Second City Soiree

{style} Make your SWIMSUIT last LONGER

Jen @ SecondCitySoiree — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:39:00 +0000

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This season's swimsuits are super cute (I love that Robin Piccone mesh suit), but don't mistake your bikini or bandeau for any piece of casual wear — bathing suits require special TLC! There's something about the summer that makes me a little lazy about following a clothing manufacturer's instructions, but this year, I vow to follow these tips:

First, a Vinegar Soak

Before wear your new suit for the very first time, do a vinegar soak. Mix one tablespoon vinegar to one quart of water and soak for 30 minutes. The vinegar will set the color and prevent off fading due to sunlight and chlorine.

Rinse Before and After Your Dip

Before you dive into the pool/lake/ocean, do a cool water rinse to keep fabric from absorbing excess chlorine or salt. Post-dip, rinse again in cool water (always cool — hot water can weaken the fabric) to get rid any lingering nastiness.

Don't Ball it up in your Beach Bag!

I know, it's the end of the day and you're sunburned, tired, and feeling that third margarita. But DON'T leave your damp suit in your bag! That enviornment is a breeding ground for mildew and mold. If you can't wash it right away, lay it flat until you're ready to head home. When you're ready to wash...

Hand Washing is Best

Ok, so you splurged for a quality swimsuit (with a discount coupon? Score!), now protect its fibers from breaking down too quickly. The heat and agitation from washing machines and dryers will harm your suit, so a gentle hand wash is best. And what to wash it with?...

Choose an Eco-friendly Soap

I will admit — I'm more of the "lounge about the deck/beach" type as opposed to the "swimming laps" sort. Still, just as chlorine and salt can negatively affect your suit's fabric, so can body oils and sunscreen. So even if you're a deck bunny like me, take care to follow all the steps above, finishing with a wash in a vegetable-based dish liquid or a castile soap. Synthetic fragrances and petroleum-based chemicals can attach to the fabric, which can in turn irritate the skin.

More Adorable Suits!

Tory Burch One-Piece Swimwear · MICHAEL Michael Kors One-Piece Swimwear · Michael Kors Two-Piece Swimwear

I'm definitely a one-piece fan, preferably with a big floppy hat and earrings (as I said, so not the swimming laps sort). And if anyone knows of some good maternity suits, let me know!

Spring menu featuring AVOCADO SORBET (and giveaway)

Jen @ SecondCitySoiree — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:48:37 +0000

When you think of avocados, what comes to mind? Guacamole? Slices on a sandwich? Kitchens from the 1970s?

I'll bet "dessert" isn't on the top of your list, but when Amazing Avocados asked me to come up with a unique twist on one of my favorite foods, I immediately thought of Avocado Sorbet.

I know, we usually file avocados in the savory category, but their creamy texture perfectly lends themselves to dessert. This would be a great addition to your spring entertaining menu, especially as the weather starts to warm up. (Soon? I hope?)

1) To make four servings, slice two avocados in half. Discarding the seeds, scoop out the meat into a mixing bowl, and reserve the shells.

2) Mash the avocados well (I like to leave a few chunks). Mix in chopped cilantro, mint, simple syrup, and lime juice.

3) Spoon the mixture back into the shells. With the back of a teaspoon form a little well in the mixture. Freeze for one hour.

4) You could eat the sorbet now, but those wells are begging to be filled!

Option 1: Roll a ball of chocolate ganache in cocoa powder, and pop it in the center of the sorbet. Doesn't it look like an avocado seed? This option makes for a surprising dessert — chocolate and avocado are an unexpected but delicious pairing.

Option 2: Fill the well with a shot of tequila and serve with a slice of salted lime. I used an añejo ("aged") tequila. The tequila will melt the sorbet a little bit, lending a slightly slushy texture as you swirl the contents of your shell around with a spoon. Salud!

You really can't go wrong either way. The chocolate option is fun if you're still in an April Fool's mood, but my mind is on the warm weeks to soon come, and the outdoor parties to follow. Serve this sorbet with grilled salmon and mango salsa, an orzo-asparagus salad, and a crisp Reisling for a lovely spring meal.

Avocado Sorbet

You will need:
2 avocados
4 TBS chopped cilantro
2 TBS chopped mint
4 TBS simple syrup
Juice from 2 limes

Optional:
chocolate ganache (I used King's Cupboard) and cocoa powder
or
tequila, coarse salt, slice of lime

1) Slice avocados in half. Discarding the seeds, scoop out the meat into a mixing bowl, and reserve the shells.

2) Mash the avocados, leaving a few chunks. Add cilantro, mint, simple syrup, lime juice, and mix well.

3) Spoon the mixture back into the shells. With the back of a teaspoon form a little well in the mixture. Freeze for one hour.

4) Optional: Fill the wells with a ball of chocolate ganache rolled in cocoa powder, or a serving of tequila (añejo style recommended) with a salted lime slice.

Serves four

Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to reader Alicia for winning!

Leave a comment below telling me your favorite use for avocados. A randomly selected reader will win a prize pack including:

a copy of Chef Roberto Santibañez’ cookbook, Truly Mexican
an “I <3 Avocado” t-shirt
an avocado slicer
a $10 gift card to a retailer where Avocados from Mexico are sold

The giveaway ends on Friday, April 5th at noon CDT. Open to US residents 18 years of age and older.

Gracias to One2One Network and Avocados from Mexico for sponsoring this post and giveaway.

Raising the bar at DRUMBAR

Jen @ SecondCitySoiree — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:30:33 +0000

Drumbar made quite a splash on the scene this summer, with a fabulous rooftop overlooking its posh Streeterville address...but what's a Chicago bar to do in winter?

Enter Craig Schoettler, formerly of The Aviary. Craig came on several months ago and quickly got to work developing an adventerous cocktail menu to enchant both business travelers and "been there, drank that" locals. Balanced tastes and clever presentation combine to make Drumbar a permanent fixture on the city's mixology trail. If you've been to Aviary, some of these tricks might look familiar, but they're no less enjoyable (in fact, more so, what with Drumbar's brighter lighting and less intimidating doormen).

Rooibos: Gin and gingerbread rooibos tea percolate in a vacuum pot, and are then stirred with a cinnamon stick to create an aromatic blend that's an ideal nightcap.

Smoke: First, a white oak "coaster" is gently charred. Next, the smoke is trapped by a glass, into which a cocktail of Laird's Apple Brandy and sarsaparilla is poured. Don't let this one sit around — it's more enjoyable while the hint of smoke still lingers.

Less flashy in presentation are the Lavender (ice cold tequila and lavender in a glass flask) and Sour (bourbon and passionfruit espuma...resist the temptation to eat the espuma on its own). Both strike me as being ideal for warm weather sipping.

Drumbar's Progressive Cocktail Menu is available on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings only.
201 E Delaware Place, atop the Raffaello Hotel

Last-Minute SUPER BOWL Party Ideas

Jen @ SecondCitySoiree — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 14:05:00 +0000

Hosting a Super Bowl party in a few hours? Don't fret! This morning I shared some tips on CBS Chicago's morning show for a Last-Minute Super Bowl Party.

Dine

You don't have to serve "bar food" if you don't want to. Take inspiration from the cuisines of New Orleans (Gumbo), Maryland (Crab Cakes) or San Francisco (sourdough bread, California wine). The choices are limitless, which is good when you're in a time crunch.

Drink

For a nod to Nawlins, serve Hurricanes. But for something more interesting, take inspiration from San Francisco's trendy bar scene and serve a Fernet Branca & Ginger Lime. Don't worry, Fernet Branca is very readily available at liquor stores like Binnys.

Fernet Branca & Ginger Lime
Into a pint glass, pour
1.5 oz Fernet Branca
1 oz Ginger-Lime Syrup*
Fill a glass with ice
Fill with club soda*
Stir gently and serve

*Can substitute with ginger beer and squirt of lime

Do

If you're not into the game, I highly recommend a rousing game of Commercial Bingo. May the best advertising agency win!

Decor

For this party, the decor is last and least! The game is the main event, so there really is no need to stress about decorating your space. But if you really want to, use what you already have. Just remember it doesn’t need to be Pinterest-worthy.
• Since the game is in New Orleans, you can use Mardi Gras decorations
• Turn tissue paper into football-shaped tissue poms
• A green cloth can be turned into a football field. Create stripes with white tape, chalk, paint, etc.
• Even real footballs can be used as decor (just wipe them off first!)

Host an Orange Bowl party!

Jen @ SecondCitySoiree — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 16:00:44 +0000

This post originally appeared in December of 2009, but I absolutely had to revise it for the 2013 Orange Bowl...

When I was a student at Northern Illinois University, our football team had the distinction of being the very worst among Division I schools. To give you an idea of how bad we were, the students rushed the field and tore down the goal posts when we won a game. Not Homecoming. Not against a rival. Just a regular game that snapped our 80 million game losing streak. The next Monday, the gameday results were featured in a two page wraparound of the student newspaper.

Back in the day, gametime = sequin time!The team steadily improved, but even after I graduated, my friends and I could casually roll up to Huskie Stadium on Homecoming morning and easily grab a primo tailgating spot just a few yards from the stadium. And then, things changed. We started winning more games, sometimes even against "good" teams like Alabama and Maryland. Sportscasters began to take notice. Alumni donated money. New buildings popped up around campus. And the tailgating area next to the stadium turned into a top-tier donor lot.

This brings me to January 1st, 2013. NIU is playing in the Orange Bowl. I don't care what the angry tangerine-hued man on ESPN says. I am beyond excited, and I know my fellow alumni are, too.

If you're not going to the Orange Bowl itself (which, le sniff, I am not), or a sponsored watch party, the next best thing is hosting an Orange Bowl party at home. Take inspiration from the Cuban cuisine of Miami, along with some tropical touches. Some ideas to get you started:

DISH: Serve Mini Cubano Sandwiches, Cuban Shortbread Cookies, and Citrus fruit salad

DRINK: Orange basil mojitos by Recipegirl.com (photo from Fine Living)

DECOR: Spruce up your space with oranges and cloves in addition to a general football motif and team colors. Also stock up on these Cayman 7" plates from CB2. And remember...

GO HUSKIES!
(Hello to my 'Nole friends. My love for you will return on January 2nd.)

More football watching merriment:
Rose Bowl
Sugar Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
plus general football party tips

Keep Kitchen Remodeling COSTS from Adding UP

Jen @ SecondCitySoiree — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 15:51:00 +0000

There are two things I don’t love about my kitchen, shown above – the color of the cabinets (cherry was so chic eight years ago) and the backsplash (::ahem:: there is none). One thing at a time, right? I asked Joaquin Erazo of Case Remodeling/Design for some advice on the cabinets, and here’s what he had to say:

A complete kitchen remodel can be a big investment. Installing new appliances, updating the flooring, countertops, lighting, painting… the list of tempting to-do items is seemingly endless! If you’re trying to minimize kitchen costs for a remodeling project, you need to employ two strategies – prioritize the big expenses, and determine where you can cut corners.

Photo source: Pinterest

Homeowners looking to update their kitchens often start with their kitchen cabinets, as these improvements will likely cause the biggest notice of change (I hear that!). However, replacing kitchen cabinets can also be the biggest budget buster. An easy way to cut kitchen costs for remodeling is to identify whether cabinets should be replaced, or if they can be refaced or refinished.

Photo source: Pinterest

Before you make a decision on the type of cabinet remodel needed for your space, take a good look at your kitchen.
Reface or refinish if: you are satisfied with the current layout.
Replace if: your kitchen cabinets are not functional or if you want a completely remodeled kitchen.

Here’s the difference between the three:

Refacing: Refacing is the process of replacing doors and drawer fronts and recovering the remaining surfaces with laminate, paint, or veneer. Refacing jobs are easy and relatively quick to complete, plus they cause limited damage to walls and other surfaces in your kitchen.
Refinishing: Refinishing is the process of repainting all existing surfaces with a fresh coat of paint or varnish. For an added twist, consider replacing the hardware (hinges and knobs) Refinishing is the most affordable, fastest, and easiest remodeling option for your kitchen cabinets.
Replacing: You can probably guess this one! If you’re looking for a bigger impact with your kitchen , you should replace your cabinets. The total budget for replacing will depend on the type of materials you select. Stock cabinets will be much cheaper than custom-made cabinets.

Photo source: Pinterest

No matter which route you choose, changing the look of your cabinets is a great way to breathe life into an outdated space, or just give it a little lift.

What do you guys think? Should I refinish my kitchen cabinets? As you can probably tell from the photos above, I’m a bit obsessed with white cabinets!

Five Foreign FINDS for unique GIFTS

Jen @ SecondCitySoiree — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:52:04 +0000

Oh dear...gift-giving season is upon us. We all have that person who's impossible to shop for, right? Well, perhaps they'd like something unique from one of these five international sources. All are inspired by some traveling I've done, all ship to the United States, and all are sure to make an impression!

1) SPAIN: Lladró Porcelain. This beloved Spanish brand creates pieces that can sometimes be a bit fussy for my taste, and they're expensive to boot, with pieces regularly in the thousands. But they also have hipper and more wallet-friendly alternatives, such as this cool "Egg Cup" sculpture, a more affordable $110.

2) AUSTRIA: Imperial Torte. It wasn't until my last night in Vienna that I tried our hotel's eponymous Imperial Torte. A pity - I'll just have to go back. I much prefer this heavenly chocolate/almond creation to the better known Viennese export, the sachertorte.

3) UK: Christmas Hampers. No one does a good hamper ("gift basket" to us Yanks) like the English do, and Clearwater Hampers is one of the largest hamper assemblers in the UK. They have a selection of baskets that will ship to the USA, should you get a tea and biscuits craving like I do, on the regular.

4) THAILAND: GOODJOB Bags. I was immediately drawn to these "Blossom" bags at a department store in Bangkok. So glad I whipped out the plastic for a tote... it's one of my favorite purchases ever! I've only found one online outlet that will ship GOODJOB to the USA, and while it's expensive, it beats airfare to Thailand.

5) FRANCE: Maison Georges Chocolat. J'adore traveling with the mister, but sometimes a girl needs time on her own. On a cloudy morning in Paris, he went off and studied WWII memorials while I hit the shops in Marais, where I literally followed my nose to the Maison Georges near the métro St-Paul. One bag of bon-bons later, I had an edible souvenir of Paris (that lasted all of two days. Oops.)

EASY or ELABORATE? Last minute Halloween Pumpkins

Jen @ SecondCitySoiree — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 20:14:03 +0000

Attention last minute gourd decorators! I found two how-to videos (well, one is a series) detailing how to make an easy - or an elaborate - jack o'lantern for Halloween. Scroll through the video bar below. The first is the easy Duct Tape Pumpkin. Sure, you could go nuts with the tape if you wanted (see the examples on her table), but I think one shown in the picture above will do in a pinch.

If, on the other hand, you want to get cuh-ray-zee with the squash, try the elaborate Skull Pumpkin detailed in videos 3-8). Yes, six videos. That should give you an indication of how involved it is, but look at the results!

Happy Halloween!

Nine TIPS from the party PROFESSIONALS

Jen @ SecondCitySoiree — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 03:00:19 +0000

How do I decode the dress code? What music should I play? Where can I find a good hostess gift for someone I don't know very well?

All very valid questions. Parties can be tricky, right? To find the answers, earlier in the year I interviewed nine professionals for their little-known soiree secrets. Quite a few of the answers were surprising (ditch the try-hard "hand on the hip" pose, and avoid makeup with SPF if you'll be taking a lot of photos), so even the most seasoned social butterflies should learn a few things.

Nine Tips from Top Party Pros from the April print edition of Make It Better magazine

photo credits: dress codes, props, wedding, DJ Madrid, blue steel, cultures, gifts, makeup, candles

TRENDS from CS Interiors 5th Anniversary HOME

Jen @ SecondCitySoiree — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:46:26 +0000

Isn't it fun to oogle picture-perfect show houses? I always like to imagine my life in the space ("Let's adjourn to the living room. You know, the room with the hand-stitched leather walls. But first, grab a drink from the refrigerator. It's behind the faux ostrich skin panel.") and the CS Interiors Fifth Anniversary Home was an ideal occasion to do so. Better yet, it was hosted at the newly completed Ritz-Carlton Residences, which I have been dying to peek. Neither the building nor the decor disappointed. Have a look at the six rooms, outfitted by some of the city's top designers.

Second City Soiree

{style} Make your SWIMSUIT last LONGER

First, a Vinegar Soak

Rinse Before and After Your Dip

Don't Ball it up in your Beach Bag!

Hand Washing is Best

Choose an Eco-friendly Soap

More Adorable Suits!

Spring menu featuring AVOCADO SORBET (and giveaway)

Avocado Sorbet

Giveaway

Raising the bar at DRUMBAR

Last-Minute SUPER BOWL Party Ideas

Dine

Drink

Do

Decor

Host an Orange Bowl party!

Keep Kitchen Remodeling COSTS from Adding UP

Five Foreign FINDS for unique GIFTS

EASY or ELABORATE? Last minute Halloween Pumpkins

Nine TIPS from the party PROFESSIONALS

TRENDS from CS Interiors 5th Anniversary HOME

Foyer and Bathroom

Bedroom

Den

Dining Room

Kitchen

Living Room