The TV show FRIENDS is so iconic. It was a part of my young adult life and now it seems to be a part of this generation’s young adult life.

The show is just as popular now as it was when it aired in the 90s and early 2000s. We love catching re-runs of it and it makes me laugh every single time bringing back memories of when I first watched it.

So what is better than watching the show FRIENDS? Experiencing it in an interactive way, of course.

What is the Friends Experience?

Yesterday, Charlie, Luke and I previewed the FRIENDS Experience here in Chicago. It’s an interactive space featuring 12 nostalgia-packed rooms and activations. I was screaming with happiness as I walked through the many rooms. I loved every minute of it. Think of it as a Friends show pop-up in Chicago.

The two-story experience, created by Superfly X and Waner Bros., features spaces that resemble Monica’s kitchen, Joey and Chandler’s apartment, Central Perk and even the “pivot” stairs scene!! While you have to wear a face mask while experiencing the space, there are places you can take off your mask so you can take pictures. But you have to put your mask back on after that, which was not a huge inconvenience.

The FRIENDS Experience provides plenty of opportunity for pictures. Trust me, I didn’t want to leave because I wanted to take pictures of every corner and detail. Every room just looked like the exact replica of what you see on the show. The production company did a great job of recreating every detail.

Would I Recommend The Friends Experience?

Here’s my review of the FRIENDS Experience in Chicago.

If you are a true fan of FRIENDS, I highly recommend this fun experience. It’s something fun to do in Chicago. The space offers plenty of room for social distancing. You have to buy your tickets in advance. There ten minute intervals between you and other guests between rooms. This gives you plenty of time to take all the pictures you want and for the staff to sanitize in between guests.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how spaced out everything is. In between rooms, there are fun activations or museum-like displays from items featured on the show such as the original transcript of the show, Rachel’s many hairstyles, the timeline of who every character dated, outfits worn by cast members and more. These items definitely got me and Charlie talking about the show and my episodes and walking down memory lane.

The FRIENDS Experience is kid-friendly. I’m so glad we were able to make it a family event yesterday!

My Favorite Room at the Friends Experience

There is so much to see at the Friends Experience but my favorite rooms have to be Monica’s kitchen, which was Instagrammable before Instagram existed!

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What You Should Know About the Friends Experience

When

The FRIENDS Experience opens in Chicago from October 1, 2020 through January 3, 2021.

Location

540 N. Michigan Avenue (The Shops of North Bridge). Street parking can be hard to find but there are plenty of parking lots and garages in the area.

Tickets

$35 plus taxes and fee per ticket. Tickets can be purchased online at www.friendstheexperience.com/chicago.

A portion of every ticket purchased will be donated to My Block, My Hood, My City-– an organization that provides underprivileged youth in Chicago with opportunities beyond their home neighborhoods.

Safety Measures

Masks are required. Non-invasive temperature checks are done at check-in. Thorough cleaning and sanitization measures are performed regularly to not only be clean but “Monica” clean.