December 29, 2004

Best of 2004: Your Friends and Neighbors

Hejfina Boutique Opens

As is our custom here at DailyCandy, the week between Christmas and New Year’s will be dedicated to the greatest hits of 2004. Hey, don’t even think about calling us slackers. We’re wooooorking here.

Have a great holiday, and thank you for being such smart, opinionated, and excellent readers.

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Wicker Park’s got its share of testy intersections.

There’s the social (yuppie rehabbers colliding with grungy artists), the economic (retail giants pushing out indie entrepreneurs), and, of course, the geographic (annoying stop-and-go traffic at Milwaukee, North, and Damen).

Which makes it the perfect ‘hood for Hejfina, a new lifestyle boutique at the crossroads of fashion, design, and art.

Clothing whores will love its collection of hard-to-find lines (Steven Alan and A.P.C. for gals; Yoko Devereaux and Duffer of St. George for guys). Home decorators will covet the furniture (custom pieces by Chicago designers Michael Koehler, Carson Maddox, and ISM). Design snobs will stay for the books (the reading list could double as an aesthetics Who’s Who).

And for those hankering for a bit of culture, the minimalist concrete-and-exposed-brick space isn’t only about retail.

Hejfina will also host art installations (look for short films from the M5 collective), guest speakers, and group discussions — giving all the different Wicker Park types a place to come together.

Really, now. Can’t we all just get along?

Hejfina, 1529 North Milwaukee Avenue, between North and Evergreen Avenues (773-772-0002).