New Industry Rising Stars: Chicago Playground "The Varsity Collection"

New Industry Rising Stars: Chicago Playground "The Varsity Collection"

Many fashion designers come from Chicago, but not many incorporate Chicago into their brand. With Rodnell Harris, it is different story. His designs are all about Chicago and even the name, Chicago Playground; the Varsity Collection, incorporates the heart of Chicago into it. So, who this designer that loves Chicago so much that the city is the main source of creativity behind his designs?

Rodnell Harris was born on the West side of Chicago and was a graduate from Farragut High school in 2004. A true Chicagoan from the start he decided to launch the Chicago Playground clothing line in 2008. Many of his inspirations came from when he played basketball in college (in Jacksonville Florida, but hey the line isn’t called Florida Playground). This is where his interest in the designer of the Letterman and varsity jackets grew. Considering himself a visual artist, Rodnell hopes to instill a sense of pride and unity in local communities here in Chicago through fashion.

During Atlanta’s fashion week in 2008, with only a few samples from a previous brand Rodnell created, he realized that becoming a designer was what he wanted to do. After the event, he knew that he could be an asset to the fashion industry by introducing a brand with a positive message and mission behind its designs. Thus, Chicago Playground was created. Rodnell wanted a name that came with significance and a sense of tradition. Chicago is considered a playground in of itself, with all of its attractions and talent in the city. Also, playgrounds bring children together and he wanted a brand to represent unity among the city’s youth and beyond.

Chicago Playground clothing is a brand for all ages and genders. Childrens clothing can be obtained though custom orders. The brand is also looking to collaborate with student athletes and local high schools for an ambassador program in the near future in which students get involved with the brand and Chicago Playground educates them on the fashion industry and the mission behind Chicago Playground; so keep an eye out students!!

Currently, Chicago Playground only offers custom made orders to give clients the opportunity to customize their garments to meet their individual needs. They also present capsule collections of collegiate garments including hooded sweat shirts, signature t-shirts, and baseball calls (all offered in limited quantities). The brand is still in the early stages of creating an e-commerce site and is scheduled to be available in September 2014. Fall seasonal garments are available for order and purchase! Also email rharris@cpg1963.com for a digital catalog! 

At the moment Chicago Playground is focusing on its upcoming student ambassador program and e-commerce launch for the fall. The brand is currently working with local show producers to be featured in upcoming fall runway shows this Fall 2014 season in addition to internal brand representations. So keep an eye out on http://www.cpg1963.com that has many great things happening for a brand that holds Chicago so dear to its heart.

Written by Stella Quimby - Fashion & Lifestyle Editor

Where's Jimmy?!

Where's Jimmy?!

Written by: Thom Olson as featured in Halfstack's Fall Issue. Read the entire issue today HERE.

It’s Sunday afternoon and you are at Oak Street Beach. A beautiful blonde comes up and asks you “Where’s Jimmy?” and proceeds to hand you a light blue package. The color is somewhat similar to Tiffany’s iconic little gift boxes. Alas… Tiffany’s is not giving away free samples... though one can still hope.  It is, however, a small sample of a fruit bar. It’s marked vegan. Some might find that word marked on the package a little scary. You either try it or throw it in your travel tote for later. 

Later you happen to be on a mud run. Could it be that running in this madness is the result of a three-martini evening where you placed a bet and lost? Thus… you are running through an obstacle course doused in soggy wet dirt. Or, is this something you volunteered for because you find it “pleasant”? Anyhow, low and behold, you see that same blonde, who hands you another taste of something wrapped in the same blue wrapper.  Exhausted and hungry, you decide to give it a try.  You eat it. OMG, you actually like it.  You ask for another and get a taste of a second flavor. You wolf it down and are on your way. Did you just have your first vegan experience?

After a shower and cozying up with a very large bar of soap, you hop on down to the Whole Foods Grocery store to get something for dinner. Who do you run in to? Yup, you guessed it. Blondie hands you a sample but this time you ask for a couple of the real deal and buy them. You have just bought a Jimmy Bar.

Jimmy Bars are a fruit-based snack bar. Each bar has all natural ingredients. In a rare twist of food packaging, all the ingredients are featured prominently on the front of the package and not in micro type buried on the back. There isn’t anything listed that leaves a question mark in your mind like Maltodextrin, high fructose corn syrup or some hydrogenated goo.  You can actually pronounce all the ingredients and see there is a shelf life on the package. It’s not like a Twinkie.  Yes, it is vegan, but that is less scary now. There isn’t a dairy component added to the product nor are there any lactose bi-products added. It is gluten free — not a lot of foods can say that, particularly in the snack bar category.  The funny thing is, though, it actually tastes good without any sugar added. The base of the bar is dates. There are 4 varieties: Chocolate Chip, Banana Muffin, Peanut Butter and Apple. With all that said why are you still intrigued? It was blonde right? Or was it the food? So, you start to do some investigating, as you need an answer to the question.

Who is the blonde?
You might have run into one of the two that man the helm of this healthy snack food ship. The very athletically handsome: Jimmy Simon, Co-Founder of Jimmy Bars OR his lovely niece Ciarra. Ciarra is the extremely cute, collegiate daughter of the other Co-Founder Annette Del Prete. The pieces start to fall in to place as you recognize it. Annette is one of the owners of Fillippo’s Restaurant in Lincoln Park. You probably have been going there for many years either before or after a movie. It’s a staple destination over on Clybourn St. It is kiddy corner from Webster Place Theater.

You recognize the blonde, as you have seen her many times at Fillippo’s, waiting on you. Both businesses are a family thing. This new nutrition bar sprang into existence out of the same kitchen as your homemade pasta dinner. It stands to reason and it is no wonder why it would taste good. The restaurant has been around for over 20 years making your favorite Chicken Valdostana. The restaurant was in the neighborhood before it was a neighborhood. They make their own pasta in house and after a plate of it I asked Annette, “What’s the story?”

A word about Annette… and full disclose here. We go way back. I was a waiter in the first restaurant she managed when she got out of college. Her name was Annette Simon. That’s how we first met. A few years later, I ran into her at Fillippo’s where she was engaged to Fillippo Del Prete. They have since got married and had two kids. Annette is very smart. She knows food and is fierce in business. She is also a serial entrepreneur. She has had four businesses including: the restaurant, a Mexican fast food shop, a wholesale bakery and now Jimmy Bars. Jimmy Simon is her brother and very much like her. He is also a serial entrepreneur. He has had six businesses including a very successful IT development company, an art gallery, a commercial realty business and two paper companies.  He chuckles at doing the same business twice but he said it was fun.

He has lived on both coasts and a couple spots in between before coming back to Chicago to do take on this new venture. They both readily admit to their dad having a lot to do with their self-made state of mind. He was a commodities trader but also an entrepreneur.  He instilled in them the mindset to blaze their own paths. He said there is no pension plan option; one has to build it on-their-own in order to ensure their future. Jimmy (who is very active and very healthy) asked Annette to join him in a new business venture. This time, though,  it would be a retail food item that would leverage her expertise. Her epicurean results are what is currently being sold in over 30 states and Canada. Jimmy Bars are also beginning to ship to the UK and Australia.  It has been a very meteoric rise. They started selling bars just a year and a half ago.


You can read the full article in the Fall Issue of Halfstack Magazine - To read click HERE

Parts and Labor: An Off-Kilter (In a Good Way) Sports Bar

Parts and Labor: An Off-Kilter (In a Good Way) Sports Bar

Parts and Labor (2700 N. Milwaukee Ave.) in Logan Square is testing out showing football games throughout September, where you can catch the Bears and any number of other teams with a different ambiance than most sports bars. Halfstacker Rob Samuelson checked out last Sunday's game against the 49ers. Here's his report. Feel free to check out this Sunday's game against the New York Jets at 7:30.

With the windows wide open, Parts and Labor is a bit brisk for an early September day. The floor reminds me of a stroll through Home Depot, all pragmatic gray and rugged. The booths are painted with black and blue Tetris shapes, giant air ducts hang visibly from the ceiling, and behind the bar is what looks like a shrine to Chutes and Ladders – or maybe a morbid ode to those whose lives have been cut short in elevated painting accidents.

My friends have quizzical looks on their faces as we sit on chipped, practical-looking stools in the middle of the establishment. They don't verbalize it, but, “Are you sure we're here to watch the Bears game?” is written in their eyes. Then the menus come.

“Ah, yes, okay, that makes sense,” is now what their expressions say.

Burgers and fried everything abound. And it's cheap. Like, $5 cheap. So inexpensive, in fact, that my friend Tom gets a second burger after he finishes his first, and that was after I watched him eat nachos earlier in the afternoon. The training for that half marathon he ran a couple weeks ago has raised his appetite and metabolism to disturbing heights.

I go a little more gastronomically conservative and order myself a black bean burger and fried pickles. The pickles' crust is golden brown, but they're more goopy and soggy than I expected. This is in no way a bad thing. They taste like pickles should, but more. The juice hasn't been fried out of the equation, thankfully. I'm not a food connoisseur, so I apologize for not being able to explain it right. They were delicious and Parts and Labor puts a convenient bowl of Ranch dressing in the middle to serve as even more taste enhancement.

We got here early because we were hungry and the Bears didn't take the field against the San Francisco 49ers (but really, as we learned during the broadcast, the 49ers now play an hour or so outside of the Rice-a-Roni city, so they should rescind their title) until 7:30. The Green Bay Packers are instead on the giant projected screen. This gives me some observation time.

And the things I observe are out of the ordinary for a bar showing sporting events. They have massive outdoor spaces, far away from the bar's televisions. Stax and Chess Records soul plays on the stereo. Instead of framing signed pictures of former local athletic heroes, Parts and Labor has glossy, coffee-table-book-sytle photographs of machinery. Some look like water pumps, others like parts of the electrical grid. It's a nod to the industrial revolution and blue collar work, the kind done by people who watch these games at bars.

But, this being Logan Square, it's not just blue collar types hanging out. There's one young woman with purple hair and a vest with a cute kitten screen printed on it. I can't tell from afar what kind of beer she's drinking, but it's definitely not a beer with enough capital to sponsor the NFL. I give thanks to the alcohol gods that this is the case and order a Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' to enjoy with my burger and pickles.

Eventually, with the game about to get going, I return to my buddies and put my notebook away. The channel changes to NBC and their Sunday Night Football program, the league's big game of the week showcase. We can see Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth going through their pregame banter. But we can't hear them. Instead, they play the Violent Femmes' “Add It Up,” which has noticeable bad words instead of the easily brushed off addiction metaphors in the football-crowd-approved “Blister in the Sun.” I'm not complaining, because Collinsworth has infuriatingly built a broadcasting career out of doing nothing but calling professional athletes “athletic.” But since we came here to watch the game, I ask if we can turn the TV volume up.

This causes a look of pure “uh-oh” on the waitress's face. She heads to the bar to confer with other employees and the general consensus is a shrug. Looks like we're stuck with our good beers, good food, good company, good music, and not being subjected to inane Michaels-Collinsworth chatter. This is no tragedy. It leads to a little confusion as to who did things on the field – as someone who's pretty much only a baseball and hockey fan, I can name probably four Bears players – but I'll gladly take the tradeoff. Sure, I'm left asking if players who retired nearly a decade ago still play for the team, but oh well.

The game is a drag for most of its runtime. The 49ers build a sizable lead and our attentions wane. Explaining why The Velvet Underground's “Rock and Roll” is great becomes more important than debating whether Bears quarterback Jay Cutler can earn his newly minted contract.

But then the fourth quarter rolls around and things get fun on the screen. Cutler starts picking apart the 49ers, touchdowns are scored, then the Bears take the lead precious seconds ticking down. My friends and I are shocked. How 'bout that? The clock expires and the Bears have officially come back from 17-0 and 20-7 deficits to win 28-20.

Not half bad all around.

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: Great Street Restaurant

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: Great Street Restaurant

Written by: Thom Olson for Halfstackmag.com

If you haven’t visited Great Street at the Renaissance Hotel for a while, you might be in for a treat. Yes, the Renaissance Hotel at One West Wacker Drive has been kicking around for a while, but the restaurant on the second floor has received a much-needed facelift. Yet, that is just the beginning of the story. It really starts with an ownership change this past January. 

The Great Street Restaurant occupies the end of the hotel that over looks the river and North Michigan Avenue Bridge.  As the hotel faces the river, it seems to have been designed to look vaguely like the front end of a river boat with a gracefully curved front. The entrance opens out with Great Street overlooking the activities on the 2nd floor. The hotel tackled the dining room redesign with much needed finesse. The restaurant has always had a wonderful view at night. The city glow has always made this space quite lovely and sparkling — however, the sheer size of the dining room made it impossible to feel comfortable. It was massive and even when it was full and busy, one always felt a little alone like the only customer in a circus tent.

What was once a truly cavernous room has now been divided up to make a more intimate space. A room that was once considered a ridiculous waste of space with a horrible layout has been transformed into something functional yet beautiful. The remodeled restaurant has a more intimate feel with better traffic control. It still feels spacious but not cavernous.  The interior is a tad more contemporary and modern without feeling cold. The columns have been covered in mirror to enhance the view and reflect the city lights at night and the view. The warm wood still remains. The neutral color palette enhances the wood and make the room feel spa like and calm.

This place is such a nice improvement over the last reiteration. And it will only get better. The hotel has plans for a redo of the rooms. The downstairs bar (Novo) will change around the holidays and become a new concept. Eight new concepts have been presented for the new bar, so stay tuned. The really big news is a new roof top bar slated to open around May of next year. Their roof top area above the restaurant currently has a terrace only accessible by the conference rooms, but it will change. The goal is to expand and make it more accessible to the new roof top bar overlooking the Chicago River. It will be launched in May and I have marked my calendar to make sure and visit the new space. It is indeed a perfect location and the view is killer.

A sensible approach — private dining rooms.
This idea of private dining rooms truly made sense from many points of view. The Renaissance Hotel is a first class business hotel. It’s neighbors with 35 West Wacker’s Leo Burnett and links to it by a pedestrian mall area. The hotel is easily accessible by way of the city Pedway System. The private dining rooms are a wonderful spot for business meeting and presentations when there needs to be a more celebratory tone or a meeting that needs to be out of the office and not in a boardroom. They are exquisitely perfect for SMALL wedding receptions or banquets of 12 to 25. YES, believe it or not, the kind of space that can accommodate a small reception for intimate friends and family is extremely hard to find anywhere in the city. Most reception rooms start at about 50 people, thus making seating for smaller events really difficult. Some rooms in the city have a very kitschy feel and focus less on the guests and more about making the business identity of the restaurant part of the event. They can make a wedding reception feel strange or similar to a theme wedding. The private dining rooms at Great Street offer a lovely view and are very comfortable.  I would have no hesitation of booking a wedding in this space. These rooms have been very well received as they have been booking up quickly so plan ahead for your holiday festivities.

The Food Concept
The menu and concept of the restaurant has received a facelift as well and offers interesting flavor combinations. Hotel food can be a bit mundane and perhaps a bit of a snooze when dining out with little variety from hotel to hotel. This menu has variety and more. Chef James Samson is responsible for new concept. It is a new take on the farm-to-table food trend. He explained it quite simply as a walk through the neighborhoods of Chicago. The restaurant sits on State St. If someone were to walk through the various neighborhoods in Chicago, what food ideas and creations would percolate up? Which is exactly what he did. Chef Samson is a transplant from Phoenix and has worked in a number of places across the country but had only been here a year. He wanted to see what Chicago food was like so he toured the neighborhoods and came up with some mouth-watering dishes for just about every palate including the finicky traveler. The menu is cohesive as well as flavorful. It is very health conscious. All but two of the dishes are nut free. All but one dish can be prepared gluten free. Fresh is the key word as well as made from scratch as much as possible in the kitchen.

With the modified farm-to-table concept, Samson took liberties with what is considered local but emphasized the idea of small farm. Much of the food is pulled together from small farms with many locally produced including the beers offered. This version of the concept utilizes very small mom/pop farms that offer unique blends of veggies, fruits and meats. He also utilizes a firm called FarmLogix. This Evanston-based company is the brainchild of Linda Mailier. It connects restaurants with small independent farmers and offers tools for sustainability all the while helping farmers market their produce without adding additional cost to them. The food gets picked up by Testa Produce and distributed. He also utilizes Urban Till — a Chicago grown source for microgreens and specialty herbs. Samson’s food vision doesn’t stop with how he gets his ingredients, but become a source for his experimentation. He likes to play with his food.  He is currently playing with Anson Mills Grits — an artisan mill that uses organic heirloom grains and course grinds to produce a unique texture. The Grits are made from Antebellum varieties that were bred for flavor, not shelf life or transport. They are a giant step away from Monsanto and GMO foods and a throwback to real food. Samson is a big fan of Big Fork Sausage — a Chicago product that is minimally processed with no preservative, MSG, nitrates, hormones or any artificial dreck.


- For the full article, check back Wednesday Sept. 17, 2014 to read the complete story in Halfstack’s Fall 2014 Issue. You can download the latest copy of the magazine HERE.

Halfstack Fall Music Issue: Featuring Fue & Starved Hustle

Halfstack Fall Music Issue: Featuring Fue & Starved Hustle

Fall has arrived readers and with it comes some of my most fondest memories. This is by far my most favorite season. Chicago is a beautiful city in the fall and it’s robust with color, people and sounds. I am so excited to share this time of the year and this issue with all of you. The fall marks, not only my favorite season, but one of my favorite annual issues: Halfstack’s Annual Music Issue. This issue we dedicate to all the starving artists, midnight hustlers and creatives trying to make an impact with their craft, music and soul.

This issue is filled to the brim with wonderful features and interviews of local artists, musicians and bands. Our team of writers and photographers were incredibly fortunate to attend some of the hottest musical festivals, intimate shows and high energy venues. Throughout this issue you will get an insiders view of concerts such as Lolla, AVFest/Hideout Block Party, North Coast Festival and so many more. You will also get a front seat at Macy’s Glamorama shot by our talented staff photographer: Perry Fish.

We also had the opportunity to interview some great up and coming stars such as: Elizabeth Lyons from the country music scene, Western Automatic from the alternative scene and Hello Industry from the indie scene. This issue’s main fashion editorial was shot by the team at Pickapose Photography and features the band: Fue and is outfitted by: Starved. A homemade hustle. This was by far one of our most creative shoots aside from our Alice themed shoot 2 springs ago. It’s amazing to me that we are going into year 3 of Halfstack and with each year, we push ourselves to the creative limit. The shoot was inspired by the days of vlaudville and sideshows and the band did a great job channeling their characters. We also had so much fun incorporating themed props from the incredibly vast Zapprops.com. You will also find some great fall themed beauty and grooming product round ups from Beauty Editor: Danielle Hazenkamp, to help you transition to the cooler weather that is bound to find us here in Chicago.

This issue introduces some new writers to all of you.  Feature Editors -Thom Olson and Rob Samuelson have been writing on Halfstackmag.com, but are making their debut in the issue this fall. You can check out Rob’s genuine and in-depth feature on the Roger’s Park neighborhood. Thom introduces us to some local entrepreneurs: Sara Rose of Sara Rose on Oak and the team behind Jimmy Bars. He also offers some humorous insight on the newly updated Great Street Restaurant.

Dana Rettig gives us her insight on new music app from Jinn and Fashion Editor:  Teresa Espinoza highlights local suburban boutique: Galleria Girl. You can also check out her interview with the owner on Halfstack’s Youtube Channel HERE. Also, be sure to check out Culture & Entertainment Editor: Cora Vasseur’s highlights on Chicago’s own: Grammy Camp and artist Hebru Brantley. You can check out my feature of Chicago’s own famous prop house: Zap Props.

I hope you enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together. As always, thank you for your support! Don’t forget to keep up with us between issues at: www.halfstackmag.com! Happy Fall Halfstack readers! Download this latest copy HERE.

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: AV Music Fest

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: AV Music Fest

Here's a few snapshots from Halfstacker Perry's visit to AV Music Fest! Be sure to check out her whole gallery in the upcoming issue of Halfstack Magazine releasing Wednesday Sept. 17, 2014! You can check out more information on the festival at: http://www.hideoutblockpartyavfest.com

 

Download our latest issue at: www.issuu.com/halfstackmag

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: Blooming of Sararose

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: Blooming of Sararose

Written by: Thom Olson as featured in Halfstack's Fall Issue
Visit Sarah Rose online: http://sararoseonoak.com

Chicago ranks as kind of an interesting spot in the history of fashion. It’s not exactly a style less backwater. Marshall Field was one of the first to make Paris couture and designer garments accessible to the masses. Charles James’s childhood roots are tied to Chicago. Halston was a student of the School of the Art Institute. True, Chicago doesn’t have a fashion week. Trust me, it’s a bummer, but it is no slouch either way.

So, who are the new names of Chicago fashion?  Yeah – Maria Pinto. That’s an easy guess as she has been around for some time and has popped back up after a Kickstarter investment. Boris Powell, who is a dishy and handsome designer and has been on the scene for about 8 years, also comes to mind. Yet, there is another person whose name keeps percolating to the top — Sara Rose Krenger. Her line Stixs and Roses fills a niche where only a few have tread, but many would like to be a part of.  She sits comfortably in a balance between fashion and anti-fashion. Her work is not “out there” or “conceptual”, nor is it “ground breaking”. She is not Comme Des Garcons’s Rei Kawakubo, Issey Miyake, Yohi Yamamoto or Vivienne Westwood.

Her work is more likely to connect with the every day consumer. Yet, it is important to note, that she is VERY similar to those aforementioned designers in their philosophy of social consciousness. She is breaking new ground from that sense; virtually trailblazing as many design companies are starting to forge the ground of sustainability. It is similar to anti-fashion in the sense that the wearer doesn’t care about fashion, as much as they have higher priorities in mind like the world and it’s environment. Her fashion priorities center around economy, function, usability and having a garment that is sustainably made without creating an impact that lasts forever on the environment.

The fashion industry works hard to make instant fashion a reality to get the consumer to buy more.  Sara Rose is a designer who is about buying less. Stores like Zara and H&M build clothing with the idea that the garment will be worn for a couple of seasons and then be discarded— planned obsolescence. Their shoppers want the latest trend and are those people who constantly are actively searching out the next trend. The instant fashion shopper looks to the designer to be constantly developing new ideas to fill the insatiable appetite for something new and to fill the void of what they don’t have. These stores turn over the merchandise quickly like finely turned machines. In the case of Zara, the concept to sales floor manufacturing cycle can take as little as three weeks where others take a year and a half.

The trend ideas get refined with sale information providing the background information on what the shoppers are looking for. A pair of cranberry red skinny jeans may change in color to a brighter fire engine red before they go into a softer coral red. The jeans may then morph into a raspberry red if the trends and social media seem to point in that direction. These tweaks of color change incrementally to match shopper profiles and are projected to increase sales. Much of how the store is merchandised is directed toward the market that goes for the impulse buy. If the buyer doesn’t buy, the garment is a flop and is put on clearance quickly so a new concept can be brought in to inspire a shopper to crank open their wallet.

Sustainable or long-range ideas
Sustainability is not a factor in the equation of fashion – or hasn’t been. Only lately it has been in forefront of company’s minds as the result of economy causing people to respond and rethink how they buy. As consumers tighten their wallets from the downturn, there is more thought put into the economy of the garment. These thoughts started to develop from the standpoint of the economy of fabric and cutting out multiple garments that waste less fabric. A typical factory may have 85% usage, but that translates into 15% waste. Some retailers demand 92% usage from the manufacturer as a means of controlling costs. The focus point comes to the fibers and materials of the garment itself. A great example of this is cotton: it is horrible on the environment as it sucks up water and requires enormous amounts of pesticides to produce the final product. Cotton accounts for roughly 24% of the world’s insecticide market and 11% of the sale of global pesticides. It can take up to 2,900 liters of water to product a T-shirt. 70% of all water used globally is in the form of irrigation. In 2008, 2,890 billion litres of water was used in Pakistan to grow the cotton needed just to make products sold by Ikea – equivalent to the volume of drinking water consumed in Sweden over 176 years. Unrecycled clothing amounts about 5% of landfills use with Americans throwing out approximately 70lbs per person.

Some companies are experimenting with recycled cotton. Much like recycled paper; cotton can be used in a variety of ways. Sometimes this is in the form of pre-consumer and other times, post-consumer waste. Yet, it is important to note that fashion still is about getting a consumer to buy. Sometimes the economics play into the idea of paying less to the manufacturer so profit margins are the same or keeping a garment within a certain price point enticing consumers to buy it. Not buying, however, is not in question.

Enter Sara Rose
Her clothing designs focus on a philosophy that starts with the ideals of need and function. Part stylist, part designer, part manufacturer and 100% entrepreneur make up the whole of Sarah Rose. Sara Rose clients are mindful about looking good and also cognizant about keeping a wardrobe that is practical, cost efficient and has longevity. They are, as she puts it, “similar to myself. They are professional women.  They are extremely busy and extremely stylish. They care less about trend and are more concerned about style. They want to do more with less. They are often times vegan or vegetarian by choice and a little bit quirky, much like myself. ”

True to herself, she has learned to do more with less. Her former store and workroom was over 2000 square feet with half devoted to manufacturing. It was located on the Northwest side of Chicago. It was a large space but as she puts it “not exactly convenient or easy to shop at. It wasn’t unusual to have my customers parking their Bentleys in the funeral parlor parking lot next door.”

Her new space on Oak Street – while there is no parking — is a much more tiny and affluent neighborhood. Across the street from Tom Ford and Carolina Herrera, her new location is half the size, but is an efficient and economical use of space. Where she used to show at New York fashion week and was on a fashion circuit train of churning out collection after collection, she now has changed that cycle as well. “My collections reflect the needs of my clients and I center around what they need. Their needs dictate what I put in a collection and also my timeline. When I have a have a majority of my clients having the same wardrobe challenges, it guides me to put in what is essential and I react to it. Now, I turn out about a collection and a half or two collections a year.”

For the full article, check back Wednesday Sept. 17, 2014 to read the complete story in Halfstack’s Fall 2014 Issue. You can download the latest copy of the magazine at: www.issuu.com/halfstackmag

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: Zap Props

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: Zap Props

Written by: Jennifer Lezan as featured in Halfstack's Fall Issue.

In an unassuming, yet creepy drive off of Loomis Place on the Southside of Chicago, a place where history meets progress, rises multiple post modern manufacturing buildings that have long since been abandoned or repurposed. One building in particular boasts a collection of trinkets, oddities and vintage Americana unlike anything that you will find in the area. Behind this hauntingly beautiful façade of crumbling brick and stone you will find workers packing and unpacking, historians, business people, creatives, designers and the curators of the past. These interesting and inquisitive people are the lifeline behind what Chicagoans know as Zap Props.

Zap Props is a prop and antique warehouse located in Bridgeport run by Bill Rawksi, Chicago’s own curator of vintage and the key holder of the beautifully mundane. Zap Props is 36,000 square foot warehouse hidden within the confines of walls that are likely as old as the props being stored within them. In order to understand the enormity of it, one must visit to truly understand it. It’s an eerie wonderland where creatives of all industries can get lost in time exploring the vast, never ending shelves filled with treasures of times past. 

Bill got his start in the amusement and coin operated machine business over 30 years ago. He was helping his father at the time that ran a route throughout the area and even back then, Bill had an innate business sense and intuition. He saw an opportunity to grow and decided to buy a gumball machine route. As time progressed, he became fascinated with the older machines and started collecting them. He was astounded to find that, as he continued to visit flea markets to search for machines, people were actually collecting restored machines. It was at this point that he stumbled upon the fact that people were becoming ever more intrigued with the “Americana” aesthetic.

Over time, his collection grew and he saw an opportunity to take his business in a different direction as the amusement and coin operated industry was starting to die off. He continued to grow his collection and focus on working the antique and prop market. There was a chance opportunity that started with a little film called “A League of their Own” that helped Zap Props become a well-known player in the industry. Bill found his niche, as there were not, and still are not many prop houses of the stature of Zap Props in the city of Chicago. His innate business sense also helped him create a name for himself. Today, some of his biggest business clients come from the restaurant industry throughout the US and abroad. He has even been showcased on shows such as American Pickers.

If there is one thing that Bill understands, it is that networking is an extremely important part of his business. But, no you’re not going to find this blue-collar and down to earth dude rubbing elbows and hobnobbing in some fancy setting. Rather, this gruff guy has his own special way of connecting with Film Directors, Stylists, Designers and locals. He is a “what you see is what you get” kind of guy and that’s what truly seems to have helped him succeed. He is nimble on his feet and can adjust with the ebb and flow of the ever-changing business he is in. Yet, he remains humble and grateful about the opportunities he has found. Having worked with the likes of companies such as Rossati’s, Aurelios and The Tilted Kilt, Bill still maintains a humble attitude that speaks volumes about his character.

For the full article, check back Wednesday Sept. 17, 2014 to read the complete story in Halfstack’s Fall 2014 Issue. You can download the latest copy of the magazine at: www.issuu.com/halfstackmag

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peeks: Meet Elizabeth Lyons

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peeks: Meet Elizabeth Lyons

Written by: Jennifer Lezan as featured in Halfstack's Fall Issue

She’s the All American girl. A gorgeous, sweet and funny young lady with an infectious laugh that is sure to win the hearts of many. On top of that, the girl can sing. It’s no surprise that The Country Music Association dubbed Elizabeth Lyons an artist to watch this year. Her ITunes chart topping single “Party Rules” has been on the new and noteworthy page and has been bumping in many a country girl’s jeep all summer long. As a Chicago native, she’s a country singer with a city girl heart. Halfstack had the opportunity to meet Elizabeth at The Windy City BBQ and she graciously took some time to complete an interview with us.  Read on to learn more about the country music scene’s sweetheart: Elizabeth Lyons.

Q&A

Can you tell us a bit more about yourself, how you started and what inspired you to chase your country star dreams?

I love to laugh, make people smile and give big hugs! I have been in 18 musical theatre productions. I have always loved singing & dancing & piano & music! My parents said your college education comes before the country star music dream & said I could go to Nashville and pursue my country star dreams but only if I attended college while pursuing the dream. I am thankful for their strong belief in education. I'm proud to say I did it: pursued music dream & graduated from Vanderbilt University a year ago...sometimes I forget I have a degree in film. Until someone asks me about movies then I won't stop talking about classic Hollywood films or Rom Coms....or I decide to make a funny video at Wal-Mart in between a radio interview or boating with my family just because its what I love to do. My sisters and I used to make music videos, a very different experience than when I made my first music video. I went from dancing in my sisters room to dancing in a field with one of the best directors (Mason Dixon) in country music. Traveling to do a tour in the Midwest the day the music video charted #8 on iTunes Country Music Video Charts & #18 on All-Genre was the best way to celebrate as I'm from the Midwest!

People question the Midwest for being country: "those fly over states" Jason Aldean sings about are some of the top corn producing agricultural states in the world- some of the best soil/ or in the words of FGL: Dirt ! Recently announced Garth Brooks will open his tour in Chicago: 5 sold out shows- so I know country is alive and well in the heartland of America. Country became a part of my heart and soul spending every childhood summer in Northern Iowa: picking strawberries in my bikini, fishing for cat fish with my Grandpa, and making strawberry jam with my Grandma.

While I love the country, I'm also a city girl who loves to meticulously read menus at restaurants and window shop... Always on the search for good shoes and anything sparkly, diamonds, cheetah, or leather. I always try and look my best but my sorority sister and I used to laugh I usually look horrible when I see my crush! I always had a position in my sorority house but never wore their shirts because I'd rather wear a cute dress. Greek life definitely helped me get my first album (co-wrote all 6 songs EP) to chart #42 on iTunes Country Album Charts and All Time Bestsellers Albums Under $8 for months & #10 on Billboard Heatseekers East North Central. To celebrate I went and got some corn bread and made my Rice Krispie treats (which are the best! I swear a full stick of butter is the key).

I made 50 batches for all the radio stations I visited driving over 9500 miles this summer I was reminded how much I love to sing to the Spice Girls Notorious BIG Dixie Chicks and Rolling Stones. All the driving was worth it because I got to meet all kinds of people and the song has charted #87 on media base and #96 on music Row.

Check Elizabeth Lyons out online:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/elizabeth-lyons-ep/id572518758
Web: www.elizabethlyonsmusic.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ElizabethLyonsMusic


For the full article, check back Wednesday Sept. 17, 2014 to read the complete story in Halfstack’s Fall 2014 Issue. You can download the latest copy of the magazine at: www.issuu.com/halfstackmag

TJ Maxx Grand Opening On Michigan Ave.

TJ Maxx Grand Opening On Michigan Ave.

Maxxinista - One who finds unique and original designer items at discount prices.  My name is Perry Fish and I am an admitted Maxxinista.  I thrifted before it was cool.  Before Pinterest.  Before Maklemore launched his career with a chart topping song about it.  

From a very young age, I was exposed to this modern form of treasure hunting.  My mother made a habit of dragging me and my sister into every Goodwill and Salvation Army in the state of Michigan.  Family trips were riddled with garage sale pit stops and bargain binges. 

 Images courtesy of tjmaxx.

As a fashion blogger, I love shopping the latest styles and live for finding a good deal.  Of course I was thrilled to hear the news of TJ Maxx coming to 600 North Michigan Avenue.  Style expert, Jamie Krell gave me the full tour of the new store space.  My favorite feature is the new Runway Collection section, with up to 60% off designer pieces.  

Halfstack Magazine:  What trend are you most looking forward to this season?

Jamie Krell: I love all of the menswear inspired pieces this season.  Traditional blazers (from a bit shrunken to oversized), loose-fitting pants and even matching pantsuits.  It looks instantly chic and fashion forward, but is also extra comfortable, which is always a win-win for me!  I also really like all of the menswear inspired shoes; Chelsea boots and loafers which pair well with everything from jeans to dresses - all trends I spotted while pursuing the racks of the new Michigan Ave store! 

HM:  What piece/item from TJ Maxx are you currently lusting over?

JK:  A designer, leather bucket bag (which is also the "it" style of the season) I found at the Michigan Ave grand opening!  I told myself I would abide by the "3 day rule" and if I was still thinking about it after I left the store, I should get it.  It's been over three days and I've thought about it every second.  Is that wrong?  I guess I need it!  

The new location on Michigan Ave officially opened it's doors on Thursday, September 4th.  Keep an eye out for two more locations popping up soon, Romeoville and Northbrook!  

Frankie Ballard Heats Up Joe's with "Sunshine and Whiskey"

Frankie Ballard Heats Up Joe's with "Sunshine and Whiskey"

Frankie Ballard’s “Sunshine and Whiskey” tour was what Chicago needed on a chilly Friday night. The Michigan native baseball player who would ask his coach if he could take the guitar on the bus (the answer was no) delivered an energy packed show at Joe’s on Weed Street that made them forget about the wet cold and any worries from the week that may have plagued them.

Joe’s is an intimate venue tucked away off North Ave, perfect for acts to bond with fans. Audience members get to make eye contact with performers who sell out larger venues and get a feel for how their music and presence felt when they were performing bars and coffeehouses. Nick Sturms, a Nashville resident and very talented songwriter, opened the show. Frankie took the stage with an assertive presence that jolted the crowd awake. He played three songs in a row to get blood pumping and feet moving. “He’s got a grittiness to him,” someone near me said. Yes. This country music rocked with a power that was not going home quiet.

When I interviewed him, Frankie said performing live was all about the energy and the relationship he developed with the crowd. He over delivered on both. After the high octane warm up, his song “Don’t Take Much” had a haunting, almost menacing air. You could feel the fictional small town, blue collar chins rise and chests broaden behind the words. The eager crowd waited for “Sunshine and Whiskey” and pounced on it as soon as he started, singing it as loud and as clear as he did. Frankie had control of the crowd’s energy at all times. He performed two covers, Johnny Cash’s “A Boy Named Sue” and the Wallflowers’ “One Headlight”. The crowd mellowed and played along with “Sue” and bellowed down memory lane with the Wallflowers, shooting the energy back up. Country Weekly got it right when they called him a “true guitar hero” with “an elegant, supple style of playing rarely seen in these days hard rock country.” From an eloquent solo to decorative riffs that added to the song instead of distracting, Frankie is a very good guitarist. He showed his blues influences opening “Sober Me Up” with languid licks, the type that make you feel drunk and want to lean against someone.

Frankie’s a Bob Seger fan. He almost brought down the house when he dove into “Old Time Rock and Roll”, jumped offstage, got up on one of the bars, walked across it, and jumped down into the crowd. He meandered around the crowd continuing the song. The crowd centered with “Helluva Life.” It’s a song everyone can relate to and make their own. Many of us know “the bad times make the good times better” as the song say, but it’s nice to know someone else does too. Frankie put into words what so many of us feel, showing he gets it. Whether he’s onstage or on a bar about to hop into the crowd, he’s one of us.

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: Top 10 Concerts for Fall

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: Top 10 Concerts for Fall

Written by: Dwight Bejec as featured in Halfstack's Fall Issue.

The Black Keys Turn Blue World Tour & Cage The Elephant
Sun, Sep 28 2014  8:00pm
United Center
Cage the Elephant will be with The black Keys as they Turn Blue the world.  Join them at the United Center Sunday September 28th at *8:00pm.

La Roux
Wed, Oct 1, 2014 7:00pm
Concord Music Hall
Looking for a psychadelic taste of synth-pop? La Roux is here to show you what the 80’s is all about well sort of, don’t miss their show at Concord Music Hall Wed Oct 1st.

Fleetwood Mac
Thu, Oct 2, 2014 8:00pm
United Center
“Most of these songs were written between 1969 and 1987… Each Song is a love story… They represent my life, the secrets, the broken hearts.  These songs are the memories – the 24 karat gold rings in the blue box. These songs are for you.” –Stevie Nicks
Join her and the rest of Fleetwood Mac as they bring you these stories Thursday October 2nd at 8:00pm at the united Center.

Coheed and Cambria & Thank You Scientist
Sun, Oct 5, 2014 5:00pm
House of Blues
Coheed and Cambria recently announced a fall tour across North America where they will perform their landmark 2003 album, “In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3″ from beginning to end. The tour, aptly called Neverender IKSSE:3 – Get ready for a show!

Ryan Adams
Thu, Oct 16, 2014 7:30pm
The Chicago Theatre
Ryan Adams brings us another fascinating classic. As usual, deep, subtle, ironic, haunting, intelligent, and witty.

For the full article, check back Wednesday Sept. 17, 2014 to read the complete story in Halfstack’s Fall 2014 Issue. You can download the latest copy of the magazine at: www.issuu.com/halfstackmag

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: North Coast Music Festival

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: North Coast Music Festival

Resident  Halfstack Photojournalist Perry Fish made it down to North Coast Music Festival this year. Here's a sneak peek of shots she captured during the event. Check out the full gallery in Halfstack's Fall Music Issue on Sept. 17, 2014! You can download the latest copy of the magazine at: www.issuu.com/halfstackmag.

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: The Feed

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: The Feed

Resident  Halfstack Photojournalist Perry Fish had the opportunity to experience The Feed live this past August at Schubas. Here's a sneak peek of shots she captured during the event. Check out the full gallery in Halfstack's Fall Music Issue on Sept. 17, 2014! You can download the latest copy of the magazine at: www.issuu.com/halfstackmag.

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: Off to Grammy Camp

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: Off to Grammy Camp

Written by: Cora Vasseur as featured in Halfstack's Fall Issue.

Chicago is rich in music history and prowess across the genres. It was no surprise when several Chicagoland high school students were selected for the GRAMMY Foundation’s prestigious GRAMMY Camp. In their 10th year of existence, there will be 173 high school students total from across the country and the globe. Some students will be flying in from Japan, China, and England to learn what it takes to make it in today’s music industry.


The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1988 to foster the betterment of American recorded music through programs and events that involve music industry professionals with different communities.

“We always wanted to have another vehicle for those high school students who wanted more in-depth information and instruction about the various careers in the business of music,” says David R. Sears, Executive Education Director. “It’s day long music industry career day.”

"The GRAMMY Foundation's GRAMMY Camp has become our signature program that provides young people with an extraordinarily in-depth experience, giving them a genuine sense of what it's like to have a career in the music industry," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation. "Each and every GRAMMY Camper benefits from this program and takes with them valuable lessons learned as they continue their music journeys."

Candidates apply online for one or more of the eight career tracks, which include instrumental performance, vocal performance, audio engineering, music journalism, music business, video production and motion graphics, songwriting and electronic music production. Campers are selected on many factors, but especially two key elements.

-For the full article, check back Wednesday Sept. 17, 2014 to read the complete story in Halfstack’s Fall 2014 Issue. You can download the latest copy of the magazine at: www.issuu.com/halfstackmag

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: Macy's Glamorama

Halfstack Fall Issue Sneak Peek: Macy's Glamorama

Written by: Perry Fish as featured in Halfstack's Fall Issue.

If I were throwing a party, of course I would invite Jason Derulo.  There would be live music, a fashion show, male models in Diesel briefs, confetti falling from the ceiling, a red carpet; hey, a girl can dream. The best part?  It would all be for an amazing cause! 

On Friday, August 8th, at Millennium Park’s Harris Theatre, Macy’s put on my ideal party, the party of all parties, Glamorama!  This year’s theme, Fashion Rocks, brought style, music, and the people of Chicago together for one special evening. 

The event also aimed to raise funds and awareness for the Children’s Cancer Research Fund in Minneapolis and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.  Within the past 5 years, nearly $1 million has been raised for Ronald McDonald House Charities, which has funded the ability for families to stay close while their children are treated. 

To kick off the event, Macy’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Terry Lundgren and RMHC-CNI Ambassador Child, Samantha Roberson, introduced the evening and riled up the crowed for a mesmerizing display of fall fashion!

The evening’s fashion lineup included, Tommy Hilfiger, Weekend MaxMara, Men In Suites, I.N.C International Concepts, Macy’s Impulse, Hello Kitty, Denim Nation, Calvin Klein, and Diesel.   While all of the shows were brilliant, especially Diesels display of more than 20 men in boxer briefs, moving about the stage to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, Calvin Klein’s execution was nothing short of breathtaking.  The chic display of chunky knits and tailored jackets in shades of blush and charcoal had me wishing for a pumpkin spice latte.

For the full article, check back Wednesday Sept. 17, 2014 to read the complete story in Halfstack’s Fall 2014 Issue. You can download the latest copy of the magazine at: www.issuu.com/halfstackmag

Cache Girl' Night Out - Shopping Deal

Cache Girl' Night Out - Shopping Deal

Hey there Halfstack fashionistas!

We have a great event to share with all of you ladies that love a good deal! Cache - you know that trendy story at the mall - will be having a Girl's Night Out at their Oakbrook location! The styles showcased in store are right on trend with fall fashion.

The latest fall runs include black and whites for the classic fashionista, leather detailing for the tough girls, fringe detailing for a bit of a 20s throwback and gorgeous lace pieces that are one bit sexy, one bit sweet.

You can check out all of these in-store at their Girl's Night Out on this Friday Sept. 12, 2014 from 5-9PM and enjoy special one-day savings and get a free gift with purchase! They are also giving away a $150 giveaway at 7PM - so arrive fashionably early to get yourself in on the fun!