‘Chicago’ Category

02 June 2011

Two stories about karma

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, Random

As much as I may want to deny it, karma exists. I’ve seen two examples of this recently and I thought I’d share both. One is funny and one is kind of sweet.

Funny Karma

About a month ago, my friend dropped me off at home after dinner and we ended up sitting in her car chatting for a bit. We were blocking a small part of the street but cars could still pass without issue. Until, one woman went past us, giving an “eat sh*t” look. As she did, my friend tapped the horn just to let her know she could pass.

Two seconds after that horn tap, the girl stopped her car in the middle of the street, got out, stormed over to yell at us and said words and phrases I cannot repeat here. I was nervous but my friend was calm and she handled it like a pro. Once the girl was done yelling, she stomped back to her car, only to grab the car door handle, stop and look up in the sky.

Within seconds, my friend said, “She locked herself out of the car.” After all that, she locked herself out?? I wasn’t sure if that was right, but yep, in her haste to yell at us, she locked herself out of the car and was now completely blocking the street from traffic. Oh, and it was freezing cold and windy outside.

She slowly walked back to us, acknowledged she was locked out and apologized for how she behaved. While she went to get her extra key, we watched her car, in case the cops showed up because the street was blocked and guided cars around hers while she was gone. When she was back, she offered us a bottle of wine to say thanks but my friend told her to keep it. She had been through enough that day.

Sweet Karma

I try to live by the Golden Rule (seriously). The few times I’ve had to sell tickets online, I sell for face value. I don’t gouge people because I wouldn’t want someone to do that to me. Most of the time, that balance is more me being the generous one compared to others. But last week, I finally got a win.

A woman was selling tickets on Facebook and after weeks of trying to get them on my own with no luck, I left her a message to contact me via email. Within minutes, she emailed me, said she would sell them to me at face value and then during the Paypal transaction, she even took a few more bucks off.  She could have easily made a 50% profit on those tickets due to demand but she just wanted to unload them and could not have been sweeter.

So thanks Rachel in LA for showing me that there is actually a payoff and good karma to living by that rule.

Do you believe in Karma?

30 May 2011

Revamping the Memorial Day plans

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, Food, Friends

On Friday, I made a list of things I hoped to do during Memorial Day, because I’m a planner and need some kind of list of what I’d like to do, even if I achieve nothing.

Yeah, it was one of those weekend when the best laid Memorial Day plans went awry, but in a good way!

I got my mani/pedi and saw Something Borrowed (review here!) but that was it from my list. The French Market and architecture boat tour will wait for another day.

But there were two fun things that also unexpectedly happened this weekend that I had to share!

Next!

Chicago is quickly becoming a well-known food town and right now, the hottest ticket here is Next Restaurant, the new brainchild from Grant Achatz. You don’t get reservations, you get tickets and can only get them online. Ticket competition is intense and with it’s current menu, Paris 1906, ending in early July, the demand is more intense.

I’ve been trying in multiple ways to get tickets for more than a month and on Thursday, the stars aligned and I snagged a last-minute ticket for a 10 p.m. reservation that night. I cannot even explain how perfectly everything worked out, it was just clearly, meant to be.

And in a very difficult decision, I did not photograph one piece of my meal. I opted to savor the experience with three good friends and enjoy the amazing food served to us. Yes, I wrestled with whether or not to photograph, but in the end, I was fine with it. I had a wonderful meal with great conversation, lots of laughs and attentive, non-stuffy service.

The entire six-course experience was 100% worth the cost (tickets range from $60-$110) and was the perfect way to kick off the Memorial Day weekend. And when I go back, I would love to steal the place settings because the plates were to die for.

I can’t even list what dish was my favorite (although the duck got very high marks) but it was truly a great experience.

Below is YouTube video that shows some of the dishes we ate. Really, it was so delicious.

PIE!

In prep for a BBQ/housewarming party Saturday, I had an impromptu pie-making class with the lovely Jessi, who not only had a cutting board set up for me when I arrived, but also let me be the “flour girl” when I was observing.

She made the first pie and then let me get my hands dirty and work out the dough for the second pie. It was easy, fun and she was more than patient with me as I rolled it out. And giving a rolling and lattice-cutting job to a perfectionist like me, is the best thing ever. I’m not bragging (or being too modest) but my pie was awesome.

Check it out (mine is in front):

That lattice work is FLAWLESS.

This weekend was another perfect reminder that even when the best laid plans go awry, that’s not a bad thing :) Also, I need to make my own homemade pie, it tastes so good!

How was your weekend?

27 May 2011

Looking forward to a long weekend

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, Random

Yesterday was Thursday but I was playing Rebecca Black’s song “Friday” in my head because that’s what it was for me. FRIDAY. My company closed our office today so I get a four-day weekend, and let me tell you something, I need it.

Yes, it’s officially my Memorial Day weekend and I will be staycationing it in Chicago because, well I have to save money to travel again. And after a crazy two week trip, I’m ready to lay low.

So what do I have planned for a four-day weekend since I’m not leaving Chicago? Well, not much actually and I couldn’t be more excited. But, since I’m a planner, I do have a few things I want to get done:

  • First mani/pedi of the season. This is a MUST!
  • Hit up the Nordstrom Women’s Sale (yes, I have a list of what I need to get)
  • See the movie, “Something Borrowed” (even though I know it will be bad)
  • Visit the Chicago French Market (oh la la!)
  • Grocery shop (naturally)
  • Get some good BBQ (pulled pork get in mah belly)
  • Maybe do one of the Chicago Architecture Boat tours (but it has to be warmer than 40 degrees out during the day)
  • Keep catching up with friends

So nothing too strenuous but lots of things to look forward to. That sounds like exactly what I need. But I’m definitely excited about that mani/pedi, my cuticles are a total mess.

Anyhow, I hope you all have a safe and happy, Memorial Day weekend! Are you doing anything fun?

11 April 2011

Weekend recap: Using my Groupons

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, Food

Happy Monday everyone! Now that I’m getting so close to my trips, I need to be careful about how many groceries I have in my house because, well I don’t want to waste food!

So, if I don’t have food at home, it’s time to go out…and use some Groupons! I have a tendency to be a Groupon hoarder (just like gift cards!) because they are like trading cards. You collect and collect and then WHOOPS time to use them! So now I have a new policy, no more Groupons until I start using at least two of them. Well this isn’t locked in stone but you know what I mean :)

And this weekend, after being scalded by water (accidentally) at the salon, having my welcome mat stolen (and later returned) and binging a little bit on Easter candy (SO GOOD), I took Sunday night off and went out with a good buddy for dinner at Takashi.

I won’t lie, I don’t know much about this place, but my food friends love it so I bought the Groupon and decided to finally use it.

Food porn, COMMENCE….

Duck fat fried chicken. So d*mn good I wanted to lay down and beg for mercy. I would go back JUST for this dish

Prosciutto-chicken coquettes – Is it wrong that I wanted to eat them like chips?

Ramen with egg noodles and beef. Being a carnivore, I wish there was more meat (TWSS!)

I’m so fortunate to have friends that love food like me and are willing to go to try these places with me.

Now, of course I have to buy ANOTHER Groupon, I just have to wade through the the offers for Botox (no joke), lash extensions and teeth whitening for another gem like this.

Do you use Groupon or other deal lists like Living Social? Do you have a tendency to collect them too?

20 March 2011

Weekend recap: Cupcakes, cosmos, waxing and pizza

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, Food, Friends

Happy Sunday everyone! Today is the first day of spring but it sure doesn’t feel like it in Chicago. My post about shopping for spring must have jinxed it. Blerg.

Despite the not-spring weather, it was still a pretty good weekend!

Friday, I tried a new eyebrow wax place because I haven’t been loving Nordstrom Spa lately. It came highly recommended by good friends and it was…interesting and $10. It might have been that it was way too long between waxing but my eyebrows look thinner than I asked for. I’m hoping I’ll adjust to them this week and I can get them cleaned up again before Italy.

Saturday, someone I know came in to town for a visit and I dragged him back to La Madia for another fabulous pizza. Okay, I’m a little obsessed with that place ;) But instead of pork belly and kale, I got prosciutto and cracked egg with fresh pepper. Yes, it was amazing. Look at it!

Come to Butthead

Naturally, to burn off some of these delicious calories, my visitor and I stopped at Crumbs to get a cupcake for the road. Yes, this violates every ounce of my weight loss plan and diet, but it’s a treat that I rarely have. So I’m saying this is okay for now.

Here’s the food porn shot of the Crumbs Devil’s Food cupcake, which is chocolate cake, cream cheese filling and cream cheese frosting with chocolate chips and cake bites. There are no words.


Finally, I got to celebrate my good friend Liz’s birthday on Friday. We helped her usher in the last year in her 20s with cosmos, gnocchi, Pimms Cups, cocktails and truffle pasta. It was a great night out for one of my closest friends. Also, the cosmos foreshadowed how I would spend another part of my weekend: watching Sex and the City. Love that show (still).

How was your weekend?