A housewarming gift has one job: make a new place feel like home. Candles burn out and plants do not always survive their first Chicago winter. A piece of the city itself lasts. Here is our guide to housewarming gifts for a new place in Chicago, built around two ideas: something for the new walls, and something cozy for the first night in, sorted by the part of town they just moved to.
Something for the walls
Empty walls are the first thing anyone notices in a new apartment. Our Chicago ballpark paintings are original artworks of the North Side and South Side parks at their moodiest hours, with no logos and no players, just the park, the neighborhood and the sky. The North Side, Rainy Night canvas is ivy, brick and the el at blue hour. The South Side, Fireworks Night canvas is the skyline lit up over Bridgeport. Both are printed on matte canvas, stretched over a 1.25 inch frame and arrive ready to hang, in sizes from 24 x 16 up to 48 x 32 inches.
For a quieter wall, our Chicago skylines and landmarks canvases cover the places people actually walk past every day: Navy Pier, the Water Tower, the L, Lake Shore Drive, the Riverwalk, the beaches and both conservatories.
Something cozy: the neighborhood piece
Moving day is exhausting. A soft, midweight crewneck or a knit beanie with the name of the new block on it is the thing they will actually wear while unpacking boxes. Every Chicago neighborhood beanie carries the neighborhood name over CHICAGO in old gold, stitched dead center on the cuff, in Navy, Black, Dark Grey or White. The neighborhood crews stitch the same name in a collegiate arch across the chest, with CHICAGO and the year the neighborhood got its start underneath, in navy, white, Chicago-flag red, old gold or sky blue thread.
North Side moves
Lincoln Park. The Lincoln Park Est. 1865 crew or the Lincoln Park beanie, and for the wall, the Lincoln Park Conservatory at golden hour or North Avenue Beach in summer.
Lakeview. A few blocks from the ballpark, so start with the North Side, Rainy Night canvas, then add the Lakeview Est. 1857 crew or beanie.
Old Town and Gold Coast. The Old Town and Gold Coast beanies, with the Water Tower in autumn or Oak Street Beach at golden hour for the wall.
Andersonville and Rogers Park. The Andersonville Est. 1857 crew or beanie, the Rogers Park beanie, and for anyone who moved for the lake, the Harbor Lighthouse at sunrise.
West Side moves
Wicker Park and Bucktown. The Wicker Park Est. 1870 crew and the Bucktown Est. 1854 crew, or the Wicker Park and Bucktown beanies. On the wall, the L at dusk for the daily ride downtown.
Logan Square. The Logan Square Est. 1836 crew, one of the oldest years in the lineup, or the Logan Square beanie, paired with the State Street marquee on a rainy night in the Loop.
Ukrainian Village and Humboldt Park. The Ukrainian Village Est. 1905 crew or beanie, the Humboldt Park beanie, and the Garfield Park Conservatory Fern Room for a green wall in February.
West Loop. The West Loop Est. 1853 crew or beanie, with Union Station's Great Hall or Willis Tower over the river for a loft wall.
South Side moves
Bridgeport. The South Side, Fireworks Night canvas is painted from this side of town, so it belongs here. Add the Bridgeport Est. 1836 crew or beanie.
Pilsen. The Pilsen Est. 1875 crew in Chicago-flag red thread, or the Pilsen beanie, with the Riverwalk at night.
Hyde Park. The Hyde Park Est. 1853 crew or beanie, and Lake Shore Drive at dusk for the drive home along the lake.
Beverly. The Beverly beanie, and the Art Institute lion for anyone who grew up on school trips downtown.
A tip for the old-neighborhood gift
Some of the best housewarming gifts look backward, not forward. If a friend grew up in Bridgeport and just moved to Logan Square, a Bridgeport crew says you remember where they came from. Give one of each and you have covered both.
Everything is made to order in the USA and ships free to any U.S. address, so leave a few business days for production. Don't see the neighborhood you need? Tell us through the contact form; the lineup is still growing. More ideas by budget are in our Gifts Under $50 and Wall Art Gifts collections.