5 BEAUTY TREATS THAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL GORGEOUS
1. Eyebrow threading: At Deeba Beauty Salon (2752 W. Devon Ave.; 773-465-9685), not only do they do great eyebrow threading for $5, but they will also bleach a girl’s ‘stache and give her a “nose clean” for a fin too. Nose cleaning, also $5, is performed by a beautician who holds a malleable ball of honey, lime and ginger against your face/nose then rips it off, hoping to pull out impurities in the process.
2. ‘Stache cleanup: At Dilshad’s Hair Design (2645 W. Devon Ave.; 773-761-5740), women can get their upper lips threaded for $4.
3. Wash and condition: In addition to $5 haircuts, Ayyad Hair Cuts (4409 N. Kimball Ave.; 773-539-9933) offers a relaxing shampoo and conditioning for $5.
4. Eyebrow waxing: Try Betty’s & Nick’s Family Hair Care (6015 W. Irving Park Rd.; 773-282-4048; six locations around the Chicago area) to get your eyebrows waxed for $5.
5. Hurry-up haircuts: At Betty’s & Nick’s Family Hair Care (4110 Oakton St., Skokie; 847-679-1850), I got a decent five-smacker haircut and didn’t have to engage in a lot of meaningless chit-chat in the process. Great place for people in a hurry to get good simple cuts.
–Monica Eng
5 MAGICAL EATS
1. Marinated olives or salumi at Avec: Plates are small at this popular, communal-seating spot, and most are more than $5. However, a fin will get you a heaping plate of house-marinated Mediterranean olives, or one portion of the house-cured salumi. 615 W. Randolph St.; 312-377-2002.
2. Tacos or chiles rellenos at De Cero: Lincolns go a long way at this homey hangout. Salads cost $5, chiles rellenos are $5 and De Cero’s awesome tacos (try the braised duck with sweet corn salsa) are less than five, priced $3-$4.50. 814 W. Randolph St.; 312-455-8114.
3. Paninis or salumi at Quartino: “You can’t afford not to eat or drink here,” is the sentiment at this River North, small-plate Italian restaurant. At the wine bar, you’ll find spreads and bruschetta for $3 and $4; the regular salumi menu offers small-portion meats, cheeses and spuntini (braised baby onions, artichoke salad, Sicilian caponata) for $5. The best $5 deal is the lunch menu’s Panini e Zuppa special–the day’s soup and a half-panini sandwich. 626 N. State St.; 312-698-5000.
4. Wine or dessert at Di Pescara: “A List” wines, handpicked by corporate wine director Alpana Singh, are $5 (a hefty pour, too). Also worth noting are Di Pescara’s “bite of the night” desserts, a miniaturized sweet for just $1. Sometimes it’s a tiny square of brownie, occasionally a mini-tiramisu, but it’s always $1. 2124 Northbrook Court, Northbrook; 847-498-4321.
5. Beets or breakfast at Lula’s: This organic, vegetarian-friendly hotspot offers olive oil-marinated beets for $3. At breakfast, dig into the bagel sandwich with cucumber, tomato, onions, sprouts and cream cheese for $4–or the same $4 will land you two eggs, potatoes and toast. 2537-41 N. Kedzie Blvd.; 773-489-9554.
–Phil Vettel
5 ETHNIC SHOPS where you can get stuff
1. Ornate exercise: A handful of gift shops along Chinatown’s Wentworth Avenue are, by and large, clones of one another. Jade trinkets, dragon figurines, bamboo knick-knacks–chances are these different gifts from different stores all came from the same factory in China. At Central Port Emporium (2324 S. Wentworth Ave.; 312-326-3382), find the typically expensive “Healthy Balls” in various ornate designs ($4.50). Rotate them in your hands to exercise the digits.
2. Grand gesture: At the European Import Center in Lincoln Square (4752 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-561-8281), you’ll find all things German, from magazines and newspapers to crystal and linens. Some exquisite door-handle bells with flower decorations sell from $2.50 to $5. And if by chance you have a German grandparent–or even if you don’t–get your World’s Greatest “Opa” or “Oma” button here, for just a dollar.
3. Coloring history: One of the great tourist attractions in Chicago is the National Museum of Mexican Art (1852 W. 19th St.; 312-738-1503). Not just because there are few of its kind in the country, but because admission is free. If you do want to spend, spend generously at the spectacular gift shop, where you can find a Life in Ancient Mexico coloring book ($3.95), a Tzintzuntzan Frisbee ($5) and various paperback books on Mexican art and culture.
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4. Making music: Rogers Park is home to a significant African population, and Unan Imports (6971 N. Sheridan Rd.; 773-274-4022) has the artifacts, clothing and homemade gifts that embody the rich and diverse cultures of the continent. We found a pair of percussive rattles made from hollowed-out gourd shells ($3.50) and a bamboo flute that sounds like an antiquated recorder ($3).
5. Sweet Swedish dolls: For Swedish gifts, books and toys, the Swedish American Museum Center in Andersonville (5211 N. Clark St.; 773-728-8111) is the closest thing this side of Stockholm. For younger tykes, have hours of fun (maybe one hour, max) with Scandinavian Girl & Boy Paper Dolls ($3.95). More interesting is the selection of paperback children’s books, including Pippi Longstocking titles ($4.99).
–Kevin Pang
5 MUNCHIES for the hungry bar hopper
1. Fish tacos at McCormick & Schmick’s. The seafood chain offers fish tacos with saffron rice, big entrees like a half-pound cheeseburger and meaty, pecan-crusted catfish nuggets–all for $1.95 (two-drink minimum required). 3:30-6:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9:30-11 p.m. Mon.-Thu. 1 E. Wacker Drive; 312-923-7226 and 41 E. Chestnut St.; 312-397-9500.
2. Quarter pounder at Kinzie Chophouse: The posh River North steakhouse may have the best bargain in town with its $2.95 bar menu. Buy a drink ($2.50 minimum) and pick from a number of tasty options, including a quarter-pound Cheddar burger and a mushroom Gorgonzola tart. 3-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 4-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 400 N. Wells St.; 312-822-0191.
3. Maki at Tsuki: Tsuki’s late-night menu has $5 maki (including a salty, tangy unagi tempura roll) as well as fried shumai for $3.50, fried satsumaimo sticks (sweet potato fries) for $4.50 and green tea ice cream for $2.50. 11 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Thu., midnight-3 a.m. Fri.-Sat., 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Sun. 1443 W. Fullerton Ave.; 773-883-8722.
4. Tapas at Haro: For its one-year anniversary, Haro in Little Italy dropped the price of its tapas dishes to $5. Now patrons can enjoy signature dishes like vieiras con jamon serrano (sea scallops wrapped in serrano ham with saffron aioli and lemon oil) and rabo de buey Bilbao (braised oxtail stuffed peppers). 5-11 p.m. Tues.-Thu.; 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Fri.-Sat. 2436 S. Oakley St.; 773-847-2400.
5. Wings at Trader Todd’s: This Lakeview home for karaoke lovers offers a $2 late-night menu that includes juicy cheeseburgers and fries, chicken wings and chili smothered in cheese and green onions. midnight-2 a.m. Mon.-Sun. 3216 N. Sheffield Ave.; 773-975-8383.
–Glenn Jeffers
5 WAYS TO HAVE FUN With plenty of cash to spare
1. See an art film: Don’t let the $5 admission fool you–this student-run film society is not some shoddy, second-rate film house. The University of Chicago’s Doc Films (Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th St.; 773-702-8574, docfilms.uchicago.edu) boasts a first-rate theater and a fascinating calendar of films (recent selections include “Puce Moment,” an obscure 1949 movie about Hollywood, and “Jesus Camp,” a recently released documentary about evangelical summer camp). Remember to bring your fiver–this theater doesn’t take credit cards.
2. Go bowling: Bowling doesn’t get much cheaper than Timber Lanes (1851 W. Irving Park Rd.; 773-549-9770, www.timberlaneschgo.com). Games cost $2 to $2.50 most days of the week (on Friday and Saturday nights, it’s pricier). Shoe rentals are a steal too–just $2. A bonus for non-smokers: This alley is smoke-free.
3. Go to a museum: Greek immigrants have left their mark on Chicago. That history is celebrated at the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center (801 W. Adams St.; 312-655-1234, www.hellenicmuseum.org), chock full of photos and artifacts that help put Greek immigrants and Greektown (where the museum is located) in perspective. If you hurry, you’ll make it in time to see the “Road to Rembetika” exhibition (it closes Jan. 26), a look at this soulful, passionate, tragic form of underground Greek music. Admission is $5.
4. Exhaust the kids: A fancy coffee drink at Starbucks costs more than admission to Jumps n’ Jiggles, Elk Grove Village’s kiddie fantasyland designed to ensure your children return home ready to sleep for hours. Housed in the Jack A. Claes Pavilion (1000 Wellington Ave., Elk Grove Village; 847-437-9494, www.elkgroveparks.org), this indoor playground sports a tunnel maze, a spiral slide and play helicopters. Admission is $3 per child (adults are free).
5. Recite poetry: Pen a few verses then head up to Rogers Park for one of the city’s longest-running open-mic nights. Every Wednesday at the Heartland Cafe (7000 N. Glenwood Ave.; 773-465-8005, www.heartlandcafe.com), poets gather to perform for one another. Arrive around 9 p.m., sign up for a time slot and you’ll get five minutes to do your thing. Be forewarned–this event is popular. You’re going to have quite an audience. Lucky for you, they’re more likely to whoop than hiss. Admission is $3.
–Trine Tsouderos
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100 years of $5
What would $5 buy in …
1900 — One solid oak dresser (with a mahogany finish) complete with three drawers and a large oval mirror. $4.98 at Boston Store on State Street.
1910 — One month of twice-weekly boxing lessons. $5 at the Business Men’s School of Physical Culture on East Randolph Street.
1920 — One double-tread tire. $5 at Chicago Double Tread Company, South Wabash.
1930 — One month of parking. $3 at Navy Pier.
1940 — One cotton mattress with a durable ticking cover. $4.89 at Goldblatt Brothers on State Street.
1950 — Two broiled beef tenderloin steak entrees (with link sausages, green tomato and mushrooms). $4.50 at The Ranch Restaurant on East Oak Street.
1960 — Two dozen Birdseye cloth diapers. $3.76 at Wieboldt’s, various locations in the city and suburbs.
1970 — One pull-on girdle, extra-firm without bones, panels or seams. $4.99 at Sears, various locations in the city and suburbs.
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1980 — One children’s ticket to “Bugs Bunny in Space.” $5 at the Auditorium Theatre, East Congress Parkway.
1990 — 5 gallons of gas. About $5.70 at Chicago area gas stations.
2006 — One iced venti vanilla latte. $4.24 (including tax) at Starbucks, various locations in city and suburbs.
–Trine Tsouderos