The 40/40 Tour

Today was awesome. A perfect #40 for John. Couldn't have written it better...

Northdown Taproom in the city. He'd been wanting to check it out since he saw the Pork Frites featured on "Chicago's Best"--I feel in love with it instantly. We sat right by the windows, which were opened wide letting the Chicago summer in.

The art and photography in this place was amazing. And their beer selection bordered on obnoxious....

 He was so undecided. Our awesome waiter, Eric, let him taste a few of his considerations.

He settled on the stout, true to his roots. You should have seen his face when I told him this drink was on his friends from California. I love being in cahoots with others to surprise him :)

 

Some really awesome photography hung on the walls, and one of the photos had my very first car in it! Granted this was a gold Mark VII & mine was a 1986 1/2 Red Ford Thunderbird Elan series, but they came off the same assembly line. That V8 5.0 engine, that body, that sunroof, that electronic keypad...my first baby. 

The pork frites--hand cut fries, pickled jalapenos, house smoked pork, crispy pork belly....and then we smothered it with the Gruyere cheese sauce. Insanity. We also feasted on some beer muscles with chorizo and a red cabbage slaw. 

After our perfect lunch, we popped in a candy store on Southport so I could get a lolly pop for an upcoming session prop...had to laugh at who Darth Vader is sandwiched between, especially after Lola's Star Wars lesson this morning. Kermit and Miss Piggy are two of her faves at the moment.

 What birthday in the city would be complete without a stop at BHB?! The boy and his whoopie pie.

 Punk rock pastry.

happy birthday, john edward! this was one for the books :)