Still unsure of what to get your Chicago architecture lover for the holiday season?
It’s time to start making your lists and checking them twice. If you’re still looking for something to get for those on the “nice” list, here are some Chicago-centric gift ideas. Chicago is a city of incredible architecture, so what better gift is there to give your design-loving friends than the gift of architecture? From toy CTA trains to framed World Series prints, there’s something to fit every budget in this list.
CTA toy trains
The CTA gift shop actually has a ton of really great gift items for this year’s holiday season. There are various models of wooden toy trains, cell phone cases, ‘L’ car ornaments, and of course, tote bags. The special edition CTA Holiday Train toy car is selling for $20 on the official CTA gift shop.
Chicago skyline LEGO set
It’s still going to be a few days until this set is released, but when it is, it’ll likely fly off the shelves. The miniature downtown replica will include 444 pieces which will come together to recreate the CNA Center, the Willis Tower, the Wrigley Building, the John Hancock Center, the Michigan Avenue Bridge, and Cloud Gate. The set will retail for $39.99 and will only be available at the Chicago Architecture Foundation gift shop, the LEGO Store at Water Tower Place, and the LEGOLAND Discovery Center in suburban Schaumburg when it launches on December 11th.
Daniel Burnham’s Plan of Chicago
Any diehard urban planner and fan of Chicago should have a copy of Daniel Burnham and Edward H. Bennett’s Plan of Chicago in their personal collection. It’s one of the most important works of urbanism and city design as it helped advanced urban planning with a newer, more practical approach. If you want to impress, opt for the official hardcover edition, otherwise the paperback will only set you back $12.
Chicago Tribune World Series posters
If you missed out on grabbing a Tribune on the day after the Chicago Cubs’ big World Series win, you’re in luck. The Tribune is offering all kinds of memorabilia for this year’s historic World Series win. A framed poster is going for $128 while front page press plates are selling for $35.
Divvy membership
If you’ve been on the fence about gifting a Divvy membership to someone, now is your chance to get a great deal on one. For this week, Groupon is featuring a variety of Divvy deals, including a one-year membership for $85. There are also discounts on daily passes, but they must be purchased before the deal ends on Friday, December 2.
Chicago vernacular architecture art prints
There are a ton of different art prints that feature Chicago in one form or another. There are of course vintage throwback style tourism posters, but there are also some neat posters from the local design shop ALSO which feature the common style of residences found in Chicago. The firm is also (no pun intended) offering 10% off on online orders between now and Christmas with the coupon code holidays2016.
Chicago movies
Everyone loves a good movie based in Chicago. If you’re not sure what to get the Chicagoan on your list this year, consider picking up one of the many classics like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Home Alone, The Blues Brothers, Cooley High, or High Fidelity.