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.

Ok. So you’re working downtown. You haven’t gotten a raise in what seems like years. You hate brown bagging it and you have to eat. But you can’t spend all your money on lunch. Do you starve or do you eat downtown on less than $6 a day? Is that possible?

Yes it is. And I’m here to tell you how.

If you like pizza, Baccino’s on Clinton and Adams has a carryout only lunch deal of a slice of pizza and a beverage for $3.30 (thin) or $3.50 (thick). If you’re worried about where you’re going to eat your lunch, don’t. Beginning each spring, they set up a sidewalk cafe. If you’d rather eat somewhere where diesel particles from CTA buses don’t drop on your food, you can walk two blocks to the Chicago River where you will find a myriad of places with outdoor seating and a river view. Union Station Plaza would be the closest one and my personal favorite.

For more Italian food, go to Venice Cafe on Wacker and Jackson. Not only is it great food but there is plenty of it. I usually have a hard time finishing. At the height of lunch hour the line is long, but the wait is worth it. You order your food, move down the line and by the time it’s ready, you’ve paid for it. They actually make the pasta fresh for each customer, cafeteria style service with a sit down restaurant atmosphere.

The Alonte Deli on Wacker and Jackson serves pasta with marinara sauce and French bread for $4. It also has a self service steam tray section with daily specials and soups, as well as a made to order deli section. A salad bar is alsoavailable but watch out the daily specials and the salad bars are charged by weight.

Presidential Towers is a little known jewel. Located on Monroe and Clinton,
walk past the restaurants and go directly to the grocery store. There you will find
not only groceries, but also the best selection of homemade soups made
daily. For less than $5 you can get a large soup, fresh roll (from sourdough
to rye) and a beverage (wander the grocery store for this). They also
offer an executive meal which is a hefty sandwich, a medium soup and a bag of
chips. There is a salad bar and a hot meals section where there are daily
specials from pot roast to catfish. You can order side dishes a’ la carte or
buy an entree with two sides. Though more than $6 (if you get the whole meal) and a beverage, still a bargain with generous, tasty portions.

If you like sub sandwiches, Charley’s on Clinton and Monroe frequently has
people passing out 2 for 1 coupon on the sidewalk. Team up with a buddy and you get your sandwich half price.