Category Archives: Chicago Specific Fun

Day 259: The View From Up Here

This experience goes in the tried-something-new-but-did-not-necessarily-think-it-was-fun category. I went to one of our board meetings at a downtown office on the 43rd floor of a VERY tall building. I really don’t like heights…

For the first part of the meeting, the blinds were closed for a slideshow presentation, however when that was over, the blinds came up and I did my best not to look out the windows. Towards the end of the meeting I faced my fear and attempted to enjoy the view of downtown Chicago an office on the 43rd floor provides. I did not necessarily succeed, but I’m glad I tried.

20130704-220034.jpg

Day 247: Marigold

Tonight I went to one of my favorite Indian restaurants in Chicago–Marigold. It used to live in Uptown right near the Aragon. Now it lives in Andersonville right by the fro-yo place (obviously a great location). The hubs and I have a ritual of going there with our friend John on random weeknights.

On this particular occasion, Chicago weather cooperated enough for us to sit at the big community table near the open windows and enjoy a cool beverage in the cool breeze. While the men opted for Bengali Beer, I partook in their special–Lambrusco. I discovered Lambrusco in 2008. I remember because I was interning at the Williamstown Theater Festival that summer. We sometimes went to the one fancy bar in town, for openings and other special occasions, and the bartender asked if I would like a Lambrusco. I admitted that I didn’t know what that was. “Sparkling Red” was all he had to say and I jumped all over it.

Marigold does “modern” Indian. When I asked the hubs what that meant, he said the “style” and the “preparation” was just a little more “western.” I’m not sure what that means, but it is just solid, delicious food. And the three of us have this uncanny ability to order the perfect meal, both in balance and in quantity. Tonight we got three samosas, two entree dishes, a side of rice and two orders of naan. And we devoured every bite. Literally zero leftovers. It was amazing. And delicious.

20130620-225842.jpg

20130620-225854.jpg

Day 246: Holding Court

On Day 246, I was “in residence” at Bar on Buena. I was there from 6:00pm to about 10:00pm meeting different people. BOB, as I have begrudgingly started calling it–at first I disliked this acronym but it is a lot easier to say–is our neighborhood place. If the hubs and I need a quick dinner but also want a good beer or outdoor seating, we go to BOB. So usually we are not there for longer than an hour. On this particular night, though, I met friend Emily. Then her hubs and my hubs joined us. Then they left and it was just my hubs and me. Then he left and friend Jana joined me. It was pretty much all social with maybe a little bit of business. (More on that later). And while the waitress may not have enjoyed opening and closing three separate bills, I sure had fun chatting, eating and drinking with a revolving door of friends.

Day 245: Meal Crew

Memorial Day! After recovering from my tiredness, sickness, blah-ness, I had a full Memorial Day that balanced working on a grant proposal with quality friend time. I had lunch and dinner with the same friends–we just took a break in the middle for everyone to do some catching up on work, errands, cleaning, all that stuff that seems to accumulate.

It felt a little like college, in a great way, when I saw my friends for meals and each was continuation of the last in terms of conversation and ease. It’s pretty great to have friends like this. I mean how many people actually want to hang out multiple times a day?