I'm going to the Chicago Art Institute tomorrow for a few classes, and I'd just like to know if there are any good record stores within a mile or so of it.

thanks in advance

I assume you mean "not a chain store".

The art institute is right downtown in the loop, and I've never come across a really cool record store in the loop. There's a big record store on the corner of Jackson and State (SE corner), but it's HMV or some other chain.

All my favorite places were up in Lincoln Park/Lakeview, and I bet there are a ton of cool stores in the other outer neighborhoods like Wicker Park, Hyde Park, etc... But the loop is pretty high rent for a really cool record store.

There's always the Virgin Megastore on Michigan.

Rolling Stone Records . . . on Washington between Wells and LaSalle.

I agree.

I never thought that place was so great. But it is probably the best record store in the loop, for whatever that's worth.

It used to be better, before it was taken over by the owners of the Crow's Nest. It used to offer $2.00 off every CD on Tuesdays.

The Loop sucks for music stores. I go there because it's the best downtown (and it's right around the block from where I work).

Crow's Nest is that place on State and Jackson, isn't it?

I think so. The place you're referring is attached to DePaul's Loop campus building.

By the way, Rolling Stone Records (also owned by the same people) is the same store as Rock Records (which is the store located in the Loop on Washinton). I always get the two stores confused.

i found some decent stuff in the crow's nest from time to time, but i'm just a suburban boy, so my point of reference is this place called dog ear records that also sells, like, porn.