Curated City Guides by Your Favorite Designers and Tastemakers.
Chicago:
Denise Holmes
of Nisee Made
Bars & Restaurants
Star Lounge Cafe
My absolute favorite place in the city! Their space is an old bar, so it has the counter where you can sit and get a cup of coffee or tea. They roast their own beans upstairs, which is pretty fun – and they have this one drink called Chocolate Thai that tastes like a peanut butter cup! I can only have it once in a while, but it's delicious. Oh and all the baristas are really nice. It's like going to your friend's house for a cup of coffee, but your friend is poor and you have to buy a cup from him! 2521 W Chicago Ave
Swim Cafe
I also spend a lot of time here because they have gluten free bread and they use Bridgeport Coffee - which I love! 1357 W Chicago Ave
Longman & Eagle
By far the best food I've ever had in the city! You'll have to go and check out the place for yourself – you'll want to go back and if you do, let me know I'll join ya! 2657 N Kedzie Ave
Rootstock
It's in my neighborhood and a perfect place to take out of town guests. It's cute and cozy and the food is absolutely delicious. 954 N California Ave
Bite Cafe
This place is great for brunch or dinner. They recently renovated and every time I go, I kind of want to sneak out with a set of their chairs, they would look nice in my kitchen! If you go for brunch, get the Mashbrown! 1039 N Western Ave
Hopleaf
My favorite place to get Mussels and Frites. Go early so you don't have to wait, otherwise you might be there for awhile. 5148 N Clark St
Chickpea
I am part Syrian so this place reminds me of my grandmas cooking. Stick to my favorite dish, the Mujaddara with yogurt. 2018 W Chicago Ave
Crust
They have gluten free pizza options! GLUTEN FREE PIZZA OPTIONS! Everyone I drag here says they would never have guessed it was gluten free. I get pizza here way too much! 2056 W Division St
Shops
Renegade Handmade
My go to place for birthdays and holidays. If you are looking for a handmade, unique or one-of-a-kind gift, Renegade Handmade is the perfect place. 1924 W Division St
Greenheart
I get a lot of my gifts here as well. They carry eco friendly, fair trade, sustainable, socially responsible goods -phew! They also have Theo chocolate, which I usually end up eating on the walk home! 1911 W Division St
Knit 1 Chicago
My favorite yarn shop in the city. They stock all of my favorite yarns and if you stop by on a Sunday, they offer open knitting time for $10. You can bring in your project and they'll help you if you have any questions. 3823 N Lincoln Ave
Quimby's Bookstore
One of my favorite shops in the city. They have a huge selection of independent books, magazines, art books and zines. I never leave empty handed! 1854 W North Ave
Scout
A really great curated antique shop. They carry a lot of affordable mid-century goods. A great place to check out larger furniture items, there are a few things I have my eye on, so maybe wait a bit until you go! 5221 N Clark St
Galleries & Art Spaces
Snow 'n Tell Show
For $5.00 you get to see a bunch of great artists and designers talk about who they are and what they do; they have had some of my favorites – Anne Benjamin, Delicious Design League, Margot Harrington, Audrey Niffenegger, Anders Nilsen, Sonnenzimmer, Starshaped Press,... I could keep going. Check out their website and keep up on when their next show is! Location varies.
Intuit
Then Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art – A great museum to see folk art and their little museum store always has great books and prints. 756 N Milwaukee Ave
Spudnik Press
Not only do they have little gallery nights, they also have a printmaking studio that you can rent, and my favorite the Drink & Draw. 1821 W Hubbard St
Old Town School of Folk Music
They have it all here, music lessons, dance classes, a music store, an art gallery and my favorite, the Chicago Folk and Roots Festiva! Also, one of my favorite festivals to people watch – there's always that drunk dad with his shirt off dancing like a maniac! 4544 N Lincoln Ave
Supplies
Dick Blick
A family-owned alternative to Blick. Cheaper too, but make sure you call ahead to check their stock since they are small. Various locations
Xpedx
My little secret, but I go here for a lot of my paper and envelopes. It's more of an office supply store, but they really have some good stuff if you make stationery! 3555 N Kimball Ave
ETC.
Real Naked Food
A simple, small neighborhood organic grocery store. This place is perfect if your looking for a few items for dinner and don't feel like going to Whole Foods. 1909 W Division St
North Coast Video
Yep, I still rent DVD's and this is a great place. I mostly go here when I rent movies for Scary Movie Night – and I never fail to find something that is really freaking scary. 2111 W Division St
Green Mill Cocktail Lounge
Green Mill Cocktail Lounge – I really only go here for my husband who is obsessed with gypsy jazz. But we like to go Wednesday nights for Alfonso Ponticelli and Swing Gitan. It's $6 bucks and goes from 9-1am. It's a Chicago institution – you have to go here at least once in your lifetime. 4802 N Broadway St
Starfruit Cafe
I can't get enough Frozen Keifir! I would eat here everyday if I could afford it! 1745 W Division St