Forget me Knodt + City Provisions: it's supper time!

I recently moved to a new area of the city, and Mads and I have been doing lots of exploring on foot, checking out the local hangouts and such. And we have a new favorite! It's called City Provisions - a market / caterer / delicatessen that's all about being local, sustainable, and forward-thinking.

Everything in their store is locally sourced, from the bread to the meat to the booze. They even make their own deli meats! When I asked how one “makes” deli meat, the enthusiastic gentleman behind the counter gave me a brief lesson on meat curing. For example, they “pastrami” their own turkey and beef! Pastrami is now a verb. He told me it’s actually possible to pastrami just about anything, and then offered to pastrami my boot for me. (I respectfully declined).

They're good people, and I've become a daily visitor to the shop for Dark Matter coffee, hot doughnuts and whatever else strikes my fancy. One particularly fantastic thing they do is host monthly Supper Club farm dinners, meant to educate and enlighten folks by connecting them directly with the source of the foods they're enjoying. Many of these dinner events take place on-site at various local farms, and there's always a focus on pairing up with local breweries, distilleries and vineyards, as well. (Three Floyd's beer at Nichols Farm & Orchard? Yes please!)

Anyway, those who know me personally may imagine I am totally onboard with this whole idea. I love it! I love that people are doing it, and I love even more that so many people are participating! So, on one particular morning trip to City Provisions for coffee, I was able to set up a meeting with owner Cleetus Friedman, to see what Forget me Knodt could do to get involved.

Well, my dears, I am SO excited to announce that I've been granted the opportunity to get my flowers on display at the very next Supper Club coming up on April 11th, at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum! It's a really unique event. Instead of hosting a sit-down dinner this time, City Provisions is teaming up with Madison's Death's Door Spirits to create a classy, one-of-a-kind cocktail party.

Guests will be treated to heavy seasonal, sustainable finger foods paired with orginal cocktail creations as they enjoy an evening stroll through the nature museum. The event will take guests from the wetlands marsh exhibit to the wilderness walk and everywhere in between, including the Butterfly House (!) and I've been given the fantastic opportunity to feature my flowers in each section of the event! I can't really explain how excited I am!

You can find more information on this event, and even photos of previous events, here. If you're interested in attending the event, tickets are still available! Just call City Provisions at 773-293-2489 or e-mail supperclub@cityprovisions.com.

And check back here for updates and photos. Fortunately for this little florist, as is the case with every City Provisions Supper Club, the details of this evening will be captured by wildly talented local photographer Christina Noël.

Thanks so much for the opportunity, City Provisions! I can't wait to get designing!

Okay I was wrong... spring won't spring!

It snowed a bit last night. I had to wear gloves and my winter coat today. I'm afraid I have a serious case of the doldrums! But all the same, these little guys did a good job of brightening my mood this morning...

Hang in there, Chicago! It's the end of March and we've gotta belieeeeeeeeve that summer is coming! And as anyone who's lived here knows, ain't nobody does a better job of celebrating summer than Chicago. (Just don't let the secret out.)

And with the spring comes wedding season! It's going to be wild, crazy, floral fun! I'm ready for it.

Birthday Callas, Acacia, and spring...coming to Chicago?

Today I had the honor of putting together a lovely birthday arrangement. The only real requirement was Calla Lilies. No problem! I paired these gorgeous pinky-purple ones with tons of cheerful Asiatic Lilies, making for one lily-ful bucket o' blooms.

On the search for an interesting accent, my amazing wholesale genius, Laura, pointed me toward the Acacia. Or Mimosa? I guess it could be called either! Whatever you want to call it, I believe it is a new favorite of mine! Tiny fuzzy yellow balls that are AMAZINGLY fragrant! I love it! I want to use it in everything! (Thanks, Laura!)

{click to enlarge}

As I walked through the lovely streets of downtown Chicago en route to deliver the arragement, I was so warm I actually unzipped my down jacket! And even though it was decidedly drizzly this morning, I don't think there's any way to deny it: spring is almost here. I'm so excited! Don't I look it?

Of course, the weather report says it's supposed to snow tomorrow. Lame. If you need me I'll be over by the Acacia, imagining I'm sunning myself on a tropical beach.

The Anticipation is Killing Me!

Details, details. The devil's in the details? Dunno about that, but I do know one thing for certain: when it comes to making your wedding unforgettable, it's the details that make all the difference!

Just ask my brilliant friend and colleague, Elizabeth Tulipana, owner of Anticipation Events. She's a Chicago wedding planner who is currently in the process of planning her own wedding. And ladies & gents, it's going to be a good one.

Her save-the-dates are possibly the coolest I've ever seen! I could go on and on about them myself of course, but I'll refrain. Instead I'll just throw some eye candy your way, then send you off to her blog. It's best if you get all the juicy photos and details straight from the brain of the woman who made 'em.

Really, it behooves you to read the story behind the choices she made for these. They're so awesome! Check out E's blog about them. And if you're a bride looking for a planner, I'm here to tell you you'd be in great hands with this lady!

Fasten your safety belts...

We're in for a wild week, folks. As if putting together a bajillion estimates wasn't enough (although I'm not complaining, here! I can't wait for all these glorious spring and summer weddings!) this is my last week in my current apartment. I officially move on up this Saturday!

So for the last few weeks I've been going through my possessions and getting rid of things I never:

1. Wear
2. Use
3. Look at

And I've got to say, while it's a lot of work to purge like that, it's also wonderfully freeing! I even went through my boxes of old photos, throwing away hundreds of pre-digital-camera-era photos. I had far too many terrible Christmas morning shots of my adorable brothers with bed head and their eyes half closed, unenthusiastically holding up new pairs of socks & such.

Then there's also the issue of switching over utilities, updating addresses with the bank, magazines, yada yada yada. It's a lot to do while still keeping up with work! I mean, come on, even Maddie (Forget me Knodt's fearless mascot) is feeling the pressure:

Maddie's Glamour Shot courtesy of Imaginative Studios.

See how pensive she looks? She's clearly not operating at 100%. She'd never allow that spot of drool to sit on her chin during a photo op, for example, if she was bringing her A-Game. Poor Mads.

Please, nobody tell her I posted this photo. The last thing I need this week is to come home to an apartment filled to the brim not only with boxes, but also chewed up shoes. Although, if she did chew up my shoes that would be fewer things to pack. Hm....

Happy Valentine's Day!

Forget me Knodt thinks you're super sweet!

Snowmageddon? Pfffft!

Well. You may have heard that we here in Chicago were pummeled with wind and snow and freezing freezingness this week. But look outside -- the sun's out! Sure, it's still below freezing, but the SUN is OUT.

And let us not forget that one Mr. Punxsutawney Phil was feelin' lucky this year. If Phil's optimistic, then I'll be optimistic too. Here's to an early spring, and here's to you!

(Yes, you.)

(Image courtesy of Genius Gina deConti of Imaginative Studios!)