Monday, June 18, 2012

Summer nights

Though the official start of summer, aka the solstice, is still a few days away, tonight is a perfect summer evening. The type of evening that brings back memories. It's after 9, but it's still 80+ degrees, with a breeze...the fireflies are lighting the grass...there are so many smells in the air...and all you want to do is be outside.

It's the reason I bought a (few) bottles of white wine...to sit out on my deck and just enjoy. I have no desire to go to sleep...unless I was out in a tent, with some marshmallows and other friends in the woods.

Nights like this I don't feel my age...I feel 5, 10, 15 maybe 21 or 22...but that's the reason why I bought the wine.

I love summer

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Wedding Welcome Letters and RSVPs

We are getting down to the final days...3 weeks from tomorrow is my wedding day. I must admit that I don't like it when people ask me how many days, or when people tell me how many days. I still have 8 work days left and I need to make it through that before I can finish up the little details here and there. I feel like a total "B" to my Mother (sorry Mom) because she is the worst offender...but we both understand that she's excited and just wishes that she was here.

The RSVP due date is tomorrow...and there are still a handful of people that we are waiting to hear from. There are some family members that I just put down as "no" since they are way out of town and haven't booked a hotel room, so it's a safe bet that they are not coming. There are other family members that I will have to call, and I don't know why but I feel awkward about it. My cousin for example, he called me the day he received his invitation and said he would be here...but never sent me an official RSVP. He's known for making promises that he can't always keep, so I'm going to have to call and just check...but it feels weird. What if he tells me no or avoids me because he doesn't want to disappoint me? Or his brother, he hasn't said a word to me, but has told my Aunt (his Mother) that he has until the 15th to make up his mind. Technically, you had until the 13th or so because the mail needs a few days to get to me. I guess I'll be calling him this weekend too.

It's funny though, how some people are holding off to see how their relationships are with other people. Seems odd if you ask me. For example. some friends are at odds with one another and are waiting until the last minute to decide if they make up with each other before the wedding. Oh well.

Finishing up this post is the Welcome Letters. I think we've gotten those done. We've welcomed people, told them the timing of events, and given them lots of options for things to do while they are in Chicago. We broke it up into two pages. Page 1 the wedding welcome and details, Page 2, everything we could think of to do in Chicago that fits on one page. And here is that information...let me know if I'm missing anything:

"What is there to do in Chicago?Museums, Beaches, Flowers, Famous Buildings
  • Lincoln Park Zoo (free admission): 2001 N. Clark Street
  • Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum: 2430 N. Cannon Drive
  • Museum of Contemporary Art: 220 E. Chicago Avenue
  • The Art Institute of Chicago: 111 S. Michigan Avenue
  • Shedd Aquarium: 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive
  • Field Museum: 1410 S. Museum Campus
  • Adler Planetarium: 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive
  • Museum of Science and Industry: 1 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive
  • Wrigley Field (where the Cubs play): 1060 W. Addison Street
  • US Cellular Field (where the White Sox play): 333 W. 35th Street
  • Lincoln Park Conservatory (free admission): 2391 N. Stockton Drive
  • North Ave Beach: 1600 N. Lake Shore Drive
  • Garfield Park Conservatory: 300 N. Central Park Avenue
  • Promontory Point: 5491 S. South Shore Drive
  • Millennium Park: 201 E. Randolph Street
  • Grant Park: 337 E. Randolph Street
    • Buckingham Fountain
  • Navy Pier: 600 E. Grand Avenue
  • Magnificent Mile: Michigan Avenue
  • Hancock Building (and the Signature Room): 875 N. Michigan Avenue
  • Willis (formerly Sears) Tower: 233 S. Wacker Drive
Classic Chicago Food (and Booze)
  • Billy Goat Tavern (multiple locations, this is closest to hotels): 430 N. Michigan Avenue
  • Weiner Circle: 2622 N. Clark Street
  • Portillo's (multiple locations): 100 W. Ontario Street
  • Garrett’s Popcorn (multiple locations): 625 N. Michigan Avenue
  • Pizzeria Uno or Due: 29 E. Ohio/619 N. Wabash Avenue
  • Mr. Beef: 666 N. Orleans Street
  • The Berghoff: 17 W. Adams Street
  • The Green Door Tavern: 678 N. Orleans Street
  • The Green Mill: 4802 N. Broadway Street
Tours
  • Architecture Tour (walking or boating): 112 E. Wacker Drive, 312-922-8687
  • Untouchables Tour: 600 N. Clark Street, 773-881-1195
  • Pizza Tour: 27 N. Wacker Drive, 800-979-3370
  • Chicago Ghost Tours: 610 N. Clark Street, 888-446-7891
Festivals
  • Rock Around the Block - Lincoln and Belmont Avenue
  • West Fest - Chicago Avenue, between Damen and Wood
  • Chicago Folk & Roots Festival - 4400 N. Lincoln Ave.
  • Opening weekend of Bristol Renaissance Faire - IL/WI border"