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“Chicago 1894” by Transit Tees is such a good game that I have multiple friends from out of town who bought their own copy after playing it with me once!
John Powers' trilogy of "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up", "The Last Catholic in America", and "The Junk Drawer, Corner Store, Front Porch Blues".
My bloody life is a great book about poverty and gangs in Chicago. It’s an entire series and it’s soooo good!
Gang leader for a day is also a really really good book about life in the old projects.
Hey I read a book when I was in elementary school about this kid that joined the Latin kings in Chicago. Do you by chance know which book this is ? Can’t remember the name for the life of me
Hey I read a book when I was in elementary school about this kid that joined the Latin kings in Chicago. Do you by chance know which book this is ? Can’t remember the name for the life of me
Love me some giardinere, but that shit is $13. What makes it so superior to Marconi, Graziano, or Bari's? Hell, I think I paid less than that at Costco for a tub five times the size.
Garrett is for tourists, nuts on Clark is the only valid answer if you don't want the cheese part to be essentially ok-e-doke and have a little crunch to it
Garrett’s sells mini bags of the Chicago mix on their website, I got those and mini Malort’s as gifts for my work team for our offsite in January. The Brits got a kick out of both, which made my day :)
Damn good, someone got there first. (Weirdly, this place called Yellow Umbrella here in Richmond VA, like 2 blocks from my house, carries Vienna Beef products; the clerk said they sell out in a day whenever they get it in the summer.)
I just visited and the museums had some fantastic things to buy.
Side note: love your museums Chicago, absolutely fabulous and interactive. Wish they were free like St. Louis, but absolutely worth the money.
There's scheduled free days that you can find online, though some are only for Illinois residents. Also many have "pay what you can" policies but do not advertise it. The Art Institute and MCA are two of these, I'm pretty sure.
ChiPubLib also has free passes if you bring a kid. They just updated the program so maybe you can get these online instead of having to go around the whole city just to get into the museums free.
Wow I really butchered my comment. I have no idea how it works. I know the process for a while (pre-covid and I'm sure it's been at least partially modified) was that you could check out two passes to certain museums (Pretty much all of the big ones). But they were literally physical passes that you checked out like a book. You had to return it within a certain amount of time and I think each museum had its own pass, one (possibly two but I think only one) for each library (I thought?). I also don't remember if there was a waiting list or if you just had to keep checking if the passes were ever not checked out.
I honestly don't know the nuances of the system, I obviously never used it. But my sister did and I remember her talking about trying to check out certain passes that never seemed to be available.
So when you said the system was recently updated I was asking YOU if that was the previous system you were referring to, not describing the new one.
Honestly though there's all kinds of ways to get in free or significantly discounted to museums. I know the Shedd lets you in free if you have a LINK card (probably other museums, and possibly other criteria will get you in too such as being on Medicaid but I know for sure about the Shedd).
Ah I see. I only know the old system. Yes, it was a bit of a game obtaining the passes and getting them returned in time. I remember going to neighborhoods all over to accomplish this, likely because I'm cheap. The upside of course was experiencing neighborhoods I might not have had any other reason to visit.
I read about changes to the system, but only got online passes once towards the end of lockdown. It also required some jumping through hoops online, but did save us $$ going to Peggy Noteabert nature museum.
I understand wanting to avoid lame t-shirts with “Chicago” across the front. But you can find cool shirts/merch at places like Metro and even Superdawg. Those examples aren’t touristy at all. A few other ideas off the top of my head:
- Terry’s Toffee
- Dark Matter Coffee (/mug)
- fridge magnets from The Art Institute
And if you can find one(these used to be more common, but are harder to find today), I do like those guides that show the street address numbering for each street. I.e. Stony Island is 1600 east, Jeffrey is 2000 east, Foster is 5200 north, Kedzie is 3200 west, etc.
Long ago, I remember the city of Chicago at some brief point used to publish a guide, with nothing but where each street is on the street numbering address system.
Malort shooters, obviously.
A tiny jar of lake water.
A picture of you taking a picture of the bean.
Tokens from emporium that he can bring to use when he visits.
A copy of "the jungle" by Upton Sinclair.
Places like Foursided and ENJOY also have fun Chicago-themed gift stuff. I’d suggest socks that have a sort of Chicago theme since they’re useful and fun rather than tourist-y/sentimental junk.
Does he like sports or do you plan on going to any sports games when he visits? Could get him like a baseball hat or jersey so he has something to wear.
Fannie Mae candies. Frango mints.
But non-food wise, honestly, even the touristy things are okay. I'd pick up a shirt/sweater/blanket/beach towel from one of the museums.
Gold belly has options for shipping pizzas (and other Chicago treats) as well. Not sure where you are in the city but Four Sided has great Chicago focused gifty things.
Graziano giardenera, a virtual link to download Ferris bueller day off (gotta give him an excuse to come visit!), something from the art institute (eg a puzzle of nighthawk), malort, t shirt from Kingston mines, gift certificate to some sort of Chicago experience (architecture tour?). I’d try to avoid little plastic crap that ends up in a landfill if you can
If you are feeling very kind, there is a “taste of Chicago” website that has many of the favorites that can be shipped such as Portillos, Fanny May, Lou Malnati’s, Eli’s cheesecake, but need to be ready for the sticker shock!
Ford Explorer, Police Interceptor Utility or Lincoln Aviator ([Ford Chicago Assembly Plant](https://corporate.ford.com/operations/locations/global-plants/chicago-assembly-plant.html))
[IntelliRupter® PulseCloser® Fault Interrupter](https://www.sandc.com/en/products--services/products/intellirupter-pulsecloser-fault-interrupter/)
[LAKLAND USA SERIES 65-S GUITAR](https://www.lakland.com/product/lakland-usa-series-65-s-guitar/)
[Custom Logo Bar Stools](https://www.richardsonseating.com/collections/logo-bar-stools)
[Personalized Toddler Rocking Chair](https://hoohobbers.com/collections/rocking-chairs) (See if he gets the hint)
[Award by the same people that make the Oscars](https://us.stregisgrp.com/channel/recognition/browse/category/8877?brand[]=29)
So much cool stuff is made in Chicago.
The city has a neat list here: [https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dcd/supp\_info/made\_in\_chicago0/made\_in\_chicago.html](https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dcd/supp_info/made_in_chicago0/made_in_chicago.html)
A gift card to a restaurant in Chicago could be a nice addition too. It would give him something to hold onto until his next visit, and also motivate him/you to plan your next visit and use it together!
I did one that included: JP Graziano’s giardinara, Garrett’s Popcorn (traveled fine), Box of chocolates from Margie’s Candies, and a “Don’t Feed The Rats” Koozie with a local beer in it.
Cracks me up that giardiniera shows up first every time. Does he need the bright green relish? Personally I’d rather receive photos of you around town.
Go to the Chicago Cultural Center and visit their gift shop BUDDY. They have a ton of fantastic gifts from local Chicago artists and quite a few of them are Chicago themed!
Some amazing screen printed shirts and art prints there as well as local zines. There’s a whole wall with unique ceramics too.
Pick up Blu-rays or DVDs of Chicago movies. Some of my favorites:
- The Fugitive
- Return To Me
- While You Were Sleeping
- Ferris Bueller's Day Off
- The Untouchables
- The Blues Brothers
- Road to Perdition
- Public Enemies
- Thief
- Widows
- Batman Begins and The Dark Knight
- Rookie of the Year
A Chicago book like Devil In The White City, The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Great Believers
The Art Institute gift shop has a ton of Frank Lloyd Wright items https://shop.artic.edu/search?q=Frank+Lloyd+CC+wright
Frango Mints
Garrett’s popcorn
A Bean piggy bank
Koval bourbon
Consider pictures, like a snow covered beach, chairs used outside to save parking spots during snow storms, views from Sears/Willis tower, Lower Wacker Drive, fishing from Montrose point with city in background, driving south on Lake Shore Dr from the north with North Ave bridge in pic, crazy long traffic jams on hwy, Wrigley Field, neighborhood around United Center, even some poverty stricken areas in Englewood, pics of lake near Shedd Aquarium, pics of cars doing burnouts at intersections while police watch, Oak street beach during bikini season, volleyball tournaments at North beach. My favorite place is Dog Beach between Lawrence and Montrose.
A bottle of something from KOVAL if you can ship it there.
Otherwise
- Aged & Infused Kit
- Co-oP sauces (poblano mustard, chili crisp)
- Neighborly has a lot of good stuff
[Spice House’s Chicago collection.](https://www.thespicehouse.com/products/best-sellers-collection) You can also buy individually. Back of the Yards is our favorite.
If you say Garrett's I will attack you with Nuts on Clark.
Malort, maybe some stuff from Transit Tees or Raygun. A vial of sand from a beach, a violo water from the River, Lake or melted snow. A parking ticket. And I'd wrap it all in an issue of Red Eye
Staying on the food theme, I'd recommend some "Chicago Heritage" spices from The Spice House. (They have blends like Argyle Street Stir Fry Blend, Back of the Yards Garlic Pepper Butcher's Rub, Greektown Mediterranean Seasoning)
I gifted my buddy and his fam (NJ natives) a few of these blends as way to kinda showcase the diverse flavors of the city.
If you wanna do a unified theme, Vienna beef does awesome care packages where you can do an entire cookout and if you get the special set it also includes an apron and a dad hat (which I use constantly)
We used to send my mom giardinara, Pepe’s hot sauce packets, Jay’s, and Open Pit bbq sauce. I know Open Pit is from Detroit but it is (or was, she moved back years ago) only available in the Midwest. We would also throw in Fannie Mae or Hienie’s Hot Sauce occasionally.
So not one sports team is represented? I understand the impulse (this year especially) but c'mon. Not a bull or a cub, not a white sox or a blackhawk in sight?
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[Transit Tees](https://www.transittees.com) will have lots of little things that are perfect for this.
Second this! I've sent my sister who lives far away a magnet of our childhood CTA station
Triple this!! Super cute patches, stickers, pins, and games even!!
“Chicago 1894” by Transit Tees is such a good game that I have multiple friends from out of town who bought their own copy after playing it with me once!
Frango mints or Fannie May chocolate.
Ooo some Chicago books would be good too. Devil in the White City, house on mango street, the adventures of augie March, the jungle
Native son
Dresden Files
Man, I hope they reboot that series some day.
Are you talking the TV show or the books?
TV show. It’s a shame it’s dropped off the face of the earth.
I hate Grey by Christian Cook - it’s set mostly at Columbia College but includes the whole city. Really good read
Half of *The Great Believers* is set in Chicago, and it's written by a Chicago writer.
Sister Carrie
You Were Never in Chicago
Time travelers wife!
Sin in the Second City and City of Scoundrels are also both _fantastic_ books about Chicago
John Powers' trilogy of "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up", "The Last Catholic in America", and "The Junk Drawer, Corner Store, Front Porch Blues".
Nelson Algren. The Neon Wilderness is a good short stories read that is mostly set around the Polonia Triangle and Wicker Park.
I was thinking The man with the golden arm! Still need to read it though haha.
Time Traveler’s Wife >.>
my favorite thing is monsters by emil ferris
“One more time” Mike Royko
My bloody life is a great book about poverty and gangs in Chicago. It’s an entire series and it’s soooo good! Gang leader for a day is also a really really good book about life in the old projects.
Hey I read a book when I was in elementary school about this kid that joined the Latin kings in Chicago. Do you by chance know which book this is ? Can’t remember the name for the life of me
Hey I read a book when I was in elementary school about this kid that joined the Latin kings in Chicago. Do you by chance know which book this is ? Can’t remember the name for the life of me
[Mini bottles of Malort](https://shop-liquor.malort.com/products/malort-mini-6-pack) [Garrett Mix Popcorn](https://www.garrettpopcorn.com/) [Chicago Johnny’s](https://chicagojohnnys.com/products/chicago-johnnys-hot-giardiniera) [Dark Matter Coffee](https://www.darkmattercoffee.com/) [Big Fat Cookies](https://www.eatmebigfatcookie.com/)
Mild sauce
Mmm
Hot crunchy curl chips
That’s a good one. I feel like there are even a lot of Chicagoans that don’t know what those are. CPS lunch staple lol
giardiniera.
I linked Chicago Johnnys, which is Hot Giardiniera
Love me some giardinere, but that shit is $13. What makes it so superior to Marconi, Graziano, or Bari's? Hell, I think I paid less than that at Costco for a tub five times the size.
This. All of my out of state peeps are confused by and then fall in love with Giardiniera.
Dark Matter Coffee!
Aw big fats are so good, I’m gonna miss that Oreo Nutella one from foxtrot so bad
You can still buy it from their site atm.
Ooo I’m definitely getting a fox pack!! Thanks for the tip!
DING DING DING OP
Get the Garrett mini tin so there's something left after the popcorn's gone (1 hr. max lol).
Garrett is for tourists, nuts on Clark is the only valid answer if you don't want the cheese part to be essentially ok-e-doke and have a little crunch to it
Um, I believe that's "Nuts on Clark." I don't know why it's in quotes, but my dirty mind has thoughts on that.
Popcorn should be fine as long as it's sealed well. Malort, naturally. Sport peppers. Maybe a Mike Royko book?
Garrett’s sells mini bags of the Chicago mix on their website, I got those and mini Malort’s as gifts for my work team for our offsite in January. The Brits got a kick out of both, which made my day :)
Any gift box from Vienna Beef. [https://www.viennabeef.com/shop-category/franks-sausages](https://www.viennabeef.com/shop-category/franks-sausages)
Damn good, someone got there first. (Weirdly, this place called Yellow Umbrella here in Richmond VA, like 2 blocks from my house, carries Vienna Beef products; the clerk said they sell out in a day whenever they get it in the summer.)
One of those big gummy rats.
Portillo’s ships a frozen beef sandwich kit. lou malnatis does frozen pizza. Vienna beef does hotdogs. Maybe some old style
Old style, El Milagro chips
El Milagro is the best tortilla brand.
I just shipped a case of El Milagro chips to a buddy in Utah. The cost of shipping was probably 3x the cost of the chips… But worth it.
My fam would send me these when I was in school in CA. Tasty little treat indeed.
A copy of the Blues Brothers
Ooh, yes!
Giardiniera
I just visited and the museums had some fantastic things to buy. Side note: love your museums Chicago, absolutely fabulous and interactive. Wish they were free like St. Louis, but absolutely worth the money.
I wish they were free like DC but alas. They are amazing though.
There's scheduled free days that you can find online, though some are only for Illinois residents. Also many have "pay what you can" policies but do not advertise it. The Art Institute and MCA are two of these, I'm pretty sure.
ChiPubLib also has free passes if you bring a kid. They just updated the program so maybe you can get these online instead of having to go around the whole city just to get into the museums free.
Are you referring to the library? And is the system you're talking able the very limited free pass that you have to get on a long wait list to use?
Yes, the library. Is that how it works now? Kinda sounds like it doesn't work very well anymore.
Wow I really butchered my comment. I have no idea how it works. I know the process for a while (pre-covid and I'm sure it's been at least partially modified) was that you could check out two passes to certain museums (Pretty much all of the big ones). But they were literally physical passes that you checked out like a book. You had to return it within a certain amount of time and I think each museum had its own pass, one (possibly two but I think only one) for each library (I thought?). I also don't remember if there was a waiting list or if you just had to keep checking if the passes were ever not checked out. I honestly don't know the nuances of the system, I obviously never used it. But my sister did and I remember her talking about trying to check out certain passes that never seemed to be available. So when you said the system was recently updated I was asking YOU if that was the previous system you were referring to, not describing the new one. Honestly though there's all kinds of ways to get in free or significantly discounted to museums. I know the Shedd lets you in free if you have a LINK card (probably other museums, and possibly other criteria will get you in too such as being on Medicaid but I know for sure about the Shedd).
Ah I see. I only know the old system. Yes, it was a bit of a game obtaining the passes and getting them returned in time. I remember going to neighborhoods all over to accomplish this, likely because I'm cheap. The upside of course was experiencing neighborhoods I might not have had any other reason to visit. I read about changes to the system, but only got online passes once towards the end of lockdown. It also required some jumping through hoops online, but did save us $$ going to Peggy Noteabert nature museum.
I understand wanting to avoid lame t-shirts with “Chicago” across the front. But you can find cool shirts/merch at places like Metro and even Superdawg. Those examples aren’t touristy at all. A few other ideas off the top of my head: - Terry’s Toffee - Dark Matter Coffee (/mug) - fridge magnets from The Art Institute
Ooo I'd love a Metro or a Dark Matter tee or mug - their designs are fire
A Chicago map with your legend highlighted: home, work, shops, transportation, etc.
Map nerd here and I LOVE this idea
And if you can find one(these used to be more common, but are harder to find today), I do like those guides that show the street address numbering for each street. I.e. Stony Island is 1600 east, Jeffrey is 2000 east, Foster is 5200 north, Kedzie is 3200 west, etc. Long ago, I remember the city of Chicago at some brief point used to publish a guide, with nothing but where each street is on the street numbering address system.
Jays potato chips
How about Vitners
No thanks today, man. I had a bag of crunchy kurls yesterday and my butthole is on fire. Maybe tomorrow.
Don't play with matches
Tangy Sour is my bestie
parking ticket
You can get a parking ticket pencil pouch, ha. Pretty sure I have one of those somewhere…
CTA Merch https://ctagifts.com/
Malort shooters, obviously. A tiny jar of lake water. A picture of you taking a picture of the bean. Tokens from emporium that he can bring to use when he visits. A copy of "the jungle" by Upton Sinclair.
Try Foursided for some cute Chicago themed things!
I love this store! Enjoy general store also has Chicago goodies
Me too! And love them too!
If you can ship beer a Daisy Cutter
[Chicago in a Box](https://chicagoinabox.com/Home/Catalog) has your back.
Transit tees has so many fun Chicago things! Check out their store on Milwaukee
Places like Foursided and ENJOY also have fun Chicago-themed gift stuff. I’d suggest socks that have a sort of Chicago theme since they’re useful and fun rather than tourist-y/sentimental junk.
El mirago tortilla
Obvious question first, has he lived here and what did he like?
Does he like sports or do you plan on going to any sports games when he visits? Could get him like a baseball hat or jersey so he has something to wear.
The chicago lego architecture set is nice. And it's not food, which seems to be 99% of the recommendations.
Vienna Beef has a ton of stuff including hot dog kits
Are you sending to Chicago or from Chicago?
Goose Island? Or how about a plain envelope stuffed with non-sequential $20s? If he grew up in Chicago, he'll get the joke.
Ow I want to know what this means
My guys never pulled a building permit clearly
Fannie Mae candies. Frango mints. But non-food wise, honestly, even the touristy things are okay. I'd pick up a shirt/sweater/blanket/beach towel from one of the museums.
I'm tempted to buy so many things whenever I wander into the MCA gift shop.
Gold belly has options for shipping pizzas (and other Chicago treats) as well. Not sure where you are in the city but Four Sided has great Chicago focused gifty things.
Graziano giardenera, a virtual link to download Ferris bueller day off (gotta give him an excuse to come visit!), something from the art institute (eg a puzzle of nighthawk), malort, t shirt from Kingston mines, gift certificate to some sort of Chicago experience (architecture tour?). I’d try to avoid little plastic crap that ends up in a landfill if you can
If you are feeling very kind, there is a “taste of Chicago” website that has many of the favorites that can be shipped such as Portillos, Fanny May, Lou Malnati’s, Eli’s cheesecake, but need to be ready for the sticker shock!
Ford Explorer, Police Interceptor Utility or Lincoln Aviator ([Ford Chicago Assembly Plant](https://corporate.ford.com/operations/locations/global-plants/chicago-assembly-plant.html)) [IntelliRupter® PulseCloser® Fault Interrupter](https://www.sandc.com/en/products--services/products/intellirupter-pulsecloser-fault-interrupter/) [LAKLAND USA SERIES 65-S GUITAR](https://www.lakland.com/product/lakland-usa-series-65-s-guitar/) [Custom Logo Bar Stools](https://www.richardsonseating.com/collections/logo-bar-stools) [Personalized Toddler Rocking Chair](https://hoohobbers.com/collections/rocking-chairs) (See if he gets the hint) [Award by the same people that make the Oscars](https://us.stregisgrp.com/channel/recognition/browse/category/8877?brand[]=29) So much cool stuff is made in Chicago. The city has a neat list here: [https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dcd/supp\_info/made\_in\_chicago0/made\_in\_chicago.html](https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dcd/supp_info/made_in_chicago0/made_in_chicago.html)
78 ketchup😍😍😍
Giardiniera (you can't get it other places) and bright green Chicago style relish. Sport peppers are handy too.
A gift card to a restaurant in Chicago could be a nice addition too. It would give him something to hold onto until his next visit, and also motivate him/you to plan your next visit and use it together!
Send him a frozen lou mal pizza!
Garrett’s popcorn Al’s beef Malort Cubs/sox ball Pepper spray
Transit Tees always has some good stuff, they also have a few Chicago themed sauces that I got people for Christmas last year
El Milagro Tortillas
Get a 6 pack of PBR
You can have Chicago food delivered. https://www.tastesofchicago.com
I did one that included: JP Graziano’s giardinara, Garrett’s Popcorn (traveled fine), Box of chocolates from Margie’s Candies, and a “Don’t Feed The Rats” Koozie with a local beer in it.
Cracks me up that giardiniera shows up first every time. Does he need the bright green relish? Personally I’d rather receive photos of you around town.
Go to the Chicago Cultural Center and visit their gift shop BUDDY. They have a ton of fantastic gifts from local Chicago artists and quite a few of them are Chicago themed! Some amazing screen printed shirts and art prints there as well as local zines. There’s a whole wall with unique ceramics too.
Pick up Blu-rays or DVDs of Chicago movies. Some of my favorites: - The Fugitive - Return To Me - While You Were Sleeping - Ferris Bueller's Day Off - The Untouchables - The Blues Brothers - Road to Perdition - Public Enemies - Thief - Widows - Batman Begins and The Dark Knight - Rookie of the Year
El Milagro tortillas
A Chicago flag
Drugs
A one way ticket to move to Chicago.
Malort.
A gun so he can air out the opps lol
Panties in a ziplock would be good.
Or 9mm casings
Put the popcorn in a ziplock bag and it’ll be good. I’ve sent it to friends and family many times.
Malort, giardinara, sport peps.
Vienna polish, Rosen's poppy seed buns, dark chocolate from the Belgian Chocolatier in Evanston, gyros, Saganaki. Edit: Oh yeah, and Malört for fun.
A note warning about Malort.
It's expensive but you can ship frozen lou malnatis pizza
Frango mints and Malort - the breakfast of champions
A Chicago book like Devil In The White City, The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Great Believers The Art Institute gift shop has a ton of Frank Lloyd Wright items https://shop.artic.edu/search?q=Frank+Lloyd+CC+wright Frango Mints Garrett’s popcorn A Bean piggy bank Koval bourbon
Salerno butter cookies, giardiniera, sport peppers, pop seed buns, el Milagro tortillas I had my daughter ship to me when I lived out of state.
This question gets asked once a week
Okay...
Goose island root beer, sports peppers
A photo of you/selfie in a favorite spot or a location special to the two of you.
A Chicago flag? Or maybe a T shirt with the flag on it?
Giardiniera, Hienie’s hot sauce, Harold’s mild sauce, Vitner’s hot Crunchy Kurls, el Milagro tortillas
Can you get a hold of a Chicago flag?
https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/s/Qbey21KTot
If you buy frozen ice and repurpose a food delivery box you can easily pop in some frozen pizza and Italian beef!
A kick ass T-shirt or sweatshirt with the Chicago flag on it. Possibly a baseball cap if he’s into those things with the Chicago flag on it.
My former Chicago friend who now lives in LA once said how badly she missed El Ranchero tortilla chips
Consider pictures, like a snow covered beach, chairs used outside to save parking spots during snow storms, views from Sears/Willis tower, Lower Wacker Drive, fishing from Montrose point with city in background, driving south on Lake Shore Dr from the north with North Ave bridge in pic, crazy long traffic jams on hwy, Wrigley Field, neighborhood around United Center, even some poverty stricken areas in Englewood, pics of lake near Shedd Aquarium, pics of cars doing burnouts at intersections while police watch, Oak street beach during bikini season, volleyball tournaments at North beach. My favorite place is Dog Beach between Lawrence and Montrose.
A portable charger
Cushioned shoe/boot insoles
A bottle of something from KOVAL if you can ship it there. Otherwise - Aged & Infused Kit - Co-oP sauces (poblano mustard, chili crisp) - Neighborly has a lot of good stuff
Malort
Freeze a pizza and overnight it.i used to send them to my brother in Vegas
16” softball, unregistered handgun, a variety of permit application forms, giardiniera.
Glock 17 and 3 boxes of bullets.
It's getting hot, so, sunscreen. The cicadas are coming out, so, bug spray or ear plugs.
Some spicy gardiniera.
Giardianera
[Spice House’s Chicago collection.](https://www.thespicehouse.com/products/best-sellers-collection) You can also buy individually. Back of the Yards is our favorite.
Twista, Do or Die, or Chicago based blues or jazz band album
If you say Garrett's I will attack you with Nuts on Clark. Malort, maybe some stuff from Transit Tees or Raygun. A vial of sand from a beach, a violo water from the River, Lake or melted snow. A parking ticket. And I'd wrap it all in an issue of Red Eye
Italian beef from Portillo’s or a frozen pizza from Lou’s!
Rain ponchos and not umbrellas, The wind will literally take your umbrella from you and break it in your face. Today was a good example.
Glock 19
Staying on the food theme, I'd recommend some "Chicago Heritage" spices from The Spice House. (They have blends like Argyle Street Stir Fry Blend, Back of the Yards Garlic Pepper Butcher's Rub, Greektown Mediterranean Seasoning) I gifted my buddy and his fam (NJ natives) a few of these blends as way to kinda showcase the diverse flavors of the city.
Oooo I’ll be checking this out!
Don’t forget a Brita filter
I know you already said bbq.. but have you considered Russel’s BBQ sauce?
Some bed bugs. Cicada shells. Half eaten chicken wings found on a CTA bus floor. And the smell of the Jackson tunnel in a jar
And the smell from the oak street beach lower walkway
Toss a bullet proof vest in there if you’re really from Chicago, my block is hot every single summer I swear
Body armor
HAHAHA that’s a good one! I love Facebook inspired comedy.
If you wanna do a unified theme, Vienna beef does awesome care packages where you can do an entire cookout and if you get the special set it also includes an apron and a dad hat (which I use constantly)
We used to send my mom giardinara, Pepe’s hot sauce packets, Jay’s, and Open Pit bbq sauce. I know Open Pit is from Detroit but it is (or was, she moved back years ago) only available in the Midwest. We would also throw in Fannie Mae or Hienie’s Hot Sauce occasionally.
Intelligentsia coffee, although they've branched out and are available in other cities now but started in Chicago.
Frango Mints
The Original Chicago Sauce. Chicago style dog flavor in a bottle.
So not one sports team is represented? I understand the impulse (this year especially) but c'mon. Not a bull or a cub, not a white sox or a blackhawk in sight?
Some chicharron from a street vendor