Amanda Finn

Chicago

Lifestyle and Arts Writer at Freelance

🌈A freelance journalist with an affinity for nerd culture: @yahoo, @newcitystage, @huffpost etc. @Theatre_Critics member (She/They)

Articles

We Did the Research, This Is Officially the Strangest Hiking Trail Name in Kansas

3 days ago | onlyinyourstate.com | Amanda Finn

Imagine it: the sweet, grassy aroma of a vast, open plain in Kansas. A gentle breeze carries dandelion tendrils across the horizon, and you see animals in the distance. The fuzzy outline could be a rolled hay bale, but you realize it is coming closer. What kind of animals do you imagine? Probably something akin to the majestic bison or elk like you'd find at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, right? What you probably aren't imagining is a Chupacabra.
We Did the Research, This Is Officially the Strangest Hiking Trail Name in Kansas

3 days ago | flipboard.com | Amanda Finn

For several days. Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, one major airline canceled all flights to and from the East Coast of the United States and …
Skip Europe This Summer: This Village in Wisconsin Is Just as Charming as Germany

5 days ago | onlyinyourstate.com | Amanda Finn

Thanks to the availability of affordable farmland in the late 1800s, Wisconsin saw a significant influx of German immigrants. In fact, more than 40 percent of Wisconsinites claim German heritage—before moving to Chicago, I was one of them. That's also why the state has such a strong culture around beer, more so than I've seen anywhere else outside of Germany or the Czech Republic.
"You Will Get Sick" at Steppenwolf Theatre Company

1 week ago | newcitystage.com | Amanda Finn

RECOMMENDEDIn television and film, it’s the beat that follows after a character receives life-changing news—a beat of silence or the soft syncopation of a drum. Other characters may continue speaking, yet the affected character hears nothing or only muffled tones as they fall back into the haze of life in the after. After the heartbreak, the severance or the diagnosis. In Noah Diaz’s surrealist masterwork, “You Will Get Sick,” it’s that final piece of news that sends #1’s life to a screeching halt.
We Did the Research, This Is Officially the Strangest Hiking Trail Name in Illinois

1 week ago | onlyinyourstate.com | Amanda Finn

When you're looking to take a hike, you probably expect names like Pleasant Valley Nature Trail or Cave of the Winds. These names evoke a sense of calm, serenity, or even intrigue, as many trail names are rooted in history, such as the Devil's Standtable Trail. But what you might not expect is to stumble across a hiking trail called Goreville Boy Scout Trail. Without context, it sounds like a horror movie aficionado's dream. But not to worry, hikers, its name doesn't have nefarious connotations.
Peeping Paul - Chicago Reader

3 weeks ago | chicagoreader.com | Amanda Finn

It’s the jaunty sitcom soundtrack by sound designer Newton Schottelkotte that hits you first. From the top, we know this is going to be all “you got it, dude” and Full House–isms. It’ll be an upbeat story of good neighborly neighbors being neighborly—right? Try again. The days following the 2024 election were bleak. As my pup and I took our daily walks, I watched my neighbors pass. We were catatonic. Grief-stricken. But what if we were paranoid?
This Private Lake Fishing Spot in Nebraska is a Fun Escape

3 weeks ago | onlyinyourstate.com | Amanda Finn

Not all anglers want to take the rustic route with their lakeside vacation. So, anyone looking to hit the water in Nebraska in style should look no further than Crappie Cove, which is anything but. Sorry, no fishing story would ever be complete without a Dad joke. But truly, this home in Bellevue, Nebraska, is a lakefront paradise. Perfect for a guys' group fishing expedition or a family vacation on the water, this spot has it all.
Wisconsin Supper Clubs Remain One of the State's Best Traditions

3 weeks ago | onlyinyourstate.com | Amanda Finn

"A good supper club operator helps everyone feel at home and feel welcomed... you’re not in a hurry to leave - this is your destination for the evening."Moody and atmospheric, the dark wood interiors are dressed to the nines, even if you don't have to be. A place where you could imagine Frank Sinatra poring over a Rusty Nail while Thelonious Monk sets the scene with a soulful melody. A place with the aesthetic of Digger's Sting Restaurant up in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
We Love Our National Parks, but This Nebraska Park Is Just as Historic

3 weeks ago | onlyinyourstate.com | Amanda Finn

When travelers think of state parks, they probably imagine lush treescapes, desert beauty, or a smattering of rock formations peeking out over the edge of a well-hiked ridge. It can be easy to forget that historic parks are also often classified as state parks. Not to worry, this history buff can't forget. Heck, I grew up a stone's throw away from Old World Wisconsin–an iconic historic Wisconsin town. So, naturally, I'm drawn to a place like Fort Kearny State Historical Park.
Relax in Paradise at This Waterfront Campground Only 25 Miles South of Chicago

3 weeks ago | onlyinyourstate.com | Amanda Finn

A common perception of Chicago is that the solitude of nature is far away, perhaps too far for even a day trip. Yet to those naysayers, I say that couldn't be further from the truth! That's because if you travel south for just an hour by car from downtown, you'll find paradise. Not far from the Indiana state line, you'll find a little slice of heaven called Willowthorne. An organic farm by trade, the location grows more than just mushrooms and produce; it also cultivates memories.