Chicago - Here's to "One Night Only"

Chicago was my first stop on my cross country excursion, where I drove 10 painful hours from Syracuse to Chicago, with only a Bang and salt and vinegar chips in my system. The planning I did for Chicago was as far as looking up night clubs near me, then proceeding to go to none of them. But as we learned from NYC, the most unplanned nights are the best. And Chicago, you were the best.

​After starting the drive at 7am, I arrived at Found Hotel around 6pm (shoutout to the time zone change) and just started walking around Chicago before I settled on what I wanted to do for the night. I immediately found running water in the middle of the city, which topped off my night immediately.

Yes, you're looking at alcohol you are able to walk around with. My first stop was near the water where there was plenty of bars that let you take wine or beer from the table and walk down a stretch of the water. I sat on a set of stairs as yachts drove by on the river. I thought I peaked there. HA.

​After I got settled in I found this restaurant called Zombie Taco, which of course I had to check out. It turned out it be, well, unexpected. It looked like mostly a bar with retro chairs and old books. I went around 7pm so I wasn't sure if this place would turn into a raging night club or a secluded place to hang out. The menu was small but vegan friendly and the drinks were strong.

When it started to get dark my travel partner and I found a small bar that seemed colorful but empty. We chose some seats up by the bar when I realized that I was sitting in another person's seat. The conversation was awkward enough that the man reserving the seat bought us top shelf tequila shots, oh Chicago! Two hours later and about five shots deep we were still talking to the couple, where the girl ended up being a flight attendant and a mother. She told us all the spots to go to along our way out west and gave us a great app called HotelTonight, which searches the cheapest hotels in the area that are still available.

We left this bar and decided to follow the crowd. We landed on another bar until we were asked to pay the cover. Nope. Next bar. After talking to a handful of bouncers and asking them "Is your bar fun or should we keep moving?" We were finally convinced when we heard the bar was three stories with a roof top. Sold.

Where do I get started... We met a group of people (on the right) when they asked us to take a picture of them. Of course, the picture turned out terrible, but it was a blast after. We went down to the first floor with our new found friend group, and found a live concert where we danced the rest of the night. I didn't know that I was a bad dancer until I got to Chicago, because these people can DANCE. Every time we told someone we were from Massachusetts and New York but only here for a night, they bought us a shot and toasted to our "one night only." Every. Single. Time. Once the fun crowd dwindled down to the creepy crowd, Kayla (in the middle) and I had to track back to our car because we forgot our tooth brushes and chargers.

​Once we got to the car we were met with the food we packed for the next morning. One thing led to another and we were eating deviled eggs at 2am in a Chicago parking garage. Needless to say we forgot to get our chargers and tooth brushes. We went back to Found Hotel and curled up in our bunk beds.

​Well Chicago, it was a weird night. But one of my best ones yet. I love you. Until next time.