Novem Life, Yo!

With their 10 year anniversary approaching, I hope you’ve already been to the Silver Room. If you haven’t, now’s the time to go. And once you walk into the Bucktown boutique, you’ll realize this is a true Chicago gem.

With homegrown beats playing in the background, anyone can browse the cases of custom jewelry and alternative wedding rings, designer sunglasses and independent apparel. But Eric, the boutique’s owner, is quick to tell you, “It’s not just stuff you buy, but the vibe you get when you walk into the store.” And that vibe is what keeps people coming back. With a lounge section in the back of the store, an ample supply of culture mags, it’s easy to pass time in The Silver Room just enjoying the environment. Before you know it, you’ve been there an hour.

Eric gave me a little background on how it all got started, “I was a street peddler, and I sold t-shirts in college to pay for my finance degree.” The entrepreneur, with a flair for music and fashion, got frustrated with the various hassles involved with selling gear at outdoor street festivals. So, once his store got underway, he decided to put together his own street fest: The Silver Room’s annual Sound System block party, coming up on July 21st. The main stage is set-up at the corner of Milwaukee and Evergreen; so the whole neighborhood can enjoy the creative vibe provided by the boutique. This year’s line-up includes several impressive DJs, a set by MC Juice, as well as martial arts, yoga, and dance performances, interspersed by fashion shows throughout the day. The event is a ton of fun, and a great way for The Silver Room to connect with the community, a goal that many retailers aspire for, but rarely pull off with such grace.

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– R.Pepin