El stops are looking pretty snazzy these days, which is all the more reason to be jazzed up about the one you call home. That’s My Stop sells t-shirts that proudly display the name of your El station in all its block letter signage and grid-coordinate glory. Just pick your train line, stop, and the color and size t-shirt you want from the dropdown menus and for a mere $15 (plus $5 for shipping), you’ll......

Local illustrator Frank Chimero (whose state series we adore) teamed up with Portland's TinyMeat to create this wallet. Frank's drawing is based off of a drawing made by Gabriel Guarin, son of TinyMeat proprietors Michael and Mona, whom Frank describes as "a prolific artist" and "a highly functioning Autistic first grader with an appetite for robots and Pokemon." "Michael had mentioned how great it'd be if someone would take one of the drawings and either......

The Armitage Avenue area in Lincoln Park is normally a trendy, hoity-toity retail district that’s reserved for gold card shoppers, but this weekend it’s dripping with discounts that make it more accessible to you and your pocket money. Domino magazine, which is dedicated to stylish home decor, is throwing a weekend long shopping and style block party where prices are cut and free stuff abounds. There’s at least 20% off at almost every boutique, and......

Today was supposed to by the last kernel for the popular Garrett’s Popcorn Shop on Michigan Avenue, but it’s been granted a stay for the moment. According to Garrett’s P.R. people, the lease has been extended for an unspecified amount of time. The shop has to move because the site will be redeveloped for a Ritz-Carlton condo project. The company is currently in active discussions with other landlords to open a new location along Michigan......

LL Cool J is designing a hip-hop clothing line for Sears, called "LL Cool J for Sears". (Really LL, that's all ya got?) The LL Cool J for Sears line will be available for purchase in most Sears stores by September. Mr. Cool J is said to have an emotional connection with Sears as he used to beg his grandfather to take him shopping there when he was a child growing up in Queens, which......

Garrett Popcorn is closing its Michigan Ave store on May 31, making room for the Ritz Carlton and for people to actually walk on the sidewalk. Don't panic, you can still get your "Downtown Mix" at several other locations throughout the city, and plans to open another Garrett on Michigan are in the works. History snippet: Garrett Popcorn Shops has been a Chicago institution since 1949 and after Oprah listed it as one of......

We'll always have a soft spot for those CTA-soled sneakers, but these Chicago-themed Pumas, designed to honor the 1990 Bulls, are pretty fabulous, too. [via]......

We were just wondering what was going to go in at the Sullivan Center (née the Caron Pirie Scott building), and now we know: fancypants grocer Fox & Obel is opening up a 25,000 square foot store at the 1 S. State location. The building will also house a FlatTop Grill (whose name always makes us think haircut, not stir-fry), and a three-floor Billabong store. Billabong? They're still around? According to site's developers, Joseph Freed......

Sure, we’re all about blowing our stimulus package [Ed note: Dirty!], but that doesn’t mean we’re not into stretching a buck. We found a few shopping events going on this weekend that are a bargain-hunter's paradise. American Science & Surplus Annual Scratch and Dent Sale: When we think “scratch and dent,” appliances are the first thing that pop into mind. But American Science and Surplus on Milwaukee is slashing prices on pretty much everything but......

Back in our New Orleans days, we used to see billboards that read "40K A State Away!", an attempt by the state of Texas to entice what few competent teachers southeast Louisiana had left. Our first reaction was annoyance. Who does Texas think they are, trying to pilfer our educators? Isn't everything already bigger and better there? Then, after a daiquiri from the drive-thru, we just shrugged. That's capitalism, baby. Now a coalition of 18......

We're pretty lucky to live within a short train ride to the South Loop, where we can choose between Jewel, Dominick's, Whole Foods and (on Sundays) the Maxwell Street Market. Sometimes, though, even Jewel and Dominick's can be too pricey. Which is why we're glad to know about Pete's Fresh Market. It's one of our secrets, and today we're sharing it with you. If you're a fan of Cermak Produce and live on the......

Where Should I Shop for My Pregnant Belly?...

Photo by Calexico Former Bears linebacker Jim Schwantz is running for mayor of Palatine. [Trib] In today's installment of "things that haunt me..." Louis Farrakhan endorsed Barack Obama yesterday at a convention for members of the Nation of Islam. [Trib] L.L. Bean is opening a store in the burbs. [press release] The Chicago Architecture Foundation will be looking for some new digs come 2011. That's sooner than you think! [Crain's] Trailer for the upcoming......

The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association wants us all to “Feel Magnificent,” and this month apparently that means knocking back the bubbly. Throughout February, businesses on the Magnificent Mile and its surrounding area have been serving champagne to diners and shoppers all along the Avenue, which means we have T minus 7 days to score some free (or reduced) sparkling goodness. The Mag Mile web site can fill you in on everywhere that’s filling flutes,......

Chicago is a great city for tea drinkers. With all of its independent coffee shops, Argo Tea’s 10 locations and the opulent snobbery of high tea at the Drake, it takes something pretty special to get noticed around here. Operating out of a cute (but tiny) storefront at 1160 N. State, TeaGschwendner easily stands up to the competition. Their store carries more than 300 varieties of high quality, loose-leaf tea, tea brewing paraphernalia and many......

It was a rough week for Macy’s, people. 2,500 jobs cut. January same-store sales down 7.1%. Let’s just put that into perspective: sales are nowhere near expectations across the board. A survey of 43 retailers by the UBS-International Council of Shopping Centers indicated that January sales were only up 0.5%, a percentage point below the anticipated 1.5%. Macy’s, on the other hand, anticipated their sales were going to be down 4 to 6%. Retailers across......

The American Apparel on Armitage reopened today after being closed for two weeks for operating without a business license. Weirdly, none of the four Chicago locations had local business licenses--just Illinois ones. But the Lincoln Park store had been warned, whereas the others had not. Anyway, you can go back to your regularly scheduled programming of buying high-waisted Vegas leggings. (Pictured are the taffeta swim trunks, if you're planning for warmer weather.)......

Good news, snowbunnies. The National Weather Service is predicting up to 7 inches of snow today, starting around 2pm and continuing through Friday morning. We're already having a very snowy season--so far, 22 days with measurable snow, and we've racked up 30.2 inches at Midway (average for the last 30 years is 25.5), which makes this the fourth snowiest winter in 25 years. Luckily, temperatures won't be too brutal, staying somewhere in the 20s.......

You're running out of time to shop--and giganto stores are going to be so butts-to-nuts crowded you'll want to kill yourself--but there are still options. We're partial to the Chicago Architecture Foundation's store on Michigan and Jackson ( 224 S. Michigan) if you still need a gift for someone geeky and awesome. Also, give that person our number. Possible good gifts: Are there still people in town who don't own the ubiquitous neighborhood map? If......

During last week’s sleet storm we ducked into the South Loop Wine Cellar on the walk home from the Museum Campus. Half-frozen, soaked and more concerned with warming up than with finding a new shopping destination, we were pleasantly surprised by what we found inside. Warm, welcoming and filled with wine bins, exposed bricks and a beautiful Christmas tree, the store was the perfect place for us to stop. With all of the hype surrounding......

This shopping holiday season, we’re committed to buying our kid’s presents from local small businesses. Our new crush is Timeless Toys in Lincoln Square. This tiny store is packed with a fantastic selection of items from companies that have been heralded for their attention to safety and developmental appropriateness (and lack of Cartoon Network characters splashed all over them) like Plan Toys, Haba, Schleich and Ravensburger. We love this store's unusual and massive selection of......

We find that after doing scads of last-minute shopping, the best way to ensure "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men" is to avoid the general public altogether. So one of our favorite parts of Christmastime involves shutting ourselves off from the outside world and gorging on movies. This time of year there's plenty of stuff to watch on Ye Old Yule Tube. TCM is getting into the Santa act by presenting "Sweet Home......

The clock is ticking, lovelies--get those presents purchased and fast. If you still need some last-minute help, though, take the Chicago bus to these three stores where we can practically guarantee you'll find something. We'll be running posts like this all week, so if you know the perfect store, drop us a line: tips@chicagoist.com You still need a present for: Your mom, your sister, some who recently moved, or someone who likes kitsch, quirky jewelry,......

There are precious few days left for your last-minute holiday shopping. If you're out to get a jump on the crowds, consider catching an early breakfast and shopping through the lunch rush by hitting one of these Near West Side joints. Le Peep: Somewhat Le Dull but at last visit, they did serve Lavazza coffee made in a French press. That is always a good thing. Wishbone: Tagged as "Southern reconstruction cooking," which sounds as......

The numbers to the left tell the story. Hyde Park Co-Op shareholders voted by a wide margin in favor of a buyout by the University of Chicago and close the store by the end of January. Under terms of the proposal, which can be viewed here, Hyde Park Co-Op is absolved of the $1.2 million back rent it owes U of C on its 55th Street location, will pay a one-time payment of $1 million......

With the city being overrun by holiday bar crawls, it might be difficult to walk the streets this weekend without being accosted by a drunk dude in holiday vest or run over by a Santa in a hazmat suit. Throw on your best Cosby sweater and enjoy any or all of these weekend delights.... Head to the nearest cineplex and see Juno, the most talked about movie starring Michael Cera since the last movie starring......

Now this brings back some memories. We've always had this fascination with old movie houses. It probably started with Sunday family days at the Will Rogers Theatre at 5641 W. Belmont in the mid-70's. It was the perfect capper to a day in Belmont Central. Mom would take us shopping for clothes at Goldblatt's — those stores were actually respectable then — or Jack Robbins, maybe have some lunch under the Golden Arches. Then......

The City's settlement in the Burge case has stalled again. Again. Really cute profile of a children's television production company based right here. "Well, the shit really hit the fan last night. And it was the CEILING fan. Maybe I should find a new taqueria." Nothing to do with anything, but we just lost 20 minutes going through the entire archive, and we loved every second. Hey, ladies, don't forget to have a bunch......

Chicagoist demanded it, and Lovie listened. When the Bears face the Minnesota Vikings next Monday night, Kyle Orton -- our favorite drunky QB -- will once again line up under center. With a 5-8 record and three games to play, it's time for the Bears to start planning for the future. Rex Grossman's contract is set to expire, and he's done little to make the Bears want to commit to him for the long term.......

Is it just us, or has this week sucked ass? It seems like everyone we've talked to has wanted to stab the whole world in the neck this week. At least we have a bunch of things to do that are awesome..... The Old Town School of Folk Music has its annual craft fair tonight, plus their monthly First Friday series. Tomorrow, bust out your wallet at Renegade Craft Fair's holiday bonanza. We've noticed......