Filed under: Anne et Valentin, CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!
Raise your glass because it is time to congratulate our newest Customer of the Week…Cheers Melissa!!!
Melissa was on the hunt for a new frame and our very own Queen of Specs got right to work to help her find a frame that is just as fun as she is – an Anne et Valentin Kodex frame in the prettiest green and pink combo we have ever seen. Melissa loved the unique shape and the little details, and the Queen was in full agreement.
Melissa is the beauty, brains and tastebuds behind Jo Snow Syrups, a delightful local line of natural syrups for spicing up your coffee, cocktails, snowcones…and really anything else that you could pour them on – we think they are especially lovely mixed with a little champagne 
Her flavors are surprising and delightful…Blueberry Jasmine, Fig Vanilla Black Pepper, Grapefruit Rosemary…is your mouth watering yet?
We love Melissa and her syrups so much that we invited her to join us for our Anne et Valentin Trunk Show in May with a variety of boozy snow cones featuring hand-shaved ice, her delightful syrups, and a splash of alcohol and at our upcoming pop-up at the Randolph St. Market Festival on Sunday July 28th!
Let’s get to know Melissa!
- What do you do for a living? I am the chief syrup officer for Jo Snow Syrups. I make hand crafted, all natural syrups for coffee, cocktails, sodas & snow cones.
- How many glasses do you have? I currently have two pairs that I can actually see out of, plus sunglasses.
- What is your astrological sign? I’m a Leo. Madonna & I share the same birthday and Elvis died on my 11th birthday
- If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would that food be? Ok, this may be a strange answer, but goi cuon. They are fresh Vietnamese spring rolls that have rice noodles & veggies & pork or shrimp wrapped inside rice paper. They are usually served with a peanut sauce, but I like them dipped in nuc mum, a spicy fish sauce. The lemongrass tofu ones at Nhu Lan Bakery are my fave. They are so refreshing & light & healthy.
- What is your beverage of choice? I love bubbles in any form, so I would have to say champagne, preferably a rose.
- What is your secret talent? Hmmm…I have a super sniffer. I am able to smell things others cannot ,which is helpful if there is a gas leak, but not so pleasant in other cases. I also have a pretty darn good palate and can pick out ingredients in dishes pretty well.
- How long have you been wearing glasses? I’ve been wearing glasses since the first or second grade. And I think those styles are back in style now. Scary!
- Would you rather have a time machine that only goes back in time or a time machine that only goes forward in time? I think only backward in time. I would love to see my husband as a child. The pictures of him are so cute. I would want to see him interacting with others & see how he got some of his endearing & not so endearing habits! I would also love to see what the city looked like a hundred years ago. I would like to see ancient civilizations & see how the continents used to be a giant land mass. I think I would be afraid to see the future.
- What is your guilty pleasure song? Sweet-Ballroom Blitz- I once had it as the outgoing message on my answering machine (remember those? Probably not)
- What is one book, movie or tv show you think everyone should know about? One of my favorite movies is Tampopo. It is a quirky movie about the quest to make the perfect bowl of ramen. It has many smaller stories happening within the main story. It’s just so much fun. I own it on VHS & DVD. We’ve also projected it on a screen & “cooked” the movie.
- What is your favorite thing about living in Chicago? All the different kinds of food we can eat in all the different neighborhoods, Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, El Salvadorian, Polish, and Jamaican.
Melissa is the sweetest lady we know and if you haven’t yet, get yourself some of her sweet treats…you will be so glad you did! You can find out more about her and her syrups, snow cones, and other delightful delectables at her website Josnowsyrups.com. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @Josnowsyrups and go like her page on Facebook – Jo Snow Syrups.
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Filed under: EVENTS!
Get Your Boogie On…AGAIN!!!
Join Eye Spy Optical on Thursday, July 21 for Lakeview Live Concerts on the Curb!
Iris the Airstream had a wonderful time at the June concert! She will be on vacaction in Wisconsin this year, but we will still have plenty of eyewear and sunglasses:-)
This fabulous event is being hosted by the Lakeveiw Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Music Exchange and Lagunitas Brewing Company and businesses up and down the block will be gettin’ their groove on to celebrate with sidewalk sales, pop-ups etc!
The bands were great and there were tons of activities for the kiddos – including a GIANT Connect 4 board that you have to see to believe!
And there was beer! Did we mention the beer? Lagunitas was pouring some of their best and most delicious beverages. You definitely won’t want to miss out on that!
AND again….since Iris’s favorite season is summer, we will be giving all of our lovely customers 10% off any sunglasses purchase during the concert!
Details Schmetails:
Who’s Playin’?
When are they Playin’? Thursday July 21st. Things will get started at 5:30pm and will wrap up at 8:30pm.
Where are they Playin’? The band will be set up at the corner of Paulina and Lincoln Ave, but there will be fun stuff going on up and down the street!
Could it possibly be free? YES!!!! The concert is free to any and all who get their butts on down here!
Where are my dancin’ shoes? I don’t know…but you better find them!
You can find more info about the concerts at www.concertsonthecurb.com and on their facebook page.
Stay tuned for info about August 18th’s event!
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Rapp
She’s got style, she’s got grace, she’s a winner…
Kate is a lady who knows what’s up and when it was time for a new pair of specs, she boogied on over to Eye Spy Optical for a new sassy look.
Kate is the Stylist and lady in charge at Chroma K8 Beautique on Lincoln Ave, a green salon that specializes in making women look their best, so she has an appreciation for all things gorgeous and glamorous with just the right hint of fun.
Kate tried on a few gorgeous frames, but the one that caught her eye was a sparkly candy colored
Rapp Eyewear cat-eye named Maeve. Vintage inspired Maeve is a as pretty as Kate and look so good with her blonde ringlets.
Stay tuned for our new lookbook – Kate did hair and makeup for our models and they look AMAZING! Here is a little sneak peek of our model Compton – after Kate did her magic.
Let’s get to know Kate!!!!
1. What do you do for a living? I’m a hair colorist & Stylist, I’ve owned my salon for almost 3 years
2. How many glasses do you have? Hmm, Probably 6 or so, but I don’t wear most of them anymore.
3. What is your astrological sign? Aquarius
4. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would that food be? If weight wasn’t an issue, Carol’s Cookies! 
5. What is your beverage of choice? Water/Coffee/Vodka & 7UP depends on the time of day
6. Do you have a hobby? Tell me about it! I collect vintage Chalkware, banks, salt & pepper shakers, planters…to name a few.
7. What is your secret talent? I know sign language fairly well, I was in interpreter school for almost 2 years
8. How long have you been wearing glasses? 30 Years
9. Would you rather have a time machine that only goes back in time or a time machine that only goes forward in time? One that goes back
10. What is your guilty pleasure song? System Of A Down – Chop Suey
13. What is podcasts do you listen to on the regular? Entreleadership, it’s for business owners
14. What is your favorite thing about living in Chicago? My family & our city’s diversity
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Filed under: Caroline Abram, CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!
Customer of the Week: New glasses, new look!
Ladies and Gentlemen…I don’t know if you are prepared for this week’s Customer of the Week. Really, you may want to take a seat because I am about to blow your minds….
You ready? Ok! Help me welcome Clint and his amazing new specs to the COTW club!
Isn’t he handsome in his new frames? I know – you need to catch your breath. But wait! There is more…
This is a picture of him in 2009!!!!
What a transformation! While Clint’s LaFont frames were a great pick back then, we think that his new Jeremi frame from Caroline Abram is a great update and looks amazing with his new devil-may-care look.
The tortoise details on the front of the frame and the temples soften the black and make this frame anything but boring!
If you are feeling inspired by Clint’s makeover, get over here and we will be happy to help you find a great new frame for your fabulous face!
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Filed under: EVENTS!
Get Your Boogie On!
Join Eye Spy Optical & Iris the Airstream on Thursday, June 16th for Lakeview Live Concerts on the Curb!
Iris the Airstream patiently waited for warmer weather and is excited to be poppin’ up with a fantastic selection of glasses and sunnies! This fabulous event is being hosted by the Lakeveiw Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Music Exchange and Lagunitas Brewing Company and business up and down the block will be gettin’ their groove on to celebrate with sidewalk sales, pop-ups etc!
Iris will have the entire collection of Monoqool 3D eyewear and Theo’s Matali Crasset collab collection, right outside of Eye Spy Optical this Thursday, June 16th for the first of 3 free monthly concerts at the corner of Paulina and Lincoln Ave!
AND….in honor of Iris’s summer debut, we will be giving all of our lovely customers 10% off any sunglasses purchase during the concert!
Details Schmetails:
Who’s Playin’? Jonas Fridle & the Majority – A Chicago based 8 piece Indie Folk Rock band that has been recognized with Song of the Year from The John Lennon Songwriting Competition, First Place in the Great American Song Contest and a nomination for Album of the Year in the Independent Music Awards!
When are they Playin’? Thursday June 16th. Things will get started at 5:30pm and will wrap up at 8:30pm.
Where are they Playin’? The band will be set up at the corner of Paulina and Lincoln Ave, but there will be fun stuff going on up and down the street!
Could it possibly be free? YES!!!! The concert is free to any and all who get their butts on down here!
Where are my dancin’ shoes? I don’t know…but you better find them!
You can find more info about the concerts at www.concertsonthecurb.com and on their facebook page.
Stay tuned for info about July 21st and August 18th’s events!
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Filed under: Anne et Valentin, CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, Francis Klein, RES/REI
We have a Two-For-One Special on Customer of the Week in Aisle 4!
Seth and his lovely wife Minglei wandered into Eye Spy a few weeks ago to select some new frames and we were completely charmed. We knew they just HAD to be featured as our Customers of the Week! Put your hands in the air and wiggle those jazz hands for Seth and Minglei!
Minglei needed a couple of frames – one for her distance vision and one for her reading. She loves cat-eye frames, so she got a beautiful tortoise Francis Klein Aries frame that really shows off her eyes and is a beautiful shape on her. We love the sexy secretary look of her Res/Rei Giulia frame – perfect for reading!
Seth picked out one of Anne et Valentin’s newer frames, On The Wave in a shade of green that perfectly complements his eyes.
Let’s Get to Know Minglei and Seth!
Ladies first…Minglei:
- What do you do for a living? I work for a charitable foundation. I also manage Chicago Art Deco Society’s Facebook page.
- How many glasses do you have? Three
- What is your astrological sign? Libra
- If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would that food be? Noodle soups!
- What is your beverage of choice? Just water
- Do you have a hobby? Tell me about it! I study fashion and architecture, and I love to read mystery novels.
- What is your secret talent? I can do some ballet.
- How long have you been wearing glasses? About 20 years.
- Would you rather: tap or swim for a whole day? Tap!
- What is your guilty pleasure song? “Beat It” by Michael Jackson
- What is your favorite place on earth? Chicago
- What is your favorite moment? The first warm day after my first winter in Chicago.
You can find some of Minglei’s posts for the Chicago Art Deco Society on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/chicagodeco/
And now Seth!
- What do you do for a living? I’m a health care policy expert working in the big data space.
- How many glasses do you have? Two pairs.
- What is your astrological sign? Tiger
- If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would that food be? Chinese noodle soup
- What is your beverage of choice? Dark Matter coffee
- Do you have a hobby? I’m active in community service as a director of Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR), a downtown neighborhood association serving the residents and businesses of Streeterville since 1975.
- What is your secret talent? I am a certificated pilot, but I usually just take the bus.
- How long have you been wearing glasses? Ever since all overhead projectors started going out of focus at the same time – I wonder why?
- Would you rather: tap or swim for a whole day? Prefer something lazier
- What is your guilty pleasure song? “Fat” by “Weird Al” Yankovic.
- What is your favorite place on earth? Downtown Chicago (when ambulance sirens aren’t blaring too loud)
- What is your favorite moment? The first time I stepped on a brand new, totally clean L car
Check out all of the latest and greatest going on in Streeterville at soarchicago.org
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Filed under: EVENTS!, HEALTH!, Non-Profit of the Month, Theo
Each month we donate a portion of sales at one of our events to a local non-profit organization that we admire. This month we are working with Peterson Garden Project and will be donating 3% of our sales from the Theo Trunk Show on June 4th!
In 2010, LaManda Joy started her first organic community garden in a vacant lot on Peterson Ave – a lot that in the 1940’s had been one of the many Victory Gardens that flourished throughout Chicago at the time. Since then, Peterson Garden Project has flourished and there are now community gardens all over Chicago, but what is even more important to LaManda is that her organization has taught hundreds of new gardeners how to grow nutritious food in their own neighborhoods.
Peterson Garden Project’s mission is to recruit, educate and inspire a new generation of gardeners who want to gain control of their food supply, grow their own produce organically, and make urban gardening the norm-not the exception.
“Learning together in the garden, and kitchen, does much more than put fresh, nutritious food on the table. It helps build stronger communities, connect us to cultural heritage, improve public health and create a more sustainable, resilient city.”
Peterson Garden Project isn’t just about gardening:
- Their community cooking school that offers classes and workshops about variety of ethnic cuisines and food cultures which draws upon the diverse backgrounds of the project’s membership. Check out their calendar for upcoming classes like Demystifying Masala: The Secret to Indian Spice Blends on June 2.
- Grow2Give is their volunteer-run program that provides local food pantries and other organizations with donated produce grown in the gardens.
- Senior/Senior, Kids in the Kitchen and Fresh Fridays are free programs geared at educating kids and seniors alike about nutrition and the joys of cooking.
Get Involved!
Go to a tea party! Peterson Garden Project is hosting a Mad Tea Party/fundraiser on June 12 at their Vedgewater Garden. Put on your finest or zaniest tea party attire and help keep the project going!
Get your hands dirty! There are still plots available at some of their community gardens, so sign up, attend an orientation meeting and grow some delicious organic veggies of your own.
Try on some new specs! Come to our Theo Trunk Show on June 4th and pick up a beautiful new pair of glasses – 3% our sales will be donated to Peterson Garden Project!
Peterson Garden Project continues to grow and there are plenty of ways to get involved – take a look at their Website, Facebook and Instagram to keep up with all of the latest gardening news!
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Filed under: Anne et Valentin, EVENTS!, Non-Profit of the Month
Each month we donate a portion of sales at one of our events to a local non-profit organization that we admire. May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month and we are thrilled to be working with the American Brain Tumor Association.
The American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) was founded in 1973 in Chicago and has funded almost $30 million in brain tumor research. They are committed to helping people of all age ranges and with all types of brain tumors through funding research, publishing educational materials and providing training to health care professionals. The ABTA is committed to “the goals of improving, extending and, ultimately, saving the lives of those impacted by a brain tumor diagnosis.”
About Brain Tumors
• There are nearly 700,000 people in the U.S. living with a primary brain and central nervous system tumor.
• Nearly 78,000 new cases of primary brain tumors will be diagnosed this year.
• Approximately 4,600 children ages 0 – 19 will be diagnosed with a primary brain tumor this year.
• Malignant brain tumors are the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in adolescents and young adults aged 15-39 and the most common cancer occurring among 15-19 year olds.
How can you help?
Come to our week long Anne et Valentin Pop-up Shop starting on May 14th from 12-5pm at Eye Spy Optical and find a gorgeous new pair of eyeglasses (or two!) – we will be donating a percentage of our sales from the pop-up shop! You can also take a look at their website and and like their facebook page to keep up with their latest news, for resources for you and your loved ones who have brain tumors, and to find out how you can volunteer your time.
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Gentle Monster
Happy Day to Marie, our amazing Customer of the Week!
Marie’s fab new Gentle Monster frames are so youthful and fun! We love the color and the shape on her.
Fafala is a great lightweight frame with shiny gold temples that make them a really versatile frame. Because Marie reads a ton, she wanted a pair of glasses to use just for seeing the computer screen and for reading. The lenses we chose for her are called occupational lenses, or indoor lenses. They enable you to see up to about 10 feet of your surroundings…and most importantly, to focus on your screen and book without any eye strain!!
And to answer your question…yes! you do recognize Marie ...she and her lovely husband were featured last year in their amazing Theo frames. Marie and her husband love unique and colorful frames and we loved her latest pick so much that we knew she had to be our COTW again!
Let’s get to know Marie!
- What do you do for a living? Drink wine and eat dark chocolate (I’m retired)
- How many glasses do you have? Only two pairs that I use regularly.
- What is your astrological sign? Aquarius….Aqua..ri..us…
- If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would that food be? Watermelon
- What is your beverage of choice? Root Beer or Pina Colada
- Do you have a hobby? Tell me about it! Crossword puzzles, because they teach me to look at things from different angles.
- What is your secret talent? I’m very intuitive
- How long have you been wearing glasses? Since the second grade
- Would you rather: tap or swim for a whole day? I’m not very good at either one. I’d rather watch movies or read all day.
- What is your guilty pleasure song? ‘Because’ by the Dave Clark Five
- What is your favorite place on earth? Hawaii
- What is your favorite moment? Any time that I’m on a dance floor surrounded by family and friends.
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Filed under: EVENTS!
We get fired up at Eye Spy about environmental issues. We are avid reducers, reusers and recyclers. So, when Earth Day rolls around, it’s hard for us to figure out what to differently to help Mother earth. This year, we racked our brains….and came up with some great ideas, or at least we think so!!
We asked the lab that cuts our lenses to save the cut and edged lenses that would normally be thrown away. We have a few boxes of them…and had planned to make a spectacular curtain out of them, but that has not happened yet:-( Soon…very soon! In the meantime, we will be using them this month for your benefit!! Drumroll please…
First, we filled up a big (actually, huge) mason jar with these lenses….and it is your job to guess how many lenses are in the jar!! If you guess correctly, YOU WIN A PAIR of PlasticDelux sunglasses!!
Next, we are putting together kits for you to take home on Earth Day and make a pendant from the old eyeglasses lenses! It is easy enough for a kid or adult to make…..and the results are super-awesome! If you cannot make it in, here are the instructions for the version pictured below….and here is another similar option 
After we pay our taxes, we might go crazy and try and make this pendant….
We are also excited to have everyone write down a pledge that they are making for the month and hang the pledge on our clothes line. It can be a pledge to stop using paper towels, ride your bike more, or anything that you can do to help contribute to making our planet a healthier and more thriving place for all of us to live.
We are also offering a few deals, of course, that are easy on the earth *and* on your pocket book….
65% off all wooden eyewear in-stock
$50 off a complete pair of prescription eyewear if you donate an old pair of functioning glasses that we can send to New Eyes for the Needy
We have instilled green practices at Eye Spy Optical from day-one.
From printing on the back-sides of used paper rescued from local businesses & schools; giving used packing materials to neighborhood business; emailing receipts; online order-entry systems; reusing dishes, cups, and silverware; urging vendors to reduce packaging, shipments, paper invoices & faxes; reducing, reusing, recycling & composting; purchasing used furniture, fixtures & office equipment; using cloth towels instead of paper; giving away felt wine bags instead of paper shopping bags; refilling eyeglass spray bottles with concentrated cleaner; installing an extra pane of glass, insulation & LED bulbs in our storefront and in-store, we tend to go a bit over-board in our desire to lessen our impact on the planet.
Did we miss anything? Let us know!
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