Word to Your Mother

It's been two weeks since I had reconstructive knee surgery—two weeks spent holed up at my parents' house in the suburbs recovering. Having my ACL and meniscus repaired hasn't slowed the wedding arrangements down at all; not even crutches can affect this bride's ability to plan, plan, plan. If anything, being laid up has let me devote even more time and energy to the big day. The only thing scarier than a bride with too much time on her hands? A mother of the bride who's newly retired. Between the two of us, we are now so well versed in videography, we could shoot the damn thing ourselves.

Turns out I'm not so terrible at being decisive, a trait I inherited from Mom. How many brides do you know who bought their wedding dresses their first time out looking? My dress is one thing I'm determined to keep from The Fiancé, but let's just say it isn't something a 25-year-old would wear. It's sophisticated and reflective of my personal style (read: no pouf). That's one good thing about getting married when you're a little older: You can get away with certain things that might not occur to a younger bride. Instead of having my bridesmaids dolled up in matching pastel frocks and dyed-to-match shoes they'll never wear again—much less want to wear at all—they're wearing black dresses of their own choosing.

We're squared away on almost every detail of the wedding, except for two biggies: the site of the rehearsal dinner and the songs we'll walk down the aisle to (if you've got suggestions for either, please post them below). For the dinner, we're looking for a private banquet room for about 100 in the city. Since it will be held late on a Saturday night, we'd like to keep it casual, buffet- or family-style; so far I've called Maggiano's, Francesca's on Taylor, Quartino, Carmine's, and Carnivale. As for the music, I'm thinking something recognizable and appropriate, but not your run-of-the-mill Mendelssohn. "Fool in the Rain" isn't even in the running.

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Speaking of parties—and moms—there's no shortage of things to do this weekend for Mother's Day.

• River North has a new lounge even Mom could love, a piano bar called The Joynt from the original owner of Jilly's. The bi-level, 7,000-square-foot bar is home to the Kendall Lewis Trio, helmed by the son of jazz great Ramsey Lewis, which plays 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Fridays and until 2:30 a.m. Saturdays. This weekend, when the bar hosts the launch of Christiania Vodka, lemon drop martinis are $7. Ladies get in free; cover is $10 for men.

• The second Chicago location of Eno opened in the Fairmont Hotel this week (the first popped up last year in the Intercontinental Hotel on Michigan Avenue). There's no particular Sunday special, but at a place specializing in flights of fine wine, artisanal cheese, and gourmet chocolate, pretty much every day is Mother's Day. After all the sweet things she has done for you, it's the least you can do for her.

• Does Mom have a taste for bubbly? Spoil her with the good stuff Saturday and Sunday, when Pops for Champagne offers by-the-glass specials on three premium varieties: Veuve Clicquot Gold Label ($20), Pommery Brut Rosé ($20), and Louis Roederer Brut Premier ($18).

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