Curated City Guides by Your Favorite Designers and Tastemakers.
Chicago:
Margot Harrington
of Pitch Design Union
Bars & Restaurants
Chickpea
Definitely in my top 5 restaurants. Bonus points that it's just up the street, family owned, and they deliver. Always fresh, prompt service, casual environment. 2018 W Chicago Ave
Bar Deville
Great on a weekend, has the perfect intimate vibe, pool table, and excellent selection of drinkables. Love the dark & sexy decor too, it's both masculine & feminine which is hard to pull off. 701 N Damen Ave
Protein Bar
If I have to grab lunch somewhere downtown, Protein Bar is amazing. Think super fresh sandwiches, wraps, raw juices & smoothies. Vegan/Vegetarian options aplenty. Jamba Juice ain't got nothing on this place. Reasonably priced too, for downtown. 352 N Clark St
Jupiter Coffee & Knockbox Cafe
My favorite cafes for working. Roomy, outlets/power strips, plentiful wifi and tasty nibbles. I've spent many a productive afternoon at these places, and I love that they know me now. Feels like going over to a friend's house. 1139 W Fulton Market & 1001 N California Ave
Shops
Seek Vintage & Dovetail
I love Seek's prices and 80s throwback pieces. I always find great gifts, belts, and trinkets for the home. Dovetail is a little more high-end vintage but extremely well curated. Everything there is timeless and classy and their window displays always knock my socks off. 1432 W Chicago Ave & 1452 W Chicago Ave
Post 27 & Architectural Anarchy
If I have to pick another place besides Post 27 for home decor, it's Architectural Anarchy in Pilsen, despite its cheesy name. It's in the same space as the Chicago Urban Arts Society so whenever I'm at an event there it's a double-whammy of art + vintage. I can't get enough of either until my eyes invariably start to cross. 1819 W Grand Ave & 2229 S Halsted St
Sprout Home
The only garden shop in the city as far as I'm concerned. Hands down the best. 745 N Damen Ave
Galleries & Art Spaces
Hyde Park Art Center
Such an amazing place. They're doing such great work for the community in a beautiful space and have been making the arts accessible to all while also supporting established artists since the 70s. So lucky we have a place like this in Chicago. 5020 S Cornell Ave
Golden Age
Get there early for their openings because the space is tiny but it's so worth it. Marco will talk you through their entire collection and help you find a book or inspiring thing to take home with you. 119 N Peoria St
Co-Prosperity Sphere
The best place to go to see really off the wall, blow your brains out work. Catering to a diverse crowd the people-watching at their openings is as much fun as the work itself. 960 W 31st St
Supplies
Genesis Art Supply
A family-owned alternative to Blick. Cheaper too, but make sure you call ahead to check their stock since they are small. 2417 N Western Ave
Rebuilding Exchange
A cheapy cheap cheap source for building materials, scrap lumber, and all sorts of random things. 2160 N Ashland Ave
American Science & Surplus
Houses many brilliant oddities and novelties. Great for wacky office supplies, masking tapes, rope, you never really know what you'll find! 5316 N Milwaukee Ave
Xpedex
Good for large quantities of paper. Lots of color choices and weights, you'll spend far less here than at Paper Source. 3555 N Kimball Ave