Friends I’ve known for many many years tied the knot on Saturday, providing the opportunity to visit the neighborhoody city of Chicago!
Oh, and it just sooooo happened that James Taylor was playing in the suburb of North Shore at Ravinia Festival Park the night before…
what. a. partee.
Are you old enough to remember Ricky Nelson’s song…
“I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends…?”
Well that’s exactly what Ravinia felt like. A garden party…a sense of community…a unique experience where one can bring their own spread…quite elaborate I might add…while relaxing on the lawn…sipping a byob beverage…(ok a bottle or two)…and taking in the tunes to the sensitive singer/songwriter of the seventies…James Taylor.
Stumbling on this venue at the last minute didn’t score us any garden seats, but we did happen upon a couple of tickets for terrace seating at the Park View, a seasonal restaurant on the grounds of Ravinia. I had high hopes, but… It’s advertised that seating would start five minutes prior to concert time, but that clearly didn’t happen. Several of us arrived even earlier and still found only a couple of tables in the back of the terrace available. If seating was just minutes prior to showtime…where did all those people come from? Not worthy of the price of the ticket. But, I refuse to let that situation ruin my overall excitement that I have for this venue. I mean really…with James Taylor, cool temperatures, no mosquitoes…nice people…a bottle of yummy chardonnay…how could one not enjoy?
But the best is yet to come…besides being included in a very special event for an adorable couple…the Chicago Botanic Garden just wowed me!
Oh wow… how FUN is that…! Beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing. XoXo
Totally FUN! Thanks always my sweet! xoxo
Really looking forward to hearing about the wedding. How lucky are you to have also seen James Taylor and experience a garden party. Right up my alley!!! Excited to see more of the Chicago Botanic Garden. xoxo
You must visit the next time you find yourself in the windy city! You would love it…acres and acres to roam and no worries about snakes and coyotes and javelinas, ha ha!
I just love how you get around, Robin! I swear you’re as bad as Astrid and I are. How fun, indeed.
It’s mega hard to keep up with you two! If I lived in the Netherlands I’d rarely be home, ha!
How lucky you were to squeeze all this exciting events into just one weekend! What a crowd -did they all bring their own chairs and tables?
Very lucky – the perfect weekend! Amazing that many rented chairs directly from the venue so this place has it covered!! Wouldn’t this be so fun?!
You really did squeeze a lot into your weekend! No wonder why you can sleep in airports and on planes. I know your outer beauty came way before you discovered thanaka and your inner beauty is always there, too but please tell me what your secret is to such physical energy to accomplish so much in such a short time?
Glad you got to see or at least hear JT. Yes, yes, yes, I sure do remember the Garden Party song. One of the first I learned to play on guitar, along with “Lemon Tree”.
Good question about the tables, I wonder too if they brought them. Never saw that at an outdoor concert, only chairs and blankets. So much fun, even if you were inside, sounds like it was a blast.
xoxoxo
Sorry, not inside, just realized you were on the terrace in the restaurant.
I’m motivated to pack as much in when I think about how short life can be! Trust me…I have no problems crashing at times too!! I didn’t realize you were so musical! Love that! Yes, chairs could be rented at the venue, but everything else has to be carried in. This was one amazing venue! Thanks always Lisa for your comments! xo
What a treat!
BIG treat!
Love the tie of the entree man…. music…
This looks like a great place and great music. Did you have a dress like the top picture 😉 🙂
Looks very relaxed. Great pictures (as always )
Hugs and love.
LOL! Thanks Astrid!
Sounds like a great time! Great photos, of course!