Need gift ideas!!! PLEASE!

Re: Need gift ideas!!! PLEASE!

• kmbryant2413 member

  

  April 2013

  Depending on the work you're putting in, would you want to include some things that he might enjoy from Italy that are tough to get in the US? Are there many things that you know of, besides maybe some cuisine/less tangible items?

  my blog - for the love of ein
  'Next time, just fart.' - BriSox81
  

  Report0 Reply
• s-aries8990 member

  

  April 2013

  Hmmm.... I feel like this involves a basket...
  Does he speak conversational English?
  Are there any Italian food items that can be ordered online that he really likes?
  I've never been to Chicago, but has he? Is there like a tourist map with public transit routes, local shopping centers ans tourist sites?
  What type of pre-packaged foods is Chicago known for?
  Are there any must-do restaurants there?
  Does he have an e-reader? Or a journal? Or a specific hobby?

   

  Report0 Reply
• CASK85 member

  

  April 2013

  You can find some really nice art prints of Chicago neighborhoods and/or public transit and/or architecture (Chicago is known for architecture) that you could buy for him. 

  Maybe tickets to a Cubs game? 

  I don't have a ton of time right now, but those are my two ideas. Link to a possible poster below. 

  http://orkposters.com/chicago.html

  
  Married Bio
  

  Report0 Reply
• Swazzle member

  

  April 2013

  Oh! Tiger shared these awesome prints a couple weeks ago. You could order the Italy one and request to have "Milan" stand out in a different color and bigger than the other cities and get a nice frame for it. http://www.mapmystate.com/mapartshop/countrymapposters/italyprint/

  
  
  

  Report0 Reply
• chigal81

  

  April 2013

  Minskat30 here...
  
  Since he is new to Chicago (yeah, another cool couple joining Chicago!), you could get him a "tourist for the day" kind of gift.  Not sure what touristy things he might like to do but there are (1) sport tickets (Blackhawks for hockey and Cubs for baseball), (2) art and museum tickets (the Picasso exhibit I've heard good things about is going until May 12), (3) lots of fun tours (we have a boat tour here with a few companies (leaves from Navy Pier) that go up and down the river and explains Chicago's artichectural history... I try to go at least once every other year and learn something new each time).  He's also coming just in time for summer, which is the best here.  There are tons, and I mean tons, of street festivals, concerts, etc.  Mentioning concerts...if he is a little more laid back, a trip to Ravinia (north of Chicago but a great spot to catch a concert and have an elaborate picnic spread) might be fun... http://pavilionhighlandpark.com/?gclid=CJqtiauFxrYCFc0WMgodsXwAPQ.  
  
  Do your brother and his BF know what neighborhood they will be living in?  I might have some good restaurant recommendations and you could always get them a nice relaxing romantic dinner to start their lives in Chicago.
  
  If he/they like cooking, I've been to just about every place in the city that teaches cooking classes and could give you recommendations there too.

  Report0 Reply
• loves2shop4shoes member

  

  April 2013

  I love all you hoars.
  
  I LOVE the prints idea and the restaurant gift idea.  Tiger also suggested in GChat yesterday a sort of your of good restaurants via giftcards...which I LOVE.
  
  So I'm looking into these options.  My brother is going to be living either in Lakeview East or in the Gold Coast.  Anyone know good restaurants around there?
  
  *I'm also going travelling to Chicago sometime in the next 10 days-ish to help him relocate.  When I fly in, I'm going to bring Georgetown cupcakes to his BF.  His BF could not come to my wedding, and we served those cupcakes at my wedding.  So I want to bring a little piece of my wedding to him. 

  My NEW Blog!
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Report0 Reply
• suzie211 member

  

  April 2013

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_need-gift-ideas-please?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:4851aa40-4f32-4525-b593-095549d24730Post:9252d14b-fea5-404f-8d3f-5976deeea6c3">Re: Need gift ideas!!! PLEASE!</a>:
  [QUOTE]I love all you hoars. I LOVE the prints idea and the restaurant gift idea.  Tiger also suggested in GChat yesterday a sort of your of good restaurants via giftcards...which I LOVE. So I'm looking into these options.  My brother is going to be living either in<strong> Lakeview East or in the Gold Coast.</strong>  Anyone know good restaurants around there? *I'm also going travelling to Chicago sometime in the next 10 days-ish to help him relocate.  When I fly in, I'm going to bring Georgetown cupcakes to his BF.  His BF could not come to my wedding, and we served those cupcakes at my wedding.  So I want to bring a little piece of my wedding to him.  <3
  Posted by loves2shop4shoes[/QUOTE]
  
  The ladies have offered up some great ideas! 
  
  If your still thinking of restaurants, I've lived in both neighborhoods and there are good restaurants in both.   Cafe Spiaggia is Gold Coast and high end Italian.   The President and FL have eaten there a lot for special occassions. Geja's is a great fondue place (super romantic) and on the south end of Lincoln Park and really close to GC. 
  
  One of my favorite restaurants is just south of GC in River North called Mastro's.  Its a really good steak restaurant ( Chicago has a ton and is known for them).  My friend is one of the piano players on Sat nights.     There are ton of great Italian restaurants in Little Italy that might get him some semi-home flavor.  I love Tuscany and Francesca's.
  
  As for syd's suggestion, Chicago is known for Garrett's Popcorn ( you must get the Chicago Mix), Fanny Mae candy, and stuffed pizza.   All of them can be pre-packaged and ordered online for delivery.  My brother works for Giordano's, one of the more well known and touristy stuffed/Chicago style places, but there are at least a dozen others to choose from.  He's been known to give discounts to friends of mine and I would be happy to convince him to pass it on.
  
  I am biased because I'm crazy about my city, but I think they will love it here!

  
  

  Report0 Reply