Scenes from a Hot Thursday

The weatherman said it was going to be 100 degrees today with over 50-75% humidity. Yuck! I fortunately was able to stay inside. I don't think it quite made it to 100 but it sure first felt like it when I dashed to and from my car. (You can see the backside of Pepe, our Subaru, in the upper left hand corner.) It really made me smile when saw this cute car parked next to mine today. This car made me think of Carrie Bradshaw, which made me think of one of my favorite songs from that epic show.Hot Child In The City (Nick Gilder)

Danger in the shape of somethin' wild
Stranger dressed in black, she's a hungry child
No one knows who she is or what her name is
I don't know where she came from or what her game is

(Hot child in the city)
(Hot child in the city)
(Runnin' wild and lookin' pretty)
(Hot child in the city)

source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/onehitwonders/hotchildinthecitylyrics.html

I'll try and not brag too much, but I'm so lucky. This delectable Summer Southwest Chicken over black bean chili with fresh avocado salsa puree and cilantrowas waiting for me when I got home. My husband is a pretty amazing chef.

After dinner, we watched the clouds from the balcony, a few cracks of lightening crossed the sky and we saw some thunderclouds building but it still hasn't rained yet.I love the sweltering yellow skies of the Midwest. It is so fun to watch thunderstorms from our place.

Grandpa Larry, Tootie and Uncle Tom Visit Chicago Part 2

On Sunday, we drove around Lincoln Park, got stuck in major traffic due to the Pride Parade, but we finally made it to lunch and it was totally worth it. Bad Apple is one of our favorite burger places in Chicago! After a brief siesta, we met up for a dinner cruise on the Odyssey!As we boarded at Navy Pier, we got our picture taken going up the gangplank.We had drinks and dinner on the Sapphire Deck. We took pictures from the top deck as the Odyssey left the dock.The ferris wheel was pretty impressive in the background.Uncle Tom and I posed for lots of pictures.There was a live band aboard and Grandpa Larry and Tootie danced most of the night away! It was a cloudy night but the sunset was still lovely.Grandpa Larry is really a great dancer!

The band even played more modern music towards the end.My favorite feature of the cruise was the view of the Chicago skyline from Lake Michigan! 

Grandpa Larry, Tootie and Tom come to visit! Part One

My Grandmother, Tootie, Tom and Grandpa Larry arrived on Wednesday with a whole box load of peonies for me! Rusty made us chicken wraps with pine nuts, goat cheese and cilantro, on black eyed peas and braised kale.I brought some of the peonies to work on Thursday and they brighten up my desk!

On Saturday, we went to the Lurie Gardens.

Uncle Tom enjoyed his semi-freddo dipped in chocolate 

at Millennium Park.

I love taking photos with Tootie.

We were treated to a free symphony concert as we walked through Millennium Park. 

Of course Tootie wanted a picture with the bean. I was happy to accomodate.

Grandpa Larry got the whole history on the Bean from a security guard. He makes friends with everyone! We also walked to the Art Institute of Chicago to check out the free exhibit. I thought it was spiritual and grotesque. Grandpa Larry thought it symbolized the circle of life  with birth, life and death.

We got tired after walking around for a few hours in the sun, so we took a siesta before meeting up for dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Piccolo Sogno. 

Source: piccolosognorestaurant.com via Liz on Pinterest

I'll post more pictures from dinner tomorrow. Tonight we're going on a driving tour of Lincoln Park and going on a sunset dinner cruise. I got a Groupon for the Odyssey!

Source: goldstar.com via Goldstar on Pinterest

Enjoying Fiona Apple's new cd

I remember my dad buying me, Fiona Apple's first cd, Tidal, when it came out in 1996 and I was in middle school. 

Source: google.com via Epic on Pinterest

I loved Extraordinary Machine in 2005 and used to listen to it almost every day to work for months. 

Source: upload.wikimedia.org via Epic on Pinterest

Earlier this week, I excitedly downloaded Fiona Apple's new cd "The Idler Wheel Is ­Wiser / Than the Driver of the Screw / And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More / Than Ropes Will Ever Do". I read that it's her fourth album in 16 years. I have a few favorite songs so far, particularly Left Alone and Hot Knife. 

Source: google.com via Epic on Pinterest

Left Alone is apparently Fiona Apple's favorite song according to the Dan Lee review. I like the upbeat tempo and the vocal rounds in Hot Knife a lot. Have you heard it? (Mom, you will probably appreciate the piano, but not necessarily all of her lyrics.)

If I'm butter - if I'm butter- 
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife, 
He makes my heart a cinemascope, 
He's showing the dancing bird of paradise. 

If I'm butter - if I'm butter- 
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife, 
He makes my heart a cinemascope, 
He's showing the dancing bird of paradise. 

He excites me 
Must be like a genesis of rhythm 
I get feisty 
Whenever I'm with him 

If I'm butter - if I'm butter- 
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife, 
He makes my heart a cinemascope, 
He's showing the dancing bird of paradise 

I'm a hot knife- if I'm a hot knife- 
I'm a hot knife if he's a pad of butter. 
If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that 
He's never gonna need- never need another. 
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/f/fiona+apple/hot+knife_21013394.html ] 
I'm a hot knife- if I'm a hot knife- 
I'm a hot knife if he's a pad of butter 
If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that 
He's never gonna need- never need another. 

(And you can, and you can, and you can wild up around me) 

(If I'm butter - if I'm butter- 
If I'm butter, then he's a hot knife, 
He makes my heart a cinemascope, 
He's showing the dancing bird of paradise) 

(And you can, and you can, and you can wild up around me) 

I'm a hot knife- if I'm a hot knife- 
I'm a hot knife if he's a pad of butter 
If I get a chance, I'm gonna show him that 
He's never gonna need- never need another. 

(And you can, and you can, and you can wild up around me) 

He excites me 
Must be like a genesis of rhythm 
I get feisty 
Whenever I'm with him...

Photos of the week!

Last Friday, we had a Game of Thrones marathon with my cousin, Katy, and her adorable Tokanese kittens, Lewis and Clark.They love to purr so much! 

This weekend we tried out a couple burger places with fun patios. We went to the Butcher & the Burger in Lincoln Park. 

Source: chicago.popsugar.com via Cristiano on Pinterest

 I loved the patio with its potted tomato plants and herbs.I really enjoy pretzel buns especially this All-American version burger!

On Sunday, we revisited on of our favorite burger places, 5 Star bar. We love their $6 burgers, especially  the 5 Star burger with a fried egg and hot sauce. It's amazing! The afternoon was really hot with temperatures in the mid 90s so we played with the kittens inside  with intermittent patio reading. This week has been crazy but I'm looking forward to my grandparents and uncle visiting tomorrow through the weekend. I'm also debating if I should get new glasses. These fun mocha colored frames are Chanel! Should I get new glasses?

g.e.b. and Graham Elliot!

Oh my goodness, we had a wonderful and amazing time at g.e.b tonight!We love watching Master Chef and we really enjoy grahamwich and graham elliot. Graham Elliot's Bistro just opened in the last two weeks. As we walked in, we noticed someone at the kitchen window....Graham Elliot was there!! At first, we took a bunch of non-stealthy blurry photos that are not worth sharing. Later in the night, he walked around to a few of the tables and took pictures with other patrons!! Graham Elliot seems so friendly and nice.

We were lucky to be seated on the back patio. The menus arrived inside a record sleeve, taped to a record.I had the 90s R & B record by Keith Sweat! It was hilarious! 

We shared the calamari and shrimp appetizers for our first course.Cheryl said this was the best calamari she's ever had! It was light and flaky and delicious! I loved the creamy and slightly spicy sauce on the shrimp.

For the main course, Cheryl ordered the risotto and I ordered the cavatelli with sweet peppers and chevre. The cavatelli was our favorite entree.I'm psyched to eat more for lunch tomorrow. 

Mr. F had the chicken, buttermilk and tarragon.The chicken was sous vide, where the meat is cooked in an airtight bag in a water bath for over a long period of time. This was a new technique to me so I thought the texture was really neat and different.

For dessert, we couldn't decide on one, so we ordered two! Of course, we got the beignets with gianduja in the middle. (The awesome waiter, who reminded me of Patrick Swayze, described it as a nutella-esque chocolate!)

We also ordered the poundcake withstrawberries and rhubarb and basil cream. We were so happy and so full. Our waiter was amazing and brought us a second order of beignets! Yay for more leftovers for lunch tomorrow!!!

After dinner, we had a delightful walk home at sunset.When we walked there at 6pm, it was breezy and 80. It was probably in the middle 70s when we walked home around 9pm.

I got an even bigger surprise when I got home, Graham Elliot replied to two of my tweets!!!!!

@Fettbot 14 Jun Cheryl and Graham Elliot instagr.am/p/L4Hz32jkqk/ GRAHAM ELLIOT @grahamelliot @Fettbot and don't forget our buddy Gino Rocco! 06:17 PM - 14 Jun 12 via Twitter for iPhone Emily Fette @Fettbot 14 Jun @grahamelliot We had a wonderful time at g.e.b. tonight. The cavatelli was my favorite and we had a phenomenal waiter. pic.twitter.com/VsSqylGt GRAHAM ELLIOT @grahamelliot @Fettbot that's great to hear! 07:05 PM - 14 Jun 12 via Twitter for iPhone I can't wait to go back soon, especially for brunch!