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Holiday Shopping Downtown: From Eco-Friendly Toys to 3D Printing

 Whether you're banging out all your holiday shopping between meetings, or shopping some Chicago's central business district with intent, downtown stores, boutiques and restaurants have got your holiday to-buy list covered.
Downtown Gift Guide
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DOWNTOWN — Whether you're doing all your holiday shopping between meetings, or shopping some of Chicago's central business district with intent, downtown stores, boutiques and restaurants have got your holiday to-buy list covered.

FOR THE WANNABE FOODIE

Learning how to cook like a pro can be a stressful process wrought with screw-ups. But at Mercadito's (108 W. Kinzie St.) bi-monthly cooking demonstration courses, Chef Patricio Sandoval guides students through a five-course meal with drink pairings so they can sample and sip while assembling traditional Mexican dishes with a twist. The Jan. 20 and 21 lessons spotlight reimagined Super Bowl favorites. Book a class in advance by calling 312-329-9555. $65 per student

 

FOR THE SPOILED PUP'S PARENTS

When they're spending half their paycheck on Fido, you know a gift for their pet will make them smile, too. Win over your four-legged friends (and their owners) with Tails in the City's (1 E. Delaware Pl.) gourmet dog treats, all made with "the finest human-grade ingredients," owner Bruce Haas said. Ingredients include peanut butter, applesauce and yogurt. $2 - $5 for individual cookies.

 

FOR THE GENTLEMAN IN YOUR LIFE

Stumped shopping for the man who has — and wears — everything? Chances are he hasn't yet splurged on a dapper topper from Optimo Hats, the South Loop millinery (320 S. Dearborn St.) whose products adorn the most discriminating heads. (Optimo is reportedly Johnny Depp's go-to for period pieces like "The Rum Diary" and "Public Enemy.") For a custom piece, you'll have to size your intended's skull. Maintenance services, like cleaning and blocking a family heirloom or vintage find, offer a more budget-friendly alternative. Hat care $30 and up, custom hats $400 and up

 

FOR THE INKED UP

Whether they've got a song lyric they outgrew or just a shortage of space for new work, even the biggest tattoo-lovers might have some tweaks in mind for their canvas. River North's newly-opened Sempurna Restoration Clinic (220 W. Huron St., Suite 2003) sells tattoo-removal gift cards that can cover some or all of the laser removal process. Is this gift a passive-aggressive nudge? Identify the offending ink you had in mind right right on your gift card. $25 gift card minimum, $3,000 maximum

 

FOR THE GADGET-LOVING TECHIE

She pre-orders all the newest iPhones and switched to tablets before they were mainstream. Make sure your tech expert stays ahead of the curve with a class or printing pass at the 3D Printer Experience (316 N. Clark St.). For $15, users can design and print a custom pendant (great for kids!). Higher-skilled producers can get a one-on-one printing lesson or training in 3D modeling and design via the storefront's daily classes. 3D printing lessons $79 per session, including materials

 

FOR THE KID WHOSE PARENTS THINK GREEN

Mom and Dad care about carbon emissions, but little Timmy just wants a toy train with wheels that move. Please the whole gang with Maple Landmark's line of sustainable wooden toys handmade in their Middlebury, Vt., shop since 1979. The South Loop's eco-friendly play place the Sod Room is stocked with the stuff — they're also the only local vendor of the line, which sells toys online at MapleLandmark.com. Prices vary