Hello All -
I''m writing to ask for a little assistance. My gf is currently living in Chicago and I have plans to propose to her on on Valentine''s day. The main trouble I have with this is that while we have dated for quite some time, I''ve only been to CHI about 8-10 times for weekend visits and we really haven''t established ''our special places'' in that city. So, I''ve read LOTS of posts from Chicagoins (sp?) on this site and was hoping you could read over this plan and give me some help with the details.
My gf and I have [unfortunately] failed to spend V-day and other special occasions together over the past few years of dating. It''s usually just logistics and this year is the same - we will be spending the previous week together skiing in CO and therefor it didn''t make sense to make another trip, especially on a Tuesday.
So, my plan is to fly into CHI and surprise her at her office. My thought is that I will call her early in the day and ''fib'' with some sort of story about a flower shop mix-up and promise her that I''ll do my best to get flowers delivered, but let her know that I haven''t forgotten about her. My plan is to ''hand-deliver'' the flowers to her at her office around 3:45, dressed in a suit. With the help of her office-mates, I''ll talk her into heading out of her office and I''ll surprise her by having a towncar/limo waiting downstairs. We''ll head to her apt. for her to quickly change clothes (she dresses casual at the office) and then we''ll head to Pop''s Champagne bar for a glass of champagne (neither of us have even been there, but she often said she thinks it sounds cool, and from what I''ve read online, I concur - opinions would be appreciated!). My thought would be that we would ideally have a small table and spend 30-45 minutes enjoying each other''s company.
The next part is where I really need help. She has always said that when I pop "the big question", she''d like it to be early in the ''date'', so that we can ''revel in the moment'' as opposed to having a day filled with suspense. I have no doubt that making a surprise visit to CHI in a suit will be a pretty good tip-off that the big question is looming! I''d like to go somewhere semi-private (or completely private) to propose, but I don''t know where the best place is. Of all the different places I''ve read about, I am leaning towards either the Lily Pond or somewhere near the zoo(the fountain?). Because this is happening 2/14, I''m somewhat concerned that weather will not cooperate, so I''d really like to hear ideas on places that might be better. I looked into the indoor gardens, but unfortunately they close at 5:00 PM.
The next part of the evening is dinner. I have reservations at Chicago Chop House, but I''m not convinced that''s the best spot. I called to get reservations a few weeks back and was wait-listed at my first two choices: North Pod and Geha''s. I picked the Chop House because she has told me numerous time she really wants to take me to the ''Chop House''. Of course, I have since learned that there are lots of ''Chop Houses'' and I''m not 100% sure this is the one to which she''s referring. So, if anyone can provide feedback on this restaurant, I''d really appreciate it!
I''d love to hear feedback from people who live in CHI, specifically:
1) The idea of renting the towncar/limo - She doesn''t own a car and, regardless, we''ll be having a few drinks, so driving isn''t an option. I''m not necessarily a flashy big-money guy, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime night, so the idea of hailing cabs isn''t all that appealing. I was planning to just have the limo drop us off at dinner and then we''d get a cab home in order to save a few hundred dollars. Does anyone have any better ideas on transportation?
2) What about the idea of popping the questions at Pop''s? Like I said, I''ve never been there, so I don''t know how ''question friendly'' it is. I do plan on dropping to one knee and don''t really want an audience, so do they have semi-private booths or will my actions be a spectacle?
3) Does anyone know of not-so-popular high-rise bars that might be a good place to propose? Obviously the Sear''s Tower and Hancock building have their lounges up top, but I''m fearful that we might have to stand in a ''proposal line'' and I''d like for this moment to seem special and not have some guy 15 feet away doing the same thing. Are there other bars overlooking the lake/city that you might recommend? What about bars/lounges with private rooms/booths?
4) What about other dinner ideas? I suspect I''m probably too late for any of the popular places and I''m still hoping that North Pond will open up, but does anyone have any feedback on the Chicago Chop House or alternative, lesser known places to recommend?
Wow, sorry for the ridiculously long post, but I''d really like some help and I don''t want to ask our friends in CHI for fear of them tipping her off!
thanks in advance - wally.
I''m writing to ask for a little assistance. My gf is currently living in Chicago and I have plans to propose to her on on Valentine''s day. The main trouble I have with this is that while we have dated for quite some time, I''ve only been to CHI about 8-10 times for weekend visits and we really haven''t established ''our special places'' in that city. So, I''ve read LOTS of posts from Chicagoins (sp?) on this site and was hoping you could read over this plan and give me some help with the details.
My gf and I have [unfortunately] failed to spend V-day and other special occasions together over the past few years of dating. It''s usually just logistics and this year is the same - we will be spending the previous week together skiing in CO and therefor it didn''t make sense to make another trip, especially on a Tuesday.
So, my plan is to fly into CHI and surprise her at her office. My thought is that I will call her early in the day and ''fib'' with some sort of story about a flower shop mix-up and promise her that I''ll do my best to get flowers delivered, but let her know that I haven''t forgotten about her. My plan is to ''hand-deliver'' the flowers to her at her office around 3:45, dressed in a suit. With the help of her office-mates, I''ll talk her into heading out of her office and I''ll surprise her by having a towncar/limo waiting downstairs. We''ll head to her apt. for her to quickly change clothes (she dresses casual at the office) and then we''ll head to Pop''s Champagne bar for a glass of champagne (neither of us have even been there, but she often said she thinks it sounds cool, and from what I''ve read online, I concur - opinions would be appreciated!). My thought would be that we would ideally have a small table and spend 30-45 minutes enjoying each other''s company.
The next part is where I really need help. She has always said that when I pop "the big question", she''d like it to be early in the ''date'', so that we can ''revel in the moment'' as opposed to having a day filled with suspense. I have no doubt that making a surprise visit to CHI in a suit will be a pretty good tip-off that the big question is looming! I''d like to go somewhere semi-private (or completely private) to propose, but I don''t know where the best place is. Of all the different places I''ve read about, I am leaning towards either the Lily Pond or somewhere near the zoo(the fountain?). Because this is happening 2/14, I''m somewhat concerned that weather will not cooperate, so I''d really like to hear ideas on places that might be better. I looked into the indoor gardens, but unfortunately they close at 5:00 PM.
The next part of the evening is dinner. I have reservations at Chicago Chop House, but I''m not convinced that''s the best spot. I called to get reservations a few weeks back and was wait-listed at my first two choices: North Pod and Geha''s. I picked the Chop House because she has told me numerous time she really wants to take me to the ''Chop House''. Of course, I have since learned that there are lots of ''Chop Houses'' and I''m not 100% sure this is the one to which she''s referring. So, if anyone can provide feedback on this restaurant, I''d really appreciate it!
I''d love to hear feedback from people who live in CHI, specifically:
1) The idea of renting the towncar/limo - She doesn''t own a car and, regardless, we''ll be having a few drinks, so driving isn''t an option. I''m not necessarily a flashy big-money guy, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime night, so the idea of hailing cabs isn''t all that appealing. I was planning to just have the limo drop us off at dinner and then we''d get a cab home in order to save a few hundred dollars. Does anyone have any better ideas on transportation?
2) What about the idea of popping the questions at Pop''s? Like I said, I''ve never been there, so I don''t know how ''question friendly'' it is. I do plan on dropping to one knee and don''t really want an audience, so do they have semi-private booths or will my actions be a spectacle?
3) Does anyone know of not-so-popular high-rise bars that might be a good place to propose? Obviously the Sear''s Tower and Hancock building have their lounges up top, but I''m fearful that we might have to stand in a ''proposal line'' and I''d like for this moment to seem special and not have some guy 15 feet away doing the same thing. Are there other bars overlooking the lake/city that you might recommend? What about bars/lounges with private rooms/booths?
4) What about other dinner ideas? I suspect I''m probably too late for any of the popular places and I''m still hoping that North Pond will open up, but does anyone have any feedback on the Chicago Chop House or alternative, lesser known places to recommend?
Wow, sorry for the ridiculously long post, but I''d really like some help and I don''t want to ask our friends in CHI for fear of them tipping her off!
thanks in advance - wally.
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