One of a Kind Spring Show At Merchandise Mart April 29–May 1

This Friday, we'll be ChiILin' in Chi, IL at the inaugural One of a Kind Spring Show! This year’s show features 300 juried artists along with special featured entertainment including a first ever partnership with Lillstreet Art Center (where I used to make pottery back in the day, BTW).

Check back soon for our photo filled review. And don't delay, get your tickets in advance. The show only lasts this Friday through Sunday. Shop early and often for the best selection! We've been covering the December holiday version of the One of a Kind Show for years now, and it's something to see. Check out our past OOAK 2015 photo feature right HERE. 

MORE THAN GREAT SHOPPING AT 

INAUGURAL ONE OF A KIND SPRING SHOW

Partnerships with Lillstreet, Old Town School of Folk Music and More

The first annual One of a Kind Spring Show at The Mart (222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza) April 29–May 1 will provide shoppers with a full three days of fun and creative activities.

In addition to 300 talented artists selling their work, the show will feature fashion shows, gourmet demonstrations, live performances by musicians from the Old Town School of Folk Music and an exciting, first-time collaboration with Chicago’s Lillstreet Art Center. 

The One of a Kind Spring Show will host the following entertainment programming and special

amenities:

Lillstreet Art Center

For the first time ever, the One of a Kind Show is partnering with the Lillstreet Art Center, a Chicago institution that has been supporting art in the Chicago community for 40 years. The art center will host complimentary demonstrations, workshops and hands-on experiences throughout each day of the show. Lillstreet will introduce shoppers to their unique class offerings including ceramics, metals, drawing and painting, textiles and printmaking that are perfect for the whole family including some classes specifically for children. 

Shoppers can return home notonly with wonderful work from the One of a Kind Spring Show artists but also their own artistic creations. For a full list of Lillstreet programming at the show CLICK HERE.

Music at the Patio Bar by Old Town School of Folk Music

Talented musicians from the Old Town School of Folk Music will perform live music throughout the show at the Patio Bar, located in the center of the show floor. For information on musiciansand the schedule featured at the show please CLICK HERE.

Fashion Shows

Shoppers can enjoy One of a Kind Spring fashions on the runway. Women’s wear, jewelry and accessories will be featured on the Fashion Stage on the east side of the show floor. The One of a Kind Spring Show will present three fashion shows, Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday and

Sunday at 1 p.m.

Gourmet Market Demonstrations

Shoppers can indulge their taste buds at the show’s Gourmet Market on the west side of the show floor. Guests can also watch cooking demonstrations by The Chopping Block as well as Gourmet artisans.

Fine Art Gallery

Shopper’s looking for museum ready pieces can visit the Fine Art Gallery in the center of the show floor. The gallery will feature a curated exhibition of painting and sculpture featured at the

show.

CLICK HERE for a list of artists exhibiting at the One of a Kind Spring Show.

Schedule and Ticket Information

The One of a Kind Spring Show will take place April 29 from 11 a.m. –8 p.m., April 30 from 10a.m. –7 p.m. and May 1 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at The Mart, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, 7th Floor, Chicago, IL. Tickets are $10 for adults, children 12 and under are free. Special ticket packages are also available. For tickets or more information, call (800) 677-MART (6278) or

visit http://oneofakindshowchicago.com. The 16th Annual One of a Kind Holiday Show will take place December 1-4, also at The Mart.  

About The Mart

The Mart is a division of Vornado Realty Trust, is a leading owner and operator of integrated showroom and office buildings, as well as trade show facilities, bringing buyers and sellers together through market events, trade and consumer shows, and conferences each year. Weare committed to creating sustainable environments in the properties we manage and the communities we serve. Vornado Realty Trust, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real-estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.

Matty K's Grand Opening This Weekend! Highly Recommended

The Old Town School of Folk Music will provide live music on site, Saturday 2 - 6 p.m. Additional organizations, including Lillstreet Art Center, will provide entertainment and activities throughout the weekend as well.

Play locally...   ChiIL Mama had a chance to check out Matty K's on March 11th, when they offered a free, colorful, pot painting and seed planting workshop for kids.  We'll have a big, photo filled recap this weekend.   Come by this Saturday and Sunday and discover Matty K's yourself.   Highly recommended!


ChiIL Mama loves to support local, family owned businesses and parents doing their thing in creative fields.   Matt Kohler is a theatre scenic designer and his wife, Laura, is a costume designer with numerous theatres and an ensemble member with our friends over at Adventure Stage.   (*Worlds Collide Alert:  We recently gave away tickets to The Giver at Adventure Stage and you can check out our review here-including video footage of award winning author, Lois Lowry's Q & A and a photo filled recap of the after party/book signing.)
Matty K's is sure to become a family friendly, neighborhood treasure.

MATTY K’S HARDWARE CELEBRATES OFFICIAL GRAND OPENING WEEKEND IN CHICAGO’S LINCOLN SQUARE APRIL 28 – 29, 2012
 
Matty K’s Welcomes Shoppers of All Ages with Early Bird Sales, Kids Activities, Music, Free Food and Refreshments and the Opening of the Summer Garden Market

Matty K’s Hardware is thrilled to celebrate their official Grand Opening weekend with activities for all ages April 28 – 29, 2012, beginning at 8 a.m. both days.  

The store’s garden market will also open at 8 a.m. on April 28, just in time for spring planting! Matty K’s Hardware, located at 4874 N. Lincoln Ave, is Lincoln Square’s new neighborhood hardware store that features personalized project-planning services for home, business and theatrical projects. The store began operating in November 2011, and the Grand Opening weekend will feature two days of sales and festivities.

Early Bird Sales will be held both Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., with free treats and coffee, provided by Café Selmarie, on hand for shoppers. The grills will be fired up at 11 a.m. each day, with meat provided by Gene’s Sausage Shop, to provide shoppers with free lunch (while supplies last). The entire family will be able to enjoy cotton candy, popcorn, face painting, games and more while they check out all that Matty K’s has to offer, including a brand new outdoor garden market.

Matty K’s was founded by lifelong Chicago resident Matt Kollar, who has a decade of experience working as a scenic carpenter and technical director in Chicago and opened Left Wing Scenic in 2003 to provide technical and design services to theaters throughout the city. He quickly found that he would have to travel from store to store, or search online for certain products that were not available in Chicago. To remedy this, Kollar began laying the foundation for Matty K’s Hardware more than two years ago to provide Chicago’s theater community with a one-stop shop for all of their needs, as well as apply his expertise to both theatrical and home projects.

A family-owned and operated business, Matty K’s is dedicated to serving all members of the Chicago community. Monthly workshops are offered to all ages free of charge with seasonal projects including making a chalkboard wall calendar, bike tuning, seed planting and more. A dedicated kids’ area in the store makes it easy for parents to shop or spend time working with experts in the design center, who are available to help with home projects, painting and more.

“We have been working for more than two years to bring this store to the community and we are thrilled to be in business in Lincoln Square,” says Matt Kollar. “Matty K’s is dedicated to a high level of customer service and personal attention from employees who are experts in their areas. We also wanted to serve theater designers with a one- stop shop that carries all of the specialty items that weren’t necessarily available in Chicago before.”

As part of its community focus, Matty K’s also offers a loyalty program. Customers can choose from charitable organizations enrolled in the program and a percentage of their purchases will go to the organization as reward points. The organization can then redeem these rewards toward their purchases at Matty K’s. Organizations wishing to participate in the loyalty program can get more information by calling 773-654-1347.

A Rogers Park native and graduate of Loyola University, Matt Kollar is the founder of Left Wing Scenic and Matty K’s Hardware. He has a decade of experience as a scenic carpenter and technical director and has worked with several local theaters, including Steppenwolf, Goodman, Chopin, Remy Bumppo and The House Theatre of Chicago.  

Kollar runs Matty K’s with his wife and business manager, Laura Kollar. The pair met at Loyola University’s Theater Department and have been married six years. A costume designer since 2003, Laura has worked with Theater Wit, Pegasus Players, Lookingglass Theatre Co., Chicago Shakespeare, North Park University, Northeastern Illinois University and she is an Artistic Ensemble Member with Adventure Stage Chicago. Matt and Laura have a 14-month-old daughter, Darlene, who is the real boss of Matty K's.   ChiIL Mama spoke with the couple about setting up an interview and hope to have that up soon as part of our ongoing exploration in How Creatives Parent and How Parents Create.    Click the link to check out our Pinterest Board with all the interviews.

About Matty K’s Hardware
Matty K’s is designed for a wide range of patrons, from those with no experience, to your average DIY-ers, to expert carpenters. The store carries a complete array of seasonal items, paint, lawn and garden supplies and tools. There are also two full aisles dedicated to materials for theatrical scenic and lighting designers, including Jaxsan foam coat, specialty rigging supplies, powder coated black aircraft cable, cheeseboroughs, specialty tapes and more.
 
For more information call 773-654-1347. Matty K’s Hardware is located at 4874 N. Lincoln Ave. (at Ainslie) in Chicago and is open 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday – Friday and 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday – Sunday.