Shopping with Your Kids - Chicago with Kids - page 232

Clothes are trendy and stylish. The collection for boys is great, a refreshing
change for moms who are frustrated with the ho-hum choices available at most
stores. The store has three Chicago locations. The biggest and best is the State
Street location. (1) 35 N. State St. (at E. Washington St.). & 312/551-0523. Subway: Brown,
Purple, Green, or Orange Line to Randolph/Wabash and walk 1 block south and 1 block west; or
Red Line to Washington/State. (2) 1596 W. Kingsbury (at North Ave.). & 312/397-0624. Subway/
El: Red Line to Clybourn. (3) 1730 W. Fullerton Ave. (at N. Clybourn Ave.). & 773/871-0613. Sub-
way/El: Red Line to Fullerton.
The Second Child This consignment store offers children's clothing for
infants through size 14, plus toys, furniture, and equipment for kids (and mater-
nity clothes if you've got another on the way). Yes, the merchandise is secondhand,
but thanks to the store's location in a tony Lincoln Park neighborhood, it's upscale
secondhand. You'll find name brands and excellent quality. The store ensures that
its collection of furniture and equipment meets current safety standards. Lock
your stroller just outside the building and take the stairs up. 954 W. Armitage (just east
of N. Sheffield Ave.). & 773/883-0880. www.2ndchild.com. Subway/El: Red Line to Sheffield.
Talbots Kids Just what you'd expect from Talbots—well-made, classic clothes
for kids with a decidedly preppy flair. You'll find everything from basics to party
clothes here, all with that neatly pressed look. Chicago Place, 700 N. Michigan Ave.
& 312/943-0255. www.talbots.com. Subway/El: Red Line to Chicago/State.
Urban Outfitters Fun, funky and offbeat clothing and accessories, from bean-
bag chairs to trendy clothing and glittery nail polish, sure to please young teens.
There's a second 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.
GAMES & HOBBY SHOPS
Ash's Magic Shop Mr. Ash, a real-life magician with a love 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). & 773/271-4030. Subway/El: Brown Line to Western.
Fantasy Headquarters Although this store is meant for adults (if you need
a Halloween costume to end all Halloween costumes, this is the place), I dare
you not to have fun with your kids here. This sprawling costume shop covers an
entire city block and is devoted to make-believe. The store stocks more than a
million items, including 800 styles of masks (priced $1-$200) and all the acces-
sories and makeup needed to complete any costume. Make sure you check out
the full-service wig salon. 4065 N. Milwaukee Ave. (west of Cicero Ave.). & 773/777-0222.
Subway/El: Blue Line to Irving Park.
Uncle Fun Uncle Fun and his staff travel the world to bring home bob-
bing head figurines, accordions, and stink bombs from all corners of the earth—
for the sole purpose of tickling your fancy. Bins and cubbyholes are stuffed full
of the standard joke toys (rubber-chicken key chains and chattering wind-up
teeth), but you'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. Sub-
way/El: Red or Brown Line to Belmont.
MUSIC
Beat Parlor If the idea of hanging out with local DJs appeals to your kids, then
Beat Parlor is your place. In the city where house music was born, Howard Bai-
ley's Bucktown shop sells lots of it, plus plenty of hip-hop and local DJs' mix tapes,

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