Hi, I’m Nicole and I love changing my hair color. Ever since I got my first highlights at age 12, I decided that my real hair color was not allowed to be a part of my life. You know, that mousy color that isn’t quite brown or blond? Yeah…

I love changing my look, and have had the whole spectrum of colors from a dark brown when my favorite celeb was Eva Longoria, to a whitish blond from my days of wishing I was on Nick and Jessica’s Newlywed’s show (um yeah, that didn’t work out well for them OR for me).

Fast forward to my move to Chicago- a huge city with so many salons to choose from. A city in which you could easily go broke on that starting salary over trying to fix your roots (especially when you have ridiculously thick and wavy hair like mine). After spending most of college with the same stylist, a stylist who knew (and hesitantly accepted) that I’d want a dramatic change every few times I went in, I had to find someone who could embrace my spontenaity when it came to hair.

So I started trying to find a new go-to person in Chicago. I tried a fancy salon in Streeterville, where I had two people painting my hair for 5 hours. $350 later, my hair looked no different and I almost had a heart attack over the bill. I tried ULTA in hopes of being thrifty. Let’s just say, it didn’t work for me! I even drove out to my hometown in the far west suburbs for Saturday morning appointments only to realize that I was always late and crabby when I got there. Then there was the stylist who complained about her co-workers and bosses the whole appointment-”NEXT!” Or the one who took being risky too far and bleached my whole head with foils and made it look orange-ew. You get the idea.

Two years after moving here, I finally met Daniel- every girl’s dream stylist. My best friend emailed me a coupon for a $30 hair cut at her salon, ASHA, so I went and fell in love.

My stylist, Daniel Sabry, works at ASHA Salon Spa, an Aveda salon in Gold Coast. Not only is Daniel a VERY talented stylist (I’m sure I’ll lose him to Hollywood some day) who can practically read my mind, he is somewhat of a “hairapist” and a comedian all in one. He listens to me, but knows how to talk me out of a dark brown bottom and blond top (yes, I really wanted this look-and thanked him later for not letting me do it). He’s not afraid of doing something different with my hair, but only if it’s done with taste and class. For example, right when I thought my blonde days were over, he gave me these unbelievable Jennifer Anniston highlights that I couldn’t live without.

After I leave an appointment with Daniel, my boyfriend will always say, “Aren’t YOU slap happy!? What the heck made you so giddy?!” And I tell him in a dreamy voice while bouncing my blown out hair, “I just had a hair appointment with Daniel!”

Daniel knows how to pump me up. I can tell him everything that’s going on in my life and he listens and gives me valuable feedback. He throws in hilarious comments- his favorite one being “Get it girl!” He makes you feel and look like a celebrity when you leave.

If you’re looking to find a long-term, mega-talented, funny and friendly stylist in Chicago who won’t do you wrong, I highly suggest making an appointment with Daniel Sabry. Asha always has monthly specials, coupons, and referral discounts too. If you can’t make it to the Gold Coast location, consider trying one of Asha’s other locations like Lombard, Schaumburg or Bucktown.

One of my favorite things about living in Chicago is that there is a seemingly endless supply of new and different restaurants.  Each one tries to be more unique and chic than the next.  My boyfriend and I devote our date nights to trying new restaurants and it seems that we’ve tried all types: fancy, simple, and completely over-rated.

Our fanciest (and funniest) date was to Trump’s “Sixteen.”  We were by far the youngest people there and tried our hardest to break our server’s “penguin” like manners and façade.  As we do with all of our servers, we just wanted to know his name and chat with him like a friend.  We decided on ordering the tasting menu.  We figured if we were at the Trump we should go big, be surprised and order food we wouldn’t know how to pronounce. The first course (of several) came out and we could barely make it through the server’s long and fancy explanation before we looked at each other and laughed out loud at the tiny little creation, complete with a “squiggle” of liquid garnish.

The courses did get better (and bigger) and the service was second to none.  In fact, the service was so exquisite that we started to wonder if there were hidden cameras on our table.  We joked that we should time how many seconds it would take for one of the staff to come over and refill our glass after one of us took a sip of wine. They made it to us within seconds each time.  The atmosphere was the most unique I’ve ever experienced in Chicago, perhaps because of the beautiful view, very dim lighting and decadent crystal chandelier in the center of the restaurant. It was such a treat to dine at “Sixteen”, but we (and our $18 cocktails) aren’t planning on running back there in this lifetime.

This weekend we attended a 30^th birthday dinner at a simple Italian restaurant, a hidden gem on Armitage in Lincoln Park called “Tarantino’s.”  They had amazingly authentic food and great service.  We had a party of 20 without any slips in service, quality or timing which is quite a feat.  I don’t love Caesar salad but I had a taste of theirs and, honestly, I’m still thinking about it!  I also ordered the Black Linguine which was served with fresh shrimp and mussels in a spicy red sauce- excellent, and a new favorite!  I had never been to Tarantino’s before but I’d tell anyone to go there because it fit the bill of quality, service and atmosphere.

But sometimes curiosity prevails and you just have to try those buzz-worthy restaurants.  After trying to get a reservation for some time, we finally got in at Perennial.  The interior of the restaurant is pretty: wood floors, what seems to be live foliage and trees with a modern flair.  The backroom had lots of pretty Christmas “trees” with blue lights and ornaments.  Overall though, we were disappointed; especially after hearing such a buzz about it.  It was very loud and the seating wasn’t intimate.  Our server was on the verge of snotty, and the menu was very limited.  We did LOVE their Crudo, though, which is very flavorful raw fish drizzled in oil, lemon and herbs.

So when it comes to my favorite Chicago restaurants, I’ll pick simple any day.  All the hype, glamour and over-the-top attempts at being the most unique sometimes ruin the whole experience.  Maybe all of that glitz and glam covers up the whole point of dining out in the first place: great food and friendly service.

1. Midwestern friendliness prevails among Chicagoans.
2. We have alleys!  And this means we don’t put all of our trash on the street, we have more windows and can squeeze a few extra parking spots in too.
3. We have tons of “transplants” which make Chicago a melting pot of cultures and ideas.
4. Our Italian food rocks! I’m talking about the pizza, pasta and hot dogs. For those who are meat lovers- rumor has it our Italian beef and sausage are second to none.  Perhaps this is why we are considered a “fat city”?
5. Oprah and Obama hail from Chicago.  Let’s hope that our city doesn’t change when Oprah’s show stops airing in 2011…
6. Chicago has cheaper rent and drinks than New York City.  At least living here is cheaper than somewhere, right?!
7. Chicago feels like a coastal beach city in the summer thanks to Lake Michigan.
8. Having a car in Chicago is an option but not a necessity.  Gotta love the freedom of choice.
9. North Avenue Beach, Castaways, and running on the lake- please come back soon summer!
10. St. Patty’s day:  complete with a green river, along with plenty of green beer and debacles for all.
11. Wrigley Field.  The true classic American ball park smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood.  For once we didn’t over commercialize something.  Congrats Chicago- please continue preserving the history!
12. Endless summer street fests.
13. I always feel safe.
14. The grid system.  If you don’t know how to use this and you live here, you are a fool.  8 miles is a block and if you know the block numbers of a few major streets, you can never get lost.  (A miracle for a location-challenged individual like myself!)
15. The “Big Ten” bond that many Chicagoans share which is demonstrated by several bars devoted to each school in the Big Ten.
16. The fact that it doesn’t take more than 20 minutes to get most places.
17. Although we are a big city, we still have enough space to grow and develop new neighborhoods.

Photo credit: Kevin Dooley