The Creator Josh

Author: Michael @ TheCreatorJosh

  • Exploring Navy Pier Alone: A Journey into the Heart of Chicago

    Exploring Navy Pier Alone: A Journey into the Heart of Chicago

    By The Creator Josh
    Watch the full video here

    An Unexpectedly Sentimental Tourist Trap

    Josh takes us along on a solo adventure to Navy Pier, Chicago’s iconic lakefront playground. Filmed entirely on iPhone (thanks to a missing SD card), this vlog captures everything from overpriced popcorn and quirky souvenirs to childhood memories and reflection.

    Souvenirs, Popcorn & Memory Lane

    Josh starts the day with a deep dive into Navy Pier’s gift shops—Chicago-themed mugs, mini Bean replicas, and a kids counting book that somehow triggers a wave of nostalgia. It all reminds him of summer trips with his grandpa.

    He revisits Garrett’s Popcorn, trying the caramel-cheddar mix while giving it a brutally honest 7/10. It’s a Chicago tradition—but hey, Josh keeps it real.

    Art, VR, Bears, and Build-A-Bear?

    From random VR mascots to the Navy Pier Build-A-Bear with Chicago Bulls jerseys, Josh takes in all the new additions since his last visit. He explores the FlyOver virtual experience (but skips it because $34? Yikes), admires local artwork, and gives a shoutout to Christine—the artist behind the giant hot dog painting.

    A Walk to the Edge (and Back in Time)

    Navy Pier might be full of tourists, but the real vibe is the walk down the pier. Josh reflects on taking the train here as a kid, walking the whole stretch with his grandpa, and how the view still brings a sense of peace.

    He reaches the end of the pier, spotting the Odyssey boat—which instantly brings back memories of an awkward 8th-grade dance cruise with no date. Classic.

    The Ferris Wheel Betrayal

    The crown jewel of Navy Pier: the Ferris wheel. It was closed. Cue the dramatic disappointment. Still, Josh gives us a tour of other attractions like the carousel, funhouse mirror maze, and even a golf game tucked in the back.

    SD Card Chaos, McDonald’s Salvation, and $41 Parking

    Turns out, the whole video was shot on Josh’s iPhone because his $500 SD card bailed. But he powered through, ending the adventure with some much-needed McDonald’s (comfort food is real) and a parking bill that made him question everything: $41 for under three hours.

    Final Verdict: Is Navy Pier Worth It?

    Yes—if you have money to burn and memories to relive. There’s something for everyone: overpriced snacks, tourist traps, lakeside peace, Chicago nostalgia, and plenty of random moments. As Josh puts it:

    “There is just a lot of crap to do here. But the prices are very steep. So bring lots of money.”

    Watch the Full Video:

    🎥 Exploring Navy Pier Alone: A Journey into the Heart of Chicago

    Follow The Creator Josh:

    Stay weird, stay wandering.
    — The Creator Josh

  • Josh Got Lost in Chinatown Chicago… ALONE – A Chaotic Food & Culture Adventure

    Josh Got Lost in Chinatown Chicago… ALONE – A Chaotic Food & Culture Adventure

    By The Creator Josh
    Watch the full video here

    What started as a simple food vlog turned into a chaotic solo journey through Chinatown—and Josh wouldn’t have it any other way. With no plan, no crew, and only a camera in hand, he wandered into hidden alleys, adorable bakeries, tight-packed anime stores, and snack shops filled with international sweets.

    Josh vs. Chinatown: The Chaos Begins

    Josh kicked off the day already lost, embracing the confusion with open arms. He dove into Chinatown Bakery and immediately fell for Hello Panda cookies, Pocky sticks, and a taro pastry he couldn’t quite identify but fully devoured anyway.

    Boba, Tiny Aisles, and Sensory Overload

    Wandering further, Josh navigated towers of restaurants and shops, ordering a mango boba with tapioca like a rookie and accidentally crashing a local market. With every turn, he was overwhelmed by more delicious options than his budget (or stomach) could handle.

    Pork Buns & Deep Thoughts

    He stepped out of his comfort zone to try unfamiliar Chinese pastries, including a pork bun that led to one of the most touching moments of the video—Josh reflecting on cultural appreciation, food diversity, and the joy of exploring something new, even when alone.

    No Bathrooms, No Problem (Except There Was a Problem)

    If there’s one recurring theme? Chinatown has no public bathrooms. Josh’s increasingly urgent search became part of the narrative, with signs reading “No Public Restrooms” becoming both his nemesis and a running joke.

    From Temples to Rolled Ice Cream

    As the day continued, Josh admired ornate temples, stumbled into dragon sculptures, and finally tried rolled Oreo ice cream while still holding in that bathroom break. He even bought Japanese Pokemon cards and tried to guess their rarity, despite knowing absolutely nothing.

    Ending on a Sweet Note (And a Fortune Cookie Twist)

    Just when he thought the journey was over, Josh grabbed a $7 sugar-coated mystery snack, read a fortune cookie that told him to “Subscribe to The Creator Josh and get rich,” and faced the ultimate enemy of every Chicago driver: a parking ticket.

    Final Thoughts

    Despite the ticket and bathroom situation, Josh declared it one of the coolest experiences he’s had solo. From trying pork buns and Hello Panda to dodging pigeons and getting scammed on snacks, he captured the raw magic (and occasional chaos) of Chinatown.

    “I might be alone right now, but this is so f***ing cool to me. Doing whatever I want, no one here to tell me what to do. I am a free man.”

    Links:

    Chicago Chinatown Community Guide – Choose Chicago
    Best Things to Eat in Chinatown – Eater Chicago
    History of Chinatown – Chinese American Museum of Chicago

    Watch the Full Video:

    🎥 I Got Lost in Chinatown Chicago… ALONE

    Follow The Creator Josh:

    Stay curious, stay weird.
    — The Creator Josh

  • Josh Tried to Eat an Entire Deep Dish Pizza… and Spiraled

    Josh Tried to Eat an Entire Deep Dish Pizza… and Spiraled

    By The Creator Josh
    Watch the full video here

    Josh vs. Giordano’s: A Love-Hate Pizza Saga

    Josh set out to do what some Chicagoans would consider sacred: eat an entire deep-dish pizza from Giordano’s. What started as a cheesy, indulgent experiment quickly turned into a full-blown spiral of emotions, calories, and regret.

    The Cheese Pull of Dreams (and the Beginning of the End)

    The video kicks off with the legendary cheese pull—an ooey-gooey slice that stretched for days. Josh dove right in, celebrating the rich, savory flavor of Giordano’s deep dish. If you like tomato sauce and mounds of cheese, this was heaven on a plate.

    But deep dish isn’t for the faint of heart. Within minutes, the messiness hit, the calories piled up, and so did the second thoughts.

    Deep Dish Devotion & Crust Controversy

    Josh declared Giordano’s the best deep-dish in Chicago. The cheese was top-tier (shoutout to Wisconsin), the tomato flavor was on point, but the crust? That was the flaw. Still, he powered through. Kind of.

    Then the Spiral Hit — Hard

    As Josh kept eating, the food high wore off and the food spiral kicked in. He opened up about his struggles with binge eating and how easy it is to fall off track—especially when filming food content. What was supposed to be a cheat meal turned into another chapter in the food vs. feelings saga.

    “Food feels like a drug to me. You crave it, you eat it, and then the regret kicks in.”

    Josh shared personal stories about past weight struggles, moments of success, and how even now, with everything he knows, the temptation is still real.

    Diet Soda Obsession & The Science Excuse

    Midway through the cheese marathon, Josh cracked open a zero sugar soda, claiming it made him feel “fuller” and helped during past weight loss journeys. But as he said himself, *”This is for science… not self-sabotage.”

    Spoiler: it was probably self-sabotage.

    A Moment of Raw Honesty

    This video wasn’t supposed to happen. Josh admitted he made the decision to film just to justify the binge. It became a candid look at how easy it is to slip into old habits—even while healing.

    Final Thoughts: No More Food Challenges (For Now)

    By the end, Josh couldn’t finish the whole pizza. And that’s okay. He ended with a declaration: he’s done doing food challenges for a while. He wants to focus on eating healthier, moving more, and not letting the algorithm dictate his diet.

    Links:

    Watch the Full Video:

    🎥 I Tried to Eat an Entire Deep Dish Pizza… and Spiraled

    Follow Josh: Instagram | Twitter | Kick

    Subscribe to his YouTube: The Creator Josh

    Stay saucy,
    The Creator Josh

  • What $20 Gets You in Lakeview Chicago – Josh’s Fried Food Adventure

    What $20 Gets You in Lakeview Chicago – Josh’s Fried Food Adventure

    By The Creator Josh
    Watch the full video here

    Can you really survive on just $20 in one of Chicago’s busiest neighborhoods? Josh took on the challenge in Lakeview, a vibrant, food-packed area known for jumbo slices and bubble tea shops. But what started as a simple budget challenge turned into a deep-fried odyssey of nostalgia, international snacks, and digestive regret.

    The $20 Journey Begins

    Josh kicked things off with just a twenty-dollar bill and big expectations. His goal? See how much food he could get without crossing the $20 line. No frills, no fancy meals—just carbs, sugar, and whatever surprises Lakeview had to offer.

    Free Jumbo Slice = Major Win 🍕

    Josh scored a massive jumbo pizza slice for free thanks to an old connection at a place he used to work—Wow Pizzeria (formerly Bachis). The nostalgia hit hard as he reconnected with former coworkers, revisited stories from his delivery driver days, and reflected on how fast life moves.

    “I used to work five in the morning, sell alcohol, and end up at house parties while delivering pizza.”

    Mango Smoothie That Lied 🌬️

    Next up was a bubble tea stop. Josh ordered a mango smoothie with tapioca, only to discover it was more like mango-flavored powder water than anything remotely fruity. It cost $7 and took a painful bite out of the budget—leaving him with just $12.54.

    MrBeast Bars & Dubai Chocolate Regrets 🇦🇪

    Inside a quirky international snack store, Josh found a treasure trove of global chips, MrBeast bars, and overpriced Dubai chocolate. Of course, he bought the chocolate. Of course, he immediately regretted it. But did he eat it anyway?

    “Did I mention it was expensive? Did I also mention I ate it anyway?”

    Final Stop: Fries & Fried Regret 🍟

    Josh wrapped up the challenge with a $5 order of fries—hot, greasy, and aggressively American. They pushed him right up to the $20 mark. The verdict? You can survive on $20 in Lakeview, but your stomach might file a complaint.

    “This is America in a nutshell: salt, grease, and regret.”

    Links:

    Watch the Full Video:

    🎥 What $20 Gets You in Lakeview Chicago

    Follow Josh for more food experiments, budget madness, and Chicago adventures:
    Instagram | Kick | YouTube

    Stay full (or at least entertained),
    The Creator Josh

  • Josh’s Solo Mission: 24 Hours Alone in Millennium Park, Chicago

    Josh’s Solo Mission: 24 Hours Alone in Millennium Park, Chicago

    By The Creator Josh
    Watch the full video here

    A One-Man Tour Through Chicago’s Most Iconic Park

    What happens when Josh decides to spend an entire day alone in Millennium Park? You get weird camera angles, hot dog debates, philosophical reflections, and pigeons. Lots of pigeons.

    Armed with a camera and zero shame, Josh wandered Millennium Park to rediscover the iconic Chicago landmark through fresh eyes—and some very cold weather.

    Josh vs. The Bean – A Love/Hate Relationship

    The adventure began where all great Chicago tourist trips begin: The Bean (aka Cloud Gate). Josh captured it from every possible angle—high, low, reflective, existential. He even introduced us to what he calls the “short view,” a perspective he admits isn’t built for tall people like him.

    He poked, prodded, and questioned the steel arc until it became a full-blown monologue on the meaning of public art and germ exposure. A true Chicagoan at heart, Josh hadn’t been to The Bean in years but vowed to embrace the tourist energy for the day.

    Toilets, Trivia, and Tall Tales

    No public park vlog is complete without a visit to the public restroom. Josh braved the Millennium Park toilet, then swiftly moved on to drop questionable facts (and disclaimers) about the park’s history. Did he Google when Cloud Gate was built? Yes. Did he still get distracted talking about beans? Absolutely.

    Gardens, Bridges & Philosophical Detours

    Josh made his way across the Peapod Bridge, admired the flowers that survived Chicago’s winter, and paused to reflect on how big Millennium Park actually is. He offered commentary on everything—from awkward kid playground signs to his hatred for pickles.

    He also wandered into Chicago landmarks like the mini golf course, the ice rink, and of course, Portillo’s for a Chicago-style hot dog (which he hated because… mustard).

    Pigeons, Tourists & Personal Growth

    As Josh walked the paths lined with light posts and strange public art, he opened up about appreciating the small things. The benches, the weird spitting fountain faces, even the pigeons became part of his story.

    He poked fun at himself, admitted he used to avoid places like this, and claimed this video marked a turning point in how he wants to reconnect with his hometown. Even if it means walking until his camera dies.

    The Adventure Ends Where It Began

    Back at The Bean, Josh wrapped up his chaotic, heartfelt tour of Millennium Park. He might have started the day alone, but by the end, he brought his audience along for a ride that was part comedy, part documentary, and totally Josh.

    “If you’re going to be a loser, be proud of being it.”

    Links:

    Watch the Full Video:

    🎥 I Spent 24 Hours Alone in Millennium Park Chicago

    Follow Josh: Instagram | Kick

    Stay weird, stay wandering.
    The Creator Josh