Roofdeck - Check!

Guess what? Guess what? Guess what?

Roof deck with a view: Check

image courtesy of Michael Kuntz Photography 
Dinner: Check


Unexpected Bonus: Gür Sweets Croughnuts (aka Cronuts)


Super special unexpected bonus: Another Photo Booth Adventure


Last week I was fortunate enough to be Jenn's +1 at Eventbrite's BriteBRO party at Estate Ultra Bar. Not only did I get to have a fantastic lady date at a venue that I might never have discovered, but I also got to cross another item off my summer to do list.

Estate is kind of off the beaten path. But its beautiful roof deck offered spectacular views and a great place to have a drink and a chat. We lucked into a beautiful night and I had a really great time. Thank you, Alexa!

Though the cronuts were good, I'm not sure they lived up to all the hype. That being said, I'm not quite ready to make my final verdict. Since they're a fried treat, I think I'd like to try one fresh from the fryer. I have a feeling that will make all the difference.

Oh and this...

 image courtesy of Michael Kuntz Photography
I managed to talk the event photographer into taking a duck face deuces pic of me. Jealous?

Do you have a summer to do list? 

How are you doing crossing items off?

Caught: Divergent Filming on the Streets of Chicago

{the following paragraph should be read in your best "fan girl" voice}
OMG you guys! I totally had a "Catbird" sighting. Ahhhhhhhh! I was even able to snap a quick pic of the Abnegation village before security made me put my phone away. I. Was. Dying. Now I'm completely psyched for the movie and considering re-reading the book for like the 20th time.


Translation: The film adaptation of Veronica Roth's novel Divergent is being shot in and around Chicago this summer. In an attempt to keep things under wraps during filming, Divergent has been given the code name "Catbird" by the studio. But they aren't fooling anybody. Thanks to a heads up from a generous friend {Thank you, Cait} I found out about a set being constructed near her building and was able to stalk it like a 13 year old girl.


If you haven't read the first two books (what is your major malfunction?) these nondescript houses are probably incredibly uninteresting to look at. But, if you're a closet fan girl, like me, you'll recognize them as clearly Abnegation. Divergent is set in a dystopian Chicago where the population has been divided into five factions. Abnegation is the faction in which the main character Tris was raised.

It turns out she's a South Loop girl.

Shailene Woodley as Tris photo source: EW, image credit: Jaap Buitendijk

I intend to keep my eye out for more filming as the summer continues, but I'm pretty excited to have crossed another item off the Summer To Do list.

Divergent is scheduled to open on March 21, 2014. 

(for those keeping track that is a day before my birthday... happy birthday to me)

Have you ever stumbled on (or purposefully sought out) a movie shooting on location?

Soggy Saturday Night

Every Wednesday and Saturday night throughout the summer there are fireworks over Chicago's Navy Pier. Even though we're able to see them from our couch, a field trip to watch them up close and in person felt like an obvious summer to do to add to my list.


On Saturday night we had a date night on the Pier.


The night started out promising. The company was fantastic. We found dessert - fried dough covered in sugar and topped with gelato, whipped cream, peanuts and incentive to exercise. We got there early and settled on the perfect bench to patiently wait for the show.

It was a beautiful night to be on the pier. Temps were cool enough to need a jacket. There were lots of people and boats to watch plus a beautiful skyline to ogle. Well, until around 10:10 PM when the rain started coming down.

Incidentally, the fireworks start at 10:15 PM.

A Disappointing Night for Fireworks Pictures... blah
We decided to try to stick it out. After all, what's a little rain?


Wellllllllll, it turns out looking UP at fireworks isn't super easy when rain is falling DOWN.

After about 10 minutes we ran for the hills and ended the night a bit soggier than we planned. But we've decided this item on our summer to do list should be marked "to be continued."

Speaking of Fireworks - Where are you watching them for this week's holiday?

Mmm Mmm Monday: Siena Tavern

It turns out the fresh gnocchi with truffle cream at Siena Tavern is just as decadent as you might have heard. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of a lady date at cheflebrity Fabio Viviani's Chicago restaurant. Turns out Noreen's company wasn't all I enjoyed that afternoon.

That's the equally decadent Orecchiette with Lamb and Saffron Cream in the background

The restaurant itself is gorgeous. The combination of rich wood, plenty of leather and a spattering of metal accents give the space a distinctly masculine feel. But the neutral color scheme, moss/succulent covered accent wall and warm lighting keep it from feeling like an old boy's club.

Our server (the perfect man-candy for a lady date) was attentive and friendly. But sadly the pacing of our courses was a bit uneven. Our entrees were delivered before we were half finished with our salads and then we waited for a bit for our dessert. Since the restaurant wasn't very full, that was kind of disappointing.


But what about the food?

I'm still dreaming about that gnocchi. It was rich and oh so right. A big thank you to Noreen for suggesting I order it. I was undecided initially because the menu is enormous and kind of awkwardly laid out on a single sheet of paper. Thankfully it is jam packed with enticing options. I started the meal off with a kale Caesar salad that was good but the bread pictured below was beyond outstanding.

But the gnocchi's main competition for the title of "star of the day" was the lemon, olive oil and sea salt gelato. It was seriously good. We ordered several different gelato flavors (we indulged big time) but this one was head and shoulders above the rest. Though the salted caramel was delicious, the lemon was silky and luscious.


If I have one complaint it is that our tab was a bit higher than I might have liked. Of course, we did have 3 courses and I left with a happy, full tummy... I just always feel weird about paying a lot of money for Italian food. I have no explanation for that, except that it's a mental block. All in all the afternoon was a bit uneven but the high points of our afternoon at Siena Tavern (51 W. Kinzie, Near Nth Side) far outweigh any tiny missteps.

Am I the only one who struggles to pay premium prices for Italian food?