As soon as we found out one of our PARISIENNE stops would be in Chicago, we went straight to our local sources for tips (thanks Heji!). Funny enough while many of our female counterparts kept urging us to check out the up-and-coming neighborhood Pilsen, a few of the guys deemed it too rough around the edges. Naturally, we sided with the ladies, and we’re definitely glad we did. Amid a mix of authentic Spanish and Mexican shops and eateries, a handful of off-beat boutiques and restaurants seem to fit right into this eclectic, far-flung landscape.
1. Golden Age, 1744 West 18th Street; www.shopgoldenage.com
Raw wood and white walls create a beautifully simple platform for the graphic limited-run prints adorning the walls here, but it’s all the rare and unexpected zines, artist books, CDs, and periodicals that could have kept us here for hours. Look for titles like The Incredible Journey to Consciousness, Hamburger Eyes 12, and Greek Daddy. Basically, if you’re in the market for some stunning works to make you think, this is your destination.
