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Chicago Comics
This comic emporium has won the 'best comic book store in the US' honor from all sorts of people who should know. Old Marvel Superman back issues share shelf space with hand-drawn works by cutting-edge local artists like Chris Ware, Ivan Brunetti and Dan Clowes (who lived here during his early Eightball days). Simpsons fanatics will 'd'oh!' with joy at the huge toy selection.
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Chicago Place Mall
This eight-story mall is occupied mostly by chains like Saks Fifth Ave and Talbots. Smaller stores filling the gaps between the large retailers feel a little thrown-together, though Love From Chicago (312-787-0838; 8th fl) is one of the best places to get souvenirs, including the elusive Al Capone shot glass. Chicago Place also boasts one of the most dramatic food courts in the city - the plant- and fountain-filled area has wonderful views.
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Chicago Tribune Store
While this small store doesn't have the selection of other souvenir places in Chicago, it does outdo its competitors in Tribune -related merchandise. Cubs hats and jerseys, and books by noted Chicago authors, are also available.
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City of Chicago Store
This city-run store is a mecca for those wise enough not to try to steal their own 'official' souvenirs. Cheerful city workers will sell you anything from a decommissioned city parking meter to street signs for famous local streets. The usual array of Chicago books, shot glasses and pint-sized metal replicas of the city's tallest buildings are also available.
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City Sole/Niche
One of the hippest men's and women's shoe stores in Chicago is divided into two sections. Niche is where high-priced designs dwell, and City Sole is its more down-to-earth cousin. Together they service the neighborhood: punks, young housewives and old Polish women alike.
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Climate
'Eclectic' doesn't do justice to the array of items packed into this small store, including cocktail party kits, sassy dating guides and other tongue-in-cheek essentials for urban living.
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Coco Rouge
You're probably sensing a pattern in the embarrassing number of chocolate shops we've listed so far. But you need to keep your energy up, right? So here we go again, this time at Coco Rouge. Behind the velvet drapes lies a tiny glass-case counter, and inside the counter lie the sweetest truffles you've ever laid lips on. Point at your fancy, then the staff whisks it to the back room and genteely wraps it. It's all quite a production.
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Crate & Barrel
The handsome housewares purveyor started right here in Chicago, and this glassy, sassy uber-store is the flagship. Inside, suburban soccer moms fill their carts with hip but functional lamps, wine goblets, casserole dishes and brass beds, same as the downtown loft-nesters shopping beside them.
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Dave's Records
Dave's is an all-vinyl shop that feels a little like the setting of Nick Hornby's music-nerd classic, High Fidelity . Whether or not that's a good thing probably depends on your level of music nerddom. You'll find everything from vocal jazz to techno.
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Denim Lounge
The entire family can get outfitted in jeans here, from the kiddies on up to mom and dad. It's all cool, easily wearable designer brands, and the four-dimensional fitting station lets you check out the look from every angle in high definition (not always a rewarding feature). The lounge is attached to a hip kids clothing shop called Madison & Friends.
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Dusty Groove
A mecca for soul, jazz and electronica, Dusty Groove stocks a fine (and hard-to-find) selection of battery-powered record players among the hot tunes.
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Early To Bed
This low-key, women-owned sex shop is good for novices - it provides easy to understand explanatory pages and customer reviews throughout the store, so you'll be able to know your anal beads from cock rings from bullet vibes. Also on hand are feather boas, bondage tapes and vegan condoms (made with casein-free latex). Videos and books round out the offerings; the latter includes serious resources like sex manuals for rape victims.
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Europa Style Shoes
More than 800 styles of footwear travel across the pond from Italy, Spain and Russia searching for feet that appreciate great Euro-brand style. About three-quarters of the stock is for women, from leopard-print girly kicks to waffle-stomping boots.
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Flight 001
Pick out sassy new luggage or mini iPod speakers or maybe a game of travel Scrabble, then take it to the retro airline ticket counter to make the purchase. Whatever your travel needs, it's likely Flight 001 can accommodate it in jet-set style.
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Fourth World Artisans
This exotic bazaar provides local artisans, recent immigrants and small importers a market for their handicrafts, and assistance in learning entrepreneurial skills. Reasonably priced folk art, textiles, masks, musical instruments and jewelry from Vietnam, Ghana, Pakistan and other far-flung countries fill the shelves.
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Free People
Owned by the same parent company as Urban Outfitters (young hipster styles) and Anthropologie (older feminine styles), Free People lands in the middle with boho-chic tank tops, cardigan sweaters, herringbone jackets and patterned dresses.
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Gallery 37 Store
It's a win-win proposition at this nonprofit entity: painters, sculptors and other artists get paid for creating their wares while teaching inner-city teens - who serve as apprentices - to do the same. Their artworks, including paintings, mosaic tables, puppets and carved-wood walking sticks, are sold in the gallery here. Profits return to the organization.
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Garrett Popcorn
Like lemmings drawn to a cliff, people form long lines outside this kernel-sized store on the Mag Mile. Granted, the caramel corn is heavenly and the cheese popcorn decadent, but is it worth waiting in the whipping snow for a chance to buy some? Actually, it is. There's a rumor this store may soon close. If so, try the store in the Loop (26 W Randolph St), where the lines are usually shorter anyway.
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Gay Mart
The Woolworths of the strip sells toys, novelties, calendars, souvenirs, you name it. One of the top sellers is Billy, the heroically endowed 'world's first out and proud gay doll'. Ken would just wilt in Billy's presence - that is, if Ken had anything to wilt.
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Giftland
After you see it, you'll wonder how you've lived without it: a toast-scented Hello Kitty eraser. Giftland stocks a swell supply of pens, stationery, coin purses and backpacks donning the images of Kitty as well as Mashi Maro, Pucca, Doraemon and other Asian cartoon characters.
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Gramaphone Records
Gramaphone is the hippest record store in Chicago - you'd have to be either a DJ or dating one to have heard of most of the hip-hop and drum & bass sold here. Along with the awesome record collection, Gramaphone offers record needles, DJ supplies and a crate-full of info on upcoming parties.
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H&M
This Swedish-based purveyor of trendy togs is usually packed with customers clawing the racks for high fashion at low prices. Men and women will find a variety of European-cut styles ranging from business suits to bathing suits. There's another outlet at 22 N State St, but this one is bigger.
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Habit
Despite the name, this wee woman's clothing boutique definitely doesn't sell outfits to nuns. Rather, its space is devoted to 15 indie designers - many of whom are local - who showcase their simple-but-chic dresses and purses. The look is upscale, though the prices are affordable.
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Handmade Market
Held the second Saturday of every month at the Empty Bottle, this event showcases Chicago crafters who make funky glass pendants, knitted items, handbags, scarves, journals and greeting cards. The bar serves drinks throughout the event, for those who enjoy sipping while shopping.
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Illinois Artisans Shop
The best work of artisans from throughout the state are sold here, including ceramics, glass and wood coaxed into jewelry, wine jugs, glassware, mobiles and toys - prices verge on cheap. The enthusiastic staff will tell you all about the people who created the various pieces. The Illinois Art Gallery next door sells paintings and sculptures under the same arrangement.
