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.
Sarah Sloane, Manager at Pleasure Chest
Sarah is wearing a rockin’ pair of Theo Cinquante+6 in a the most amazing blue-green teal color that really brings out her eyes. Structured cat-eyes are the perfect eye wear choice for women who are tired of boring rectangles, but don’t really feel like themselves in a dramatic cat-eye.
Sarah is the marvelous manager at the Pleasure Chest – a boutique erotic store that opened it’s first store in the West Village, NYC in 1971, the height of the sexual revolution. It set itself apart from the rest of the erotic stores out there with a welcoming and classy atmosphere, it was definitely not your usual seedy “XXX” sex shop with covered windows and creepy sales people. They quickly grew and expanded in gay neighborhoods in Chicago and LA.
************************************************************************************
Fun Facts About Sarah:
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 now? Logan Square
***********************************************************************************
As the manager, Sarah and her staff help people explore their sexuality and relationships in a healthy way. Their store is welcoming and beautifully decorated – often called the “Saks 5th Ave” of erotic stores, putting even new customers at ease. “They create a powerful experience and trust where individuals can be successful in finding out what works in their lives. All of the staff employed at The Pleasure Chest is trained to be sensitive to the needs of our guests, regardless of sexual orientation or gender.”
Pleasure Chest * 3436 N Lincoln Ave. Chicago IL 60657 * 773-525-7151
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….along with a few shots of their shops.
Jessica Emery, Owner and Dentist at Sugar Fix Dental Loft
Jessica is wearing a fab pair of Anne et Valentin Fanzine frames. The bright yellow metal and marbled grey really pop on her and are both professional and fun – like Jessica!
Jessica is the Dentist extraordinaire at Sugar Fix Dental Loft. She grew up with a Dentist mother and had a curiosity about dentistry that led to enrollment in dental hygiene school. This led her to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine where she graduated and then working alongside her mother in Boston. When Jessica came to Chicago, she fell in LOVE with the city and decided to make her dream come true by opening her own practice – the amazing space that is now Sugar Fix Dental Loft.
************************************************************************************
Fun Facts About Jessica:
How long have you been in business? 9 years
Who was your teenage celebrity crush? Jake Ryan
If you could be any animal, what would it be? Chameleon, so I can so up the sun on the beach
Are you right or left handed? Right handed
What color are your eyes? Hazel
Where did you grow up? Sutton, MA
What hood do you live in now? Evanston
***********************************************************************************
What sets Jessica’s practice apart from other dental offices is her true passion for smiles and her dedication to her patients. As a mother of three, she cares for her patients like members of her own family. She treats only one patient at a time which allows her to focus fully on care an comfort of each client that walks through her door.
Sugar Fix Dental Loft * 3346 N Paulina St. Chicago Il 60657 * 773-883-1818
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: 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.
************************************************************************************
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
***********************************************************************************
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
Continue Reading >
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.
*************************************************************************************************
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
*******************************************************************************************
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
Continue Reading >
