PHOTO: Michael Metzger, Michael Metzger & Staff, Inc. - Events.org

(continued from page 20)In Briergate, Danny Marder is Making Glass. And he’s not the only one.Danny, an internationally known glass artist, holds private and group classesin glass blowing, lampworking, fusing and casting at his growing studio at1490 Old Deerfield Road. He is a graduate of Highland Park High School,the School of the Art Institute and the Tyler School of Art at TempleUniversity; a professor and designer of university glass-blowing studios andprograms; a promoter and a sculptor whose preferred medium is glass. Heopened the studio in 2003.Making Glass and its staff, including Danny’s sister Jacqui, offer workshops,corporate team events and paperweight and fusing parties. Classes aregenerally for ages 13 and up, but he also hosts parties for “little kids.” Danny,who founded the glass art program at Salisbury University in Maryland, alsopromotes experienced and emerging glass artists via overlapping two-monthexhibitions in his showroom. “I’m interested in providing a gallery foremerging artists,” he says. Openings are on second Saturdays of most monthsand generally include demonstrations by the featured artists.The studio is also the workshop and showroom for Danny’s own art. Hehas an international reputation and does commissions and majorinstallations. Locally, he worked with Julie Rottblatt Amrany on HighlandPark’s recently dedicated veteran’s memorial at St. John’s and Central,designing the eternal flame. Danny also did the custom lighting forBluegrass Restaurant on Old Deerfield Road. The studio produces othercustom pieces like sinks and glass jewelry. For details, call 847-579-0200.Saks Fifth Avenue is bringing in several new lines for Spring: Handbagsby Dolce & Gabbana, Miu Miu, Michael Kors, Kooba and Lockheart;women’s shoes by Dolce and Gabbana, Jimmy Choo and Chloe; modernsportswear by M Missoni; and contemporary sportswear by RobertRodriguez and Ella Moss.The lines present sophisticated choices for a wide range of tastes, fromDolce & Gabbana’s celebrity-supported Mediterranean-flavored creations tothe structured styles, soft leather, rich colors and fine hardware of Kooba;the intuitive, flowing, feminine designs of Ella Moss; the sexy boots andsultry shoes of Chloe; the impeccable, luxurious and comfortable celebritychoices of Jimmy Choo; the funky, fun and intense sister line to Prada thatis Mui Mui; and the sexy elegance of Michael Kors. Saks is at 1849 GreenBay Road or call 847-681-5100.In the Shops on Elm, CD City(847-432-4344) became the first retailerin Illinois to offer personalized musicalmixes to customers using the new DiscGo custom CD burning station. OwnerSteve Kessler, who has been sharing hismusical expertise in his store for 18years, says the Disc Go system has agrowing list of almost 1,000,000 songs,all licensed and available for $1 each.“They keep negotiating new agreements,and the list keeps growing.”Customers use the internetconnectedstation to sort through the library. They can choose in a varietyof ways, including by artist, song title, album title and genre, and play30-second samples. Selected songs are burned onto a disk.“One customer, whose mother’s favorite song is ‘Embraceable You,’found more than a dozen versions of the song and made a disk for her,”says Steve. Another customer burned one song onto five disks to give to herchildren. Steve expects the system will soon permit selling downloadsdirectly to an iPod or other MP3 player, permitting him to offer “ourinsights along with the convenience of custom digital burning.” CD Cityalso carries albums, posters, T-shirts and accessories at 593 Elm Place.In Garrity Square (1855 Deerfield Road), Smugglers introduced anexclusive line of exquisite, very affordable jewelry (most pieces between $50and $75) that includes delicate inside/outside CZ hoop earrings and goldand silver necklaces featuring peace signs and hamsas. For owners of morethan one of the popular Chamillia charm bracelets, Smugglers now hasconnectors to hold them together. Charms in general remain a popular trendand the store has added a line of transparent silver lockets that each holdsthree charms of the wearer’s choice. Drop by, or call 847-579-4686 to beadded to Smuggler’s email blasts.Finally, congratulations toUncle Dan’s, which theChicago Tribune says carried“the most practical winter hat”in the area in its four stores andat www.udans.com. BrendanHieber at the Highland Parkstore, 1847 Second Street,modeled the best-selling MadBomber for us. Whatever theseason, Uncle Dan’s has whatyou need for “the GreatOutdoors.” Call 847-266-8600.Richard Greb is a freelance writer and PR consultant based inHighland Park. If your retail product is new, unique orexclusive in Highland Park, contact Rich at 847-831-1445 orrgreb@aol.com, SUBJECT: “New to You.”22 / Spring 2007