Take a Tour of Chicago With The Hood Internet

Chicago is a city of extremes. The winter is the worst, which is why residents turn their warm-weather seasons into the absolute best. (And spring, in the city, is like a unicorn—blink and you’ll miss it.) When the temps rise, all food goes outside, the clothes underneath your denim jacket actually get airtime, and the concert scene (which dominates the city’s top venues and parks through Labor Day) starts setting up shop.

Local mash-up artists Aaron Brink and Steve Reidell—a.k.a. The Hood Internet—know a thing or two about navigating the city’s most elusive season, as well as dressing for it. The remixers (follow them on SoundCloud, or get a taste here) both moved to Chicago after college and have spent the past seven years layering pop, indie rock, and hip-hop, all the while pinning down some of the more alternative (read: unpretentious) spots to eat, drink, and play. And while good eats and beats take precedence, the duo knows style and has the casual comfort look nailed down.

“The Hood Internet grew up wearing jeans and band T-shirts. We still do today, just, you know, not every day. We’re on the road and in the air quite a bit, so comfort is huge for us. So is style.” Their threads of choice? “Levi’s knows their way around denim and have for a long time. 501s are a testament to all this.”

So the next time you roll through the Windy City, throw on something that feels good and swing by one of their favorite hangouts.

Interview by Kristen Dold (@KristenDold)

Photography by Nolis Anderson (@nolis)

Go there for: Limited-edition roasts

“Dark Matter has three locations, but the mother ship on Western Ave. is where they roast all their unique blends. It’s a place where coffee nerds—who are the best—can come and talk about the notes or learn more about the process. The vibe is awesome—they commission artwork from Chicago artists like Mosher or Kill Hatsumomo and curate really great playlists. We collaborated with them last year on their anniversary blend, which was called Dragon Eggs, and released cassettes with a mix we made to complement the roast. They’ve teamed up with other musicians like Mastodon or The Lawrence Arms, too. In the spring you can head to their second location, just a few blocks away on Chicago Ave., and hang out, work, or listen to music on their sweet back patio.”

Go there for: Crash-course on Chicago’s coolest buildings

“The string of words ‘architecture boat tour’ sounds boring, but most people know Chicago is such an incredible city for architecture, and this is the best way to see it all when the winter thaws out. You’re on the Chicago River, right there in the middle of it all, and get to take in more than you would walking around. (Plus, you can drink cold beers and get sun.) Some of the older buildings, like the Tribune Tower, are really cool looking. Our only eyesore is the Trump Tower, thanks to the huge blocks of lettering.”

Go there for: Intimate live music

“There’s plenty of amazing small rock clubs in Chicago, but Metro is the one that matters. It’s been around since ’82 and has always been this incredible breaking ground for the most important underground and alternative music. R.E.M. and New Order cut their teeth here in the ’80s, with The Smashing Pumpkins in the ’90s. We’ve seen a number of LCD Soundsystem shows there. Cloud Nothings has come through. Television killed it here on their reunion tour, too. And Smart Bar downstairs, which only fits like 400 people to the Metro’s 1200, was doing Frankie Knuckles and house music when it was in its really early stages. The sound system down there is impeccable, and people are always dancing. No one’s texting on the dance floor.”

Go there for: Back patio boozy brunch

“A lot of the people that work at Handlebar are from Chicago’s rock ‘n’ roll scene, and the walls are lined with posters of some of their favorite artists. It’s just a place for loud music and the food is really great; if you’re vegan and vegetarian it leans that way. When the patio opens in the spring the space doubles and it’s perfect for hangovers—either getting them or curing them. You can go for breakfast or late-night. Order a Mind Eraser.”

Go there for: Nostalgic vibes and rare toys

“Levi’s still creates new style today while upholding the qualities of the past—like our friends at Bric-a-Brac Records & Collectibles. Walk in there and you can find records new and old, as well as toys and memorabilia from today and the not-too-distant past. They don’t carry a ton of records here, but everything they have is curated, good stuff. The owners, Jen and Nick, love music and go to a lot of shows, or sometimes they bring in bands. I [Steve] actually sold my childhood collection of Ninja Turtles to them, and one time I found some New Kids on the Block trading cards for my sister. They skew towards kids who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s.”