“Be proud of your place in the cosmos. It is small, and yet it is. How unlikely! How fantastic! And stupid. And excellent.”   
– Welcome to Night Vale

It all began with a quirky, morbid podcast and three ladies with a similar sense of humor and a taste for adventure. When we learned that they would be doing a live show in Chicago, we knew we couldn’t miss it. Not only would we be able to explore the city for the weekend and eat some great food, we would also be able to enjoy a live reading of our favorite show.

Listening to a podcast is a different experience than watching celebrities on television. You never see the faces of these actors. You only ever hear the voice. You begin to picture each character in the story, and you associate the voices you hear with the people in your head. There is something so peculiar and so enthralling about finally seeing the faces that those voices actually belong to. The people are never quite as you picture them to be in your mind’s eye; yet they could never be anyone else.

My friends and I actually met the voice of the main character, Cecil Baldwin, while we were walking the streets of Chicago waiting for the show to start. We were heading towards a coffee shop when one of my friends noticed him. We waved, and he was kind enough to take pictures with each of us before continuing on his journey to find a good pair of socks (true story).

Chicago is full of art and creativity, and it is always a pleasure to explore the city! If you’re looking for a good place for coffee shops, delicious food, and a lot of personality, Chicago is a wonderful weekend adventure.