Lollapalooza
Hobipalooza - July 31, 2022 Grant Park - Chicago, IL
Lollapalooza is coming up in less than two months and while I won’t be attending this year, I had the opportunity to go last year. It was my first music festival and I had so much fun! But before I went, I was terrified.
I don’t know why I didn’t think to google pictures of Lollapalooza before I decided to purchase tickets. Whatever the reason, it’s a good thing I didn’t. Had I seen the images of the incredibly large crowds, I may not have found the courage to participate.
I wasn’t planning to stay on festival grounds the full day as I was going mainly to watch J-Hope’s performance. I also wanted to be comfortable throughout the day. Here are some things I did to make this a pleasant experience both for my friend who lives in Chicago and me!
Tips for a more comfortable first experience at Lollapalooza:
Book a room at a nearby hotel. I booked a night at The Blackstone, Autograph Collection, which is a short walk away from the venue. I was able to use my annual free night from my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant credit card. I wanted to be able to go straight to bed after the performance, have access to a clean bathroom, and be able to rest in an area with air conditioning. While I could have purchased a premium festival ticket, I didn’t feel the need to spend additional money since I happened to have a free night available.
You don’t need to camp out in front of the stage. You can walk back when it’s closer to the performance time and still get a decent spot.
Bring wet wipes and tissues.
Bring a pair of high fidelity ear plugs, which will help reduce noise levels. They saved my ears! Many come with 2 sizes, regular and small. Make sure to wear the ones that fit your ears. When I was researching high fidelity ear plugs, I found that Eargasm and Earasers were the most recommended. I ended up purchasing a cheaper alternative on amazon and it worked well. Can’t give you a comparison though since I’ve never tried the other brands. I’m not sure when Prime Day is happening this year, but there were many high fidelity ear plugs that were on sale on Prime Day last year.
Bring a clear bag instead of a regular bag. I find that it helps get through the security checks more quickly and while it’s not eco-friendly, it’s nice that it’s waterproof.
Wear comfortable shoes. Sneakers worked great for me. Avoid wearing a new pair. They’ll get dirty. Not sure what people wear when the ground is wet. Maybe rain boots?
Do not wear thick clothes, like sweatshirts. It gets hot.
Do your own research and double check the website to see what is/isn’t permitted. There’s a section on it on Lollapalooza’s website
If you have some time to check out eateries that are farther away from Lollapalooza, I highly recommend Kasama and Lýra.
Oh, hot yam! from Kasama
Pastries from Kasama
Lýra’s gyro
Original Post: June 19, 2023
Reflections on Solo Travel
St. Pancras International
Outside of South Korea, I’ve never traveled alone internationally. And even when I did travel to Korea or domestically, I always had friends to meet at my final destination.
I unexpectedly ended up traveling alone to London earlier this year, and I was really nervous about it. Not only would I be traveling alone, but I’d also be traveling in my least favorite weather. The weather forecast was wet, cold, and gray all week.
Thankfully, this trip turned out to be a gift. I got to enjoy my time there in ways I didn’t expect to. I’d grown so accustomed to operating off of a clock while at home, that I forgot how to operate based on what I felt I needed. In London, I ate when I was hungry, walked around when I felt like exploring or being outside, and slept when I was tired.
This trip was a milestone. In fact, it might have been what inspired me to start this blog. I got to do something out of the ordinary, something that I was equally dreading and looking forward to. And it all turned out well in the end.
My most memorable moments include:
Purchasing macarons and chocolate hearts from the Pierre Marcolini in Marleybone
Visiting the Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly
Walking around Regent’s Park
Enjoying an excellent cup of cappuccino from Omotesando Koffee and Redemption Roasters
Passionfruit and rose macarons from Pierre Marcolini. I tried them for the first time when I visited Belgium and wow, they are my all-time favorite macarons. Lightly crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside.
Side note, “Dancing in the Moonlight” was playing everywhere I went! I’m hooked. It’s now in my playlist and I’ll think of London whenever I’m listening to it.
Something about this trip was calming and healing, and I’m so glad I went through with traveling on my own. Would travel solo again.
Coal Drops Yard
Tips for London
Make sure you have a contactless credit card, preferably one that doesn’t have foreign transaction fees
It’s easier to pay with a credit card and is largely needed for self-checkout at grocery stores like M&S and Waitrose
You can use your contactless credit card for public transportation instead of purchasing an Oyster card
Public restrooms are hard to find, but clean ones can be found at the locations below. I’m sure there are more. These are just the ones I’ve visited
Selfridges
Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly
Carry a small umbrella with you if there’s any rain in the weather forecast
Bring layers. It might be cold in the morning and evening and milder in the afternoon
If you’re looking to purchase water to bring back to your room, try to buy the bigger bottles. They’re much cheaper, especially the ones that are sold in packs
Tipping at restaurants: If there’s no service charge included in your bill, add 10-15%. When included, the service charge usually comes out to 12.5%
Regent’s Park. One day I’ll come back when the roses are in bloom.
Original Post: May 3, 2023
Hello, I’m here!
Hello, thank you for visiting candice & sage!
I’m starting this blog to finally do the things I’ve only thought about doing for years. The site’s name, candice & sage, serves as a personal reminder of what I hope to achieve and why I felt the need to “just do it” and start this blog.
Though my name isn’t Candice, it’s a name my mother wanted me to have. My mother’s favorite comic book series growing up was Candy Candy. The main protagonist’s name is Candice White Ardlay and she embodies qualities my mother had hoped I’d have as well. Candace is extroverted, adventurous, and tenacious. There were many moments in my earlier years where I felt like I was Candice, but as the years passed, I found myself losing touch with those qualities.
I’m introverted and tend to avoid taking risks. While that’s okay, I realized I’ve gone to the extreme where I’m not experiencing life as much as I would like to.
As for “sage,” my friends have told me that my archetype is “sage.” While there are many wonderful attributes about this archetype, I found myself focusing on the characteristics that have kept me from taking action, such as being critical and overly cautious. For example, even though I’ve been thinking about starting a blog for years, I never got around to it because I felt nothing was “ready.” And then I realized, I’ll never be fully “ready.”
I haven’t planned this out and don’t know what content my blog will feature. Maybe it’ll cover a broad range of topics or maybe it’ll focus on select topics like food, travel, and DIY activities. I’m welcoming Candice by embracing the unknown and I’m bringing Sage along for the journey.
Original Post: May 3, 2023