Missing mom on mother's day

Today is Mother's Day, and I'm a bit homesick from seeing happy mothers and their children all around the city. But, fortunately, I've got good friends and lots of cool things to do in Chicago this weekend to keep me occupied. The Fella's sister, J, and her friend, are visiting in town this week, so some friends joined us for Sunday brunch at Clarke's on Damen, where we ended up after a failed attempt to get into the highly touted Feast, just a few doors down. (Excuse me for just a second, but I have to name drop. My friend ran into Dan Pudi a.k.a. Abed from the hit tv show Community at Feast the day before!)

It's probably a good thing I resisted the urge to get in the shiny, red wagon that I thought was part of Clarke's decor. A few moments later, a family with two little Asian kids lay claim, hopped in, and wheeled away into the sunshine.

We enjoyed a leisurely, old-fashioned diner brunch surrounded by kitschy, black and white photos on the exposed brick walls and extra-wide booth seating.

Corned Beef Hash with Potatoes, Poached Eggs, and Silver Dollar Pancakes...mmmm....

Sunday was such a glorious reprieve from the nasty weather we had the few days prior, and there is no better place to be than in downtown Chicago at the height of Spring, with its overabundance of freshly planted tulips lining Michigan Ave. and the city parks.

And of course, like with all visitors, we took J and her friend to Millennium Park to snap the requisite Stupid Tourist Pictures under Cloudgate a.k.a The Bean. You know, the ones where tourists stand under The Bean and make silly faces, taking pix of their distorted figures and expressions in the silvery reflection.

We then wandered into Celtic Fest, replete with Scottish music and lore being broadcast under The Pavilion, men in kilts, dancing pilgrims, and clogging lobsters. (Don't ask, I don't know what's up with the pilgrims or the woman-sized, dancing shellfish.) I couldn't help but think, Why didn't I wear my Scottish cape?

I truly hope we will still be in Chicago by the time we have a family – it was pure happiness and innocence to see babies crawling around curiously and young children unabashedly frolicking around in the Great Lawn, wholeheartedly enjoying the city's festivities and community life.

The best part about the day was lying on the manicured Great Lawn, staring up at the bright, blue skies and falling asleep to the sounds of Scottish music. I can't wait for the free classical music concerts, yoga, Pilates, and dance fitness classes on the Lawn come Summer!

Happy Mother's Day. And Celtic Day!