With purveyors of wholesale food and high-design both sharing this eclectic West Loop street, it never ceases to amaze and delight.

The historic home to many of the warehouses that supply fresh produce to Chicago's restaurant industry has always been a sensory smorgasbord; a dynamic landscape of cranes, chicken-head processing factories and meat-packing mayhem.

But its life took another interesting turn a little more than five years ago when big-name designer Morlen Sinoway moved in. Always quick to adopt a trend, other designers and home furnishing emporiums followed suit and a funky renaissance took flower on the stretch roughly bordered by Racine Avenue and Halsted Street. These days, most of the meat-packing action takes place during the week, while on weekends Chicagoans prowl the art galleries, salvage stores and furniture shops on the lookout for unique finds.

Just a few of the goodies: Linda Warren Gallery (1052 W Fulton Market) represents contemporary artists across the spectrum of media; Prism Contemporary Glass (1048 W Fulton Market) handles the work of some of the country's best glass artists and Morlen Sinoway Atelier (1052 Fulton Market) offers furniture, pottery and flooring, among other treasures.