Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
State Street & the Loop
Shopping in the Loop is mostly concentrated along S tate Street, from Randolph Street
south to Congress Parkway (although there are stores sprinkled elsewhere, they're mostly
in places that cater to office wor kers: dr ugstores, sandwich shops, and chain clothing
stores). State Street was Chicago's first great shopping district. Between the time the first
stores were established in 1852 and World
War I, seven of the largest and most lavish
department stores in the world w ere com-
peting for shoppers ' loyalties along a half-
mile stretch between Randolph S treet and
Congress Parkway. The area has no w been
eclipsed b y M ichigan A venue, and S tate
Street is lined with discount stores and fast-
food outlets. H owever, one grand old
237
Tips
P oint Zero
If the quick change from north to
south in the Loop confuses you,
keep in mind that in Chicago, point
zero for the purpose of address
numbering is the intersection of
State and Madison streets.
department stor e makes it wor th a visit:
Macy's at S tate Street
(formerly M arshall
Field's), 111 N. S tate S t., at Randolph
Street (
&
312/781-1000;
p. 243). A city landmar k and one of the largest depar tment
stores in the world, it occupies an entir e city block and featur es the largest Tiffany glass
mosaic dome in the U.S. I f you're in Chicago betw een Thanksgiving and N ew Year's,
Macy's has maintained a longtime M arshall Field's tradition: lavishly decorated holiday
windows and breakfast or lunch served under the Great Tree in the store's restaurant, the
Walnut Room.
Although the other stores along State Street are not particularly distinctive—the place
still has a no-frills aura compared to Michigan Avenue—it stays busy thanks to the thou-
sands of office wor kers who str oll ar ound during their lunch hour or after wor k. O n
weekends, the street is much mor e subdued. Stores that might be of inter est to families
are
Sears
(
&
312/373-6000
), at the corner of State and Madison streets, and a large
Old
Navy
store (p. 245), at Washington and State streets (
&
312/551-0522
), which sells hip
and cheap kids' wares.
Just off State Street, heading east on Randolph S treet, is the
Gallery 37 Store,
66 E.
Randolph St. (
&
312/251-0371
). The store sells goods made by Chicago youth ages 14
to 21 who ar e participants in the G allery 37 ar ts training pr ogram. The not-for-profit
pairs y oung ar tists with experienced ar tists. P roceeds fr om the sales of the paintings,
jewelry, ceramics, decorated furniture, textiles, and sculptures benefit the program.
River North
Since the 1960s, when the Chicago I magists (painters Ed Paschke, Jim Nutt, and Roger
Brown among them) attracted international attention with their shows at the Hyde Park
Art Center, the city has been a fer tile breeding ground for emerging artists and innovative
art dealers. Today, the primary gallery district is concentrated in the River North neighbor-
hood, where century-old, red-brick warehouses have been conv erted into lofty exhibition
spaces. More recently, a ne w generation of galler y owners has set up shop in the rapidly
gentrifying West Loop neighborhood, where you'll find more cutting-edge work. The River
North gallery district is an easy walk fr om many hotels; the West Loop may seem a little
farther afield, but it 's only a shor t cab ride fr om downtown. If you have young children,
most of the galleries and home stores that line River North's streets are not recommended—
protecting expensive artwork from toddlers is much too ner ve-wracking! Older kids and
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