Chicago: Maple & Ash // The Art Institute of Chicago // Frontera // Sasha Velour

Dress: Gaia Maxi Dress by The Wolf Gang (size M) via Nuuly

Cardigan: Cielo (size S), thrifted

Tights: Snag

Shoes: Fluevog, Effortless: Gigi

Necklace & Earrings: Green Goddess Vintage

Bracelet: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

Yes to the brown dress with eyeballs on it...no one else has mentioned it, but what else could they be? They remind me of that pale guy with the creepy hand eyes with long pointy fingers in Pan's Labyrinth. Really great dress, but the fit was extremely tight on top & did not zip up all the way for me, the side slits were obscenely high when sitting, & it wrinkled immediately. I liked that it was an unusual pattern & I look good in brown & mustard. 

There was blue & mustard in the eyes, so I brought out the mustard...my favorite shade of yellow. 

This is my first time wearing these special edition Fluevogs I got back in...2020? I'm fairly certain they were pandemic shoes. 

I have very little brown jewelry...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Bourbon; Carnelian, Azalea, & Agate eyeshadow by Huda Beauty; NYX lipliner in Nutmeg, Bite Beauty lipstick in Nori; Gothica lipstick from KVD; & OPI nail polish in Warm & Fozzie.  
I first wore this dress to work...& then a trip to Goodwill. I was lucky it was still cardigan weather back when I wore this dress last month...we pinned the top closed & the sweater hid the rest. 

Future me is going to wear a lot of suit coats...

I also wore this dress for our second day in Chicago. The hallways of Palmer House were filled with all the famous people that performed there, along with the year. After checking out...we drove over to Maple & Ash for brunch. Happy F*@king Birthday Meshel! How marvelous it that?! Restaurants always ask if it's a special occasion when you make reservations & I typically say no...but I heard they did this, so I said it was my birthday (it was the next day). Next time I'll make up an occasion because I like to feel special. 

Maple & Ash is gorgeous & if you want to celebrate...this is the place...they have candelabras on the tables with real candles. The hostess sat us by a window on a chartreuse velvet bench, then our server brought us over welcome cocktails. She explained their brunch to us in detail...there were various levels of their champagne cart, a martini tree, seafood towers, & other extras you could add. We went with the basic brunch, which included your choice of 8 entrees. 

We began with an all-you-can eat sushi station & pastry table. We both declared we would go there just for the sushi...it was expertly made with high quality ingredients...there were only 4 rolls, but they were all outstanding...spicy tuna roll, hamachi jalapeño roll, king crab roll, & veggie roll...we took gobs of pickled ginger. And the pastry *swoon*…why is it so good?! It turns out it’s made by Aya Fukai, a Michelin-starred pastry chef.

I took an almond croissant for David in case he missed them…& I took a bite to make sure I still don’t like them (I know, right?! They’re made of butter…how do I not love them?). I went & got my own…it was spectacular…all of it was. As we were gorging ourselves on this deliciousness…our server brought us a warm cinnamon roll & poured the frosting on at the table. Cinnamon rolls are my thing…but they have to be good & sadly, too often they fail to meet my standards. This one exceeded my expectations. Typically, even the best versions have an outer layer I don’t bother eating because it’s not moist & gooey. Not only did I eat every bite…there was even too much sauce for me…but don’t worry…I licked the plate. I ordered a cocktail, a Pink Spritz (Hendricks, melon, shochu, raspberry, pink peppercorn, bubbles), it was good, but next time I’m just going with the traditional brunch drink, mimosa. 

I ordered Alaskan King Crab Eggs Benedict, while David opted for Lobster Avocado Toast…which came with a fire-roasted lobster tail. And for the table, they bring you unlimited quantities of fire-roasted filet mignon with beefed up butter & Bordelaise; maple-glazed bacon with bbq salt & maple syrup; & finally…crispy fingerling potatoes with fried rosemary, olive oil, & Parmesan. The only thing we ordered more of was the filet…look how nicely barely medium rare it came…

And because it was my birthday…they brought me a second cinnamon roll with a gold candle. 

The side of my menu read, If your neighboring table has a candelabra that you want, swipe theirs while they’re using the restroom. This was by far the best brunch experience I’ve ever had… we seriously discussed driving here every Sunday & only eating that day. Decadent & delightful.

Valet service…totally worth it not to have to stress over parking & walking in the rain. Our next stop…The Dalí exhibit at The Art Institute of Chicago. Despite having lived there…David had never been to this museum. 

Various works of art that caught my eye. 

I have always found Marc Chagall’s America Windows soothing… I like to sit on the benches in front of them for a bit. 

I probably post many of the same paintings every time I come here. 

The Dalí portion of our visit…

We foolishly had dinner reservations at Rick Bayless’s Frontera Grill. Fluefies in the rain. We were still feeling full & spoiled from brunch…but we ordered more food anyway. Just made tortilla chips with salsa & tasty guacamole. 

And of course we had to try some cocktails…a Blue Agave Margarita for David, while I let him choose for me a Champagne Margarita. Excellent drinks. We ordered another starter…Ceviche Trio, & should have stopped there…it was all tasty & I was pleasantly full. We decided to share an entree, Carnes Al Carbon Para Tacos (wood-grilled pork for making tacos with tortillas of Mexican organic heirloom corn, poblano rajas, beans, 2 salsa’s, guacamole) with Pork Collar (marinated with red chile adobo & caramelized pineapple).

I couldn’t quite finish this one taco I assembled. The tacos were good, but not the greatness we were expecting. Or Maple & Ash spoiled us. Second round of drinks…David tried the cocktail he was trying to interest me in, Sex & The (Mexico) City (Espolón Blanco tequila (infused with hibiscus), Pelotón citrus pechuga, Cointreau Orange liqueur, hibiscus agave, lime)…I chose a Mezcal Margarita (Wahaka joven mezcal, Grand Marnier, sweetened lime juice, Peychauds. Shaken table side). 

And finally…the whole reason we came to Chicago…Sasha Velour. 

David & I had seen her in Madison a few years ago & that show was so fabulous that we’re still thinking about it. 

We paid extra for 3rd row VIP tickets, but skipped the meet & greet. The opening number was the best part of the show…

We left feeling disappointed as this show was merely mildly entertaining & was not deeply heartfelt like the first time. Nevertheless…our Chicago weekend was delightful.