TheLloydsDai
Summer Chi · Aug 29–30, 2026

TheLloydsDaiWeekend.

A weekend by the lake to celebrate our marriage. A morning 5K, an open Saturday to explore Chicago your way, and a Sunday main event with soul food and DJ Matrix on the ones and twos.

Plan your trip →Live NotificationsRegistry
Chicago skyline in summer

Destination

Chicago, IL

Dates

8.29 — 8.30

Summer Chi·Lake Michigan·5K + Soul Food·Aug 29–30·TheLloydsDai·Chicago 2026·Summer Chi·Lake Michigan·5K + Soul Food·Aug 29–30·TheLloydsDai·Chicago 2026·Summer Chi·Lake Michigan·5K + Soul Food·Aug 29–30·TheLloydsDai·Chicago 2026·
/ 3mi — Getting Here

Travel & Stay.

Two airports, one beautiful lakefront. Here's where to land, where to sleep, and how to get around.

Getting here

AirportORD

O'Hare International

Best for international guests and most domestic legacy carriers. ~45 min to downtown via car, ~50 min on the CTA Blue Line ($5).

AirportMDW

Chicago Midway

Closer to the city and best for Southwest. ~25 min to downtown via car, ~30 min on the CTA Orange Line ($5).

Where to stay

Three ways to experience Chicago. Pick the vibe that fits you best.

Option 1

The "Summer Chi" Luxury Vibe

Near the 5K Finish Line

Gold Coast / Magnificent Mile

If you want to be in the heart of upscale Chicago shopping, dining, and steps away from our 5K finish line at Oak Street Beach, this is the area for you. (Note: It is about a 30-minute Uber to Sunday's venue).

Viceroy Chicago
4-Star

An incredibly chic, art-deco-inspired hotel featuring a stunning rooftop pool and lounge.

Est. $368/nightVisit →
Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile
5-Star

A sleek, modern luxury hotel featuring gorgeous architecture and French-inspired elegance.

Est. $308/nightVisit →
Option 2

The Downtown Classics

Near the 5K Starting Line

South Loop / Riverwalk

Perfect for guests who want to wake up just a short Uber ride away from our 5K starting line at the Adler Planetarium - Steps, while still enjoying classic Chicago architecture.

The Blackstone, Autograph Collection
4-Star

A posh, historic 1910 building right across from Grant Park with sweeping lake views.

Est. $260/nightVisit →
LondonHouse Chicago
4-Star

Located right on the Chicago Riverwalk, featuring one of the most famous rooftop bars in the city.

Est. $292/nightVisit →
Option 3

North Side Convenience

Near the Sunday Main Event

Evanston

If you want the shortest possible commute to our Sunday Main Event at the Seven Star Venue, staying just across the northern border in Evanston is your best bet.

Graduate by Hilton Evanston
4-Star

A beautifully designed, vintage-style boutique hotel offering plenty of charm and character.

Est. $311/nightVisit →
Hilton Orrington / Evanston
4-Star

A polished, highly comfortable option located in the heart of downtown Evanston.

Est. $156/nightVisit →

Getting around

Uber & Lyft

Always available

The easiest move for evenings, the 5K start, and the Sunday venue.

CTA

Trains + buses

$2.50 a ride. Get a Ventra card or use Apple/Google Pay at the turnstile.

Walk

The Loop is flat

Downtown, the lakefront, and Millennium Park are all walkable to each other.

/ 3mi — Saturday morning

The Celebration of Marriage 5K.

/ Vibe & Vision

This isn't a race — it's a Celebration of Marriage. Walking or Running, All paces are welcome. Take in the skyline, the lake, and each other. Most importantly: have fun together. #HealthIsWealth

Date

Sat · Aug 29, 2026

Arrival

9:00 – 9:30 AM

Start

10:00 AM sharp

Meeting Point

Adler Planetarium - Steps

Getting there & parking

  • Highly recommended: take an Uber or Lyft to keep your morning stress-free.
  • Adler parking lot: "Early Bird" rate of $13 for standard cars — you must pull in before 9:30 AM. After that the day rate jumps to $27.
  • Street parking: limited paid metered spots along Solidarity Drive.

The route & hydration

Look for the balloons — every water station is marked with balloons and a friendly volunteer.

  1. 3mi

    Queen's Landing

    Leading to Buckingham Memorial Fountain

  2. 02

    DuSable Harbor

    Midway hydration & high fives

  3. 03

    Oak Street Beach

    🏁 The finish line — right past Whisper's

TheLloyds5K Route via Google Maps ->
/ Race Day

Day-of Best Practices

  • Route

    Save the Google Maps route to your phone the night before — service can be spotty along the lakefront.

  • Sunscreen

    The lakefront has minimal shade. Lather up even if it's cloudy.

  • Arrive early

    Give yourself time to park, find the group, and snap a pre-race photo.

  • Warm up

    A light 5-minute jog or dynamic stretches go a long way — especially if you're going for a PR.

/ Finish line

Post-race celebration

LC's mom Sheila will be at the finish line with extra water, snacks, and special prizes for our finishers. After, we celebrate together at Whisper's Restaurant right on the beachfront — food, drinks, and all the storytelling.

1st place finisher wins the ultimate prize — getting to help Mom pass out the rest of the finisher prizes to everyone else. So fun!

Prep

Couch to 5K

Free NHS app — perfect for ramping up in the months before. Runna is great too, but will cost.

Join →

Train

#TheLloyds Strava Club

Track your training with the group and cheer each other on.

Join →

Connect

Join The Group

Share progress, ask questions, hype each other up.

Join →
/ 03 — Saturday afternoon & night

Choose Your Chicago Adventure.

After the 5K and post-run celebrations, the rest of the day is yours. Starting around 3:00 PM, pick a vibe, grab some people, and explore Chicago your way.

A note from LC & Daizha

We'll be sharing whatever Saturday plans we lock in. If you want to join us at any point during the day or night — just pull up.

  • 3:00 PM — Start at Millennium Park / The Bean
  • Free stop: Chicago Cultural Center
  • 4:30 PM — Architecture cruise (First Lady or Wendella)
  • 6:30 PM — Drinks at Cindy's Rooftop or City Winery
  • 10:00 PM — Cap the night with the Navy Pier fireworks
  • 3:00 PM — Chicago Mahogany Tour or the DuSable Museum
  • Dinner cluster (Hyde Park / Bronzeville):
  • Virtue · 14 Parish · Bronzeville Winery · Pearl's Place
  • Book well in advance — these go months out.
  • All-out tasting menus: Smyth · Ever · Oriole · Kasama · Alinea
  • Elegant but flexible: Boka · Galit · Indienne · Mako
  • SPIN Chicago — Ping pong & cocktails
  • AceBounce — More ping pong, downtown
  • Flight Club — Social darts
  • Punch Bowl Social — Bowling, karaoke, food
  • Golden hour: Cabra or LH Rooftop
  • After 8 PM — walkable River North:
  • Three Dots and a Dash · Celeste
  • South Loop pairs with Jazz Showcase or Buddy Guy's Legends
  • Old Town → The Second City for comedy
  • Uptown → the legendary Green Mill
/ Helpful notes for guests

Before you book

  • Chicago plans can shift fast in summer — always check the venue's official site for hours, reservations, and same-day updates.
  • Popular restaurants release reservations months in advance. If it's on your list, book early.
  • For the best local guides, follow @choosechicago on social.
/ 04 — Sunday · The Main Celebration

The Main Celebration.

Sunday, August 30, 2026 · 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Cocktail attire, Summer Chi palette, soul food, and DJ Matrix on the ones and twos.

/ Date

Sunday, Aug 30, 2026

/ Time

1:00 PM – 7:00 PM

/ Location

Seven Star Venue

2017 W Howard St, Chicago, IL 60645 →

/ Parking

On-site parking

Available for guests at no charge.

🚨

Important · please read

Strict lockout: 2:10 PM — 3:00 PM

No entry will be allowed during this window to prevent disruptions to the showcase. Please plan to arrive during cocktail hour and be inside by 2:10 PM.

Reception

Doors Open

1:00 PM

/ Dress code

Cocktail Attire

Theme: Summer Chi

No specific color pattern is expected from our guests — see the mood board below for curated cocktail attire inspiration and the venue's aesthetic.

TheLloydsDai cocktail attire mood board — Summer Chi colors and looks

/ Cocktail attire mood board

The timeline

  1. 1:00 – 2:15 PM/ 01

    Cocktail Hour

    Arrive, sip, and find your people.

  2. 2:10 – 3:00 PM/ 02

    🚨 Strict Lockout

    No entry during this window — protect the showcase, please plan to be inside by 2:10 PM.

  3. 2:15 PM/ 03

    The Showcase Begins

    The moment we've been building toward.

  4. 3:00 PM onward/ 04

    Reception

    Good food and drinks · sounds by DJ Matrix · the bar stays open · the floor stays open.

  5. 7:00 PM/ 05

    Send-off

    We close the night together.

/ A note from the Lloyds

Get ready for sounds by DJ Matrix, good food and drinks. Engage, have fun — and let's celebrate love.

/ 05 — If you're asking

Your presence is our present.

Please feel absolutely no pressure to buy us anything — your presence in Chicago to celebrate our marriage is the greatest gift we could ask for.

For our friends and family who have kindly persisted, we have created a registry below. We are incredibly blessed and grateful for any contribution.

Visit the Registry→

With love. See you in Chicago.

Join The GroupRegistry