September is here and that could only mean one thing; Autumn is here. The season brings out delicious pumpkin spice lattes and wonderful views but it has its own set of laundry challenges. To help you navigate through the new season, we’ve compiled a list of laundry tips for autumn.
Fall has finally arrived, and there is no city to enjoy the changing colours and festivities of the season quite like Chicago. Here are just 10 things that you can do this fall in Chicago.
You will find Lincoln park in the north of Chicago. Home to immaculate gardens, a hidden lily pond, and the Lincoln Park Zoo, there is an abundance of things to see and do in Lincoln Park. Despite the park being accessible at all times of the year, it is most beautiful during the fall. As you walk the expanse of the grounds there are plenty of trees showcasing the changing colours of the fall, and plenty of crunchy leaves to satisfyingly walk through. If you want a day in the fresh air whilst in Chicago, explore Lincoln Park to its extent.
Fall means Halloween. There are several ways Halloween can be celebrated in Chicago, one of which is the Night of 1,000 Jack-o-Lanterns. Hosted at the Chicago Botanical Gardens, Night of 1,000 Jack-o-Lanterns is a celebration of the humble Halloween classic- the pumpkin. More than 1,000 hand-carved pumpkins light a paved path with a variety of faces from celebrities to iconic Chicago landmarks. Each pumpkin is true art. As you walk the Jack-o-Lantern path, the Halloween festivities continue with costumed entertainers, pumpkin-carving demonstrations, and a light fare. Night of 1,000 Jack-o-Lanterns is only running from the 13th-17th and 20th-24th of October so make sure that you get your tickets ASAP.
Keeping with the Halloween theme, Sonny Acres Farm is the perfect place to spend a spooky day out. If you are in Chicago with children, the farms Haunted Daytime Fun is ideal. You can experience fun hayrides around the farm, pumpkin picking, and, if brave enough, even take a visit to the Haunted Barn. For older children and adults who are looking for the fright of their lives, wait until the evening to experience the Haunted Barn. With live actors taking on a variety of horrifyingly creepy characters, expect to be scared from the moment you step into the barn to the moment you leave. You can experience all of the Halloween fun at Sonny Acres Farm until the 31st of October.
If you are looking for a more wholesome Chicago fall experience then head to All Seasons Orchard. There is an abundance of fall fun to be had, including picking fruit from the 15,000 apple and pear trees, picking the perfect pumpkin from the 10 acre pumpkin patch, and getting lost in the All Seasons corn maze. There are two pathways you can take in the corn maze, a shorter one for those with young children, and a longer, more challenging, alternative. After tackling the corn maze, explore the All Seasons Orchard Barnyard, complete with petting zoo, mini zip line, and pumpkin bowling. All Seasons Orchard is the perfect fall day out for every age.
For those cheese and wine lovers visiting Chicago this fall, book your tickets for the Harvest Wine and Cheese Festa. Over the course of an hour and 15 minutes you will be treated to a special selection of ten Tuscan wines, each paired with a chef-curated selection of artisanal cheeses. Once you have sampled each wine, you can further indulge yourself by purchasing the wines at the on-site marketplace. A ticket for the Harvest Wine and Cheese Festa is $59 and the event will only be running on Friday the 22nd of October and Saturday the 23rd of October.
The Chicago International Film Festival is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. The festival is presented by its parent company Cinema/Chicago, which was founded in 1964 by filmmaker and graphic artist Michael Kutza. The festival has been running since 1965 and is a celebration of the best in international cinema. All proceeds from the festival go to Cinema/Chicago’s programmes that help foster better communication between diverse cultures through film and moving images. The Chicago International Film Festival is a great opportunity to see international films and is perfect for any lover of cinema in Chicago this fall.
Halloween isn’t the only fall festival to look forward to, there is also Thanksgiving. The week before Thanksgiving, along the length of Michigan Avenue, 200 tress are illuminated by over a million lights. The festival began in 1949 and has only grown in scale since. After the initial lighting ceremony, a parade of floats begins, featuring festive favourites such as Santa Claus, cartoon characters, and musical performances. To end an evening of magical fun, a firework display lights the nights sky, brining the event to a perfect close. The Magnificent Mile Light Festival begins at 11am.
Just one week after The Magnificent Mile Light Festival is Chicago’s Thanksgiving Parade. On Thursday 25th of November 2021 thousands will gather on the streets of Chicago to celebrate Thanksgiving and watch the Parade. From balloons of your favourite cartoon characters to parade floats, dance acts, and extra special guests, Chicago’s Thanksgiving Parade is a spectacle for all. The parade begins at 8am and runs until 11am, however it’s best to head to State Street as early as possible to secure yourself a good viewing spot.
The Chicago Marathon is held every October and sees 45,000 runners cover 26.219 miles of the city. The track forms a loop both beginning and ending at Grant Park, and the runners will travel through 29 of Chicago’s neighbourhoods. If you would like to support the runners of the Chicago Marathon you can do so at one of the three ‘Cheer Zones’. The ‘Cheer Zones’ are located at the 8 kilometre mark, 15 mile mark, and 26th mile mark. The Chicago Marathon will be held on Sunday the 10th of October 2021 and races begin from 7:20am.
For those who are visiting Chicago interested in exploring art and culture, the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit is a must see. At the Lighthouse ArtSpace at Germaina Club you can experience the legendary work of Vincent Van Gogh like never before. Van Gogh’s work is highlighted through 500,000 cubic feet of flawless projections that allow every brushstroke to be observed up close. From Starry Night to Sunflowers you can view Van Gogh’s work at an astonishing scale that will give you a new appreciation for his artistry. The Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit will be running throughout October and November and tickets start from $40.
Chicago is a beautiful city, especially during the fall season. Too beautiful to miss out on because you’re doing laundry. Head to the Laundryheap website, or download the free Laundryheap app, to get your laundry picked-up, laundered, and redelivered to you within 24 hours.
Despite the fact that Halloween will be very different this year due to COVID restrictions, you can still have an exhilaratingly spooky time.
Carving pumpkins is a classic Halloween ritual that begun in Ireland hundreds of years ago. They would carve faces into turnips and potatoes, but it wasn’t until Irish immigrants in America discovered pumpkins that they began pumpkin carving.
You can find pumpkins in supermarkets or you can pick your own from a pumpkin farm. To make your carving more interesting, see who can do the best/scariest carving amongst your friends and family.
Part of the joy of Halloween is walking down the street and observing spookily decorated houses. Just because things will be different this year, don’t let that stop you from creating your own haunted house. Get the spiders webs, ghosts, and flickering lights out and make your house as scary as possible. You could even collaborate with your neighbours and create a whole street of haunted houses.
Are you more Hocus Pocus or A Nightmare on Elm Street? The Adams Family or The Conjuring? Whether you’re a lover of scary films, or prefer the family classics, host your very own Halloween movie night this 31st October. Snuggle up in some comfy PJ’s, lots of blankets, and plenty of snacks, and watch your favourite Halloween films over the course of the evening. Just make sure that you don’t get too sleepy watching them, because you never know what’s hiding under the bed…
We may not be able to go out trick or treating this year, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t dress up. Get the face paints, fake blood, and masks out and have fun transforming into a new person, creature, or thing for the day. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures to show your friends and family just how ghoulish you can be.
Give in to your inner witch or warlock and mix yourself a spooky drink in your cauldron. Get creative with your concoction and try out a variety of flavour combinations. Give your drink that extra edge by including ice cube spiders and zombie eye limes.
2020 has made us all experts at hosting virtual events. This Halloween, get your costume on, mix yourself a spooky drink, and gather all of your friends and family for a virtual party. Complete with a ‘Best Dressed’ competition and spooky playlist, you can have all of the fun of a Halloween party, from the safety of your own home.
Release your inner child by bobbing for apples, playing Halloween bingo, and making the best mummy from toilet paper. Buy some sickeningly sweet treats for the winner of each game and have some childish fun.
Halloween is a great time to get creative and bake some spooky snacks. Try making eyeball cake pops, spider biscuits, and black cat cupcakes. Once you’ve made your beastly bakes, share them with your loved ones. You just need to think of a trick to go with your treat.
Halloween would not be complete without dancing to the Monster Mash. Create your very own Petrifying Playlist and dace the night away to all of your favourite spooky sounds. Don’t forget to share your playlist so that all your fellow ghosts and ghouls can enjoy your mix as well.
If you want something creative to do this Halloween, then why not take part in some Halloween crafts. Create your own spiders web, make a mummy, or even get messy with some Halloween slime. The messier the better.
Our only trick is delivering your freshly dry cleaned laundry to you completely contactless. Treat yourself to a Laundryheap service by visiting the Laundryheap website or by downloading the free Laundryheap app.
We may all still be spending a large amount of time at home, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t look amazing whilst doing so. These are the hottest Autumn 2020 fashion trends.
It is vital that we protect ourselves from the harsh autumn breeze by wearing a coat. This autumn the hottest coat is brown leather PU. This understated coat comes in a range of lengths, depending on your preference, and is perfectly paired with black, grey, and blue colours. It’s the perfect coat to throw on whenever you’re feeling the autumn chill.
Sticking with the theme of brown, neutral tones are the desired colour palette this autumn. Neutrals are a staple in every wardrobe, and this autumn you shouldn’t be afraid to mix and match your neutrals. Try pairing a sand coloured boiler suit with a camel coat, or maybe a mocha leather skirt paired with a nude jumper. The possibilities are endless when it comes to mixing neutral tones so have fun with it.
In contrast to the neutral tones that are popular this autumn, red is also a big colour. Fire engine red will quickly become your go-to shade for injecting colour into your wardrobe, specifically for your more going-out looks. Red sequins, tassels, and frills are all the range for party outfits so don’t be alarmed when you start to see red wherever you go.
Whether you’re wearing a skirt, jeans, trouser suit, or dress, a pair of slouchy boots are the perfect accompaniment. Sitting just below the knee, with every step you take your boots with scrunch and give your outfit some added texture. Try and find a pair in a warm shade of cream to elevate your looks. Whatever outfit you’re rocking these boots will give you an extra edge this autumn, whilst keeping most of your leg warm.
Animal prints are a staple favourite every season, and this autumn is no exception. This season we are going wild over tiger print. The combination of black and warm brown/orange in a funky print adheres to the warm colour palette associated with autumn, whilst adding a pop of colour to any monochrome outfit. Whether you rock a tiger print jacket, dress, or top, adding a pop of print will make any outfit look both fun and fresh.
This autumn neutral tones will make up the majority of your outfits. That being said, it’s always good to add a pop of colour, and this autumn it will come from your bag. A pop colour bag, such as a vibrant yellow or deep blue, will break up the neutral palette of your outfit, and add an eye-catching feature. The best way to wear a pop colour bag is as a soft-leather clutch, held under your arm and close to the other items in your outfit.
In recent seasons a loose-fit has been the way to style a suit. This autumn the structured suit is back, with particular emphasis on the blazer. A belted blazer should be worn over your suit to create a more angular outfit. This trend is focused on pulling in the waist to create a more traditionally feminine hour glass look.
Autumn offers the perfect opportunity to get out your cosiest jumpers, and this season we’re turning that cosy jumper into a full dress. Keep your whole body warm this autumn with a full-length maxi knit dress. You will be able to find these dresses in both a tight and loose fit, with many offering a slit up the leg of one side in order to create more of a shape. Pair yours with a heavy pair of boots and your ready to stomp down any runway… or high street.
The bigger the earring the more fashionable you will be this autumn. Big, bright, bold statement earrings will be the centrepiece of your outfit. Look for gold statement earrings as they will complement the nude hues of your outfit.
A cape is the perfect choice of outwear this autumn as it is heavy enough to keep you warm, yet light enough to not overheat you during the transition between summer and autumn. You will find a variety of different capes in varying shapes and sizes, so you will have plenty of options to choose from. This autumn checks are big, so look for a cape with a plaid pattern to stay on trend.
Once you have selected your perfect autumn wardrobe make sure it is properly taken care of by letting us dry clean your items. Book your Laundryheap service by heading to the Laundryheap website or by downloading the free Laundryheap app.
