The Chicago Traveler

We’ve all heard of the term “retail therapy,” shopping for the purpose of improving your mood. Often, shopping while you’re feeling down has less to do about what you’re buying but rather how those purchases make you feel.
Shopping for gifts at Virtu is an incredibly soothing experience. Soft music plays as you browse through fine-quality artisan wares. This charming gift shop (across the street from Red Dog House) carries “a curious collection of fine craft,” with everything from hand-carved spoons to ceramic tea sets. A wide variety of handmade jewelry is available from designers all over the country, and elegant …read more

Comments Off

• If fresh-shucked oysters and pints of Guinness sound like a good time to you, check out the Guinness Oyster Festival in Roscoe Village. There are also vendors of other foods, pints of Harp’s and Smithwick’s available, and live music. (Sept 6)
• Chow down on brats, potato salad, sauerkraut, smoked sausages, and beer at the 88th Annual German-American Festival in Lincoln Square. The 43rd Annual Von Steuben Parade (featured in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) starts Saturday at 2 p.m. (Sept 5-7)
• You can sample from more than 300 international vintages and watching cooking demos at the Fourth Annual Windy City …read more

Comments Off

Everyone likes getting a greeting card for special occasions or even “just because.” But sometimes, those cards at the local pharmacy or grocery store don’t quite say what you need them to. If you want your cards to be just as sassy as you are, check out Naughty Betty.
Chicago moms Christine Montaquila and Courtney Weinberg have a line of hilariously honest cards that are always appropriate… even when they’re not “proper.” For example, one card reads “Let’s celebrate the old way, the cheese fries at 3 a.m. way, the fabulous but toe-torturing shoe way, the grown women peeing in an …read more

Comments Off

The next few weeks are full of holidays: Passover, Earth Day, Arbor Day, May Day, Cinco de Mayo, Mothers’ Day… No Socks Day? Whatever you’re celebrating, commemorate it with a card from Anjénu.
Ingénue (an-zhuh-noo) refers to the role of a naïve, innocent girl in a dramatic production. Anjénu brings back the innocence of a handmade card with incredibly artistry. The store specializes in custom invitations and announcements, but you’ll also find an assortment of stationery, journals, and cards for every occasion. Hallmark may dominate the market, but Anjénu offers high quality with a personal touch. Jewelry from more than a …read more

Comments Off

When I was in college, like most students I decorated my dorm room walls with just about everything I could find: flags, newspaper clippings, magazine advertisements, posters from the drama department’s productions, etc. Now we’re all older and in real apartments and houses, and we can afford some nicer things for the walls.
How about the great band posters from Spike Press? Chicago-based designer and illustrator John Solimine creates artistic screen prints for bands like The National, the Cougars, Kim, and festivals like Intonation and musicNOW.
Vintage and colorful, the posters are priced pleasantly enough that you’ll still be able to afford …read more

Comments Off

I’ve been called crafty at times, but I’m by no means a craftsman. Just putting together bookshelves from IKEA is a challenge for me.
Fortunately, there are plenty of artists out there whose functional and beautiful handmade products can be found at the Renegade Craft Fair. But if you happen to miss the two-day event, no worries. You can find all the screen-printed T-shirts, jewelry, poster prints, and more at Renegade Handmade.
Featuring the work of over 100 artists both local and international, this Wicker Park store (next door to the Milk & Honey Café) was created as an extension of the …read more

Comments Off

Remember pop-up books? As a kid, I was absolutely fascinated by the detailed art and skill as the story entered a new dimension. Characters came to life and fantastical faraway places felt all that much closer.
Tracy Chong, an Urbana-based designer brings back some of that magic for adults with her handmade pop-up cards. From birthdays to anniversaries, from congrats to thanks, she’s created perfect little greetings that stand out from the rest. Check out her eye-popping designs at http://tracychong.etsy.com/
Spread the word; they’re sure to become a popular favorite.

Photo credit: Tracy Chong

Comments Off

Your elders have always told you to send Thank You cards. But what about cards that say “Get Awesome!”, “Holla!” or “Bite Me”?
Rebecca Ann Rakstad of Rar Rar Press has come up with creative sayings for just about every occasion and prints them out on colorful letterpress postcards. She also makes greeting cards and blank drawing and writing books.
Keep an eye out for this local artist at various arts & crafts fairs, or stop by Rebecca’s site at http://rarrarpress.etsy.com/
And remember to send her a Thank You.

Photo credit: Rar Rar Press

Comments Off

Being Mexican-American, I can’t help but be excited about this coming weekend. This Sunday is Mexican Independence Day, celebrating Mexico’s victory in the armed conflict between the people of Mexico and Spanish colonial authorities, which started in 1810. A huge and colorful celebration parade will be held on Sunday on 26th Street, as over half a million spectators will cheer on the floats and mariachi bands. It’s a perfect time for dancing in the streets!
The annual Green Tie Ball takes place on Sunday with a “Garden of Good or Evil” theme, raising funds for the Chicago Gateway Green, a non-profit …read more

Comments Off