Night Out In Chicago: Hub 51

Thursday, after dinner at Terzo Piano, I headed over to Hub 51, a lively bar, restaurant and nightclub hybrid with a standing room only crowd.

I soon found myself sitting next to P, an adorable entrepreneur in town from D.C. We quickly fell into easy banter as we talked about a mutual affinity for good wine and Harry Potter.

We continued flirting and the hours flew by. I almost forgot I had to get up early the next morning for day one of the BlogHer conference, that’s how effortless and engaging the conversation between us felt.

Eventually, P leaned in to kiss me. I discovered something unfortunate about him when he was thisclose -- bad breath. Talk about a buzz killer.

Still, as I cabbed back to my room at the Sheraton, I couldn’t help smiling. My eventful evening served as a delightful reminder that you never know when or where you’re going to click with someone.

Coming up…girls night out at one of NYC’s swanky rooftop bars and making connections at a good friend’s nuptials.

Getting To Know Chicago

Thursday, I enjoyed an action-packed day in the Windy City that began with a stroll around Navy Pier.

Attracting more than 8 million visitors a year, Navy Pier offers plenty of food, rides and entertainment.

Shiver Me Timbers: Posing with a few friendly pirates at Chicago’s Navy Pier

After posing with a few friendly pirates and catching a glimpse of Budweiser’s visiting Clydesdale horses, I headed over to the dock for Chicago Line Cruises’ 90-minute architectural tour. Chitown’s sleek, sophisticated skyline boasts rich examples of many different styles and our fabulous guide knew about all of them.

Next stop -- the Museum of Science and Industry to take in Harry Potter: The Exhibition. Featuring more than 200 costumes and props from the Harry Potter films, the 10,000 square foot exhibition is as enchanting as the young wizard himself.

What A View: Shantel and me at Terzo Piano

Having indulged the tourist in me, I was happy to make like a local and do dinner with my friend Shantel at one of Chicago’s hottest new restaurants, Terzo Piano. Located at the Art Institute, Terzo Piano delivers delicious, innovative fare in a chic, modern setting.

Shantel and I chose an outdoor table with a stunning view of the skyline and Millennium Park. A producer at Oprah, Shantel told me about her favorite assignments -- touring Sydney with sweetheart Hugh Jackman, working with Jon Bon Jovi and family during the show’s Inauguration coverage.

We also talked about our shared love of Australia, the slightly more laidback energy of Chicago as compared to NYC and the ups and downs of being single gals in big cities. One of the definite perks -- enjoying a girls night out on a glorious summer evening.

I love Chicago.

Encounter With A Magician: Take Two

For a city of 8 million people, New York can feel like a very small place sometimes. It’s easier than you might think to run into a familiar face -- a fact of which I was reminded yesterday.

I was crossing 42nd Street and Broadway when I looked up and spotted none other than Daniel, the adorable magician I happened to meet during a Times Square stroll on Friday.

Déjà vu all over again: Daniel and I ended up crossing paths twice in as many days

We both laughed, as he predicted that we’ll continue to bump into each other until we have no choice but to go on a date. Though I gave Daniel my number, he quipped that I’m more likely to date Donald Trump than a spirited street artist.

Daniel’s self-deprecating charm is a welcome contrast to the last magician I went out with, an overconfident Aussie whom I met during my days as a Sydney resident six years ago.

He showed up wearing an electric blue silk shirt, unbuttoned enough to reveal more of his chest than I wanted to see, along with a magic charms pendant and a belt buckle adorned with a deck of cards.

Over the course of our evening together, the Aussie made more than a few double entendres about how he would like to make our clothes disappear. After drinks at a bar near Sydney’s famed Opera House, I opted to disappear (fully clothed) myself.

Thankfully, Daniel appears to have a more artful approach to affairs of the heart. Yesterday, holding up his coins and cards, he suddenly shouted to the throngs of passersby--

“This girl will go on a date with me if I make a million dollars! And I’m going to earn it $100,000 at a time!”

Only in New York would such a bold declaration fail to elicit any response. It did not, though, go unnoticed by me. A man has to dream after all, and I’m more than a little curious to find out where Daniel lands in his bid for Harry Potter-sized stardom.

Meanwhile, it’s good to know that serendipity is alive and well in my hometown -- and it appears that Cupid is too.