CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Hundreds of locals and tourists celebrated Chicago's 186th birthday with a visit to the Chicago Food Stop pop-up at the John Hancock Center Saturday.
The city's birthday party brought folks downtown from all over the city, including new Chicagoans Kassidee Hodnefield and Paulina Bui, who said they experienced an exciting day of Chicago firsts.
"The Chicago hot dog: We've never tried one, but we tried our first ones today," Bui said.
"I've never had a hot dog that had that much going on with it—it was amazing. I loved it," Hodnefield said.
Kassidee Hodnefield (L) and Paulina Bui.Carolina Garibay
For Myrna Farmer with World Business Chicago, the party was a way to meet fellow Chicagoans.
"I just think to give people an opportunity to come out and to interact with other people that they normally would not interact with," Farmer said.
Farmer added that Saturday's party was "full of energy."
"I think the people that live in Chicago know that this city is, at least in our minds, one of the best cities in the United States," Farmer said. "It's just a city that comes together no matter what."
It even brought tourists to the city, like Nila Pazhayam and Evan Dewey from North Carolina, who said they're especially happy about the free Eli's Cheesecake samples and Chicago dogs from the Wiener's Circle.
"All of this sounds just a little fake, but it's all good—so I'm happy about it," Pazhayam said.
In addition to the free food, the party also featured caricature drawings, photo ops, and slime from Sloo Moo Institute.
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