Transistor

This Andersonville store is like your coolest friend’s apartment. You’ll find hip art on the walls, the best coffee-table books (tomes from Taschen and Chicago Review Press) and an awesome movie collection. And just like that apartment, you’ll want to hang out here a lot. You see, shopping is only a part of what’s going on at Transistor. You can purchase those items (the shop also carries electronic goods such as iPod speakers), but the store encourages lingering. The space hosts events just about every night of the week, including free video screenings and live music performances. Stop in every Sunday night (7–11pm) for Ping-Pong matches and the night's soundtrack is broadcast live on the Web—the shop owners call the evening “Transistor Radio.”