Support ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE in Mission: Small Business℠

We are getting down to the wire.... ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE needs 250 votes to qualify to compete for a $250,000 grant from Chase and LivingSocial. And while Mission: Small Business feels a little like Mission: Impossible right now, we are undaunted.

We are asking for any of our fans, customers, enemies, family, friends, pets, classmates and followers to visit https://www.missionsmallbusiness.com/, login with their Facebook credentials or sign up for an account, then search for ENJOY in Chicago and then vote. That's it. Also, you can vote for more than one business. Why not search for your other favorite small business?

But, we are in Chicago… just campaigning for votes doesn't seem like the old "Chicago Way". We'd like to make you an offer you can't refuse. But the rules prohibit any discounts or giveaways.

But we'd love to know that you supported us. So cast your vote for us at wwww.missionsmallbusiness.com then write "I Voted" on our Facebook Wall (or tweet "I Voted" to @ENJOYChicago or email mom [at] urbangeneralstore.com).

You have our eternal gratitude.

Let Your Pop Know He's Tops

Father's Day is Sunday, June 17.

Remember your dad this Father's Day with a funny, cute or useful gift from Urbangeneralstore.com and ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE.

Our special Your Pop's Tops section features brand new super high-quality playing cards from Theory11, lots of cocktail accessories including the clever Whisky Stones and a tongue-in-cheek celebration of Fathers from the 1970s and 1980s in the Dads Are the Original Hipsters Book.

Whether your dad is a rocker, a fixer, a geekster or one of the original hipsters, there are 100's of gifts to thank your Dad and let your Pop know he’s the Top Dog.

Here are some more great gift ideas for your Dad…

Facebook Father's Day Card
from Ecka & Pecka

Garbage Socks
from Sock It To Me

Reclaimed Sailcloth Card Case (Tarjetero)
from FlowFold

Don't Forget Grandpa
Every Grandfather started out as a Father. He’s our past and our future. The family storyteller and keeper of memories. Remember Grandpa on Father’s Day with “Grandpa. His Stories. His Words”. This handsome fill-in-the-blank journal features 80 pages of questions designed to help create a treasured family keepsake. Also available for Dads, Moms and Grandmas.

Grandpa His Stories His Words
from Compendium

Everybody's Free (To Graduate)

ENJOY would like to share a post by our Social Media and eCommerce Manager, Stephanie Edwards (author of 101 Things a College Girl Should Know and 101 Things a College Guy Should Know). Below is the commencement address that she would write if she were asked to write one that she hopes will be incorrectly attributed to Mary Schmich as Kurt Vonnegut.

To the Class of 2012:

Congratulations. You did it. 

I know that any advice that you receive in these dewy, salad days of your pending adulthood is probably just wasted on you--like your youth[1]. 

That is ok. You are supposed to be young and carefree. Besides, when you are saddled with $1,234,756 in student loan debt in a few years, you won't even be able to buy a clue. But I will give you two little nuggets of wisdom (for free): 

1) Be kind.  

Yep, it is that simple. Bad things rarely, if ever, come from being kind."Kind", according to the New Oxford American Dictionary, is defined as "having or showing a friendly, generous, and considerate nature".When in doubt, choose to be kind. If being kind is not an option, wait until it is.  

2) Don't put anything on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LiveJournal[2], Tumblr, Flickr, Instagram, etc. that you wouldn't want plastered on the side of a bus.  

Like the bus traveling at 35 MPH down a street, things posted on social media sites fly by and are not seen by everyone in real time. But like that bus, postings on social media eventually arrive at a bus stop. And then imagine that your grandmother is at that bus stop, waiting for the bus to take her to the Jewel. And she's all like "Look, that's my granddaughter/grandson on the side of that bus and, oh my..". 

You get the picture. Be discreet. And if you can't be discreet, don't post it. 

That's pretty much it. You'll have to figure the rest out as you go.  Good luck, be kind and, please, wear sunscreen.

[1] Paraphrased from Mary Schmich's "Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young" published in the Chicago Tribune in her column on June 1, 1997. In her introduction to the column, she described it as the commencement speech she would give if she were asked to give one. The column soon became the subject of an urban legend, in which it was alleged to be an MIT commencement speech given by author Kurt Vonnegut in that same year (in truth, MIT's commencement speaker that year was Kofi Annan).  


Despite a follow-up article by Schmich on August 3, 1997, in which she referred to the "lawless swamp of cyberspace" that had made her and Kurt Vonnegut "one", by 1999 the falsely attributed story was widespread.


Schmich published a short gift book adaption of the essay, Wear Sunscreen: A Primer for Real Life, in 1998. A tenth anniversary edition was published in 2008 by Andrews McMeel.


[2] Ask your older sister or brother.

Happy Workers Day

Take a break and ENJOY these videos celebrating all things "work" featuring The Members, Billy Bragg, Carly Simon and Missy Elliott. 

When you're ready to get Back to Work, shop these office essentials (and nonessentials) from Urbangeneralstore.com.

Get Along With Your Co-Workers Tea from Blue Q

Manifesto Notebook from Wild and Wolf, Ltd.

Oh! My Goodness - Shhh... It Happens 

Before-You-Go Bathroom Spray from PooPouri

Everyday is Like Earth Day

The single tear of the Native American reminds you to "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute" the Third Planet because like Q-Tip Says, "Joni Mitchell Never Lies" and you "won't know what you got till it's gone".

Take care of your home. Because everyday is like Earth Day.

The winner of Merch Madness 2012 is...

The Mini GurglePot

It was close. Very close. But the quirky Mini GurglePot Gurgling Fish Water Pitcher beat the clever Winestein Beer Stein Wine Glass, the functional Guitar Pick Punch Tool and the wacky XL Beer Glass.

The Mini GurglePot will be 20% off until April 30 at ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE and Urbangeneralstore.com.


Thank you to all who voted in our Merch Madness contest. We really ENJOY coming up with fun contests, competitions and events so we encourage you to join our eNews List and keep in touch with us via our Facebook Pages, on Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Yelp!, Google+ and keep reading the Blog. Need anything else? Simply email our team of customer service savants, the Masters of Merchandise, at mom [at] urbangeneralstore [dot] com and we'll do whatever we can to assist you in all matters of gift giving and buying. 


Till next year's big dance...

Vote Today for Merch Madness Final Round

Vote today!

Merch Madness 2012 Final Round. 

The hipster cool Winestein Beer Stein Wine Glass is taking on the venerable Grand Dame the Mini GurglePot. Vote online at http://a.pgtb.me/cJ9q or in-store at ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE. All voters will be entered for a chance to win one of the champion products AND the winning item will be 20% off in April.

No Fooling, Backup Your Data!

Saturday, March 31 is World Backup Day. In honor of this very important day, we would like to come to you and ask... When is the last time you backed-up your irreplaceable data? If you don't know the answer to this question, stop reading this and go make a backup of your precious family photos, your band’s demo 'tape', your tax return from last year, the manuscript of your great American novel.

If you don't have a backup, you are saying "I do not value this data and I know that I will lose it and I don't care."

After you have completed your backup (the first of many regular and incremental ones, right?), breathe a sigh of relief and have a good laugh because after World Backup Day is April Fools' Day. Check out Time Out Chicago Kids "Right Now We Want-April Fools' edition featuring the Anti-theft Lunch Bags, Finger Tentacles and our other gags and gifts at our urbangeneralstore.com April Fools' Day Gags & Tricks.

Merch Madness 2012

Maybe your college basketball brackets are already busted (ours are). But you can still be a winner in ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE's Merch Madness! Every week, you can vote in-store at ENJOY and on the Urbangeneralstore.com Facebook Page for your favorite product.

Each week in March, two items will go "head to head". Fans and customers can cast their ballot for their favorite product each week. The winning product will be crowned Merch Madness Champion and will be on sale for 20% off in April--both online and in-store at ENJOY. Plus, every voter will be entered for a chance to win the Champion product.

In Round #1, the XL Beer Class by DCI was defeated by the Winestein Glass by Fred.

XL Beer Glass

Winestein Glass

In Round #2, the Mini GurglePot is taking on the Top Ranked Pick Punch Tool.

Mini GurglePot

Pick Punch Tool

Click here to vote today and be entered for a chance to win a Merch Madness Champion Product. 

Here are the current standings in a bracket style (of course):

Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/enjoyanurbangeneraslstore or stop in ENJOY, AN URBAN GENERAL STORE to cast your ballot today!

Dislike Facebook or leaving the house or colorful images? Email us at mom [at] urbangeneralstore.com to cast your vote. We don't judge.

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 their clever “Manifesto” stainless steel water bottles.

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 Ehrmann, with the sentiments of the poem distilled to create an inspirational range of products that amuse and inspire.

Happiness... by Aardvark

Shop all our Wild & Wolf Ltd. and other new products now.

* That’s British for "television season"!

† That’s British for "retailer"!
‡ That’s British for "specializes"!

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.

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.

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.