Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
246
Tips
From Chicago with Love
Need t o bring some Chicago g ifts home f or friends and family? With mor e
national chain stores hitting town, it's getting harder to find distinc tive, only-
in-Chicago souvenirs. Here are some unique ideas:
• T he
Archicenter Shop,
at 224 S. M ichigan A ve. (
&
312/922-3432;
www.
architecture.org), sells some of the c oolest g ifts in t own. This bright, sleek
shop is part of the Chicago Architecture Foundation, so everything in stock—
including toys, photography books, tour guides, and stationer y—has a defi-
nite sense of st yle. Whether you're in the market f or a $900 r eproduction of
a vase fr om Frank Llo yd Wright's Robie House or a mor e aff ordable black -
and-white photo of the cit y skyline, it's well worth stopping in.
• T he
Chicago Tribune
st ore, at 435 N. M ichigan A ve. (
&
312/222-3080
),
has your standard tourist selection (C
HICAGO
emblazoned on everything from
shirts t o shot glasses). But this is also a good plac e t o pick up C ubs
memorabilia (the Tribune Company owns the team), along with books from
some of the cit y's top journalists. You can also or der reproductions of the
Tribune
's fr ont page or c olor prints of phot os fr om the new spaper's
archives.
•
Sports Authority,
at 620 N. LaSalle St. (
&
312/337-6151
), is the lar gest
sporting-goods store in the city, and the best plac e to find jerseys and hats
from Chicago's other pr o spor ts teams. The victorious Jordan years might
be behind us , but his shir ts still sell w ell here.
•
City of Chicago Stor e,
in the Water Works Visitor C enter, right off of
Michigan Avenue at 163 E. P earson St. (
&
312/742-8811
), is a c onvenient
stop for Chicago-related souvenirs and g ifts, including truly one -of-a-kind
pieces of r etired municipal equipment (although the park ing met ers I' ve
seen for sale her e might be a little difficult t o stuff int o your suitcase).
•
The Savvy Traveller,
at 310 S. M ichigan Ave., at Van Buren Street (
&
312/
913-9800;
www.thesavvytraveller.com), is wher e smart travelers buy their
gear. This Loop specialty store carries just about everything a traveler might
need, fr om maps t o rain gear t o games that keep the k ids oc cupied on
long car trips .
9
you've got another on the way). Yes, the mer chandise is secondhand, but thanks to the
store's location in the tony Lincoln P ark neighborhood, it 's
upscale
secondhand. You'll
find name brands and excellent quality. The store ensures that its collection of furnitur e
and equipment meets current safety standards. Lock your stroller just outside the build-
ing and take the stairs up .
954 W. Armitage ( just east of N. Sheffield A ve.).
&
773/883-0880.
www.2ndchild.com. Subway/El: Red Line to Sheffield.
Urban Outfitters
Fun, funky , and offbeat clothing and accessories, fr om beanbag
chairs to trendy clothing and glitter y nail polish, sure to please young teens. There's a sec-
ond location in Lincoln Park, at 2352 N. Clark St. (
&
773/549-1711
).
935 N. Rush St. (at
Walton St.).
&
312/640-1919.
www.urbanoutfitters.com. Subway/El: Red Line to Chicago/State.
