Great local business. Friendly staff. What could be better for toddler moms than an art store like…read morethis?!

I have some containers to drop off. I called to ask if it's something they will take. They asked me…read morewhat kind and I described it as 2-3" height x 3" inch plastic which can be used to store craft items like beads and other trinkets. They said they'd take it. I went to the shop and had to wait as they were a lot of shoppers. When they checked my containers they didn't take it. I understand that they don't have space for it but bummer :)

Located in downtown Skokie, around the corner from the well known Village Inn Pizzeria, See Jake…read moreSparkle is a true hidden gem and boutique offering all sorts of fun and unique items. Highlighting their passion for fair trade offering goodies from around the world, and sharing their mission there really is something for everyone. Each time you look around the store you find something more fun to look at. Most of the items you find are handmade and showcase the craft of the different countries. The owner Sara Jane is so friendly and is there to share the story behind each piece. She also offers her own line of jewelry and clothing! I can't wait to come back and shop for more gifts soon!

I loved Sara Jane's boutique in Evanston and was happy to know that she has a presence in Skokie…read morenow. The shop displays unique fair trade items from around the world and each piece has a story. It's a great place to find special gifts while supporting good causes. Today I bought a hand painted Christmas ornament and two glass coasters.

Omgoodness. Love this spot. Can easily spend WAY TOO MUCH…read more Everything you can imagine. Pens. Pencils. Stationary. Stickers. Bookmarks. Wash Tape. Journals. Magnets. Stick Pins. Just everything. And it's all so cute. And all so... ME. City street parking. IYKYK

Checked out the new and much larger location of Paper and Pencil, not far from the original…read moreteeny-tiny one. So much bigger, but still busy, which is great for them! Shop for unique pens, stationery and cards, stamps, and other unique desktop items. I love this store! Independent, queer-owned, and thriving in Andersonville. Can't wait to come back to get more paper goods.

Went to an absolutely FUN opening here - Shane Swank and Steve Walters showed their art here last…read morenight. There is much to love here! ART, books, gifts, unusual items, gifts and a really great vibe. GO HERE, shop local, and let's help this business thrive!!

Super cool shop filled with lots of fun art and gifts. Run by two artists, they curate items from…read moretheir vast network of local friends and artists. Great addition to Rodgers Park

ARC recently moved into a larger space on the corner of Webster and Damen and their programming has…read moreexploded! High profile openings, later hours, and community outreach has elevated the gallery into an active member of the Bucktown neighborhood. Super pleased to see the gallery continuing to thrive.

Great variety of work displayed during art walk weekend. Receptionist was super friendly and also…read morean artist currently on display here. Prices seemed reasonable.

A century-old bank lobby turned longtime Walgreens has now found its best incarnation yet: a…read morebright, airy bookstore that finally lets the architecture breathe again. The space is impressively well lit, which makes the restored details pop in a way the old drugstore layout never quite managed. Two retail levels give the store a great sense of openness. The main floor handles the usual mix of books and gifts, but the second level is the real draw -- a wraparound perch with a legitimately good LEGO selection and a panoramic view over the entire interior. From up there, you can appreciate how well the renovation highlights the building's bones without feeling museum‑stuffy. If you knew the Walgreens era, you'll remember the old bank vault downstairs -- cleverly repurposed as the vitamin section, complete with safe‑deposit boxes used as shelving. Unfortunately, that lower level isn't accessible anymore, which feels like a missed opportunity. The vault is still down there, just out of reach, like a piece of Chicago history you can see but not touch. Still, as adaptive reuse goes, it's a standout: a historic space finally given a purpose that matches its scale and character.

We still love visiting bookstores ... almost a lost art ... and this Barnes & Noble is a great…read morerepresentative of them. Situated in and old bank building on a six corners intersection in Wicker Park, this outlet had a great selection of books and puzzles, and stationary. While it has a nice selection of kids books, there is no area to read to them ... as you often find in other outlets. But being an inner-city retail establishment, one can understand. Parking can be a pain in this busy area, but it can be found. Still and all, this is a very nice retail bookstore, a slowly dying breed. Do visit here.

So first I have to say that the Edgewater Corridor district is really becoming alive again. There…read moreis a whole strip of new, cute boutique shops that I strolled along today. My first stop was at Roots and Ritual. I have been meaning to stop in here since they first opened and happy I finally got the chance to. It's super cute with all of the witchy vibes needed to make a great experience. They have a diverse selection of books ranging from spell work to mythology and a diverse selection of tarot/oracle decks. A few I actually had never seen before, so that was exciting! I purchased the Tarot Disassembled Guidebook which also comes with a separate tarot deck if you choose to get them together. While I was there some of the employees were creating what seemed like an altar and it looked lavish and beautiful. I overheard one of them say that they like setting things up in threes - so I knew for sure that there were witches in this joint Looking forward to my next visit!

I brought my 5 year old son here for the Paw Patrol play event. Overall, I would say it was a…read morepositive experience. When we entered the store, the staff greeted us and checked our tickets. We were booked for 10 AM on a Sunday and were the only ones in our group. Inside the play area, there are five stations for five of the pups, plus the "lookout" area. Marshall does not have a station, just as an FYI. Rocky's station was partially broken when we visited, but ultimately my son still had a good time. There were 3 slides, a magnatile/block area, a recycling game where you toss recycling into different baskets, an obstacle course, and a go-kart area. Most areas skewed a bit young - more like 3-5. The go-karts were a huge hit with my 5 year old, though I imagine this would be a hard activity if you went at a busy time. The whole thing was just an open play session. You can get stamps for completing each of the "missions" (really just playing at the different stations), but largely your kid can be left to their own devices. Staff were mostly nice. Some were a bit aggressively trying to joke with my son and couldn't quite pickup that he was NOT into it. I had to just escort him away. For the most part, however, everyone was very helpful and welcoming. The toy store itself offers a decent selection of toys, and they have lots of things out to play with. There is also an area to create your own slime and various crafts you can do as well (for an extra charge). The Paw Patrol area is $35 per ticket (adults must purchase a ticket as well) plus a $7 fee when purchasing online. This felt a little steep for a one hour open play session, but my kid had a great time. I'd say for a special outing it was worth it, but I don't know that it offers enough to warrant repeated visits.

I brought my son with my husband a couple of times already and we really enjoyed it. Actually, my…read moreson enjoyed it, but I enjoyed it as well since my son was entertained and happy doing lots of little activities for the kids to do check them out. They run some deals once in a while when you sign up for their newsletter. They also have free parking. Winning.