Sustainable Travel for the Holidays: Low-Carbon Ways to Explore Chicago and Scottsdale
As the holiday season unfolds, many of us begin to feel the pull of movement—toward family, toward celebration, toward spaces that bring us joy. And yet, this time of year also reminds us how delicate our world can be.
Inside Optima®: Winter Wellness Rituals for the Season Ahead
Winter arrives differently inside an Optima® community. Light pours through glass walls, warm air rises from indoor p…
Home for the Holidays: A Guide to Decorating Modernist Interiors
The holidays arrive gently inside a modernist home. Light stretches across expansive floors. Glass walls gather the s…
An Evening of Glow and Resonance: Candlelight Concerts in Chicago
For Optima® residents and visitors alike, Chicago’s Candlelight Concerts offer something both familiar and transcende…
Exploring Chicago’s Neighborhood Theatres
Chicago is a city of skyscrapers and deep-dish, along with its vibrant pockets of performance—neighborhood theatres t…
Get Crafty: Exploring The WasteShed, Chicago’s Creative Reuse Studio
Nestled in Humboldt Park, with a sister location in Evanston, The WasteShed is a lively crossroads of sustainability …
Walking Chicago: Discovering the City, One Block at a Time
Chicago is a walking city—not just along the lakefront or river, but through the layers of its architecture, neighbor…
Chicago Fashion Week 2025: A Citywide Style Story Begins Oct. 9
For residents of Optima Lakeview® and Optima Signature®, Chicago Fashion Week is a front-row invitation to experience…
Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool: A Prairie-Style Sanctuary for City Living
For residents of Optima® communities in Chicago, the city offers countless opportunities to immerse in architecture, …
Paws on the River: A Chicago “Canine Cruise” Perfect for Pet Families
At Optima®, we believe great city living includes our four-legged family members. That’s why we’re always scouting ex…
Riding the Rails of Time: A Brief History of the Chicago “L”
In 1893, the first train was operated on the Lake Street Elevated. All of the coal-burning steam locomotives were giv…
Furniture Spotlight: Eames Lounge Chair
What can we possibly say about the Eames Lounge Chair that hasn’t already been said before?
Color Stories in Architecture: How Palettes Shape Our Perceptions
Color has always been one of architecture’s most powerful tools—not just for visual delight, but for emotional and ps…
Designing with Daylight: The Importance of Natural Light in Architecture
AtOptima®, the interplay of light and space is never an afterthought—it’s a foundation. From the shimmering desert of…
The Rise of ‘Blue Space’ Living: How Water Features Support Mental Wellness at Optima®
In an increasingly urbanized world, our craving for serenity, balance, and wellness has never been more urgent. While…