Your typical downtown newsstand selection hardly inspires—Pop Tarts, expired Tums and the occasional Low Rider magazine tucked beneath the Sun-Times. But Ankh is no typical newsstand. The shop, whose name comes from an Egyptian hieroglyphic meaning "life," is a self-proclaimed oasis situated underground in the hustle bustle of the LaSalle Blue Line station.

Taking up a space the size of a Volvo, Ankh does some pretty remarkable things. Tired of eating Cadbury eggs and croutons? Ankh provides lunch alternatives for health-conscious commuters (it also caters to folks staying in the Loop for work). The veggie wraps—with options like sunflower seed pate with sharp tahini lime dipping sauce, yummy curried potato salad and jumbalaya pate with pecans, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh parsley—taste good enough to make just about anyone toss that pre-packaged sandwich, especially upon learning that everything's just $5 or less.

In the mood for something lighter? Try a crisp garden salad, Larabar, Paradise Pie Cup or Glaceau Vitamin Water. And while you're nourishing your stomach, you can also appease your mind. In addition to the usual newsprint selections, Ankh offers a rotating array of books and magazines, covering everything from history to herbology to Star Wars, plus crafts by local artists, musical instruments, Tassimo coffee and even African shea butter. The next time you're waiting to be whisked away with the throng of agitated Blue Line commuters, consider making a pit stop at Ankh. "It's like that Josh Groban song," said a local patron. "It raised me up!"

Centerstage Reviewer: Anna Pulley