I'm going to start out "sour" and end up "sweet". How's that?

<we do not have any taxes on clothing>
Boy, are you in for a culture shock! Chicago taxes = Yikes!

<looking for reasonably priced clothing, but at boutique stores> Is there such a beast? If by "reasonably priced", you mean sensibly value priced because it's not mass-produced, then maybe. If you mean "inexpensive", then I personally don't think so. But you could try looking at some of the stores in the Wicker Park/Bucktown area. However, I strongly suggest that you *first* check the various stores' prices online, if that's the sole reason you are going to these neighborhoods, because they may be outside (perhaps way outside) of your budget.

<I know the area is pretty commericial and touristy for restaurants.> What area?

It's too late for you to reserve a personal tour through the Chicago Greeter service, but they do have the InstaGreeter options in the following neighborhoods - The Loop, Hyde Park, Old Town, Pilsen (where the National Museum of Mexican Art is located) as well as Millennium Park - but *only* on weekends. First come, first served, too. www.chicagogreeter.com

Food: The Taste of Randolph Street is currently underway and continues tomorrow.

Theatre: Look at Hot tix.

Fopgot to mention this:

Go to the City of Chicago's website under Events and look at the annual Sidewalk Sale scheduled for July 19 and 20 (at Daley Plaza). You'll find information on some boutiques and designers there. Also check this website: www.chicagofashionresource.com

Thank you exiledprincess. Never took anything you said as sour. I know Chicago taxes are horrible. I really tried to talk my daughter into saving the shopping portion for here. We don't pay taxes on clothing, but no one in IL wants to pay my property taxes or state income taxes! Thank you for the information on shopping and the fashion resource site. I apologize, in my haste, I wrote in where we were staying, deleted it, and never put it back again so my reference to commercial and touristy doesn't make sense. We are staying at Michigan and Monroe area, and would love any recommendations on great restaurants in that area. Thank you, again!

I'm not sure of your budget but here's some suggestions.

If you look at the Chicago Loop Alliance's website, you'll see the information about the Downtown Sound New Music Mondays at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park. If you get some picnic fixin's at Pastoral (on E. Lake Street), you can put the saved money towards other use. www.chicagoloopalliance.com www.pastoralartisan.com

I think you might like the Purple Pig (on N. Michigan Avenue by the NBC Tower).

Henri on S. Michigan between Madison and Monroe. Wonderful place - wonderful. It's pricier so think about lunch there.

For breakfast, you could walk down to Michigan and 11th Street to Yolk. Big breakfasts will keep you filled for a long time.

Now that I think about it, I believe that Henri also has specials for each day of the week. Take a look at their menu online and see if that's something of interest to you.

Hi Mosey,
A great little boutique that has a wide-range of pricing is P+L Boutique (2956 N Clark) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. (Clothes there are very cute, young and the "first stare" of fashion.
http://www.pandlchicago.com/main.php

If you're in this neighborhood, (Clark Street at Diversey = 2600 N. Clark), there's lots of shopping in this area Akira clothes, Akira shoes, Urban Outfitters (a chain)] and restaurants (Panera, Starbucks, Chipotle, The Counter - custom burgers) and a nail salon that's very nice (Nail Bar @ 537 W Diversey). I believe they can take walk-ins.
www.nailbarchicago.com

Check out the new show at Steppenwolf for day-of 1/2 price tickets. Their new play, Middletown, is in the first week of previes and has an incredible cast of actors and the buzz is good already. One hour before showtime, tickets are 1/2 price -- student tickets (w/ID) are $15, I believe. Or you can check out hottix for 1/2 price tix.
www.steppenwolf.org
www.hottix.org

Have a great time!

Please ignore the weird emoticon -- don't know how I did this. Intended a bracket.

Oh, thank you so much exiledprincess and ChgoGal! So much to work with while we are there. I will report back about our trip.

ChgoGal, the OP is gone now. They just didn't give us enough time for more options.

I thought about mentioning the Lakeview/Lincoln Park "boundary waters", but didn't since there are not a great deal of boutique stores in that area. P+L (actually in the Lakeview neighborhood, being north of Diversey) *is* shown, though, on that Chicago Fashion Resource website which I gave the OP.

In the same area, there's also the Threadless store, the DSW Shoe Warehouse, just to the north, as well as Hanig's Slipper Box, right at the Diversey/Clark/Broadway intersection - none of which are boutiques, either, but worth mentioning.

Oh, how could I forget Spare Parts? It's been around forever.

Also, Cram deserves mention, as a pricier option.

Both are on N. Broadway.

Here's the Lakeview East website just in case anyone is interested in looking for the other shopping choices. www.lakevieweast.com

Well, I guess I was wrong and it wasn't too late! THe OP posted as I was composing and I didn't see their response until now.

Hope this gives some other options to you, mosey.