portable shade

June 23, 2006 9:41 AM

I need a parasol, in Chicago, today.

I forgot until yesterday that the Intonation Fest is tomorrow.

My skin is very fair, and being out in the sun all day is not my idea of a fun time. I remember from last year that the park offers little shade. SPF 45 won't completely protect me if I'm outside all day. I don't like hats.

So I want a parasol. I need to get it today. In Chicago. Preferably under $20, but if it's really cool, I'll consider more. Any style, from one of those papery Asian ones to some froufrou Gothic Lolita. Whatever. Plain umbrellas suck. Has anyone seen one in a store recently, with your very own eyes? I don't need speculation about where I might possibly buy a parasol this afternoon, I have plenty of ideas myself, but I don't have the time to go all over town looking for a parasol that may or may not exist. I need solid information, people!

posted by ruby.aftermath to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (11 answers total)

navy pier has them, in conjunction with the shanghai circus. or they did, last weekend.
posted by crush-onastick at 10:14 AM on June 23, 2006

According to the Pier 1 Imports website, there are three stores in Chicago that have this Parasol in stock.
posted by kdern at 10:18 AM on June 23, 2006

Unfortunately, I don't have any suggestions for finding one, but before you go on quest to find one, I would make sure that they will even let you bring something like that into the show.

Most major outdoor venues prohibit umbrellas. Don't know about Intonation since it's not in a "traditional" venue (like an Alpine Valley, etc)... I would just double-check before you show up with one and they make you throw it out or "check it".
posted by cherryghost at 10:19 AM on June 23, 2006

The Pier 1 parasol is 4 feet wide and over 6 feet tall. Be careful you don't poke someone's eye out.
posted by clh at 10:48 AM on June 23, 2006

The ironic thing is that in China, the girls use umbrellas to protect thier skin from the sun. Seriously, they are really not big on tanning at all.
posted by BobbyDigital at 11:52 AM on June 23, 2006

Excellent. Plus, Navy Pier is not ridiculously out of my way home. Although I tend to avoid it at all costs :) I love the dots on the Pier 1 parasol, but thanks for the warning about size. I thought it might be big, but didn't see the actual measurements.

I've got some friends with connections, so I could probably get it in somehow. But if the weather's nice and cool like it is today, I might not actually need it (I know the sun is no different, but the heat/sweat I'm preparing for make everything 10x worse, in comfort and sunscreen keep-on-ability).
posted by ruby.aftermath at 11:58 AM on June 23, 2006

BobbyDigital, I AM using it to protect my skin from the sun.
posted by ruby.aftermath at 12:19 PM on June 23, 2006

if it turns out that they don't have them anymore at the circus, you might try the cheongsam shop on belmont near the el. i'd say give them a call, but i have no idea what they're called.
posted by crush-onastick at 12:33 PM on June 23, 2006

Chinatown. Check the stores on Wentworth (the main drag).
posted by hooray at 12:58 PM on June 23, 2006

Could you not get a hat with a large floppy brim?
posted by talitha_kumi at 3:23 PM on June 23, 2006

So I went to Navy Pier, and they did indeed have parasols, so thank you, crush-onastick. There were also lots of teddy bears. And unironic fannypacks.

I didn't buy one, though, just wasn't feeling it. I hate being so picky over something so stupid, but... that's me, I guess. I looked at the schedule for the show, though, and it looks like I won't go until the evening, anyway, so out of the nightmare combination of sun, heat, and people cooler than I am, I'll only have to deal with one or two out of the three. I will probably check out the Chinatown/store on Belmont (I thought of those too, but didn't know for sure if parasols were stocked) later, for other summer days on which I'll be forced to spend inordinate amounts of time outside before sundown.

Thanks!
posted by ruby.aftermath at 7:15 PM on June 23, 2006