Are you shopping local this holiday season? I thought I’d highlight some gifts from Chicago small businesses featured in my book Secret Chicago! They’re sure to be a hit with your loved ones wherever they live.
Circus Classes at Aloft
Who knew that a Logan Square church is hiding a circus school? Aloft Circus Arts offers classes in trapeze, trampoline and more at all experience levels. Gift an in-person class in Beginning Trapeze ($150) or a virtual class (starting at $10) in handstands!
Pothole Art Puzzle
Local artist Jim Bachor is on a mission to beautify Chicago’s potholes with works of art. I’ve written before about his work installing mosaics in the city streets. This 1,000-piece puzzle ($49.99) lets you bring his artwork home!
Whiner Beer (and more) at The Plant
A former Back of the Yards meatpacking plant is now home to 20+ sustainable food businesses at The Plant. Stop by to pick up barrel-aged beer at Whiner Beer Co. ($12) or check out locally made kombucha, honey, cheese, and more.
The Kartemquin Films Collection: Four-Volume Set
Kartemquin Films has produced influential documentaries from a little house in Lake View for over 50 years. Enjoy ten classic films from Kartemquin’s early years in one set ($69.99).
Plagues of the 21st Century Gift Box at IMSS
Plagues of the 21st Century ($20) is just one of the many surprising finds in the International Museum of Surgical Science gift shop. These mini microbes will help you learn about and spread awareness of modern plagues like COVID-19, Zika Virus, Measles, Pandemic Flu and SARS.
Vintage Vinyl at Out of the Past
You can spend the whole day scouring vintage music scores in the two buildings that make up this West Garfield Park shop. Out of the Past specializes in blues, soul, R&B, gospel, and jazz records (starting at $5), but they’ve also amassed CDs, cassettes, and DVDs since opening in 1986.
Edgar Miller “City & Frontier” Mug
You may not live in an Edgar Miller home, but you can admire the artisan extraordinaire’s work in your home with this mug ($15). It features Miller’s “World Atlas” commissioned in 1936.
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This collection of writing by Chicago students ($15) includes stories about inventions, if students could change the world, and letters to their future selves. Proceeds benefit 826CHI, a non-profit tutoring center. Their Wicker Park Secret Agent Supply Store is a great stop for unique gifts!
Solar Robot Kit
American Science & Surplus stocks offbeat scientific items to spark your curiosity. This kit ($28.95) will introduce kids to the basic concepts of solar tech with parts to make 14 different projects.
Wonderland Tarot Tin
Founded in 1918, The Occult Bookstore bills itself as the oldest spiritual shop in the world. What better place to brush up on your tarot skills? This tarot ($18.95) deck features the Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland characters in a hand-drawn Victorian style.
Cran Nectar Mead
Pass on the punch and reach for mead this holiday. Wild Blossom Meadery in Beverly offers semi-dry Cran Nectar Mead made from honey fermented with cranberries. ($18.99)
Mr. Bitey Taxidermy Shark
Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities is where you shop for the person who has everything. Run by a husband and wife, this Andersonville shop stocks cool and creepy finds like old dental slides and Ecuadorian shrunken heads. No one else will have this real, vintage, or antique skin mount taxidermy shark ($900) under their Christmas tree!
Secret Chicago: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure
Do you think you know Chicago? My book ($20.95) uncovers 90 uncommon spots including hidden attractions, haunted locales, and unique landmarks. From an energy vortex in Fulton Market to a salt cave in Portage Park, this guide proves that when it comes to secrets, Chicago is second to none!
Jessica Mlinaric founded Urban Explorer in 2010 to inspire curious travelers by highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems in Chicago and beyond. She is the author of ‘Secret Chicago’ and ‘Chicago Scavenger.’ Jessica has visited 20+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. She has more than 16 years of experience as a marketing strategist and works as a freelance writer and photographer.
