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: Caroline Abram, CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Theo
Welcome Michele to the Customer Of The Week Club!!!
Michele walked into Eye Spy and knew what she wanted. Two new frames – one black, one white or clear. Michelle is the kind of woman who knows what she wants…and she got it with the help of our very own Specs Wrangler, Patsy.
The first pair Patsy pulled out was a gorgeous pair of matte black Theo Mille+4 frames. Not only were they a perfect fit, but they matched Michele’s laid-back-rocker-with-a-bit-of-an-edge look. Mille+4’s rounded edges and soft matte-black texture make this anything but your average black frame.
The second frame, Gigi by Caroline Abram, is a little dressier with its pretty gold metal details. The modern angles really accentuate Michele’s cheek bones and the larger lenses show off her eyes. Michele can wear these for a night out on the town, or with jeans and a t-shirt for a more casual look.
We love what Michele decided to get and can’t to see what she chooses next time!
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Filed under: Shop Local. Shop Lincoln, Theo
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.
Katherine McHenry, owner of Building Blocks
Katherine is wearing a pair of playful and flirty fluorescent red Theo Mille +26 frames. After modelling these frames for us, she decided that she loved them…and purchased them!!
Katherine, a self proclaimed “educator-wannabe, play ambassador and retail aficionado” opened her store in 1996. This wasn’t her first business though, she got her start at 9 selling candy out of her apartment in Queens, NY. She dabbled in retail for a while and worked in accounting, but it wasn’t until she opened Building Blocks that she really found her passion. “Serving families with educational, developmental and play-based products” is what really floats Katherine’s boat.
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Fun Facts About Katherine:
How long have you been in business? 18 years
Who was your teenage celebrity crush? Rob Lowe
If you could be any animal, what would it be? A bird
Are you Right or Left handed?: Right handed
What color are your eyes? Brown
Where did you grow up? Queens, NY
What hood do you live in? West Edgewater
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Katherine is a busy woman. She not only has two stores, she opened the Wicker Park location in 2008, but she also is a mom. Tai and Linh keep her on her toes and get to test drive all the best toys!
Make sure you stop in the next time you need a toy for a little person in your life. Katherine will be happy to help you.
Building Blocks * 3306 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, Il 60657 * 773-525-6200
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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: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!
It is no secret that we have the most fantastic, talented, and fun customers around, here at Eye Spy Optical! Our current Customer Of The Week is no exception….Say hi to Jamie Barton!!!
Jamie is rocking her custom Francis Klein Wing frame.
Jamie is an international award-winning opera singer, a grammy nominee, and an all-around amazing woman! She travels around singing her heart out and performing in all the best cities. She recently played Henry VIII’s Jane Seymore in ANNA BOLENA with the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Jamie and Sara, our Design Maven, became quick friends because of their mutual love for Francis Klein’s sparkly frames. Jamie had a hard choice to make, and ended up deciding she couldn’t live without her two favorites, Wing and Party.
Jamie’s Francis Klein Wing in a custom color and decor.
Jamie really liked the Wing frame, but didn’t see quite the right color and decor combo, so Sara helped her customize her frame and special ordered a frame just for her. It took a few weeks, but Jamie thinks it was definitely worth the wait!
This Special Edition Wing was whispering Jamie’s name!
The Special Edition Wing frame really is like wearing jewelry on your face, and they fit Jamie like they were made just for her. And Rhinestones! She couldn’t resist.
You can follow Jamie’s travels and find out where she will be performing next at her website: http://www.jamiebartonmezzo.com/ or on her facebook page.
We can’t wait for her to perform in Chicago again so we can go see her!
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Filed under: Anne et Valentin, CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!
Three Cheers for Dana…Our Customer of the Week!
Dana is styling in her Anne et Valentin D-Gree frames!
Dana is a long time customer and a whole lot of fun! Dana is an actress and a fitness & dance instructor and she loves to wear fun and funky frames when she isn’t sporting her contacts.
She picked out her first pair of funky specs from Eye Spy Optical in 2001!!! You don’t believe us? Well, take a peek at the evidence from our photo album below!
When Dana came in for frames this time, she told the Optical Oracle that she wanted something a bit more serious and grown up. The Oracle had the perfect frame in mind, Anne et Valentin D-Gree in a beautiful soft tortoise and purple combo.
D-gree has just the right blend of sophistication and sass!
D-gree’s angles and colors really complement Dana’s amazing smile and are still fun and funky. No boring frames for her!
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Filed under: Anne et Valentin, CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, Francis Klein, RES/REI
3 Cheers for James, Our Customer of Week…and his Francis Klein Salto frames!!!
Francis Klein Salto. A sophisticated frame for a sophisticated guy.
James followed his wife into Eye Spy last summer, when they flew into town from Chapel Hill, North Carolina…since Brooke needed her annual glasses fix from Eye Spy:-) This was James’ *first* pair of specs, and he walked out looking like a rock star. Brooke tried to out-do him and get two pairs, but that’s another story…
We had to make James our Customer of the Week, as he just stopped by to get an adjustment on his glasses….and we finally got to take his photo in his new specs:-)
James was back in-town in order to attend Eve of the Eve, an annual black-tie event to raise money for HighSight, later that evening. HighSight is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide academic and social support to Chicago high school students, and James is on the board, so he had to look his best. Lucky for him, the Specs Wrangler was able work her magic and tame those frames in no time! The event was a success, and James even sent a picture from the evening.
James is rocking his tux and glasses like a boss!
Even though this is James’ first pair of glasses, he is already in love with wearing cool colorful frames….so, he is already thinking about his next two pairs!! Which one would you choose??
We can’t wait to see which he frames he will be sporting with his tux next year!
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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, CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Theo, Unique Frame Lines
Yes! Mark & Jill and their fantastic technicolor frames are here for Customer of the Week!
Mark in his Theo’s and Jill in her limited edition Anne Et Valentin sunnies.
Customized CustomEyes Sun Clip!
Mark, a die-hard Anne Et Valentin fan, was convinced to try something a little different this go around – he is a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to fantastic frames, as he has been a customer for over 10 years!
And oh boy! He was happy when he put on his new green Theo Aramis frames with custom-made sun clips by CustomEyes. As you can imagine, Jill couldn’t let Mark be the only one in the family getting new eyewear!! She chose an Anne et Valentin limited-edition sunglass to protect her eyes….and look great, of course!!
Mark and Jill are a great match. They both have a creative eye and an adventurous spirit! Just ask them about their recent cycling trip through Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. We want to see some pictures!
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