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.
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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: 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.
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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
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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
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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!
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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.
Nate Judson, Chef at Frasca
Nate is wearing a slick pair of Theo Huitante+Huit. The bold black and bright neon green really pop on this frame.
Nate has been cooking up a storm for many years now – an interest inspired by watching the Frugal Gourmet as a kid on PBS after school. After graduating from Kendal College in 2008, he went on to work at many of Chicago’s great restaurants: 312 Chicago, Alinea, Francesca’s Restaurant Group, as well as a period of working in LA with Gordon Ramsey (don’t you want to know what that was like?) He returned to Chicago because he missed the city and chefs he had gotten to know working here and so he decided to come back home and has been at is loving the opportunity to cook for Frasca.
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Fun Facts About Nate:
How long have you been in business? 7 years
Who was your teenage celebrity crush? Sarah Michelle Geller
If you could be any animal, what would it be? Red-Tail Hawk
Are you Right or Left handed?: Right handed
What color are your eyes? Blue
Where did you grow up? Lake Villa, Il
What hood do you live in? Logan Square
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Nate loves the freedom to create in Frasca’s kitchen and has been making some killer Rissotto – his favourite dish to cook. He describes cooking in a kitchen as controlled chaos and digs the constantly changing environment and creative outlet that it provides.
His favourite thing about Frasca is that the menu is contstantly changing and that it is such a neighborhood institution.
Frasca * 3358 N Paulina St, Chicago, IL 60657 * 773-248-5222
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Filed under: Anni Shades, 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.
Laura Boton, Owner of Sine Qua Non Salons
Laura’s wearing a dreamy pair of Anni Shades Oleg frames. Anni Shades are made in Ohio by hand and can be custom made in almost any color you like!
In 1993, Laura was a frustrated stylist. She wanted to work in a salon where “freedom, creativity and flexibility could exist for the stylists, and comfort and acceptance would be a priority for our guests, ” instead of the run of the mill mico-managing she had experienced in the salon industry.
With a little help, a lot of hard work and $25,000 borrowed from friends and family, Sine Qua Non Salons was a dream come true!
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Fun Facts About Laura:
How long have you been in business? 21 years
Who was your teenage celebrity crush? David Cassidy & Micky Dolenz
If you could be any animal, what would it be? Dog
Are you right or left handed? Right handed
What is your eye color? Brown
Where did you grow up? Des Plaines, the City of Destiny
What hood do you live in? West Rogers Park
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Laura was in that first location, an old house at at 2944 N Lincoln for 5 years. She moved to her current location in 1998 after a failed bid to buy that building (which no longer exists) and has continued as a go-to for the stylish people of Lake View.
Laura loves what she does, “Its been a great ride!”
Sin Qua Non Salons * 3417 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60657 * 773.404.8789
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Theo, Unique Frame Lines
Snap those fingers like you are in a french jazz club for Carl, our newest Customer Of The Week!
Carl came into the store on one of those cold pre-spring days to look at new frames. He was wearing a pair of Anni Shades Glimpse frames and was ready for something a little different.
He ended up leaving with two funky new pairs of specs that are perfect for the warm sunny days that are on their way.
Carl has loved wearing his Anni Shades Glimpse and was ready for a new look, so our Optical Oracle suggested he look at some metal and acetate frames.
Carl put on a pair of Theo Cinquante+Sept in bright orange and couldn’t take them off. The color looks amazing on him and because the frames are titanium, they are light and comfortable.
He was also drawn to the chunky black Theo Mille+13. The matte and shiny textures create a fun contrast and makes these glasses anything but your basic black acetate frame.
Carl feels like glasses are one of the best accessories that men have, and we couldn’t agree more!!! He was a delight to work with and we hope he loves his new eyewear wardrobe as much as we do.
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Filed under: EVENTS!, Theo
Well, it’s about that time….Spring is finally here and the new Theo collection is on its way to Eye Spy!
Come and check out all of the new colors and styles on Saturday, April 18th from 11-5pm!
We can’t wait! We will have sangrias and snacks to assist you with decision-making…no hanger in here!!!!
In celebration of Earth Day, if you ride your bike to Eye Spy, we will be giving 10% off Rx lenses with the purchase of a frame from Eye Spy:-) In addition, we are working with Roscoe Village Bikes to properly fit your helmut from 11-12pm *and* West Town Bikes to give your bike a check-up for spring! Finally, if you recycle a pair of glasses with us that you purchased online, you will get $50 off Rx lenses One discount offer per customer, puhleeze.
Whoops, we almost forgot the best part of all!? We will have a Girl Scout Troop from Oscar Mayer Elementary School here selling Girls Scout COOKIES!!!! It might be your last chance of the season to scoop up some cookies! So…. come check out the new dreamy Theo’s and satisfy your sweet tooth!
See you Saturday, April 18th from 11-5pm!
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Francis Klein, Spectacular Sunglasses
This week is a little bit special because our Customer of The Week is someone who has been working for Eye Spy for 10 years! Say Hello to Karla!
Karla is always dressed for fun and when she saw the Francis Klein Royal sunnies, she had to catch her breath. And can you blame her? They must have been designed with Karla in mind! Karla will look great at all of her three (yes I said three!) jobs – a shoe store, a jewelry store and for us!
To say Karla is a bit of a fashionista is an understatement. She is a pro at mixing patterns, textures and colors… so what could be better than sunglasses with a dash of fun, a spinkle of sass and a heap of glitter!
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Filed under: CUSTOMER OF THE WEEK!, FASHION!, Francis Klein, Rigards
Yep, it is Customer of The Week time again. Wiggle your spirit fingers in the air for….Heather!
Heather’s first visit to our store was a couple of January’s ago. She drove all the way from Indianapolis, Indiana so she could look at our sale frames and was blown away by the amazing selection of fun and funky frames. From that moment on, she was a customer for life!
She has made the pilgrimage to our shop a several times since (bringing friends!) and has collected a wardrobe of truly spectacular eyewear.
On her most recent trip, she picked up a couple of gorgeous frames.
Francis Klein Opera was part of our January sale, and called out to Heather the moment she opened the door. Sparkly crystals and silver studs are pretty hard to say no to, especially when paired with a flirty cat-eye shape.
When she came in to pick up her Francis Klein, she fell in lust with a pair of striking Rigards buffalo horn sunglasses. But she decided she wanted to be able to wear them all day every day, and had us put clear lenses in them. We couldn’t love them more! We love it when customers customize a frame – with a special color, or a special lens – and make the frame truly their own.
We know, you are feeling a little jealous..but don’t worry, there are still plenty of cool specs left for you to take home!
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