Hooray for targeted advertising!

Monday, May 25th, 2015.
Chicago, IL / Los Angeles, CA

It’s 9am again. I am just now getting used to Chicago time and it’s already my last day here. My flight is at 3pm, so we have half a day to kill. Erin has left this day open. Our only objective is to get a Chicago style pizza. Luckily, Erin knows just the place!

We walk over to the main strip in Erin’s neighborhood. I convince everyone to make a quick detour to Starbucks and then we are off to the pizza place (because coffee and pizza, right?!). Lunch service is just beginning, but they are already packed. There is not an open table, but the host proceeds to take our order anyways. It will take almost an hour to cook our pizza (I am so excited about this!). After 30 minutes of Kelly and Erin watching me drink coffee, we finally sit down and order a salad to accompany the unhealthiest pizza we could possibly order. We talk politics for a little bit (amongst AmeriCorps alumni its hard not to). When the pizza arrives, we take several photos and then dig in. It does not disappoint!

Now that lunch is over we still have a few hours to kill. I have been bombarded with commercials for Goose Island IPA on my Hulu account for the past month, so I suggest we go to the brewery, which happens to be located in Chicago. I can’t tell if Hulu somehow knew that I was going to Chicago or if it just knows that I like good IPAs; either way, 1 point for targeted advertising!

There is actually a real “Goose Island” where the Chicago River splits near the east side of town. The Brewery is located close to (but not actually on) the island.  Despite false advertising, Goose Island Brewery turns out to be pretty cool. I try all sorts of interesting beer and buy some souvenirs to take home.

Eventually it’s time to head back to the airport and I am definitely sad. I say goodbye to Erin at the curb and Kelly at airport security. I drink one more Goose Island IPA in the terminal as I wait for my flight. Eventually I make it back to LAX hassle free. My car is parked in Lot C and soon I am on my way home.