Spring in Chicago To-Do List
Some old, some new, all in bloom
Flowers are budding, trees are leafing, and my will to live is finally thawing as the temperatures creep up during the communal exhale that is spring in Chicago. I make bucket lists for every season, and my spring one has only been growing as I get excited to go outside my apartment again.
Cherry blossom peeping at Jackson Park
STATUS: COMPLETE
A classic spring spectacle, the Museum of Science and Industry’s ~200 cherry trees bloom for only a short 1-2 weeks. They have a tracker where you can see when the blooms are peaking, and I’m lucky enough to be only a short walk from them so my camera and I got a front row seat this year.
Play outside
STATUS: COMPLETE
I’ve been casually into tennis and pickleball lately, and with free to play courts scattered all over the city, it’s pretty easy to hop over to one after work and smack things around to decompress. Next up, I need to dust off my roller skates that have been mostly abandoned since COVID.
Try a new restaurant
STATUS: COMPLETE
Since I’ve been in Chicago for almost six years now, I’ve gotten in a rut of just going back to places I already know I like, but I’m trying to recapture the exploratory spirit I had when I first moved here. I went to La Serre for the first time recently and had delicious pasta and potatoes and steak, but I also still want to finally check out Armitage Alehouse or Bavette’s.
Spring tea at LondonHouse
STATUS: TO DO
I’ve been to the Drake’s afternoon tea several times, but once I saw LondonHouse’s beautifully presented spring themed menu I knew I had to branch out. Robin’s egg macaron, hummingbird muffin, fig purse? Don’t mind if I do.
Closet cleanout
STATUS: COMPLETE
I’ve been aggressively offloading still-nice pieces to my friends, hunting them down one by one since everyone is too busy to do a closet swap together. Doesn’t fit? Toss. Always was a little annoying to wear? Toss. Just haven’t worn it in forever? I’ll probably still keep it around because I’m a sucker.
Make something with your hands
STATUS: COMPLETE
I’ve been obsessed with collage lately – I made the above ones with stickers and magazine clippings – and I want to try my hand at a Louise Carmen notebook dupe soon since it’s been all over my TikTok. I also have lots of felting/origami/crochet kits staring at the back of my guilty head all day in my home office.
Shop at P.O.S.H. and other cute stores
STATUS: COMPLETE
After your spring cleaning, time to fill your home back up! P.O.S.H. is the cutest niche homeware store in River North, full of antique silver and European flea market finds. Some other favorites I’ve been frequenting are Foursided, Buffalo Exchange, and Brown Elephant (where I found a red heart Le Creuset for $40, a high I’ll be chasing the rest of my secondhand shopping life.)
Talk soon — you can also find me on Instagram, TikTok, or my website