Localize Your "Black Friday" Shopping

By Karl Klockars in Miscellaneous on Nov 25, 2009 10:00PM

From last year's Scenes from Black Friday. Don't expect to see a tree like that again any time soon.

We needed to balance our sales tax karma after opening the floor to all of you scofflaws escaping to Indy and Gurnee and all points non-Cook in our post about the tax veto from the other day. So we thought we'd open up the floor to a short discussion of exactly what places in our city will be receiving our hard-earned heavily taxed dollars as we start this shopping season.

In case you haven't heard, there's this thing called Black Friday coming up in a couple of days, followed faithfully by Cyber Monday as well. If you're not completely buried in Thanksgiving advertising circulars, you might be consider spending your money at someplace local. After the jump, Chicagoistos and -istas sound off on their favorite places around town to grab some swag for friends & fam - and maybe a thing or two for ourselves.

And naturally, if there's a place you think could use a few bucks this year and deserves some patronage, we'd love to hear about 'em!

I always like to stop in to the Merz Apothecary to find something I've never heard of before, something I'd never consider looking for, and something that just smells medicinally and herbally delicious. I'm no aromatherapy-touting holistic healer kind of individual, but there's something appealing about a tiny place that's been around for over a century that still provides an otherwise antiquated service like this. Plus, everyone needs a badger-hair brush for shaving, right?
~Karl Klockars

I'll actually be spending the weekend in Michigan, as I stay away from everything and everywhere that has crowds of people, since I'm one of the many cranky folks who hates shopping.

That said, local holiday giftwise, I'm also fiercely loyal to Quimby's for books, Renegade for Jewelry and other nick nack type things. If you're south suburban, I recommend AF Books in Tinley Park for comics and off beat books as well as some board gaming stuff: If you're into toys, gag gifts and funny stuff I recommend Uncle Fun's on Belmont.
~Aaron Cynic

I'm going to Lush to buy wine because, well, its what I do. I buy and give wine so people will learn to drink good wine. Also, I will be stopping buy Bari in West Town to make a gift pack filled with all the basic ingredients for making good Italian gravy (and to pick up lunch for myself).
~Carrie Becker

I'm a huge book nerd and I love buying books as gifts and for myself. I try to make it up to the Book Cellar in Lincoln Square. Not only do they have a fantastic selection, but they often host some excellent readings and they have an amazing cafe that also offers beer and wine. If I'm in the market for toys for friends' kids, I try to swing by the independent Building Blocks for a fantastic selection of toys, puzzles, and games.
~Marcus Gilmer

I'm fiercely loyal to gift shopping at Penelope's and Quimby's yearly and will continue the trend this year.
~Veronica Murtaugh

For my nephews I'm going to Robot City Workshop and Henry's Sports and Bait in the wunnerful Bridgeport neighborhood. I'll also be making a stop at Canaday le Chocolatier for truffles.
~Chuck Sudo

Unabridged Bookstore in Boystown...it's not weird or offbeat or anything, really, but it's been there a ka-tillion years, has a KILLER remainder stock, and cool-ass kids books (and I hate kids, and even I know that). Plus they just celebrated a milestone anniversary (almost 30 years!)
~Tony Peregrin

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Timeless Toys in Lincoln Square. I worked there last holiday season, and it's a great little store with lots of wooden and old-timey toys. [Ed.'s Note: It's the toy store of choice for Angelina Jolie as well, in case that matters to anyone.]
~Lindsay Miller

Malort's.
~Kevin Robinson