Irving Sleepover

Each year Irving Elementary has a sleepover for the kids.  M has been excited about this night ever since she learned of it.  She made a pinky promise with her BFFs and off they went.  We dropped her off at 7 tonight.  They have lots of fun things planned for the kids including a late night movie in the school auditorium!  I  hope she can hang in there for the late night.  She's an early to bed gal.  Something tells me she will manage.  Something also tells me that I don't have to worry about any midnight calls asking me to pick her up:-)

See a theme?  Yep, Purple Unicorn Pillow Pets--who doesn't have them?! 

Happy Easter!

Celebrating with the Multerer family!

Pierced

M's best girlfriends had their ears pierced a year or so ago and she's talked about having her ears pierced ever since then.  We don't have a "ear piercing" rule in the house.  We simply left it to her to decide .....except that she had to watch others having it done first, if she got one pierced she had to follow through with having the other one pierced, she had clean them every day for six weeks, she could not get sparkly ones and could not  ask to wear hang down earrings for many years.  That's all !!!

  

She was always hot and cold....wanted, then didn't.  Would say she's waiting until her 6th birthday, 7th birthday, 13th birthday.  This all changed this weekend when those same friends (they let their holes close up) went to get their ears pierced again.  M wanted to go and watch.  Well, we came home with purple hearts in her ears.  She's not the most adventurous girl so this was a big deal for her.  Only a few tears shed, then it was all over. I was proud of her! 

 

Tickled Pink

A Farewell

It’s the month I’ve wanted to pass over or just plain ignore for quite some time now. For months, I’ve pushed this aside and tried to close my eyes to this but I can’t do that any longer. It’s the month that our wonderful friends and neighbors are moving. We’ve known them for only a few short years but we feel like we’ve known them for decades. Our good times and memories positively outshine those short years.

We won’t see them walking the kids to school anymore. We won’t be able to look out our window and see “their” house. No more impromptu summer afternoons, dinners, chats on the sidewalk. No more drinks on their front porch watching raccoons run in the street and having Brian chase after a raccoon family with a shovel (or was it a broom?). No more doughnuts, jumpy things and potluck dinners at our block parties together. No more weekend bike rides for the guys. No more guy night outs talking about the Cayman Islands (don’t ask!). No more margaritas…period (at least for me ordered by Brian…I know you did something to those drinks, man!).

The neighborhood for us will *NOT* be the same. And, selfishly we just can’t stand it! However, there is a silver lining. They are only going to be a couple hours, driving distance away. It is a really exciting time and wonderful opportunity for their family. And, it’s exciting for us too in that we will make new and different memories with them. So it’s not a goodbye. It’s a “see you later taters”!

Over the weekend we had “a celebration of friendship through food” as a farewell party with an intimate few. It was the most special night I’ve ever had with friends. It wasn’t just a dinner with some food and friends; it was much, much more than that. It was about all of our collective relationships and memories which of course involve food (we are after all a bunch of foodies). Our plan was to recreate memories through various experiences we’ve had with the Pettit’s over the years. And we succeeded on every level. It was a bittersweet but extra special night for all of us!
 

Hors d’oeuvres and Drinks

Salmon Tartare on the Rocks
Pioneer Woman’s Stuffed Jalapenos
Grandma Helen’s Olive Cheese Puffs a/k/a First Trimester Savior
P.O.R.K., Baby
           (celebrating the Frigs/Pettit’s Christmas Eves together)
The Pettit’s Pimm’s Cup
           (introduced to us all by the Pettit’s)

Small Plates

Mel’s Take Out Boxes—Looking Back on a Birthday
Cucumber, Spa Water
          (celebrating birthdays from years past)

Chris’ Easter ‘Za on a Homerun Inn Platter

Belgian Beer Flight
          (celebrating a Frigs special Easter weekend with Ang’s family)

The Feverish FS#K Off Limoncello Shot
          (celebrating a boys night out with a twisted ending)

Micro Bolognese-Pasta Perfection
          (celebrating a pasta imperfection night)
85-10-05 (85-10-05 85-10-05 85-10-05 85-10-05....) -Monte Antico Toscana 2007
         
Finale

S’mores-Cluster Around the Campfire
Budweiser Beer
         (celebrating camping adventures)

Flaming Sambuca Shot
        (celebrating health, happiness and prosperity)

The Pettit's

Painting by ARose

The Schwa Factor

Calling all foodies. 

Schwa is a restaurant you do *NOT* want to miss!

Sure it takes perserverance, flexibilty and a little bit of Irish luck to actually get a reservation at this restaurant.  But don’t be dissuaded by the reservation system. It’s all part of the allure--the art of seduction if you will. And, it seems that you don’t get the full experience until you’ve been cancelled on at least once–in our case, it was a few weeks ago within 3 hours of our reservation time. They were extremely apologetic. It was frustrating admittedly.  No worries, though. They actually called us back a few days later to follow up on cancellation.  Given that they don’t have a wait staff or hostess (just the chefs) I thought that was impressive! Not to mention that I think you get better dates and times on the reschedule!

It is located in a nondescript Chicago neighborhod, with a nondescript awning, and the look of a boarded building (without the actual boards). I had been forewarned about this look and still had the slight urge to run!  It seats only 26.  Minimum decor.   You listen to rap/hip hop the entire night which typically is not my thing but felt right that night. The service was impeccable!  Unpretentious.  The best service I have ever experienced. The chefs were attentative to every single detail. Our glasses were never empty.  Super low key with everything except for the food.  It was a concert in the kitchen.  I loved every single dish, practically licking my plate (especially the baked potato soup, riso and pork belly).

Chef Michael Carlson is a genius.

Schwa has unexplainable attractiveness/sexiness.

It's the Schwa Factor!

(BTW, my little post really doesn’t do this place justice.  If you want a fantastic review check out my friend’s extraordinary narrative!  She has a true gift, doesn't she?!)

amuse

cherry covered chocolate with whiskey

octopus
pineapple, macadamia nut, char

baked potato
skins, bacon, cheddar, sour cream



Off the menu Signature Dish 
quail egg ravioli stuffed with buffalo ricotto and truffle oil



riso
chicken livers, honey

roe
passionfruit, violet

scallops
rye, lemon, aquavit

pork belly
butterscotch, persimmons, radichio

smores
beef mole, graham, marshmallow, campfire

cheese

dessert

(to be honest, I can't remember...I was totally stuffed at this point!)

Glorious

I'm more than happy to skip Spring and jump head first into Summer.  We got a little taste of Summer today and it was G.L.O.R.I.O.U.S.!!!!!  Thank you Mother Nature!

Talent Show

Over the weekend M had her first talent show.  It was a funding event for her after school program--all of the public schools in Oak Park.  I was really impressed with some of these kids.  There were 2 solo acts...dancer and singer... who blew me away.  Irving was represented, for sure!!!  And, M's class had a dance routine.  They were awesome!  The show was taped and I am told it will air on the Oak Park channel soon.  I'll update.



Makin' Daddy proud!