Chicago, IL + Add a trip

depends what one is after.

to sample local creole, visit what's left of historic maxwell street market - Sundays 7am-3pm. i've bought back things that were stolen from my car - twice. it's fantastic.

to sample trendy hipster boutiques and such, look no further than wicker park - at 6 corners - intersection north milwaukee & damen avenues.

for standard luxury brand fare, Chicago's omotesando is downtown's mag mile & gold coast, most shopping delineated by rush st, Michigan ave N/S & Chicago, Division streets E/W.

Stanley's Fruit and Vegetable Market at Elston and North Ave. Not great produce, but very good and very cheap.

Hyde Park Produce!

Green Grocer on Grand and Bishop is a great little natural market with tons of local Chicago-made products. In the summers, Green City Market, in Lincoln Park between the Zoo and the History Museum (or Historical Society, for the old-schoolers) is the biggest farmers market. It's open Wednesdays and Saturdays, but there are multiple markets going on in city neighborhoods every day of the week from May to October.

Hyde Park for all the bookstores. :)

very good and very cheap.

I like Wholefoods. You'll find it all over the nation and it's been a great experience at every location I've ever been.