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For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits for women, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.
Hot pink suits certainly make an impression, don't they? I like the sleek look of this wool one from The Attico.
(It's interesting to note that a lot of the higher-end suits have this silhouette now — very long jackets, sometimes double-breasted, with a hint of something oversized about them — these aren't matching pieces, but the styling on this D&G blazer is stunning. Meanwhile, a lot of the more mass market stores still feature hip-length jackets, when they have any at all. It'll be interesting to see where the trend goes…)
The pictured suit has a blazer, matching trousers and a skirt; prices range from $517-1095.
Express has a more affordable alternative: blazer ($128) and pants ($80).
This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!
Sales of note for 8.30.24
- Nordstrom – Summer Sale, save up to 60%
- Ann Taylor – 30% off full-price purchase; $99 jackets, dresses & shoes; extra 50% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50-70% off everything + extra 20% off
- Bergdorf Goodman – Final Days Designer Sale, up to 75% off; extra 20% off sale
- Boden – 20% off
- Brooks Brothers – Extra 25% off clearance
- Eloquii – Up to 60% off everything; extra 60% off all sale
- J.Crew – 40% off sitewide; extra 60% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – Extra 20% off orders $125+; extra 60% off clearance; 60%-70% off 100s of styles
- Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off (ends 9/2)
- Madewell – Extra 40% off sale; extra 50% off select denim; 25% off fall essentials
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Rothy's – End of season sale, up to 50% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear in the big sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 25% off regular-price purchase; 70% off clearance
- White House Black Market – Up to 70% off sale
Sales of note for 8.30.24
- Nordstrom – Summer Sale, save up to 60%
- Ann Taylor – 30% off full-price purchase; $99 jackets, dresses & shoes; extra 50% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50-70% off everything + extra 20% off
- Bergdorf Goodman – Final Days Designer Sale, up to 75% off; extra 20% off sale
- Boden – 20% off
- Brooks Brothers – Extra 25% off clearance
- Eloquii – Up to 60% off everything; extra 60% off all sale
- J.Crew – 40% off sitewide; extra 60% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – Extra 20% off orders $125+; extra 60% off clearance; 60%-70% off 100s of styles
- Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off (ends 9/2)
- Madewell – Extra 40% off sale; extra 50% off select denim; 25% off fall essentials
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Rothy's – End of season sale, up to 50% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear in the big sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 25% off regular-price purchase; 70% off clearance
- White House Black Market – Up to 70% off sale
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Anon
Any tips for managing an employee who just keeps missing deadlines? Or just cut my losses? I’m not this person’s mother, and yet the constant checkins are now becoming another task for me and haven’t moved the needle.
Give deadline
Deadline acknowledged
Check in re project
Check in at deadline
Deadline passes
Weak excuse usually 12 hours later delivered via e-mail (never in person or via a call), with promise to complete the work asap
I’ve been through a few rounds of this and it’s exhausting and increasing my workload (and definitely increasing my aggravation). I can chose not to give this person any more tasks (and then work is clearly mine to do, which is at least more straightforward than checking in and hoping and then doing it myself b/c the rushed work is usually not very good).
pugsnbourbon
Request for info: have you had a “come to jesus” conversation with this person? Is there a workload issue or a skills issue? Are you able to escalate to a PIP?
Anon
Document and put on a performance improvement plan. No more casual conversations about deadlines. Everything in writing, and always reference the goals established in the performance improvement plan. The time to do this was a while ago, so second best is to do it now and not a minute later.
Anon
Have you had a direct conversation with this person about why deadlines are being missed? E.g. “I know that sometimes things happen, but the last x times we’ve set a deadline it hasn’t been met. Can we talk through why this is happening/what I can do to set you up for success?” Or did that conversation happen with no change? If this person reports to you, I feel like there are several steps that could/should be taken (including firing) before taking on the work yourself.
Anonymous
Are you the person’s manager? Advice will vary by role and root cause. If it is poor planning, you need to set up regular progress meetings. If it’s competing projects of higher importance/coming from actual manager you need a process change somewhere (longer production schedules, better control over ad hoc creep, perhaps different resource allocation, etc.) I suspect it’s the latter—if they are embarrassed and coming in slightly late, that’s not someone giving up—it’s someone stressed. It sounds incredibly frustrating. It’s tough to do, but you might find you’ll get better communication if you seem less “not my problem.”
Senior Attorney
Agree with the above, and also give fake deadlines so it doesn’t slow down your own work.
NYNY
If you have to review work, the internal deadline has to have time for review, feedback, and revision built in. So on the PIP, this employee’s deadlines need to be at least 3-5 days earlier than any external deadlines.
Anon
OP here — absolutely the deadlines are already moved up. And I really shadow-do any short tasks before assigning to make sure they are age/stage appropriate. And for big tasks, the deadline is like a week ahead. And yet, it just means more time for me to work when the deadline gets dropped. It’s not every time. But that it’s more than once and sort of ducking out on any negative feedback / discussion makes every assignment such a management fest in advance that makes me want to just cut my losses. I don’t think that a lot of early dropped balls (that I know of; I don’t know others have fared with this person) is a sign of better things to come.
Anon
Cut your losses!
Senior Attorney
And yes, if it’s an established pattern I tend to agree with cut your losses.
Anon
How are you checking in at deadline (in person vs. email?)? And do you acknowledge the weak excuse? I would be adding as much friction as possible to those two moments, for example by scheduling a meeting at deadline with at least myself if not relevant stakeholders for the deadline, sending a group-wide email earlier in the week reminding them that Bill will be presenting X and we’re looking forward to feedback, etc. I would never acknowledge a crappy excuse over email – I’d be meeting with the person live as soon as an hour after the deadline was missed. And then agree with other comments about putting in a performance plan. This isn’t a casual issue, this is him / her not doing their job.
Anon
Have they always been this way or is this new? I generally agree with the advice from everyone else, but if there’s something specific going on with this person that’s causing the issue, then you need a plan that takes that into account- sometimes this can be awkward if it’s something the person is reluctant to disclose, like a mental health issue, difficult family issues, or early pregnancy. If you think that might be the case, make it clear to them that you don’t need to know the specifics, you just need to come up with a reasonable plan to make sure the work gets done.
Anon
daily standups!
Coach Laura
I generally agree about come to Jesus conversation(s), PIP etc.
Have you tried to have the employee break the project into steps? For example (hard to advise without knowing type/kind of work/industry), for a presentation it would be; 1) write outline of presentation 2) develop background info from sources 3) gather relevant charts, exhibits, research 4) start “sh!tty first draft” which is a writing technique to get over blank page syndrome or worry that writing something bad is a sign of failure 5) review with stakeholders 6) re-write draft 7) start powerpoint slides or flowchart presentation 8) have stakeholders review again 9) combine presentation parts 10) practice presentation with coworkers. Replace drafts with complete PMP flow chart or email department heads to survey or complete CAD for X project, as I said, hard to tell without knowing the industry/position.
If you use this method, set interim goals like outline due by Thursday, background and relevant charts due by next Monday, first draft by Wednesday etc.
Otherwise, ask for daily check-ins from the employee. This can be part of PIP or separate. Have a daily phone call at 3pm or at 10am, depending on if the employee is a morning person or not and depending on your commitments. Or request a daily email at end of day EOD with list of tasks worked on/completed for that day and a plan of what to accomplish before next EOD.
Anon
When working remotely, do you respond to new projects just to acknowledge receipt? Or how do you handle? In my line of work, projects come in via e-mail (often a link to a document depository with deal documents needing review). I usually reply just to note that I’m aware (even if I can’t start work right away). If you don’t hear from people, are they likely away (no one seems to use an OOO)? We have some busy times coming up and IDK whether a read-receipt is better to ask for or just to ask people to reply to confirm that they on board. I need to be psychic.
AZCPA
Do you have enough pull to implement a work management system? Managing via email is so much work, and often a recipe for missing deadlines of pieces. You need a real system like Trello, Asana, etc.
pugsnbourbon
+1 to a ticket system. We have one but I still get a bunch of projects by email. I usually respond to confirm receipt and offer an estimated timeline if I have one.
BeenThatGuy
+2 to a ticketing system. I work in IT and can only imagine the horror of managing this via email, phone calls or walk ups (yes, we are in person). Even if someone emails me a request, I forward it to the ticketing system and the system sends the user a ticket number for tracking.
Anon
It was easier when we were in the office. That way, you often had eyes on a person (they are alive! they are here! they are working today!). Today, we have a world where someone will say they are “working from the family beach house” for all of September and you get the feeling from their level of responsiveness that they have just taken the month off (ditto for some people a lot of mid-November until mid-January). The performers perform and yet some other people just don’t seem to. I don’t want to complain about team members via e-mail (will only do that in person), and yet I very much want to compare notes with the managers the next time we’re onsite. I cannot imagine that our next review cycle will be pretty (maybe people got grace and a lot of latitude earlier on, but some ish has become ridiculous).
anon
I am in one of the few archaic groups that does not have a ticketing system. If I can action it within 24 hours, I do not confirm. If it’s going to take me longer than 24 hours to action it, I usually confirm receipt, provide an estimated turnaround time, and ask if there is a demonstrated need to have it quicker than that (usually no). It’s not a great system, but it’s all I’ve got currently. I will not acknowledge or participate in read receipts.
Cat
I don’t do read receipts. I do not immediately respond to all new projects to acknowledge receipt. But most of my day-to-day work is with my usual contacts so we have a rhythm. If it’s a new high profile thing coming in, I will reply that I’m glad to get involved or something similar, and if someone else isn’t handling scheduling, will ask about a kickoff call for context.
I have never experienced anything like the ticketing system other folks are describing here- that sounds like IT rather than legal to me!
EB
I am in law, but I don’t work on deals, so not exactly the same. But if it’s from someone I work with all the time, I have already had a conversation with them where I say – “I’m not going to acknowledge receipt every time, but it’s on my list” so they already know that. If it’s someone who doesn’t know me, I acknowledge. I always acknowledge client requests.
Anon
I respond to confirm receipt and timeline for response and strongly prefer others do the same. Email can get so crazy, there’s a big difference between someone seeing your email come in and actually absorbing it and taking ownership over what needs to happen
Anonymous
I need help getting out of an anxiety spiral to do the thing. The thing isn’t very taxing – it’s literally my job and a task I do regularly. I like my job, I don’t mind this task but I’m having a lot of trouble getting out of my head and getting work done.
I feel like I’m walking a tightrope – I have all these things I have to/want to do and if I misstep slightly it all comes crumbling down, then I get in a funk and it’s hard to break out of. For example, yesterday I was tired and ended up leaving the gym mid workout, I came home and pretty much ate leftovers, took a shower, watched TV, went to bed. I didn’t finish my workout, stretch, cook dinner, or do the usual tidying up that I usually do, so I started today feeling behind. Today I ended up sleeping in (and thus doing a very very abbreviated morning routine), it’s now 2pm and my room has somehow become messier, I’ve only had breakfast, and I can’t get focused to start work. I can’t focus in a messy room, but I can’t get myself motivated to tidy up, to make lunch, or to do my job.
The inertia is almost debilitating. When I wake up, work out, get ready for work, etc. I have a great day. When I don’t, I can’t get anything accomplished. For a while, on days like this my motto was “I’ll do my best today and I’ll try again tomorrow”, but I have a deadline that is well before tomorrow.
Of course, I’m currently between therapists and don’t have an appointment on the books.
Anonymous
I’d stand up, stretch, take a shower if you haven’t already, tidy your room, and then start the project fresh.
Anonymous
I am reading a book called Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg that has some strategies that I think would help with this. One take away is to celebrate every small thing that you do that is good – i.e. even if you left a little early, you went to the gym! That is awesome! Good for you. Another thing I try to tell myself is that even a 5 or 1 minute walk is better than none at all. Etc. I really relate to what you are saying and it is hard.
Anokha
I also relate. This week, I’ve started a daily moment to cheer something I’ve accomplished, however small.
Anon
I don’t want to be this person, but this sounds like exactly what meds are for.
Anon
Part of it is learning to not feel guilty or bad when you miss a day’s workout or your room is temporarily a mess. Yes, I know I feel better when I work out. Sometimes I am just too overwhelmed to do so and feeling bad about it is just going to make my situation worse. I try to remind myself that it’s temporary and I will get back to a routine and for the time being I just need to do the minimum to keep myself going.
Anonymous
Talk to me about safety and self defense. Do you carry mace or one of those key things? If yes, all the time or just sometimes? Have you done anything to make yourself feel more safe?
This is specific to walking in a midsize city alone. But open to all feedback.
Anon
I live in Philly and walk home alone after dark frequently; most of my friend’s apartments, the subway, bars/restaurants I go to, where I park my car, etc are a 10-30 min walk from my apartment. If it’s after 10 or so, I’ll make sure I have my pepper spray. Earlier than that, I don’t usually bring it. I live in a generally safe area, but Philly’s violent crime rate is very high so that doesn’t mean a ton.
My friends are also very big into texting each other when we get home, so someone would notice pretty quickly if I didn’t get home ok.
Anon
I don’t carry anything. I know what is and isn’t normal for my surroundings and act accordingly. I live in a mid-size city, and am out and about on foot or bike at all hours. There is very little random-stranger violence and even less where someone was overtaken/overpowered in my city. Just keeping moving is sufficient.
anon
I lived in a midsize city alone for 12 years and for at least two of them in a neighborhood where someone got stabbed in the street outside my house and I knew the drug dealers and sex workers in my neighborhood (they never negatively interacted with me, but I want to provide that frame of reference). I also have exclusively solo traveled domestically and internationally for the last seven years.
I do not carry any sort of personal safety device or anything like that as I didn’t feel it (a) was necessary and (b) would actually be helpful. Things I did do that I thought were somewhat useful – pay attention to my surroundings, never walk with headphones on, know where I was going ahead of time so I didn’t have to look on my phone as I was walking, be friendly and talk to the long-time residents in my neighborhood, and don’t be alone when inebriated. I never had an incident in those 12 years that made me feel unsafe (even the homicide around the block – wasn’t targeted at me in any way and nor would it have been as it was a targeted drug crime). I have also never taken any self defense classes because my goal is always to go for the groin area or the eyes/throat, but mostly the groin and then run like hell screaming bloody murder. Luckily, I have never had to do this.
Europe, so might be different
I do not carry mace or any similar item. It’s illegal to carry mace or any sort of defensive spray like that in my country, and is highly unusual. Weapons are generally highly unusual, and only a few police are armed.
I would not feel safe relying on a defensive item like this at all. I do however take some precautions, because I do get harassed at times. The ones who harass me are generally creepy men, mental health challenged men, misogynistic men, sometimes bored groups of teens. There’s no tradition for catcalling in my country, so that’s not an issue like many other places.
I don’t wear headphones at night because I want to both look and be alert. I don’t wear headphones during the day because I want to be able to hear traffic and be alert. I wear shoes that I can run in, whether that is to catch a bus or get away. I prefer cross body bags with my arms free. I walk with purpose.
Anon
I posted before here about the recent spate of purse snatchings in my area, which prompted someone to ask me what hell hole I live in so….
I don’t walk alone after dark, and I stopped carrying a purse and have instead been using my coat pockets. I anticipate this becoming more of an issue for me when I stop wearing a coat for warmer weather and will have to figure out what to do then.
Anonymous
I highly recommend the RAD self-defense course.
Anonymous
Second a self-defense course. I have done a few Krav Maga classes and that alone made me feel safer. I know I won’t be winning fights anytime soon but it made me feel like I knew enough to defend myself and get away.
A lot of those places have free classes to try or special classes directed at self defense for women.
Anonymous
This has been an underlying issue in a number of posts in recent weeks and I’m curious – how do you make decisions re saving/investing as much as you can vs. living your life right now? Do you have certain amounts or percentages – like as long I’ve saved x this month or this year, then I’m free to spend the rest? Or is it more “casual” than that – try to save but don’t say no to things you want to do/memories etc. Or is it more “strict” than that – save the highest possible percent of your salary that you can without living on processed food/junk?
Especially curious for those of you who are older – say 35+ [not calling you old – I’m 42 myself]. I just find this issue was “easier” at say 25. I had nothing so the goal was to get retirement and other savings started and save as much as possible for down payments, while paying off student debt etc. So it was saver mode. I’m now older and it’s like when can I “let go” of that mindset and be like as long as I’m putting 20.5k in retirement and saving x% of my net in the course of the year, it’s fine – there’s no NEED to save 40 or 50% of my salary. Thoughts?
Anon
My employer contributes 25% of my pre-tax income into a retirement place, which is crazy generous. Then I save 20% of my post-tax income. After that, I spend whatever is left
Anon
That’s a great deal! Try to stay employed there! haha
Anonymous
Honestly? I save the max I can in my 401(k) each year, and don’t do much more for retirement. I try and increase my regular savings, but I don’t have “goals” for that account, just as much as I can, without too badly giving up what I need and want in the short term. I was diagnosed with cancer in my 30s, so I probably don’t have as much planning to do as most. I regularly wonder why I’m even bothering to save for retirement.
anon
I’m on the casual side – also 42 for FWIW. As long as I am maxing out my 401k, fully funding an IRA, and have savings that would tide me over for 6 months plus house emergencies, I live my life. I am okay with having 13 more years to pay off my SL and am also not paying off my mortgage early, and I use a CC but pay it off every time I get paid.
anon
I also get a 6% match on my 401k from my employer and I max out my HSA yearly.
Anon
I’m 36. We each have a 403b and a 457 with separate contribution limits, so maxing out would be $82k this year. We aren’t able to do that every year (we did it last year for the first time ever, and likely won’t repeat it this year) but we always save at least $60-70k between us in retirement accounts. This is almost half our pre-tax income, so I feel like we’re saving enough. We put $5k/year in a 529 to maximize a state tax break (we expect grandparent help with college so saving for this isn’t a real priority). Beyond that, we spend what we earn. Employer contributes 10% of our salaries to retirement regardless of our contributions.
Anonymous
Have a financial planner run the numbers for you.
Ses
I max out retirement and have always been a saver. Over the last few years I have been trying to transition into spending intentionally. I think it actually is the process of transitioning from 30-something to 40-something that prompted this for me. I max out retirement and have made responsible choices and paid off debt (obsessively), and that allowed me to feel that it was time to start enjoying life more.
A good kick in the pants in this area was hiring a financial advisor, who ran the numbers, set up a conservative investment plan, and pretty much assured me that early retirement would be possible if I just followed the plan. That frees me to use the rest of my money to do fun stuff, donate to charity, and improve my life and health. I’m still learning how to actually do that, but now I certainly feel freer to spend the money it requires.
So I’d say, talk to a planner, and then think about what it is you want to be doing with money. Are there things you’ve been waiting to do or thinking you’d do later? To me, your 40s, 50s, 60s – those are the golden age of doing things you’ve been wanting to do or looking forward to.
This obviously assumes you’ve been both lucky and diligent in finance and health in your 20s and 30s, which is a big assumption but also a commonly true one for this board, and for Op.
Anon
40. We are a double federal pension family, so my calculations are different from most people’s because we will have a sizeable pension for life. The things I think about include keeping day-to-day life simple (but enjoying those periodic big experiences) so I’m not trying to replicate an indulgent lifestyle after retirement and ensuring I have some additional cushion available that’s not behind a retirement wall since there will be a gap between actual retirement age and accessing retirement investment accounts. I don’t factor in social security income OR my likely sizeable inheritance (lest dad gets mad and tosses me out of the will, which would be out of character) in determining how to save for those numbers, but both give me peace of mind.
I’ve buried a parent young and she buried her parents young. I take nothing for granted. I just want a comfortable life now and later. I don’t go spartan now to be fancy later. I make memories while I can, but for me memories do not include a luxury handbag or flying business class. They do include concerts, family trips once every year or two, and the ability to buy art now and then. Most of us can’t have it all, so I think the first step to planning is determining what you, as an individual with individual likes and wants, actually want from a comfortable life and backwards plan from there. It will be different for all of us and I think the number that gets us there will be different for all of us.
FTR I plan based on what we want to do and need to do, not generational wealth. I don’t want to spend my last dime, but I’m not saving with the idea that the kids can get a huge windfall when I go.
Peloton
I calculated how much I need for retirement and what # I needed to be at at each age to hit that retirement number by 65, 60, 55, 50, and 40. We are well ahead of retiring at 65, 60, or 55, if we cover our annual expenses until then. But I would like to keep bringing that date down.
It’s always better to have more options than fewer.
Anonymous
During the pandemic, I’m embarrassed to say I’ve gotten really bad at returning things. I don’t do a ton of online shopping – but more than I think. I have little piles over the house of things that need to be returned. At this point, sadly, I have a lot of new but unwanted or arrived broken/wrong item things that are just out of the return window. I am donating and throwing things but want to build a better habit. Anyone religious about processing and sending returns, or anyone successfully tackle this, who can give me some tips?
Anonymous
I have a date on which I take care of all my monthly chores and this is included in that chore list.
Senior Attorney
Same here, sort of. I’ve said before that my husband and I set monthly goals, and I include “return X, Y, and Z” in each month’s list.
Cat
deciding immediately whether something is a keep or not, and if not, immediately going to initiate the return & print the label. I also have packing tape ready to go. Having a taped-up box sitting by the door is an excellent reminder to drop it off asap.
Cat
ok what of this was the m-d trigger?
Anon
The only thing that works for me is A. Trying things on (or unboxing them) the day I get them, when excitement about the new purchase is at its maximum and then B. doing the return immediately after I figure out I want to return it. Like it goes back in the box it came in, I print out the label and get out the packing tape, etc. If something sits for a few days, it usually ends up staying.
Anon
I don’t know whether you know you can schedule a USPS pickup for free if you schedule it during your normal mail delivery time, but this has made all the different to me. I created an account on the usps website and now it’s so easy.
I find most things that I avoid doing are because I don’t have an easy way to do them, so I hope this helps you.
Anon
single family house ymmv
i package and leave returns for our ups man who we tip well and regularly. otherwise first chores of Saturday!
Anon
It was easy to return when I had the office mailroom, but the pandemic game changer for me was realizing I could put stuff in the regular mailbox if usps was a return option. Also realizing that you just need to send back the item, not the box or packaging so a lot fits in the mail. I bought a stack of sleeves to pack up my own returns without the company packaging. Not everything goes usps, but lots does, and mailboxes are much easier to find.
Anon
Man, what is it with aging? It seems like delicious white-flour treats just disagree with me and now, also corn. I guess upside is fewer food choices to misbehave with, but still. Adjusting to live without the breadbasket and also now the chip basket.
Anon
Idk but I celebrated a family member’s milestone birthday last night with two small glasses of champagne (the vintage shallow coupe style) and I feel like hell today. 20-something me is very disappointed in 50-something me today.
Anon
I’ve given up on wine because I cannot drink it without getting a wicked headache the next day, and also having terrible acid stomach. I was never a huge wine drinker, but not being able to drink it is different than choosing not to drink it.
Anon
all alcohol causes disproportionate pain for me and my slow thyroid!
anonshmanon
and the gray hair, too.
lifer
and the hair loss…
Anon
Yeah. I took a bite of a sugar cookie and immediately had a headache. I tested it again the next day and I had another headache.
Anonymous
Not to get all alarmist but this was the only sign for me of cancer in my ascending colon. I just had mild bloating that seemed better when I avoided flour and ate gluten free. Went that way for a few years. Everything else was normal. Talk to your doc. At the least they can do a blood test and find out if you might be celiac. ( And colon cancer screening is recommended for everyone at 45 now regardless of family history or symptoms or anything—colon cancer is happening younger now—that’s why the age guideline lowered last year.) Id give anything to go back in time and have brought it up to my doctor rather than avoiding bread.
Anon
My mild gluten intolerance turned out to be rheumatoid arthritis!
Senior Attorney
Travel question: We are thinking about a long weekend in Chicago in late September. Any suggestions about places to stay (we have stayed in the Kimpton Gray and really enjoyed it but maybe there’s a better location out there) and things to do (definitely planning an architectural boat tour)?
Curious
Eat Stan’s Donuts. Particularly the Nutella Banana one. Start in Lincoln Park, walk all the way up the waterfront to Montrose Beach, get dinner at Spacca Napoli pizzeria, and go to a play at one of the little theaters in Edgewater. Visit Pilsen and see the murals.
Curious
https://www.edgewater.org/programs/theatre-district/
Curious
Take the train out to the CSO summer home at Ravinia Festival if it’s still going on that date –https://www.ravinia.org/2022_Season?ath=. I think the Botanic Garden is also at that train stop.
Anon
We live in Indiana and always get Stan’s on our trips to Chicago!
Senior Attorney
This all sounds amazing — thanks!!
DTLArette
Following, my friend! Heading there in May!
Senior Attorney
Woo hoo!
Curious
Comments in mod with all the things I miss doing!
Anon
The free tours on foot are great – tons of options at all times of the day. For the architecture boat tour, go on the one provided by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Agree with the comment above about Stan’s donuts – they’re mega yum. If you haven’t been in a while, the Sears Tower skydeck is fun (yes I still call it the Sears Tower). Chicago History Museum is obviously very Chicago-centric but interesting nonetheless. Skip Navy Pier. I’d also probably skip Shedd – it’s packed nearly anytime I go and honestly very expensive for what is there. We love Gibsons, Aba/Ema, Bavette’s and Mon Ami Gabi for restaurants. For places to stay, the Allegro is very nice but is in the loop so may not be the location you want – the Hyatt Centric was where we stayed and while it’s a fairly basic hotel, it’s in a great location and we liked it there.
Anon
I think Shedd is overrated too but the Field Museum and Museum of Science and Industry are awesome. Also if you’re ASTC Passport members and live >90 miles from Chicago, they’re both free.
Curious
Oh and it’s also nice to walk around Millennium Park and Maggie Daley playground. And see the Throne Miniature rooms at the Art Institute while you’re in that area! There’s also often music in the band shell (Grant Park band shell? Millennium Park band shell? Not sure — the one by the Bean) at night. It’s lovely to walk around and listen as the day cools off.
Anon
we loved brunch in wicker park, the place with various meat hot dogs. we stayed in the palmer hotel and adored it!!
Senior Attorney
Wait… what? Miniature rooms? Holy cow I am all over that!!
IL
If you like staying in the Loop, you may enjoy the Chicago Athletic Association. It’s a historic building across the street from the Art Institute (also worth a visit) that has been fixed up and turned into a boutique hotel with a really nice collection of restaurants and bars. Even if you don’t stay there, the rooftop bar, Cindy’s, is one of the best date night experiences in Chicago.
I’ll give the obligatory shoutout to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera, Second City comedy club, the Kingston Mines blues club, and the Goodman theatre which are all good options if you like the performing arts. The Bears, Cubs, and Sox will all be playing in September. Of all these things, I would say that a visit to Wrigley Field or a blues club would be the most distinctively Chicago experiences. Other than the Art Institute and the architectural boat tour, I would skip the other museums.
But the best part of Chicago is exploring it by foot. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve walked from Lincoln Park up the lakefront to Montrose Beach just like Curious has suggested. Just be warned that it is five miles!