So going to Chicago in January might not have been the BEST idea— but tickets to the final weekend of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago’s #DavidBowieIs exhibit were too good to pass up.

January 1: Welcome to Chicago (I Can’t Feel My Face)
Afternoon arrival gives me time to drop off my bags in Wicker Park, then head out to explore the neighborhood. I make a beeline for Quimbys—one of the best zine/book stores in the world. …Aaaaand they’re closed. Good for my wallet, but sad for me. I snap a photo of the Closed sign silently taunting me.

Hi, Blue Line.

Chicago Blue Line in winter.

I zip past the Double Door (no music this time, alas), the cutest doughnut shop in the world (Stan’s Donuts) and an elegant La Colombe outpost before zipping up to the Blue Line.