentin, Rapp, Res/Rei and Mykita. Best of all, we will have of Lafont, Francis Klein & RVS frames that will be up to 75% off! Treat yourself to a new look for the New Year!
We are also having a Friends and Family Event! Join us on Thursday, January 15th from 11-7pm for 15% off prescription lenses as well as additional frame discounts.
Show your loved ones how you shop local and purchase handmade products that last:-)
We will have snacks & drinks upstairs…and in the downstairs family room, movies will be playing for the kiddos…along with freshly-popped corn! Honestly, what more could you want while shopping for glasses?
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Filed under: Anne et Valentin, NEWS!
If you would like to stop by our humble shop of custom, colorful, handmade eyewear…please be aware that we have some changes to our schedule due to the holi-daze!
In addition to our regular hours of Tuesday-Friday 11-7, Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 12-5, we will be open or closed as follows:
Hope to see you soon!!
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Filed under: NEWS!
The saying: “If you don’t use it you lose it,” is totally in play for Flex dollars! Seems silly, but have no fear we have you covered. We’ve added some extra exam days and are ready to help you use those dollars! We would hate to see you lose your hard earned cash:-(
Schedule your exam here, Dr. Labrosse will handle your eyes and we will take care of the rest.
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