Girls Weekend

Girls Weekend by stylescout1 featuring a zippered tote bag

1.Sunnies 

2.Sandals

3.Essie Butler Please

4.Peplum

5.Carryall 

Couples guide to Chicago...

We are back from a whirlwind of a weekend in Chicago. I am exhausted. So much for resting...but when you only have 2 days with your best friends in one of the best cities in the US, sleeping isn't a priority! We spent the weekend with our California friends who we met in Chicago 6 years ago when we all lived there. It was so fun being back in the city, visiting all the places we used to love as well as experiencing some new spots.

We started off the weekend with a late lunch at Jellyfish; a new sushi restaurant located in the Gold Coast right across from Gibson's and Hugo's frog bar. The space is small, but very hip. It sits up on the 2nd floor overlooking Rush street. The service and sushi was just ok, I don't think I would go back. It didn't take me long to order my first glass of "champs".

Next stop was Nomi in the Park Hyatt hotel. Back in the day, this was our favorite place for drinks (in the summer, their terrace is amazing). In the winter it's super cozy, overlooking Michigan Avenue and the historic Water Tower. It's the perfect place for apps and an aperitif. Even after all these years it's still a pretty happening bar with both travelers and locals.

For dinner we hit up a new hot spot called Bavettes Bar and Boeuf. The place was jammed...great energy and great ambiance. We all agreed the basement bar was the place to be. Exposed brick, candlelight and intimate seating arrangements made us feel like we had been transported to Paris in the twenties. 

For dinner, I had the short rib stroganoff, which was insanely good. The crab and Avocado salad was a hit, as was the chocolate pie which we all shared (and quickly devoured). I would definitely recommend Bavettes, either for dinner or just for drinks. 

Our evening ended at the Bar in the Peninsula Hotel. Do you see a theme here? Apparently we really like hotel bars. Truthfully though, the Peninsula bar can't be beat. The service is impeccable, they have a fantastic wine list and cocktail menu and almost always you will get a seat. It beats having to stand around a bar and fight a crowd to get your drink ordered. This is just another sign that we are getting OLD! 

oh and those wasabi nut thingy's pictured at the bottom left are ADDICTING! Love them. 

This pic was taken on our walk back to our hotel...I love the "ceiling" of lights hung on the walkway between the Park Hyatt and Topshop. 

It's also SO nice to be able to walk stumble home...gotta love city living. 

Late night=late brunch on Saturday. We went to an old favorite, Luxbar. They do a decent brunch and have great bar food. 3 cups of coffee and a fried egg sandwich fueled me up for some more shopping, eating, drinking...

Saturday night was so much fun. We miraculously got into RPM (Guiliana and Bill Rancic's new restaurant concept) which currently is booking 2 months out. I am SOOOO glad it all worked out, because it was fabulous.

The decor is cool, but not over the top. The service was phenomenal and the food was probably the best we had all weekend. Highlights for me were the Ricotta Semolina toast,  Zucchini chips, White Truffle Risotta, Gnocchi and the nutella filled doughnuts for dessert. (can you tell we were hungry?!)

If you have the opportunity, get a reservation. You will love it. It's also great people watching! 

Cali and K.C. crew at RPM

We ended our night with some of our oldest and dearest friends in Chicago. We had reservations at the Aviary, but none of us were feeling it (for all you Chicago peeps...did we miss out?) They have a very eclectic drink menu; and truthfully none of it looked appealing. 

So, we met up at a cute bar called Maude's Liquor Bar on Randolph in the West Loop, which sort of reminded us of Bavettes. Same french bistro/roaring 20's feel...

. This is one of my best friend's Emily...when we used to go out all the time, people thought we were sisters. Do you think we look related? We obviously think alike as we were both sporting some sparkle Saturday night. 

Overall it was a perfect weekend. It was so nice to get away, but at the same time we couldn't wait to get back to our kiddos. A HUGE thanks to my mom and dad who held down the fort for a few days. 

Stay tuned later this week  for my Chicago shopping report!!! 

Eat, Drink...a Girl's guide to Chicago

Even though I lived in Chicago almost 9 years, every time I go back to visit it seems the city is continuing to evolve. There is never a shortage of new and interesting restaurants and the shopping continues to get better. They have a HUGE, very cool All Saints store that just opened on Michigan Avenue and Topshop is opening in the fall.

This last trip was more about eating and drinking and catching up with old friends. We hit up some old favorites and tried some new places as well. I may have to detox for a month, but it was all well worth it. There is nothing like summer in Chicago!

We started our trip off at Hubbard Inn for lunch. This bohemian and eclectic styled "tavern" of sorts was very cool and just a feast for the eyes. It's hard to tell from the picture how cool the interior really is. I had a lobster roll sandwich that was quickly devoured and was worth every high calorie bite.

We also went back for drinks that evening and the bar scene upstairs was great. Very good looking and upbeat crowd. If I were a single lady in Chicago, this would be the place to go!

GT Fish & Oyster Bar was by far the crowd favorite. It's a small restaurant, but the place was packed. This is one of the newest restaurants from the Boka Group (the genius' behind the uber popular Girl & The Goat). They serve small plates of the most delicious seafood inspired creations. We all loved the Fish Tacos and the Lobster Mac and Cheese. I am dying to go back, my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

We spent a lot of time at the  Trump hotel Terrace on the 16th floor. This was definitely a highlight of the trip for us. The drinks are ridiculously expensive, and so is the food. But it's worth it for a drink or 2 to just take in the gorgeous view.

You can't go to Chicago without hitting up RL Grill at the Ralph Lauren store. We love this place, and it holds many great memories. The patio is small, but if you can sit outside it's a quaint little spot. It's also very cozy inside during the winter months. We enjoyed  a light lunch and some white wine. Their Crab Louis and Steak Tartare are 2 of our favorites on the menu.

Sunda is another Billy Dec hot spot that hasn't seemed to lose it's appeal, even though it's been open for a few years. The Asian fusion menu has sushi, small plates and just about anything you could want. The Miso Cod and Shaking Beef are a must try. You may be seated cafeteria style, which definitely creates a fun, social atmosphere.

Fred's in the penthouse of Barney's new location (across from their old location on Rush street) is a fabulous new spot. With sleek decor and a terrace overlooking rush, it's a haven for sophisticated locals and visitors alike. Having buyers remorse? Just go to Fred's and order a bottle of wine...and then go back for more retail therapy in Barney's gorgeous new store.

my friend Tonya and I at Tavern

Tavern on Rush is an old favorite and always a great spot. Their patio is one of the best in the city. Nestled right in the heart of the Gold Coast, you can't get better people watching! Gotta love those crazy old gold coast ladies! The food is good too; it's definitely worth the wait on a busy Saturday.

The Peninsula is one of our all time favorites. This hotel continues to rank #1 or #2 in the world! Whether it's drinks in the bar, dining at Shanghai Terrace (their unbelievable asian restaurant) or having breakfast at Pierrout Gourmet on the patio, you really can't go wrong.

the girls at Paris Club

Paris Club is definitely a hot spot right now in Chicago. I have to say, I was underwhelmed. The food was just ok, and the scene wasn't what I would have expected. Sure, it was packed (lots of bachelorette parites...with veils, ugh.), but not quite as good as Hubbard Inn. The D.J. was fun though, loved his mix of old school 70's and 80's music. If you dine there, you can stay for the Studio Paris club, if not, you may be waiting in a long line outside.

Now, let's talk about my favorite spot. The Elysian Hotel. Wow, this place is spectacular. We didn't stay there, but would love to at some point. It's sleek and sophisticated without being cold, and they didn't miss a beat with the decor. Do you see that chandelier in the lobby? Ah-ma-zing!  

This hotel took over 7 years to build, and it was worth the wait. They have a beautiful spa and the restaurant Balsan is delicious. We had drinks there one afternoon as well as breakfast. My goal is to retire and move into the Elysian someday (they have residences too..) Wouldn't that be the life?!

Getaway...

I am heading to  one of my favorite cities in the US tomorrow.

I hope to return with great stories of our visit to the windy city...

Happy Weekend!

Source: beautifulplacestovisit.com via Melanie on Pinterest

Source: falinebones.tumblr.com via Melanie on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Melanie on Pinterest

Take me here...

 To the Viceroy in Anguilla. Architecturally it's beautiful and how can you argue with the view from your hotel room windows? Unbelieveable...



Take me away...to Chicago!!!

Kami, Jayme, Emily and myself in Miami

Me and Jill in Miami

Friends, I am off for the weekend! Heading back to Chicago for a little girls trip. All my closest friends now live in all corners of the U.S. and we try to see each other at least once a year. Last year it was Miami for Jill's wedding and this year it will be Chicago where my friends Jayme and Kami still live. We have a big weekend planned!

I get to see these 2 munchkins who I have not met yet!!! Both Beckett and Tyler are over a year already...

Tyler 1

Beckett 1 1/2

ahhhhh, my favorite store. Oh how I have missed you!!! Hoping to find some great affordable fashion.

Remember that Tory Burch credit I have, I still haven't spent it. I am dragging Emily with me to narrow down my options.

We will grab lunch in the Gold Coast...

maybe the Pierrot Gourmet in the Peninsula Hotel

or...

sad we can't sit outside they have an amazing patio, but we will hopefully have lunch at Lux Bar (amazing bar food!)

and then Saturday night...

drinks at Violethour

and dinner at Sunda, Billy Dec's "new asian" restaurant

and after that, we will see where the night takes us! It will be a whirlwind I am sure, but I can't wait to get away...

A match made in heaven

My husband and I are big "foodies".  I wouldn't say we are food snobs, we just really love good food...whether it is a hole in the wall diner, or a 5 star restaurant. And really, you can't talk about food without mentioning wine. They really go hand in hand.

We pretty much hit sensory overload on our Napa trip when it comes to all of the tastes that we encountered. I won't discuss every meal, just highlight a few of our faves and one BIG disappointment.

picture via Bistro Jeanty

High on our list was Bistro Jeanty . A classic french restaurant with a cozy bistro feel and an incredible menu that leaves you pondering what to order because there are just so many great things to choose from. It was our last dinner on the trip and at that point we had really indulged ourselves. I made the mistake of ordering a tomato soup that comes served in a puff pastry and Jonathan started with the steak tartare which was enough for 6. Our first courses were so delicious and filling, it was hard to finish our entrees (which were also outstanding). If you love French food, this is a MUST.

Lunch at Redd

When we first arrived in Yountville, we were starving. We somehow ended up in a small tasting room, where the girl recommended Redd  for lunch. Little did we know, it would end up being one of our favorite meals! Richard Reddington is a renowned chef who focuses on a creative, seasonal menu with influences from all over the world. We shared the most flavorful Tuna Tartare and an unbelievable proscuitto, fontina, arugula and parmesan pizza. Their pastry chef also just won the James Beard award, so I can imagine their dessert menu is pretty spectacular as well!

home made mozzarella and Tomato salad at Bottega

We shared a wonderful meal with our friends at Bottega , chef Michael Chiarello's restaurant. From start to finish it was all very good. You could just tell that the ingredients were so fresh and nothing felt like "heavy" Italian. I had a homemade potato gnocchi with fresh vegetables that was to die for. I wish I would have had the caprese that my husband enjoyed (pictured) it was so delicious and that homemade mozzarella...amazing!!!! Definitely sit outside if you go there. The patio has great ambience and good energy. Our waiter there was one of the best...he was able to deal with our "high maintenance" table (who had a few too many drinks...)

look at how happy Jonathan is!!! Home made doughnuts at Boon Fly Cafe 

the best thing I ever ate...Green Eggs and Ham

I am a HUGE breakfast fan. I could eat it every meal, that is how much I love it. So when we nestled in to our booth at the cozy  Boon Fly Cafe , I got pretty pumped when I saw all the goodness on their menu. I had a very hard time deciding, but ended up going with the Green Eggs & Ham. It was seriously, one of the best things I have ever eaten. The ham was super thin, the poached eggs were perfectly cooked little pillows and the sauce....oh my....And if you go there you MUST try their doughnuts as a side item. Light and sugary and perfect dunked in coffee. Can you hear my stomach rumbling? I would go back in a heartbeat!

Macarons at Bouchon Bakery

I just can't say enough about Bouchon bakery . I went there 2 times just for "snacks". If you are a sweet lover, these are some of the best pastries you will ever have. You can sit outside and enjoy your treats with coffee and just people watch. It's a lovely little spot. Oh and the Macarons even traveled home with me in my carry on :) 

view from the Terrace at Auberge 

 The biggest disappointment of the trip was our dinner at Auberge Du Soleil .  Auberge is a gorgeous resort set up in the hillside of the Napa Valley. With breathtaking views, it is definitely a must-see. Dinner on the other hand was not a good experience for us. It was insanely expensive, our waiter was very stuffy and impersonal and truthfully the dinner was just so-so. Maybe our expectations were too high? Drinks on the terrace were lovely, but save your money and go somewhere else for dinner.

One tip...you can bring wine to any restaurant in Napa for a small corkage fee. We would pick up bottles at our tastings and bring them to dinner! It will save you some money and that way you can enjoy the wines that you have tasted throughout your trip!!!