Hi everyone!

This week was a special week (especially for my fellow Chicagoans) – St. Patrick’s Day weekend. To start out, I got to see one of my best friends, Anna, while she was in town (signing a lease to move here – yay!) so we went to one of our favorite places: The Hampton Social. Funny enough, I hadn’t been back since the same time last year and I didn’t realize how much I missed it! Believe me when I say that this is not one of those places that just looks pretty and then the food/drinks are just ok. I started out with the Frosé since I had never had it here before and it tasted like a frozen Bellini – yum! The Hampton Social is known for their rosé menu plus it’s oh-so-Instagrammable sign for a reason.

For the main course, I opted for the Mahi-Mahi tacos – very different from my usual Lobster Roll. The crema on these was so decadent and added just the right amount of flavor that it didn’t take over the dish. I will definitely be back soon to try out their happy hour menu – they have half off pizzas so what’s not to love?

Next up, following the River North theme, I went to Ramen-san with a future co-worker (Hi Katie!) for a little “welcome lunch”. They have a great lunch deal here with tons of food that Katie got, while I opted to try their Mantou Bun sandwiches. I got the fried chicken one first – this was a cool twist on a classic chicken sandwich however, that’s basically what it tasted like so not very “unique” per se.

I opted for the pork belly next and that one took the cake. With spicy mayo and cucumbers – they added a nice contrast to the crunchy fried pork belly. I’ll have to try the mushroom one next time! The buns were so doughy and melted in your mouth – if you need a quick snack, these guys will do the trick.

And now, the most wonderful time of the year in Chicago – St. Patrick’s Day!! This was my first official bar crawl I’ve ever done in the city so it was really special ringing it in with all my sorority sisters too (did you know it’s our Founder’s Day??). I picked up this perfect green shirt at Target (though I am actually Irish, not just “Chicago Irish” 😉) before meeting everyone and heading over to our first stop: Deuces & the Diamond Club, a two floor bar in Wrigleyville. Last time I was here in the summer, it was sort of empty. This time – packed with people and a sea of green as far as the eye could see. Thanks to our tickets, we got a breakfast buffet to carb load for our long day – complete with sausage links, eggs, french toast, and potatoes, yum! We also got a voucher for our first drink too – had to start off right with a green beer. We went to Sluggers next – a staple for us since it’s an IU bar (go Hoosiers) and multiple rooms to get lost in. A lot of Cubs fans like to stop in here to watch games too so good to know come opening day! Our final stop was Roadhouse – not as crowded as the others and much smaller, but a perfect way to end the day. Plus – they have a cute Chicago flag wall nearby for a photo op! Though I didn’t see the River Dyeing this year, this was such a fun day – I’d do it again next year.

My twin in my sorority fam – hi Gaby!

All the gals at Deuces

Last but not least, I had a nice relaxing Sunday watching some kids hunt for Easter eggs and basked in the sun (hopefully it stays!). Today starts my new venture career-wise and I’m so happy to start this new chapter. I’ve also got a ton of events this week that I am excited to attend so stay tuned for updates and follow in real time on Instagram!

Local Spots I Checked Out: The Hampton Social, Ramen-san, Wrigleyville: Deuces and the Diamond Club, Sluggers, Roadhouse

Events I’m Looking Forward To: Drake Fest, Good & Sassy Tanning Event with GoGlow, Blogger shoots, Sip & Shop with Social Chicagoan

See you in the next post!