Chicago Shopping: 15 Ideas on Distinct Local Products, Chicago, Illinois

One of the most fascinating cities in the U.S., if not the whole world, Chicago has no shortage of things closely associated with it, often due to their direct origin (blues, gangstership, etc.), so one might literally be spoiled for choice as to what to choose as a "piece" of Chicago to take home. To help you decide, we list some 15 not-to-be-missed items to keep your memory of the Windy City alive.

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright, famous for Pennsylvania’s Fallingwater and New York City’s Guggenheim Museum, had a home and studio in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park. Up until his death in 1959 he created more than 1,000 structures and 500 works. His interests in nature and geometric shapes are visible in many of his works, including the Robie House on the University of Chicago campus. Fans of Wright, young and old, will enjoy the Frank Lloyd Wright Designs Memory Game, which features 36 pairs of cards showcasing various shapes and designs Wright used in his art glass windows, carpets, skylights and more. The 2 ½-inch cards come boxed with a booklet that explains how each design was used. The game is available for $13.95 at The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio at 951 Chicago Ave. in Oak Park, a 20 minute drive outside the city. The museum shop is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you’re downtown, you can find the game at ShopWright at The Rookery at 209 S. LaSalle St., open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more Frank Lloyd Wright souvenirs and other fun gifts, check out the gift shop at the Chicago Architecture Foundation at 224 S. Michigan Ave., across from the Art Institute. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).