Chicago To Do: Summer Adventures
I’ve been so focused on work lately (and adventures far and wide), it’s been ages since I took a look around a little closer to home for new experiences. One of my favorite parts of living in New York were the outings and random exploring I’d do when I found myself with a free weekend or day off. The same goes for Chicago. Even though the Windy City is endlessly more familiar to me, there’s no shortage of new ways to spend a Saturday afternoon. And as Spring gives way to Summer and the days are the longest they’ll be all year, I took stock of some of the ideas…
Chicago List: Out of Hibernation
It’s been a while since I drafted a new list of things to do around the city. With summer ramping up, it seemed a perfect time to build out something fresh, a brand new list of what I’m looking forward to doing and seeing and experiencing as the city comes out of hibernation.
Open House Chicago Adventure
A few months ago, as I was in the throes of processing a move back to the midwest, I did a bit of free association writing therapy. It totally helped process some heavy shit, which got my head on a bit straighter and led to some writing I actually published: my Chicago lists. The whole point of the lists is to keep me present in the life I’m leading today, rather than pine for the adventures I’d had in New York. And for the most part, it’s working. Just by being aware of the options, I’m more likely to take advantage of one or more on any given weekend. Like…
Chicago List of Lists
I had a bit of a moment a couple weeks ago, a “come to Jesus” moment with myself where I had to acknowledge the sheer enormity of the change I’d just been through. It all happened so fast and became such a whirlwind, for much of the last few months I’ve not been able to do much more than the next thing, whatever that happened to be. Now that the dust has settled, there’s a reality of living in a new city, setting myself up and settling in to what is my new day-to-day. I decided to do exactly what I do best when I’m overwhelmed: I made a list.…
Chicago List: Food & Drinks
A girl’s gotta eat, amiright? Chicago, I am learning, is known in some circles for its food scene, home to a slew of Michelin-starred establishments, and a “restaurant row” in the West Loop where more than one Master Chef has set up shop. I’m not sure all that is in the budget, but there are plenty of spots I need to get out to for a bite, a drink or both.
Chicago List: Outdoors
As the new job and move started to come together earlier this year, I shared with anyone who’d ask that I was most excited to be moving to Chicago just as Summer would arrive. “There’s nothing – nothing! – like Summer in Chicago!” I’d tell anyone who’d listen. And I meant it. Maybe it’s the brutal winters Chicagoans survive every year; maybe it’s the mix of waterfront and city streets and green space; maybe it’s the childhood memories of bike rides and Italian ice and evening swims. Add them all up and – once the rain clears – there’s plenty to keep busy with outside!
