Excellence is not an act, but a habit

WE ARE WHAT WE REPEATEDLY DO

We’re back!

Chicago was AWESOME. Props to those of you on Tumblr who live there- good choice. We left humid, sticky, 107 degree heat to a breezy 78 and I think I may have kissed the ground when I put on a cardigan. 

Here are some of the highlights from our trip!

Our hotel, Public Chicago, was even more legit in person. Absolutely gorgeous. It also smelled incredible- like firewood/fir/leather. I later found out they sell custom candles with the scent…that may be a purchase around Christmas. 

I mean.

En route to lunch at Grahamwich, my spidey sense started tingling…home goods were close. Including antiques. There, just two doors down from lunch was a delightful little boutique called Posh. Ah-mazing.

Architectural Foundation boat cruise. Even though we had been up for approximately 29 hours at this point, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience. The locally-brewed 312 beer didn’t hurt, either. 

After the cruise we walked down to Millenium Park and I could have stayed there forever. Stunning architecture, beautiful gardens and Cloud Gate (aka “The Bean.”) Great people-watching spot, too. 

After dinner at Au Cheval Friday night, we popped in a cab back to our hotel fully anticipating falling face-first into our huge bed and passing out after a long day. We were informed upon our arrival to the hotel that T.I. was hosting a record release party and would we want to go in? DUH. A couple of glasses of champagne later, we were crew with the rest of the party attendees. And by “crew” I mean sipping our drinks in a dark corner and surreptitiously snapping iPhone pictures of effing T.I. 

Doughnut Vault was our first stop Saturday morning. My N.C. born-and-bred-and-don’t-you-forget-it husband was grumbling about waiting in line for doughnuts that weren’t going to measure up to his beloved Krispy Kreme. No offense Krispy Kreme, but until you start offering flavors like “Pineapple Old Fashioned” and “Gingerbread,” the Doughnut Vault is going to remain my favorite spot. Well worth the wait. 

Gorgeous afternoon in Wicker Park spent at Big Star. We sampled a new favorite drink- a hefty dose of lime juice, Tecate and a salt rim. Yum!

I color-coordinated in advance. 

After a show on the Second City Etc. stage (“We’re All In This Room Together” was hilarious, BTW), we enjoyed an intimate dinner at The Pump Room, a Jean Georges restaurant located in our hotel. I couldn’t stop staring at the light fixtures..until my tuna tartare arrived and then it was game on. 

Okay so I promise we aren’t alcoholics and/or obese. We did a LOT of walking around (which I was reminded of frequently) and worked up quite an appetite. Sunday brunch was spent at Longman & Eagle in Logan Square. A trek via metro from our hotel, but totally worth it. Great vibe, very cool/nice bartenders and servers and they make french toast out of brioche. So. Yeah. 

Our last stop in Chicago was to the Roy Lichtenstein exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. Awesome. 

One of my souvenirs from our trip (aka my mecca to Zara)- a fun, studded tweed jacket that I can’t wait to wear this fall. 

  1. xcan said: Where oh where is that white peplum top from? It is gorgeous!
  2. champagne-campaign said: this looks like an awesome trip! and i love your outfits!
  3. stickyheel5 said: I like that Loafer’s version of the TI event is “my wife is a baller and scammed our way into the event!” and yours is “they cordially invited us to join them!” :)
  4. umcanyounot said: looks like a great trip!
  5. excellenceasahabit posted this