This family business has been running since 1888, when it was founded by Louis Glunz. Nowadays, it is run by his great grandson, David Donovan, who stocks the the store with more than 1,100 wines, everything from a $5 bottle of Chilean merlot to the most elusive and exclusive labels. There is a wine-tasting room in the rear that is decorated with 19th century furniture and a family coat of arms. Salut!

Located within the Hancock Observatory, (The), a monument to Chicago's greatest architecture, this shop will expand your knowledge of the city's finest buildings and the architects who created them. Pick up a copy of the Sky's the Limit: A Century of Chicago Skyscrapers or Frank Lloyd Wright: America's Master Architect. Or take a virtual tour of the city with videos like Chicago by Boat: Chicago's River Tour and Chicago's Loop: A Walking Tour. For all you bookish fans, you will have a memorable time at Chicago Architecture Foundation Shop.

An extension of the two Chicago Blue nightclubs, this place offers promotional merchandise that follows the theme of blues-related merchandise, alongside the artwork of John Carroll Doyle. It also provides an all-ages 'Down in the Basement' series of blues sets every Saturday, with seating available for 50 people. Cover charge applies to everyone; however, children below the age of 12 are admitted free of cost.

The atmosphere in this 100-year old renovated warehouse is cozy, with exposed brick walls and beams. The upstairs is stocked with a selection of approximately 15,000 new books and new best sellers, poetry and fiction. The downstairs houses the brunt of the 30,000-title strong selection of used books. This is an extremely nice area to hole up and sip a cup of joe while reading your favorite bargain-priced literary treasure. You can lounge on the sofa, or pitch back and forth in a number of rocking chairs, or even enjoy a nice game of chess on one of the house sets. For the antiquarian, a display case on the main floor is filled with first editions and antique books.

When you are looking for quirky and interesting gifts, keep in mind one thing: if a store offers a Hovercraft, you know it has to be good. Well, just so happens that Hammacher Schlemmer does sell Hovercrafts, and yes, the store's other merchandise is just about as interesting, and perhaps even a little more affordable. Get that combination umbrella/flashlight you never knew you needed or an aerator for your cat's water dish. You will also find a wide selection of James Bond-like electronic gadgetry and other high-end audio/video equipment.

Knits are the fashion choice of the day here, all from the collection of Parisian designer Sonia Rykiel, who offers an assortment of sweaters and one-pieces, with skirts, slacks and jackets. A minor array of accessories is also available for the occasional impulse buy. The employees are more than willing to assist you in your decision-making process and are patient with even the most discriminating tastes.

With 60,000 square feet of some of the finest antique furniture and accessories in Jay Robert's Antique Warehouse, you would have to take a few days of browsing to get through it all. There are armoires, wooden and brass beds, hall trees, buffets, sideboards, wood and marble fireplaces, dining tables and chairs, chandeliers, stained glass, more than 1,000 clocks and just about everything else you can dream of that would add a touch of the antiquated aesthetic to your home.

The Vale Craft Gallery specializes in contemporary American craft and sculpture, including ceramics, glasswork and woodwork. Since its 1996 relocation to a larger space, the gallery's exhibits can be immense, featuring the work of as many as 100 artists at once. The handcrafted lamps of Artist Chet Geiselman are a favorite here. The prices are very reasonable, and the selection is vast. This is a great place to find gifts.

Located on the mezzanine level of the Chicago Place center on Michigan Avenue, Talbot's has always featured classic styles for women. The offerings are distinctive and display a certain flair, but still remain firmly acceptable for the business world. Talbot's casual designs are just as classic; the woman who wears them would never be mistaken for plain, but it does not take a great leap of faith to adopt the Talbot style as your own.

Want stylish cloth shoes to keep your toes warm over the winter months? Then go someplace else. These shoes are custom crafted and tailored and are meant for the indoors mostly. The store is located on the south-west corner of Michigan Avenue and Oak Street, conveniently located at the corner of any shopping tour along the Miracle Mile. The long, vertical street-front space is a bit cramped, but the selection of fine Italian shoes & handbags is fabulous.