“Free-kea”
In neighborhoods with high rental turnover in rentals, the last weekend of every month, and especially before May 1 and October 1, when the largest number of leases expire, the alleys far and wide are filled with decent, affordable design for free: Ikea`s so cheap hardly anyone even bothers anymore to throw it in the back of a van. While shelves and other sleek-yet-delicate units will almost certainly fall apart if you try to disassemble them, and they`ll get crunched in the back of the U-Haul, dragging them half a block and up the stairs leaves only the slightest of scuff.
Best of Chicago 2007