Fashion/spa/food
Former hipster hang of indie kids, tatts and beards, but yuppies infiltrating the mix have upped the price ante. Expect the eclectic. Leave the stillies at home and grab a cab to Mojo Spa at 1468 N Milwaukee (nr Evergreen) / 773 235 6656 / mojospa.com / with natural fruitopia, sugar and choc potions, massages and scrubs. At #1470 Bongo Room / 773 489 0690 / has bags of atmos, java junkies and epic Sundays. Shoot up and across to Eskell at #1509 / 773 486 0830 / eskell.com / for a girly-glam mix of their eponymous-label dresses and tops, new lines and vintage frocks. Either cross back to Una Mae’s at #1528 / 773 276 7002 / unamaeschicago.com / for eccentric apothecary plus pre-loved, thrift and retro rags, or if you prefer new to old, sidle up to sneaker pimp Saint Alfred at #1531/ 773 486 7159 / stalfred.com / peddling limited editions. Next door is Goorin Bros at #1533 / 773 384 4287 / goorin.com / with stacks of hats for ladies n’ gents. Now, do a 150m sprint to the intersection and take a right around the hairpin corner into W North for fanciful greenfinger den Asrai Garden at #1935 / 773 782 0680 / asraigarden.com / a belle botanical jardin where enchanting homeware reside amongst mystical flora and fauna . Love nothing more than tearing into delicious chunks of BBQ meat? Trot two blocks quicksticks for lunch or supper at #1856 Lillie’s Q / 773 772 5500 / lilliesq. com. Otherwise, double back to the major intersection and cross diagonally over to City Soles at 2001 W North / 773 489 2001 / citysoles.com / for groovy footgear, or take a right up N Damen and cross for Feast at #1616 / 773 772 7100 / feastrestaurant.com / a weekender’s courtyard brunch Betty. Recharge, then push straight on, skipping over for p.45 at #1643 / 773 862 4523 / p45.com / lined with oneof-a-kind ladies’ finds from contempo labels incl. luxe leatherists Hare + Hart, mod milliner Eugenia Kim, deco jeweller Lizzie Fortunato, and It Boot lady Rachel Comey. Golly, is it time for pud? Hotfoot a few doors down to pretty deli doll #1649 Goddess and Grocer / 773 342 3200 / goddessandgrocer.com / with soups, sarnies and sweets, and spy super-softie Marine Layer across at #1646 / 872 206 5668 / marinelayer.com / packing California vibe and plush pima cotton m/w basics. Gents with grooming needs can hoof it to Halo [for Men] at #1655 (see Spa), or else cross over to #1710 Alexis Bittar / 773 486 5627 / alexisbittar. com / with glassed-in cases of baubles from the fash mag fave. Got tots in tow? Zip back to oh-so cutesy #1723 Peek Kids / 773 649 4810 / peekkids.com / stuffed to the rafters with adorable togs, toys n’ books. Totter on, and at #1739 The T-shirt Deli / 773 276 6266 / tshirtdeli.com / serves up fresh tees in a jiffy with your very own slogan and design. You can get one for Rover too – woof! Kids and pups sorted, treat yourself to a cocoa next at mobbed #1747 Mindy’s Hot Chocolate / 773 489 1747 / hotchocolate chicago.com, then peek inside the futuristic #1753 RSVP Gallery (see Standout Stores) with avant-garde designer wear, art books and other cool kid favourites. End it here, or insatiable Imeldas after more threads and home goodies keep strutting on under the train tracks... / cont’d