Birthday Bites, And City Lights

A fun and beautiful day celebrating Michelle’s 28th birthday in downtown Chicago ❤️

We started with an early dinner at Aba, a modern Mediterranean restaurant in Chicago’s Fulton Market district, inspired by the flavors of Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, and Greece. The vibe is bright, airy, and effortlessly chic—lush greenery, whitewashed wood, soft lighting, and a calm, coastal feel that makes you forget you’re in the middle of the city. Such a lovely spot.

Aba is all about shareable plates, which made the experience even more fun. We enjoyed two types of hummus—the classic and the wild mushroom—both silky smooth and served with warm, house-made pita. We also tried the Muhammara (roasted red pepper, isot chili, walnut, and pomegranate molasses), which was so good. From there, we added green falafel, grilled cauliflower, and three kinds of kebabs served with the most delicious basmati rice—wow. I’d never had basmati rice before, and it’s officially a winner in my book!

Add in ridiculously good cocktails, birthday ice cream, and the most incredible sticky date cake (oh my goodness… I’d go back just for that, and I’m not even a big dessert person), and the evening was perfection. Everything was vibrant, fresh, and beautifully balanced—comforting yet refined.

Michelle’s partner, Kat, joined us after work, and the five of us spent the evening chatting, laughing, eating delicious food, and watching our girl glow as she soaked in all the love that kicked off her birthday weekend, starting with her celebration with friends on Friday.

I love celebrating birthdays—especially the birthdays of those dear and close to my heart. What a privilege it is to witness their lives and their joy.