Fashion/lifestyle
An easy, two-street itin. to fire straight through. Gentrification means it’s become consumer-centric, but it still rocks a vibey, local edge with great restos and bars. Note some shops are closed Mon. Alrighty, Kylie, commence your shopfest at Kiz / 2035 W Division (near N Hoyne) / 773 278 9800 / shopkiz.com / a w/wear boutique with rock-n-roll vibe and a charmingly pursefriendly selection of dresses, shirts and pants. Nip a few doors along to Paper Doll at #2027 / 773 227 6950 / paperdollchicago.com / with charming gifts, quirky cards and handy dandy wrapping-paper corner. Pamper your pooch next at the slightly cringy monikered #2023 Doggy Style / doggystylepetshop.com / with tons o’ toys and even a canine spa. Onwards, Mulberry & Me at #2019 / 773 952 7551 / mulberryandme.com / has a chicly curated collection of flowy tops and flattering skirts. Cross, noting dinneronly trendster Mirai Sushi at #2020 / 773 862 8500 / mirai sushi.com / for later, then carry on all the way to counterorder brunch and lunch hangout Milk & Honey at #1920 / 773 395 9434 / milkandhoneycafe.com / not the NYC cocktail bar, but a gourmet sandwich pitstop. If you need a pickme-up rub, nip into #1914 Red Square / 773 227 2284 / redsquarechicago.com, formerly the Division St Russian and Turkish Baths dating from the early C.20th, but now a pristine sauna-slash-resto where you’ll be scrubbed like a czar, and then feast on caviar and vodka. With renewed skin, totter across to the concept hip ship #1913 Penelope’s / 773 395 2351 / shoppenelopes.com / epitomising the new casual cool with weekend staples for guys n’ gals, plus totwear and playful accessories. Next door at #1911 is loft-like Unison Home / 773 227 3180 / unisonhome.com / selling vibrant home textiles and knick-knacks. Now gallop one long block and cross to heaving Chi-town BBQ + blues stalwart #1804 Smoke Daddy / 773 772 6656 / the smokedaddy.com / with hearty platters and huge outdoor patio. Keep trotting to #1744 Trillium / 773 698 8162 / trilliumchicago.com / a favourite shop-spot for ladies who love preppy dresses, tops and accessories. Next door at #1742 is no-fuss vegetarian Mecca Mana Food Bar / 773 342 1742 / from 4pm Sun-fri, from noon Sat / manafoodbar. com. Need something more substantial? Then indulge at little #1736 Alliance Bakery / 773 278 0366 / alliance-bakery. com / a frosted cupcake cache with panache. It gets busy, so just grab and go. Pooped, my pretty? If so, head back to calming Ruby Room at #1743 (see Spa) with a new-agey menu of detox therapy for body and spirit, as well as a beauty boutique and hair salon for a no-less-spiritual personal transformation. If not, carry on and take the next left into N Paulina, and then left again into N Milwaukee for Kokorokoko Vintage at #1323 / 773 252 6996 / kokoroko kovintage.com, where a thorough rummage will yield fruits like rare 80s Ungaro and Valentino. Didn’t you do well? Reward yourself by nipping back either to Ruby Room to rest those tootsies, Mirai Sushi for dreamy nigiri, or else continue down N Milwaukee to find at #1360 hipster nabe fave Antique Taco / 773 687 8697 / antiquetaco.com. Rest your lalls, or if you’re fuelled by carnitas and tequila, the Bucktown itinerary begins but steps away...