Entries Tagged as 'claire'

Roundarch Team Dinner at Prosecco

August 29th, 2011 · No Comments

Last week we had a Roundarch team dinner at Prosecco, an Italian restaurant on the Near North Side. Prosecco has a huge selection of wine and one of the largest selections of Italian sparkling wine in Chicago.

I’d never been to Prosecco before and the menu online looked good, so I was excited to try this place. Upstairs the dining room was really pretty and brightly lit. Our private party was taking place downstairs in the private room/wine cellar.


Claire, Mark, Stella, Tony, Ryan, Adam, Marlena, Anjum


Wa-Jiw, Garrett, Bill, Ed, Doug


Ed, Doug

Before dinner we enjoyed some Italian wines, prosecco (of course), and Italian beer.


Claire, Bill, Tony, Adam, Anjum, Marlena

For dinner we were all seated at four tables. There were menus at the table and each course had several things listed.

Primi

  • Mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, carrots, red wine vinaigrette

Secondi

  • Rigatoni, pancetta, italian sausage, light tomato cream sauce
  • Risotto, sauteed beef tenderloin, diced tomatoes, fresh herbs, Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • Orecchiette, wild mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, asparagus, black truffle cream, shaved Grana Padano, white truffle oil

Terzi

  • Sauteed monk fish medallions, sauteed spinach, lobster sauce drizzle
  • Scaloppine of pork, cremini mushrooms, Prosciutto di Parma, Marsala wine reduction
  • Balsamic-marinated chicken breast, basil-bread crumbs, portabello mushrooms, fresh mozarella, Dolcetto d’Alba reduction, asparagus
  • Grilled egplant, fresh and smoked mozarella, tomato sauce

Quarti

  • Baked apple tart, caramel drizzle
  • Chocolate flourless cake, crema inglese, mixed berry sauce
  • Peach gelato and lemon-basil sorbet

I thought we would be choosing what we wanted from each course, but it ended up that they served everything family style.


Josh, David


Andrew, David


Wa-Jiw


Ben, Andrew


David, Ed

At my table was Josh, David, Wa-Jiw, Ben, Andrew and another David.


Stella, Charlie, Mark, Kelly, Doug, Garrett


Adam, Tony, Bill, Claire, Marlena, Anjum


Adam, Sean, Ryan, Eric, Scott, Ashanth, Teal

At one point I went and took a photo of the other tables.

Back at our table, our candles were really melting down! I guess we’d been there a while.


Josh


Josh


Josh

For some reason people at our table were discussing the things that should never be discussed at work outings: Politics and Religion.


Mark, Tony, Teal

The big bosses said a few words of thanks and appreciation.

Oh, and a few behind the scenes photos from a secret team project taken earlier in the evening:

Shhhhhhh!

[Read more →]

Tags:·····························

Erin’s Baby Shower

January 24th, 2011 · 3 Comments

On Saturday I went down to Tinley Park for Erin‘s baby shower. I’d never been to Tinley Park before and honestly? It was pretty easy to get to and only took about 40 minutes tops, no traffic! Erin’s shower was at an Italian restaurant called Gatto’s and her mom, sisters and friends reserved a space for us to celebrate. When I walked in, I had a tiny socially awkward panic thinking I didn’t know anyone, but very quickly I saw Blagica and Claire. We sat together and chatted, enjoying a nice Italian lunch of salad, calamari, penne, and chicken vesuvio.

Erin mingled around at each table and she looked so adorable. The last time I saw her was September. She was about 3 months along, I think? Honestly, she wasn’t looking too pregnant. She’s looking pregnant now! The baby is due three days before our wedding February. Erin introduced me to some people I didn’t know and told them I was getting married in a month. She went on to say how she and Scott had totally planned on attending and were even looking at rental properties, when they found out they were expecting. She said she was so bummed. Joyous. But bummed. Erin & Scott, I know I’ll have a lot going on when we’re on Kauai, but I will for sure be thinking of you guys. Can’t wait to meet your baby girl!

- – - – -

Oh. P.S. I wanted to note the gift I got, since it was made by local crafty ladies. Since I worked with Erin and Scott on Chicagoist and that is where Erin and Scott met, I got them two Chicago-themed onesies.

The onesie on the left has the Chicago flag and was made by the talented Anne Holub, who we are all friends with. This gift got a small applause.. so .. winner! On the right, the Bean Baby onesie reminded me so much of our old Chicagoist bean tshirts that I couldn’t resist. Erin and Scott “got it” immediately, so that was awesome too. The Bean tshirt was made by Leigh Kelsey, who has an Etsy shop called Rhymes With Twee, and once applied to be a Chicagoist contributor… so it was all so perfect!

[Read more →]

Tags:··············

Doug & Naoko’s Labor Day Party

September 7th, 2010 · No Comments


Doug & Naoko’s House


Naoko and her friend in the kitchen


Guys standing around the grill: Matt, Danny, Sal, Doug


Grilling steak and fish for tacos


Hanging around in the living room: Jen, Claire, Kim, Chris, Mitch, Mia


Playing with Kenji (He’ll be 2 in December)


The new kitchen is so huge. Naoko is such a wonderful cook and baker. She must love it. (Aly’s friend, Aly, Aunty Glenna, Cory, Naoko)


Aunty Glenna & Uncle BB


Naoko surprised them with a cake for their 29th anniversary


Mrs. Hughes friend, Mrs. Hughes, Aunty Laura, Uncle BB, Danny, Caroline

On Sunday we went to Doug and Naoko’s house for a Labor Day barbecue. Doug and Naoko just moved to Palatine a few months ago. They’ve got two boys, Tommy and Kenji, and another baby on the way so it was time for them to get out of their small condo, I suppose. They did a lot of work to the house before they moved in and the house is big and gorgeous. Lots of open space. And I love their 3 seasons screened in room. The house is classic, yet modern at the same time. And I’m sure the kids will love all the outside space.

Naoko surprised Uncle BB and Aunty Glenna with a rose and a cake for their 29th anniversary. Aunty Glenna told me that they were like us and knew each other for 6 years before they got married, so really they’ve been together 35 years. Which is kind of funny because in a few days I’ll be 35 years old. I’m sure that did not make her feel old at all!

Doug & Naoko like to have a Labor Day party every year. Here are some photos from years past:

- 2005: we played a lot of horseshoes
- 2006: Jordan brought fresh smoked salmon from Alaska. He’d just been on a trip there.
- 2007: No Party?
- 2008: Lots of kids
- 2009: Also celebrated Aunty Gail’s retirement. One more photo from that year.

[Read more →]

Tags:··················

Doug & Naoko’s Holiday Party

December 26th, 2005 · 1 Comment

matt_vince_naoko.jpg
Matt, Vincent & Naoko :: Elgin, IL

presents.jpg
Joey, Kim, Dallas, Sal :: Heather

claire.jpg
Kim & Sal’s Daughter, Claire

girls.jpg
Rachelle, Cory, Heather, Kim, Claire, Naoko, Miko, Lori

everyone.jpg
Back: Cory, Naoko, Doug, Joey, Kim, Jeff, Sal, Claire, Vincent, Matt
Middle: Miko, Dallas, Lori, Danny, Darren, Jennifer
Front: Rachelle, Heather

This holiday weekend we went from party to party around the Chicago and Milwaukee suburbs to visit with family and friends, exchange gifts, and eat a ton of food. (Thanks to Dallas’ Auntie Laura for letting us borrow her car for the weekend so we didn’t have to rent a car or figure out how to get everywhere via public transportation!)

Friday night we were at Doug & Naoko’s holiday party in Elgin. Noako cooked a lot of really good food, including some wonton soup, sushi, and some kind of crab puffs. I don’t know what was in the crab puffs but they were so good. We had a gift exchange and got to spend a time with friends & family. Those were the high points. The low point: The boys were in the garage playing some made up football game (Danny got a football in the gift exchange). Basically in the game you had to catch the ball and if you didn’t catch it you had to drink a whole beer. Well, something happened out there and Sal rammed into Doug’s car and now there’s 2 dents in it. Sal’s a good-sized guy, but I was wondering – if Doug’s car can be dented by a person, how do you think it’d do in an actuall car accident?

[Read more →]

Tags:··················