Chicago’s Hot Neighborhood: Logan Square

CHICAGO — Susan Flaga witnessed her neighborhood’s evolution by looking out the window of her hair salon. Sparrow, a sophisticated yet unassuming salon at 2545 North Milwaukee Avenue, whose clients include everyone from blogger Tavi Gevinson to musicians Tom Krell of How To Dress Well and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy to the Creatures of the Wind designers, is steps away from the now-shuttered Milshire Hotel, at 2525 North Milwaukee Avenue. “The foot traffic changed. When we started construction on Sparrow, it was people who lived at the Milshire, which was a vagrant hotel. And now, the crowd is just younger and stylish,” said Flaga, who opened the salon in 2009 with her partner Bathsheba Nemerovski. At that time, Logan Square wasn’t the in-demand locale it is today — Redfin named it the eighth hottest neighborhood in the country in 2013 and the national real estate broker said its appeal shows no signs of slowing. “Sheba and I both lived here and we both didn’t want to commute anymore. I had an intuition that it was going to be a good idea,” Flaga said. Logan Square’s tree-lined boulevards, turn-of-the-century mansions, acclaimed eateries like the gastro pub Longman & Eagle, craft cocktail lounge Billy Sunday and Lula Café

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Eichner’s Eye: My 50th Birthday Bash

WWD photographer Steve Eichner lives to tell the tales from his 50th birthday party and after party. 42 West Club, New York 6:36 p.m.: Latex pants, harness and bullwhip. I’m channeling my inner Peter Marino as I get dressed for my 50th birthday party. The theme? “50 Shades of Steve.” 6:47 p.m.: Whips and chains over there by the photo booth? Check. Guest list? Check. Agency photographers are in place on the red carpet, let’s get some music going, 13 minutes until doors open. I scream, running around frantically making sure everything is set: “Where are the go-go dancers?” 6:49 p.m.: I run down to the dressing room and give the dancers their instructions for the evening. Notice a cool shot of my reflection in the mirror with the dancers preparing. Click, click. 7:00 p.m.: “The doors are open. Let the games begin!” 7:07 p.m.: “Sorry I’m a bit late.” My DJ NappyG arrives. I run him up to the booth. 7:37 p.m.: I do an impromptu photo shoot of my girlfriend Josie on a black shiny wall. A crowd gathers around to watch. Red latex minidress, red wig, red thigh-high boots, all tied together with red rope. “50 shades of red,” I giggle as I snap

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