Girls Just Want to Have Fun!!!

Brunch Buddies

Last weekend, the long awaited visit from two of my best gals finally happened! I’d love to say we partied like rock stars all weekend long, but we were pretty tame. We were blessed with really beautiful weather, so it was a lot of walking and talking and just being together.

Friday was a bit hectic on my end, as Nick was sick with a fever and I had a last-minute, urgent project for work. But, by pushing through late into Thursday night and with reinforcements from Lonnie to take care of Nick, I managed to arrive at the hotel only minutes after Meredith and Katie. 

We spent the afternoon catching up over lunch and took a long walk along the lake. We hardly took a breath; there was so much talk about. I’m not a great phone person and I’m even worse since having the kids, so I’m sad to say it had been quite some time since I’d properly communicated with these two. But, as only best friends can, we picked up as if we’d just seen each other a few days before. Friday night, I had planned to hit Xoco for dinner before we headed to a Second City show, but we got started a little late, so the line was just long enough to make it too close for comfort. We shouldn’t have worried, because the show started about 15 minutes late and it seems the better seats are actually towards the back—much more legroom! Live and learn. But, the show was good, aside from an oddly depressing opening skit in the second act—it was kind of a buzz kill. After the show, we all admitted we had no interest in going out for a drink and that the hotel room, comfy clothes, and TV were calling our name.

Saturday we brunched at Little Goat Diner, which more than made up for the lackluster dinner we ended up having on Friday. Stephanie Izard…you know your stuff lady! After brunch we headed out to the highlight of the weekend—our house! I was excited to show it off and, of course, wanted my friends to spend some time with the kids. Nick and Lainey started off really shy, but came around by the time we had to leave. Once back downtown, we had coffee in Millenium Park and enjoyed some people watching, particularly observing all the selfie sticks at the Bean. Selfie sticks kind of became our inside joke of the weekend.

Dinner on Friday was at Carnivale. I had never been, but had heard good things. It had a great ambiance—very festive and bright. The food was good and we had some fun pre-dinner cocktails. Our waiter, Michael, pushed the tequila flights, which ended up being our undoing Sunday morning—breakfast was a little rough. But, in the moment it was a great time and we learned a lot about tequila, so I will chalk it up to an educational experience. After dinner, it was off to Three Dots and a Dash, a tiki bar in River North. We were early enough that the wait wasn’t too long, and we actually snagged some bar seats inside. The drinks are all classic cocktails from restaurants across the country, and there is even a drink from the Kahiki, a Columbus institution (until it close a few years ago), where I went for my senior prom dinner. Ah, memories! The drinks were really pretty (if overpriced) and again, the people watching was spectacular! There was a bachelorette party where all of the women seemed to have mistaken their shirts for dresses—lots of butt cheeks peeking at us—and these ladies weren’t in the under 30 set. Yikes!

As I said, Sunday morning was rough. We moved slowly, ate breakfast at the most convenient spot, and pretty much laid around until check-out at noon. I was very happy that I was only a 20-minute Uber ride from home and didn’t have to do the trek to Ohio via Southwest.

Thanks for coming to see me ladies! It was so nice to have you on my turf for a change. I miss your lovely faces so much. See you in Ohio in June!

Big smiles and rosy cheeks post-tequila!!!

Pretty drinks at Three Dots and a Dash