Hair on your back, chest, nether regions—whatever you need removed, this is the place to have it stripped off. Men’s Health and Bravo have named the chic salon in Lake View one of the best in America, no doubt for its (almost) painless hair removal and friendly staff. Waxing runs $25 (abs) to $300 (full … Read more
Snow boots for cats, the world’s strongest catnip cigar, $112 sterling silver dog tags: This place is easy to poke fun at. But owner Alice Lerman matches frippery with function by stocking healthful foods and heuristic playthings (see the line of Swedish-designed interactive “enrichment puzzles,” more or less Rubik’s Cubes for dogs).
Picky clotheshorses such as Michelle Obama and Chicago History Museum costume curator Timothy Long swear by this 59-year-old establishment, which can handle anything from delicate suede to elaborate beading. (Even Vogue endorses it.) Each garment gets photographed and cataloged. For a 10 to 20 percent surcharge, Davis will pick up and deliver anywhere from Hyde … Read more
A self-defense technique designed for the Israeli military may seem a bit extreme for the mean streets of the North Shore. But Sue Garstki’s courses are so good that even local police officers love them. No-bull coaching from this U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame member will prepare you for real-life fight-or-flight scenarios such as … Read more
The first gym in Chicago to offer CrossFit, the full-body workout that draws from weightlifting, plyometrics, gymnastics, and pretty much every other fitness trend out there, this one reigns supreme. Why? Its 75-plus classes a week (more than anywhere else in town), thoughtful one-on-one assistance (goal-setting sessions, nutritional education, body composition analysis), and slow, safe … Read more
Get some history with your hooch at this swanky bar’s hyperniche mixo classes, which pair technical knowhow with cocktail lore. Casual drinkers should opt for the one-session master class—which runs five times a year and tracks the evolution of the cocktail (costs vary; the most recent was $150)—but enthusiasts can arrange private crash courses. What’s … Read more
Sadly, only a few Chicago interiors stores have earned a national reputation. Jayson is one of them. Martha Stewart Living, Elle Decor, and Vanity Fair, among others, give props to its creepy-cool mix of old and new furniture and accessories. Pick up an antique Parisian tea towel ($32) or—cover your eyes, PETA—old-school antelope taxidermy ($2,495). … Read more
Somewhere between a one-off class at a community center and a year of culinary school lies this brass-tacks boot camp, which teaches professional techniques to home cooks in just five sessions ($1,750, including food). You’ll come away with new mastery of the key skills—seasoning, knife tricks, plating—which you’ll use nearly every time you whip up … Read more
What do you think is best in the city? To find out, Chicago
conducted an online survey in May, which resulted in more than
1,300 responses. Here, your 46 winners and the runners-up in culture, dining, and shopping.
While Andersonville’s In Fine Spirits provides serious competition, this smallish Old Town institution prevails, thanks to its passionate, personal service (five generations of Glunzes have curated the selection) and long-standing relationships with vintners from France to Lebanon. Uncork a summertime rosé—perhaps the 2014 Domaine de Triennes ($17), a cult favorite—on the pleasant sidewalk patio.
