Summer Begins with 24 Hours in Chicago

This summer is meant to signify a lot for me. I view this summer as the perfect time to take a plunge and challenge what I ‘should’ be doing.

I have always wanted to travel – that’s all I have longed for and all I have ever put 200% into. Pushed to study business, a tangible, more believable career according to many – I have enjoyed it but, it has not been mine – certainly not the way travel has with its everlasting bug bite. This summer is taking me many places, a Tropical Paradise, a Neighbor for Self-Reflection (hopefully), and Home. For now, though, summer begins with 24 Hours in Chicago.

The long semester in Champaign is over and I am lakeside before my pitstop in Mumbai. Chicago typically represents a back to reality energy for me. Away from the cornfields and campus buildings and amongst the tall skyscrapers and standalone retail stores of Chicago combined with the fabulous skyline whether you’re underneath it or onlooking from Lakeshore Drive and Navy Pier, has always taken my breath away. It gives you the big city vibe you’d expect while also allowing you to enjoy its charm and magic without being pushed or getting your toe stepped on.

I spent the day strolling up and down Michigan Avenue and spent some time by the Bean. No matter how many times I visit it, I will never understand why an object which is essentially a mirror continues to amaze me. I believe that it is the odd location, placement, and structure that persistently fascinate me. For a late lunch, I caught up with a friend and crossed the road to Cindy’s Rooftop. Cindy’s is a modern, casual rooftop bistro. While on the pricy end, their drinks were creative and fresh ranging from vibrant colors and diverse spirit choices. I do not think you can go wrong with a choice, just don’t be ordering a Miller Lite for $7. We ate Oysters and Fries (a peculiar combo, it was our fruitless attempt of trying to be luxurious and budget friendly at the same time, in typical college student fashion) which were light and crisp respectively, their homemade spicy béchamel giving the oysters a great kick.

Following some time at the deck overlooking the Bean and Lake Michigan’s harbor we made our way to Nutella Café. Diving into some of the best gelato I have ever had, accompanied with a Nutella filled biscuit, we met another friend who had come down to the Loop, and finished our desserts. Following our food filled afternoon we explored River East – a place none of us had been to before and uncannily reminded me of the canal homes by Venice Beach in Los Angeles devoid of each home’s personal boats. The area had a quaint, yet extravagant charm and you could tell this was a pocket of the loop with an elegant classiness to it. Making our way over to the tourist packed Navy Pier, we soaked in the skyline courtesy of the Centennial Wheel – this is a view I experienced on my first night in Chicago in 2019 and I loved reminiscing through the rays of sun peering amongst Chicago’s famed skyscrapers.

Grabbing another spicy meal for dinner, we journeyed to Nando’s, where I tucked into Peri-Peri Chicken Thighs with Hot sauce which was, admittedly hotter than I had expected but manageable and added a new element to the flavor base. After dinner and some great conversations, we spent some time in my hotel room before it was time for my friends to board their respective subway/metro.

The next morning, my hotel, the St. Clair refused to give us a late checkout or store our bags. My experience at the St. Clair was divisive to say the least, the room was comfy and large, bathroom clean and spacious. My critique however, is that there was no real reception area, no lobby, and the staff at the reception were rude, mildly condescending, and unwilling to help. With 4 hours to kill and 2 check-in bags, I walked across to the Marriott on Michigan Avenue, a hotel I had stayed at on my previous visit to Chicago and asked them to store my bags (they politely obliged).

I walked to Stan’s for coffee and a donut. The last 3 occasions that I have been in Chicago, I have always made it a point to go to Stan’s Donuts & Coffee. I do not think they have the best coffee in the world, nor do they have ‘blow your mind’ donuts. This is not to say they aren’t good, but that’s all they are - simply good. The real charm at Stan’s is the view of a hectic world outside, while you cozily sip on a warm dark coffee enjoying the light pink and wooden décor accompanied by the artsy donut panels hanging from the ceiling. The atmosphere is a mixture of busyness externally but, calmness within oneself.

Sitting in the Marriott lobby, I wrapped up last-minute travel and airline details and did a bit of extra writing before I made my way to the airport. Currently, I am sipping a beer by my gate and am looking forward to the pit stop in Mumbai. The pit stop which will shape what’s to come in its immediate aftermath as well as the rest of my summer.