So as my time in Chicago is coming to a close, I have now decided to up my tourist game by visiting the neighborhoods I totally imagined I did 4 weeks when started living in Chicago but did not actually visit. So this past Saturday I headed to Lincoln Park. A very nice and expensive neighborhood in ChiTown but also home to one of the only discounted Urban Outfitters in the world, so of course I was in there like swimwear.
I got off the train at the Fullerton stop and saw that the DePaul University Art Museum was right next to it so before I engaged in America’s favorite pastime of capitalism, I decided to stop in briefly to wander and gawk at art. It was actually pretty cool. It was very small gallery so I literally walked in, walked around and walked right out. But dont be alarmed by its size, some of the pieces were quite powerful.
I had arrived at the Urban Outfitters and was completely amazed at the amount of $9.99 tags I saw everywhere on normal clothes. I however could not find anything worthy of purchasing while standing in a line that would lengthened my shopping experience by 15-20 minutes. It was nuts. But I’m glad I went and did not buy anything. For anyone that knows me you know that it’s sometimes impossible for me to walk out of a discount store without a purchase.
However, there was an Akira Chicago across the street and that was slightly different story. Akira is a very cute boutique store only unique to Chicago with very fabulous apparel and designs. There are quite a few in Chicago but only in Chicago. While I had been in a few Akiras these past two weeks, I was not finding an item that I could not leave with so I always just left the Akiras hoping that the next time would be better than the last and then out of mindless browsing, I found it! I bought a beautiful ivory maxi dress on sale(!!!) and some earrings to match. I have no idea where I’ll wear it to but I envision myself on a beach probably in South Africa or Thailand next year sporting it looking like the rest of those snobby international trotting instagram bitches. (I CANT WAIT!) Be on the lookout for pics from my low budget tropical photo shoot in the next 10 months!
I then I realized the Lincoln Park had a zoo and while I did not want to go alone I went anyway and came across the Lincoln Park Conservatory first which was B E A U T I F U L. It was so beautiful; I choked up because I couldn't get over it. Lame-O I know, but you don’t realize how beautiful life is until you see it in the simple things.
I headed into the zoo, felt awkward, waved to the giraffes, and then started to think about exploitation of living things and started to feel more awkward and wanted leave, got lost, saw some zebras and other various animals, got more lost, and finally found my way out. I went back out through the conservatory to which I saw three brides in 5 minutes. So yeah, I definitely got out real fast before I thought about how single I was. But these feelings only got worse as I got to dinner.
I headed dinner on N Lincoln Ave at Simply It, a Vietnamese restaurant. It was rated one of the best restaurants in Lincoln Park and I thought, hey why not? But to my humiliation, I was seated right in between two couples and to add insult to injury I was given a complimentary drink because they felt bad I was alone. I wanted to die and jump off a cliff but the lemonade was superb, so I stayed. I ordered Bon Cuan (steamed ravioli crepe thingy with pork and earwood mushrooms) and Banh Mi (sandwich to end all sandwiches) , inhaled half of it and left ASAP. Then I remembered my roommate raving about this cupcake place on Clark (same street as the Urban Outfitters)… and you won’t believe it, I walked back!
Molly’s Cupcakes was on Cupcake Wars once and guess what? IT WON! It actually says this on their window in a nice 5x7ish decal sticker. I’m sure there’s also another prize for winning the TLC show? But I wouldn't know, I don’t watch shows about cupcakes, I just eat them. But the cupcakes were to DIE FOR. I got 4 (one was for the roomie that recommended the place) and ate 3, not all at once because I would not be able to write this post right now but oh my goodness it was so good, I didn't even instagram these because I was in THE ZONE while enjoying them.
So I Google mapped how far I walked on Saturday and it was 2.9 miles. What the actual F. Who knew it was in me? I mean I guess, when you are on the pursuit for cute clothes, cute animals, Vietnamese street food and cupcakes, you will do anything. You know the saying, “Where there’s a will, there are probably carbs.” I think that’s how that goes?
Anyways…until my next adventure,
XO
KK
I got off the train at the Fullerton stop and saw that the DePaul University Art Museum was right next to it so before I engaged in America’s favorite pastime of capitalism, I decided to stop in briefly to wander and gawk at art. It was actually pretty cool. It was very small gallery so I literally walked in, walked around and walked right out. But dont be alarmed by its size, some of the pieces were quite powerful.
I had arrived at the Urban Outfitters and was completely amazed at the amount of $9.99 tags I saw everywhere on normal clothes. I however could not find anything worthy of purchasing while standing in a line that would lengthened my shopping experience by 15-20 minutes. It was nuts. But I’m glad I went and did not buy anything. For anyone that knows me you know that it’s sometimes impossible for me to walk out of a discount store without a purchase.
However, there was an Akira Chicago across the street and that was slightly different story. Akira is a very cute boutique store only unique to Chicago with very fabulous apparel and designs. There are quite a few in Chicago but only in Chicago. While I had been in a few Akiras these past two weeks, I was not finding an item that I could not leave with so I always just left the Akiras hoping that the next time would be better than the last and then out of mindless browsing, I found it! I bought a beautiful ivory maxi dress on sale(!!!) and some earrings to match. I have no idea where I’ll wear it to but I envision myself on a beach probably in South Africa or Thailand next year sporting it looking like the rest of those snobby international trotting instagram bitches. (I CANT WAIT!) Be on the lookout for pics from my low budget tropical photo shoot in the next 10 months!
I then I realized the Lincoln Park had a zoo and while I did not want to go alone I went anyway and came across the Lincoln Park Conservatory first which was B E A U T I F U L. It was so beautiful; I choked up because I couldn't get over it. Lame-O I know, but you don’t realize how beautiful life is until you see it in the simple things.
I headed into the zoo, felt awkward, waved to the giraffes, and then started to think about exploitation of living things and started to feel more awkward and wanted leave, got lost, saw some zebras and other various animals, got more lost, and finally found my way out. I went back out through the conservatory to which I saw three brides in 5 minutes. So yeah, I definitely got out real fast before I thought about how single I was. But these feelings only got worse as I got to dinner.
I headed dinner on N Lincoln Ave at Simply It, a Vietnamese restaurant. It was rated one of the best restaurants in Lincoln Park and I thought, hey why not? But to my humiliation, I was seated right in between two couples and to add insult to injury I was given a complimentary drink because they felt bad I was alone. I wanted to die and jump off a cliff but the lemonade was superb, so I stayed. I ordered Bon Cuan (steamed ravioli crepe thingy with pork and earwood mushrooms) and Banh Mi (sandwich to end all sandwiches) , inhaled half of it and left ASAP. Then I remembered my roommate raving about this cupcake place on Clark (same street as the Urban Outfitters)… and you won’t believe it, I walked back!
Molly’s Cupcakes was on Cupcake Wars once and guess what? IT WON! It actually says this on their window in a nice 5x7ish decal sticker. I’m sure there’s also another prize for winning the TLC show? But I wouldn't know, I don’t watch shows about cupcakes, I just eat them. But the cupcakes were to DIE FOR. I got 4 (one was for the roomie that recommended the place) and ate 3, not all at once because I would not be able to write this post right now but oh my goodness it was so good, I didn't even instagram these because I was in THE ZONE while enjoying them.
So I Google mapped how far I walked on Saturday and it was 2.9 miles. What the actual F. Who knew it was in me? I mean I guess, when you are on the pursuit for cute clothes, cute animals, Vietnamese street food and cupcakes, you will do anything. You know the saying, “Where there’s a will, there are probably carbs.” I think that’s how that goes?
Anyways…until my next adventure,
XO
KK