jm / December 17, 2004 6:39 PM

The Sweden Shop in North Park (on Foster near Kimball) is EXCELLENT!!!

steven / December 17, 2004 7:16 PM

equinox, guava imports, reckless records, all down broadway.

eliina / December 17, 2004 9:13 PM

The Paper Trail and the little shop area in the back of Kopi Cafe are both lovely. Presence is great for gifts for my younger sisters, and the Wooden Spoon is fantastic for folks who love to cook. All on Clark in Andersonville.

Bige / December 18, 2004 12:45 AM

The White Hen is where I do all of my Christmas shopping

Steve / December 18, 2004 3:33 PM

The Lincoln Rstaurant, of course.

steve_sleeve / December 19, 2004 12:54 PM

hard boiled records & video!

on the lincoln restaurant tip, i have received their gigantic drink mugs as a gift, and it was a fantastic gift, so steve is speaking the truth.

paul / December 19, 2004 7:56 PM

In Evanston:

Folkworks Gallery One of a kind crafts, mostly expensive folk art, but plenty of affordable small stuff for gifts.

Second Hand Tunes, on Dempster or Dr. Wax on Sherman, for cheap DVDs and CDs for people who don't care that they're used.

Cost Plus World Market for everything else - Electric Reindeer Wine, little chocolate liquer bottles, marzipan, funky martini glasses and kitchen egg timers shaped like little eggs.

Thurston / December 20, 2004 8:43 AM

When shopping for a music lover, something excellent can always be found at Dusty Groove, one block south of Division on Ashland.

Mike / December 20, 2004 8:46 AM

My area is a little sparse for X-mas shopping, but Red Star Liquors is always an option for the person who already has everything.

robin.. / December 20, 2004 9:12 AM

i walk across western to Laurie's Planet of Sound, of course. something for everyone, and something for me...

emily / December 20, 2004 10:00 AM

Dubby's Buy the Ounce for yummy snacks and chocolates

Penelopes for fun tees and jewelry

Not so much a local store, but the World Market is great for ornaments, food, fun eclectic housewares, and pretty dishes

Andrew / December 20, 2004 12:02 PM

We've got all of Little India at our disposal.

anne / December 20, 2004 12:13 PM

I cover a lot of bases with Women and Children First Bookstore (on Clark, in Andersonville) and Arcadia Knitting (on Balmoral, at Broadway). For little things for stocking stuffers, you can't beat Uncle Fun (on Belmont, near Southport) or American Science and Surplus on Milwaukee, just north of Foster.

amyc / December 20, 2004 1:42 PM

Glam To Go (Roscoe & Damen) has lots of frilly and lotion-y things to pamper any girly-girl you might know.

Casey / December 20, 2004 5:23 PM

The Paulina Meat Market (Lincoln & Paulina)

This Christmas, give the gift of meat.

I just bought a dozen candy-cane shaped salami sticks today. They come wrapped in festive red and green ribbon. They run $9 a pound and each stick weighs about a quarter pound.
It's an old European butcher shop so the salami is cured on the premises and tastes incredible. I would pay merely to enter this store and smell but fortunately there's a sign at the entrance which reads, "Smells Are Free."

Lisa / December 20, 2004 7:59 PM

Evergreen Plaza... where else can you get a dogtag with your boo's picture on it?

Joe / December 21, 2004 8:06 AM

> Evergreen Plaza

Hehe...my second favorite sout' side mall.
The first being Dixie Square Mall, of course

Spudart / December 21, 2004 11:38 AM

I like Nothing Over A Dollar at 4738 North Western Avenue in Germantown. The toys are always so goofy and strange. They make for fun wrapping decorations and prize giveaways.