Eating at the Big Table

Last night I went to a really nice dinner party with my dad. The host was George, and his wife, Aliana have this wonderfully rehabbed attic condo on west North Avenue in Wicker Park with a back porch, and a front porch overlooking North Avenue. If you looked to the left, you saw the Milwaukee / North / Damen intersection. This place was really great - the type of place I could see myself in someday. All wood ceiling, comfy furniture, great art, tall candles - but not too big. She makes great jewelry and they have the sweetest Maine Coon cat that is deaf and blind in one eye but still manages to purr when you pick her up.

The night was long and suplemented with large amounts of high quality wine, lobster tails, bourbon marinated steaks, and a great spinach salad with homemade dressing - I was told katsup was the secret ingredient. All in all, I drank too much wine, and my theories twoards the end of the night I can only imagine began to get muddled. I was really pleased to walk out of there though, and have the feeling like I really had a great adult night; no television, no loud music, no shots of jager shoved in my face. Just people sitting around and talking for hours on end with the soft hum of cuban music in the background.

I will always love the smell of cigars on a hot summer night...

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