Hey Ladies! Love shopping at Water Tower but hate carrying your goods on the CTA? Starting Friday, July 23 through Sunday, July 25 Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue is waiving the parking fee for up to 10 hours when summer shoppers spend $100 or more.  If you don’t tend to make it down the Michigan Avenue way (we know… there is a LOT of foot traffic there in the summer) Water Tower Place does house some cool stores like Forever 21, Coach, Sephora,  Betsey Johnson, CUSP (a PLRG Favorite!), and a ton of places to grab some grub.

Shoppers who park in the Water Tower Place parking garage and spend $100 or more should present their same-day receipts during shopping center hours to the Water Tower Place Concierge Desk at the Michigan Avenue lobby entrance.  In return, shoppers will receive complimentary parking at the Water Tower Place parking garage. The cost for parking at the Water Tower Place parking garage usually costs $28 for three to 10 hours of parking.

A PLRG Tip? Our Fave Rave waxing spot Sisters is ALSO located in Water Tower, why not kill 2 birds with one stone and save some coin on parking?

A complete list of stores, events and special promotions, terms and conditions of parking are available at www.shopwatertower.com.

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is right up there with Spanx and vodka on our list of favorite things ever. As the legend has it, back in the 1960’s Nordstrom needed a way to boost sales in the “dog days” of summer.* So, rather than mark down this seasons’ merchandise, Nordstrom did something revolutionary. Each summer they marked down their brand new Fall and Winter merchandise before the season, allowing customers to stock up on in season cold weather essentials at prices almost 50% off!

The tradition continues Friday, July 17- Monday, August 3. But, for those in the know you can also shop the Pre-Sale and guarantee your purchases (and size, color choice, etc.) prior Friday. They’ll just hold your items, run your credit card Friday morning and you can pick up your stuff after work.

If you do wait until Friday to actually shop the sale get there early. REALLY early. Women have been known to actually camp out in line and wait for the store to open. But, with such sweet deals on winter staples, do you blame them?

*The sale actually began at Best Apparel in the 1940’s. Nordstrom, which was just a shoe store at that time later acquired Best Apparel and expanded the sale. It was this aquisition that put Nordstrom on the path to it’s present day “department store” status.

(Lacey Brenly)

“Hey Sal – What do you get for the girl who has everything? I know people say that – but my friend really has everything she could possibly want or need. Help me think of some unique gift ideas, please!”
- Emily, Chicago, IL

Emily,

Finding gifts for friends is tough – especially when your friend doesn’t really need anything. So in this case, you have to steer towards items that they would never buy for themselves – frivolous things that are just fun, rather than functional. Here are some good ideas I’ve used in the past.

Yellow Box Beauty.

I came across this service a couple years back, and it’s a welcome luxury to whoever receives it. At the start of each month, Yellow Box sends a beautifully wrapped yellow box to your friend, chalked full of the latest and greatest beauty products. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving! Check it out at: http://yellowboxbeauty.com/

Chicago Walking Tour

A great gift is something that you can share with your friend. Walking tours are a fantastic way to get out of the house and learn something new about our city. You can buy your friend’s lunch and beef up on local tid-bits, sure to impress friends and family for years to come. Your best bet? Fourth-generation Chicago historian Sally Sexton Kalmbach – she has a variety of tours from which to choose. Email her for details: sskalmbach@yahoo.com

A Pet Rock

I’m kidding…

Personalize It

If I know you PLRG reader, you’ve got a few Kodak/Facebook photo albums from the previous year – so why not pull those images off the net, and put them in your friend’s hands? A personalized photo album is always a sincere gift. Find a journal or album that you like, and place not only photos, but quotes, stories, and inside jokes inside. Depending on how artsy you are, you can really have fun with this. Try Anthropologie or T.J. Maxx/Marshalls for unique albums/journals.

(This advice column is brought to you by the ever graceful, polished and in-the-know, Sally Jackson. Sally is happy to offer her tips and guidance on everything from relationships to fashion to saving money. If you have a question for Sally, go ahead and email her at Sally@PoorLittleRichGirls.com)

If you still have holiday shopping to do, or if you even attempted to hit up the stores this past weekend, you know just how ridiculous it is to try to fight the crowds and trudge through the snow. You’d be much better off stopping by Beta Boutique this Thursday evening where you can get all your holiday shopping done in one place!

From 6:30pm to 9pm Beta Boutique will be a PLRG holiday paradise with lots of giftable items and of course their famous discounted designer clothing (they even have stuff for guys). For those of you who don’t know about Beta, here’s the scoop from their website:

Beta Boutique is the ultimate in-the-know fashion destination devoted to Chicago’s savviest shoppers. As Chicago’s first and only permanent sample sale, Beta Boutique boasts over 1700 square feet of fantastically designed floor space dedicated to the most select fashion-forward contemporary women’s samples and overstock from favorite local, domestic and international labels at incredible, jaw-dropping 40 - 90% off discounted prices.

In addition to their already fabulously discounted prices, PLRG shoppers will receive $10 off purchases of $50 or more and $20 off purchases of $100 or more the night of the event. Guests will also enjoy complimentary champagne, wine and other treats while listening to our favorite holiday tunes.

In exchange for all the holiday cheer we are asking for donations of scarves, gloves, board games or infant toys for the Metro Achievement Center for Girls (in lieu of an item, a $15 donation can be made). The Metro Achievement is a wonderful center to support and has great opportunities for PoorLittleRichGirls to volunteer their time and energy(click here for more info on volunteering). According to their website, the Metro Achievment Center is:

a supplementary education center which promotes the personal and educational development of Chicago’s inner-city girls from 4th through 12th grades, with the collaboration of parents, teachers and volunteers. Metro’s programs instill a sense of personal worth by developing students’ talents, character and spirit of service, and by strengthening academic and work habits. Metro prepares its students so they can complete their education and pursue a profession of their choice.

In true PLRG style we’ll also be holding a raffle that night for some really sweet prizes. We’ve got a Creed Gift package (a $315 value), a MOR Gift package (a $150 value), and a package including certificates good towards Celebrity Skin Couture Air Tan and Chic Gems, as well as a Chic Gems floating pearl necklace (package is a $125 value).

This is a private event, so space is limited. To make sure you and your friends get your spot, send an email to rsvp@poorlittlerichgirls.com.

We know, we know, a little while back we were singing the praises of the Big Guys, (Binny’s, Sam’s, Jewel) But hey! Can you blame us? It was Big Box mania. (By the way, our sources tell us that it’s still better to shop at the big guys when buying in bulk)

This week, with holiday entertaining in mind, we’d like to take a different perspective on wine consumption. We sat down with our favorite wine savant, Vince Santo, to talk about the difference between buying inexpensive as opposed to cheap wines, and the best way for a PoorLittleRichGirl to shop for wine like a sommelier.

Santo recommended that you check out your local wine shop (we’ve suggested a few below). Small wine shop buyers painstakingly scour the city looking for the best possible wines at the lowest possible prices. While large stores often make cheap wine purchasing decisions in corporate board rooms based on name recognition, positioning and special discounts, smaller independent shops make their decisions by tasting, tasting and more tasting! It’s not a bad gig if you have the tolerance for it. Smaller shops tend to find inexpensive wines that are “off the beaten path.” Such wineries have usually put their money toward quality wine making rather than mass marketing and advertising. So it is possible to find a better value in these lesser known labels.

Here are a few more tips from Santo for perusing the $10-$15 table at your local shop:

First and foremost, always ask for help if you don’t know what you’re looking for. The small shop thrives on making you a return customer, so they want to make sure you’re happy and that you will come back for more.
Let’s talk “vintage.” Less expensive wines are better when consumed at a younger age. So if you have to decide between a 2004 or 2006, your best bet is to usually go with the newer bottle. In the end though, it’s always safer to ask.
If you know of a more expensive winery you like, ask if they carry an “entry-level” brand (a less expensive version made from the same grapes).

Like we said before, If you’re planning on throwing the party of the century, it’s probably best to get a couple of cheap cases from Sam’s or Costco (or become very good friends with your local Franzia dealer). But if you’re more interested in a bottle of something delicious, seeing a friendly face when you walk in the door, and learning something new, go visit your local wine shop.

Below are some option that should be within stumbling distance of your apartment!

South Loop

Lush: 1306 S. Halsted (also have Roscoe Village location)
Warehouse Liquors: 634 S. Wabash  

Bucktown

Cellar Rat: 1811 W. North Ave.
Red and White Wines: 1861 N. Milwaukee

Wrigleyville/Southport

Que Syrah: 3726 N. Southport

Old Town

Galleria Liquors: 1559 N. Wells
Potash Brothers: 1525 N. Clark (the wine shop is in the basement)

Andersonville

In Fine Spirits: 5418 N. Clark 

(Lindsey Duda)

Getting sick of popped collars and big ten boys? Feeling down about the lack of culture in your life (and the dangerously low balance in your bank account)? There’s really no substitution for sipping margaritas on the beach in Puerto Vallarta or meeting a hot grad student on a Greek island (Sisterhood of The Travelling Pants anyone?).

Lucky for you, Chicago boasts numerous neighborhoods that can whisk you away to another country for nothing more than a $2.00 bus ride. Next time you’re yearning to get away for a day (or even a few hours) check out some of these hoods:

Chinatown: It’s the 3rd largest Chinatown in the U.S. Check out Chinatown Square or walk around Ping Tom Memorial Park. There are a ton of family owned storefront shops where you can find unique gifts and decorations.

Then of course there’s the food. Try Shui Wah (2162 S. Archer) if you’re interested in nibbling on some dim sum. Hungrier? Lao Sze Chuan (2172 S. Archer) is one of our favorites as well.

Ukranian Village: The neighborhood located south of Wicker Park is home to not only the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, but also the Ukrainian National Museum. If you want to make a day of it, stop by Willow (908 N. Damen) or www.shopwillow.net , for really cool home decorations, furnishings, and accessories. We especially like their line of eco-friendly “rehabilitated” dinnerware.

Afterwards, get classy, and fed, at High Dive (1938 W. Chicago). For around $10 you can nosh on some pretty delicious eats. We hear the ahi tacos are really good. Another good spot to hit later in the night? The DarkRoom Bar (2210 W. Chicago) isn’t your typical watering hole. This unique venue features work from different local photographers, and also hosts concerts and DJ’s later in the night.

Pilsen: Originally inhabited by German and Irish railroad workers, Pilsen is now home to the largest Mexican-American population in the city.

Be sure to check out the National Museum of Mexican Art for some culture. For a cheap draft, check out Skylark (2149 S. Halsted) or El Gato Boracho (1724 S. Halsted) for a little fiesta.

(Lindsey Duda)