Man that Wrigley traffic after a game is the worst, I got clipped on Addison a couple years back for the same kind of thing and it stung for weeks. The part that burns me is you already dropped $150 on a paralegal who basically did nothing you couldn't have done with a stamp. Showing up yourself at the Daley Center is honestly pretty normal for these, they run them in batches and a lot of people just talk to the hearing officer. Bring photos of where you were stopped and how the other cars were lined up, that crosswalk defense only works if you can show you weren't the one hanging in it. Worst case you lose and you're out the 75, which is what you're already facing, so it's not like you can make it much worse than paying it.

How did you find the good markets on day one though? In my experience that is the hard part, because the touristy streets always have the tiny overpriced shops and the real grocery stores are a few blocks off the main drag. What worked for me in Barcelona was just walking away from Las Ramblas until I hit a normal neighborhood, and the prices dropped by half. I grabbed bread, cheese, fruit, and a pack of jamon for like 10 euros and ate breakfast on a bench for four days straight. Now I always check where the locals shop before I even book a place, it saves me so much money. Your mileage may vary depending on the city but honestly it has never let me down.