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Lincoln Park Gift Guide: Local Whiskey, Toys for Grownups and More

By Paul Biasco | November 25, 2014 5:32am
 Get your geeky bestie some fancy toys at Rotofugi.
Get your geeky bestie some fancy toys at Rotofugi.
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Facebook/Rotofugi

LINCOLN PARK — There are a lot of shopping options in Lincoln Park, and many city shoppers will converge on the 'hood come Black Friday.

If you want to avoid the more crowded spots and get someone a truly unique gift, check out our picks.

Ezra’s, 1128 W. Armitage, is a great place to find a gift-worthy bottle of booze. What can go wrong when gifting one of the shop’s 100-plus small-batch liquors. The independent new shop has a heavy dose of Midwestern spirits, and we suggest staying local with a bottle of Koval’s Single Barrel Rye Whiskey ($60).

Rotofugi, 2780 N. Lincoln Ave., is a great place to find something for a design-minded relative or friend. The designer toy shop not only features custom vinyl toys and figurines, but also has a revolving gallery with screen prints for sale. The award-winning shop is full of surprises for the hard-to-shop for friend. We suggest a Marshall Series 1 mini marshmallow man ($9.95) or a Brews Brothers Creen Print by Jeremy Fish, Sam Flores and Bigfoot ($35.00).

Warby Parker, 837 W. Armitage Ave., is Lincoln Park’s newest and hippest eyewear retailer. Pick up a slick new pair of frames to upgrade your significant other’s style. The concept shop is the first in Chicago. Similar to the TOMS model, Warby Parker will donate a pair of glasses to someone in need for each pair sold. We dig the Beckett frames ($95).

 

Art Effect, 934 W. Armitage Ave., has something for everybody — even if that certain everybody has everything. This independent shop is packed with unique gift items as well as jewelry and clothing. Some favorites include Chicago-centric gifts like a Chicago Whales t-shirt ($28.00), a Lincoln Park mug ($15)  and Chicago flag candle ($28).

Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Cannon Dr., has the perfect gift for the animal lover in your life. The zoo’s ADOPT gift program will not only help support zoo conservation efforts, but comes with a plush animal, an ice and skate rental voucher and two hot chocolate vouchers ($55).

The Social Table, 819 W. Armitage Ave., is the neighborhood’s newest cooking class/dinner party shop. Each BYOB class with super-friendly chef Rebecca Goldfarb will not only teach you how to cook a three-course meal, but will leave you stuffed and with a handful of new friends. Buy yourself and your loved one a class for a fun night out ($75 each). 

Porte Rouge, 1414 N. Wells St., is a fine tea aficionado’s paradise. The quaint shop in the heart of Old Town features elegant teapots such as the trYeh Emerald Bamboo crafted by Chinese artists ($140) or a less costly trYeh Yixing made with red clay from China’s JiangSu province ($37).

Judy Maxwell Home General Store, 1363 N. Wells St., is stocked with everything from kitchen and dining items to books and games. The shop caries some rather interesting candles from the Flicking Candles company with scents such as Fantasy Football Failure, One Night Teak Wood Stand and Freshly Signed Divorce Papers ($17). The "Dear Chicago, I love you" tea towels are pretty cute, too.

Listen to all the great gift ideas in the neighborhoods here: