The weekend, succinctly

The weekend was jam-packed with activities. I don't know what it is about the start of summer, but the city is absolutely buzzing with all kinds of celebratory events and fun happenings. Just because.

Including spontaneously having dessert before dinner, when we happened upon a grand opening of a new frozen yogurt place on our walk to dinner. Free fro-yo for everyone today!

{ coconut yogurt with fresh pineapple and kiwi, coconut flakes, and chocolate chip cookies } 

Enjoyed an uh-MAZ-ing three-course dinner at Spring in Wicker Park for Yelp Restaurant Week. Great company with our friends H & A, modern Asian food with a gourmet twist in an understated, zen-like setting, and wine pairings.

 { crispy pork belly steamed buns }

 { Atlantic skatewing }

{ white chocolate dome }

Celebrated with McLovin (yes, that McLovin!) for his 21st birthday at En-Clave. There were sparklers, birthday cake, and scantily-clad dancers. Happy Superbad birthday, McLovin!

A morning jaunt with M & H to Orange Beautiful, a handmade stationery studio + shop in Lincoln Square, transpired into a leisurely lunch at Aroy Thai restaurant and an even funner ride all the way home with M & H!

{ feltidermy by Etsy seller, girlsavage, at Orange Beautiful!
(This is just what it sounds like – taxidermy made out of felt!) }

A swanky fundraising gala for lupus research at the Ritz-Carlton downtown (before you imply that I'm old, stuffy, or rich like my 21-year old intern did, we were given free tix!). It was a beautiful night at the Orchid Ball: sit-down dinner, dancing to music by the Bradley Young Orchestra, and silent auction. Needless to say, The Fella now has an "Aviator" leather bomber jacket with a lamb shearling neck trim by Marc Jacobs. We justify this by telling ourselves it's for a good cause.

{ finally had somewhere to wear my traditional Chinese wedding gown to! }

{ silent auction items }

 { i swooned over this black wool cape with fox trim }

 { candle-lit dinner at The Ritz-Carlton }

{ perfectly cooked filet mignon } 

And a long trip to... Naperville, the 'burb consistently ranked high among the Best Cities to Live in America, to pick up The Fella's silent auction winning from last night.

{ downtown Naperville, home of Evan Lysacek }

{ one of the picturesque parks in downtown Naperville, pure suburbia }

P.S. I couldn't resist taking home this brown and white polka dot frock! Yes. I said frock.

{ Naperville boutique. Sorry for the bad lighting. } 

{ Not pictured – me wearing my top inside-out to the stationery shop, after rolling out of bed and into the closest, nearby thing Sat. morning. I must have walked around town like this for 40 minutes, taking the bus to the train, and even hanging out in a coffee shop, until M told me. Clearly, what the universe is trying to say is that my soon-to-be-29-year-old-self is too old to party with 21-year olds! }