Slowly working our way around the country… we have Chicago!
As always, please share your recommendations! We’d love these posts to be places people can visit in the future when planning their weddings and you, lovely dear helpful readers, can make them better with your faves from each city.
1. Garrett Buttery Popcorn (1 gallon for $26.00)
2. Chicago coasters ($12.50)
3. Metropolis Coffee (1lb Bag/$12.95 )
4. Berry Chill Chicago’s version of Pinkberry
5. Chicago grocery tote ($15.00)
6. You gotta have a Chicago Dog! (not in the gift bag of course but highly recommend)
7. Chicago Root Beer (24 bottles for $23.99)
8. Jays snacks a Chicago hometown favorite ($.99)
9. Frango Dark Mints (1lb box $17.00) divide up and put into tissue to get the most for your money.
10. Snow & Graham mini calendar ($14)
32 comments
Chicago dogs are the BEST!!! LOL
PS if you need some suggestions for a Nashville guest tote, I’m your girl!
I am so excited you posted Chicago – one of my favorite places in the world! You’re definitely right on with the jumbo dogs…some baseball gear or something to do with a deep dish pizza would be awesome too. Ahh, now I’m hungry!
Durham, NC is such an up-and-coming city. I would LOVE to do a tote for you!
We would love to see some Raleigh, NC action! It’s a hip hip southern town!
I love it! Very cool. I didn’t even know we had a root beer! Add caramel and cheese Garrett’s to the list.
Yummmmmmy!
Thanks for posting Chicago!!! Yes, one thing missing is the deep dish but you can’t exactly place that in a bag… maybe for a fun dinner? It’s between Lou Malnati’s and Giordano’s. I’m a personal fan of Lou’s… oh, the buttery crust gets me every time!
Yay Chicago, my hometown!! I agree with Cindy, some sort of deep dish needs to be up there. In my opinion, Pizzeria Uno does the best deep dish, but they’re all pretty awesome. Also, Portillo’s is super famous for their Chicago-style hotdogs, Italian beefs, polishs etc. I’ve had family come in from out of town and head straight there and get a box of frozen hotdogs to take home because it’s just that awesome
Love these posts!! Please do Las Vegas before October!!! xoxo
Chicago dogs are the best! My sister tried to convince me to buy her a Superdawg (back when they had one at Midway) and bring it on the 3-hour flight back home to San Antonio, TX. I refused, because I’m confident it would have been disgusting, but she was willing to risk a stomach virus for one–that’s how good they are! And Cindy, I too favor Lou Malnati’s; you gotta get the butter crust!
I love your guest totes! They always turn out sooo great!
How about a Las Vegas one?????
There is nothing like a Chicago deep dish and we thought about putting that one in the tote.
Cindy, Lou Malnati’s (http://www.loumalnatis.com) was recommended to us as well. Sounds like that is a must on the list.
Amy and Holly, we’ll keep Vegas on our mind for an upcoming tote.
Tootsie Rolls are from Chicago! They also make Dots, Charm Blow Pops, Junior Mints, etc. http://www.tootsie.com/about.php
Brooklyn would be a great place to do, I’d love to help.
Feel free to contact me, i live in Brooklyn and love it!
I’m loving the guest tote series!! Please keep it up . . . maybe an Austin, Texas tote?
my kind of town, Chicago is … always have a great time there when visiting
if you need some Philly suggestions drop me a line!
Love it! Hope to see a Kansas City, Missouri guest tote someday!
There is also an Eat.Shop guide to Chicago! Great idea for out-of-towners…
Can you do Charleston, SC?
I can do with 7,9 and 4 this very moment! I’ve always wanted to visit Chicago in the summer, i hear very good things!
Garrett’s popcorn is A-Mazing!! The power of suggestion now has me seriously considering placing an order to be shipped all the way over to Portland, OR. Great ideas!
A Chicago dog is for sure a must if you visit the city, but, of course, you can’t put that or frozen yogurt (unless you do a coupon) in a bag.
Something sports related would be good. Cubs/Sox. Good vintage sports and Chicago stuff at Strange Cargo: http://www.strangecargo.com/categories/Chicago-The-City-of-T-shirts–Tee-shirts–Tshirts.aspx
I’d do Intelligentsia over Metropolis coffee, but that’s just me.
The CTA (transit) has some surprisingly cute souvenirs: http://www.ctagifts.com/welcome/
Voges chocolate (http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/) and Ferrara Pan is here (http://www.ferrarapan.com/).
Goose Island does soda and is way more CHICAGO than whatever that root beer is (seeing as I’ve never heard of it). Green River is also a very Chicago thing. Local breweries would also be cool to represent (Goose Island, Half Acre, Metropolitan, etc.).
I think deep dish is gross. One of the best pizza experiences in the city is Piece.
Trying to think of other good physical objects to give, but not sure what those would be. Maybe something from the Gapers Block store: http://www.gapersblock.com/store/
Oh! One thing that’s a must: something with the Chicago flag on it. That is a HUGE thing here.
Okay, that’s it….
Would love to see good ol’ Bahhhhhhhhston.
Ditto Cherokee London!
I love that you posted Chicago! You have to add some Wrigley’s gum to the bag, maybe the traditional Doublemint or Spearmint. Also, Vosges Chocolate is from Chicago as well! Cubs and Sox items are a must and maybe a ticket to ride bikes down the lake front for your guests.
I’ve been recapping our wedding in Chicago on my blog. I’m surprised that no one has mentioned Hot Doug’s, easily one of the best hot dog places in town. For gourmet or simply Chicago dogs, it’s worth the wait in line. Also a favorite is Wolfy’s on the northwest side of Chicago. So good!
I have enjoyed reading your guest tote ideas. Denver would be a cool one I think.
as Megan points out, Vosges chocolates is based in Chicago and they are incredible!
http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/
Ditto to the Vosges for Chicago chocolate! The bacon bar is a personal fave, or you could throw in a bag of the bacon chocolate pancake mix. Yum! I was just in a wedding at the Drake – the bride got all the bridesmaids personalized cupcakes from More as a pre-wedding treat.
Also the cheese-caramel popcorn mix at Garrett’s is hands down the best!
I might have to pick up that tote for myself, super cute.
I love it!
New Orleans is definitely deserving of a guest tote post! I religiously check your blog and decided after the first post like this that I’ll be doing on for my NOLA wedding!
SEATTLE WASHINGTON PLEASE
Frango mints should never be included in any self respecting Chicago gift bag – they are no longer made in Chicago and are sold by evil Macy’s that pushed out beloved Marshall Fields. I’d also replace the random “Chicago” root beer (?) with Goose Island Handcrafted Root Beer.
Very nice call on the Jay’s potato chips. Tootsie Rolls, Wrigley’s gum, and Lemonheads are also good candidates. Sara Lee snacks. A copy of The Blues Brothers. Potbelly or Mr. Sub sandwich. Jelly Bellys.