Rating Places I’ve Cried at in Downtown Chicago
There are a lot of public places to cry at in the Loop, but they are not made the same.
Millennium Park
On one hand, it’s a bit of a weird place to cry at because there are a lot of tourists going to see the Bean, and they would rather not also have to look at a crying office worker in their mid-20’s. On the other hand, the scenery is quite nice. There’s more to the park than just the Bean, and you do get a very nice view of the skyscrapers—nice things to look at in between sobs.
Score: 7/10
The Streets Themselves
Nothing quite like having a fresh sob as you’re walking fast through a pretty crowded sidewalk. Nobody is really going to pay attention to you and your wet and puffy face so you’re good to just get through that crying session right before you have to get to where you need to be. Only downside is that you may end up photobombing someone’s picture with your fucked up crying face, but you’ll never really know if that happens, right?
Score: 5/10
Ogilvie Transportation Center
This is the one place in downtown Chicago that has seen me cry the most. The Ogilvie Transportation Center was the hub of all of my travels when I was commuting to the city from my parents’ house in the suburbs every day—otherwise known as one of the darkest eras of my life so far. I cried a lot back then, and I especially cried when my train would get delayed (which happened a lot). The food court is very open-concept and there are a lot of people around, and a lot of people who don’t like to mind their business, so it’s hard to get a good cry in without getting some stares. On the plus side, the food court has a lot of good options, like a Dunkin and a Taco Bell so it’s easy to get a nice comfort meal.
Score: 3/10
Richard J. Daley Center
Having a bad day? It’s about to get a lot worse. Nothing good ever comes from the Richard J. Daley center. I truly believe it is one of the portals into Hell itself. If you’re a regular person, being at the Daley Center usually means that you’re in some kind of trouble (it is a courthouse after all). If you’re me, being there is just one of those stupid daily tasks I have to do for my job (which I hate) and having to stand in long lines only to never get proper assistance (especially in probate court oh my god). Not only is the entire building a pillar of misery, but if you’re looking for some privacy the bathrooms are also terrible.
Score: 1/10
The Brown Line
Out of all the forms of public transportation to cry on, the Brown Line is by far the nicest one. It’s less populated than most other lines and the seating arrangement is set up so that you can probably find a little corner of privacy. The whole ride is above ground so while you’re feeling like absolute shit, you can look at all the cool architecture that downtown has to offer.
Score: 6/10
2nd Floor Bathroom of Block37
This is the absolute best public restroom in the entirety of the Loop, and thus is also an immaculate place to cry in. The second floor bathroom of Block37 specifically truly is one of the wonders of the world. It is always clean, it is never busy, and the pop songs they play through the speakers are top notch. For a cry or just a pee break, this is the best spot in town.
Score: 10/10