Culture | Feb. 2024
THE BUZZ: FEBRUARY 2024
By Dustin O’Regan
LOCALLY SOURCED
Elevate your shopping experience with groceries delivered from Fresh Picks, Chicago’s local grocery delivery service. Fresh Picks provides customers with an alternative experience of grocery shopping, one that allows them to know where their food is from and what went into its production. This level of transparency is made possible by sourcing directly from Midwestern farmers and producers. Eating local means produce is picked at its peak, delivering a delicious flavor that’s packed with vitamins and minerals. Snacks and other pantry items have short ingredient lists with high nutritional value, while meat and dairy products from humane and transparent farmers deliver healthier products. More than 95 percent of Illinois farms are family-owned, and North Shore residents can support multiple farmers at the same time by shopping at Fresh Picks. Delivery and pick-up are available every Sunday through Friday. For more information, visit freshpicks.com.
VIEVE’S LEAVES
Created by Lake Forest native, Vieve Dolan, Vieve’s Leaves is a streamlined, all-natural skincare system perfect for those who want long-lasting results without a ten-step skincare routine. The Vieve’s Leaves Restorative Duo Skincare System features a serum and moisturizer pairing that takes a gentler approach to retinol, thanks to peptides and fruit stem cells, leaving skin looking hydrated and glowing. Using just two products post-cleanse, you can target dark spots, fine lines, and acne scars and add up to 70 percent more moisture within eight hours without clogging pores. Cheers to healthy, glowing skin. Vieve’s Leaves is available locally at M on the Square and Reverie Salon. For more information, visit vievesleaves.com.
SUPPORT A HEALTHY HAWAIIAN ECONOMY
With the recent devastating wildfires, visitors are encouraged to return to Maui and experience the beauty and healing of the island. Wailea is home to many of Maui’s largest employers including the Fairmont Kea Lani, the island’s only all-suite and villa resort. The Fairmont Kea Lani’s multi-year project, known as the Ho’omaka Hou (A New Beginning) Transformation, completely remodeled the hotel, including all 450 rooms, its bars and restaurants, a cultural center, and the main lobby. Carried out in consultation with local cultural leaders, the renovation celebrates Hawaii’s history and culture. The Native Hawaiian cultural center and culinary-focused cocktail bar and restaurant are designed to evoke the stories of Palauea, the traditional land district where the hotel stands, and Maui’s rich culture. Visit soon to connect with the culture and the community of this beautiful Hawaiian island. Aloha! For more information, visit fairmont.com.
THINK PINK
February can be a dreary month. Liven up the vibes with cozy favorites in Dahlia Mauve, the prettiest color to add to any scuba collection. A failsafe Valentine’s Day gift for any age sweetheart. Scuba Quilted Half Zip and Restfeel Women’s Slide, at lululemon Oakbrook Center, 630.368.1610
READ IT
The Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach, designed by architect Morris Lapidus and opened in 1954, stands as a timeless architectural marvel that epitomizes postwar America’s swagger and style. With its majestic structure, panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, and a star-studded guest list including icons like Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe, the Fontainebleau became an instant sensation and an enduring symbol of luxury. Groucho Marx famously dubbed it the Eighth Wonder of the World. In December, the Fontainebleau ventured west with a sister property in Las Vegas, filled with signature bow tie motifs and attended by everyone from Justin Timberlake to Cher. This narrative is vividly captured in FOREVER FONTAINEBLEAU, authored by Stephen Wallis and complemented by stunning photography from Peter Arnell, showcasing the hotel’s illustrious past and its promising future. assouline.com
SOLVE IT
Take a break from true crime novels and podcasts with a Valentine’s Day Murder Mystery Dinner and a Show at Maggiano’s Little Italy Oakbrook Center. Titled A Big Kiss Goodbye, this promises to be an evening of laughs, delicious Italian food, and the chance to use the clues to solve the crime. Pop in as a couple, double date with friends, or reserve a table of ten for the ultimate night out. eventbrite.com/o/maggianos-little-italyoak-brook-4307223981
HEART SHAPED WORLD
Designer Jennifer Behr trained as a sculptor before taking a turn into millinery and luxury hair accessories. Today her Brooklyn Atelier is the place to turn to for exquisite embellishments. Chic celebrities including Jennifer Lawrence and Zendaya are clients and all the major magazines have the studio on speed dial. While headpieces are reserved for special occasions, fab earrings are a winner anytime. The unabashedly romantic Cassandra aarrings feature oversized heart-shaped crystal drops, with each stone enveloped in a generous halo of crystal sparkle. Sustainable, artfully made, these will become heirloom pieces to be passed down. If, of course, one’s heirs don’t nab them right out of the jewelry box. jenniferbehr.com
MARIO BUATTA: ANATOMY OF A DECORATOR
Emily Evans Eerdmans’ new book, Mario Buatta: Anatomy of a Decorator, is the first authoritative assessment of legendary American interior designer Mario Buatta. Eerdman, a protégée of the decorator, uses never-before-seen archival material to present the design master as someone whose influence continues to shape today’s world of maximalist interiors. This book is an essential addition to the libraries of design aficionados, providing a masterclass in decorating à la Buatta. rizzoli.com
ALLISON BORNSTEIN STYLING
Looking for something new this year? Stylist Allison Bornstein wants you to start with your closet. Believing that fashion is wellness, Bornstein views getting dressed as a version of self-care. She’s an advocate of shopping your own closet and offers seven questions for a buyer to consider before purchasing an item to make sure it’s worth it. Bornstein also helps clients to pinpoint their style and refine their closets by using her TikTok famous “three-word method.” Her online styling sessions are designed to improve women’s lives by improving their closets. allisonbornstein.com
GLADWELL & PATTERSON
Gladwell & Patterson is an internationally renowned gallery with a proud history that can be traced back to the mid-18th century. During its 275-year history, the gallery has enjoyed a long and distinguished reputation for discovering those “beautiful things.” Dealing only in works of the highest quality and condition, their focus is on fine oil paintings, watercolors, and sculpture, from 19th and 20th-century works to contemporary landscapes and portraits. Their flagship gallery is located on London’s famous Beauchamp Place, and they are proud to have recently opened Gladwells Rutland in the picturesque market town of Oakham. Behind the gallery’s distinctive monochrome windows on Beauchamp Place, owner Anthony Fuller embodies the establishment’s calling. “My job,” he explains, “is to look around for beautiful things. Nothing gives me more pleasure than a great picture.” gladwellpatterson.com
A YEAR IN BOOKS
Take this winter to explore a tailored book subscription offered by Heywood Hill. “A Year in Books” starts with an in-depth reading consultation online or over the phone, a team of expert booksellers then handpicks each title according to your taste and reading aspirations. Each selection is beautifully wrapped in Mayfair, England and shipped directly to your door, two books at a time. heywoodhill.com/subscriptions
YACHT ROCK: A NIGHT ON THE S.S. BYFS
Barrington Youth and Family Services (BYFS) is holding its annual BYFS Gala, “Yacht Rock: A Night on the S.S. BYFS,” at the Biltmore Country Club on April 20. The incredible night will benefit the BYFS , which has proudly served the mental health needs of the Barrington area for over 50 years. Tickets for this usually sold-out event go on sale at the beginning of March. For event details, sponsorship opportunities, or information on auction items, follow BYFS on Facebook and Instagram or visit barringtonbyfs.org.
CLUTCH COLLAB
Shelley Johnstone, owner of the eponymous interior design firm in Lake Forest, has collaborated with luxury handbag designer Angela Alvarez on a line of exquisitely crafted, custom lizard clutches. Johnstone lends her eye for color to Alvarez’s master workmanship to create these sleek, richly textured handbags available in an array of gorgeous color combinations. The perfect addition to any stylish woman’s wardrobe, AA x Shelley clutches are available at shelleydesign.com.
BARREL SAUNA
Cold plunge might be all the rage, but sauna is associated with lifespan extension as well … and it feels so much better. North Shore-based Finnish Sauna Builders specializes in creating bespoke indoor and outdoor saunas and steam rooms. The company’s expertise extends beyond mere building; it delves into the art of sauna-making using traditional Finnish manufacturing techniques, ensuring each design is tailored to the client’s unique preferences. For more information, visit finnishsaunabuilders.com.
COMING UP ROSES
Replace the usual Valentine’s Day roses with Arch’s Rose Geranium Hydrating Mist for a more lasting bouquet. Featuring a burst of botanical hydration for dewy skin, this elevated face elixir with a super fine spray and divine scent gives a radiant glow that can be applied over make-up. Rose Geranium Hydrating Mist is available at Arch in Winnetka or at archglow.com.
