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Best of Chicago 2012: Goods & Services

Critics' Picks

Best New Bookstore

Uncharted Books

2630 N. Milwaukee Ave.

http://unchartedbooks.com

Logan Square was in need of a general-interest bookstore. (There's Bucket o' Blood Books and Records, but that's pretty genre-specific.) So Uncharted… Continue

Best Personal Styling Service for the Terminally Lazy

CakeStyle

4 E. Ohio St.

http://www.cakestyle.com

What with the crowds and the parking and the ill-lit dressing rooms, it's amazing that there are women who like to shop. For those… Continue

Best Formalwear Rental

Monitor Formal Wear

1422 W. Wilson Ave. 773-561-0573

http://monitorformalwear.org

So you're invited to a wedding and the invitation says "black-tie only" and you don't own a tuxedo: What do you do? Well, in… Continue

Best Last Stop Before You Go Underground

Lost Eras

1511 W. Howard St. 773-764-7400

http://losteras.com

Should you be looking for something to get me for my birthday—you've got about another week of shopping left, BTW—I might suggest a porcelain… Continue

Best Reappropriator of Hip-Hop on Etsy

Meaghan "Moneyworth" Garvey

Don't buy into the granola-crunching, knit-and-purling, homely hipster rep of indie e-bazaar Etsy; for every necklace made from driftwood there's something bangin', like Continue

Best Jewelry Artist

Peggy Skemp
Jewelry inspired by fungi, lungs, and tentacles sounds like it could be a hot seller in a goth store, but designer Peggy Skemp isn't… Continue

Best Place to Get Rare Vinyl and a High Score on BurgerTime

Logan Hardware

2410 W. Fullerton 773-235-5030

http://logan-hardware.com

In late 2009 Jim Zespy took over the American headquarters of London-based Southern Records at Fullerton and Western and launched his own Chicago… Continue

Best Once-a-Month Market for Vintage Wares, Small Plates, and Boozy Snow Cones

Dose

435 E. Illinois St.

http://dosemarket.com

You probably won't find a bargain at Dose, but that's not to say you won't find something precious. The year-old monthly market, which celebrates… Continue

Best Place to Buy a Stuffed Wallaby

Woolly Mammoth Antiques & Oddities

1513 W. Foster Ave. 773-989-3294

http://woollymammothchicago.com

Woolly Mammoth is the place to go for that elusive gift for the proverbial someone who has everything. Your someone already has a… Continue

Best Salvaged-Wood Frames

FoundRe: Furnishings

2151 W. Division St. 773-235-3600

http://foundrefurnishings.com

Raun Meyn's small, high-ceilinged storefront on West Division has a number of handsomely well-worn knickknacks, including old maps, books, and photos. But as the… Continue

Best Neighborhood Branding

The Chicago Neighborhoods

We're all pretty patriotic when it comes to our neighborhoods—their distinct character, shared history, and occasional natural enemies. It must have occurred to designer… Continue

Best-smelling Candles That Are Locally Made and Not Insanely Expensive

Tatine Candles

220 E. Chicago Ave. 312-280-2660

http://mcachicago.org

Is there any other home accessory that is more of a guilty pleasure than the expensive scented candle? But once you get addicted to… Continue

Best Ice Machine

Lang Ice Company

3600 W. 59th Street (773) 735-5000

http://langice.com
The 24-hour ice-dispensing machines on the south wall of this West Lawn ice plant are perfect for those early AM occasions when you need… Continue

Best Place to Grow Your Own

Kilbourn Park plant sale

3501 N. Kilbourn Ave. 773-685-3351

http://chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/parks.detail/object_id/CC924714-ABBF-4724-85A9-3519D4D3A856.cfm

This volunteer-run organic greenhouse and community garden holds workshops on everything from crop rotation to seed starting, and in the fall it holds… Continue

Best Place to Supply Your Ark Before the Flood

The Feed Store

5400 S. Harlem Ave. 708-458-1327

"If it walks, crawls, flies, runs, or swims" they can feed it at this 64-year-old purveyor of Japanese millet, deer blocks, monkey chow, animal… Continue

Best People Who Come Over and Remove Cat Pee From Your Furniture so You can Pretend Like Your Cat Never Pees on Anything

A-Abace Cleaning Services

2448 N. Campbell Ave. 773-761-1013

http://aabace.com

So I have, um, a friend whose cat occasionally forgoes the litter box for more luxurious places to take care of business—like that gorgeous… Continue

Best Miracle Workers to Bring Your Boots Back From the Dead

Theodore Shoe Repair

4753 N. Damen Ave. 773-989-0440

I recently suffered a seemingly irreparable rift with a new pair of knee-high Coach riding boots. The right one literally split on me—at O'Hare.… Continue

Best Vintage Motorcycle Repair

Chad McDade, Ace Motorcycle & Scooter Company

1042 W. Jackson Blvd. 312-432-0955

http://acemotorcycleandscooter.com

Owning a vintage motorcycle can be a test of one's patience and bank account. No matter how sharp and collectible it may look, once… Continue

Best Hand Car Wash

Quiroga's Car Washes & Detail

2036 W. Grand Ave. 312-850-2474

http://quirogacarwashes.com

Quiroga's on Grand is not only the best place to get an interior/exterior car wash for ten bucks, it's also the best place… Continue

Best Place to Buy Your Significant Other a Gift Certificate

Allyu Spa

600 W. Chicago Ave. 312-755-1313

http://www.allyuspa.com

"Who doesn't like a massage," says my wife, which is why Allyu has often been my go-to when stress darkens her world and… Continue

Best Rolfer

Jill Coyne

401 S. Michigan 312-342-3547

http://thirdcoastrolfing.com

There's a hot rumor going around that having your fascia manipulated is excruciatingly painful, but a session with certified Rolfer Jill Coyne quickly… Continue
Readers Poll

Best Boutique for Women

Winner: Akira Continue

Best Boutique for Men

Winner: Haberdash Continue

Best Local Clothing Designer

Winner: Sararose Krenger of Stix and Roses Continue

Best Local Fashion Blogger

Winner: Tavi Gevinson Continue

Best Vintage Store

Winner: Night and Day Vintage Continue

Best Resale Shop

Winner: The Brown Elephant Continue

Best Shoe Store

Winner: Alamo Shoes Continue

Best Jewelry Store

Winner: Hazel: 29 Continue

Best Eyewear

Winner: Labrabbit Continue

Best Bike Shop

Winner: The Bike Lane Continue

Best Record Store

Winner: Reckless Records Continue

Best Musical Instrument Shop

Winner: Andy's Continue

Best Bookstore

Winner: Myopic Continue

Best Home Furnishings

Winner: Nadeau Continue

Best Place to Spruce Up Your Home on the Cheap

Winner: IKEA Continue

Best Garden Store

Winner: Sprout Home Continue

Best Florist

Winner: Fleur Continue

Best Place to Buy a Present

Winner: Hazel Continue

Best Sex Toy Shop

Winner: Early to Bed Continue

Best Place to Buy Local Wares

Winner: Wolfbait & B-Girls Continue

Best Indie Crafter

Winner: Steff Bomb Continue

Best Pet Store

Winner: Kriser's Continue

Best Dog Walkers

Winner: Urban Out Sitters Continue

Best Doggie Day Care

Winner: Urban Out Sitters Continue

Best Veterinarians

Winner: Blum Animal Hospital Continue

Best Tattoo Shop

Winner: The Tat Cave Continue

Best Tattoo Artist

Winner: Kidd Joe of The Tat Cave Continue

Best Auto Repair Shop

Winner: Ashland Tire & Auto Continue

Best Dentist

Winner: Dental Salon Continue

Best General Practitioner

Winner: Julie Brandies, Northwestern Memorial Hospital Continue

Best Mani/Pedi

Winner: Pinky Nail Continue

Best Massage

Winner: Urban Oasis Continue

Best Barbershop

Winner: Joe's Barbershop Chicago Continue

Best Hair Salon

Winner: Charles Ifergan Continue

Best Place to Get Married

Winner: Salvage One Continue

Best Hotel

Winner: The Peninsula Continue

Best Apartment Finder

Winner: Apartment People Continue

Best Real Estate Agent

Winner: Jen Laskov, Prudential Rubloff Continue

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