Strange Closets

At a party recently, I mentioned to artist Michael McGuire that in every house I visit, there’s always at least one or two things – a piece of furniture, an accessory or just an idea – that I wanted to take back to my own home.  Michael made the brilliant suggestion I make the concept [...]

What kind of monsters would abandon their babies in a barren desert?  Patrick Ewing might have asked himself that question if his moonlit walk hadn’t become an urgent rescue mission to save the vulnerable infants he kept finding along the way.  Patrick put the babies into the satchel on his back, but it was rapidly [...]

Ryan McCarthy and Libby Alexander’s three bedroom, one bath West Andersonville apartment was the subject of an article I wrote for Time Out Chicago’s Halloween issue, and I liked it so much I asked if I could return to snap some photos for Strange Closets.  So let’s get on with it already. Before Ryan and [...]

While it’s not always easy, I really enjoy living the freelance life.  For example, I tend toward introversion, so I appreciate having opportunities to meet and get to know so many interesting people.  Freelance writing also allows me to indulge my semi-nocturnal nature, so I typically start writing late in the evening and hit the [...]

Thank you to Room Service owner Paul Lechinski for introducing me to his friend Ken, who’s lived all over the world before settling into his current Uptown apartment, a first floor 3000 square foot, four bedroom, two bath unit, which he kindly invited me to visit.  With a formal entry, front and back sun porches, [...]

I didn’t know quite what to expect when I arrived at Alley Ballard’s Ravenswood loft building on a sunny May morning.  The photos she sent me of her space looked pretty fantastic, and I’d expected the lobby, which consisted of an old concrete stairwell with a steel railing, to be a bit more grand.  Then [...]

The first thing I notice about Bret Grafton’s Andersonville apartment, located on the top floor of a classic brick 2-flat, is what’s missing.  Despite it being a beautiful sunny spring day, the thick drapes are closed and the apartment is dark, lit only by candles that flicker and reflect off the walls, which Bret painted [...]