If you're tired of waiting in those interminable lines at your local post office, here are some remedies. My favorite is the one inside Parkway Drugs at 2342 N. Clark between Belden and Fullerton because you may also ship things UPS and there's no additional fee as there is at the "UPS Stores". I even went here in the midst of the Christmas rush and the place was sheer heaven for solitude. There is also a post office on the 2nd floor (Room 206) of the Mallers Building in the Loop at 5 S. Wabash. Here the hours are a bit strange. They open at noon, have lunch from 1:45-2:30 and close at 4:45. Got that? Nope, I don't know why they don't have lunch before they arrive for work. Another post office is in the Hancock Building, although I can't vouch for the lines and there's yet another in the Merchandise Mart.
Also, the Fort Dearborn Station at 540 N. Dearborn (between Grand and Ohio) has terrific hours for those in the know. It is open Monday through Friday from 7:30AM-6:30 PM (most P.O.'s are 8AM-5PM), on Saturday from 7:30AM-3PM and on Sunday from 9AM-5PM. Never a line on Sundays, says my kind informant. 312.644.7603.
Additionally a number of other post offices have extended their hours. For example the Lincoln Park office at 2405 N. Sheffield is now open from 8AM-7PM Monday through Friday and 10AM-3PM on Saturday. Check with your local post office to find others in your neighborhood with longer hours.





