So yesterday I had a blast, believe it or not.
I was so not in the mood to go out. I wanted to watch a movie... veg... anything that required minimal effort and energy because, surprisingly, yesterday at work things were extremely busy - I was doing post ops all day (and we had a full schedule - 10 people) and Mary Jo was also training me in consults and pre-op stuff. I didn't even break for lunch until about 2 pm, when I went to Luke's for a slice of pizza and came back with that AND fried mushrooms because I had been craving fungi for a few days now and could not resist this time because I was starving. Oh well, shit happens. I left the office at 6:30 pm. Oh, quick highlight from the day before. I went to a health fair at the Field Museum and afterwards, I was able to see the Jackie Kennedy exhibit for free, which rocked! It was cool to see. Just one of the perks of the job! Marketing/PR/advertising people always get freebies.
Anyway, Theresa wanted to do something so I agreed to hang out and we ended up heading over to Harlem and Madison... right in the Oak Park/River Forest area where I knew there were some bars around. We decided that area was going to be our new hangout place... there's a bunch of cool looking places all down that street that we've never been to - it's close, and probably cheaper than Wrigeyville or downtown... plus it's a good way to meet new people. But I digress. Seeing as it was Thursday, it was pretty quiet, and Theresa really wanted coffee so we opted for this one place that looked cute from the outside and went in.
Well, Caffe De Luca wasn't really a coffee shop so much as it was more of a restaurant, or rather an "Italian coffeehouse, bar and restaurant" so Theresa ordered coffee, and although I had pigged out earlier (mind you I also had way too much fudge throughout the day and chicken soup for dinner when I got home from work) I ordered their eggplant parmesan which was incredible! and an orange raspberry cake for dessert... along with a skim vanilla latte, LOL.
Theresa ended up filling out an application for a job, and Brant, the general manager sat down to talk with us and do an informal interview with Theresa. He was the coolest guy I've met in a while. Too bad he's 35 (or so, I forget exactly) with a wife and 5-month old kid. But still, awesome and funny. After a long conversations (about everything, not just the job) I asked him about using/renting the space for private parties and he said it was definitely possible not only to rent the upstairs area (which he gave us a tour of) but the whole place. I asked him about new year's Eve next year and how I'm opening up an event planning company and am scouting places for events. He even said that the room rental fee might be waived throughout the year if business isn't jumping (The original cafe is in Bucktown and, according to Brant, they bought this building and torn it down and then rebuilt from the ground up to make the second location, and they're still working on the finishing touches in decor... they've been open two months now since the building was completed). Now, let me just note that this place is ADORABLE. Venetian glass hanging lamps from the island of Murano, Italian decor, furniture and coloring with warm yellow walls and warm chestnut and red accents - I loved the feel and the atmosphere of the place! It was inviting and cozy and quaint, but sophisticated! And the food was amazing (we met the chef too and he suggested some dishes that I now have to go back and try). Plus it seems like a fun place to work with a friendly and competent staff.
So we got home and I went straight online to look at some ideas for a New year's Eve party and what I can do with that location. I'm thinking buffet-style food (the eggplant and calamari and pasta dishes and meat dishes and shrimp and and and much much more) with a dessert table after midnight downstairs, and a DJ and dancing upstairs. A champagne toast at midnight, of course and open bar all night (they have two bars, one upstairs and one downstairs) there's also a fireplace upstairs so I'm also thinking a few couches to chill on. The themes I'm debating about are either black and white ball, which was the original idea Jenn and I had, but now, after looking at the location's natural decor, I am thinking a black-tie optional (read: SEMI-FORMAL) Masquerade Ball is the way to go. Of course, as much as I love my friends... I can't realistically splurge and pay for the whole shebang so I'd get the best deal possible and then sell tickets for NO MORE than $100 but if I can do it for less, I will. Because this isn't about profit but about getting exposure for the business and putting together a portfolio and getting the experience so that in the future I *CAN* make a profit. Anyway, for party favors we would give out noisemakers and face masks and I'll see how we can work in hats and tiaras as well. It looks that we can get about 100 people in there (too bad we can't utilize their awesome patio that Brant also showed us) but I may be wrong because I think Brant just quoted the upstairs availability, but let's say we can get between 80 and 150 people in, of that at least 50 would be just people I know, not to mention Jenna's friends, and friends of friends... and everything else we can easily sell through either the restaurant itself, or by advertising somewhere...
So as you can see, I'm really excited about this... about finding the perfect location for this party I was already planning on having... and I've got so many thoughts and ideas in my head... let's just say it's not surprising that when I went to sleep I dreamt about this all night (good AND terrible scenarios, believe it or not!) and kept waking up and didn't get a good night's sleep, at all! I wish it was already October! LOL.
So yes, anyone who is local is already invited to SAVE THE DATE, and even you all who aren't near (ASHLEY, I'M LOOKING YOUR WAY! YOU TOO, BLONDIE AND CHRISNESS) or who have a hard time getting away from your families on holidays (COUGHYESICACOUGH) you have a whole year to plan and save and come to Chicago for New Years to party with me! And it falls on a Saturday next year which works out perfectly!
Okay, now that all of you realize I am an obsessive compulsive FREAK, I think I'll finish up now. But I'm still planning in my head. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA!

Molto Amore Sempre,
Izabella Italiana Polacca Cioch
Laugh Often. Smile Always.