Weekend Things

I’m never sure how to proceed in the wake of tragedy.  On the one hand, it feels wrong to go on with regularly scheduled programming when our nation is grieving.  But then, in a small way, it’s also symbolic of what we have to do in times like these.  GO ON.  Hate is not the answer.  Terror will not destroy us.  Fear will not win.  I choose to believe that there are far more good hearts in this world than there is hatred and senselessness.  And so I’m focusing on the good and this weekend was good.

IMG_2843

IMG_2844

We tried out a new pizza place for Friday dinner and WHOA.  Cart-Driver can’t be beat in the thin-crust artisan category and Fat Sully’s is a showstopper but Blue Pan, I think you’ve won my overall pizza heart.  I didn’t even know what Detroit-style pizza was before this, but I think it’s safe to say it’s my new favorite.  Would you just look at those crispy edges?!

IMG_2846

IMG_2827

The rest of the evening was spent at Coors.  Let’s not even talk about how we were up two, with two outs and zero on in the top of the ninth and somehow managed to lose the game.  Instead, let’s talk about how they do this Tooth Trot every game and Joey gets so into cheering on someone dressed as a giant toothbrush.  His maturity astounds me 🙂

IMG_2830

Ugh, Saturday was just the best day.  And not because of anything life-changing, but just because it was summer and I ate breakfast (AND LUNCH) in the backyard and got to ride my bike to the Farmers’ Market.  And really, that’s all I need in this life to be happy.  Union Station just started hosting a Farmers’ Market so we rode over to check it out and I was delighted (and sort of surprised) to see how much produce they had!  I’m all for tents selling breakfast and lunch options but let’s not forget that FRESH PRODUCE is actually the point of a Farmers’ Market.

IMG_2847

IMG_2848

I was seriously only going to allow myself to buy one item (Farmers’ Markets are not always easy on the wallet) but then I saw bunches of the illusive garlic scape, big pink radishes and the most gorgeous heads of MINI lettuce and couldn’t resist.  Then Joey forced me to buy some cherries.  Twist my arm, why dontcha? 🙂  I made a pretty lunch salad with our loot and felt infinite happiness.  Plus it gave me enough energy to brave the grocery store during Rockies game rush hour.

IMG_2836

IMG_2838

The rest of the day was spent outside (shocking, I know) reading, while Joey built our second garden box.  I’m a bad wife and forgot to take a picture but it turned out SO GOOD and only took him half as long as the first one, so he’s pretty much a pro now.  I can’t wait to get them primed and prepped for actual plants.  We saw all these cute veggie seedlings at the market and it got us so excited to plant some of our own!  While Joey finished up, I headed inside and made us a Rhubarb and Raspberry Crostata for dessert.  Served it up with some ice cream later that night and it was the perfect end to a perfect day.

IMG_2840

Sunday started with a walk and breakfast with my parents.  We took them to Bacon and hoped for a good experience since it’s been sort of a mixed bag the past few times we’ve been by ourselves.  It’s not so much the food that’s off, but the service.  Our food seemed to take FOR-EV-ER but luckily, we were all too busy talking to notice it all that much.  We hadn’t seen my parents since we got back from Chicago so we caught them up on our trip and gave them some tips for their trip to San Fran/Oregon later this summer.

IMG_2850

Afterwards, I hit up Whole Foods — every time I leave that place, I’m thinking “get me outta here!” — then walked to pick up some more coffee beans for iced coffee and helped Joey prep some salads for the work week.  Got to watch the beginning of the Rockies game before heading off to yoga.  Yoga is good any time of year, but when you get to park on the other side of the bridge and walk over in that summertime sunshine, it just feels that much better.  We learned some new poses and it felt good to try something different, even if I looked like a mess doing it 🙂

Ended the night with more reading on the porch, Game of Thrones and a veggie and garlic scape pesto panzanella!  I’m all for a salad that involves cubes of bread and I only kinda still suck at poaching eggs.  Meanwhile, it’s Monday but I’m still gonna act like it’s the weekend, if you don’t mind.  Sending you all love, happiness and sunshine this week!

 

Weekend Trip: Chicago

True Story: When Joey and I plan vacations, we plan them around baseball stadiums.  I mean if we’re going to go somewhere, we might as well hit up a baseball game while we’re there, right?  Chicago had been on our radar for our a while now and though I’d like to pretend it was for mature reasons like architecture and history, honestly it was because A) Ferris Bueller, B) “The Bean” and C) Wrigley Field.

Turns out Chicago has all of that, plus tons of other fun stuff and we seriously ended up having a blast!  Fun neighborhoods, amazing houses, baseball fanatics, incredible architecture, WATER (so sorry, so landlocked), and oh my god, the food.  So good.  It all made me so happy.  So thanks, Chicago, for being so awesome and showing us such a good time!

IMG_2674

IMG_2806

IMG_2681

IMG_2743

Thursday evening flight // The cutest hippest Chicago studio apartment // Dinner and drinks at Mott St. which was INSANE

IMG_2795

IMG_2744

IMG_2745

IMG_2746

IMG_2747

IMG_2748

The most beautiful Chicago day // Neighborhood strolling // Breakfast & Bloodies at Mortar & Pestle // Iced coffee at Intelligentsia

IMG_2796

IMG_2749

IMG_2689

IMG_2797

IMG_2798

Walking to the Cubs game // Was hoping to run into some Gallaghers under the train tracks // WRIGLEY! // Bleacher seats or bust // Game time  

IMG_2750

IMG_2751

IMG_2752

IMG_2753

IMG_2799

IMG_2730

IMG_2800

Cleaned ourselves up from sun and beer at the game and went on an amazing Chicago Architecture River Cruise // Beautiful, informative, interesting and highly recommended!

IMG_2755

IMG_2756

IMG_2707

IMG_2757

IMG_2759

IMG_2760

IMG_2758

IMG_2801

IMG_2802

The aptly named Doughnut Vault // May have ordered a few too many // My head for scale // Gospel at Millennium Park // Having fun at Cloudgate

IMG_2761

IMG_2812

IMG_2803

IMG_2804

Urban mini golf // Hiding from the rain under a tree // Joey never lets me win // But I got a hole-in-one, so who’s really the winner here?

IMG_2762

IMG_2805

IMG_2763

IMG_2719

IMG_2783

Rain = Art Institute of Chicago time // Espresso break // Dinner at Girl & the Goat // Fresh brioche with MISO BUTTER (!!!) and heavenly goat empanadas // Post-dinner drink at Vivo

IMG_2764

IMG_2807

IMG_2725

IMG_2808

But first, coffee // Requisite deep dish pizza experience // Mine was disappointing // Joey’s was better but still not mind-blowing // Joey’s cheese pull picture skills are on point, though!

IMG_2765

IMG_2787

IMG_2766

IMG_2809

IMG_2810

Navy Pier // Bike ride along Lake Michigan // One last beer/meal in Chicago — I got a burger and did not regret it!

Where We Stayed:

Large Studio: Lincoln Park/Lakeview

We loved the location and style of this little Airbnb.  In walking distance to restaurants, coffee shops and Wrigley Field!  Plus we got to live out our dream of living in a hip studio apartment, if only for a weekend.

Where We Ate/Drank:

Mott St. // EVERYTHING IS GOOD HERE

Mortar & Pestle // The service was seriously top notch and I had some life-changing muesli?  Don’t know that those words have ever been used together in a sentence but there it is

Intelligentsia // Great coffee if you can get past the fact that the employees are so hipster it hurts

The Purple Pig // Meh.  Food was hit and miss and service was slow as hell on a very busy Friday night

Bow Truss Coffee Roasters // Get your coffee here then walk over to The Doughnut Vault

The Doughnut Vault // Get the buttermilk old fashioned and tip well because their staff is killing it in there!

Girl & the Goat // DO IT!  Make a reservation weeks in advance OR go right when they open and they will seat you if you promise to be done before their reservation comes in

Vivo // Can’t vouch for the food but I had a good, albeit way over garnished, cocktail

Osmium Coffee Bar // Good coffee in a bar setting

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria // Sadly unimpressive

Forbidden Root // The beer was just okay but the burger is A+

What We Did:

Cubs Game at Wrigley Field // Bleacher seats, for the win!  Seriously such a fun crowd.  Someone asked me if it was like the Rock Pile and my answer is NO.  The fans in the bleachers were actually watching the game and knew baseball as opposed to sitting in the Rock Pile because the tickets are cheap and you just want to spend your money on beer. 

Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise // Highly recommended!  Go at sunset for the full effect of seeing Chicago in the daytime and all lit up at night.

Millennium Park // Concerts at the pavilion, a walking trail, mini golf and, of course, Cloudgate (aka The Bean)!

Art Institute of Chicago // Worth it just to see A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, which is much bigger than I had expected. 

Navy Pier // You can walk along the pier, ride the ferris wheel (if you’re braver than me!) then rent a bike and ride along the coast of Lake Michigan.

I hope you’re all doing something extra fun and summery this weekend!  Happy Friday!