Vintage Posts are entries that are beyond overdue - largely from December and January when I just didn't have the energy or stamina for long stints on the computer. Eventually they will be filed into the proper month. Enjoy!
{Originally Posted 3.24.10}
{Refiled 12.28.10}
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Note: It seems just plain odd to be sitting here and writing about a downright frigid NYE while basking in the sun of a 65 degree beautiful spring day!
1.1.2010
Like last year, B and I got smart and opted to extend our stay past the New Year so that we might have the opportunity for a night out without stressing over a babysitter. We took it one step further this year and enjoyed our very first overnight without the little man. Grandma M gave us our free pass for a night on the town while Caiden stayed home with her.
Of course, a festive night out wouldn't be quite as fun spent alone, so we invited my sister Cathy and her hubby Bryan to join us for a night in Chicago. We made reservations for dinner at Fogo de Chao (YUM!) and stayed the night at Hotel Allegro. It was a lot of fun to get dressed up and and enjoy Chicago!! The only downside was that my morning (read: all day) sickness was starting to kick in, so my appetite wasn't all it could be. It also would have been nice to enjoy some wine with such a fantastic dinner. I did have a couple of sips of champagne to ring in the new year tho!
As I mentioned, dinner was just fantastic! Our waiter was very pleasant, and the food just kept coming! In case you aren't familiar, Fogo de Chao is a Brazilian restaurant. They have an immense (and unusual) salad bar that you start with. You also have constant sides of mashed potatoes, heavenly rolls and my favorite - fried polenta with fried bananas. Then there is the main course(s). Gauchos walk around with giant skewers of meat and you can decide if you'd like to sample some of what they are offering. There were probably around 15 different types of meat to pick from!
We enjoyed lots of laughs and great conversation over dinner. It was so nice to just relax and take our time thru the meal. About half way through, I finally realized that SNL alum Rob Schneider was seated with a huge party behind us!! We tried (mostly unsuccessfully) to take surreptitious photos of him. And Cathy kept trying to steal sneak peaks of him (he was behind her), but her methods were, um...a little bold. Hee hee!That's him over her shoulder!
Once we were good and stuffed, we hopped a cab back to the hotel and found a spot in the hotel bar to countdown the new year. After lots of toasting, shouting and laughing (and of course, people watching) we wandered around the hotel for a little bit, took some funny pictures, and finally decided to call it a night.
The next morning we met up for breakfast at 312 and then piled in the car to head back to the 'burbs. It was definitely one of the more enjoyable and memorable NYE celebrations I've had! What a great way to kick off the new decade! :)
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