Brown Turtleneck Sweater

Michael Del Piero

Coming soon to Bucktown: Michael Del Piero's new shop.

Scentimental Gardens

On my to-do list: make a trip out to Geneva to check out Scentimental Gardens.

Tocca Holiday Candles

I'm in the Pacific Northwest for work this week - and this chilly Seattle weather is definitely putting me in the Holiday Mood!  I picked up one of Tocca's seasonal candles when I was out and about - the Vittorio scent, which is a great mix of pine and rosemary.  I can tell it's going to replace my typical holiday candle.  It's a much richer scent, without being overpowering. And Tocca candles burn forever! This baby would make a great hostess gift or St. Nicholas Day Shoe-Stuffer!

Christmas and Culture

My family had our annual Christmas and Culture outing last night.  (Nearly every year around this time we have dinner together and hit a local art exhibit/play/musical etc.)  Last night we had dinner at del Toro (above) and we saw The Santaland Diaries.  The show was OK, dinner was superb.  As a special treat, Margaret's family joined us.  As always, we had a great time.

White Christmas on the Big Screen

                          

We had the best time last night - we went to the 23rd Annual Music Box Christmas Show with Becca and Aaron.  The Music Box is this great old theater that plays White Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life on the big screen during the Holidays.  There is a sing-along with Santa beforehand, and everyone sings along with White Christmas as well.  It was really, really fun - and it gave me the last little bit of Christmas Spirit I've been looking for.

Jet and Guster

                

We saw Jet and Guster (my favorite album above) with Brad and Christine last night.  Show was just OK (the opening act took way too long - I don't even remember their name), so after Jet, Guster only got to play for 45 minutes. But the company, as always, was top notch (we could watch paint dry with B&C)!

Uprising Bakery

I've always dreamed of having a little bakery (until I remember that I'd have to give up sleeping-in for those 4 am bakery wake-up calls).  Bridget and I saw Stranger than Fiction today - which was so great.  Uprising Bakery, the bakery Maggie Gyllenhall's character runs in the movie, reawakened my little fantasy.  The bakery had such a great homey feeling.  As it turns out - they used Chicago's Catedral Cafe for the filming.

Ray LaMontagne

                         

Theo and I saw Ray LaMontagne two nights ago. So, so great.  He has to be one of my very favorites.  Ray and Amos - their latest CDs - awesome.

Amos Lee

                                                   

Theo and I went to see Amos Lee yesterday.  I'm in love.  Best music I've heard since we saw Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble two years ago.

NO WAY!

What is this?  A Holiday Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago's Pulaski Park? I'm so so bummed I'll be out of town that weekend.