Shopping with Your Kids - Chicago with Kids - page 243

( & 773/248-0426 ), which featur es collections fr om y ounger, up-and-coming design-
ers—and lots of denim. 25 E. Oak St. (at Rush St.). & 312/587-1700. www.barneys.com. Sub-
way/El: Red Line to Chicago.
Bloomingdale's The first M idwestern branch of the famed N ew York department
store, Bloomingdale's is on par in terms of siz e and selection with M acy's Water Tower
store. The sixth floor features kids' clothing. 900 N. Michigan Ave. (at Walton St.). & 312/440-
4460. Subway/El: Red Line to Chicago.
Macy's When M acy's took o ver M arshall F ield's—Chicago's best-kno wn
“hometown” depar tment stor e—in 2006, ther e was much local hand-wringing about
what the buy out meant for F ield's grand S tate S treet headquar ters. Although F ield's
iconic green awnings and shopping bags have been replaced by Macy's more dreary black,
the good ne ws is that the stor e itself r emains impressive, a testament to the days when
shopping downtown was an eagerly anticipated event rather than a chore. Now redubbed
Macy's on State Street, this block-long stor e is second in siz e only to M acy's New York
City flagship, and its impressive breadth of merchandise and historically significant inte-
rior make it a must-see for serious shoppers. A number of ex clusive “miniboutiques” are
scattered throughout the overwhelming space, including the 28 S hop, which stocks the
latest from hot young designers; beauty stations where you can get a manicure and pick
up exclusive products; and a gourmet food department developed by celebrity chef Char-
lie Trotter. The enormous shoe department is another highlight, selling ev erything from
killer high heels (at killer prices) and boots to sneakers and casual sandals.
The Water Tower store, 835 N. Michigan Ave. ( & 312/335-7700 ), is a scaled-down but
respectable version of the State Street store. Its eight floors are actually much more manage-
able than the enormous flagship , and its mer chandise selection is still v ast (although this
branch tends to focus on the mor e expensiv e brands). 111 N. Stat e St. (at R andolph St.).
& 312/781-1000. www.macys.com. Subway/El: Red Line to Washington.
Neiman Marcus Yes, y ou'll pay top dollar for designer names her e—after all, the
store must liv e up to its “N eedless M ark-ups” moniker—but N eiman's has a br oader
price range than many of its critics care to admit. It also has some mighty good sales.The
four-story store, a beautiful environment in its own right, also sells cosmetics, shoes, furs,
fine and fashion jewelry, and menswear and children's wear. On the top floor is the chil-
dren's department, plus a fun gourmet-food depar tment and a pr etty home-accessories
area. Neiman's has two r estaurants: one r elaxed, the other a little mor e formal. 737 N.
Michigan Ave. (btw. Superior St. and Chicago A ve.). & 312/642-5900. Subway/El: Red Line t o
Chicago Ave.
Nordstrom Nordstrom's spacious, airy design and trendy touches (wheat grass grow-
ing by the escalators, funky music playing on the ster eo system) giv e it the feel of an
upscale boutique rather than an o vercrowded department store. Kids' clothing is found
on the thir d floor, with a nice selection of clothing and gifts for infants thr ough teens.
The selection of childr en's shoes is extensiv e. In the cosmetics depar tment, you'll find a
wide array of smaller labels and an “open sell” environment (meaning you're encouraged
to try on makeup without a salesperson ho vering over you). In keeping with the stor e's
famed focus on ser vice, a concierge can check y our coat, call a cab , or make r estaurant
reservations. If you need a lift, Cafe Nordstrom offers a shopping break, with salads and
sandwiches. Set up cafeteria-style, the r estaurant also featur es a Kid 's Cafe. The bath-
rooms, one on each level, have infant-changing areas and women's lounges equipped with
upholstered chairs wher e y ou can comfor tably and semipriv ately nurse an infant. The

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