Shopping

Shopping for a piece of Chicago to take home with you? Souvenirs of the Windy City are vast and varied. While shopping in Chicago , you'll just as easily come across a traditional souvenir t-shirt or coffee mug as you will a memorable rendering of a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece or even an album from a Chicago blues artist. From the sidewalks of the Magnificent Mile to the avenues of the city's neighborhoods, the perfect souvenir to take home from Chicago awaits.

True shopping aficionados know the value of the boutique, and Chicago has some of the best. Whether you're shopping the renowned boulevards of the city, or you've ventured into some of its eclectic neighborhoods, you'll stumble upon one-of-a-kind boutiques with plenty of Chicago flavor. Below we've highlighted some of the best, for everything from an “only in Chicago ” gift to a new outfit for your night on the town. Whether you're a boutique shopping veteran or new to the game, Chicago is the perfect setting to explore and shop.

Every city has a neighborhood beloved for its shopping prizes and surprises, and Chicago is no exception. Lincoln Park has long been a favorite shopping spot, and it continues to reinvent itself, too. Along Lincoln Park 's shopping corridors you'll see high-end shops and bohemian boutiques. You'll also see why Chicago shoppers venture beyond the Magnificent Mile into Lincoln Park 's fun, funky and fashionable shopping atmosphere.

When it comes to what to do in Chicago for kids, how about a free pass to shop in Chicago without the kids in town, like at American Girl Place? That's probably the best time to shop for the kids. When it comes to shopping for these unique creatures, Chicago is a sure bet. Children's clothing, toys, books and other gifts abound in the Chicago shopping arena. Read on to discover the best local gems for kids as well as the Chicago locations of notable, national children's stores.

Woodfield Mall, a top Chicago shopping center, is as large and imposing as a castle, surrounded on five sides with department stores to protect the keep, which is full of shops both standard and uncommon. When you storm it, debit card in hand, instead of being greeted by defenders, you'll find the spacious floors, plush seating areas, and naturally lit atmosphere more inviting than looming. Woodfield has a store for everyone, and is more than just a neighborhood mall, it's a destination.

Competing for top shopping spot with the Magnificent Mile, Chicago's State Street offers a pleasing blend of affordable and stylish shopping (Macy's on State Street, anyone?), in historically significant surroundings providing diversions for all and deserves—minimally—a couple of hours on even the busiest of sightseeing schedules.

The word "magnificent" isn't thrown around lightly when it comes to things to do in Chicago, so since Chicago's North Michigan Avenue is known for being the Magnificent Mile, rest assured you won't be disappointed. Shopping pilgrims from around the globe flock to Chicago and this epicenter of fashion - for the home as well as the self. Because it's so expansive, it might be a good idea to refine your Chicago shopping knowledge and map out some hotspots. Read on for the greatest hits of Chicago's Magnificent Mile.

Chicago Trolley Stops Here! 

Here, we take a general look at the tradition and modern-day underpinnings provided by this stanchion of the Chicago retail market:

Smoking goes underground, except in the last vestiges of public smoking opportunities left in the city of Chicago.

A cool take on the independent-store-blessed neighborhoods of Wicker Park and Bucktown. Trendy has never been so much fun.

Chicago Antiques: Where to find'em and how to get'em in the Chicago area; these are some of the best.

(S)Mart Shopping: The Merchandise Mart offers goods and services that fit the needs of even the most jaded consumer; a visit is a trip to a city within a city, Chicago's Merchandise Mart.

Chicago's Oak Street shopping district is a luxury retail mecca.  With exclusive high-end items from fine luggage to designer gowns, Oak Street has something to suit every taste, if not every budget.

Keep your hair on the cutting edge at Chicago's hip hair salons, where you'll get cut, color, and style with an edgy urban flair.

Michigan Avenue in Chicago is all about the shopping. Whether you're in need of a wardrobe replacement or just another work shirt, you'll find an ample selection to sate your sartorial hunger on this 5,280 feet (give or take a few) of fashion. Sporting a few male-only shops and even more dual-gender designer stores, these blocks have it all, from A Armani to Z Zegna.

While walking past American Girl Place in Chicago, don’t be surprised if you come upon a line teeming with little girls whose eyes are glassed over with wondrous excitement. These same girls are clutching a doll wearing none other than the latest fashions seen clogging the windows of designer stores. What you have just seen is the fast-growing phenomenon of a store where dolls are the number-one customer: American Girl Place. This revolutionary shopping experience includes not only a spread of doll and girl clothes from almost every era, but also a doll hair salon, a photo studio and a café.

Cyndi Lauper and MC Hammer headline Glamorama 2008, the 10th annual, and the event benefits the Art Institute of Chicago.

Explore the perfect pairings for various types of cigars when it comes to wine, cognac, and more.

Where to smoke? A city-wide smoking bans have made smoking a stogie at a restaurant a thing of the past. What to do? Here are a few answers.