The best part about working on a fully-distributed remote team? You can work from anywhere!
The worst part about working on a fully-distributed remote team? Chances are, your anywhere is nowhere near your favorite co-workers anywhere.
After hours of working together to craft our client’s digital footprints virtually in Whereby and collaborating on Slack and Google Drive, we decided it was high time to pull this team together–IN PERSON. With Babes in Texas, Virginia, and Philadelphia, we figured the perfect place to meet would be where our Boss Babe Lauren calls home: Chicago!
Day 1: The Arrival, Puppy Snuggles, an Aerial Rooftop View, and a Stormy Boat Ride
Despite not traditionally being morning people, we were so excited to get to Chicago that we all booked our earliest flights possible. We all met up at our fearless leader’s house for a work and brunch session to get us feeling settled. Gavin took the lead on cooking a delicious breakfast (he’s a 10, and he can cook? He’s a 15!!), and we all took respective places to knock out our remaining tasks for the day.
Our visit to Chicago gave us the chance to meet the newest member of our Babes team, Joy, who serves as our Chief Happiness Officer. As her name suggests, she quite literally brings joy to everyone who meets her, so we’re excited to help her expand her audience (keep an eye out for her on TikTok soon!).
Honestly. Look at those smiles.
Before heading to our hostel, we did a little shopping and made a quick pit stop at Mickey D’s. We know what you’re thinking–McDonalds?!--but yes. We were hungry, OK?
We arrived at the Freehand Chicago to check in for our stay, and when we tell you, the vibes were VIBIN’. Not only was the decor and ambiance cool and swanky, we were so impressed with the spaciousness and comfort of the rooms. Not to mention the sweet notes that Lauren wrote each of us, just putting the icing on the cake of feeling welcome and excited.
Lauren mentioned that she had a surprise for all of us, and we couldn’t wait to find out what it was. She walked us through bustling city streets with beautiful architecture until we arrived at the Signature Room, which has sadly since closed, for drinks and an incredible 95th-floor view of Chicago.
We closed out the night with a nighttime river tour, taking a look at some of the amazing buildings that make up the Chicago skyline and learning about the interesting history that has built the Windy City. We were a little caught off guard by a surprise rainstorm, but it definitely could not put a damper on the beauty of Chicago up close!
Day 2: The best brunch we’ve ever had and the Logan Square Improv Experience
Our Saturday started early with a visit to the WORLD’S LARGEST STARBUCKS (marketing teams and their caffeine, amiright?) and then took a journey down to Bloom, where we literally ordered every brunch entree on the menu and ate it family-style. Truly the best food we’ve ever eaten–we talked about it all day! Everything was absolutely delicious, and while we definitely left feeling full and satisfied, the flavor left us craving more.
We decided to take the afternoon to indulge ourselves in some retail therapy before trying some delicious Blueberry kombucha and then heading over to Piccolo Sogno to get a taste of Italy for an early dinner.
Are we a food review blog now? No. Everything was 10/10
Lauren treated us to an amazing improv comedy show at Logan Square Improv, where we literally laughed our butts off. The talent among the comedians that night was overwhelming! Logan Square Improv is close to Lauren’s heart, and it was such a great opportunity to be in a place and meet people who mean so much to our boss Babe!
Because you can’t go to Chicago without getting some deep-dish pizza, we closed out the night at Lauren’s house, grubbing on Lou Malnatti’s pizza which we collectively agreed was a 10000/10.
The delicious deep-dish in question
The Babes agreed: the end of the weekend came too soon, and our next retreat definitely needs to be longer. Our retreat was an amazing experience, an opportunity to unplug and connect with each other beyond the screen and further proof that remote work WORKS.