• From the May-August 2013 print edition of Chicago Gallery News: 

BY MARY DEYOE

Buy the real thing, not a knock-off, and you’ll be happy for years to come when your piece actually holds its value. Chair pictured is from Deco 2 Midcentury Furniture Inc.

When it comes to purchasing art and furniture, an “antiques fair” may not appeal to young buyers. It sounds too expensive, too stuffy, and “just not for me.” Nothing, in fact, could be further from the truth. On April 26-29 the Merchandise Mart hosts the annual International Antiques Fair. With nearly 100 international dealers the fair is one of many excellent opportunities for individuals to find unique furniture, art, jewelry and decorative pieces for their homes. 

Speaking specifically about young and new collectors, Leslie Hindman, President and CEO of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, suggests that people should use opportunities like fairs and auctions to really enjoy the process of collecting. It’s easy (or at least appears so) to go to a mass retailer and pick out a couch or dining room table. But the thought that this is an simpler or less expensive option is just false. “People are smarter to buy objects and furniture that have history,” says Hindman. “These items actually cost about the same as anything you would buy new, and what you’re getting is unique.” 

The benefit of going to a fair is also the opportunity to talk to the dealers. The dealers want to talk to customers, to tell them about each piece—where it was made; how it was made; why the craftsmanship is significant. Dealers tend to be enthusiastic about what they do and want to share that enthusiasm about the objects with collectors. “It is an extremely fun process,” Hindman adds, “and I think people can forget to or don’t take the time to have fun and to learn.”

No matter how much or how little you purchase at a fair, auction or gallery, the experience will be far more exciting and personal than a trip to the mall or time spent online. Attending antiques-focused events will expose you to an expansive range of styles and designs. If you have only ever looked at Mid-Century Modern furniture, you may discover that you also like 19th Century French objects. “It is a fantastic opportunity to find inspiration,” says Hindman.

Hindman, who will speak on this topic in conjunction with the Fair on Saturday April 27, added that there is also financial benefit to purchasing antiques. A desk from a mass retailer is unlikely to appreciate, while an authentic antique desk undoubtedly will. 

Details about the April 27 Young Collectors Night event will be available on the Mart’s website: merchandisemartantiques.com

This weekend should be the height of Chicago's warm fall weather... So get outside while you can!  The Randolph Street Market thankfully takes place all year round now, but there's still something special about the sprawling outdoor extravaganza set-up.

On Friday evening, yours truly will get a sneak peek of the market, since I was chosen to be part of RSM's Annual Editor's And Designer's Choice For Charity.  A whole host of media and design figures will be checking things out early and selecting favorites that will then be showcased to benefit individual charities. I couldn't refuse a free cocktail and a chance at an early preview, but the chance to highlight a few unique items while making selections to benefit a favorite charity were really motivating. I'll be sure to Tweet and post about my own 'choices' so that you can check them out for yourself over the weekend.  I imagine it'll be hard to resist buying my own favorite items!

The markets are really fun and unique to Chicago. Hundreds of dealers set up shop for the weekend, and depending on your own needs or just your mood, you can spend hours browsing through vintage magnets, patches or pins. You can get silver candleabras for a steal (I still regret not picking up a fabulous pair back in February...), and you can find vintage clothing to die for. You can also use the market as an excuse to shake things up - buy a few pairs of vintage specs to give out to friends for a party, or to just avoid getting stuck in an eyeglass rut. You can find a range of furniture and accessories that will be right at home in a chic modern apartment, or perhaps you're looking to try your hand at reupholstery and you're looking for some pieces with good bones in need up an update. Trust me, it's all here, and you can find it if you just keep your eyes open and look. Overall, the place is just whacky, which adds to the fun. Sally and her team also always keep things interesting by making sure there's good food and music.

See you there!

Who are these 'Editors?' Here's a sampling: Kevin Aeh/Time Out Chicago, Rebecca Taras/Refinery29, Ginny Van Alyea/Chicago Gallery News, Arianne Nardo/Interiors, James Barra/Interiors, Rebecca Michuda/Today's Chicago Woman, Talia Pines/CS, William Bragadoccio/Men’s Street Fashion, Molly Each/Chicago Sun Times Splash, Ana Founa/chi-stylemaven.blogspot.com, Haley Giambalvo/Design Improvised, Jaye Goody/Curvatude, Barri Leiner Grant/m&b Vintage Smitten, Mitch Obstfeld/i4design, Tricia Royal/bitsandbobbins.com, Lisa Skolnik/Writer, Meg Mathis/Michigan Ave, Ashley Nicole Catherine/ashleynicolecatherine.blogspot.com, Carmen Rivera/Chicago Magazine, Rochelle Vayo Adkinson/Bring it Home, Jessie Kalin/Windy City Live, Katie Cahnmann/Nowyouknowevents.com, Candace Jordan/Candid Candace, Jen Luby/Second City Soiree, Cait Weingartner/prettyandfun.com, and Alison Fraker/Brown Eyed Style.

Interior designers include: Grace Sielaff, Lisa Simeone, Marshall Erb, Michael & Lori Anthony, Ramsey Jay Prince, Julia Buckingham Edelmann, Jennie Bishop, Erin Shakoor, Divas N Design, Linc Thelen, Kenneth Walter, Richard Abrahamson, Fernando Soler, Shane Inman, Michael Del Piero Good Design, Edyta Czajkowska and more picking the best booth designs as well!!

Randolph Street Market: September 29+30, 2012
1340 W. Washington, Chicago • Over Eight Acres of Indoor & Outdoor Shopping, Rain or Shine

10am-6pm Sat & 10am-5pm Sun • Admission Good For Both Days
kids under 12 FREE • Free Downtown Furniture Delivery  • Trolley from Water Tower Place • *Pet Friendly

Advance discount tickets available now - click HERE to purchase

• General Admission: $10 at the gate, $8 in advance
• Early Buying Preview Saturday: Outdoors at 8am and Indoors at 9am: $25 at the gate, $20 in advance
Early Buy benefits Chicago House for people living with HIV/AIDS
• Student Discount Admission: $5 at the gate, $3 in advance

The Randolph Street Market is invading the West Loop once again! Hailed the “Market of Markets”, this divine indoor/outdoor shopping experience returns to kick off its ninth summer season this Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27.

The Market will host over 250 select purveyors of, well, almost everything you could imagine.  Antiques, furniture, new and vintage clothing, jewelry, paintings, sculpture, and all sorts of knick-knacks will extend over eight (eight!) acres of our city, so wear your comfy shoes and plan to stay for at least a couple hours.

Even if hunting for great bargains isn’t your thing, the Randolph Street Market has something for you.  Demonstrations of all kinds will be taking place throughout the market, from interactive art and beauty treatments, to food tasting and live music. And if the flurry of inspiration and creativity leaves you mystified, you can grab a cocktail and take a load off at one of the relaxation vignettes. See? I told you they had everything.

Whatever your calling, this is a can’t-miss event. The market (Can we even call it that anymore?) will set up shop at 1340 W. Washington, Plumbers Hall, this Saturday, May 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, May 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission tickets purchased online are $8, and admission at the door is $10. Student tickets with ID are $3 online, $5 at the door. Kids under 12 are always free. Plus, every paid admission gets a $5 or $10 shopping voucher good toward purchases.

Much better than the old and tired Memorial Day barbeque, right? If you can’t catch the market this weekend, don’t worry. It will return every month through the summer, usually landing on the last weekend of the month. For specifics, visit the Randolph Street Market website.

Happy Memorial Day!

This weekend is an exciting time for art lovers in Chicago. The annual SOFA CHICAGO is back, now with an extra emphasis on art & design. Visit Navy Pier Friday-Sunday to see a wide range of art presented by international galleries and dealers. You’ll find many rare objects and works of art, as well as have access to outstanding lectures. Experts are around every corner, so the opportunities to learn and explore are endless. Once again SOFA is partnering with The Intuit Show of Folk & Outsider Art, so you may enjoy two fairs under a single roof. 

Visit sofaexpo.com to learn more about special exhibits and lectures at the fair to get the most out of your visit. This year’s lectures (click here for info) range from The Bluffer’s Guide to European Jewelry to Cartooning In Conflict: An Illustration of the Futility of War and It's the End of the World As We Know It...But My Art is Fine! A guide to protecting your art. Most of the lectures take place Friday and Saturday, with just one on Sunday, so plan ahead if you’re hoping to get in on the learning. Lectures are included with admission.  Tickets to the fair are available online, or at the door.  

There is certainly enough activity to keep you busy all three days this weekend.  Play hooky and come to the fair on Friday, or just wait until after work and catch some gallery openings Friday evening. Chicago Gallery News is providing a courtesy shuttle between SOFA, the Museum of Contemporary Art + the River North Gallery District all weekend. The shuttles will take you to openings on Friday.  On Saturday evening, there will be an extra stop at KM Fine Arts for their special fall exhibition, Eyes Wide Shut. KM Fine Arts is located on the 25^th floor the John Hancock Center, so you’ll have a fabulous view of the city and the lakefront from the gallery, not to mention cocktails! 

Several galleries in the River North District will have extended hours all weekend (including on Sunday!) and many will be holding opening receptions Friday evening. Take the free shuttle to Franklin + Superior and enjoy the opportunity to visit the culturally rich River North District where streets are lined with galleries and great restaurants. 

River North Gallery District

SOFA + Shuttle Hours

Friday: 11am-7pm  •  Shuttle: 12-7pm

Saturday 11am-7pm  •  Shuttle: 12-7pm

Sunday 12-6pm  •  Shuttle: 11am-2pm

For more information about SOFA and galleries visit: Chicagogallerynews.com

Chicago has always been known for its rich history of elaborate and innovative architecture: from the first tall buildings of Louis Sullivan and Daniel Burnham, to the homes of Frank Lloyd Wright. Another one of our city’s architectural gems is the former house of Samuel M Nickerson, which is now the current location of the Richard Driehaus Museum. This astonishing museum is located on the corner of Wabash and Erie streets, just west of the bustling Michigan Avenue.  Here you’ll find an elegant sanctuary away from the tourist-filled magnificent mile.

Starting August 2^nd, on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of every month, the Driehaus Museum will be offering twilight tours of the historic, meticulously restored museum. Nighttime seems like the perfect time to wander this marble temple.  Guests will be treated to a guided tour and the sight of beautiful, dark cherry paneling, a luminescent stained glass dome, and breathtakingly detailed mosaic tile. Wander through the elaborately adorned, but quiet spaces, filled with white marble statues and carefully carved wooden sculptures.  Guides will tell you about the rich cultural history of the establishment.

The Museum was originally commissioned by Samuel M. Nickerson, a prominent Chicago banker in the prosperous 1800s. Nickerson commissioned the Chicago architectural firm Burling and Whitehouse to build this large and extravagant home. After it was built it became known as the largest residence in Chicago and was nicknamed “The Marble Palace,” due to its luxurious marble interiors. Eventually Samuel Nickerson left for the east cost and sold his home to Lucius George Fisher, the president of the Chicago Union Bag and Paper Company.  Since that time has gone through many transitions, and not so long ago, it was still covered in thick black soot and age. In 2003 the home was appropriated by Richard H Driehaus and was finally restored to its original glory. The home and museum was completed in 2008 and has been open to the public ever since.

Tickets for adults will be price at $15, while youth tickets are $10; due to the fragile nature of the interior spaces, the tour is not recommended for children under 11.

Space is limited and advance reservations are recommended, but not required. For more information or to reserve, please call 312-482-8933, ext. 21.

Email info@driehausmuseum.org

The Richard H. Driehaus Museum

50 E. Erie St

Chicago IL

312.482.8933 x 21

info@driehausmuseum.org

http://www.driehausmuseum.org/

Hours for Public Tours:

T, W, Sa 10am, 1pm, 3pm

Hours for self guided visitation:

Th, F 10am-5pm