ML - Michigan Avenue

2014 - Issue 2 - Spring

Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!

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Creative Inspiration HAPPILY BACK IN CHICAGO AFTER A YEAR LIVING AND WORKING IN LA, ARTIST FRANCINE TURK SHARES SOME OF HER FAVORITE HOMETOWN PLACES. BY J.P. ANDERSON Chicago artist Francine Turk's charcoal nude drawings have appeared in films like The Break-Up and The Dilemma, so it made sense for the Oak Lawn native to give LA a try. After a year though, Turk heard the Windy City's siren song. "I came back to visit dur- ing a beautiful fall week, and I was just really convinced that Chicago is where I belong." Though Turk still has projects in the works out west, the South Loop gallery owner has returned full-time to Chicago—and to some of her favorite places in the city.... "I'm big on antiquing, and I've gotten literally hundreds of antique frames from JAN'S ANTIQUES (225 N. Racine Ave., 312-563-0275; jansantiques.net). I discovered it early on after opening my gallery. I've probably been shopping with her for a good nine or 10 years. She has so much stuff there, and the place is overwhelming. It's a warehouse filled with things, and she has so much stuff all the time that you can always find something good. "I'm obsessed with the new FRYE store (1007 N. Rush St., 312-642-3793; thefryecompany.com) because I'm such a fan. I have a rock 'n' roll vibe, and their leather boot collection totally fits my style. I love their variety—anything from edgy to Western. They have the best motorcycle boots out there. "Design-wise, I'm collaborating with MAYA ROMANOFF (222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, 312-212-8792; mayaromanoff.com), which is a national company but Chicago-based. I'm going to create drawings and paintings on their wallpaper for an exhibition February 27 to April 7, and I also have their wallpaper in my home and in my gallery. Also in the Mart, I love ATELIER LAPCHI rugs (atelierlapchi.com). They're classically beautiful and well-made, and they have a new palette out that I love—it's just perfection. I got my first rug from them seven or eight years ago, and I have three now. I've been asked by other rug companies to design a rug line and I've turned them down; I feel like it would only be genuine to work with Lapchi because those are the rugs I own. That's going to be happening this year. "When I want to indulge myself I check into the spa at the WALDORF ASTORIA (11 E. Walton St., 312-646-1300; waldorfastoriachicagohotel.com) for the day. It's my favorite spot; if I have a meeting, I love using their restau- rant Balsan. The lobby, the spa, the guest rooms—it's one of the most beautifully designed places I've ever seen. The minute I walk in the door I feel better. There is a woman, Leticia Kagan, whom I've been seeing for years at her spa, BEAUTY & SOUL (3600 W. Wrightwood Ave., 312-943- 4388; beautysoulspa.com). She does massage, waxing, and facials—I've been seeing her for facials in the city for probably 12 years. She is absolutely an angel on earth. It's just such healing for me after I've been work- ing hard or traveling; every time I would land back in Chicago from LA, she was my first phone call." MA CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Francine Turk surrounded by her signature nude drawings; Thalia rug from Atelier Lapchi; the Elysia Spa pool at the Waldorf Astoria; Harness boots by Frye. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROGER HAGADONE (BOOTS) 96 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM SOCIAL NETWORK 096_MA_SS_SocialNetwork_Spring2014.indd 96 2/11/14 2:35 PM

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