Last Girl Standing - February 2007

02/26/07

When Harry Met Sally

For six years now, the Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Ct., has thrown an annual When Harry Met Sally event-a singles mixer with great food, good music, expensive drinks and, if you grew up on the North Shore or attended Latin or Parker, very familiar faces. Although I grew up in Rogers Park, I attended Highland Park High School, so the party felt like a reunion of sorts-even though my 30-plus age group seems to be in the minority these days.Founded in 1869, the SC is a private club with a 2,000-member cap (the roster is currently at about 1,900 members). I'm not a member myself-that $90 monthly fee is a bit steep for my pocketbook-but for some, the perks are worth it. As my friend Mr. Popular, a member since 2000, puts it: "The Standard Club is a place for young professionals to mingle...

Posted at 07:40 PM in Nightlife | Permalink | Comments (4)

02/22/07

Unpacking

Sarah is unpacking post-move; check back Monday for the scoop on the Standard Club's When Harry Met Sally event this Friday.----- EXCERPT:

Posted at 03:05 PM in Nightlife | Permalink | Comments (1)

02/19/07

Moving Day

The movers are scheduled to arrive in two hours, and as I sit here typing in my almost-all-boxed-up bachelorette pad, I'm feeling a little nostalgic. And tired. What was supposed to be a low-key weekend turned into anything but.I had planned on staying in Friday night and chilling with a girlfriend and her new puppy, but after some sushi and downtime, I decided to meet up with the boys at Stone Lotus (nothing too crazy; I was home by 2 a.m.). Saturday: Time to pack-but Eleven City Diner was calling my name. I figured I'd get a little work done in the afternoon and still have all day Sunday to get my belongings in order. But brunch turned into lunch, and by the time I got home, I had lost all motivation to pack. The afternoon was almost gone, and the evening was already spoken for: I had...

Posted at 03:33 PM in Nightlife | Permalink | Comments (1)

02/15/07

Happy Valentine's Day to Me

I pride myself on not being the bitter type; it's just not in my nature to be a cynical, glass-is-half-empty kind of girl. Some might say I'm annoyingly optimistic (OK, I am), but when things don't go exactly how I'd like in the love department, I find a way to either learn from it or laugh about it. Having a sense of humor is key in coping when relationships go south.I didn't have a date for Valentine's Day this year. Instead of pretending I had plans when (countless) people asked, I decided to face it head on and go the honest route. "What do you have going on this evening?" one guy friend asked. "I'm deciding between renting a cheesy chick flick, ordering takeout, and wallowing in my singlehood, or getting drunk and celebrating it," I replied. I could have drowned my sorrows easily...

Posted at 02:23 PM in Relationships | Permalink | Comments (8)

02/12/07

On the Block

For the past few years, I've been asked to participate in the Starlight Starbright Dream Date auction. Thrown by a children's charity (the money raised goes toward bettering the lives of seriously ill kids), it's something I've always wanted to be a part of, but I'm usually at the Grammys that weekend.This year I decided to forgo a celeb-studded weekend in L.A.-since I'm moving soon, it seemed like the responsible thing to do-which meant I was finally able to take part. Held Friday night at Park West, the event drew about 700 people; I was one of 15 B&Bs (bachelors and bachelorettes) who auctioned off entertainment packages. Contrary to what most people think, the B&Bs are not actually auctioning a date with themselves-although a winning bidder is certainly welcome to invite the...

Posted at 07:39 PM in Nightlife | Permalink | Comments (3)

02/08/07

The Rock-Star Lifestyle

Talk about partying like a rock star: I spent Saturday night at new nightspot Pharmacy (1450 W. Chicago Ave.), where a charity event benefiting the Chicago Music Commission featured photos by Rock Star Supernova bassist Johnny Colt and rock photo legend/CMC founder Paul Natkin. Pharmacy is still awaiting its liquor license; stay tuned for a full review of the spot-and more on the CMC soiree-in Chicago's April Nightspotting column.In the meantime, a few behind-the-scenes tidbits you can only read here. Rock Star Supernova guitarist Gilby Clarke was at the event, as were Pharmacy co-owner David Lehtman and Colt, who headed to the bar following the band's concert at Rosemont Theatre. Colt is by far one of the nicest, most well spoken musicians I've ever met-and there have been a few. (What...

Posted at 07:50 PM in Nightlife | Permalink | Comments (8)

02/05/07

Art Drives Culture

My plan to watch the Super Bowl at State turned out great-well, with a couple of exceptions. The place was packed, and the energy level was at a major high. Even those who didn't care about the game (although how could they not?) must have felt chills when everyone in the room chanted the Bears fight song. I swear I thought the windows were going to shatter from the screaming and jumping up and down following the opening touchdown. I also thought I'd lose my hearing permanently. Strangers were high-fiving and clinking beers. Guys were hitting on girls. It was a drunken love fest all around. But our group of 20 happened to be seated (or rather, standing) next to a table of Colts fans. That part stunk, especially when the Bears blew it.But let's not make this a pity party. Thursday night...

Posted at 08:07 PM in Nightlife | Permalink | Comments (0)

02/01/07

Gamblin' Woman

Whether it's due to Bears celebrations or the bone-chilling weather, I haven't been on my eight-nights-a-week nightlife schedule lately. To stave off an impending case of cabin fever, I hopped in a cab bound for Andersonville last Thursday to support some friends who run an art gallery, Estudiotres. My first thought: Andersonville? That's so far north of my regular boundaries! But I'm glad I went, because I met an inspiring woman named Carolina Barbieri, a New York-based jewelry designer. She was in town for the opening night of her jewelry show, which runs through February 23rd at the gallery.As I sipped bad red wine in a plastic cup, I chatted up the England-born Barbieri, who grew up splitting her time between her mother's place in the English countryside and her father's residence...

Posted at 06:21 PM in Nightlife | Permalink | Comments (5)

February 2007