WICKER PARK — If you're lucky enough to live in Wicker Park, Bucktown or Ukrainian Village — or enjoy visiting the popular neighborhoods — your holiday shopping will be a breeze.
We rounded up 15 gifts from locally-owned boutiques that have given the area its eclectic vibe. So whether you've got $12 for campfire incense to surprise a coworker or can drop $300 on a carnelian gemstone necklace for your wife, we've got you covered.
Plaid Blanket Scarves at Paperish Mess
For Your Fashionable Friends: Plaid blanket scarves are a perfect cold-weather accessory (and necessity!). Each scarf is long enough to allow for a twice wraparound to keep you warm and toasty. Scarves — which comes in a variety of plaid designs — are acrylic with a soft cashmere feel. Made in the Midwest, the scarves cost $19.95 each and are a great under $20 gift item for the holidays — or perfect as a gift for yourself too! Paperish Mess, 1955 W. Chicago Ave.
Shot Glasses at Una Mae's
For Your Drinking Buddy: A set of four stainless steel shot glasses emblazoned with "May you never," Go to Hell," "But Always" and "Be On Your Way" could be a perfect gift worthy of a celebratory shot with drinking buddies anytime. The glasses are stackable, extremely durable and come in a canvas carrying pouch. $28 at Una Mae's, 1528 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Paine's Log Cabin Burner and Balsam Fir Incense at Una Mae's
For Someone Who Loves the Smell of Christmas or Campfires: Paine's Log Cabin burner and balsam fir incense sticks create a fir tree smell, plus smoke rises through the cabin's chimney as if there is a real fire burning inside! Log cabin, $12 and incense sticks are $8. And if you do not want to spring for the whole cabin, Juniper Ridge's campfire incense for traditional burners are $12 per pack for 20 sticks. Una Mae's, 1528 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Indie Coffee Passport
For Coffee or Tea Fans Who Like to Explore: After a successful first year, the "Indie Coffee Passport" is back, offering anyone flashing the card a chance to enjoy a free beverage at 22 participating coffee shops over a 9-month period from Dec. 1st to Aug. 31. The passport costs $25 and the holder will get a coffee or tea drink (up to $5 menu price) at each of the participating coffee shops. Drinks run the gamut from from basic coffees and teas to signature and specialty drinks. Participating Wicker Park/Ukrainian Village/West Town cafes include Buzz Killer Espresso, 1644 N. Damen; Bru, 1562 N. Milwaukee Ave.; Caffe Streets, 1750 W. Division St.; Atomix, 1957 W. Chicago Ave. and more. Passports must be bought online at indiecoffeepassport.com/chicago and are shipped the next day.
Leather Wrapped Mason Jar Mugs at Paperish Mess
For Beverage Lovers On-the-Go: A clever way to carry hot or cold beverages, these Mason jar travel mugs offer a leather etched sleeve that insulates and protects the glass mason jar liner, plus you can quickly switch between the travel lid for drinking and the mason jar lid for storage and transport. Both the travel mug and cozy are fridge safe and (if you remove the metal ring and lid) microwave safe too. The leather sleeve — hand cut, carved, dyed, punched, etched and stitched in the Midwest — is removable for easy cleaning. Chicago Flag and other styles available. Small jars are $35; large are $38. Paperish Mess, 1955 W. Chicago Ave.
Accordian Instabooks at Virtu
For Your Instagram Savvy Niece: Did you pull your niece or cousin in the gift exchange? Is she too young to have ever experienced printed photographs? Make an accordion book of some of your favorite 4 x 4 prints from Instagram or Hipstamatic, maybe telling a story with each book, like highlights from this past gymnastics season or a family party. A fabric-covered book by Rag & Bone Bindery offers 10 foldable pages along with mounting tabs and is perfect for displaying on a wall, accordion style. $25 at Virtu, 2035 N. Damen Ave.
Gemstone Necklaces at Virtu
For An Extra Special Person: One-of-a-kind gemstone necklaces by Danielle Welmond are crocheted and wrapped in gold thread, with each center stone surrounded by a halo of contrasting gems. The palette this winter season is of the rich warm tones of carnelian, garnet, sapphire, iolite, ruby and topaz. Earrings in this collection start around $75 while some of the larger necklaces are in the $300 range. Virtu, 2035 N. Damen Ave.
Carry-on Approved 'Minimergency' Kit at Flight 001
For the Frequent Flier Who is Also Forgetful: Shaped like a deck of cards and packed with 13 essentials, a "minimergency" kit for men offers breath freshener, stain remover, shoe shine, nail clippers, a body wipe, mending kit and more. New Wicker Park retailer Flight 001 sources the kits from Elk Grove Village-based Pinch Provisions, which also offers essential kits for women too. We like the "Emoji/Hot Pink" kit packed with lip balm, clear nail polish, hair bands, an emergency tampon and more. Kits range between $14- $18 at Flight 001, 1616 N. Damen Ave.
Cowboy Rain Boots at Alcala's
For Aspiring Cowgirls in a Cold, Wet City: A family-run Western wear staple, Alcala's has been a go-to spot for cowboy boots since 1972 and now you can get rubber rain boots there, too— perhaps a practical gift considering you are more likely to be jumping puddles than steering cattle in most parts of Chicago. The women's boots offer four designs: skulls, flowers, black-and-white swirls and playing cards. And throw in a hat for good measure. We like a brown hat by Minnetonka. Boots are $39.99 per pair; suede hat is $50. Alcala's, 1733 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago Teacher Store Gift Certificate
Help Your Child's Teacher Avoid Dipping into His or Her Own Pocket: With so many teachers spending their own money or crowdsourcing to pay for extras in their classroom like learning materials and display boards, a gift certificate will likely be put to good use. Call 773-252-8200 to purchase any amount; certificates can be emailed, too. Chicago Teacher Store, 1855 N. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago Flag and Dept. of Gas and Waste Onesies at Transit Tees
For Expectant Parents or Stylish Newborns: It will be years until the wearer gets a whiff of the joke behind a Chicago Dept. of Gas and Waste onesie but his or her parents will get a kick out of the thought you put into it. A Chicago Flag is always a good choice, too. Both onesies are available in gray or black, prices range between $19-$24, sizes are newborn, 6, 12 and 18 months. Transit Tees, 1371 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Ceramic Hanging Plant Pots at Moth
For Green Thumbs. Jazz up a window with flowerpots by Anne Black, a Copenhagen-based ceramicist whose hanging pots feature leather straps and come in four colors (white, concrete, jade and artichoke). Available in small, $42, or medium $50 each. Moth, 2008 N. Damen Ave.
Animal Encylopedia Globe at Red Balloon Co.
For Young Animal Enthusiasts: An "animal encyclopedia" globe helps children discover the native habitats of 115 animals with its brightly colored map and accompanying mini animal encyclopedia. For Ages 6-and up; $34.95 at The Red Balloon, 1940 N. Damen Ave.
Gelt for Grown-Ups at Veruca Chocolates
Treat Your Jewish Friends to 'Gelt for Grown-Ups.' Hannukah runs from sundown Dec. 6 to Dec. 14, so surprise the Jews in your life with chocolate coins meant to resemble the coins or "gelt" children gamble with when playing dreidel, a 4-sided spinning top game. Available in milk chocolate and dark chocolate with cacao nibs or sea salt, each Kosher coin is molded to replicate an actual Judean coin. Boxes are $15 for 20 coins, or a "Hannukah Sampler" offers all three for $38. Veruca Chocolates, 2409 N. Western Ave.
Gold Bell at Comrade Cycles
For Your Cyclist Cousin's Stocking: Drew a Secret Santa gift for a coworker who bikes or have a cousin who bikes often? Water bottles at worker-owned Comrade Cycles start at $10. Some pricier gifts that are also safety-focused include lights, fix-it kits and tire pumps. We like a gold matte bell made in Osaka, Japan that has a clear ring tone, $25.99. Comrade Cycles, 1908 W. Chicago Ave.
