Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GAMES & HOBBY SHOPS
Ash's Magic Shop
Mr. Ash, a r eal-life magician with a lo ve of his craft, stocks his
shop with tricks, jokes, books, and videos that will make you believe in magic, too.
4955
N. Western Ave. (at W. Argyle). www.ashs-magic.com.
&
773/271-4030.
Subway/El: Brown Line
to Western.
Fantasy Costumes
Finds
Not exactly a toy store, this sprawling costume shop (cov-
ering an entire city block) is nonetheless devoted to make-believe and is just as fun. The
store stocks more than a million items, including 800 styles of masks (priced $1-$200)
and all the accessories and makeup needed to complete any costume. There's also a full-
service wig salon her e.
4065 N. M ilwaukee Ave. (west of Cicero Ave.).
&
773/777-0222.
www.
fantasycostumes.com. Subway/El: Blue Line to Irving Park.
Uncle Fun
Finds
Uncle Fun and his staff trav el the world to bring home bobbing-
head figurines, accordions, and stink bombs fr om all corners of the ear th—for the sole
purpose of tickling your fancy. Bins and cubbyholes are stuffed full of the standar d joke
toys (rubber-chicken key chains and chattering windup teeth), but y ou'll also find every
conceivable modern pop-culture artifact, from Jackson Five buttons to demon-on-wheels
Speed Racer
's Mach-Five model car.
1338 W. Belmont Ave. (near Southport Ave.).
&
773/477-
8223.
www.unclefunchicago.com. Subway/El: Red or Brown Line to Belmont.
247
MUSIC
Beat Parlor
If the idea of hanging out with local DJs appeals to y our kids, then Beat
Parlor is your place. In the city where house music was born, Howard Bailey's Bucktown
shop sells lots of it, plus plenty of hip-hop and local DJs ' mix tapes, on CD and vinyl.
The store's two turntables ar e always in use b y cutters checking out ne w merchandise.
1653 N. Damen A ve. (btw. North and Wabansia aves.).
&
773/395-CUTS
(395-2887). Subway/El:
Blue Line to Damen.
Blue Chicago Stor e
Finds
Here's one that 's near and dear to my blues-lo ving
heart—a store that's dedicated to teaching kids about the blues. America 's original con-
tribution to the world of music, and the basis for jazz and rock 'n' roll, is alive and thriv-
ing in Chicago. Treat your kids to a stop here, pick up some books, and maybe even plan
to attend the S aturday-night dance-athons that ar e open to all ages.
534 N. Clark (at W.
Grand Ave.).
&
312/661-1003.
www.bluechicago.com. Subway/El: Red Line to State/Grand.
Dusty Groove America
In 1996, using a rickety old PC, Rick Wojcik and J ohn
Schauer founded an online r ecord store, www.dustygroove.com. Since then, the opera-
tion has expanded in both cyberspace and the r eal world. Dusty Groove covers a lot of
ground, selling soul, funk, jazz, Brazilian, lounge, Latin, and hip-hop music on new and
used vinyl and all new CDs. For the most part, selections are either rare or imported, or
both.
1120 N. Ashland Ave. (1 block south of Division St.).
&
773/342-5800.
Subway/El: Blue Line
to Division.
Guitar Center
When y our kids ar e, oh, some where ar ound age 12 and decide it 's
time to start their own garage band, you'll need to find the one store that can satisfy their
needs. Guitar Center is it: Your kids can check out the keyboards, music software, record-
ing equipment, dance-music gear, drums, amplifiers, basses, acoustic guitars, accessories,
and vintage instr uments.
2633 N. Halst ed (at Div ersey).
&
773/248-2808.
www.guitarcenter.
com. Subway/El: Brown Line to Wellington.
Jazz Record Mart
Finds
This is possibly the best jazz record store in the country. It's
so cool, ev en your disenchanted teenager will lo ve it, despite herself . The first of four
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