Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Unique Frame Lines
Clap your hands for our new Customer Of The Week…Calvin!
Calvin bought his first pair of specs from Eye Spy wayyyyyyyyyy back in 2001 and has been a loyal customer ever since.
On Calvin’s last visit, he was looking for a new pair of cool new specs and our Design Maven, Sara, was quick to find a great pair of new Piero Massaro frames.
These handmade Italian frames are so comfortable and stylish with their handmade acetates and fun details. Eye Spy is one of the few shops in the US to carry these unique frames and the designer only makes 100 of each frame in each color, so you won’t be seeing anyone else in Calvin’s new specs. 
Calvin looks stylish and cool in his new frame and we are sure he is out there getting compliments right and left!
Continue Reading >
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
Continue Reading >
Filed under: Anne et Valentin, CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Theo
Happy Day to Customer of the Week…Phyllis!!!
Phyllis was getting too much attention in her limited edition kelly green Anne Et Valentin Sagan sunglass-turned-optical frame – not the WORST problem to have – so she came in to find something a little more understated…perhaps even “boring.” Our Queen of Specs, Alissa, took on the task and did her best to help out Phyllis by selecting an elegant Move frame by Theo in a soft blue that really complements Phyllis’ eyes and skin.
Unfortunately, Alissa’s attempt at choosing a boring frame wasn’t as successful as she thought, because Phyllis called us up the other day to tell us that she has been getting stopped on the street because of her newest frames too! People just won’t leave her alone! The nerve!
We love the new frames and think she looks amazing. If you want to go tell Phyllis how much you LOVE her glasses, you can find her being a rock star realtor at Baird & Warner, volunteering at PAWS or walking her three rescue dogs….
Next time Alissa will just have to try a little harder…or Phyllis just needs to get used to being a rock star
Continue Reading >
Filed under: Rapp, 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.
Tom Daniels, owner of Sam & Willy’s
Tom is sporting a snazzy Dean frame by Canadian eyewear company, Rapp. They are known for their unique materials and cool shapes.
Tom is the owner extraordinaire of Sam & Willy’s which is, in our opinion, the best pet shop around. He is a long time animal lover, but when he and his lady added a dog who had some special nutritional needs to their family (they already had 2 cats), he realized that there weren’t any places where he could get what he needed for his pup. So he did what many business owners do, and started the very business he had been looking for, a neighborhood pet store where people could get nutritious food and pet supplies, and a little advice from knowledgable staff. He named the store after that dog, Sam, and his cat Willy.
************************************************************************************
Fun Facts About Tom:
How long have you been in business? 12 years
Who was your teenage celebrity crush? Farrah Fawcett
If you could be any animal, what would it be? Dolphin
Are you right or left handed? Right handed
What color are your eyes? Grey
Where did you grow up? Cleveland, OH
What hood do you live in now? Lincoln Square
***********************************************************************************
Tom’s favorite part of owning Sam & Willy’s is helping people who come into his store looking for help with a particular issue that their pet is having, educating and connecting with his customers. He also loves being a part of the community, working with many of the local animal rescue groups. His is not a shop where you feel like an anonymous shopper, Tom wants to work with you to make sure your pet’s needs are being met.
Sam & Willy’s will be celebrating its 12 year anniversary this Spring, so stop in, say hi and pick a treat for the furry animal in your life!
Sam & Willy’s * 3405 N. Paulina St. Chicago Il 60657 * 773-404-0400
Continue Reading >
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.
Heather Miller, Owner of Black Hearts Hair House
Heather is wearing Francis Klein Kristy in sparkly leopard print…need we say more?
Ever since she was a little girl, Heather Miller has been passionate about hair—from cutting her dolls’ hair, to styling all of her friend’s updos for prom, to dorm room hair color adventures; there has always been a constant: she has known that a hair salon—more specifically, her own salon– is where she belongs. After completing her certification at Pivot Point, she gained further education along with a blossoming clientele through the punk/alternative hair salons that Chicago has to offer. Her years of knowledge & experience paid off when the doors of Black Hearts Hair House in November 2008.
*************************************************************************************************
Fun Facts About Heather:
How long have you been in business? 6 years
Who was your teenage celebrity crush? Luke Perry from 90210
If you could be any animal, what would it be? A panther
Are you Right or Left handed?: Right handed
What color are your eyes? Brown
Where did you grow up? Naperville, IL
What hood do you live in? Albany Park
*******************************************************************************************
Since 2008, she has morphed the space on Lincoln Avenue with the help of her talented staff of professionals into her dream of an alternative boutique salon that is able to accommodate a variety of clients–no matter what their budget is or if they want subtle blonde highlights or a bright, purple Mohawk–and always providing them with the upscale environment and service they all deserve.
Black Hearts Hair House * 3535 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 * 773-525-4344
Continue Reading >
Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Niloca, Theo
Hi All! It is time for Customer of The Week again, and this time we chose a lovely customer who walked in with a pair of ho-hum tortoise specs, and left with some COLOR! Congrats to Katie!!!!
Katie is a world traveller and a professor in Indianapolis, IN and she knows awesome eyewear when she sees it. She had heard tales of a magical eyewear boutique in Chicago that carried an amazing collection of funky fun eyewear. One early Saturday morning she set out on her journey, in search of this magical oasis. She endured an arduous journey full of stop-and-go traffic and evil construction monsters, but after several hours she made it to the store where beverages were offered to quench her thirst and lovely ladies helped her find the glasses of her dreams.
Katie was wearing a pair of ho-hum tortoise glasses and practically gasped at the rainbow of specs before her. She tried on many pairs, but they were too small, too big, or just somehow not right…that is until she tried on a pair of fun and funky metal pair of Niloca Clockwork glasses in a fun bright orange! They fit like a glove and had fun 3-D details and those dreamy sky blue temple tips! Glasses like these could only come from the mad genius design minds of the folks at Niloca, and they were perfect!
Now you may think that her gorgeous Nilocas are exciting, but wait until you see her 2nd pick…
a bright candy red pair of Theo Mille+12 glasses were singing their siren song to Katie. Lo and behold…Katie tried them on, and again, they too were just right!
We love how they almost GLOW on Katie’s pale skin and light blonde hair.
Katie’s journey was complete and she was happy. She returned home, happy to have found her new favorite eyewear boutique and excited about her cool and colorful new specs. AND, she lived happily ever after.
The End.
Continue Reading >
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!
Continue Reading >
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!
Continue Reading >
Filed under: Anne et Valentin, 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.
Luke Karl, VP at Dinkel’s Bakery
Anne et Valentin makes wearable frames in some great color combos like this orange and black D-Mo frame that Luke is wearing.
Dinkel’s was opened by Joseph K. Dinkel and his wife Antonie opened Dinkel’s Bakery in 1922. He was a master baker in Germany and after immigrating to Chicago, they set out to start their own bakery.
Since then, Dinkel’s has become a Chicago institution and is now being operated under the third generation of Dinkels with Joseph’s son -Norman, his grandson Eric, and his grand daughter and her husband – Sandgren and Luke running the show.
They have kept tradition alive, using many of Joseph’s original recipes still to this day.
************************************************************************************
Fun Facts About Luke:
How long has the Dinkel’s been in business? Since 1922
How long ave you been working there? 2008
Who was your teenage celebrity crush? My idol was Wynton Marsalis
If you could be any animal, what would it be? Peregrine Falcon
Are you right or left handed? Right handed
What color are your eyes? Brown
Where did you grow up? Kansas City, KS
What hood do you live in now? Lakeview
***********************************************************************************
Dinkel’s Bakery has expanded thanks to the wonders of the internet and now people who grew up eating delicious goodies from Dinkel’s can now buy them and serve them to their families no matter where they live by visiting www.dinkels.com.
Dinkel’s is the kind of bakery that puts a smile on your face. Just one bite of deliciousness and you will be hooked!
Dinkel’s Bakery * 3329 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago Il 60657 * 773-281-7300
Continue Reading >
Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Theo, Unique Frame Lines
This week’s Customer Of The Week is a Couple. Give a round of applause to Marie and Greg!
Don’t they look great in their Theo’s?!?
I have a secret to tell you…if you and your partner both wear glasses that you bought from Eye Spy, you will probably be featured as our Customer Of The Week! I have another secret to tell you…if you and your partner both wear the same brand of glasses, like Marie and Greg, then you are almost GUARANTEED to be our Customers Of The Week.
Marie came in looking for an upgrade and our Design Maven helped her pick out the perfect pair of Theo Abricot frames.
We think you will agree that both the color and the fit look amazing on her.
This frame is such a gorgeous shade of purple and has some really unique cut-out details around the edges.
Greg’s Aramis frame is also a cool shape and outstanding color.
Marie has been a customer for 11 years and Greg has been a customer for 6 years, so obviously they both know how great funky, colorful eye wear can be. We just LOVE couples who have great taste in glasses!
Continue Reading >
