My second year in attendance to this iconic music festival was a riot to say the least. Once you enter the gates to Grant Park it is a whole new world. I live a block away from the park and even I get turned around. With my knowledge of the city and 4 day experience I thought I would share some tips to a successful Lolla weekend.

1. HYDRATE
   • This may seem obvious but it’s the best advice I can give. Invest in a water bottle or the fancy backpacks and wait in line to fill it up because that sucker will be your best friend. Also it’s free, so duh.
2. MAKE A PLAN
   • It’s so easy to download the Lolla app and schedule your days so you don’t miss any shows. They have the times and locations of all performances, food, water, and bathroom spots!
3. STICK TOGETHER
   • The first day my group thought it would be best to separate into who had bags and who didn’t to go through the gates more efficiently. Bad idea. You have NO CELL SERVICE, like at all, so just stick with your peeps.
4. LOBSTER CORNDOGS
   • This isn’t a tip but a vendor was selling Lobster Corndogs this year and it was the best thing I have ever eaten.
5. CROWD CONTROL
   • Everything is packed, the shows, the trains, the streets, the hotels, so just be ready to be sweaty with strangers.
6. SLEEP
   • After each day, take a shower, get in bed, and cherish this resting time. After this weekend you will be sick, dirt will be in your lungs, and you’ll probably have a 4 day’s worth hangover.
7. MAKE FRIENDS
   • Talk to people while you wait in lines or while you wait for shows to start. Again there is no cell service so get to know someone around you.

Bonus tip! It’s Lollapalooza so make some fun fashion choices people. Mainly to all you Chad’s and Brad’s with the jersey’s. You can literally wear whatever you want, it’s a festival, so go all out. But no Indian headdresses please, its 2018 we are done with cultural appropriation!

 

 

I have definitely found some favorite spots while living in Chicago. I know I am just breaking the surface and I’m so excited to find more gems in the future. I’ll be posting places as I visit them in the future but this is just a few that came to mind!

//feature photo taken at The Hampton Social restaurant 353 W Hubbard St//

The Chicago Theater on State St is a staple in Chicago tourism. I got to see Harry Styles here in the fall and I will graduate in the theater in 2021. This is a great place to visit on a shopping trip or just walking around the city for a major instagram moment.

If you get the chance to go into the theater it is absolutely beautiful. I recommend getting a seat on the mezzanine so you can see every angle of the regally decorated theater.

If you’re looking for a cool place to grab lunch it has to be the French Market on N Clinton St. There are isles of different vendors offering all types of food, drink, and countless other products.

The atmosphere of the French Market takes you right out of the city and into a quaint and personal shopping experience. This is also a super cute place to pick up some fresh flowers for yourself, your kitchen, or your significant other. Who doesn’t love some fresh flowers.

Everyone knows Wrigley Field. If you are in Chicago during baseball season you MUST go to a game. Seats can be super cheap and if you’re not that into sports then who cares if you are sitting up top. A hot dog, a cubs hat, friends and family, and Wrigley Field make a recipe for a great day. The whole stadium singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game is a tradition that never gets old.

I recommend skipping the uber and taking the trains too and from the game. It is super crowded and it’s gonna take longer than a car but it’s definitely cheaper. There’s something about riding the train with all the other fans in their cubs gear that really completes the day.

Soho House on N Green St is another trendy spot to visit with girlfriends. This is a great environment for a coffee with friends or a space to get some work done. Apart from the lobby there is a great restaurant to try called The Allis.

You can become a part of the members club at Soho House or just stay a few nights in the hotel itself. They offer a picture perfect atmosphere and you’ll definitely impress friends or clients with a trip to this hotspot.

The Chicago Cultural Center is another great place to visit in the city. The exhibits here are super unique and something very different from what you find at the Art Institute. They also have great spaces for parties and receptions that are beyond gorgeous. The domed stained glass ceilings in the building are definitely a highlight for me.

During the warmer months one of my favorite spots to walk to was the Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park. There are a lot of places to just sit and think, read, listen to music, or do whatever you want! It’s a beautiful view of the city along with Lake Michigan.

There are always a lot of interesting people here and its great for people watching. I live 3 blocks from the park and this is a super relaxing place to escape to if the city is getting a little to much.

Finally you must go to the Art Institute. This may seem like an obvious one but for me this place is more than a favorite. There is such a wide variety of exhibits and wings and I hate to see people just whizzing through it all. I recommend you take your time. I love going to the Art Institute alone, its such a peaceful place for me and finding your favorite spots and places in the museum is magic.

There is so much to learn from all the art here and I think anyone can take something special away from it. Yes, I am an art student attending an art school so obviously I’ll geek out about it but I think you’ll be surprised when you find yourself geeking out too.

This is a more personal post about was my first year living in downtown Chicago. I started at Columbia College Chicago in August of 2017, majoring in Fashion Merchandising and minoring in Marketing. My experience so far has been amazing, I have met so many people and experienced things I would never be able to in my hometown. 

My classes have been a dream. High school for me was fun but my interests were never in science and math. Attending an art school I get to learn about such interesting topics and go to really cool places.

My favorite class was Visual Culture: Practices of Looking. Almost every week we met for class at different locations in the city. This day we went to the Museum of Contemporary Art to view the Murakami exhibit. We had our lecture on the front steps of the museum. This was why I came to Chicago. These experiences are one of a kind and if you are looking into attending a college in Chicago, do it, do it, do it!

Another big adjustment moving to the city is public transit. In my hometown I basically lived in my car. Going to school, work, hanging with friends, getting dinner or whatever I was up to was simple. I don’t have my car in Chicago and my VENTRA U-pass is included with my tuition.

Navigating the trains and buses was much easier than I thought it would be and I’m now super comfortable with transportation. I will warn you that you will see, hear, and smell some interesting things, on the trains especially, but it’s all part of the experience. I once had an old man tickle my foot on the train which was the last time I wore sandals or sat cross legged on the red line!

My home life has been a new experience as well. I live in a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with 3 other girls. It hasn’t been too difficult getting along with everyone, it’s all about compromise and respect. It was a challenge fitting all of my things into a tiny room but that’s college. I’m lucky I only have to share my shower, sink, and toilet with one other girl.

I don’t have a meal plan at school so walking to the store is in my weekly routine. I try to buy healthy organic food for myself but as it gets colder Trader Joe’s is feeling farther and farther away. I have recently been going to Target for most of my groceries. They offer a pretty good range in food, but I wouldn’t recommend going there if you’re looking for produce.

Another thing I’ve loved about Chicago is the endless list of things to do! I love love love going to concerts and I have had the opportunity to see some bands that don’t come to smaller towns like where I’m from. I’ve seen HAIM, Khalid, and Harry Styles each in different theaters. The Aragon, Riviera, and Chicago theater are all beautiful places to see shows and I highly recommend getting to all three!

I also love love love movies. The indie film My Friend Dahmer came out in 2017 in select theaters and I was super excited to see it playing near Lincoln Park. I took 3 friends and we journeyed out on a 20 minute train ride and a 20 minute walk, when we got to the theater it was sold out. We ended up having to wait 3 more hours for the next show in a random part of the city which led to my favorite thing to do, explore.

This night was so fun because we got to know a new part of the city with no plans, we were just there. If you are moving to Chicago my number one recommendation is to explore. Just take a train somewhere and see what you find. (Disclaimer: choose safe places to explore!)