Chicago is a beautiful city, with lots to do and see for everyone who visits or lives here. There’s great museums, great food, great clubs and bars, and of course, great shopping. The Magnificent Mile is one of the best places around to spend a day indulging in all the material glory of this fine nation. But maybe you’re feeling rebellious and want to show corporate America where they can stick it, or you’re looking for a unique experience to tell all your friends back home about, or maybe you’re just looking for somewhere new to satisfy your shopping cravings. Whatever the reason, if you’re looking for somewhere other than The Gap to go spend crazy, why not try some of Chicago’s independent retailers? Chicago is filled with a thousand little shops that no one with an independent streak should miss. Here are a few of the better ones.

Hollywood Mirror

Hollywood Mirror is a funky little shop just a few blocks east of the Belmont stop on the Red Line. In here you’ll find the greatest array of second hand clothes this side of well, anywhere really. Everything from pin stripe fedoras, to bowling shirts, to Chicago Police shirts (sorry, no badges) can be found in the clothing sections. Don’t let the second hand second hand label worry you though. All the clothes are in great shape, and if you look long enough you’re sure to find something you absolutely can’t live without. But it doesn’t stop with clothes. Hollywood Mirror also has a sizable toy/miscellaneous junk section. Looking for pirate playing card (with gold doubloon)? They’ve got you covered. Or maybe you’d prefer a 50s style toy robot, or a rubber duck? They’ve even got a ninja themed arcade game you can jam on to bring you back to the glory days of the arcade. Whatever your mood or tastes, there’s bound to be some treasure awaiting you at Hollywood Mirror.

Sandmeyer’s Bookstore

The Sandmeyer’s Bookstore, at 714 South Dearborn (a mere one block East of the Harrison stop on the Red Line), is an independently owned and operated store, located in historic Printer’s Row for over twenty years. They’ve got a wonderfully cozy atmosphere, with creaky hardwood floors, jazz music playing over a small set of speakers, a very friendly and helpful staff, and a card catalog system (you read that right at no point in their twenty-three years of business have they had a computerized system). On most days you can find one of the Sandmeyer’s working there, and they’re more than happy to help you find that perfect book. They’ve got a wide variety of books, and a good sized collection, too. Most worth taking a look at is the very large section of Chicago books. If you’re looking for any kind of guide to the city, fiction or non-fiction about the city, or just a nice photo tour of the city, you won’t find a better selection than what they’ve got here. You’d be hard pressed to find a more complete collection of books on, about, by, and for Chicago and its people. You’d also be hard pressed to find an independent bookstore in the city with more charm, atmosphere, and a better staff and collection than the Sandmeyer’s. So if you’re looking for a good read to cozy up with when you get back to the hotel room, check them out and you won’t be left reading the room service menu.

The Gourmand

After finding the perfect read at the Sandmeyer’s Bookstore, you may well want to sit down and enjoy your book with a nice cup of Joe. But why spoil your day of independent store fun with a stop at Caribou or Starbucks? Well you’re in luck, because the Gourmand, one of the best independent coffee shops in the city, is just two doors south of the Sandmeyer’s, so you don’t have to resort to same old, same old quite yet. The Gourmand’s menu, colorfully written on a number of blackboards, ranges from the best mocha (and any other kind of coffee you could want) in the city, to soups, salads, lasagna, sandwiches, cookies, cakes, pies, and even microbrewed beer. Stop in any time of the day and you can get a complete meal (including breakfast the author recommends the chocolate chip pancakes), which can then be enjoyed on one of the sofas lining the walls or at one of the more traditional hardwood, coffee shop tables. Several speakers play alternative and folk music, the green walls are adorned with original works of art, and there is a wide variety of local newspapers to browse through. So stop in, order up your drink of choice, sit back, and enjoy the atmosphere of this wonderful coffee shop as you reflect on your day of independence or at least your day of independent shopping.

These are, of course, only a few of the many great independent stores in the Second City, so as you travel the city, keep your eyes peeled, because you never know what hidden gem you might stumble across next.

Want to experience Chicago’s famed Lincoln Park but only have a day?

1. Stanley’s Kitchen & Tap (Armitage and Lincoln): Start your day with breakfast at Stanley’s (opens 7AM, Monday thru Friday), where you’ll find biscuits and gravy, scrambles, hash, french toast, pancakes, and a number of sides.  On the weekends, brunch starts at 10AM and includes a make-your-own-omlette bar, sandwich fixings, and a variety of pastries, fruits and vegetables.  This brunch comes full circle at the bloody mary bar.

2.  Armitage Shopping and DePaul History: After breakfast, walk up Armitage past the many boutiques and shops that range from designer consignment to local designer retail.  My favorites include: McShane’s Exchange, Lori’s Shoes, Art Effect, L’Occitane and, to top it off, a hot or cold drink at Argo Tea.  Continue north on Sheffield to Fullerton.  If you aren’t hungry yet, stroll through the comfortably small DePaul University Campus and make a stop at the Richardson Library which also houses art exhibits (Fullerton/Seminary).

3. Bourgeois Pig (Fullerton and Lincoln): The Pig is a locale favored by students, Children’s Memorial staff and others looking for a cafe that’s trendy in a not-even-trying-to-be-trendy kind of way.  The Pig’s lineup includes: sandwiches (also many veggie options), salads, soups, baked goods, ice cream, coffee, espresso drinks and looseleaf tes, housed in large glass jars lining the walls.  Wireless available, as well as eclectic music played by the staff.

4. Lincoln Park Zoo: Next, continue east on Fullerton to and through Lincoln Park Zoo, a free attraction.  This zoo is home to elephants, bears, lions, penguins and many other birds, mammals and amphibians/reptiles.  Also one of the oldest “zoological gardens” in the country, Licoln Park Zoo overlooks a popular section of Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan.  Bring a frisbee for some fun or a blanket for some afternoon rest and relaxation.

5. Victory Gardens (Lincoln Ave, between Beldn and Webster): Home to many Tony Award-winning plays and actors, Victory Gardens has a couple cozy stages on which you can see local and world talents performing primarily local works.  Great for just yourself, a date, or the parents.  If you’re still hungry (before or after), there are plenty of sandwich/pizza shops and bars in this area.  A nicer but very affordable option is Tillie’s, at Halsted south of Armitage, or Green Tea, a tiny but excellent sushi restaurant at Clark and Webster.

When it comes to matters of the heart, it’s hard to deny the
very best for your romantic paramour. 
However, in reality, wining and dining your sweetheart can be a costly
affair.  Here are the five best Chicago ways to have a
seemingly luxe – but fundamentally inexpensive – date with the one you love:

1)      As
Pepe Le Peu proclaimed, what more do you need than “a loaf of bread…a bottle of
wine…”?  How about the grass between your
toes and the sound of Bach in the air? 
The grounds at Ravinia offer
$10 lawn tickets to virtually all of their summer season performances.  All it takes is a short train ride (there’s a
$5 special) and a picnic basket, and you’re there.

2)      Bring
Your Own Bottle restaurants are popping up all over the city, so hop on the
brown bag wagon!  The cost of alcohol can
easily double the total on your dinner bill, so why not bring your own and skip
the double (or even triple) markup on the standard restaurant wine?  Here’s a tip: a lot of newer restaurants in
the city will start off BYOB while waiting for their liquor license – just call
ahead and ask what their policy is.  You
just might be able to score a table at a hot new restaurant that you may not be
able to afford otherwise!  Check out www.byob-chicago.com
for restaurants.

3)      Create
a theme and your creativity will outshine any frugality.  Check out one of Chicago’s Independent Film theaters (try the Landmark Century Cinema at Clark and Diversey) and pick out one of their foreign
films to see.  The first tickets of the
day there are only $7.  Picked a Chinese
flick?  Head up to Ecce Café (3422 N. Broadway) post-show for some pan-Asian – and
very moderately priced – fare.

4)      Want
totally free entertainment?  Take a
stroll through Chicago’s
Lincoln Park Zoo – one of the
nation’s largest free zoos.  Afterwards,
you can mosey on over to the Treasure Island (1639 N. Wells) – on Saturdays, there
are samples of artisan cheeses, breads, and meats abound – and if you ask
nicely, the bakery will give you a piece of chocolate to try!

5)     
Every girl loves to window shop, so take your lady
friend for a relaxing walk down one of Chicago’s
best boutique streets – Armitage
Ave, west of Halsted and up to Racine. 
Check out the latest duds at Cynthia
Rowley and Active Endeavors,
before treating yourselves to some quality Italian ice at Tom and Wendee’s – yum!