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We've compiled the best of the best in Avondale - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Kids of the 80s and early 90s, prepare to have your nostalgia buttons pushed: in addition to a great selection of used vinyl, this is the spot to peruse vintage Simpsons merch, He-Man toys, and WWF figurines. On-site coffee shop, the Brewed, has a horror theme; ogle campy movie posters while you snack on retro cereal like Count Chocula, sold by the bowl.
An ever-changing selection of vintage streetwear like T-shirts, snapback caps, windbreakers, and Jordans make up the stock at this Milwaukee Avenue spot. Much of the merch reps Chicago sports teams, so you can grab that Bulls 3-Peat button or 90s White Sox jersey you didn't know you were missing.
The quirky name here references a local plant that emerges early each year, melting the snow around it and helping ready the ground for spring. It's a metaphor for the shop's project of creating a community ecosystem by hosting events like poetry and gardening workshops, and stocking ceramics and candles from local makers. Oh yeah, there are books too; the indie fiction offerings shine, and the nonfiction section's ready to sate curiosity on subjects from climate change to cooking.
In our cringe-averse culture, earnest positivity can be tough to land. And yet the succinct mantra that gives artist Matthew Hoffman's gallery-meets-shop its name has obviously resonated: over nine million stickers bearing these three words have been produced, and they've been spotted stuck on street signs and doors around the world. Pop in to buy one of your own, in English or another tongue—they're now available in 100 languages.
