INTERNET&MOVING
Nowadays, we are addicted to the internet. We have the internet on our laptops, our phones, our eReaders, our mp3 players, etc. Check your wi-fi connection and about 20 different routers pop up. Using the internet is so ingrained in us when we lose it, we become lost and disconnected? What do you do when you can’t look up gifs of flying cats or update our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter every 3 minutes?
In fact, the lack of internet can very well be one of the worst things about moving in Chicago, IL. Forget about the mess of packing. What’s the point if you can’t tweet about it? Well, during that week or so you don’t have internet, check out some Wi-Fi hotspots to hold you over.
Fast Food Restaurants
Most specifically, go to McDonald’s. Yeah, the food isn’t exactly healthy, but they have free Wi-Fi and that’s what counts. Krispy Kreme has free Wi-Fi as well. Other places like Wendy’s and Burger king operate on a store to store basis. Some provide free internet while others don’t.
Bookstores
We all know Barnes & Nobles has free Wi-Fi and that’s basically the only big name book store left. They also have a Starbucks and the workers won’t give you the death glare if you sit for hours between the shelves browsing the internet.
Parks
Wi-Fi is literally inescapable. The issue isn’t finding it, but finding a public one. Many parks now have Wi-Fi. Also, if you are an Optimum customer, you can access their Wi-Fi at any time. And of course AT&T Wi-Fi is everywhere as well.
Libraries
With libraries, it’s a toss-up if they have Wi-Fi or not. The older, less modern ones most likely will not. However, libraries are still guaranteed to have internet. You’ll just need a library card which you should have anyway.
Coffee Shops
Most coffee shops have Wi-Fi and we all know for certain Starbucks does. As long as it’s not busy hour, a coffee shop is an ideal place to relax and catch up with everything you’ve missed on the internet. Some places to check out in Chicago are Ch'ava and Metropolis Coffee Co.
Hotels
This is only really applicable if you are staying at a hotel between your move. Most hotels have complimentary internet. It can be either Wi-Fi or through an Ethernet cord, but either way, at least you’re connected back to the world!
Internet Cafes
How can we forget the best place of all? Internet cafes! With the increasing usage of Wi-Fi and home modems, internet cafes are becoming rarer and rarer. That’s not to say they are completely gone though. You can still find the occasional café here and there, serving food to intense gamers playing Starcraft. Their internet is usually pretty fast and there are sometimes even partitions to separate you from the person next to you, giving you privacy. The only con is that you have to pay according to how much time you spent on the internet. Try out Biznet or Chicago Computer Club.