ML - Michigan Avenue

2015 - Issue 5 - September

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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Summer in Chicago gets all the love, but fall may be the true star of the city's seasons. The cooler temps herald a surge of artistic energy far and wide, while foodies and fashionistas alike revel in what's in season this time of year. We asked four Chicago VIPs to share the can't-miss favorites they look forward to most as autumn rolls in.... M ichelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey have both embraced the easy, chic comfort of Maria Pinto's designs, and versatility is at the core of the designer's M2057 by Maria Pinto fall collection of dresses, pants, wraps, and jackets. This season, the machine-washable pieces include two-way zippers for the first time, allowing for adjust- able slits and necklines. It's a capsule collection perfectly suited for Chicago's mercurial fall weather, which keeps residents and visitors alike on their toes. "I can't imagine living some- where without seasons," says Pinto. "Spring is this big explosion of growth, then summer we're all revved up, and then fall comes and it's a cool, quieting-down time. You start cocooning back in. "I think eating comfort food on the outdoor patio of Nico Osteria (1015 N. Rush St., 312-994-7100; nicoosteria.com) perfectly captures that. The patio is just gorgeous—you can really feel that you're outside. I remember last fall sitting next to a heat lamp in a cashmere wrap, sipping a glass of red wine, and just feeling so strongly that fall had arrived. "Fall is this incredible period of renewal for me. It ushers in a different way of being. You can have a 90 -degree day, but there's still that coolness in the air. We start transitioning to light layers, but we don't have to pull out the heavy- duty pieces yet. Everything feels different, and I want to be outside as much as possible. "When I buy fall clothes, one of my go-to stores in Chicago is Blake (212 W. Chicago Ave., 312-202-0047). The owners do a really great job curating brands and including up-and-coming designers. And they always have new kinds of sweaters with beautiful yarns. Even if I'm not buying one of the sweaters on that particular trip, I want to touch and look and feel everything. "Robin Richman (2108 N. Damen Ave., 773-278-6150; robinrichman.com) is another go-to fall destination for me, but it has a very different point of view. I always find these really special pieces—like they carry Goti jewelry, but it's not the Goti that you see everywhere else, because here they took a leap and bought some really unique pieces. I'm an accessories person, and I love that you can still show them off in the fall. "For my designs, I take inspira- tion from things like architecture and nature. Lurie Garden (at the southern end of Millennium Park; luriegarden.org) is stunning this time of year. I like to go there at least once a month. It's not that big—just five acres—but it's beautifully designed by the Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, who also did the High Line in New York City. Lurie Garden feels very contemporary and unlike more traditional gardens. In the fall, all of the grasses and f lowers start to shift, so you'll have fields of purple aster and pops of goldenrod and later eulalia grass. It's so serene during that fall transition time. It's probably where I'd want to live, if given the choice. "Painting is a big part of my life right now, and I find it so much easier to do those more disciplined, solo projects when the weather drops and the daylight grows shorter. There are more than 100 artists at Mana Contemporary Chicago (2233 S. Throop St., 312-850-0555; manacontemporary chicago.com), where I have a painting studio. The energy is incredible; it gives me such a boost. "I like to grab a bite just a short walk away, at Dusek's (1227 W. 18th St., 312-526-3851; duseks chicago.com). My favorite dish they make is this roasted quail with cornbread and scotch quail egg. It's amazing. A meal there is always comforting and deeply inspiring." SEASONAL STYLE For fashion designer Maria Pinto, fall is the Goldilocks of Chicago style: cool enough to embrace the fun of layers, but still warm enough to keep our coats in the closet. Blake's impeccably curated styles range from established brands to up-and-comers. The open kitchen at Nico Osteria. michiganavemag.com  131

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