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LAKEVIEW — Neighbors can find the perfect holiday present while gifting small businesses with much-needed support by shopping local this season.
Business owners throughout Lakeview and Lincoln Park have been looking forward to the holidays and are prepared to help any shopper find the perfect gifts for their loved ones.
To make holiday shopping easier, Block Club has rounded up a few of Lakeview and Lincoln Park’s gift options.
Here’s what you can buy:
Lakeview
Barks N’ Rec, 3030 N. Lincoln Ave. Website.
This local pet boutique has tons of possible gifts for pet owners and their dogs.
This store is focused on pet education, healthy food options and treats and toys.
Potential gifts include a dog parka made from recycled materials ($49.99-$72.99) and various toys, including a stuffed otter ($21.99) and plush beer bottle ($13.99).
Barks N’ Rec is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. 773-698-6595.
BottlesUp, 3164 N. Broadway. Website.
BotttlesUp fulfills a decade-long dream of owner Melissa Zeman to open her own wine shop.
Vsitors will find a variety of wines, beer, spirits, sake, and hard cider, kombucha and seltzers.
Another gift idea is a membership to the BottlesUp Club, which starts at $30 per month and includes two bottles of wine each month, informative write-ups and recipes for each bottle, in-store discounts and invites to special classes and events.
BottlesUp is open noon-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday and noon-7 p.m. Sundays. 773-362-4999.
BabyDolls Boutique, 3727 N. Southport Ave. Website.
Vanessa Rodriguez opened BabyDolls Boutique in 2007 when she started designing her own line of children’s clothing.
Since then, Rodriguez has gone on to write her first children’s book, “Chicago Loves Me,” which would make the perfect gift for any small child. The book, which Rodriguez hopes will be the first in a series, can be bought as a board book ($11.99) or a regular, hardcover ($16.99).
Rodriguez has also released a line of Chicago flag-themed baby teethers ($14.99), onesies ($28.50) and knit hats ($39) for any “Chicago Loves Me” reader.
BabyDolls Boutique is open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays. 773-525-2229.
Coffee Lab & Roasters, 2823 N. Lincoln Ave. Website.
Any coffee lover would appreciate a bag of beans from Lakeview’s Coffee Lab & Roaster.
Helen Kim, who was general manager she bought the shop in until May 2019, owns the cafe with her husband, Peter Moon. Their mission is to provide a specialty coffee experience in an approachable, non-pretentious environment.
The cafe sells bags of beans from countries across the world, including Ethiopia, Colombia and Brazil. Bags are 12 ounces and cost $20-$22.
The cafe is open 7 a.m.-1 p.m. daily. 773-799-8361.
Men’s Room Chicago, 3343 N. Halsted St. Website.
In the heart of Northalsted, Men’s Room offers fetish gear, leather harnesses, handcuffs, underwear and sex toys.
Originally opened in 2016, Men’s Room recently relocated to its current storefront next to Sidetrack. It’s the perfect place to stock up on necessities for any person who enjoys events like International Mr. Leather, Chicago Pride, Market Days and more.
In-store, shoppers will find a mix of shirts, shorts and other apparel with its other items. Gifts available online include a leather armband ($29.95) and the leather harness ($149.95).
Men’s Room Chicago is open noon-8 p.m. Mondays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 773-857-0907.
Plant Stand Collective, 3247 N. Broadway. Website.
Plant Stand Collective got its start when owner Maria Guasso was furloughed during the pandemic and started a series of pop-ups to sell her pieces and other artists’ work.
The business has found a permanent home in Lakeview, where it sells painted pots, plants and more for every home gardener.
Plant Stand Collective also offers a variety of services, including consultations, repotting and plant-sitting.
The business doesn’t have an online store, so shoppers will have to swing by its brick-and-mortar location to find the perfect gift.
Plant Stand Collective is open noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, noon-6 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. 773-319-7673.
Lincoln Park
Chicago Cannabis Company, 2501 N. Halsted St. Website.
Chicago Cannabis Company is a co-op CBD store that specializes in CBD extracts and other cannabinoid-infused products, ranging from gummies to seltzers and other drinks.
The store, which opened in May, has a wide variety of possible gifts for any CBD lover. Shoppers can buy standard items, including vape cartridges ($45) and gummies ($25), or indulge in the company’s CBD-infused seltzers ($5/can).
Chicago Cannabis Company is open noon-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 773-698-6193.
Josh Moulton Fine Art Gallery, 2218 N. Clark St. Website.
Artist Josh Moulton has a variety of original paintings and prints that would make the perfect gift for any art lover.
The gallery, which celebrated its 11th anniversary this year, sells Moulton’s art in large-framed prints, paintings, post cards and small prints.
Consider gifting someone one of Moulton’s large-framed prints of recognizable Chicago landscapes, including the Chicago skyline as seen from Old Town ($200). Moulton’s work is also available in regular-sized prints ($50-$100) and small prints ($20-$50).
The shop is open by appointment. 773-592-3434.
Off Premise, 1128 W. Armitage Ave. Website.
Off Premise on Armitage Avenue is the perfect one-stop shop for all the alcohol lovers in your life.
The store has assorted gift baskets that make shopping for the holidays easier. The Kings County Classic Gift Set ($80) has one bottle each of moonshine, straight bourbon and chocolate whiskey, while the Welcome to Chicago, Pal Gift Basket ($95) contains a bottle of Malort and all the ingredients to make a Chicago-style hot dog.
Off Premise is open noon-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-7 p.m. Sundays. 773-770-3540.
Play Lincoln Park, 2462 N. Lincoln Ave. Website.
Anyone shopping for children is likely to find what they need at Play in Lincoln Park.
Play offers gift-wrapping services, call-ahead ordering and delivery. The store has also curated gift boxes ($35-$150) to make shopping easier.
The Thinking of You … gift box comes with a variety of Chicago-themed books and toys, and the Foodie gift box comes with books and toys relating to food.
Play Lincoln Park is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. 773-799-8038.
Pyar&Co., 2132 N. Halsted St. Website.
Pyar&Co. offers clothing and luxury home accessories made from the most luxurious fabrics found in India.
Possible gifts include a patterned lumbar pillow ($105) and fanny pack ($38). But shoppers are encouraged to visit in person to take in the store’s beauty.
Founder Paula Queen was inspired to open the store after traveling to India with her husband, Sumit, a native of India.
Pyar&Co. is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays and sometimes Sundays. 312-451-5073.
Third Coast Stitches, 707 W. Armitage Ave. Website.
This women-owned needlepoint shop offers a wide variety of threads, needlepoint kits and other holiday gifts.
For beginners, you can grab the kit for people to make a needlepoint goldendoodle ($63). People more advanced with needlepoint might appreciate the Chicago flag keyfob kit ($46.67) or the Chicago Bean kit ($68.18).
Third Coast Stitches is open noon-6 p.m. Wednesdays, noon-5 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. 312-285-2221.
Previous guides:
• 2021
• 2020
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