Yacht Rockin’


Damien’s friend Scott has a boat and we got to take it out over the weekend. There were 10 adults: Me, Dallas, Damien, Vanessa, Leo, Johanna, Kelly, Todd, Allison and Tyler. And there were 5 kids! We had tons of snacks and drinks and we spent all day, into the night, on the river and lake, boating and swimming. Captain Matt was our driver for the day. What a great experience!

Isobar Holiday Party at Public House

(null)Megan, Rachelle, Katie (9 months pregnant!), Becky

(null)Becky, Jeff, Rachelle, Romi, Chris

(null)Piles of shrimp, oysters, lobster and crab!

IMG_1562Becky, Scott, Rachelle

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Fun with Jeff and George

This year the Isobar holiday party was at Public House, an upscale bar near our old office and right next to my old Google office, on Kinzie. Amanda had planned to came down from Milwaukee to babysit, but Dallas was not feeling well and he ended up staying home with Makai.The party was fun, but it would take a real lot to top last year’s party! Also, I was trying not to drink or eat too much, so probably a few more glasses of wine would have helped! The seafood bar this year was incredible! Congrats to Romi, who took home a value award for the second year in a row! The big news of the night was that it was Becky’s last day, as she decided not to come back from maternity leave.

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2015: Prime and Provisions
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2014: Pump Room
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2013: Siena Tavern
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2012: W City Center
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2011: ZED 451
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2010: Epic
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2009: Griffin Lounge
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2008: Blue Water Grill

Isobar Holiday Party at Prime & Provisions

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Rachelle & Dallas

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Rachelle & Aimee (so happy she could fly in, even if it meant her first night away from Charleston!)

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Left: Chris, Ujval, Becky, Jen, Rachelle, Romi. Right: Rachelle, Becky, Megan, Katie.

This year the Isobar holiday party was at Prime & Provisions, a new(ish) steakhouse in The Loop. Amanda came down from Milwaukee to babysit, so we could stay out as late as we wanted 🙂 . I’d never been to Prime & Provisions. It was really nice. The second we entered and checked our coats we were offered the signature drink of the night – something with gin. There was an upstairs room where there was a whiskey tasting from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. I tried the Japanese one, but I’m not a huge whiskey person. There was also a photo booth upstairs. Downstairs was the main bar with a DJ and the food – filet mignon, chicken, salmon, as well as a ton of sides and salad. We all sat in the dining room of the restaurant to eat.

IMG_0752_editAJ, Scott, Megan, Jessie, Katie (photo via Isobar)

IMG_0751_editDallas, Rachelle, Sydney, Chris, Jessie, Katie (photo via Isobar)

IMG_0753_editAndrew and Britt (photo via Isobar)

IMG_0754_editGeoff and Tony announcing award winners. (photo via Isobar)

The big excitement of the night was when three of my teammates that I work very closely with, Becky, Romi and Chris, won awards. My team took home three of five awards! Whoo hooo! Even though I didn’t personally win, I was happy to be on such a great team. The awards were handed out at dinner and from then on it was wine, wine, wine, wine, photobooth, wine. I loved the Prime & Provision space. It was very condusive to mingling and fun. I talked with so many people, new friends and old. And Dallas got to catch up with people he knew from other events and also meet some new ones. By now this is our eighth year attending a Roundarch Roundarch Isobar Isobar holiday party, and I thought it was one of the most fun of them all! Big ups to Heidi for planning everything!

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2014: Pump Room
2013isobarholidayparty
2013: Siena Tavern
2012isobarholidayparty
2012: W City Center
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2011: ZED 451
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2010: Epic
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2009: Griffin Lounge
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2008: Blue Water Grill

Seven Lions

Recently, we had a team dinner at Seven Lions, Alpana Singh’s newest restaurant. It’s not too far from the office, so we just walked over after work. There were twelve of us and we had to be seated at two tables, which was kind of a bummer, but luckily my table ordered a a ton of food and I got to sample many things.

Frank’s wife works nearby and has been to Seven Lions several times. She recommended the brussels sprout and burrata toast appetizer, which exceeded my expectations and goes down as one of my favorite things of the night. The scallops entree was good. I also really liked the fritto misto and the au graten potatoes. And who can resist a fun dessert that has both candied bacon and cotton candy!??! Actually all of the desserts we ordered were fantastic (s’mores bread pudding!!! and a milkshake with peanut butter mousse!!!), so props to the pastry chef.

We pretty much closed the place down as we hung around after dinner and tried many of the fine cocktails. I ordered several from the signature cocktail list. A few of my coworkers ordered many, many Old Fashioneds and said they were very good, if you’re into that sort of thing. I liked the decor of the space too. Very nice. I had a lot of photos of fancy chandeliers on my phone as the night (and drinking) progressed!

Looking forward to my next visit to Seven Lions! You got a winner, Alpana!

Whirly-bowlin’

This was my first time at WhirlyBall since they moved from Fullterton to Webster. I actually was never a big fan, but I think I realized that it’s because I’ve only ever played with super aggressive dudes who are really into it. We played a round that was all girls vs. girls and it was much more fun. Between the two teams there was only one goal scored and guess who did it? ME! I won the game for my team! CRAZY. Later on I played another WhirlyBall game with both men and women and it was still fun. Maybe I just can’t play with the guys who are really competitive and who take it too seriously!

I drank a million craft beers. My favorite was the Chocolate Churro Porter by Moody Tongue Brewing. So good. Not too cinnamon-y and not too sweet. The new WhirlyBall facility was nice and bright and fun to hang out in. So much better than the old location. They had a ton of craft brews on tap and we had the VIP drinking package so we could have whatever we wanted.

They also got some bowling going and I played about a half of a game before going off and doing…. who knows what! After party at Uncle Julio’s, a place I hadn’t been for about 10 years, but it has not changed.

Chicagoist 10 Year Anniversary Party

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Pre-gaming at Gold Star. Julene, Chuck, Rachelle, Justin, Shannon, Erin, Scott, Mike, Margaret, Kevin, Matt. Not pictured: Jim, Michelle, Sam. (Photo by Chuck)

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@Emporium Wicker Park

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Chuck’s opening remarks.

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Q: How many selfies can one take in a night? A: Lots!

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With Jen, of Gothamist

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With Andrew, of Gapers Block

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This logo is burned in my brain.

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Don’t ask!

Chicagoist 10 Year Anniversary Party: The night was EPIC.

– Reconnecting with friends with whom you used to spend every waking moment with either in person or online
– Special guests from New York City
– Hours of free drinks
– Reenacting scandalous 8-year-old photos
– Free Chicagosit merch
– Sending your husband home early
– Endless selfies
– Shots of Fireball that you only discovered you bought (three rounds!) when you find the Fireball soaked receipt in your purse the next day
– Flash Taco (enough said)
– Stolen burritos
– Losing things in the bushes next to your front stoop
– Having to wake the entire household, including your in-laws, because you don’t have your keys
– Finding random things in your pants pockets while doing laundry the next day

I don’t know how 10 years has gone by! I still remember moving to Chicago 10 years ago and Jen and Jake pitching the thought of “starting a site like Gothamist but for Chicago.” I still remember meeting my co-founder, Margaret, at the Starbucks in 444 N. Michigan. And meeting our first two writers at Handlebar and drinking super cheap-o Schlitz. Time flies! People change (we’re going to have a Chicagoist playdate soon), but people are fundamentally the same. I need to be better about getting out and seeing everyone!

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