The Navigator is published under the direction of Editor Laurel Baer. | | |
The holiday season is officially here, and with it comes the fun (and sometimes challenge) of finding just the right gifts for the people we love. To make things easier and a little more joyful, our team has put together The Village Chicago 2025 Gift Guide: a collection of creative, useful, delicious, and delightful ideas from head to toe.
I hope you enjoy browsing through these suggestions. They include everything from cozy slippers and beautiful stoles to clever puzzles, tea lattes, and even gourmet treats. We hope it brings you inspiration!
This is also a wonderful time to support our local businesses. Our VIP partners offer unique items, great service, and special savings for Village members. If you are still looking for a meaningful gift, I encourage you to take a look at what they have to offer. Shopping local helps strengthen our community, and our VIP vendors are always grateful for Village support.
And speaking of treating yourself, the holidays are the perfect moment to do just that. Amid the giving, do not forget to pick up a little something that brings you joy too.
Wishing you warmth, connection, and a wonderful start to the season.
Molly Conley
Executive Director
| | Gifts for the Head and Brain | | | | |
Criterion Channel
For your favorite cinephile, a subscription to this curated selection of classic and art house films, interviews, and commentaries.
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Alphabet in Motion
A fabulous pop-up book that takes readers through an interactive journey about the history of typography from A to Z, with 17 different hand-designed pop-ups. Read about it here, and order from Amazon, Walmart, Target, and more.
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A gold necklace
The perfect accessory that someone special would be thrilled to receive. Check out the Neiman Marcus collection here.
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Shiatsu kneading neck massager
Designed to deliver professional-grade relief from muscle tension and stress, using deep-kneading nodes to mimic the hands of a masseuse.
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Mack Weldon’s Ace Blazer
Combines the tailored look of a blazer with the feel of a French terry sweatshirt. The unlined blazer, is easy to wear, machine-washable, and quite handsome.
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A dressy shoulder bag with style
It feels so good to throw your drivers license, credit card, and lipstick into a luxurious lightweight shoulder bag and party unencumbered.
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An everyday backpack
"Chosen by New York Times Wirecutter as 'best laptop backpack', it combines clever storage, easy access, and comfort. In lightweight waterproof fabric made from recycled plastic bottles."
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Moshi Digits Touchscreen Gloves 2.0
Top rated touchscreen gloves.
Lined with soft microfleece, these are unusually warm for touchscreen gloves—and a specially designed knit pattern and finger seams improve dexterity and typing accuracy. They come in three sizes that fit a wide range of hands.
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"Fidget toys"
These cleverly engineered gadgets are great to keep at hand to focus your mind, relieve stress, or just zone out.
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Six pints of Graeter's chocolate chip ice cream
Made in a unique way that places them in a league of their own. Includes toffee chocolate chip, mocha chocolate chip, raspberry chocolate chip and more. Travels to you packed in dry ice.
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Medjool dates
Plump and velvety from the date growing region of California. A great addition to a charcuterie board, or as an ingredient, or snack.
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Special olive oil
Small batch cold pressed, EVOO from an Umbrian estate. Limited edition, very special.
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An elegant celebratory splurge: caviar!
This 100% traceable caviar is harvested from California White Sturgeon and has a buttery, creamy flavor with some nuttiness and a hint of Parmesan, perfect for pairing with potato chips, creme fraiche, and chopped chives.
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Rolling Grill Baskets
For the barbecue chef - handsome stainless steel baskets with removable wood handles to grill small items like veggies.
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Create your favorite tea lattes
With 1:1 ratio concentrates. Made with single-origin spices and tea, slow-steeped and bottled in Brooklyn, NY. Lots of other unique tea ideas on this web site.
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Bombas Womens Gripper Slippers
Flexible like a sock; cozy like a slipper. and secure bottom grips. Plus, they fold flat for easy packing. Many colors plus other equally appealing slippers on this site.
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Banned Book Socks
Make a statement with your footwear. These socks showcase once-banned titles on one sock and bold "censored" strike-throughs on the other. Very cool blach and white design!
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Jessica Zipkin: Anker Portable Speaker
Grab, Go, Listen: A classic design refined with simple controls and effortless portability. Easy to use and take anywhere, and supports wireless stereo pairing.
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Gia Schultz: Surprise balls are great for all ages. Little bits of fun to unwrap from a tablescape.
Tops Malibu has a ton of great options with many seasonal favorites however the one that graces our holiday table each year is the Mini Surprise Ball Clementine. These colorful clementines act like a holiday cracker and include a variety of surprises inside, from wish paper, to magical fish fortunes, confetti, mini toys, and more. These little treats delight the whole family and are fun for all ages. They make great gifts and stocking stuffers, too.
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Sarah Collins: Skylight Digital Calendar
Perfect for busy families, caregivers, and anyone juggling a full schedule, the Skylight Digital Calendar keeps everyone organized and in sync. Its easy-to-read display and automatic updates make planning simple, and you can update it from your cellphone anytime and anywhere. It streamlines scheduling, reduces stress, and helps households stay connected without the usual chaos. Add this smart calendar to your gift list and give the gift of calm, clear, beautifully organized days.
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Darien Bloom:
CTA Holiday Train
The Quintessential Chicago holiday tradition. For the cost of a single ride ticket on the CTA, enjoy the lights, cheer, and you might even catch a glimpse of Santa.
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This holiday season, use your 2025 VIP membership card at local businesses that support The Village Chicago by offering our members Village Insider Perks (VIP). Enjoy privileges and special discounts at popular restaurants, retailers, and local businesses-all member recommended.
VIP Highlights:
Ashland Addison Florist
Use code hostc5 and get $5 off your purchase by 12/10
Art Effect Top Picks:
Click here to see the complete list of participating merchants.
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Dementia Friendly America Update:
Dementia Friendly America (DFA) is a national network of communities, organizations, and individuals committed to ensuring that every neighborhood is equipped to support people living with dementia and their care partners. Through greater awareness, reduced stigma, and expanded access to education and resources, DFA helps create communities where individuals with dementia and those who support them can continue to thrive.
We’re thrilled to announce that The Village has officially submitted Lincoln Park’s Dementia Friendly America application. This milestone reflects months of collaboration with several neighborhood partners who share our vision of a more inclusive, compassionate community. With their support, we are now one step closer to receiving Lincoln Park’s official Neighborhood Certification, which we hope to achieve in the coming weeks.
While the review process is underway, you can make a meaningful difference right now. One of our key goals is to educate and certify as many community members as possible to become a Dementia Friend. Becoming a Dementia Friend is simple: watch a short training video and answer a few brief questions along the way. The entire process takes about an hour and provides valuable insight into how each of us can help make Lincoln Park a more understanding and supportive place for those living with dementia. Link here!
By taking this small but powerful step, you will be directly contributing to our neighborhood’s journey toward full Dementia Friendly Community status. Stay tuned for more updates as we move closer to certification.
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RSVP today for our upcoming in-person and virtual events! For full descriptions and registration, visit thevillagechicago.org.
- (11/20) Weekly Walks Around North Pond
- (11/20) Short Story Intergenerational Discussions
- (11/21) Conversational French
- (11/21) Monthly Game Day
- (11/22) Saturday Afternoon at the Movies
- (12/1) Conversational Spanish
- (12/1) Monthly Intergenerational Trivia at D'Agostino's
- (12/2) Fraud & Scams Targeting Older Adults with Lynne Perryman
- (12/3) Great Books, Great Conversations
- (12/7) Private Guided Tour of the DePaul Art Museum
- (12/9) Life 3.0 Happy Hour
- (12/17) Crossing the Bridge
- (12/17) Men's Group Holiday Brunch at The Yacht Club
- (12/17) Reading the Rainbow
- (1/8) A Legal Roadmap to Aging Well
To RSVP for any event, please visit our web calendar or email us at celebrate@thevillagechicago.org!
| | Village Member Pastime Groups | | |
Are you...
Looking for a new career, about to retire, wondering what's next? Seeking companions that share your interests? Searching for a way to utilize your abilities? In need of occasional help? New to Chicago? Worried about changing needs? An adult child with aging parents?
Village members are part of an inclusive, multigenerational community, connected to others and to the resources that support growth and well-being as we navigate life after 50 together.
Learn more about the Village by calling us at 773.248.8700 or click here to download the membership application form.
| | Leadership of The Village Chicago | | |
Board of Directors
David Baker,
Board Chair
Joan Goldstein,
Vice Chair
Thomas Eley,
Treasurer
Lizbeth Metzger, Secretary
Karen Terry
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Officers
Don Bell
Jacie Brandes
Stefanie Clark
Hugh Kremer
Tom Pasker
Marilyn Pearson
Vamse Kumar Subbiah
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Advisory Council
Neelum T. Aggarwal, MD
Robyn L. Golden, LCSW
Joanne G. Schwartzberg, MD
Executive Director
Molly Conley
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The Village Chicago is a community of people who choose to share interests, experience, and friendship as we age. Together with a professional staff, volunteers, and an extensive network of services and service providers, we offer new social connections, lifelong learning, opportunities to find purpose, and support through life transitions. Everyone needs a Village - who's yours?
2502 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60614. 773.248.8700
www.thevillagechicago.org
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