After a weekend in Seattle, I flew to Chicago to visit my childhood best friend Riana, who recently moved to the city. Chicago is a brand new city for me. I’ve never been to the Midwest and honestly, I don’t think I would have ever gone to visit if it wasn’t for the fact that my cousin has been living there for a couple years.

When I think of the Midwest, what first comes to mind is the intense weather: dense humidity in the summer, unforgiving winters, and the occasional storm that passes by. As a spoiled Southern California native, the cycle of seasons is a totally foreign concept. I realize the lack of seasons here in LA is highly unusual and as a result, I have a low tolerance for anything other than 75 degree weather. Nevertheless, I was very excited to get out of LA, explore Chicago, and experience the joys of the city my cousin has been raving about.

(Note: descriptions correspond with the photo grids below from left to right.)

Day 1:

Brunch at Stray Hen Cafe: There are TONS of amazing brunch places in Chicago, but in the end Riana and I wandered into the Stray Hen Cafe. Together, we shared the Oh Yams Skillet (bacon on the side), blueberry lemon cheesecake pancakes, and cheesy potatoes. 10/10 would recommend the pancakes.
Unabridged Bookstore: I do enjoy a cozy bookstore. Though I’m not an avid reader and I typically take a few weeks to finish reading a book, I do love the calming ambiance that bookstores possess. The Unabridged Bookstore is located near Belmont Harbor. Though it looks small on the outside, there are plenty of sections that cover genres for everyone. In the end, I picked out two books: The Matchmaker List by Sonya Lalli and A Lover's Discourse by Xiaolu Guo.
Plant Stand Collective: Right next to the bookstore is Plant Stand Collective, a small nursery and gift store that has a variety of indoor plants and small treasures. Even though I’ve reached my indoor plant limit, I loved picking out a plant with Riana for her new home in Chicago.
Lincoln Park: I honestly did not know much about Lincoln Park before my visit. It was a struggle to find parking and in the end we just paid the twenty dollars for a few hours of parking at one of the lots. Despite the logistical struggle to get there, I LOVED the Lincoln Park experience. From the scenic boardwalk to the idyllic landscaping, walking around Lincoln Park felt like living in a painting. There’s also a zoo, conservatory, nature museum and more on the park grounds.
Lost Girls Vintage: Located outside of the city in West Town, Lost Girls Vintage sells beautifully curated vintage pieces, eccentric statement jewelry, and unique homeware. I couldn’t resist picking out a short herringbone necklace for myself and a small gift for my cousin.

Day 2:

Good Ambler: Many thanks to my cousin, Avery, for this recommendation. Good Ambler is located near Fulton Market. From Michigan Avenue, it’s a little over a twenty minute walk, but trust me, the walk is worth it! From a variety of fresh pastries to the gorgeously chic ambiance, I can understand why Good Ambler is one of Avery’s favorite spots. The chocolate croissant was to die for: flaky, lightly sweetened, and perfectly crisp.
River Walk: I cannot stress enough how lucky I was with the weather. Despite my fear that the midwestern humidity would get the best of me, I seemed to have arrived during a rare period of perfectly cool weather. The River Walk is a great way to soak in the city. There’s so much to see and the River Walk is a great place to start.
Museum of Contemporary Art: One of the things I was most excited for was visiting the museums in Chicago. Ever since the pandemic hit, visiting art galleries and museums is something that I really missed. The Contemporary Art Museum includes three floors of art galleries, an outdoor patio for dining, and a gift/bookstore on the first floor. It’s a relatively small museum and I think it’s hit or miss for some visitors, but it was definitely worth exploring at least once.
Millennium Park: A must for any first visit to Chicago. Like so many people, I’ve heard about the iconic bean sculpture in Millennium Park. The massive size, reflective qualities, and overall shape peaked my interest. When I finally approached the bean for the first time, it was a bit surreal. The bean feels like an object from outer space and it reflects the very people that have come to see it. One of the best parts of visiting the bean is seeing the diversity of people that also come to see the bean for themselves. People from around the world, speaking a variety of languages all come to experience the magical qualities of the bean. Millennium Park also features the stunning Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Lurie Garden, and Crown Fountain.
Gilt Bar: Forgive me for I did not include any photos from my dinner at Gilt Bar, but trust me when I say that the truffle pasta and brussel sprouts were delicious. Many thanks to my cousin and her boyfriend, Julien, who showed Riana and I a good time at Gilt Bar. PS: don’t forget to visit the photo booth downstairs!

Day 3:

Goddess and the Baker: Located a few minutes from Millennium Park,, Goddess and the Baker is a cute cafe that serves brunch, pastries, and charming drinks. Also a plus, all ordering is contactless and you can pay on your phone. I ordered the rose matcha latte, highly recommend!
Chicago Cultural Center: Riana and I stumbled upon the Chicago Cultural Center originally thinking it was a public library. Once inside, we quickly realized the building houses one of the most stunning stained glass domes in the city. The incredible tile detailing and rainbow glass are simply divine.
Wendella Boat Architecture Boat Tour: Originally, I though the boat tour would be too touristy but upon my cousin’s insistence, Riana and I decided to go on the Wendella’s famous architecture boat tour. It was a ninety minute tour that covered the most notable buildings along the river and took us out into Lake Michigan to view the skyline. The tour was a great way to learn more about the city but I realize we made two rookie mistakes. First, we should have brought hats since sitting in the Chicago sun for an hour and a half gets toasty (there is an air conditioned deck under the top floor). Second, if you’re sensitive to motion sickness like me, it might be best to take something before hopping on the boat.

Chicago Art Institute: After the boat tour, we didn’t have as much time as I would have liked to enjoy the Art Institute. Nevertheless, we made sure to hit as many wings as we could before the museum closed. I was utterly stunned to discover how many iconic works of art were housed in the museum. It seemed to me like every major piece of artwork that I studied in my art history class so many years ago could be found on the museum floor. Everything from Picasso, Degas, Rothko, Van Gogh, Monet, Renior, Dalí, Koons, Warhol, Pollock, can all be viewed in person. The museum also features beautiful Japanese prints by Katsushika Hokusai, beautiful porcelain and jade pieces from China, and Buddhas from the twelfth century. Art junkies could spend days here; there’s just so much to see.

Cindy’s Rooftop: Only steps away from Millennium Park, Cindy’s Rooftop was a great final stop to get a bird’s eye view of the city. You don’t have to order food or drink to stop by to take a picture, but if you have the time, why not? (For dinner on a time crunch and budget, Riana and I got Shake Shack next door. Its been years since I’ve eaten at a Shake Shack but I’ll definitely be returning to one in LA soon now that I’ve tried on of their milkshakes.)

Day 4:

Fairgrounds Cafe: For my last day in Chicago, I wandered over to Fairgrounds Cafe to grab some breakfast on the go. I ordered a chocolate croissant, matcha latte, and a breakfast sandwich. Walking around the city with a hot latte in hand on a cool September morning is simply the best way to experience a new city.
Buckingham Fountain: Part of Grant Park. the Buckingham Fountain features a beautiful water display during the day and is accompanied by music and lights in the evening. It’s a massive fountain with a romantic view of the city.
Visit with Avery: My last few hours in the city were spent with my cousin, Avery. As an East Coast native, she doesn’t shy away from seasons and adores the dynamic energy of city life. We spent the afternoon making beaded friendship bracelets with a curious eye from her cat, Poppy.

Overall, I feel like I didn’t buy that much during my trip to Chicago and Seattle. I also didn’t have enough room in my carry-on suitcase to bring much back with me anyways.

In all, I bought:

Two books from the Unabridged Bookstore
Hank of yarn from Pike Place Market
Japanese print postcards from the Art Institute
Tote bag, puzzle, and wooden trinket bowl for my mom from the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art
Gold earrings and opal ring (not pictured) from a small Thai jewelry brand called Nakamol located on Michigan Avenue.
Gold herringbone necklace from Lost Girl Vintage (only box is pictured)

During my weeklong summer vacation I also took pictures on a disposable camera shown above. I can’t wait to get the film developed and share the photos I took during my trip.

Thank you so much for reading about my latest adventures. Chicago is a city that I really grew to love during the short amount of time I was there. Good weather had a lot to do with it, but I realize that there’s also simply so much to do in only a twenty minute walk. The accessibility of public transportation is truly game changing and there is clearly a great amount of care and effort that goes into producing an amazing public experience throughout the city. As somewhat of an in-between Angeleno, I can see why transplants view LA through a lens of overrated hype. The lack of public transportation, expensive parking, and mass scale of the city makes it difficult to navigate let alone experience in peace. I would definitely return to Chicago one day, maybe in the spring or early summer when the parks are in bloom again and outdoor concert season starts.

As always feel free to leave any thoughts/questions in the comments section down below.

xx

Ella Kol

PS: Many thanks to my friend Riana for hosting me during my visit and my cousin Avery for helping us discover the best things to do in the city❤️