By Kayla Hardersen By Kayla Hardersen | February 1, 2023 | Lifestyle,
This month brings a buzzy new boutique, can’t-miss shows and a chic coffee concept’s Windy City debut.
DRINK
Chicagoans no longer have to jet out east to get a taste of Ralph Lauren’s iconic coffee shop, Ralph’s, after it recently made its Chicago debut on the Magnificent Mile. The second Ralph’s to open within an RL flagship (following the New York City location), the 16-seat shop welcomes guests to enjoy Ralph’s special blends crafted with organically grown beans from Central and South America, which are then roasted by La Colombe in the U.S. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Ralph Lauren concept without some seriously stylish touches, and Ralph’s doesn’t disappoint, as staff are nattily attired in classic RL green knit ties with aprons, and the space is stylishly appointed with channeled hunter green banquettes, which are also adorned in the brand’s signature hunter green hue. 750 Michigan Ave.
SEE
As a Grammy nominee for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album, rising star opera singer Will Liverman has already gotten a taste of success. His latest project? His debut composition The Factotum, which premieres at Harris Theater for five shows this month. The talent reconnected with high school friend and music producer DJ King Rico to create the work, which is commissioned by the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The show was inspired by Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville and has grown to be a unique work about a Black barbershop on Chicago’s South Side that transcends the typical bounds of opera, and incorporates notes of R&B, rap, gospel, a classic barbershop quartet and more. Feb. 3-12, 205 E. Randolph St.
SHOP
With over 60,000 dye recipes developed since its inception in 1982, buzzy Italian outerwear brand Stone Island thrives on experimentation. To mark its 40th anniversary, the label found a partner in AMO, the conceptual design studio within architectural firm OMA, to design its just-opened flagship in the Gold Coast. The 1,900-square-foot shop offers the brand’s sleek coats and jackets, fleecewear, accessories like hats and scarves, and more in an environment as ethereal as the products it houses. Built-in alcoves showcase past designs and future prototypes, while a digital chandelier hangs at the entrance. An earth-toned palette of the store is AMO’s nod to Stone Island’s commitment to transforming typical materials into new designs. “Research and innovation are at the core of Stone Island,” says AMO director Samir Bantal. “The space, materiality and program of the stores underpin the brand’s ethos, and reinforce a sense of belonging of its community of like-minded people.” 48 E. Oak St.
DANCE
A tale of love, family and betrayal in Imperial Russia, Leo Tolstoy’s novel Anna Karenina is considered one of the greatest literary works ever written. This month, the Joffrey Ballet brings the story to the stage for the first time since its award-winning 2019 world premiere in Yuri Possokhov’s adaptation, which earned the production a Benois de la Danse International Prize in 2019 for Best Choreography alongside renowned Russian composer Ilya Demutsky’s original score. “[It’s] a timeless story that resonates today as it did when it was written,” says Ashley Wheater MBE, Joffrey’s artistic director. The production runs for 10 shows this month at the Lyric Opera House with live music by the Lyric Opera Orchestra under the direction of Scott Speck, music director of the Joffrey Ballet. Feb. 15-26, 20 N. Upper Wacker Drive
RELAX
Stepping into the lower level of the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, guests are met with a wave of serenity in the candlelit hallway of the newly opened Leaf Spa. The wellness center, an extension of health and lifestyle company K’Alma Spas, is the brand’s first Chicago location, offering a quiet respite from hectic city life with extensive seasonal offerings, including winter’s renewing Sacred Sage facial, on the nature-inspired menu. The spa houses eight treatment rooms, including a couples’ room with a eucalyptus-infused waterfall, as well as a gallery featuring healing remedies, and an apothecary bar where guests can create their own oils, scrubs and other natural treatments. 200 N. Columbus Drive
Photography by: Cover photo by @_marcocappelletti
