Thursday, February 23, 2012

Anglophilia + Aardvarks = Happiness


We admit it. We are hooked. With the American showing of the series* finale of “Downton Abbey, we just can’t get enough of all things British. That's why we are so excited to announce that we are now a stockist† of products from Wild & Wolf Ltd. Based in Bath, England (a mere 60 miles or 96 kilometers from Highclere Castle, the real-life setting for Downton Abbey), Wild & Wolf Ltd. is a designer, manufacturer, and wholesaler of nostalgic and creative gifts and home accessories. We love their cute Ridley’s Magic Sets.






And who doesn’t love the Mr. Men Little Miss line by Roger Hargreaves?


We can’t help but smile when having a cup of tea (of course) in our new Mr. Happy Mug. But we are really thrilled to offer a line of products that feature a collaboration between Wild & Wolf Ltd. and Aardvark On Sea. Aardvark is the creative project of British artist and designer Lesley and Pea of St. Leonards on Sea, East Sussex. The design duo specialises‡  in creating fabulous letterpress prints using a vintage Heidelberg press with original wood and metal type. Happiness… is a modern take on The Desiderata by Max Ehrmannwith the sentiments of the poem distilled to create an inspirational range of products that amuse and inspire.



Happiness... by Aardvark


* That’s British for "television season"!
† That’s British for "retailer"!
‡ That’s British for "specializes"!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Happy Birthday Mr. Lincoln

We have a special place in our hearts for the 16th president of the United States. Abraham Lincoln is often remembered as one of the greatest US presidents. ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE is located in Lincoln Square on Lincoln Avenue in the Land of Lincoln. So, I guess you could say we're pretty into Lincoln around these parts.

While we admire Mr. Lincoln's political life (Doris Kearn Goodwin's "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln" is very good) and, of course, his oratory skills, we would like to celebrate a completely foolish detail of Abe... his Chin Curtain.

A Chin Curtain (also called a Donegal or Lincoln) is a particular style of facial hair that grows along the jaw line and covers the chin completely. Oh how we wish it was called a Lincoln BEFORE Abraham Lincoln wore one, but, sadly, no.

We love everything mustache at Urbangeneralstore.com. So with all due respect to
Brigham Young
C. Everett Koop

and Dr. Zaius

we'd like to re-imagine Abraham Lincoln, using the iPhone/iPad 'Stachetastic app, if he would have committed to FULL facial hair.







And on this day of remembering the pride of Springfield, we'd like to give a final hirstute hip-hip-hooray for our favorite album about our home state, Sufjan Stevens' "Come On Feel The Illinoise".

Illinois by Sufjan Stevens
Make your own Lincoln 'Staches and email them to us at mom at urbangeneralstore.com or post it on our Facebook wall at Facebook.com/enjoyanurbangeneralstore.

Friday, February 03, 2012

Baby, it's (still) cold outside

ARRGH.
Yes, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow (or, wait, didn't see his shadow).
Either way, the thermometer agrees with that East Coast rodent, winter isn't quite ready to pack up for the spring.

Winter 2012 is like a Journey concert with 7 encores... the beginning leaves you a little cold until things get heated up to "Don't Stop Believin'".

So no glove means no love for those cold mitts.
Kids Fleece Mittens from Bear Hands

Steal a look at this Raccoon Stole!

Raccoon Scarf from Green 3

Wrap your frozen piggies in a pair of bacon socks.
Bacon and Eggs Crew Socks from Sock It To Me

Shop all of our cold weather accessories now at urbangeneralstore.com.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

ENJOY helps you stuff their stockings with FUN for LESS this Holiday Season

As the nation struggles with trying economic conditions, ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE seeks to bring a little light-hearted (and inexpensive) fun to this year's holiday gift giving by offering 100's of stocking stuffers under $25.


ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE, located in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood at 4723 N. Lincoln Avenue, has been a "one-stop shop" for "all your gift giving needs" for over 6 years. This holiday season, Rebecca Wood, Owner of ENJOY, has focused on offering gifts on the less expensive side. As Wood explains, "I wanted to offer a wide variety of gifts--for all ages--that provide humor and joy without being expensive so that people can shop without having to worry about the cost. The holidays are stressful enough!"


ENJOY will give shoppers looking for humorous stocking stuffers the trifecta of novelty gifts-- Bacon, Mustache and Matryoshka items. ENJOY and Urbangeneralstore.com will feature everything from bacon strips bandages to a heavily-scented "sizzling" bacon candle. Mustache lovers can find adhesive mustaches, mustache necklaces and even the font geek's fave, "A Field Guide to Typestaches" Screen-Printed Poster from Old Tom Foolery.


ENJOY has the hot new trend, matryoshkas also known as babushkas or Russian nesting dolls, on key caps, juice glasses, earbuds and even Christmas tree ornaments.


ENJOY has long been the holiday shoppers' go-to for humorous gifts. But this year, ENJOY will be offering a new line of hand-finished signs with inspirational quotes from Primitives by Kathy. "While we still offer larger handmade art signs, some customers will appreciate a smaller $6.95 Primitives by Kathy sign that can be stood on a desk or a mantle (or hung on the wall) that expresses a similar sentiment," said Stephanie Edwards, the eCommerce Manager of ENJOY's online site, Urbangeneralstore.com. These signs are great holiday gifts for teachers, coworkers, relatives or even priced right as a hostess gift.


ENJOY's holiday stocking stuffer best seller is The Pick Punch Tool, a hand-held device that allows guitarists to make their own guitar picks. The Pick Punch Tool's retail price is $24.95 and is the perfect gift for budding and seasoned guitarists, those who love new, fun gadgets, or those who are truly impossible to buy for.


ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE will offer extended holiday hours now through Christmas eve. Shoppers can also browse the 1,000's of items available online at Urbangeneralstore.com. Standard rate shipping is $6.95 or free for orders over $100. Or Chicago-area residents can place their orders online and select free next-day in-store pickup at ENJOY. 

Monday, November 28, 2011

Happy Sigh Brrr Monday (& Luddite Tuesday)

Ah, Cyber Monday… the virtual doorbuster. We bet you’ve already received numerous emails telling you to SHOP NOW, YOU’RE TOO LATE, LIMITED QUANTITIES, BRING YOUR PEPPER SPRAY.
Not here.

Do you know that Cyber Monday originated as the Monday after the Thanksgiving Holiday when people went back to work and shopped online on their high-speed internet connections at their computers at their office. Those were the days!

But, it is 2011, people have high-speed connections on devices in their pockets! In fact, you’re likely reading this blog on just such a device.

Instead of coming up with a Cyber Monday gimmick, we’d like to take a moment and breathe a heavy SIGH of relief for another happy and healthy Thanksgiving and give a wistful BRRR to the chilly days of December that will be warmed with holiday traditions like sharing good times (and gifts!) with family and loved ones.

We do know economic times are tough, so in the spirit of a "Cyber Monday” savings event, we are taking 10% off everything on our website through Tuesday, 11/29, (in celebration of the less well-known Luddite Tuesday) at www.urbangeneralstore.com. This is an unadvertised special we are only telling you--our previous customers, email subscribers, Facebook fans, Google+’ers, and Twitter followers (and you, gentle blog reader)—our VIP’s as a way to say “thanks". Items will reflect sale prices on the website now through Tuesday, 11/29 (11:59pm CST).

After that, we will have the same funny, functional, quirky, inspirational gift items available. As always, we’ll still ship them to you quickly for $6.95 flat rate (free for orders over $100), pack them carefully with pride and send a hand-written thank you note or gift message. Or you can select “Free In-Store Pick-up” and your order will be waiting for you in a day or two at ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE in Chicago.

Any questions? We’re happy to help. Just email us.
The Masters of Merchandise (mom [at] urbangeneralstore.com)

The Fine Print: No rain checks. Online orders only. Offer not applicable on gift cards. Discount not applied to shipping charges or sales tax, where applicable. Offer void where prohibited. May not be used in combination with other orders.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Back to School? Back to Cool!

How does this always happen? One minute, you’re making plans for how you’ll fill up the long summer days. The next, you’re back to school shopping and pulling out sweaters!

Think back to your first day of school (however old you were). I bet someone took a picture of you. Standing proud and ready. New school bag or backpack. Maybe some new shoes. Maybe new-to-you, hand-me-down shoes. A uniform that is too big or a pair of pants that are as neat and pressed as they will ever be.

Here are my nieces and nephews on their first day of school last week...


And here’s me--probably c. 1978...


Look at how the hot air balloon book bag matches my skirt (that also happens to match my blouse--hello Garanimals!) 

Although the styles have changed (and the lunch box technology is MUCH better) there’s a certain similarity between my first day of school picture and my nieces and nephews first day of school picture (fashion notwithstanding).

I actually still have my first school bag from grade school (still quite fashionable, if I do say so myself). I’d probably use it as a briefcase if it would hold more than 2 phonics workbook pages and a jumbo #2 pencil.


Speaking of lunch boxes and school bags... they really have come a LONG way.
My nieces and nephews have Vapur Reusable Water Bottles clipped with a carabiner to their belts...


I had this to hold my drinks...


They have fancy backpacks and insulated totes for their lunches like the PackIt Freeze and Go...


I had this...


I've started to realize that kids today only seem so much cooler than we were. 
I bet kids today would do anything for this beauty from my generation...



Maybe we were cool after all.

Shop all our Back to Cool items at Urbangeneralstore.com now! Or stop by ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood today at 4723 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

2 for Tuesdays: Papa's Got a Brand New ______?


Ok, so you totally aced Mother's Day 2011, finding mom the PERFECT gift that showed how much she means to you and how much you care. She fawned over it and told all her friends about it.

Yay you!

But guess what is right around the corner... yep, Father's Day. June 19, 2011.

But dads are dudes. And most dudes are hard to buy for because they pretty much like anything you give them. And if your dad is one of those picky dads, then they are hard to buy for because they're picky!

That is why, every Father's Day, 1,148,327 ties are given as gifts in June and 1,148,326 are donated the following September.* 

Children of all ages panic and resort to this simple equation:
IF Men Wear Ties AND Dad Is A Man THEN Dad Needs Tie

*We totally made this figure up.

We know that if you are reading this blog then you must be a hip, savvy internet shopper--refusing to ever get dad another <snore> tie. This year, we'd like to change your mind about that perennial Father's Day gift. If you think your dad is "too cool" for boring, conservative ties check our selection of hip neckwear.

This 45 Record Adapter Tie is anything but ordinary.


$42.00
Might be his single favorite tie. 

Time for a new equation: 
IF you think your dad rocks AND this tie rocks THEN your dad will rock in this tie.  

Ok, ok. So your dad really NEVER wears ties, but he still love to rock. And we bet he drinks coffee.

The Amp'd Up Guitar Amplifier Mug is perfect on those mornings when the caffeine needs to go to 11!

$14.00
Get Amp'd in the morning with this oversized, porcelain coffee mug! 

A great "son reflecting on (grand)fatherly wisdom" song that is not "Cat's in the Cradle" or any other song buy a guy name Cat, is the Faces "Ooh La La". Apparently then-member of The Faces, Rod Stewart, didn't think the song was worthwhile so Ronnie Wood handled the lead vocals. With all due respect, Mr. Stewart, but we think you were wrong.

Ooh La La-Faces (1973)

What do you do if your father is Hank Williams, Sr? In "Family Tradition", Hank Williams, Jr. puts it, er, bluntly.

Hank Williams, Jr.'s Greatest Hits (1982)

We think ol' Hank 2 had his tounge firmly planted in his cheek. And while we typically favor the songs of his father (and his son), "Family Tradition" features a rousing sing-along call and response pre-chorus that we are a sucker for every time.