Cute store alert!…read more What an adorable new gift shop in Downtown Highland Park. I've passed by many times, and tonight I was so enticed by the window display and inside decor, that I finally made the stop. I was immediately welcomed by a friendly woman behind the counter and asked if there was anything she could assist me with. I told her I wanted to just look around and take it all in. She was fine with that. She let me know they were a little low on merchandise because they are participating in a big show, but I found the place to be packed with accessories in every nook and cranny. If you're looking for a hostess, birthday, or holiday gift, you will come away with some great ideas. Take note, they especially have fun and useful gifts for guys. Whether your man likes to play games, cook, or whip up a martini, you'll find cookbooks, bar cart accessories, and random games. Cookbooks for kids, a large variety of candles, lotions and potions, you can also participate in scheduled cooking demonstrations like how to prepare a charcuterie board, cake decorating, and tablescapes. I hope you'll stop in and support this lovely shop surrounded by some of the most beautiful holiday light displays. I promise it will get you in the mood for the upcoming holiday season.

I stopped in to get some gifts for friends. They have a nice price range of items, appropriate for…read moregift giving. I especially like the Porcelain Not Metal tabletop line for gifts. They wrap the gifts very attractively too, so I don't have to wrap them.

A true gem in Highland Park. My go to place when I want to…read morebuy a gift. Style Shack always has exactly what I am looking for. The store carries unique and unusual things that I have never seen elsewhere. The ladies who work there are always available to show you how to style a scarf in a way that is incredible and totally foreign to me. They have also arranged vases with succulents that I wouldn't have thought of. Gifts that are just truly special and unique to give. I love going there! It's a wonderful place!

If you need a gift for someone there's a good chance you'll find something here. I've purchased…read moremany candles, picture frames and other home decor for holiday gifts and other occasions. I've also taken my 13 year old daughter here to look for jewelry and she's a big fan of their earrings and necklaces. The prices range, but I'm always able to find something within the range I'm looking for. The staff is also super helpful and always willing to help with a specific idea when I tell them who/what I'm shopping for.

What can I say, wow! I passed this shop on my way to lunch and am so happy I decided to step in…read more This is a total gem of a store with the most beautiful and unique selection of jewelry, gifts and furniture. The staff was helpful and I didn't feel pressure whatsoever. I walked out with a piece of jewelry and have already received 3 compliments from strangers on it. Will definitely be back soon to check out their collection of home decor items. If you're in or near downtown Highland Park I highly recommend!

Wide selection of jewelry and home gifts but very pricey. Be prepared to spend when you shop here!…read moreStaff is very friendly and knowledgable about all the designers/sellers.

Cute business alert!…read more This is one of those stories of passing by a shop a million times on my way somewhere, always telling myself I want to go back and check out that shop. And then, it happens again and again, until one day. That special day you make time and go in, and then kick yourself for not going in sooner - LOL! What an adorable shop with the sweetest business owners. A shop full of gifts and accessories made by local artisans. And, I might add, I'm obsessed with the Jade & Renee line as well. Do you see those sweet dish towels in my photos? Here's why you want to stop in. Because it's a shop where you'll find a little something for everyone on your list. They have baby gifts, toys, lotions, candles, super fun cards, socks with funny sayings and images, dishes, fun kitchen towels, and I know I'm forgetting a million things. Did I mention a few fun books and journals? Best of all, and what makes them super unique is the fact they do embroidery and t-shirt printing on site. Talk about a one stop shop! Please don't make the mistake of just passing by like I did for too long.

From the owner: gift shop specializing in handmade items and personalization. read more

What on Earth is better than a quaint little Victorian-style bookshop stocked with best-sellers?…read moreThe rows of books are sprinkled with index cards about staff favorites and unexpected gems. They have a welcome atmosphere- come with your little ones and hang out on the second floor, or ask about their cute conference room available for reservation. I'm loving the book I purchased during our quick perusal; The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab. Forget Amazon, go smell some books ;)

Love this little shop! The staff was so kind and friendly and they had such a fun selection of…read morebooks and trinkets. I was overjoyed to find the Dungeon Crawler Carl special edition of Maeve chocolate there unexpectedly. It has been my white whale and I think I scared everyone in there when I involuntarily gasped upon seeing it. The joy it brought me cannot be overstated. I also chatted with the staff about books we like and I forgot for a second that they were strangers I had only just met. What a gem of a store!!!

Madame Zuzu's is one of those places I'd love to visit at least once a year, and even though this…read moreis only my second visit, there's already something new to discover. This time, I noticed they had added records and Smashing Pumpkins merch, which I hadn't seen during my last visit. I love that there's always something different to discover here, and I could easily spend a good amount of time just looking around. We arrived right when they opened so we could enjoy everything before the rush. It was calm, cozy, and relaxing, and the staff were super friendly and welcoming. I ordered a hot chocolate and a glazed donut. The hot chocolate was creamy and smooth, with a deep chocolate flavor and subtle dark chocolate notes that added a little bitterness to balance the sweetness. And the donut... wow. This thing was a massive masterpiece! The glaze had that delicate sugary sweetness that gave way with every bite, while the inside was soft, fluffy, and buttery. I loved the contrast between the thin coating on the outside and the tender dough inside. It was sweet and satisfying without being too heavy. But dipping the donut into the hot chocolate took everything to another level. Honestly, I couldn't have picked a better pairing. Madame Zuzu's keeps surprising me every time I visit, I could sit back, enjoy the surroundings, and listen to the live music for hours.

Great tea from the finest purveyors. The owner is absolutely beautiful. And you may see the Owner's…read morehusband kicking around sometime. He's a very cool dude. A legend really. I'm not a vegetarian but I do enjoy their tomato soup a whole bunch. Cool knickknacks.. Fun gifts. Local. Are you curious about what I drink? Either way I'm going to tell you! Iced Earl Grey with a spot of milk.

Best invitations ever! Ellen is very nice and does good invitations! Overall this is the best place…read moreto get invitations!

Ellen did an outstanding job creating our wedding invitations and other paper items. She is…read morecreative, friendly and patient. Highly recommend and would use her again for other invitations!

Expensive and mediocre toffee. What's good: chocolate pecan…read morecoating, many flavors, softer while crunchy Not good: mediocre toffee flavor, too sweet. T's Toffee in Crystal Lake, Enstrom Toffee, Kilwin's toffee all have better flavor, a true toffee flavor. I'm guessing they use more sugar perhaps to get it sweeter and softer but whatever they do, it just doesn't have a toffee flavor

Terry's Toffee and Sweet Home Gelato -- I stopped in to pick up a gift of their delicious toffee…read more There are many tempting flavors in the case -- also covered Oreos--and prepackaged toffee. I purchased a hatbox and selected my own mix -- pretzel sea salt, peppermint pistachio, McCalls Classic, Espresso, Cinnamon Chipotle and Mazel Toffee. So envious of the gift recipient who is going to enjoy all this toffee so I wanted to purchase a piece for myself and they gifted me a small bag of toffee. Can't wait to dig in!

Sunshine Arts & Crafts is one of my daughter's favorite spots for a bday party. When I pick her up…read moreI can expect to see a big smile and a beautiful painted creation...usually something with a rainbow on it. I've been meaning to do a drop in visit, but the few times I've called in the past they've been closed. But today was my lucky day because when looking for a rainy day activity I called and their VM said they would be open from 11am-4pm. When we arrived there was (of course) a birthday party...actually 2 of them! My daughter and her friend looked longingly at the bday treats, but I insisted they quickly pick out their pieces and then we made our way to the other side of the shop. Then they saw a friend from school come out of the glow and the dark room (who knew there was one)...there was some sort of cosmic painting party going on in there. We checked it out and my daughter declared she was going to have a future bday party right in that room. Then they got to work on their pottery pieces...a popsicle for my daughter and a unicorn rainbow for her friend. At $17/piece this is more expensive than some of the other pottery places we've been to, but they do give you unlimited paint colors. It took a little while for the staff to get us our paint thanks to the bday parties, but the girls could learn some patience anyway. Once we got going the staff was on it...constantly changing out the yucky water. And the girls were absolutely thrilled when the bday party mom gave them lollipop favors. 30 minutes later their creations were done...the taff glazed them and even added some glitter. They were ready to display at home! Highly recommend for bday parties, but also a fun way to kill an hour...especially on a rainy/cold/hot day!

This review was removed by Yelp saying... And I quote:…read more "We're writing to let you know that we've removed your review of Sunshine Arts & Crafts because it falls outside our Content Guidelines. Ultimately, while we understand you were at an event where Sunshine Arts & Crafts provided service, at this time we think that the people who are in the best position to review businesses like these are the customers themselves (who may deal with the business not only on the day-of the event, but other aspects as well such as pre-event planning). Thanks for understanding and we'll see you on Yelp!" To this I respond, MY review was written by me while at MY son's birthday party. I paid for the event in question. So to wit... I am in the best position to have experienced this business for TWO events I PAID FOR. Thank you for not removing the review without having at least asked me. And now for the review. ------- First, my review is NOT based upon one visit but several, it is only this last visit I thought I should take the time to write a review. Normally, I don't write reviews that are negative and definitely not if the review has to do with a personal pet peeve. I personally hate those types of reviews because all that means is someone got a isolated bad experience. All the prophylactics made now let me give my feedback.... The owners are a husband and wife, they fit one another perfectly - they are a hyper-sensitive overly-anxious couple that appears to be incredibly nervous every time a child moves around their shop during birthday parties which is something they supposedly specialize in. Anyone who is in the business of hosting children's birthdays needs to be less than neurotic when children show up. Mind you no one was running around or yelling or misbehaving on any of the times I went to see birthday events but these two acted like nervous grandparents watching children in a hand blown glass store. The woman hovers over and micro manages the kids and the husband stands back and scowls at the kids. It's amazing to see two of the least laid back least friendly people one could imagine are in the business of hosting children's events. There is nothing wrong with having their up-tight personality in and of itself, it's just I have never seen two more misplaced people for this job in my life. Neither of them have ever smiled that I could see at any of the birthday parties I have come to, this last one was no exception. The man guards the one half of the shop from infiltration by children as if he is a border guard on the Berlin Wall. The woman is so anal retentive (uptight) she spends most of her time tasking the kids to move along - she could be mistaken for a railway guard rather than an art teacher for children. At the end, I actually felt sorry for the owners. For reasons I can not fathom they have assigned themselves to their own personal hell since it appears from every fiber of their being that they are completely stressed out and unhappy at what they do. Mind you, the product at issue is fine, the art is fine, the venue is fine, it is just I have never seen two people who appear more viscerally unhappy than these two and in the context of a kids event it just isn't worth it to subject yourself to that type of negative energy.