Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
251
whether it comes in a bo x or melted over a banana split ser ved in a clamshell dish. The
store is known for its tur tles—chocolate-covered pecan and caramel clusters—and may
be the only place in the city still selling rock candy on wooden sticks.
1960 N. Western Ave.
(just north of Armitage Ave.).
&
773/384-1035.
Subway/El: Blue Line to Western.
Sweet Thang
When bopping ar ound Wicker P ark's boutiques and quir ky shops,
don't miss Bernard Runo's Euro-style cafe for a tasty treat to tide you over. Runo, a clas-
sically trained pastr y chef who has wor ked in the kitchens of the city 's best hotels and
learned his trade in F rance, imports most of the ingr edients for his cr oissants, cookies,
tarts, and other pastries from across the pond. The cafe has a laid-back atmosphere, with
red distressed walls covered with abstract art and Parisian-style tables and chairs that ar e
set outside in warm w eather.
1921 W. North Ave.
&
773/772-4166.
Subway/El: Blue Line t o
Damen.
Vosges Haut-Chocolat
Finds
Some of the wor ks of chocolatier Katrina M arkoff
might be a r each for kids (such as wasabi-flav ored truffles), but chocolate bars and the
best toffee I've ever tasted are a hit no matter what the age range. M arkoff studied at Le
Cordon B leu in P aris and honed her skills thr oughout E urope and Asia. H er ex otic
gourmet truffles—with fabulous names such as absinthe, mint julep, wink of the rabbit,
woolloomooloo, and ambrosia—are made from premium Belgian chocolate and infused
with rare spices, seasonings, and flowers from around the world. The store—which looks
more like a modern art gallery than a chocolatier—includes a gourmet-hot-chocolate ba,
where you're welcome to sit and sip . Vosges also has a small stor e on tr endy Armitage
Avenue (951 W. Armitage A ve.;
&
773/296-9866
).
520 N. M ichigan Ave. (in Shops at
North Bridge).
&
312/644-9450.
Subway/El: Red Line to Grand.
THEME STORES
American Girl Plac e
One of Chicago 's hottest family destinations, this two-stor y
doll emporium attracts hordes of young girls (and parents with credit cards at the ready)
hooked on the popular mail-order doll company's line of historical character dolls. In its
new digs in Water Tower Place (it now occupies two levels of the former Lord & Taylor
department store), the new store's cafe is a nice spot for a special mother-daughter lunch
or afternoon tea. The view to the nor th, overlooking a par k and the M useum of Con-
temporary Art, is lovely. Breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner seatings ar e available 7 days a
week. R eservations ar e needed for the cafe (call w ell in adv ance—2 months is not
excessive—to avoid disappointing the American Girl in your life). Brunch is $19, lunch
is $21, afternoon tea is $17, and dinner is $22 (all per person). Most notably, the theater
has been eliminated fr om the ne w stor e. H owever, a couple of ne w featur es should
enchant girls. Don't miss your chance to hav e your daughter (and her doll) featur ed on
a huge overhead screen near the Chestnut Street entrance. Simply visit the photo studio
and, if you choose, you'll instantly be pr ojected onto the scr een for all to see. ( You can
also take home a souv enir issue of
American Girl
magazine with y our daughter's photo
on the co ver.) There's a large book stor e near the M ichigan Avenue entrance. As y ou
progress farther into the store, you'll walk along a storefront area called Avenue AG, with
kiosks offering design-it-yourself T-shirts and other products, plus services for your doll
(the Doll Hair Salon now offers doll ear pier cing in addition to hair styling!). All of the
American Girl dolls from different eras of U.S. histor y, plus their many accessories, ar e
for sale her e. Dioramas for each doll change with the seasons. Check the w ebsite for a
full lineup of special ev ents, fr om lessons on ho w to cook like a pr
9
o to visits with
American G irl book authors. You'll need at least 2 hours to explor
e the stor e. I f y ou
