eating my way through chicago.

i am full.

full of memories.

full of laughs.

but, mainly, full of food.

this afternoon i returned from a three day girls' weekend/extravaganza/gluttonfest in chicago. the windy apple, you guys! and that famous wind made an appearance.

the cast of characters:

jenn (friend/co-worker/game nighter), lindsey (friend/SIL/norah's mom), kari (friend/lindsey's sister/game nighter/co-worker's wife--but not jenn's...)

and me, but you already knew that.

the fabulous millennium knickerbocker welcomed us on thursday evening and we wasted no time getting down to business:

checking out the mini bar...

and breaking in the robe. one day i'll learn how to hold a camera properly.

after spending all of five minutes in the hotel, our spidey senses began to tingle...we were in close proximity to sprinkles cupcakes.

they were closed. frick. just as i was about chuck homeless man's toilet (aka folger's coffee can) through the front window to get to the sugary goodness, i was quickly reminded that the cheesecake factory was also a block away. phew.

but things got embarrassing at the cheesecake factory. and here's why:

look at the bag on the left. that's what most people are handed when they order a single slice of cheesecake. now look at the bag on the right. that's what I'M handed when i order a single slice of cheesecake. they must have seen me coming.


friday morning presented a new opportunity to fill my pie hole.

and i filled it good and full. full of ann sather cinnamon rolls, feta omelette, and home fries.

but don't worry--i exercised! we had to walk, like, two whole blocks to get to anthropologie. so that counts. and speaking of anthropologie, the michigan ave. anthro has the. best. clearance. section. THE BEST.

that's right. 75% off wallpaper. i bought a roll of the navy and cream colored paper. i don't even know what the pattern is yet, but i do know that when $150 wallpaper is 75% off, you get a roll. spoken like a true hoarder? duh.

good news:

sprinkles was open on friday. and i didn't have to commit a felony to get a cuppycake.

friday night presented new opportunities for eating and entertainment. mexican food at cantina laredo and a comedy show at the second city. such a great night of gut bombs and belly laughs.

saturday morning was equally delicious at the bongo room.

pretzel pancakes with white chocolate and caramel drizzle.

spinach, red pepper and feta benedict.

sweet potato, black bean and guacamole breakfast burrito.

the bongo room, you guys. go.

and what's a trip to chicago without visiting millenium park?

can you find me? hint: i'm the round one.


conveniently, our hotel was half a block from michigan ave, where the holiday lighting parade took place saturday evening.

hosted by mr. mouse, himself.

AND THERE'S A GIANT NUTCRACKER! (it's okay to yell things like that if it's christmastime).

i didn't know who the heck this teenybopper was, but every kid there did. china somebody, i think?

again, i didn't know who this guy was. but with a face like that, i'd like to get to know him better.

while walking back to the hotel, kari gave lessons on the art of avoiding the double chin. we were a captive audience.

can you spot the real kari?

post parade, we ordered pizza and stayed in for the evening.

this pizza would have been awesome. IF we didn't have to wait over two hours for it. and IF it weren't lukewarm. i award it zero stars.

i tossed and turned all night on our final night. so at 6:30, i threw in the towel, pulled on the previous day's clothes and explored.

i had the city all to myself...

...but i shared it with the twinkly lights...

...and the architecture of mies van der rohe (lookitup)...

...and strategically placed artwork...

...and evidence of those who may have enjoyed the holiday lighting parade a bit too much.

while i wandered the city early this morning, i went on a hunt for the perfect cup of coffee. i approached an apartment building doorman:

me: excuse me, where is a good place i can get a great cup of coffee?

doorman: walk to the end of this block. there's a great little place right on the corner.

me: thankyousomuch!

that freaking doorman sent me to starbucks. and i still can't decide if he was being cheeky or genuine. anywho, i settled on starbucks. whilst sitting and enjoying my cup of coffee, a lady sitting near me struck up a conversation. we had talked for 20-30 minutes or so when she told me that i had a good personality and seemed like the type who would have some fun, single guy friends (ha! if she only knew...). she then went on to inform me that she was a casting director and asked me to pass on her information to my hot young guy friends.

and then she handed me this:

ha! she was looking for guys for the bachelorette! only in the big city, you guys. only in the big city.

oh what a weekend. and even though i had a blast, i couldn't have been happier to come home to this:

adorable hat courtesy of the fabulous dar kleinheksel, whose handmade goods can be found at tweed baby outfitters. norah proved to be the perfect little model for mrs. k. and don't judge her outfit...her dad dressed her all weekend.

and this: