WICKER PARK — Billing itself as "Chicago's largest smoking emporium," a gallery devoted to American-made glass pipes, vaporizers, smoking-related products and local art opened on Saturday and offers products from $10 to a $10,000, glow-in-the-dark glass pipe.
Located at 1448 N. Milwaukee Ave., Diffused Galleria's wide selection of glass pipes are crafted by American artists, primarily from the West Coast and Oregon, owner Steve Rantis said.
But just don't call the store's number one sellers "bongs."
Rantis said "The B word" is not spoken at Diffused Galleria.
Gazing around the large storefront at the base of a 3-story building Rantis bought last year, Sharkula Walton, a rapper and street personality, declared Diffused Galleria to be "the nicest store of its kind" before beginning a shift to pass out grand opening fliers on the streets.
The priciest pipe in the store will set shoppers back $10,000: A UV glow-in-the-dark work of art by renown glassblower Jason Gordon, who makes pipes under his label, Live Free.
Other glass blowers whose work are displayed behind locked doors include Snodgrass, known as the "godfather of artistic glass," TORO, Evol Empire and Banjo.
Diffused Galleria, 1448 N. Milwaukee Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. to midnight daily, Ph: 773-935-0420. No website yet; send an email to the shop for more info.
A $10,000 pipe by Jason Gordon for sale at Diffused Galleria. [DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser]
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