For a girl who wants to always be in Chicago…especially a good list for vinyl listeners, club enthusiasts, stationery and design nerds. Merz Apothecary
Parachute
Robey Hotel
The Warbler
Smartbar
606 Records
The Green Mill
Dusty Groove
Giant Penny Whistle
Greer Chicago
Atlas Stationers
Oak Park FLW Walk
Garfield Park Conservatory
holstein park pool
quesadilla la reina del sur (restaurant)
logan arcade (bar)
the charleston (bar)
taking the brown line on a summer day
chef’s special (restaurant)
rainbo club (bar)
gemini / penelope (shop)
handlebar (restaurant)
running/walking/biking on the 606
dial m for modern (vintage furniture)
engine coffee shop
lula cafe (a dinner must)
club lucky (martinis n caesar salad)
merz apothecary (lotions n potions)
logan square farmers market
ok feel like there’s so many more recs but honestly you can do anything in chicago during the summer and have a good time
bars:
* rainbo club
* california clipper
* inner town pub
* sleeping village
* best intentions
* the hi-lo
* easy does it
* outside voices
* the owl (but only after the 2am bars close)
pizza:
* pequods
* malnati’s
(deep dish is a myth and no chicagoan actually eats that)
breakfast:
* lula cafe
*flying saucer
* middlebrow (also for lunch or dinner)
* allez cafe
* kasama lunch/dinner:
* 90 miles cuban cafe
* club lucky
* rootstock
* all together now
* yours truly
* elske (fancy, michelin star) i prob have more but i haven’t lived there in 3 years (plus 2 years of covid) so i haven’t experienced chicago in its full glory since 2019 🥲
I’ve been taking a deep dive into the Chicago music scene lately, and have been super impressed by what I’ve been hearing. Chicago has a very dark and unique sound (there’s a reason why all the recent signed artists by Matador have come from this city). But mostly, the sound isn’t commercial, and artists choose to build off of each others experimentations. Check it out, and let me know what you think!
The more you do it, the more you realize anything is possible. Anyone judging you is projecting. Hit that pavement and hit it hard cause it just makes everything easier and removes the charge. You can do it small or do it big. But….do it.