Location: Chicago
Top Things to do in Chicago
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The 10 Best Gift & Specialty Shops in Chicago, Illinois (IL)
The windy city is a cornucopia of modern art, fine dining, cutting edge comedy, and die-hard sports fans. Snap a photo of your reflection in the silver Cloud Gate sculpture at Millennium Park before heading to Grant Park to get hit with the refreshing spray of Buckingham Fountain. There are dozens of museums and theater companies in Chicago, so a cultural experience is never hard to find. You’re sure to laugh your head off at the Second City Theater, the professional launch pad of many famous comedians.
Restaurants in Chicago
1. Unabridged Books
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 17 reviews
2. Powell's Books Chicago
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By dustythoughts - Manchester, United States
This wonderful used bookstore near the University of Chicago campus is a longstanding neighborhood staple, with a plethora of thought-provoking books jammed into a glorious jumble. It's a great place to get lost in a good book and enjoy a wide variety of tomes that'll challenge and provoke you. I love coming here whenever I'm in town. This store isn't as big as the main store in Portland (Oregon, not Maine), but they still have a good variety of books in a relatively small space. They're not currently permitting in-person shopping due to the pandemic, but they do accept online orders.
3. Merz Apothecary
4. Iwan Reis Cigars & Tobacco
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 25 reviews
5. Chicago Music Exchange
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Chicago Music Exchange is an independent guitar store specializing in new, used, and vintage electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, amps, effects pedals, guitar straps, and accessories. In addition to being a guitar store, our guitar showroom is a must-see destination for musicians all over the globe, including many of the biggest rock stars in the world. While Chicago Music Exchange is well-known for high-end vintage pieces that cannot be found anywhere else, we have an equally impressive selection of new and used gear priced to sell with frequent price drops, online coupon codes, and room to negotiate in many cases. Don't miss the Chicago Drum Exchange just next door - specializing in new, used, and vintage drum kits, snare drums, cymbals, drum heads, hardware, and accessories. Chicago Music Exchange also includes a full-service Repair Shop that can take guitar repairs including refrets, fretdress, setups, electronic installs and more. CME technicians also perform amp repairs, retubes, tuneups, and pedal modifications.
6. Erin Gallagher Jewelry
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 15 reviews
Erin Gallagher jewelry is custom jewelry for work, play and your big day! Voted best jewelry store by Chicago Magazine and CS, erin gallagher has become the go-to spot for custom jewelry. From one-of-a-kind engagement rings to bridesmaid gifts to a pair of dangle earrings for Friday night, each piece is hand-made in Chicago with unparalleled craftsmanship. Mix and match semi-precious gemstones from our famous "gem bar". Choose your style. Choose your gems. Choose your chain. You're the designer!
7. Woolly Mammoth
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By craigcN9891HF - Columbus, United States
Looking for a taxidermied beaver. This is your place. Various skeletal parts from a variety of animals. This is your place. 100 year old medical devices of a dubious nature. Go here. Certainly worth a stop, even if you just walk out with memories and maybe a stickers. Or a squirrel.
8. The Glass Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 11 reviews
Please note LH Selman is currently open by appointment only. Please get in touch if you would like to schedule a time to come by the gallery. Welcome to L.H. Selman Ltd., a name that has been synonymous with the finest antique and contemporary paperweights for over 40 years. As the country's premier dealer in fine art glass paperweights our mission is to promote the very best by exhibiting and selling through our gallery and at auction the finest examples made in centuries past, and by nurturing new talent emerging from contemporary independent studios.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
My wife and I recently purchased a fine glass antique paperweight from L.H. Selman Ltd. in Chicago to serve as a centerpiece for our extensive Civil War collection of rare and first-edition books, manuscripts, autographs, paintings and artifacts. Until we visited the Selman gallery and museum at 410 South Michigan Avenue, in the historic Fine Arts Building, overlooking Millennium Park and Grant Park and the nearby Art Institute of Chicago, we didn't have any knowledge about paperweights. In less than two hours, we received a thorough education. Selman is a name that has been synonymous with the finest antique and contemporary paperweights for over 40 years. It is the premier dealer in fine art glass paperweights in the United States and its mission is to promote the very best by exhibiting and selling through its gallery and at auction the finest examples made in past centuries and by nurturing new talent emerging from independent studios. It's a fascinating adventure, viewing the largest collection of antique and contemporary paperweights in the world. After it's over, you understand that a paperweight isn't a simple desk accessory. The origin of glass paperweights can be traced to France in 1845, when glass factories such as Baccarat, Saint Louis and Clichy were competing to create the world's finest crystal luxury items, including water sets, tableware and inkwells, then paperweights. Collectors range from kings and American presidents to writers and investors to Truman Capote and Arthur Rubloff. L.H. Selman was introduced to paperweights in the mid-1960s. He began collecting them, started a small mail order business, created a publishing company to distribute information about paperweights, then founded the International Paperweight Society and Museum on South Michigan Avenue. In 2001, he was named "one of the Top Ten People of the 20th Century" to influence the paperweight art form. In 2009, he sold his business to Mitch and Ben Clark. They picked up the torch--or the paperweight--and the Chicago art scene remains in sterling condition.
9. The Beer Temple
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By randyharvey - Columbus, United States
I love the new place, taproom always has a great selection. The beer selection for purchase is truly for the beer geeks in this world, one if the best I have run across.
10. The Spice House
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By TampaTornado - Lithia, United States
We were turned onto The Spice House in Old Town on a food tour and were looking forward to revisiting this time while in Chicago. Unfortunately, while we were there (11/2-11/4) the main store was closed due to water damage from a fire in the bar next door. Fortunately we found they have a small store/kiosk at the Navy Pier. While not as good smelling (can't drop spices all over the floor) as the original store, the staff was great and still a good selection. They have the BEST spices - especially love Vietnamese cinnamon, Lakeshore, and Milwaukee. Stocked up. New containers are improvement. We will be back for sure. Love me some Spice House!!!!! Great place!
