Read More
+
Jayson Home and Garden: a gardener’s dream
Rarely do we ever see a beautiful garden anywhere in the city but in a park, if we’re lucky, or someone’s back yard. Not so in Lincoln Park’s Jayson Home and Garden. Unlike cookie-cutter gardening stores, like Home Depot, this gardening oasis is an absolute delight to all the senses, particularly in their outdoor garden store. Even though they’ve cut back recently in their floral selection, Jayson Home and Garden offers top-notch plants as well as decor for inside and outside the home. Don’t expect to find wilting perennials here; rather this gardening store draws patrons in with a plethora of blooming flowers, and keeps you there -- if only to browse -- with unique and beautiful pieces.
Read More
+
The neighborhood bookstore, After-Words Books
Don’t tell After-Words Books that brick and mortar stores are dying, because this place is doing anything but. While one-fourth of the independent bookstore’s shelves are dedicated to bestselling and new books, the rest of the shelves offer more unique finds, including used and out-of-print titles. In fact, After-Words will buy your books every Thursday starting at 4pm, as long as the books meet some particular requirements, like no dog-eared pages. Even if you don’t have books to sell, stop on in and peruse their inventory of more than 55,000 publications. The bookstore also offers Internet access to customers for an hourly rate. Used book sales are final.
Read More
+
String a Strand in the Southport Corridor
The Southport corridor isn’t just about clothing boutiques. String A Strand joined the neighborhood this Spring and offers a variety of beads, gems, and stones to make--as the store’s name implies--a strand of jewelry. The store first opened on Wells Street in Old Town, and the owners were approached about opening another store on Southport. They jumped at the chance, and now both locations offer individual beads as well as pre-grouped ones for those who want some help making their own. All of the beads come in all shape and sizes, as well as different colors at only 25 cents a piece. String a Strand also sells already-made jewelry.
Read More
+
Carhartt moves into Wicker Park
Carhartt opened in mid-April 2011 at 1518 N. Milwaukee Avenue, launching only its third American storefront. Like the Salt Lake City and Portland locations, the iconic store features classic work wear gear popular with everyone from construction workers to BMX bikers. By offering bib overalls as well as rough-and-ready clothing designs for both men and women, Carhartt seamlessly bridges the gap between fashion and utilitarian consumers.
The company’s style fills every inch of this Wicker Park store, from the tinted concrete floor to the re-purposed local antiques. Carhartt may have a rugged sensibility, but that doesn’t mean it’s not becoming a trend.
Read More
+
Una Mae’s Freak Boutique: More than just vintage
Una Mae’s Freak Boutique isn’t just about the vintage in great condition, although that’s how the store got it’s start. It also has a contemporary vibe to everything it sells, from men and women’s branded clothing, to books about pictures, to jewelery and accessories, to home decorations like a bike parking metal sign. Una Mae’s fits right into the Wicker Park neighborhood, yet still manages to stand out with it’s eclectic and unique combination of gently used to brand-spanking new items. Can’t make it to the store and share in the ambiance? Everything they sell can now be bought online, too.
Read More
+
Glam up your home with Salvage One historical pieces
Step into Salvage One and step back into history. There’s four floors of treasure here, and this isn’t your grandmother’s yard sale by any means. All the salvaged antiques are organized in some sort of fashion, partially because this beautiful store also hosts weddings on two of its floors (or the garden, if Chicago weather is right). Like what you see dangling from the ceiling? Chances are, those chandeliers are for sale, too. After all, no space goes to waste in Salvage One, including in the garden, which is complete with bathtubs that function as plant holders.
The salvage shop is only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Read More
+
Be By Baby Boutique offers ecologically responsible toys, clothes, and more
Read More
+
Every Akira boutique different, depending on the neighborhood
[/caption]
Akira Spring Runway 2011
Read More
+
Penelope’s: Shop Like a Star
Located at the border of Wicker Park and the Ukranian Village, Penelope's is a hip boutique that celebs love to peruse when they're in town. It's low profile but full of sweet finds for both sexes.
Around since 2002 -- which for this 'hood and the average life span of a trendy boutique, means it's practically a dynasty; the brands they love that you're sure to find here include:
- Our Legacy
- Sessún
- Gitman Vintage
- Shades of Grey
- Spiewak
Read More
+
Time Treasures: Back to the Future
In a time when it's hip to be old school (what with the economy and all), it's better to preserve your classics and opt for long standing treasures in lieu of trends du jour. Alas, Chicagoans who do so invest in antiques or reupholster their current furniture when they want a new look.
Time Treasures may be a bit off the beaten path (at Irving and Austin) but it is the spot to get inspired by European antiques and amazing mirrors and accessories (many which end up in the hippest restaurants in the city). They specialize in pieces from the 1800s to 1940s and yet can reupholster any piece you currently own to a brand new look!
Half the fun of visiting this store is interacting with the colorful owners - Jacek Kafel Sr. who was a rock star in his hey day in hometown Krakow, Poland and Creative Director, Anna Phillips - his daughter is known for becoming instant friends with her customers for her charm can not be beat!
Read More
+
Hermes: Scarve Yourself French
Perhaps the arrival of an Hermes store in Chicago means the Windy City has really made it in the fashion world. The French phenom brand is the brains behind the all-elusive Birkin bag which has a waiting list of up to two years in some cases and of course a whole slew of amazing scarves that will make anyone look instantaneously French.
Its location couldn't be more than ideal, across the street from a supersized Barney's and Prada, Hermes brings the level of chic to this carrefour to a level only this line could. Alas visit the store of the line rumored to have Oprah banging down its doors during off hours for an emergency purchase (the Paris location) and scarve yourself fabulous.
Read More
+
Sara Jane’s No Plain Jane
Read More
+
Luxurious Lester Lampert
Lester Lampert, located on Oak Street in the Gold Coast lives amongst neighbors such as Harry Winston, Hermes and Bvlgari to name a few. But yet it's possible you've not heard the name before -- if you're not a jewelry connoisseur or a Chi-town native. Well, Lester Lampert is both.
One visit to his retail space of dreams, which doubled its original size in 2005, is enough to make anyone weak in the knees. The sparkles, the baubles, the diamonds! But it's Lester's unique designs that have gotten him where he is today. Chosen as the designer of the Field Museum's most noteworthy gems, Loyola University's stained glass windows and more Chicago icons, one look and you'll understand why.
Word of the wise: This is not a store to skip. It is a must visit when in the Windy City...if you like gorgeous things that is.
Read More
+
Jonathan Adler Practically Shops for You
practically sing "Come In!" from the windows of the Jonathan Adler boutique on N. Wabash Street in Chicago's River North neighborhood. Inside it only gets brighter, happier and more inspiring to shop!
Hot items you'll find - and which you'll have a hard time parting with unless you buy one for yourself- include: the ever-famous Muse Votive candles available in two sizes (go on, get the bigger one for yourself), the funky Queen Anne mirror, and of course, the too-cool throw pillows featuring sayings, designs of all sorts, and engraved letters.
If you need something smaller, you'll find it here, too. The boutique makes shopping easy with incremented suggestions starting at $50 and under as well as suggestions for the host/hostess, Hanukkah and young ones.
Thinking you're in a pinch for shopping is no longer an excuse - thank you Jonathan.
Read More
+
Love is in the Air at the Spa at Trump
by a personal "Spa Attache." For those overwhelmed by the indulgent choices on the menu of services (which even includes candlelight yoga classes), leave it to the Attache to help you decide. If it's skin care you crave, let the celeb fave Kate Sommerville Skin Care line and the estheticians soothe you. A favorite of Jessica Alba, Freida Pinto, Molly Sims and Debra Messing, a skin treatment with this stuff will leave you feeling like a celebrity yourself.
Those desiring a little romance get it- and then some- with the couples treatments. Couples can bathe side by side in a rich Andalusian milk bath as they do in Spain, lather up with gemstone infused oils and unwind with "diamond massage oils" or "sapphire gemstone oils" during their massage. To keep that warm feeling, a glass of Spanish wine is also included. If bubbly is more your fancy, The Spa at Trump also serves Champagne, music, and aphrodisiacs for those who wish for it, and aromatherapy and blanket wraps to truly escape from reality.
Read More
+
Escape to the Italian Riviera at Fuga Salon & Spa
pa, which is the mastermind of Italiano Antonio Favaro when he arrived in the States just two years ago with one intention: provide the people of Chicago with a quick escape to Italy.
For starters take the complimentary espresso and panino coming straight from the spa's very own Italian espresso bar. From there look ond pick your pleasure. The Fuga signature facial with Mediterranean essential oils is a favorite or maybe the "Juliet" is more your thing with more powerful resources like retinol and enzymes. For men, try the Cassanova facial to clear your mind (and your pores).
Here the world is really your Italian oyster. Massages (everything from sports to lymphatic), cellulite treatments, body wraps, waxing and top-notch hair design services will leave everyone with a little bit of Sophia Loren in them. Mamma mia!