Building off last year's well-received set of "fun, unique gift ideas for your friends and family that also resonate with MPC's mission of building a more socially equitable, environmentally sustainable, and economically competitive region," here's an updated installment for 2011. Hanukkah starts today at sunset, Christmas is this Sunday, and Kwanzaa kicks off on Monday ... so get shopping.
My newest MPC colleague, Breann Gala, suggests honey from the Chicago Honey Co-op, located in the North Lawndale neighborhood. The Co-op provides job training and employment to under-employed local residents. They make a lot of organic honey and candle products. MPC has a long history with North Lawndale, and the Co-op is just one part of that neighborhood's resurgence. The Co-op has an online store, or you could swing by the handful of places in the region that sell its wares, including the gift shop at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum.
Breann also encourages everyone to participate in the Unwrap Chicago Campaign, which encourages holiday shoppers to pledge at least $100 of their holiday budget to shop local... more or less requiring you to get out and do some shopping on foot in one of the city's great neighborhoods. There are a series of "Unwrap" events in various neighborhoods—today, for instance, there are great deals in Lakeview (swing by the Alta Vista Terrace Historic District for a nice diversion), Rogers Park, and Wicker Park/Bucktown (where several savvy businesses have begun installing CTA Bus Trackers inside, so you always know how much longer you can shop).
Speaking of the CTA (and by extension, Metra and Pace), for those folks on your list that you've deemed gift-card worthy (we all have them), Mandy Burrell Booth asks, "how about a transit pass?" CTA has lots of options, and Metra's $7 weekend pass is a great deal. Pair a weekend Metra pass with a reservation at the Flossmoor Station, seats at Naperville's Summer Place theater, or a Ravinia Classical Grass Pass, and you've got a pretty nice gift on your hands.
MPC's Ryan Griffin-Stegink, one of our year-round cycling commuters, encourages front and rear bike lights (not just reflectors), as well as reflective vests and tape on backpacks and panniers. Flashing lights are a real help at dusk and dawn, but once it's good and dark you need a bright, steady light that helps you see, but also alerts drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to your presence. Speaking as a cyclist, I'll say this—if you don't have a light on your bike, you are an irresponsible menace. Get a light. You can get them at any bike shop, whether it's Alberto's Cycles in Highland Park, The Wheel Thing in LaGrange, or Zim's in Portage, Ind. Of course, if you need a bike in order to justify bike lights, try a refurbished one from Chicago's Working Bikes.
Kim Grimshaw Bolton recommends signing up friends or family for fresh produce delivery. Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks offers year-round home delivery in the Chicago area of local and organic produce, meat, dairy and eggs. Based out of Niles, Irv & Shelly source all their produce from the Chicago region and bring it right to your door.
As for me, last year my mother surprised me with a membership to the Morton Arboretum, and I heartily recommend doing the same for someone on your list. In the past year I've been out there several times—for a winter walk and a great dog-sledding exhibition, for fall foliage, for a quick stop on the way to/from visiting friends in Naperville... and so on. I love it. I can go whenever I want, and while there's always something new to see, I can always count on the same trees, winding paths, and moments of calm.
So get out there in our beautiful region and treat your friends and family (or yourself) to some homegrown treats and adventures. Happy Holidays from everyone at MPC!