I received this thank you card from a reader whom I had coffee with several weeks back. Personal branding- subtle, authentic, meaningful. Nailed it!
(And congrats on your new job!)
Midway Morning
I have primarily been flying out of O’Hare for work the last few months so while this might be old news, I was thrilled this morning to find that Midway now has mobile boarding passes AND Intelligentsia Coffee (that fake Starbucks Potbelly used to sell was gross). Adding to that? A yoga room is going in! Midway, you flirt.
I boarded next to a mom and little girl who was taking her first flight. She was so excited and dying to get a window seat. My mom always made air travel such a big deal and fun thing and now that it’s a part of my job, seeing that little girl reminded me that it is truly a modern miracle- I am sitting in a chair that is going to be in the sky. I get it, little girl in 6A. I get it.
Farm to Table
Living in a large city, it can be easy to lose sight of “the real world”. I love our urban bubble but I’ll admit, there are times when my view of normalcy is slightly skewed (refusing to own a car, $17 cocktails, grocery delivery services…).
Take the whole farm-to-table movement. Restaurants all over the place are calling their menus farm-to-table and people are going nuts for it. Me included. I had a kale salad at this place that screamed farm to table, going as far as having picnic tables for seating because that’s how their suppliers eat on the farm and I lost my shit, I was so excited and by god, that salad was the best salad in the history of ever.
But guess what? Farm to table isn’t a trend or a marketing ploy- it’s how you get your food.
Hey, anything that gets people eating whole, healthy foods that didn’t have to travel a continent to get to them is fantastic, I am all for it. But this week, I was at an actual Farmer’s Market (not my beloved yuppie, overpriced Green City Market but a real farmer’s market with people who actually work on farms) in a small town in Michigan and it hit me- I think it is incredible when I eat out and they make everything in-house because gosh, I could never do that. So here I am, looking at all of this gorgeous produce, grown from the ground miles from where I stood and it was…inspiring. I could make anything I wanted from scratch. I could! And I would!
So I made pickles.
No canning required, this recipe from Smitten Kitchen is great. Thinly sliced cucumbers (I used a mandolin), white vinegar, salt and dill. Refrigerate. Shake. 3-5 hours later, pickles. They’re fresh, crispy and I know where everything in them came from because I bought it. It felt so good to be inspired by food again and genuinely bring the farm to my table.
RPM Steak Opening Party
There are some plans I have to remind my husband of multiple times…attending the Opening Party for RPM Steak was not one of them. From the second we were invited, August 9th at 7pm was top of mind- I would imagine it had something to do with visions of steak and manhattans dancing in his head.
The new space at 60 W. Kinzie is beautiful. Huge and airy with the same sleekness RPM Italian has but toned down to highlight what’s clearly the star of the show: the steak. Chef Psaltis was on hand serving up quite the spread and while I first congratulated him on the gorgeous new restaurant, Ryan went back and congratulated him on the steak. He was wildly impressed with everything from the ribeye to the lamb chops to the skirt steak.
Me? Glass of champagne in hand, I was happy as could be…and then I made my way upstairs to what will be the private dining space and found lobster and oysters perched atop a bar made entirely of ice. Jack.pot.
Also to be noted: dessert. Mini lemon sorbet baked Alaska. Basil hazelnut cream puffs. Yes.
It was such a fun, almost interactive date night. We walked around, sampled the food, ran into some people we hadn’t seen in ages, caught up on our weeks. There’s no official opening date announced yet but a waiter told us that Bill Rancic (partial owner) told them 10 days so get ready to snag a reso- I know we can’t wait to try RPM Steak in full.
Hello! And Link Love
I have no idea where this last week has gone! Nothing life changing happening over here just work travel that includes driving which means less time for blogging and other internet related activities. Sigh. How about a catch-up related version of link love today?
I set a co-worker of Ryan’s (who also happens to be a good friend of ours) up with a friend’s sister this winter and now they’re totally in love and having a blast all over town. So I go to meet up with Ryan at a work event last night and, apparently, I am now the Holy Grail of dating. “Do you have a girl for me?”, “When are you going to set me up?”, “I like nice dinners– do you have a foodie friend I could take out?”…it was hilarious. And unfortunate because I think I just lucked out that one time. I hear the kids are into Tinder these days, maybe try that?
My reward for being the most popular wife in the office was wine and bruschetta at Enolo Wine Bar. The wine poached salmon was out of this world and the kale salad with poached egg was awesome.
Back from a week on the road, I cleaned this morning…and found this list of how often you should clean certain things in your house and now all I want to do is clean all of the things.
So this guy bought 23 pies to spite a small child. Hell yes and high five.
A friend came over for lunch today and so generously brought me a Diptyque candle and 2 Stan’s Donuts. “Fancy Candles & Donuts” should be the name of my memoir- I love both so much.
We have an event tomorrow evening but other than that, Ryan and I are committing to eating every meal at home this weekend (something we have NOT been doing). I can’t tell you how great it felt to pull a fresh loaf of bread from the oven this morning and make fresh salsa from the Farmer’s Market I went to in MI.
Happy Weekend, friends!
Link Love
My girl Megan is getting restaged today in her Stage 4 Hodgkins battle- if you have any prayers to offer up at 1pm, please do so!
“I panicked at the success and fell immediately.” Loved this post about wake boarding and the life metaphors that come with it.
Tomorrow morning at 8:30am, there will be a yoga class at Adler Planetarium. Cool, right??
This is the weekend we attempt pizza on the grill. Trusting this guide will get us there.
Mark your calendars- the Tortoise Club has $20 whiskey flights next week. I’ll take live jazz and a Manhattan flight, stat.
It’s time to put something on the walls in our bedroom- considering this print. Urban and abstract.
Updated because the internet is awesome today:
Under Armour nailed it with their new ad. Beautiful and strong and an incredible message for young women.
Now THIS is how you make an exit. I am such a sucker for mariachi bands and gospel choirs and group singing- well done, Elle Magazine and Mark Sebba.
Luna Bell never sits on my lap so when it happened this morning while I was working…it was about the best thing ever.
Peace, love, and mariachi bands,
Nina
Billy Joel is Our Song
There is just no mood/occasion/day that isn’t improved by Mr. Billy Joel. There have been so many dance parties in our home to his music that we should just consider him our song. I like that- Billy Joel is our song.
Chicago + Billy + dancing like a maniac in my seat = dreamiest Chicago night ever.
Local (Coffee) Buzz
My coffee consumption is typically pretty utilitarian- I grab a cup from Starbucks to go before I start my work day or for a walk and on weekends, we use our Nespresso. But today I needed an afternoon pick-me-up and instead of finding the nearest ‘bux, I ducked into BowTruss and ordered a pourover…not to go. In a glass mug. And took a call while sitting on their little patio. It was so lovely and the opposite of utilitarian- it was enjoyable.
I don’t claim to be a coffee expert but in the spirit of great local coffee houses, here are a few of my favorites that I am going to make a point to hit up more. Anything to add to my list- please comment!
Heritage Bicycles: 2959 N. Lincoln|The people demand bikes and coffee and treats from Little Goat.
Bow Truss Coffee Roasters: 2934 N. Broadway & 406 N. Wells| beans roasted right here in Chicago by some of the friendliest people you’re likely to meet.
The Coffee Studio: 5628 N. Clark| the space is what does it for me here- it’s a must stay, must sit, must create/connect/cappuccino kind of place.
Buzz: Killer Espresso: 1644 N. Damen| Really great lattes and their staff wants to teach you about how they do what they do while they do it. Cool.
Cafe Tola: 3612 N. Southport| I don’t know if this counts as a coffee shop but I love their spicy mocha, cold brew and they have empanadas. And sprinkle donuts. And this is my list and I get to say what goes on it. Oh and there’s this ledge against a painted wall for you to balance your coffee & donut/empanada on that I get a kick out of.
On Math & Happiness
I’m no mathematician but I will go on the record as saying that happiness multiplies when met with other happiness. Case in point(s):
My best friend had the official “you’re having a baby and it has feet!” sonogram and started announcing her pregnancy yesterday.
A friend got a epically huge YES from a national brand regarding a collaboration (you are never going to hear the end of this, I am dying to shout it from the rooftops, it’s so freaking cool).
Another friend is fulfilling a lifelong goal and starting a business.
Another has endured a divorce in recent years has met their great love and is starting a life with them in an amazing new city.
An immediate family member is crushing goals not in their name but in the name of serving what they know God put them on the planet to do.
And me? Well, I spent the evening on a long walk with my husband reveling in this joy from people we love somuchand turning this inspiration into goals and plans and choices for us. Individually, together, fulfillment is a priority. And happening.
Here’s the deal: only have people in your life that you are absolutely crazy about. People you cheer on at every turn, the ones you pick up when they crumble, rally around and toast when they have a big win and do the same for you. It’s not that life is too short for the alternative (although it is) but life is just so much better with people you love with all your might. When you leave from interactions with these heartbeats feeling full to the brim. It matters and it’s worth it. Loving fully and loving well is always worth it.
And the golden state in the pic above? I am heading to Houston to love on some friends later this week and I can’t wait to be with these girls in a state I seriously love. Texas (and friends and queso and belly laughs) forever.