Portillo’s in the South Loop?

It looks like the Oak Brook-based chain is looking at locations in our neighborhood, this according to an article in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune. According to Nick Scarpito, Portillo’s director of marketing, they’re looking at 520 W. Taylor St., at Canal.

For a look at the complete article, click here.

Art Walk & Wabash Arts Corridor CRAWL Friday September 19

The WAC CRAWL will include a stunning array of new, large-scale street and public art, an
expansive cultural program ranging from the Joffrey ballet to blues, jazz and hip-hop performances, tours of historic and new architecture, some twenty gallery openings, and special food and drink offerings from local restaurants and bars. The WAC CRAWL takes place from 4 – 9 p.m.

The WAC CRAWL in its first year was nominated by friends of downtown for “best event” as part of their 2014 “best of downtown” awards. In its second year, the WAC CRAWL is expected to emerge as one of Chicago’s major cultural events.

The Wabash arts corridor crawl unleashes the unbridled talent and energy of the Wabash arts corridor and its partners.

The South Loop Art Walk
Visit artist spaces, enjoy food and drink specials on a walk through the South Loop. All are welcome to use the WAC trolley until 11th St. Cost for the Art Walk is $5.

At Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation, take a self-guided tour hosted by Marie Dixon and highlighting Blues photo gallery of Terry Abrahamson from his book, In the Belly of the Blues. For more information on the Art Walk, visit GreaterSouthLoop.Org.

The Chicago Film Club screens “The Awful Truth” January 14, 2014

Irene Dunne and Cary Grant in The Awful Truth

The Chicago Film Club will present The Awful Truth starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant at The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center, 1550 S. State St., January 14, 2014. Show time is 6:30 p.m., followed by a brief discussion.


In 1937, Irene Dunne was at the height of her career. The year before, Dunne received a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for Theodora Goes Wild, a comedy role she was reluctant to take. Not only was that picture a critical success for Dunne, but a huge box office hit for Columbia Pictures. So it wasn’t a surprise that the next picture she would make for the studio would be another comedy.

The Awful Truth open at Radio City Music Hall
in November 1937.

From Stage To Screen
The Awful Truth was based on a play by Arthur Richman and brought to the screen with the aid of screenwriter Vina Delmar and Theodora Goes Wild screenwriter, Sidney Buchman, who went uncredited. Teamed with Dunne for the first time was Cary Grant. Grant was quickly becoming a top leading man in Hollywood, but his pairing with Dunne was inspired and their on-screen chemistry delighted movie-going audiences. B.R. Crisler writing in his New York Times review said, “Miss Dunne and Mr. Grant, as the couple...have fun with their roles, and the pleasure seems to be shared, on the whole, by the [Radio City] Music Hall audience.”

What Is The Awful Truth?
The plot revolves around the marital woes of Lucy (Dunne) and Jerry (Grant) Warriner. Each becomes suspicious of the other, which eventually leads them to divorce court. After the divorce, Lucy and Jerry are consumed with foiling each other’s new romantic interests. Is the awful truth the fact that Lucy and Jerry are still in love?

Dunne and Grant go to court over their dog, Mr. Smith.

Get Me Out Of This Picture
Like Dunne in the previous year’s Theodora Goes Wild, Grant wasn’t too happy working on this film.
Director Leo McCarey’s working style didn’t sit well with Grant and he tried to get out of the movie, even going so far as requesting he swap roles with supporting player Ralph Bellamy! McCarey liked to get spontaneous performances out of his cast, which meant a lot of on-set improvising, which Grant found unsettling. Eventually things worked out for all concerned. Ironically, this is the movie that catapulted Grant to superstar status and is responsible for the Grant movie persona.

Comedy Triumph
For Dunne, The Awful Truth was a delightful experience. She loved working with both McCarey (who became a personal friend) and Grant. Professionally, it was another triumph. Once again, the critics raved about her and the film. And once again she was nominated for Best Actress by the Motion Picture Academy. If there was any doubt about Dunne’s comedy chops, they were all dispelled when the film was first released on October 21, 1937. Dunne and Grant would go on to star in two other popular films: the comedy My Favorite Wife (1940) and the melodrama Penny Serenade (1941).

Award Winner
The Awful Truth was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor. McCarey won the only Oscar for his direction.

Lasting Legacy
In 2000, the American Film Institute listed The Awful Truth at #68 on its list of 100 Years…100 Laughs. In 2002, the AFI listed it at #77 on the 100 Years…100 Passions list.

Backstory: Mr. Smith, the Warriner’s dog in The Awful Truth, was more famous as Asta, the pet of Nick and Nora Charles (William Powell and Myrna Loy) from The Thin Man movies. This talented pet’s real name was Skippy.

Come early and enjoy delicious food and beverages at Overflow Coffee Bar. Mention the Film Club and get 50% off a beverage with the purchase of any food item. Stay on top of all the Chicago Film Club screenings by joining their Meetup page. It’s free to join!


Daystar Center located at 1550 S. State St. works through a grassroots network of collaborations and partnerships with individuals and other nonprofit organizations. Through this web, they’re able to provide educational, cultural, and civic activities that enrich and empower their clients, guests, and community members. To learn more about classes and events offered at the Daystar Center, please visit their Web site.

Holiday Family Fun at The Venue at Daystar Center

The Greater South Loop Association and the Chicago Film Club are having a holiday event, Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. at The Venue at Daystar Center, 1550 S. State St., before the screening of the classic film Christmas in Connecticut starring Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, and Sydney Greenstreet.

Holiday Treats and Crafts for All Ages

There will be holiday crafts and treats for all ages, surprises and give-aways. The Chicago Film Club’s screening of Christmas in Connecticut is at 6:30 p.m. A copy of the new Barbara Stanwyck biography will be given away before the movie. A Life of Barbara Stanwyck: Steel – True 1907 – 1940 by Victoria Wilson was released at the end of November and retails for $40. To purchase tickets to the movie, which includes the holiday event—crafts and treats—click here.

Someone will win this new biography.

Screening of a Holiday Classic

Christmas in Connecticut was a big hit when first released, but is sometimes overlooked in the lists of great Christmas movies. Made when Barbara Stanwyck was at her peak, the story is clever and genuinely funny. Stanwyck is Elizabeth Lane, a writer for Smart Housekeeping magazine, who delights her readers with recipes and homemaking hints. Her character is a sort of 1940s version of Martha Stewart, except, unlike Martha, she has no domestic skills whatsoever. When compelled by her magazine publisher to entertain a war hero, Stanwyck goes into high gear to present herself as the perfect domestic goddess the reading public and her publisher think she is. Stanwyck, often cast in heavy melodramas was a great comic actress. This holiday charmer fits right in with our screwball comedy series.

Classic Movie Film Club

The Chicago Film Club explores classic Hollywood cinema at The Venue at Daystar Center. We enjoy viewing movies on a big screen with an audience. By providing background information with each film’s introduction and discussion afterward, we attempt to put each film in the context of the era in which it was produced. We discuss what makes each film a classic and look for its influences in modern film. The group is led and moderated by Steve Reginald, an amateur film historian and classic movie enthusiast. Steve is a writer/editor. He teaches adult education classes on classic movies at Facets Film School in Chicago.

For more information on the Chicago Film Club (free to join), click here.

Happy Thanksgiving from South Loop Connection

What are you thankful for?

GSLA holds May Neighbor’s Night Out at M Lounge

M Lounge, 1520 S Wabash Ave., will be the setting for the Greater South Loop Association’s Neighbor’s Night Out, May 16, 2013 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. A $10 donation gets you two drink tickets. The donation also includes passed Hor D’oeurves from Artists Cafe.

If you would like to download a flyer to print and post in your building or office, click here.

The GSLA is a not-for-profit neighborhood organization. For more information, visit their .

Web site

2013 Chicago Women's Park and Gardens Advisory Council Elections

The field house is located at 1801 S. Indian Ave.

Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens Advisory Council will be holding their annual election Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. The election will take place at the Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens field house, 1801 S. Indiana Ave.

If you are interested in running for a director position on the Council, you may nominate yourself or have someone else nominate you on the evening of the election.

You must be a resident of Chicago to run for the Council. Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens Advisory Council consists of 11 directors, including four Officers (President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary). All 11 positions are up for election.

Directors and officers serve for a period of one year and are eligible to run again at the conclusion of their term. To learn more about Park Advisory Councils, please visit the Chicago Park District Web site.

If you would like to print a flyer to post in your building or office, click here.

Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens Advisory Council ELECTIONS

Tuesday April 9, 2013 at 6:30 P.M.

LOCATION: Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens Field House

1801 S Indiana Avenue

Chicago, IL 60616

Phone: (312) 328-0821 | fax (312) 328-0824

Saturday Morning Workouts Begin June 9 in Millennium Park

Free Summer Exercise Classes

The Great Lawn at Millennium Park

Free summer classes in Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates, and Zumba will be held on Millennium Park’s Great Lawn Saturdays from June 9 through September 1. Supported by McDonald’s and presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affair, and Special Events, these free workout sessions will be held from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Workouts are about 45 minutes long with classes in Tai Chi at 7 a.m., Yoga at 8 a.m., Pilates at 9 a.m. and Zumba, a Latin-inspired calorie-burning dance fitness party, beginning at 10 a.m. All workouts are free and open to people of all experience levels.

For more information on workouts and all Millennium Park programs, visit millenniumpark.org, or call 312.742.1168. You can also like Millennium Park on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @Millennium_Park.

The complete Saturday morning schedule for the season is below.

Millennium Park is located in the heart of downtown Chicago. It is bordered by Michigan Ave. to the west, Columbus Dr. to the east, Randolph St. to the north and Monroe St. to the south. Convenient parking is located in the Millennium Park Garage (entrance on Columbus at Monroe or Randolph) and at the Grant Park North and East Monroe Garages, all located within a short walking distance of Millennium Park.

June 9-30
7 a.m.  Tai Chi: Stirling Tai Chi
8 a.m.  Yoga: Chicago Park District
9 a.m.  Pilates: Frog Temple
10 a.m.  Zumba: TEAMiFIT
Music during yoga and pilates by Perrin Stamatis

July 7-28
7 a.m.  Tai Chi: Calm Chicago
8 a.m.  Yoga: Lani Granum
9 a.m.  Pilates: Core Chicago Pilates
10 a.m.  Zumba: Diane Garvey and Regina Mundt
Music during yoga and pilates by Carlo Basile

August 4-September 1
7 a.m.  Tai Chi: Chicago Taoist Society
8 a.m.  Yoga: Yoga 312 with Amy Cronk and Joshua Wentz
9 a.m.  Pilates: Chicago Park District
10 a.m.  Zumba: Leslye Jones-Beatty
Music during yoga and pilates by Joshua Wentz

Click to enlarge map.

Merry Christmas from South Loop Connection!

Something for the holiday season. Have you ever experienced or been part of a flash mob? These folks obviously nailed it and got the crowd going. What do you think?

Porkchop on Randolph

Oink, Oink!
You have to love a restaurant that unabashedly has an image of a pig on it’s menu and Web site landing page. Porkchop at 941 W. Randolph St. celebrates the pig, serving up classic comfort food in a cozy, unpretentious atmosphere. Porkchop has created a restaurant with a pub-like feel.

Laid-back Feel

There is a theme going on here.

Seating is comfortable and relaxed. Instead of napkins, each table comes equipped with its own roll of paper towels, conveniently bolted to the tabletop. Open for lunch and dinner, Porkchop has a good assortment of soups, salads, sandwiches, and main dishes.


Supper Time!
On a recent visit, the general manager explained the menu and suggested some vegetarian items. For starters, we ordered the blackened fish tacos with chipotle mayo, cabbage, and cilantro as an appetizer. The fish tacos were moist, tender, and flavorful. Since the name of the restaurant is “Porkchop,” we had to try the grilled pork chop with smashed red potatoes and apple sauce as one of our entrees. Our waitress “talked” us into ordering the pan-seared spicy catfish with Old Bay butter. Both entrees were expertly prepared and beautifully plated. The pork chop was plump and juicy and reminded us of home. Pork chops with apple sauce was a staple at the family dinner table growing up. The pan-seared spicy catfish, on the other hand, was not part of our mothers’ culinary repertoire.

Finishing Touches
For dessert we had “the Maker,” a root beer flow with vanilla ice cream and a shot of Maker’s Mark bourbon and Mexican-style cheesecake, which was not on the menu. The float tasted like a traditional root beer float, but with a little extra kick thanks to the bourbon. The cheese cake was light and creamy, which made us wonder if it was ricotta instead of cream cheese—apparently the recipe is a secret, so we couldn’t confirm the ingredients.

It’s all good!

Give it a Try
Prices for lunch and dinner are moderate. Our grilled pork chop with smashed potatoes and apple sauce was priced at $14. The pan-seared spicy catfish $14. The fish tacos (came with three tacos) for appetizer was $9. The Maker’s Mark root beer float and cheesecake for dessert was $9. If you love pork and other comfort foods like fried chicken (one of their specialties), give Porkchop a try.

#FF Follow Friday: Local South Loop Happenings

The Burger Point at 1900 S. State St. has their official grand opening on Friday, November 4, 2011. They’re soft opening was last week and it’s gone fairly well, so we’ll be expecting more great burgers and wings.

Jazz Night at Donna’s Café

Jazz, featuring the Randy Ford Trio at Donna’s Café every Friday 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. BYOB with a $5 minimum purchase. Donna’s Café is located at 1255E S. State St.

Friday Night Fish Fry at Weather Mark Tavern. All-you-can-eat fish fry for $9.95. Fish fry includes Cruzan rum battered fish, fries, and red cabbage coleslaw. Weather Mark Tavern is located at 1503 S. Michigan Ave.

Dinner at Waffles. Waffles is open till 8 p.m. on Friday nights. Dinner specials will be served along with the rest of their regular breakfast and lunch menu. Waffles is located at 1400 S. Michigan Ave.

GiGi at 13th and S. Michigan

GiGi’s Bake Shop food truck should be at 13th and S. Michigan Friday selling some great cupcakes. Follow the “purple bus” @gigisbakeshop. Have you had one of GiGi's cupcakes? Do tell if you have.

Urban-Remix at 1468 S. Michigan Ave. is an upscale consignment shop featuring home furnishings, artwork, and antiques. Find them on Facebook.

Looking for Some Halloween Chills? Watch a Classic Horror Movie Tonight

by Classic Movie Man

Producer Val Lewton is not a household name, but during the 1940s, he produced some of the best horror films to come out of Hollywood. Under tight studio budgetary constraints, Lewton thrilled and scared audiences without resorting to cheap shock or senseless gore. Instead he created interesting and realistic characters, developed literate scripts, and worked with some of the best developing talent at RKO studios. Some of the people Lewton employed included directors Robert Wise (West Side Story, The Sound of Music) and Mark Robson (Bridges at Toko-Ri, Peyton Place). Lewton influenced such famous directors as Martin Scorsese and William Friedkin. The former even produced a documentary on Lewton in 2007 called Val Lewton: Man in the Shadows.

Below is a list of nine classic Lewton-produced horror films in order of their initial release dates. All of these classics are available via Netflix, Amazon, and your neighborhood video store.

1. Cat People (1942)—This is the first horror film Lewton produced and some consider it his best. A young artist, Irena Dubrovna is convinced that she is the victim of an ancient curse that turns its women into panthers once they enter a romantic relationship. The film contains two classic scenes: One in New York’s Central Park, where one of the main characters finds herself being stalked and another in an indoor swimming pool. These atmospheric scenes made 1940s audiences scream in terror and they still work today in the sophisticated 21st century.

2. I Walked With A Zombie (1943)—This film was in production before Cat People was released and it set in motion a host of imitators. Borrowing its plot from Jane Eyre, Zombie is set on a remote plantation in the West Indies. White and native cultures clash and family secrets are revealed on the exotic and mysterious island of Saint Sebastian. Classic scenes: The heroine, a young nurse named Betsy, meets her patient in a most unusual manner and a night walk with her “zombie” patient through the sugar cane stalks, to visit a voodoo priest. Director Jacques Tourneur (Out of the Past, Curse of the Demon) considered I Walked With A Zombie his best film.

3. The Leopard Man (1943)—Released on the heels of Zombie, the film starts out with two competitive women entertainers (Clo-Clo and Kiki) working side-by-side in a New Mexico club. Thinking she needs a little more pizzazz, Kiki introduces a beautiful black leopard to her act. Unfortunately, the panther is frightened by the crowd and escapes and runs away. Shortly after,  women end up dead, apparently killed by the escaped leopard. Is it really the leopard doing the killing or is something else going on? Classic scenes: Without giving too much away, one involves a train and the other a locked door. The latter gave us one of the screens most iconic horror scenes ever filmed.

4. The Seventh Victim (1943)—The RKO movie factory was working at full tilt, with Lewton releasing four films in 1943! The plot of The Seventh Victim surrounds a businesswoman named Jacqueline who aligns herself with a Satanic cult in order to gain success and power. She decides later that she wants out. The cultist will let her go—if she agrees to commit suicide. Jacqueline tries to escape, but finds the cultists mean business. Classic scenes: Jacqueline’s younger sister Mary discovers strange activity on a New York City subway and Jacqueline encounters a cultist on a deserted back alley.

5. The Ghost Ship (1943)—Concerns a demented and vindictive freight ship captain (Richard Dix) and his sinister attempts to dominate his crew. The onboard claustrophobia adds to the scary mood Lewton and director Robson established. Classic scenes: Without giving too much away, one involves an anchor and chaine and the other an unsecured hook. Are you curious how this all turns out?

6. The Curse Of The Cat People (1944)—With the runaway success of Cat People, it was inevitable that the studio executives would demand a sequel. Lewton, ever the clever and creative man, produced this psychological masterpiece, which gave Wise his first directorial credit. The film concerns a shy young girl named Amy who imagines that her secret friend is the now deceased Irena from the original Cat People. Classic scenes: Amy lost in a snowstorm as she is “pursued” and an old woman’s scary storytelling.

7. Isle Of The Dead (1945)—Boris Karloff, fresh off his Broadway triumph in Arsenic and Old Lace, entered into a three-picture deal with RKO. Instead of playing monsters, which he had grown tired of at rival studio Universal, Karloff was thrilled to be able to play General Pherides quarantined on a Greek island during a suspected plague. Karloff starts off as a tough no-nonsense military man until he comes under the spell of an old caretaker woman who tells him tales of the evil Vorvolaka, an evil spirit who inhabits the corpses of the dead and whose presence brings death to those she touches. Classic scenes: Karloff slowly cracking under the pressure of the caretaker’s superstitions and menance and the premature burial of a woman who has this as her greatest fear.

8. The Body Snatcher (1945)—Karloff again, is the star of this reworking of the classic Robert Lewis Stevenson story. The Body Snatcher is masterful in its creation of an absolutely creepy and mysterious mood throughout. Set in the 19th century, the plot surrounds a corrupt doctor and his complicated relationship with his grave-digging accomplice. Classic scenes: A nameless peasant woman singing sweetly in the night, her voice suddenly stopping mid-note and Karloff’s nemesis Toddy MacFarlane's, brilliantly played by Henry Daniell, delirious carriage ride in the rain. To add to its horror movie credibility, it has Bela Lugosi (Dracula 1931), another horror film icon in a minor supporting role.

9. Bedlam (1946)—This film isn’t a horror film in the traditional sense (you could say that about all of Lewton’s films) because it is rooted in reality. During the 18th century in England, there was a notorious insane asylum. St. Mary of Bethlehem Hospital for the Insane near London. It was notoriously known as Bedlam. Karloff once again stars as the cruel Master Sims of Bedlam, treating patients with heartless cruelty. An outsider named Nell Bowen (Anna Lee) takes a dislike to Sims and in the process her employer who, with Sims’s help, has her confined to Bedlam. There Nell, who before her confinement had led a self-centered life of ease, realizes how horrible Bedlam is and how poorly the “inmates” are treated. She develops compassion for the mentally ill inhabitants and gains their trust. Classic scenes: Nell locked in a cage with a giant of a man and Sims being carried away by the “loonies” and imprisoned behind a brick wall.

Boo!

Classic Movie Man, also known as Stephen Reginald, is the creator of the South Loop Connection and Classic Movie Man blogs. A writer, editor, adult education instructor and social media strategist, he loves writing about the South Loop and classic movies. He will be teaching a class on the films of Irene Dunne at Facets Film School, Chicago, for six weeks starting November 16, 2011. Classes meet on Wednesday evenings from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Click here for information on how to take classes at Facets.

Waffles to Stay Open Late on Fridays

Waffles, the new breakfast and lunch spot located at 1400 S. Michigan will be open until 8 p.m. on Fridays. Since opening in August, Waffles has been doing a brisk breakfast and lunch business, especially on the weekends. It’s not uncommon to see a dozen or so customers waiting outside on any given Saturday and Sunday.

Alex Hernandez, General Manager, says they will be adding some salads, fish and meat dishes to the menu for the dinner crowd. Some of these new additions may be seasonal selections.

Crowds waiting for tables outside Waffles this summer

For more information on Waffles and their menu, check out their Web site. You can also find them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Hernandez is open to suggestions as far as Friday night dinner items go. If you were planning the Waffles menu, what would you serve for dinner?

Steven Paul Jobs (1955-2011)

Banners in front of Apple Store

Impromptu  Memorial
Shortly after Steve Jobs passed away on October 5, 2011, memorials sprung up at Apple stores across the country and the world. The Chicago Apple store on Michigan Ave. was no exception. Colorful post-it notes cover the large windows facing the avenue. Many said “thanks” and “you will be missed.” Not all messages were in English, which shows Jobs’s influence was international.

Some of the hundreds of notes posted to the Apple Store on Michigan Ave.

Cool and Beautiful
Jobs made technology both cool and beautiful. I remember my tangerine iMac; it was a work of art compared to other computers available in the late-1990s. Many of you are probably reading this blog post on your iPhones or iPads, lasting testaments to his genius and renown.

"Steve Jobs Memorial"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

If you had the opportunity, what message would you have posted to the windows at the Apple Store?

South Loop Artist Exhibiting at Open Studios Event

South Loop resident, Dobrila Pintar will be part of the Open Studios event at Bridgeport Art Center October 21 – 23, 2011. The Bridgeport Art Center is located at 1200 W. 35th St. (entry at 34th Pl. and Racine).

40 Artists Open Their Studios
Dobrila is one of 40 artists opening their doors in celebration of Chicago Artist Month. The exhibition opening and reception, “Creative Cornerstones,” is Friday, October 21 from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. On Saturday, October 22, there is a panel discussion on the 5th floor from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. From 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. the EastBank Building 100th Anniversary Party will feature a performance by Chicago’s own, Scarlet Monk at 9 p.m. On Sunday, October 23, Open Studio hours are 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. with an “Artful Brunch” at 12 p.m. on the 3rd floor.

Spiegel was founded in 1865.

Former Spiegel Complex
Built 100 years ago as part of the Spiegel complex, the Bridgeport Art Center is now home to over 40 artists. These artist will be opening their doors during Chicago Artist Month and hosting exhibitions, panel discussions, and music performances.

Dobrila Pintar is an artist and custom jewelry maker. She is skilled in the ancient art of lampworking. In lampworking, glass rods are heated and manipulated over a flame or torch that uses propane or natural gas mixed with oxygen. Dobrila uses this technique at her Eleven Eleven Jewelry studio to create one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces and glass figurines. As an Artist in Residence at LillStreet Art Center, she shares her skill and expertise, teaching students how to create beautiful artwork from glass. 

Finding “Sanctuary” in the South Loop

Did you notice the new business at 1400 S. Michigan Ave.? We don’t mean Waffles, but it’s located in the same building as the new breakfast and lunch spot.

Sanctuary Music and Aesthetics is just one door north in Suite C. Set back a little from the sidewalk, Sanctuary has some impressive high-end stereo systems. We’re talking fancy man cave stuff. Kevin McCann, one of the owners, took me on a short tour of his new establishment, not too long ago. Selling alongside the stereo and video equipment are impressive watches, pens, and cigar accessories.

The nicely appointed audio room is worth experiencing for yourself

Sanctuary is open Wednesday – Sunday 1 p.m – 8 p.m., Mondays and Tuesdays by appointment. If you find yourself near 1400 S. Michigan Ave., you owe it to yourself to check out the ridiculously appointed music room. And by ridiculous, we mean awesome. Just about every song or artist you’d like to listen to is available with a soft touch of the iPad control tablet.

"Sanctuary"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

You can find Sanctuary on Facebook and you can follow them on Twitter.

#FF Follow Friday in the South Loop

Live jazz at Donna’s Café tonight from 6 – 9 p.m. The Randy Ford Trio, features Randy Ford Sr., Mick Muse, and Corky McClerkin. BYOB with a minimum $5 food purchase. Donna’s Café is located at 1255 S. State St. You can follow Donna’s Café on Twitter @donnascafe.

Mari Ann Cater (right) from Urban-Remix and son Nathaniel
 enjoy Friday fish fry at Weather Mark Tavern 

Friday Fish Fry at Weather Mark Tavern, is a South Loop staple and favorite of ours. It’s all-you-can-eat for only $9.95. The fish fry includes Cruzan rum battered fish, steak fries, red cabbage coleslaw, and homemade tartar sauce. Weather Mark Tavern is located at 1503 S. Michigan Ave. You can follow them on Twitter @weathermarktav.

Urban Re-Mix is having a grand opening tonight 6 – 9 p.m. Urban Re-Mix is an upscale consignment store located at 1468 S. Michigan Ave. The grand opening will include wine and hors’ dourves. The event will also feature two local artists: Richard Laurent, painter and Dakota Blue Harper, photographer.

Three Peas Art Lounge is one of the most unique venues in the South Loop (or in Chicago). An art gallery with a full bar setup, Three Peas Art Lounge is the perfect place to relax and enjoy great snacks and beverages, including the lounge’s private label wines, while viewing some great art. Three Peas Art Lounge is located at 75 E. 16th St. Their hours tonight are 5 – 11 p.m. You can follow them on Twitter @ThreePeasArt.

If you have a FF that you think should be featured, please let us know. E-mail your suggestions to sreggie@sbcglobal.net.