Restoration Hardware

The home furnishings store Restoration Hardware recently opened it's Mid-Western flagship store in Chicago inside a historic building called the Three Arts Club. Featuring four floors and an outdoor roof-top deck, the building is an architectural gem and it was really wonderful walking around inside of it on a Sunday afternoon several weeks ago. The renovation included a restaurant inside an atrium, which set the tone of causal but elegant style that Restoration Hardware is trying to achieve. I found some of the placements of chandeliers over beds somewhat unusual and over-the-top, but overall the decor was tasteful and well designed.

NYC 2015

A couple of weeks ago I was able to take a weekend and fly over to New York to see some friends and eat some really good food. Besides trekking back to some of my favorite Manhattan spots, like The Plaza Hotel, I got to check out some new places that I had never gone to before. I was able to see the new location of the Whitney Museum of American Art, finally visit the infamous Russian Tea Room for a cocktail, check out the NY Art Book Fair held at MoMA PS1, and UrbanSpace, which is a new food hall situated behind Grand Central Station with a variety of acclaimed food vendors from around the city. My friend Billy showed me his office, located inside the Daily News Building, which is famous for being the film location of Superman starring Christopher Reeve. 

Many thanks to Angela for letting my crash on her couch and for a wonderful hostess, and to Anna, for a fabulous homemade roof top lunch. It was a great weekend and I was also happy it was really fast and easy to get to back Chicago.

 

Tom and Will!