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Shopping To combine shopping with a unique appreciation of Chicago's history and place in the world's most consumer-oriented country, the only place to go is Marshall Field's, with 11 storeys and 450 departments and a recent 110-million-Dollar renovation (see the Key Attractions section). One block east, towards the lake, is North Michigan Avenue ('The Magnficent Mile'), with big names such as Bloomingdale's, Nike Town, Saks of Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, Nieman Marcus and Barneys New York. There are plenty of independent and specialist shops covering any product imaginable, both downtown and beyond. Harold Burland & Son, 5 South Wabash Avenue, the diamond specialist, is the place to begin for jewellery. The apparently small shoe shop, Altman's Men's Shoes & Boots, 120 West Monroe Street, contains over 10,000 pairs of shoes, offering up to size 19 and widths AAAA to EEE. Basketball celebrity-spotting and shoe shopping, although only up to size 16, is worth a try at Avventura, Water Tower Place, 835 North Michigan Avenue. For solid souvenirs and Chicago memorabilia, Accent Chicago in the Sears Tower is a good bet. Less tacky souvenirs are available from the Art Institute of Chicago's Museum Shop, 111 South Michigan Avenue and Adams Street, and at 900 North Michigan Avenue. The City of Chicago Store at the Chicago Waterworks Visitor Information Center, 163 East Pearson Street, has a reputation for more unusual souvenirs. North Milwaukee Avenue is an intriguing street for antiques and classy oddments. Ziggurat, at number 1702, has renovation and recycled items; Modern Times, number 1538, specialises in the 1940s, 50s and 60s; ABN, number 1472, is an esoteric mix of rustic and industrial finds; Green Acres, number 1464, has a Victorian and Federal emphasis. There are at least two other areas to scour: West Belmont Avenue, between the Belmont Antique Mall West (at number 2229) to Miscellenia Antiques (number 1800), and North Lincoln Avenue, between Zig Zag (at number 3419) and Steve Starr Studios (number 2779). While on West Belmont Avenue, those with a predilection for sci-fi, fantasy and horror books should stop at The Stars Our Destination (number 1021). Those with African-American interests should try the Afrocentric Bookstore, Chicago Music Mart at the DePaul Centre, 333 South State Street. For music, new, alternative and secondhand, the mecca is Reckless Records, 3157 North Broadway. For the city that coined the name 'jazz', the specialist and huge Jazz Record Mart, 444 North Wabash Avenue, is the place to go. Shopping hours tend to be Monday-Saturday 0830-1800, although the bigger stores will often open on Sundays. Sales tax is 8.75%, although claiming it back is a difficult process. Visitors would be advised to keep receipts and enquire at point of purchase. |
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