Shopping - Chicago - page 128

constructed coats and separates (some of which will cost you about
as much as a flight to Italy). Other goodies worth checking out
include funky European footwear at Charles David (second floor;
& 312/944-9013 ), amazingly intricate French glassware at Lalique
(ground floor; & 312/867-1787 ), and an eclectic selection of hats,
mittens, scarves, and other accessories at Glove Me Tender (fifth
floor; & 312/664-4022 ), which should be your first stop if you're
caught here during an unexpected cold spell. 900 N. Michigan Ave.
(between Walton St. and Delaware Place). & 312/915 - 3916. Subway/El: Red Line
to Chicago.
Water Tower Place Water Tower was the first big indoor mall to
open downtown (in 1975), and 30 years ago its glass elevators and
shiny gold trim gave the place a glamorous air. These days the mall
remains popular, but doesn't have much to distinguish it from any
other upscale shopping center. Water Tower is a magnet for subur-
ban teenagers (just like your mall back home) and can get quite
crowded during prime summer tourist season. Most of its stores are
part of national chains (Ann Taylor, Victoria's Secret, and so on). The
department stores anchoring the mall are the Mag Mile outpost of
Macy's and a Lord & Taylor (see “Department Stores,” in “Shop-
ping A to Z,” later in this chapter). One of Water Tower's best fea-
tures is its funky food court, foodlife (p. 66). 835 N. Michigan Ave.
(between Pearson and Chestnut sts.). & 312/440 - 3166. Subway/El: Red Line to
Chicago.
Westfield North Bridge The anchor of this development is a
four-story Nordstrom (p. 140). The rest of the mall is bright and
open, thanks to high ceilings and a wide central walkway—but it can
also feel somewhat deserted compared to the bustling street outside.
The stores are a mix of clothing, jewelry, and bath-and-body shops
(in a midrange to upscale price bracket). Distinctive stores that are
worth checking out include the high-style chocolatier Vosges Haut-
Chocolat on the second floor (p. 137) and the LEGO store on the
third floor ( & 312/494-0760 ), which features a mini re-creation of
the Chicago skyline. The third-floor food court is a good stop for
lunch, with a food station run by Tuscany, a local Italian restaurant,
and other stands that offer Japanese tempura, grilled wraps, and
Chicago-style hot dogs. 520 N. Michigan Ave. (between Grand Ave. and Illinois
St.). & 312/327 - 2300. Subway/El: Red Line to Grand.
CHIC SHOPPING ON NEARBY OAK STREET
Oak Street has long been a symbol of designer-label shopping; if a
store has an Oak Street address, you can count on it being expensive.