Walk this way

I hope you’re all finding your way to the NEW and IMPROVED snoopster site (thesnoopster.com). It’s where all the action’s been since mid-July!!!!!

“thesnoopster.wordpress.com”  has moved to  ”thesnoopster.com”

If your browser does not automatically redirect you in 5 seconds,
click here to go to the new site.

THE BIG NEWS!

the snoopster is moving! I’m about 98 percent in my new home. (Please forgive my lack of offerings in the last two weeks. This move is why; I should have explained that to you all before this!)

I really shouldn’t be inviting guests yet but I just posted a story about a very unique home in the West Village (you’d find the egg sink, shown above, there). It’s owned and occupied by Mike and Lucy Grajewski — owners of the wonderful little corner eatery known as Uncle Mike’s Place at Grand and Paulina.

Mike is as unique as his home, Lucy as lovely.

So check ‘em out.

My new address: simply, thesnoopster.com

I’ll be having Open House Launch Parties in September with dozens of the finest home furnishing/home accessoies stores in several different shopping districts. Invitations will be sent out soon!

Please subscribe to my new weekly newsletter, the snooplet (there’s a form on the NEW snoopster home, thesnoopster.com; just click on the beginning of this sentence), and you will definitely get invited to the soirees!

And, if you like the new home and the snoopster, PLEASE tell LOTS of your friends about it and suggest they subscribe too! The more the merrier!

Brett’s comin’ back!

If you love his music like I do, you’ll know who I mean.

Brett Dennen — who serenaded my son and I (albeit via CD) as we drove from Missoula, MT to Livingston, MT and back again — is going to be Jammin’ at the Zoo this Friday. You can catch him in between sets by Pat McGee and Matt Nathanson at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Before you go, find out about his love of yerba mate gourds in my Snooping with the Stars story.

Thank you, Mr. McCourt

Photo by Kent Meireis

I got home from a nice, relaxed family dinner tonight, took the dog out and sat down to do a little work … to learn that the talented writer, teacher and gentle man Frank McCourt passed today. Our world’s loss.

I was lucky to have spent exactly 20 minutes with the author of “Angela’s Ashes”  (very fastidious public relations folks around the Pulitzer Prize winner that night) nearly three years ago when he was in Chicago for an Art Resources in Teaching reception at the Art Institute of Chicago.

At first, he seemed just a smidge distant but well before that 20 minutes was up, his warmth and dry Irish humor was unleashed. I will treasure his telling me about his harmonica playing as much as I treasure his writing.

In his honor, I share the “Snoop Patrol” piece (click here) that came out of that interview for the Chicago Tribune. Peace be with you, Mr. McCourt.

~ Elaine Matsushita (with thanks to Kent Meireis for the use of his wonderful photo of Frank McCourt; kentmeireisphotography.com)

For your shopping (and saving) pleasure

There are plenty of deals to be had and garden viewing to be done this weekend. Enjoy! (And say hi if you see me at the Sheffield Garden Walk!)

Now
Sad, sad, sad. Smith & Hawken, you may have heard, is going out of business. I’ve always found beautiful gifts – living and not – at the Marcey Street store and outlet in Chicago. Hurry over there and the other Chicago-area S&H stores to get 20 percent to 30 percent off their fine home and garden offerings. I’ll miss you, S&H!
Info: 800 776-5558 or smithandhawken.com

Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19

Spring Meadow Nursery photo

Finally, it’s the 41st Annual Sheffield Garden Walk & Festival, a self-guided tour of more than 90 gardens sponsored by the Sheffield Neighborhood Association (SNA), a non-profit community organization. Food and music (including Poi Dog Pondering) are on the bill!

Where: Start at Webster and Sheffield, Chicago Cost: $6 donation; $10 after 3 p.m. Info: sheffieldfestivals.org 

Saturday, July 18
It’s the last day of Notice’s pre-sidewalk sale event. Savings of 30 percent to 70 percent off the store’s accessories for living  – and air conditioning.

Where: 2057 Green Bay Rd., Highland Park Info: 847-432-1212 or notice-this.com 

Through the summer
Floor samples of upholstered pieces in Susan Fredman Design Group’s showroom, At Home in the City, are 20 percent off  

Where: 530 W. Erie St., Chicago Info: 312-587-8150 or susanfredman.com.

 Now
Take 40 percent off online purchases of Teco Pottery.
www.prairemodstore.com/overstocksale

Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19
At the Armitage Avenue Sidewalk Sale, check out: 

Vitreluxe Blue Glass Vase

Art Effect where home goods (vases, framed art and more), as well as clothing, will be on sale for up to 70 percent. Also $1, $2, $3 and $5 bins.
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday Where: 934 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago Info: 773-929-3600 or shoparteffect.com

• Tabula Tua marks select rugs 50 percent off.
  Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday Where: 1015 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago Info: 773-525-3500 or tabulatua.com
  

~ Elaine Matsushita

Click here for more Sales + Events!

And send info about your sales and events to thesnoopster@ymail.com.

Snooping with the stars: David Brenner

Comedian David Brenner

I had the loveliest chat with David Brenner about his home in Las Vegas last fall just before he came to Chicago to perform at Zanie’s. Talk about stories to tell. I didn’t get to include all of them in the article that appeared in the Chicago Tribune. One that didn’t get in that story was about his collections which includes a powerful poem written by his brother when he was battling cancer.

Besides learning about Brenner’s unique living room (you can find out about it and other things in the Philadelphia native’s home here), I got to know a very funny man who is also extremely grounded and knows to treasure the lessons life has thrown him along the way.

Want to get more virtual peeks into celebs’ homes?

This week’s Sales + Events

Don’t you love these beauties from Jayson Home & Garden? And . . . they’re . . . ON SALE! I’ve found more sales. too! Check ‘em out.

Fireless fireplace continued!

Shortly after I shared a couple variations on Linda Summerfield Crispell’s summer-fireplace themes (see “Fireless fireplaces” post of July 7, 2009), I stumbled on this shimmery version thanks to blogger Tate Gunnerson, who writes the blog “Strange Closets.”

Tate found this silvery March of the Candlesticks in the pad of limey green-lovin’ Mikey and Brian, owners of the catering business Yo Soy. Check out their soulful-looking pup and their wall treatment above their fireplace. Cool!

(Oh, by the way, Strange Closets is where Tate features “weekly home tours, interviews with artists/designers and a guide to Chicago’s grooviest design shops.” In other words (gasp): The Snoopster’s competition! But friendly competition. It’s a big, beautiful, gloriously diverse design world out there!

~ Elaine Matsushita

Fireless fireplaces

When I wrote about Linda Summerfield Crispell’s home in Highland Park, I mentioned that she hates to see an empty fireplace in the summer. Her solution: A colorful collection of salvaged croquet and billiard balls.

Linda says she doesn’t like the sight of an empty fireplace in the summer. Croquet, anyone?

We love it! You did too. But you also had some other suggestions for cool looks for this hot spot.

My friend Libby O’Dell not only suggested a fireplace candelabra, but she also sent us a picture of a lovely one from fireplacemall.com. It’s called the Spandrels Fireplace Candelabra. What do you think???

Spandrels Fireplace Candelabra from fireplacemall.com

I like!!! (And it’s on sale now for $124.95. Several other designs are available too.)

And then, Maureen Hart suggested a beautiful vase full of blooms. From your garden or the farmers market — I’m all for it. One big-statement-of-an-arrangement. Or a lineup of several simple and bright buds. Or a big houseplant or a blooming plant. . . Here’s my stab at this idea:

Gerbera daisies from Domincks. Beautiful fireplace from my dear friend Joanie Goldberg.

 

Got other ideas??? Let me know!