NOTE IT: Before Abraham Lincoln was president, before slavery was abolished, before women got the right to vote in this country, the W. A. Porter Furniture Co. was born in downtown Racine, Wis. The locally owned store, now known as Porters of Racine, celebrates its 150th anniversary this year — which is no small milestone in these days of chain furniture stores, catalogers and the Internet, all of which have put the squeeze on the independents.
Offering more than 80,000 square feet of high-end furniture (200 lines in all, including Karges, Baker, Kindel, Hendredon, Stickley, Hancock & Moore) in a patchwork of buildings acquired over the course of many decades (there are telephones scattered about the sales floor for shoppers who get lost inside the maze), Porters is celebrating in an equally large-scale way.
Ten of the store’s showrooms have been completely overhauled.
Several pieces of furniture from the late 1800s are on display, including two original chairs handcrafted by Allen Porter or his son, William Porter. (Allen Porter unofficially launched the company with his small cabinet shop. But it was William who urged his father to move and expand — and in 1857, a store was born.)
One final bit of celebration: a $25,000 Furniture Shopping Spree. Porters will be awarding the giant prize (for store merchandise) to one winner in November. To enter, shoppers are invited to fill out a form in the store. No purchase is required; only one entry a visit.
301 6th St., Racine, Wis., 262-633-6363
— Karen Klages
KNOW IT: Good news for North Pullman Place, a three-story structure and former 18-room tenement building in Chicago’s North Pullman neighborhood. It’s the newest addition to HGTV’s Restore America initiative and will receive a $50,000 grant (via the Neighborhood Housing Services Redevelopment Corp. in Chicago) to help restore the historic building (at 10461-63 S. Corliss Ave.) and convert it into six affordable condominium units. Construction is under way and is expected to be complete by the end of August.
The Restore America initiative is a partnership forged in 2003 between HGTV and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The site will be featured in a 30-second public service announcement that airs this month on HGTV and in a 30-second video on HGTV.com. Co-sponsors of the Restore America initiative are Comcast, Lowe’s and Valspar.
— Karen Klages
DUMP IT: Prescription and non-prescription drugs and old computer equipment are among the many things that aren’t easy to get rid of. But you can dispose of them safely at a Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Dropoff Day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Parking Lot D of the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. Other items that will be accepted for recycling or safe disposal include old cans of paint, batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs, insecticides and other chemicals, old TVs and other electronics, phones, small appliances, cleaners and solvents. (No commercial, industrial or agricultural waste.) Medications should be in their packages, if possible, so authorities know what’s in there; black out your name on the prescription label with a permanent marker. But unlabeled drugs will be accepted. Bring in an old gasoline lawn mower and you will receive a $100 rebate for a new electric or manual mower, which uses less oil and causes less air pollution. The event is co-sponsored by the city of Chicago and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Call 311 (in Chicago) or 217-785-8604 (elsewhere).
— Beth Botts
LEARN IT: Antique samplers are a treasure regardless of their monetary worth, but if you’re a proud owner curious about the age, history, and yes, even the value of your sampler, textile historian Amy Keaton can help you out, a la “Antiques Roadshow.” On Saturday, in conjunction with the Chicago Cultural Center and Clarke House Museum exhibit, “Stitched Together: Early American Samplers,” Keaton will be on hand to examine and assess samplers, as well as discuss their proper care, display, storage and preservation. The custom of making samplers as a way of teaching girls to sew began in Egypt in the 15th Century. Keaton’s program will run from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Cultural Center’s Randolph Cafe. The event is free but space is limited; to reserve time with Keaton, send a note to [email protected]. “Stitched Together” runs until July 28 and features needlework and historic American samplers from 1700 through 1862; 54 samplers are on view at the Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St., and 14 at the Clarke House, 1827 S. Indiana Ave. Go to www.clarkehousemuseum.org for more information.
— Marcia Borucki
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SHOP IT: Chicago Textile Corporation, a furniture/accessories maker that normally supplies retail stores, is having its first public warehouse sale Friday through Sunday. The sale will feature closeout inventory at deep discounts. Some prices: slipcovered sofas, $200 to $300; chairs, $10 to $60; bedding (duvet covers, bedskirts, shams), $5 to $30. For a sale preview, visit www.chicagotextile.com/news. 4500 S. Kolin Ave., 773-890-5445
— K.K.
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