Holiday Shopping Guide

The weather outside has been frightful, but your holiday shopping experience shouldn't be. Don't fret weary shoppers, the ChicagoPride.com editors and contributors have pulled together a holiday shopping guide with something for everyone on your list.

Pssst. Put down that awful Hershey Bar and listen carefully.
There is one of the most talented chocolatiers right here in Chicago. Nestled into hot, trendy South Loop is Canady Le Chocolatier, Ltd. , 824 S. Wabash Ave. An exceptional variety of luscious truffles and beautifully decorated, mouth-watering chocolates can be found--all handmade on the premises by Michael, the owner, and his charming staff. A striking collection of nine pieces sell for $20 in an exquisite gift box. Instead of the perfunctory bottle of wine, this makes a memorable and impressive gift alternative when arriving at any holiday party. Trust me, you'll be thanked under the mistletoe for this one. – PJ Gray, Author and ChicagoPride.com Contributor

No need to go any further to give the gift that keeps on giving all year round—and it's cheap as heck. Annual subscriptions of the nation's premier gay men's lifestyle magazine, GENRE , are sold exclusively on ChicagoPride.com for the discounted rate of 79 cents an issue! Perfect for the man who's more than just out, GENRE's classic journalistic layout will stimulate the mind while its sexy imagery and witty irreverent reporting will leave you giddying and blushing like the limp-wristed girl you always wished you were. Priced to appeal to even the most Scrooge-like of budgets (only $0.79/issue), give all your gay guys GENRE this holiday season. It's as easy as clicking here. - Jason P. Freeman, ChicagoPride.com Editor-at-Large

It's that time of the year for me again. I'm no where near done shopping for my loved ones, nor have I even started. I hope that you are further along than I am. I recommend something with a pop for the ones that you love. By pop I mean Champagne, of course. Pops for Champagne , 601 N. State, (312-266-7677) has recently reopened in new digs in River North. Owners Tom and Linda Verhey have also added Pops Shop adjacent to the bar area in the new space. You can shop for hard to find bubbly for that person who has everything. Here's to a wonderful Holiday season to all. – Andy Farriester, Dining Editor

Long Lines, screaming toddlers, and ridiculous parking. I may be a scrooge for saying this but holiday shopping just isn't the winter wonderland it promises to be. Take it easy this year. Skip the bad mall food and head over to His Stuff , 5314 N. Clark. Tucked away in lovely Andersonville, the appropriately modest sized store is chocked full with edgy yet sophisticated pieces from the creme de la creme of hard to find labels. – Justin Boltz, ChicagoPride.com columnist

After 24 years serving gay Chicago, the prominent Halsted boutique Bad Boys bids farewell to Boystown and announces it's retirement and offers 20 - 70% off. With these deep discounts on fabulous merchandise, you're sure to find a great gift at Bad Boys , 3352 N. Halsted. - Kevin Wayne, ChicagoPride.com writer

Unique So Chique , 4600 N. Magnolia, located in the Uptown neighborhood, is a boutique that sells an eclectic and fun mix of clothing & accessories (for men and women) as well as purses, accessories, jewelry and cosmetics. As well, the store has baby & children's gifts, candles & incense, bath & body products and cards and stationery. But that's not all, this boutique is also a Tea & Chocolate Room with seating for 22 in the back of the store. They serve lunch and afternoon tea and sell a fabulous array of chocolate truffles. Thus this is a perfect place for holiday shopping: be sure to stop by.

For those looking for some personal attention in making their CD purchases – a more difficult prospect now that Tower Records has closed - you can't beat the experience you'll get at borderline MUSIC, with two "brick and mortar" locations on Chicago's northside. They specialize in imports, dance, worldbeat, chillout, and lounge music and satisfy the “rainbow-colored” music needs of those looking for any and all things Madonna, Cher, Bette, Christina, Beyonce, Whitney, and Kylie. Additionally, the stores carry a large selection of DJ mixed compilations and are often the only places in the city to get import remixes of the songs that get everyone movin' and groovin' on the dance floor. While borderline carries mostly CDs, there's a growing selection of DVDs, calendars, posters, and other novelty items. borderline MUSIC , 3333 N. Broadway, and borderline MUSIC Andersonville , 5111 N. Clark - Michael (DJ Plez) Pleasants, ChicagoPride. com Music Editor

"Cheap. Easy. Fun." You can't go wrong with Kafka Wine co. , 3325 N. Halsted. This trendy Boystown wine shop offers amazing wine at affordable prices and is the perfect place to find a holiday gift. Wine, wine bottles or wine gift-baskets always make great holiday or party gifts. They're easy to bring and festive. Much of Kafka's wine selection is under $10, which is an affordable gift. Also check out the fantastic pre-made boxed assortment of three reds and three whites (double that for the 12 pack) that are perfect to give as a gift or to keep for you for those times when company drops by. (6 for $60 or 12 for $100!) – Kevin Wayne, Contributor

Two things come to mind when thinking of gifts for the theatre lover: books and CDs. The widest selection of theater-oriented books and showtune CDs in greater Boystown is undoubtedly at Borders on Clark , 2817 N. Clark, but if you want to avoid long lines, the Borders in Uptown at Broadway & Lawrence isn't shabby, either. Once there you might look for the big new theater gift book of the holiday season: A Fine Romance – The Love-Hate-Love Relationship Between Broadway and Hollywood. It gives a backstage and behind-the cameras dish on a selection of musicals like The Sound of Music, West Side Story and Gypsy that have had lives both on stage and onscreen. It's packed with sensational photos from the stage and screen productions as well as backstage and historical shots that help the reader learn everything they really need to know about these shows. And if you're going to give a coffee table book like this, why not stop in ay one of the many Starbucks or Caribou Coffee shops in Boystown and get some coffee to go with it? - John Olson, ChicagoPride.com Theatre Editor
(Related: John's Holiday Gift Ideas for the Theatre Lover)

If nothing in our holiday gift guide tickles your fancy, jump on over to shop.chicagopride.com to find a gift.

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