Twosided and Foursided

One could probably survive without the other, but it’s comforting to know these kitschy siblings can prosper in such close proximity to one another. Like (or unlike?) sisters themselves, they bring a similar vibe through different mediums. Twosided specializes in items with, well, two sides—cards, paper, books and journals; Foursided carries posters, photos, frames repurposed from recycled wood or glass and doubles as a full-service frame shop. Both focus on local artists and Chicago style and get the DIY flavor flowing.

Twosided
2958 North Clark
(773)244-6431

Foursided

2939 North Broadway
(773)248-1960

5061 North Clark
(773)506-8300
foursided.com
foursidedonline.blogspot.com

Best of Chicago 2010

Dinkel’s

Doughier than your average hamburger bun with a hint of sweet ‘n’ salty, pretzel buns are all the rage in pubs and taverns across the city. If you like ‘em, you love ‘em and you don’t have to eat out to get your fix. Wholesale bakeries sell them, too, but Dinkel’s is small and cozy and makes you feel better about only buying one or several dozen (but order that many in advance).

3329 North Lincoln
(773)281-7300
dinkels.com

Best of Chicago 2010

Wigglyville

Any pet store that devotes an entire page of their website to pictures and bios of their “furry kids” is alright by us. Owners Hollus Gessler and Travis Thomas are animal lovers and environmentalists who just happen to run a really, really great pet store. Which is not to suggest they don’t take their business seriously, because they certainly do. Eco-friendliness, sustainability and all-natural ingredients are a common thread throughout. They analyze ingredients, interview manufacturers and test products. The food is purchased from small, independent companies emphasizing minimal processing and free from artificial additives and preservatives. In short, you won’t find anything in the store they wouldn’t feed or give to their own “kids.”

3337 North Broadway
(773)528-3337
wigglyville.com

Best of Chicago 2010

The Music Box

How can Wrigleyville’s 1927-built movie boite be considered mainstream? In a world where our media as well as our heads are in the clouds, where Netflix Instant puts indies, classics and foreign films at the press of “return,” the real mainstream may be the mix of matinees and midnight shows, world cinema and indie ambition on Southport Avenue. (The theater’s even made room of late for the occasional “move-overs” of popular movies from AMC or Regal locations further afield.)

3733 North Southport
(773)871-6604
musicboxtheatre.com

Audience choice:

River East 21
322 East Illinois
(312)596-0333
amctheatres.com/RiverEast

Half Acre Brewing Company

Now you can pick up small-batch coffee at the same place you buy growlers of craft-brewed beer, Half Acre’s brewery and tap room in the North Center neighborhood. Fill up your jug with Daisy Cutter pale ale, Gossamer golden ale or a changing line-up of seasonal brews. Then pick up a bag of Dark Matter beans, roasted in eight-pound batches at Star Lounge Coffee Bar, 2521 West Chicago in Ukrainian Village. If you’re lucky, they’ll have Big Hugs imperial stout, brewed with the coffee, so you can enjoy both tastes at the same time. It’s one-stop shopping for all your gourmet drug needs.

4257 North Lincoln
(773)248-4038
halfacrebeer.com
darkmattercoffee.com

Audience choice:

Intelligentsia Coffee
3123 North Broadway
(773)348-8058

53 West Jackson
(312)253-0594

53 East Randolph
(312)920-9332
intelligentsiacoffee.com

Best of Chicago 2010

RUI: Reading Under the Influence at Sheffield’s

We’ve all seen authors, writers and babblers, but imagine if they were drunk. There you have the concept of RUI: Reading Under the Influence. Every first Wednesday stop by Sheffield’s for a night of alcohol-fueled readings. The organizers cull from the young emerging writer to the established, pulling in local and traveling talent. The series cross-promotes by inviting readers who also are curators or hosts themselves. The Wrigleyville bar, right off the Red Line, lets the literati brush shoulders with Cubs fans for a real-life lesson in suspension of disbelief.

3258 North Sheffield
(773)281-4989
readingundertheinfluence.com

Audience choice:

Harold Washington Library
400 South State
(312)747-4396
chipublib.org/branch/details/library/harold-washington

Best of Chicago 2010

Wishbone

Dolly the Standing Poodle has passed away, but her iconic image lives on. Catch a candid shot of the owner’s beloved pet, reproduced on a black or white t-shirt. The gnarling Dolly, priced at $10, comes in S, M, L or XL. Don’t forget the $12 red-trimmed fitted girl’s black top or the light blue Mt. Rushmore t-shirt. The chiseled presidents are Washington, Roosevelt, Lincoln…and Dolly. So why is her lip curled upwards? “She was looking at a lemon when the photo was taken,” says Wishbone’s hostess.

1001 West Washington
(312)850-2663

3300 North Lincoln
(773)549-2663
wishbonechicago.com

Best of Chicago 2010

Reckless Records

Pity the snap case, pity the jewel box. Pity the shiny silver data disk. Streaming data wants to have its invisible, non-tactile way with you. Even the Criterion Collection, the “film school in a box” that directors don’t have to die for to be included in has taken note of the change in collecting and viewing of movies past, cutting prices by ten bucks on most of their standard editions. Prices are even cheaper on good stuff on the racks at Reckless, and while the selection is serendipitous rather than title-specific, there’s not much choice when the electronics box stores continue to compact their CD and DVD sections to but a small portion of their floor plans.

26 East Madison
(312)795-0878

1532 North Milwaukee
(773)235-3727

3126 North Broadway
(773)404-5080
reckless.com

Audience choice:

Reckless Records

Best of Chicago 2010

Borderline Music

Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga and other dance-music divas can spice up the night, but Madonna is the ultimate queen, and always will be. Visit Borderline to discover everything Madonna—from unreleased mixes to limited editions and imports. Marvel at the vintage Madonna posters and picture disks that decorate the walls. Stock up on her Madgesty’s calendars and music videos. Be on the lookout for collectables, like Madonna’s “Sex” book, Girlie Show tour book, Rolling Stone magazine cover issues and book of Playboy nude photos.

3333 North Broadway
(773)975-9533
borderlinemusic.com

Best of Chicago 2010

Tofu al Pastor Taco at Rockin’ Taco

This taco, featuring tofu marinated in al pastor spices tinged with a tangy pineapple zing, eats like a fresh Indian-style paneer and gives traditional pork pastor a run for its money.

1467 West Irving Park
(773)975-8226
rockintacochicago.com

Best of Chicago 2010