Happy Wednesday! After an extended weekend and a busy week back at home, this week is flying by faster than most. I’m totally okay with it.
Today I am covering Day Two of the bachelorette festivities that took place over the weekend to celebrate my best friend Alex who will be tying the knot later this year! You can catch up with what we were up to on our first day in Chicago and also plan to see one last recap of party games coming soon.
I’m already itching to return!
Yolk
Our Sunday started on the later side (as expected), and our group of ladies set out for brunch mid-morning. I had never been to Yolk, so I was looking forward to checking it out after hearing a handful of people rave about it.
It was super crowded and we had a party of five, but we only waited for a table for about thirty minutes or so. Yolk is a casual dining atmosphere that attracts both locals and tourists, and I could see why as soon as I scanned over the menu. They have a lot of unique pairings!
If you have a sweet tooth in the mornings, might I suggest the nutty monkey pancakes?
Oh, they’re just pancakes filled with banana slices and chocolate chips, then layered with peanut butter and topped with more banana slices and chocolate sauce. No big deal. (<- lies!)
As tempting as those were, I went for a specialty egg frittata scrambled and baked together with goodies like bacon, fresh spinach, potatoes, tomatoes, and bleu cheese crumbles.
It was more than delicious, and I asked for a side of house-made salsa after seeing it on the plate of another entrée. Yum!
More than pleasantly full, we rolled ourselves out of the restaurant and took a short fifteen minute walk over to Navy Pier.
Navy Pier
Even though everyone in our group visited Chicago before, only a few of us had been over to see Navy Pier. I’ve seen it from the distance several times, but Sunday was my first time taking a stroll by the water!
Besides the temperatures being abnormally hot (which I refuse to complain about with winter quickly approaching), it was a pretty walk down towards the main attractions.
We really wanted to take in the views, so we took a ride on the ferris wheel for $8 a piece. It seems pricey for just a few minutes in the air, but it was totally worth ticket price.
Check out the view!
It was also nice to catch a breeze and slowly make our way up and down to look over the different parts of the city.
We probably would have made it longer if the temperatures weren’t in the high 90s without a cloud in sight. Again, I’m not complaining, and the hot temperatures just moved us inside to cool off with ice cream, or in this case, raspberry sorbet.
We made our way back to the entrance and then over to the hotel for a surprise!
Unbeknownst to the bride-to-be, our friend and fellow bridesmaid, Katlyn, flew in to join the tail-end of the festivities! I was secretly texting her the entire day to ensure an arrival time that would truly surprise the bachelorette. After a fifteen minute walk back to the Marriott Downtown, we walked into the lobby and Katlyn was there to greet us.
Alex was completely surprised!
Shopping and Sweets
Katlyn joining us was an excuse to go up to our hotel room, pop another bottle of champagne, and enjoy some time inside. Alex wanted to go shopping, so we figured it would be a good time to shower her with lingerie each of us brought… just in case it was on her shopping list.
Feeling a little sleepy from all of the go-go-go action and excitement, we made a run to Starbucks before continuing on with our afternoon outside.
We walked over to Walton and State Street to stop into B H L D N, the official wedding line of Anthropologie. B H L D N (beholden minus the vowels… hehe) is a charming store and line of bridal dresses, accessories, and decorations most women would swoon over.
We were already set on bridesmaid dresses, so we popped in to mostly window shop and obsess over centerpiece inspiration and other creatively displayed details.
You can fine a lot of their collection online, but there are only a handful of stores located in the United States. It’s a sweet store that will give you the warm fuzzies if you’re ever around the area of one and feel like visiting a place that will make you smile!
After we got our fill on bridal errands, we walked towards Sprinkles to pick up a batch of fresh cupcakes for later.
I had never had a Sprinkles cupcake before, so I was pumped to finally taste what all the hype is about. The storefront was decorated with giant cupcakes and there was a Cupcake ATM on-site right next to the line out the door.
That’s right, there’s a Cupcake ATM, as in you select what you want from a machine, insert your credit card, and a cupcake will appear right in front of you. Genius!
The machine only offers a few flavors, so our group waited in line for some unique specialties like birthday cake batter, chocolate coconut, and two salted caramels.
Oh my gosh. The cupcakes were way too dreamy. I’m not an icing person (like, at all… I hardly ever touch it), and I was licking my fingers clean. If you’re ever close enough to visit a Sprinkles, do yourself a favor and get there!
The Purple Pig
By the time we got back to the hotel, we didn’t have too much time to doddle before we needed to get ready and set out for dinner. We put our names in for dinner at The Purple Pig on our way back to the hotel, which I fully recommend doing to anyone dining there.
We were quoted a 2.5 to 3 hour wait, so it was plenty of time to shower and return to dinner refreshed and ready to eat again! They also take your phone number and give you fifteen minutes to return for your reservation.
The restaurant has become wildly popular over the last couple of years. There is always a bit of a wait (unless you come right when it opens or possibly over lunch), but it is well worth the trouble.
There is a small outdoor patio area that isn’t much bigger than the inside dining room. Most tables are pushed together to be able to accommodate more parties and offer more of a family type of serving style. Our group of six was sat between two parties!
The entire menu is incredibly unique. They have an extensive wine list, numerous housemade charcuterie and cheeses, and classic Mediterranean food.
Wanting to try more than one or two menu items, our party ordered a variety of plates and shared everything. There wasn’t one thing we didn’t love! My personal favorites included the whipped feta smear and fried corn salad.
We didn’t leave much room for dessert, so I would love to return and try more on our next trip over.
It’s a must visit!
Chicago River & 3 Dots and a Dash
We walked back to the hotel room and waited for our reservation at the Berkshire Room as our final outing in the city. We received a call saying they experienced some kind of emergency that forced them to close, so we took our time in the hotel room and played a series of bachelorette party themed games. I’ll be sure to share them along with some other ideas soon!
It all worked out because we were able to take our time to get through the games and wanted to take our bachelorette out for one last hurrah in Chicago. We started with a walk towards the river. Isn’t it gorgeous?
Any time I visit this area I want to move here. I’m sure Scott’s sick of hearing about it by now. But really, it’s worth a trip over to see the Chicago River from the Michigan Avenue bridge both during the daytime and at night.
For being located in the heart of a huge, busy city, it just feels so calm and serene.
We casually strolled down to the riverfront (there’s a lot of new areas to sit and walk the river) and eventually made a plan for a low-key rest of the night. Katlyn, who has now lived in the city for over a year, suggested we stop into 3 Dots and a Dash on Clark Street. It’s located in a dark alley, through a side door, and downstairs into a basement of tropical paradise. Haha! It sounds completely sketchy, but proved to be a true hidden gem.
There’s a modern take on the classic Tiki Bar environment, and it provides chill and relaxing Polynesian-inspired surroundings. It’s the perfect spot to go out for a drink, say, on a night when you’re not really looking to take on the town.
The service is a little slow, but it’s for a great reason. Each and every drink is specially made with a show and decorations like edible flowers and dry ice. You can order cocktails for one or share a shell with friends!
The four of us sat at a table and reflected on the weekend we had. It was the perfect way to wind down and enjoy one last taste of the city together. 3 Dots and a Dash is definitely another place we will be back to visit in the future.
We slept in on Monday morning and grabbed breakfast at the hotel before checking out right around 10 a.m. For staying two nights, the trip sure felt like it passed in the blink of an eye!
I’m so, so happy with the trip and everything having to do with how Alex’s bachelorette celebrations turned out. She deserves nothing but the best, and I could tell that she was truly excited and thankful for every little surprise that popped up. I am looking forward to her bridal shower just a few weeks away, and can’t wait to keep the celebrations going!

I’m so interested to know about the games.. I am throwing a bachelorette party this weekend, and struggling with what games to play!
Stay tuned for my post this afternoon! 🙂
What a fun celebration! I need to visit Chicago more!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul recently posted…A Sunny Summer Outfit
In my opinion, it’s a city that never disappoints! Except in the winter… it’s pretty freezing. But then again, it is here too. 😉
Yolk and The Purple Pig are two of my FAVORITE spots. And the new riverwalk is adorable, isn’t it?! Loved reading about your time in Chicago 🙂
Alexandra @ My Urban Family recently posted…Hidden Gems in Chicago for Parents and Kids
YES!! I loved the riverwalk. I’m glad we were able to actually go explore it this time!
We visited Chicago in January and I loved so much of it. I am still trying to find a breakfast place like Yolk. I had an egg skillet and it was so good! We also went to Sprinkles and loved the cupcakes we got. The Navy Pier was so fun but it was so cold we had to stay inside. I’d love to check it out in the summer!
Heather @Fit n Cookies recently posted…Maternity Photos
The skillets looked fantastic! I got a frittata which is pretty similar and am still drooling over it! 😉
ohhh that looks so fun! what a great time 🙂
Mary recently posted…Bus snippit.
I was in Chicago last month and felt the same way – TOTALLY want to move there! I stayed at the same hotel and loved being able to see the river and Navy Pier from my hotel room. My friend and I tried to find 3 Dots and a Dash and Google Maps could NOT figure out where it was. So bummed I missed out, because it looked like a great place!
Allison K. recently posted…Schools Are Not Businesses; Students Are Not Commodities
It’s like a little (clean) New York City! I love it! Too funny… I don’t think I would have found it without the help of my friend either! Literally, you have to walk down a dark alley. Sketchy… but somehow safe and worth it 😉
OMG – I love everything about this post! The whipped goat cheese at Purple Pig is fantastic! I’m so glad you guys had a blast! We’ll have to hit three dots next time you come back. 😉
SO GOOD!! I vote yes for a trip to 3 Dots and a Dash next time we’re in town. Hope you’re doing well!
You were in my neighborhood! Seriously, just a few hundred feet from me (I think I was taking a shower or napping after my run at that point? Or returning from my run? Navy Pier is a great view, but the best time to go is before breakfast–it is empty, and the stunning view is all yours. So many of my favorite things in this post! Also, now I want to shop for wedding things. DAMN YOU
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Vitamins, Snacking, and Laughing Cow #ThinkingoutLoud
Haha, I love it. And I can’t believe we were so close! We’ll definitely have meet for coffee or a run by the river next time we’re in! Haha, enjoy B H L D N 😉