Hey all! I think I’m just about recovered from my birthday this past week and just wanted to give an update.
I’m totally blessed to have some of the best friends a girl could possibly ask for. No joke. When I moved to Chicago, I was a little nervous about making new friends. I mean, I spent the last eight years in Mount Pleasant, surrounded by college friends. And in college, it’s so easy to make friends when you’re living in a building with 400 people the same age as you!
Regardless, this past week was a great reminder that Chicago has been so good for me, and I’m really glad I have so many amazing people in my life!
I celebrated my actual birthday at work. My boss got me a gift card to Peet’s Coffee (across the street) and pears. I’ve never eaten pears before… is that weird? Probably. My coworker Whitney got me cupcake candy and chocolate. My best friend surprised me with a super fun delivery from Edible Arrangements!
I headed to Wicker Park after work to meet up with my friend Mickey, who I’ve known since middle school. Mickey’s a taxidermist and owns her own business. I don’t eat meat and blood makes me squeamish. Clearly, opposites attract.
The two of us went to Myopic Books and spent a few hours browsing the selections. A lot of the books were so interesting! There were a ton of vegetarian cookbooks I was interested in, and the erotic novel collection (conveniently stationed right at the entrance of the store) was too funny. There was a Chicago history section with a massive volume detailing the history of the Chicago Tribune that I wanted to pick up, but knew I probably wouldn’t get around to reading it any time soon. Maybe next time!
I ended up picking up a copy of Stiff for Mickey as a gift (Pst: She recently opened a store called the Niche Lab — you should check it out.) She ended up grabbing a copy of “Fashion Brands: From Armani to Zara” for me.
Picture this: Mickey, clad in all black with long dark eye-skimming bangs, deep lipstick, a septum piercing and a coon-tail hat purchases a brightly-colored book on designer fashion and haute couture. Randi, with bouncy shiny hair, bright pink lipstick, a flowy scarf, tights and preppy riding boots, presents the cashier with a book about cadavers, complete with a photo of a dead body on the cover.
Yes, the cashier thought we were crazy.
After Myopic, we went to Nori down the street. It was the first time I had ever had real sushi! Yes, the kind with raw fish. We had edamame, Soft Shelled Crab Maki, Alaskan Maki and Green Nori. The crab and Alaskan Maki were my favorites.
We stopped in American Apparel and Ragstock to look at Halloween costume ideas before calling it a night.
Then, I gave my parents a quick call and talked to them.
Because you’re never too old to talk to your parents on your birthday.
It was definitely the best way to spend a birthday, in my opinion.
Of course, festivities continued into the weekend. Because so many of my friends worked Thursday (including me), I didn’t want to get everyone together in the middle of the week for dinner and drinks.
So, on Friday, I rounded up a bunch of my friends, and after pregaming with a bottle of wine, we headed to Boiler Room in Logan Square for pizza, PBR and Jameson.
Boiler Room has a great special called the PB&J, where you can get a PBR tallboy, a slice of pizza and a shot of Jameson for $8.50.
We took major advantage, don’t you worry.
Boiler Room is cash-only, but when you take your ATM receipt up to the bar, they give you a free shot of Jameson. So even though you’re paying an ATM fee… you’re getting reimbursed. With Jameson.
We had the best time singing Britney Spears, talking about work and school and taking Polaroid photos with Mickey’s camera. I also capped off our Boiler Room trip with Jameson-infused soft serve. Happy birthday!
After Boiler Room, we went to Slippery Slope to dance, and then to Emporium for one last round of drinks before Ubering home.
And, I bought myself two fun gifts: This pair of taupe booties from Sole Society, and this jacket in sage from Barbour. Both will come in handy during my first cool-weather season in Chicago.
And finally, to end my post, here’s the winner of the best birthday text award, from my coworker Haley.
I’m obsessed with corgis.
Overall, it was a really, really great birthday. I’m so lucky to have the friends that I have, and am still amazed that I managed to collect friends from middle school, undergrad, grad school and my current job together. I’m very, very blessed.
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