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ChicagoTalks

Journalism and creative work from Chicago's next generation of storytellers

Category: Small Business

Fashion

Marie Parie Boutique owner puts a whimsical spin on fashion and vintage treasures 

Christina Cohns, May 26, 2026June 15, 2026

Heidi Giammarese’s passion for French boutique clothing was sparked when she traveled to France with her grandmother as a child. Her interest grew when she visited France again in her early 20s and explored independent shops that specialized in vibrant fabrics and various designs.  “I had visited beautiful shops that I loved and was inspired to change the direction of my store,” said Giammarese, now the owner…

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Business

Cuddle Bunny: Where visitors can chill out with a furry friend 

Frida Scheffler-Gonzalez, April 16, 2026June 17, 2026

Cuddle Bunny owner Barbara “BB” Burdick has turned a lifelong affection for animals into a quiet…

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Arts and Culture

Makers and Mission Meet at Chicago’s Trashy Mother Earth Market

Anna Bitz, May 29, 2025August 21, 2025

On a breezy Saturday outside Wrigley Field, vendors lined Gallagher Way with upcycled jewelry, textile…

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Books

Volumes Bookcafe fosters community through books and beverages

Llani Froeber, May 27, 2025May 27, 2025

Large windows overlooking the street beam sunlight onto exposed brick walls lined with bookshelves at…

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Arts and Culture

25-year-old opens dance studio on Chicago’s West Side with goals to promote community

Erica Jones, May 22, 2025May 27, 2025

A new dance studio, Ashley J’s Dance Center, recently opened in Austin. Owned by the…

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Business

Chicago Women Redefine Business on Their Own Terms

Llani Froeber, April 15, 2025April 15, 2025

In honor of Women’s History Month in March coming to an end, the West Town…

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Arts & Culture

Coffee, Candles and Ceramics at Uptown’s First Sip Cafe

Marc Balbarin, March 17, 2025March 17, 2025

Looking past the green facade of the establishment, hanging plants and pictures adorn the walls…

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Business

Lincoln Square businesses evolve after the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

Sam Mosquera, December 19, 2024December 19, 2024

One minute it’s there, the next it’s not. In Lincoln Square, the number of new…

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Opinion

  • Chicago’s influential music scene doesn’t get the respect it deserves 
    by Zoey Hill-Hernandez
  • Lost in translation: ‘I would see everyone else writing while I just stared blankly at my paper’
    by Cynthia Alaniz
  • ‘It felt like something was gnawing at my heart’; Columbia student copes with illness of a lifetime
    by Morgan Bruner
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Arts and Culture

  • 23 years later, Mazzy Star’s masterpiece album still casts a spell
    by Triniti Waxman
  • Queer Chicago designer finds niche dressing drag performers
    by Seng Xiong
  • From dorm room to mainstage, Phat Dragon built a comedy cult following 
    by Ava Simone Forster
  • Great Ideas of Humanity exhibit showcases famous quotes made visual 
    by Sh'Mara Chism
Read More

Feature

  • Hairstylist helps clients embrace their own beauty, rather than copy someone else’s 
  • Care for Real food pantry serves North Siders as need grows 
  • Cuddle Bunny: Where visitors can chill out with a furry friend 
Read More

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