Girl & Friends About Town
Summertime is prime for visiting your favorite restaurants and activities with the people you call homies, pals, and friends, right? Well, this summer I’ve found myself celebrating the birthdays and accomplishments of friends in far more intentional ways. Chalk it up partly to the pandemic and perhaps we’re all just eager to get #OUTSIDE, but I also think it’s presented some unique opportunities to be creative in how we link up.
Keep reading to see how I’ve been maximizing my friend dates :-).
Creativity + friendship = FUN HUN.
What’s the plan??
So what I’ve learned when it comes to friend hangouts is that you can’t go wrong with an itinerary. OK… hear me out, it sounds very TYPE A, but honestly the older you get, it’s just easier to get up, get out, and get to the getting if you have a general idea of what’s to come. And I’ve found myself being the woman with the plan as of late. Brit do be living, so it helps that I have a bit of an idea of what’s to offer in various neighborhoods across the city.
This past #CANCERSEASON, I was casually tasked with planning a dear friend of mine’s birthday celebration. There’s a pretty easy formula when it comes to planning outings; EAT + SEE + DO = A SUCCESS. They don’t always have to be in that exact order and you can feel free to add more off one or the other, but trust me on this, some mix of the above will get the fun job DONE.
If you ain’t laughing with your homies what is you doing?!
Birthday Girl Whitney
What we did…
EAT: Birthday brunch.
Who doesn’t love a reason for a midday indulgent meal? Don’t trust anyone who is anti brunch. For this particular day I chose La Luna in Pilsen. You want a delicious yet modern take on authentic Mexican breakfast and lunch fare? Look no further than La Luna. Order the crispy potatoes and then name your first and last kid after me for suggesting it. You’re welcome in advance!
Be sure to get a round or a few of cocktails here as well. They’re adventurous and the bartenders are gracious with the pours.
DO: I LIKE ACTIVITIES.
Similar to a kindergartner, I like to have something colorful to see, and tactile to do with my hands. What better option that an immersive art exhibit? The WNDR Museum has now entered the chat! This was a place I had been interested in checking out for awhile and a group outing seemed like the perfect opportunity. If you’re looking for thoughtful art, snap worthy picture moments, and just an all around fun time, GO WANDER AROUND AT WNDR *see above*.
SEE + LISTEN (WITH A SMIDGE MORE EATING): But clearly, if one manages to make it outside, one should stay outside as long as possible right? Why not add more cocktails and even live music to the mix? Chicago offers BOTH.
I took my friends to the relatively new Roots Pizza in the South Loop and the appetizers and drinks have me eager to return for the actual pizza. We capped off the day with no less than a monthly music showcase called Soulful Sundays Chi held at Reggie’s on State. Every act was worth the cover and we’re looking forward to the next one! Let me know if you want to join me!
Duke at the Monthly Music Showcase Presented by Brandon James and Nolen Entertainment.
All in all, this all made for quite the Sunday Funday and Friends Day Out! What are you looking forward to doing with these next few weeks left of Summer? TELL ME! SHOW ME! INVITE ME!