Secret Chicago: 40 Hidden Gems

“You could read a dozen tour books or walk a thousand miles of the Chicago grid and still miss some of the city’s best-kept secrets. So we’ve decided to spill a few. From secret gardens to exclusive dinner clubs, these gems are as old as Al Capone’s barbershop and as modern as … a salt cave spa? Whatever your fancy, mystery lurks around every corner of our grand city…

8. Find that boar-bristle shaving brush

Long before there was a Walgreen’s or a CVS on every corner, Merz Apothecary, founded in 1875, has offered the wisdom of the local apothecary. In 1972, pharmacist Abdul Qaiyum took over and started focusing on natural products. The adjacent, more recently opened Q Brothers store is favored by those looking for unique shaving products, from locally made beard creams to badger-hair shave brushes. Some things never go out of style. 4716-18 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-989-0900, merzapothecary.com

— C.L.”

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