A great little shop to ENJOY! Filled with so many unique items from cups, notepads, candy,…read moreunique knick knacks , Chicago themed items and so many other items . A perfect place to find unique gifts. The store is well laid out by category of item. A great place to browse for things you did not know you needed or unique items to gift.

This store is SO. STINKIN. CUTE!!!! I can't believe I've never noticed it before. I stumbled in…read morerandomly one day and left with gifts for multiple people in my life, even though I have no upcoming occasion to give them a gift. They just have so many unique, niche things. From politics to puzzles to books to candy to stickers to jewelry...there is truly something for everyone. This is totally joining my list of must-visits around the holidays!

What a lovely shop, with an even lovelier proprietor! I've been visiting metta baby down the street…read morefor the last few weeks, and when I've passed Virtu it piqued my interest. Today I was at metta baby for a CPR refresher so I finally had the opportunity to head down the block and check it out. The owner had opened it a few minutes early because when I got there at 10:58 (they open at 11) there were already a few people in and she joked that perhaps she should open at 10. She was super friendly with everyone in the store and very helpful. There were a couple folks with whom she was talking about the being a business owner (they were also business owners), and the business climate in Bucktown. She was joking around with some other customers about some funny cards that she carries. When I was looking at the various jewelry cases she has throughout the store, she let me know right away that if I wanted to see anything to let her know, and she told me about some of the designers that she had in her shop. I really enjoyed talking with her, and I'm almost ashamed I didn't get her name. Her passion for her business and local businesses in general, as well as her dedication to truly providing fantastic and thoughtful service to her customers was palpable. Virtu's proprietor is the epitome of why I LOVE to shop local; oftentimes people at mass merchandisers, whilst hard working and helpful, don't have the same sort of pride, flexibility, and ethos of care that a local business owner does. I visited a couple days before Halloween, and she mentioned that after the holiday she'd start putting out the Christmas merchandise which is already waiting to make its debut. I think she also mentioned that she has extended hours during the holiday season. I'm excited to stop in once she's in the holiday swing to see what I can find here for friends, loved ones (and who knows, maybe even myself), and maybe even something special for my little one's first Christmas.

I wrote a review several years ago in which I praised Julie's ability to pick out jewelry…read more(specifically earrings) that look good on me. I have bought at least three pairs of earrings from Julie which I never would have picked up to try on myself -- I needed her eye to help me (1) find them and (2) realize that I wanted something like them in my jewelry wardrobe. The way this usually plays out is: I come in to the store and find a few things in the cases to try on; I am drawn to the way earrings look hanging on a stand or propped up on those little pieces of wood or leather that all jewelry stores use, but it's very hard correctly connect all the dots from "I like the way that looks in the case" to "that would look good on me." Earrings genuinely do not look the same once you pick them up and put them in your ears, and I've made the mistake more than once of buying earrings that looked great in my jewelry box, but not as great on. (But I have not done this at Virtu, because I think Julie would stop me). So first I try the things on that I pick out, and then Julie usually slides on over with, "...but would you consider these?" And she does it in a really friendly way that is not pushy or a high-pressure sales tactic, it is more "I think this shape/color/contrast would look good in your particular ears." And she is right with astounding frequency, including sometimes with pieces I would never have looked twice at in the case. It is a genuine skill and I find it impressive. For this reason I unfortunately have to limit the number of times I visit per year because I am so likely to buy things!

The best gift shop ever! Everything is so unique and special. The staff is very nice, friendly, and…read moreprofessional. Highly recommend!

Delightful little Chicago-centric boutique! This small business sells works by local Chicago…read moreartists that touch Chicago hearts. Many of the little trinkets make references to the many things we love about Chicago. It's a great place to buy gifts for friends. There's a pretty wide range of prices for items but I feel that everything is fairly priced, especially given that they're not mass produced! The cashier was super sweet and accommodating and offered to wrap up the items I had planned of gifting to friends. They prefer cash and charge a 3% service fee on cards.

Cute as hell gifts! Stationary, stickers, and cute kitschy things (compliment) I could have spent…read moreall day in there

Went walking around Lakeview and Inkling's unique items caught my eye from the window. There are…read morequite a bit of cute and quirky items that have some personality. When you're thinking about holiday gifting items, there's a great variety of decor, trinkets, and jewelry to consider. It can be a bit visually overwhelming to look at everything, but it's well organized by content so it's very doable. The staff I interacted with were very kind and pleasant given it was a busy weekend. Prices aren't terrible, but everything is expensive these days. Will definitely be interested to see what Inkling has in store throughout the year! I'll be back to see :)

I walked into the store today with intent to purchase some sunglasses I saw online (and maybe a…read moreclutch or pair of earrings). Both the women who were working did not acknowledge me but quickly said 'hello' to two women who entered the store a few minutes after I did. They also asked those women if they were finding everything okay but NOTHING to me. Congratulations. you lost my business not only for today but for the future.

This is one of my favorite shops that exists. It's the best place to get jewelry but they also have…read moregorgeous bags and all kinds of little treats. The owner is so wonderful and changed my life by going out of her way to accommodate my need for gold ear wires. Forever grateful to her!

I came in recently to get permanent bracelets done with my friend and we had a great experience…read more Even before going in I appreciated that prices were listed on the website so I knew what to expect and could browse options. We spent a few minutes looking at the clothes and other jewelry for sale and they had some really cute stuff, and prices seemed pretty reasonable especially for a small boutique. The highlight was definitely the woman who did our bracelets, she was so friendly and helpful and really made it a fun experience. They have a decently sized collection in both silver and gold, along with little charms you can add which I recommend! We walked in and had no wait on a Sunday afternoon, but apparently it can get busy so you may want to make a reservation.

I have been curious about Winifred Grace for some time; it's in the neighborhood but I've never…read morereally had a chance (or found the parking) to visit. But I've followed on Instagram and they have some beautiful jewelry, and I love jewelry, so I stopped in today whilst waiting for my coffee order at The Coffee Studio to be ready. The staff were nice; I was greeted immediately upon entering. I did get there as they were opening, so it was just me and the three employees. I wandered around for ten minutes or so. They have some beautiful merchandise for sure, and work with local artists as well as those further afield for their jewelry (at the very least). They carry pieces from at least half a dozen artists. Most of it is gold, and I'm not a fan of gold but they had a few silver pieces that interested me and I may be back for. The clothing was a skip for me, since I'm not sure they carry anything above a size four or so. They also had some clips/hair bands/head bands, and why did I spend a ridiculous amount on these? Because they're beautiful, I guess. I think what originally brought WG to my attention is that they do permanent jewelry. I'm really intrigued by this so I've checked into the places I know do it in the city. WG has particularly beautiful chains, and they have a variety of charms from red which to choose (I like the mama one now that I can call myself that!). I need to look at price and confirm that this is where I want to do permanent jewelry... but I think I might be back for that. As a word to the wise, the employee told me that I could come and do it as a walk in, but they recommend appointments on the weekend because it can be very busy. There's nothing but street parking around here, and it's not in the busiest part of Andersonville where there's more parking. There's some street parking on the surrounding streets, and don't forget about Ashland or as far north as Victoria and whatnot up by Gethsemane, which also has a short metered portion.

I love this store! I started shopping here just before they moved to their Bucktown location. They…read morehave the most AMAZING furniture (love my Eames replica chair!), wonderful kitchen utensils and serveware, nice coffee table and art books, not to mention wall art, mirrors, and very hip clothing. This is seriously one of my favorite places in the Chicago area. Make it a weekend destination! They've also always been very cool about me bringing my daughter since she was little.

Supporting local designers is always fun, especially when the designers are as talented as Kelly…read moreand Elizabeth! A few weeks ago I noticed a few racks of Eskell dresses/skirts at a Beta Boutique sample sale and I was hooked! Elegant, feminine, and unique pretty much sums up Eskell. Today I paid Eskell a visit and found more of their gorgeous clothing, as well as clothing from a few other designers and a few racks of cool vintage clothing. Everything is reasonably priced and even more so when it's all marked down like it was today. And Kelly (one of the designers/owners) was a doll! If Kelly and Elizabeth continue to design clothing this adorable I'll for sure be making this one of my frequent shopping destinations. Nice work gals!

My daughter and I drove almost an hour to shop here. They have a great selection of crystals,…read morejewelry, unique household items, accessories, clothing, and much more to list! There's simply so much to see here that there is no way to actually look through everything! The prices are reasonable for the most part, and the woman working there was lovely. She was friendly, patient, and super helpful.

I popped in here at the last minute to buy a stick for my new Tibetan singing bowl. I had no idea…read morewhere to buy one individually as the bowl was a gift. The staff at Amadara was really helpful, and the prices were reasonable. I only paid $6 for my little instrument accessory :). There are so many beautiful stones and handmade goods here, I'll definitely be making a return trip!