Summertime, and the shopping is easy in this community

By Marie Balice Ward

Summer is the perfect time to get out of the house and go shopping. Whatever your needs, local merchants offer a selection of goods and services that cannot be beat anywhere in the city. Stay right in the community and get everything you want and need from the following fine merchants.

AUTO
J&J Car Wash, 349 W. 31st St., (312) 842-1088. J&J, located four blocks from the Dan Ryan Expressway and one block east of Canal Street, offers two types of car washes as well as a detail shop. Customers can choose from a soft cloth wash for $8.50 or a hand wash. There is no appointment needed. Hours: Mon. through Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sun. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

BOOKS
Barbara’s Bookstore, 1218 S. Halsted St., (312) 413-2665. In addition to books in every genre, Barbara Bookstore offers magazines, journals, newspapers, and a selection of audio books among other items. Hours: Mon. through Sat. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
Ashley Stewart, 3455 S. King Dr., (312) 567-0405. A women’s apparel shop specializing in plus sizes, Ashley Stewart also features intimates, sleepwear, accessories, and handbags. Hours: Sun. noon to 5 p.m. , Mon. through Fri. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. City Steppers, 3429 S. King Dr., (312) 328-6666. Dress suits, sports jackets, trousers, two-piece suits, shirts, socks, and accessories are featured at City Steppers in all sizes. Hours: Mon. through Sat. 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Foot Locker, 1240 S. Halsted St., (312) 850-1002. Shoes for children, men, and women, as well as book bags, men’s hats, polo shirts, and more are available at Foot Locker. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Footlocker, 441 E. 34th St., (312) 225-5715.

Sports and casual apparel and shoes for men, women, and youth as well as professional and college team shirts and caps and accessories. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Lissa on Maxwell, 729 W. Maxwell St., (312) 563-9470, www.lissaonmaxwell.com. Works of emerging designers make their debut at Lissa on Maxwell. Women’s apparel, accessories, handbags, and jewelry are also carefully selected for customers. Hours: Tues. through Fri. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. , Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Rainbow Juniors, Plus & Kids, 3345 S. King Dr., (312) 225-3391. Apparel for juniors, plus sizes and children is available at Rainbow Juniors, Plus & Kids. Hours: Mon. through Sat. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Rainbow Shops, 3425 S. King Dr., (312) 842-1100. Fashions for women, plus sizes, juniors, and children are featured at Rainbow Shops. Hours: Mon. through Sat. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sun. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Under the Wire, 2210 S. Halsted St., (312) 733-9350, www.underthewire.biz. Artist and proprietor Sue Rosengard  features her own jewelry designs, art, and crafts at this boutique as well as jewelry, art, and crafts designed by other local and national artists. Hours: Tues. through Fri. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ELECTRONICS
Radio Shack, 3347 S. King Dr., (312) 328-9251. A one-stop electronics systems, computers, and accessories store, Radio Shack features phones, radios, music, cameras and photography equipment, cables, parts, connectors, GPS navigational systems, toys, and games, among other items. Hours: Mon. through Sat. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

ENTERTAINMENT
BlockBusters, 3349 S. King Dr., (312) 326-7500, www.blockbusters.com.  Videos and DVDs in all film genres are available for rent at BlockBusters. In addition, blue ray discs also are available for rent. Pre-viewed videos and DVDs are sold at a discount. In addition, BlockBusters features video game systems. Hours: Sun. through Thurs. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

GIFTS
Augustine’s Eternal Gifts, 3327 S. Halsted St., (773) 843-1933. A spiritual apothecary, Augustine’s provides quality goods for beginning and experienced practitioners of magical arts. It provides spiritual and religious goods—candles, incense, oils, herbs, rare books, amulets, crystals, and more. Augustine’s features custom-made Mojo bags which can help you draw great luck, money, and love into your life while providing protection, healing, memory and more. Gnostic services are conducted on Saturdays., 7 p.m., with Rt. Rev. Arturo Gonzales. Store hours: Mon. through Thurs. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sun. noon to 4 p.m. All are welcome.

Julian Gifts, 2207 W. Roscoe St., (773) 281-2772, www.juliangifts.com (coming in July). Julian Gifts –“regalos, regali and cadeaux’—specializes in personal and home accessories from around the world. Parisian note cards and candles, Portuguese platters, Italian handbags, fine hand-crafted wooden bowls by local artist Paul Munroe, and vintage jewelry, pillows, runners and handbags by artist Maralyn Ballif are among the very unique items found at Julian Gifts. Hours: Wed. through Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sun., Noon to 5 p.m. Julian Gifts offers personal and home accessories from around the world.

Oscar Watch and Jewelry, 3505 S. Halsted St., (773) 376-5444. Oscar Watch and Jewelry has returned to its original location in a new store that is double the size of the original store. Oscar offers all types of fine jewelry in platinum, 18 karat and 14 karat gold, as well as fine sterling silver. In addition to custom pieces, Oscar imports extensively from Italy and Germany. Its "conflict free", GIA-certified diamonds are from Israel. Hours: Mon. through Wed. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thurs. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sat. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

HOUSEHOLD NEEDS/SERVICES
Chiarugi Hardware, 1449 W. Taylor St., (312) 666-2235. A complete and independent hardware store for more than 50 years, Chiarugi has served every hardware need from tools to plumbing to electric products. Chiarugi also offers screen repair, pipe cutting and threading for plumbing. Special orders also are fulfilled. Hours: Mon. through Sat. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Grand Street Gardens 2200 W. Grand Ave., (312) 829-8200, web site— www.grandstreetgardens.com. Grand Street Gardens offers a wide selection of outdoor plants for the urban garden: annuals, perennials, ground covers, shrubs, trees, grasses and more. Containers and balcony troughs are available as well as soils, amendments, tools, gifts, indoor plants and premium pet food. Grand Street Gardens focuses on organic products. Summer hours: Mon. through Fri., 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sat. and Sun., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Jan’s Antiques, 225 N. Racine Ave., (312) 563-0275, also (773) 761-1836, www.jansantiques.net. Recently featured on “Wild Chicago” and the Chicago Tribune. Jan’s Antiques serves individuals for their homes and offices throughout the Chicago area from its collection of salvaged architectural artifacts, antique furniture, old hardware, classic doors, vintage light fixtures, vintage stained glass, lamps, chandeliers, fireplace mantles and surrounds, paintings and picture frames, garden statuary, pedestal sinks and claw foot tubs, and many other furnishings and accessories from the 1800s to the 1950s. There now is an extensive selection of antique china and collectables in a new department. Artifacts are both bought and sold at Jan’s Antiques. Hours: Wed. through Fri. 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sat. and Sun. 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Milwaukee Furniture, 3445 S. King Dr., (312) 225-6677.  Bedroom, living room, dining room, dinette, and children’s room furniture all is available at Milwaukee Furniture. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Sun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Rooms4Kids, 629 W. Cermak Rd., (312) 226-6666, www.rooms-4kids.com. Rooms4Kids is a furniture outlet that has been manufacturing children’s bedroom furniture for 28 years. Rooms4Kids has a 10,000 sq. ft. showroom within its warehouse that features more than 200 items on display including complete bedroom sets: beds, chests, dressers, nightstands, armoires, bookcases, and bunk, trundle, and storage type beds, and much more. There is a fiveyear guarantee on all workmanship. Delivery is usually available within one week. Hours: Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun. Noon to 5 p.m., by appointment on weekdays.

PAMPERING
Aesthetic Dermatology, 1009 W. Fulton Market, (312) 733-2492, fax (312) 733-2498, www.adlsonline. com. Jonith Y. Breadon, M.D., and her staff provide dermatological treatments and laser surgery to restore and maintain healthy skin, hair, and nails. General, cosmetic dermatology as well as a medical-directed spa services are available at Aesthetic Dermatology. Therapeutic regimens and techniques are offered at Aesthetic Dermatology for aging and damaged skin, acne, rosacea,  eczema, psoriasis, pigment disorders, and other skin conditions.

Hair and scalp treatments also are offered for hair loss and various scalp conditions. Dr. Breadon is board-certified by the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Emergency Medicine. She is affiliated with John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County (formerly Cook County Hospital) as co-director of dermatologic surgery. Appointments are required.

Chicago Skin Solutions, 1111 W. Madison St., (312) 770- 7546, www.chicagoskinsolutions.com. Optimal skin care is offered at Chicago Skin Solutions including Botox treatments, laser hair removal, “restylene” dermal filler which restores volume to skin, microdermabrasion treatments, facials, chemical peels, and laser leg vein treatments. A certified physician administers injections and supervises  all treatments. Appointments are highly recommended. Hours: Open most Saturdays and otherwise flexible to accommodate customers’ schedules.

Maxim Nails, 3469 S. King Dr., (312) 791-9066. All types of manicures, pedicures, acrylics, and more are offered at Maxim Nails. Hours: Mon. through Sat. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The last appointment is at 7:30 p.m. Closed on Sun.

Minc Med Spa, 1509 S. Michigan Ave., 2 nd Fl., (888) 799- 6462. Minc Med is a full service medical spa that incorporates body contouring and physicianguide weight loss. Minc Med Spa is dedicated to reversing age-related processes, therefore inspiring guests with youthful and healthy new images. All services and consultations are performed by board-certified and licensed physicians. Hours: Sun. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tues., Wed., and Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thurs. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WINES AND SPIRITS
Lush Wines & Spirits, new address: 1257 S. Halsted St., (312) 738-1900, fax (312) 738-1908, www.lushwineandspirits.com. Rare and exemplary beers and wines from around the world can be found at Lush Wines & Spirits. There are multiple tastings throughout the week. Hours: Daily, noon to 10 p.m.