Aurora Lights and Freezing Toes: My Unexpected Night in Naperville

it was supposed to be a quick stop, just a layover between gigs in chicago and milwaukee. but naperville had other plans for me. the moment i stepped off the train, the cold hit me like a freight train-literally, since i was carrying my drum kit in a duffel bag. the weather app said it felt like -9.87°c, and honestly, it wasn't lying. my fingers were numb before i even found my airbnb, but hey, that's what happens when you chase auroras in illinois, right?

i heard somewhere that the northern lights had been spotted near the dupage river, so naturally, i dragged my gear out into the freezing night. *the riverwalk was eerily quiet, just me and a couple of brave photographers with tripods taller than me. one of them, a guy named jake, told me he'd been waiting for hours. "heard the lights were supposed to peak around midnight," he said, shivering. "but the clouds are being stubborn."

while waiting, i wandered into a tiny coffee shop called au bon pain to warm up. the barista, a cheerful woman named maria, insisted i try their lavender latte. "it's a local secret," she said. "keeps you warm from the inside out." i believed her-mostly because my teeth were chattering too hard to argue.

back outside, the sky finally started to glow. not the dramatic green waves you see in iceland, but a soft, shimmering light that made the whole night worth it. i snapped a few photos, though my phone camera couldn't quite capture the magic. still, standing there with strangers-turned-friends, it felt like i'd stumbled into something special.

if you get bored, chicago and aurora are just a short drive away, but honestly, naperville had enough charm to keep me entertained for days. the historic district was a goldmine for street art, and i even found a vintage drum kit at a local pawn shop that i couldn't resist.

i just checked and it's... freezing right now, hope you like that kind of thing. but if you're brave enough to chase the lights, naperville might surprise you. and if you need a warm-up, yelp has a great list of cozy spots to check out.

for more on chasing auroras in unexpected places, tripadvisor has some solid tips. and if you're into street art, local art boards* are a goldmine for finding hidden gems.

would i come back? absolutely. but next time, i'm bringing thicker gloves.