The One with FRIENDS in Chicago
I have been the ultimate FRIENDS fan for decades. And I’m thrilled that my teenage daughters are following in my FRIENDS-obsessed footsteps!
Joey, Chandler, and the whole gang are often on our TV screen, and all three of us can quote just about every episode. We even won the FRIENDS trivia contest at a local restaurant…twice.
When I learned that The FRIENDS Experience would be in Chicago, I jumped at the chance to take my daughters for a day trip to The Windy City.
The FRIENDS Experience was well worth the $35 admission fee (per person) for the nostalgia, photo ops, and quality time spent with my teenage daughters. Especially since our love of all-things-FRIENDS is something we actually agree on!
The entire experience lasted a little over an hour, even though I could have spent all day in there recreating all my favorite FRIENDS scenes!
It is actually a well-choreographed experience that has attendees follow a path through the well-known settings from the show. At each Instagram-worthy spot, there is a friendly host or hostess that knows just the right pose for each backdrop and will gladly snap several photos with your phone or camera. And then he/she politely ushers in the next group of uber FRIENDS fans to keep the line flowing.
Along the way, there is plenty of FRIENDS memorabilia to help you recall your favorite episodes and some you may have forgotten.
Central Perk
Throughout the series, you would often catch the whole gang hanging out at Central Perk sipping oversized cups of java. I was thrilled to set foot in a replica of the coffee shop that served as the setting for so many hysterical scenes.
We actually got to visit two different versions of the iconic coffee shop. First up was a life-size version of Central Perk made entirely of legos!
We were told not to touch any of the legos (I can’t imagine how long it took to put this creation together!), but I was permitted to lounge on the lego-version of the famous orange couch.
The lego display was a true work of art with attention to every detail including Phoebe’s guitar, numerous coffee cups, and this display of the sextuplet synonymous with FRIENDS.
At the end of our tour, we once again found ourselves at Central Perk. This time we got to take our spots on the plush orange couch.
I could almost hear Phoebe singing one of her unusual melodies. And I may have peeked behind the coffee counter to see if Gunther was there still pining away for Rachel!
Yet another photo op took place with the orange couch in front of the famed fountain. Sadly, the water was fake and I wasn’t allowed to splash around and dance while the theme song played!
Chandler
“Hi, I’m Chandler, I make jokes when I’m uncomfortable.” Chandler Bing
I don’t care how many times I watch FRIENDS, Chandler continues to crack me up! My daughter and I got to kick back in the famous bark-a-loungers in the guys’ apartment.
Could I BE any more excited?! Uh no!
I also got to play around on the famed foosball table. And we were really impressed with the wall of Etch A Sketches listing exactly which episode each one appeared in.
Now I need to go back and rewatch the whole series just so I can pay close attention to the Etch A Sketches on Joey and Chandler’s door!
Monica
“They don’t know that we know that they know!” Monica Geller
While I am not the clean freak that Monica is, I do possess the same tendencies for order and attention to detail when it comes to party planning. So I was thrilled to sit in Monica’s colorful kitchen.
Forget the fact that she never could have afforded such a massive apartment. Rent-controlled apartments in NYC must be as elusive as rainbow unicorns!
Even those not nearly as well-versed on FRIENDS as I am are sure to recognize the fabulously purple door with the kitschy gold frame around the peephole.
We actually got to pose on both sides of the famed door…and of course, I chose to pretend Monica’s apartment was my own!
Joey
“How you doin?” Joey Tribbiani
You gotta love Joey! He’s definitely a playboy who seems to rotate through the ladies, but he still manages to come off as sweet and sensitive. He’s also a big kid and not necessarily the smartest of the FRIENDS bunch!
I got to channel my inner Joey Tribbiani at The FRIENDS Experience by poking the Ugly Naked Guy with chopsticks! And I couldn’t resist wearing all of Chandler’s clothes, just like Joey in The One Where No One’s Ready.
But don’t worry, I was NOT going commando!
You can also admire Joey’s white ceramic dog that he purchased on an extravagant shopping spree during his brief stint of living alone. And who could forget the Ad that got Joey shunned from his family’s Thanksgiving!
Phoebe
“Smelly Cat, Smelly Cat…it’s not your fault!” Phoebe Buffay
Phoebe was often flighty, but she was also a fiercely loyal friend. And her singing talent may not have won her any awards, but it sure did endear her to all who watched the show.
We passed by a replica of a jukebox that displayed the extensive list of Phoebe Buffay’s songs. Smelly Cat may be the most popular, but I was a big fan of her holiday-themed ditties, which showed off her rhyming abilities!
The FRIENDS Experience seemed to be void of any reference to Phoebe’s stint as a surrogate for her brother and sister-in-law as well as the resulting triplets. Yet those episodes are high on my list of favorites!
Ross
“We were on a break!” Ross Geller
I hate to even admit that Ross is my least favorite friend. While Ross may have been at the bottom of my list, David Schwimmer is a phenomenal actor who embodied this well-known paleontologist so well.
Whether you love or hate Ross, he actually has some of the best quotes and so many memorable scenes. I got to reenact my absolute favorite scene from FRIENDS as my daughters and I attempted to move Ross’ couch.
If PIVOT doesn’t mean anything to you, then you can’t really call yourself a FRIENDS fan!
While waiting for this iconic shot we got to read several pages from “Science Boy,” which may have been our first clue as to the level of detail and thought that went into creating The FRIENDS Experience. Around every corner was another FRIENDS memory just waiting to be relived!
Rachel
“I got off the plane.” Rachel Green
I never really thought Ross and Rachel were the perfect couple, yet for 10 seasons I kept rooting for them to make it work. She is his lobster, after all!
We got to see the winding path of their relationship (along with all the other cast member’s dating escapades) depicted in a chart that mimics a complicated subway map.
I could have studied this one for hours! But the question still remains…were they actually on a break?
I don’t think that question will ever definitively be answered. But I did get to learn more from Rachel’s perspective as I read her letter to Ross…18 pages, FRONT AND BACK!
And no, I didn’t read the whole thing either. Rachel does tend to ramble on and on!
One thing we can all agree on…Rachel’s haircut was beloved by many. And Rachel’s locks were on full display at The FRIENDS Experience as well as the stylish fashions of all the cast members.
Plenty of Extras
No matter who your favorite FRIEND is (my vote is for Chandler!), you will find even more to love beyond the dynamic six at The FRIENDS Experience.
Janice’s unforgettable voice (Oh My Gawd!) ushers you into the festivities. References to memorable special guests, such as Tom Selleck, Susan Sarandon, George Clooney, and many other A-list stars you may have forgotten were part of this iconic sitcom can also be spotted inside the exhibit.
And even if the line is long (because who wouldn’t want to visit The FRIENDS Experience?), you get to spend your wait time watching classic clips from the show, taking selfies with larger-than-life photos, and testing your knowledge of all things FRIENDS.
Before you call it a wrap, you will also want to check out the onsite gift shop to purchase some mementos (also available online). Keep those cherished FRIENDS memories alive with a t-shirt, book, ornament, or your very own Hugsy or an official Crap Bag!
I’ll Be There For You…But Not in Chicago!
Unfortunately (for you), we visited The FRIENDS EXPERIENCE on its last day in Chicago.
You may have missed your chance to visit The FRIENDS Experience in Chicago, but according to Joey, it’s a Moo point! Because all the laughs, iconic quotes, and recreated backdrops are coming to Atlanta in July 2021. Or you can venture to NYC where all the FRIENDS magic took place for the ongoing exhibit of The FRIENDS Experience.
Since I can talk FRIENDS all day long…comment below and share your favorite cast member, episode, or iconic quote and let’s keep the magic of this beloved sitcom going!
Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya
P.S. Subscribe to my email list here and never miss out on any of Traveling Tanya’s exciting excursions or travel tips…plus I’ll send you my free Packing List!
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