This past September, PAPER Magazine's longtime editorial director, Mickey Boardman, shot off the tweet, “Actually I’m just changing planes in Pittsburgh, but I think it’s important to explore new airport gift ships! It’s culturally enriching.”
We thought, “Us, too!! J'adore airport gift shops.” Thus, the birth of "Mr. Mickey’s Fabulous Guide To Airport Gift Shops," a four-part(ish) series of the man's favorite pit stops around the world. (If anyone has particular authority on this topic, it would be the self-professed shopaholic, who has racked up nearly 30 flights this year alone.) Enroute to visit the Windy City Queen, Ikram Goldman, Mickey took some snaps of his favorite finds at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), the world’s busiest portal in the world as far as traffic movements. Read on for his airport philosophy, and check out his jazzed-up iPhone snaps in the slideshow above to inspire your own shopping spree this holiday season. Duty-free YSL Touche Éclat and bulk Toblerone, anyone?
"My airport philosophy? I like to always get there early, because I’m that kind of a person. I hate to rush in. All you have to do is miss one plane ever, and it changes you for life. As for gift shops: I don’t necessarily enjoy the Prada store or the Dior store; they’re great and they’re fabulous, but I can do those in New York.
I like the kind of nutty gift shops. I like the kitsch and the candy and all that kinds of stuff. I’m from outside of Chicago, so at the airport, I love getting Fanny Mae Pixies. Pixies are like turtles, with the pecans and caramel. They’re much better than these turtles you see at Walgreens, and it’s indigenous stuff that makes it fun. There are also giant snacks, like a 32-ounce Rice Krispies Treat—can you think of anything more horrifying on a certain level? Not that I cook, but it’s like, really, you have to buy a Rice Krispie Treat? You can’t just make one?
For some reason, I’m really obsessed with Barbara’s Bookstore in Chicago. It’s a real, old-fashioned bookstore. I love to read and you feel like bookstores are dying, so for some reason, this place makes me feel like there will always be bookstores. They have this weird thing where if you bring back a book, you get half-off the next book, (which I never do). Usually, when I’m in Chicago, I buy a book there at the airport. Last time I think I got Brooke Shields' new book about her mother. I also love the author Joyce Meyer, who is this televangelist inspirational speaker.
And then, there are these delicious, kind of weird taffy apples from this place called the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. And you've got to get some Chicago Bears merchandise, you know what I mean?! And Garrett Popcorn is kind of a famous popcorn place here in Chicago—so I kind of love it. I remember once I was there and I saw Oprah.
We thought, “Us, too!! J'adore airport gift shops.” Thus, the birth of "Mr. Mickey’s Fabulous Guide To Airport Gift Shops," a four-part(ish) series of the man's favorite pit stops around the world. (If anyone has particular authority on this topic, it would be the self-professed shopaholic, who has racked up nearly 30 flights this year alone.) Enroute to visit the Windy City Queen, Ikram Goldman, Mickey took some snaps of his favorite finds at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), the world’s busiest portal in the world as far as traffic movements. Read on for his airport philosophy, and check out his jazzed-up iPhone snaps in the slideshow above to inspire your own shopping spree this holiday season. Duty-free YSL Touche Éclat and bulk Toblerone, anyone?
I like the kind of nutty gift shops. I like the kitsch and the candy and all that kinds of stuff. I’m from outside of Chicago, so at the airport, I love getting Fanny Mae Pixies. Pixies are like turtles, with the pecans and caramel. They’re much better than these turtles you see at Walgreens, and it’s indigenous stuff that makes it fun. There are also giant snacks, like a 32-ounce Rice Krispies Treat—can you think of anything more horrifying on a certain level? Not that I cook, but it’s like, really, you have to buy a Rice Krispie Treat? You can’t just make one?
For some reason, I’m really obsessed with Barbara’s Bookstore in Chicago. It’s a real, old-fashioned bookstore. I love to read and you feel like bookstores are dying, so for some reason, this place makes me feel like there will always be bookstores. They have this weird thing where if you bring back a book, you get half-off the next book, (which I never do). Usually, when I’m in Chicago, I buy a book there at the airport. Last time I think I got Brooke Shields' new book about her mother. I also love the author Joyce Meyer, who is this televangelist inspirational speaker.
And then, there are these delicious, kind of weird taffy apples from this place called the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. And you've got to get some Chicago Bears merchandise, you know what I mean?! And Garrett Popcorn is kind of a famous popcorn place here in Chicago—so I kind of love it. I remember once I was there and I saw Oprah.