Another weekend gone by. I look back in wonderment at how fast weekends get over. The weekdays, on the other hand, just stretch on forever. Those two days (two and a half if you count Friday nights) give you more fodder to blog about than the other five put together. So here goes-
Friday night was particularly special. Hubby introduced me to dreamland. The kind of place where all your childhood fantasies materialize into reality. As we walked down the famed Michigan Avenue of Chicago, Javed pointed out to a Hershey’s outlet. He suggested we have some hot chocolate there. A chocolate shop? Hmm. Not a bad idea, I said. Plus the weather absolutely demanded that we warm ourselves a bit. But once in, I realized that it was more than just a chocolate shop. The place was almost chocolate paradise! As I stepped into the chocolatery, my eyes traveled wildly from one corner to another. There was stacks and rows and columns of chocolate everywhere! I jumped in glee as looked at a huge Hershey’s ‘Kiss’ dangling over mountains of Kisses boxes. I was so excited, all I could do was squeal every 1.5 minutes, “Javed, look!” 
The shop wasn’t very big (by US standards, ahem) but it sure was cute. A huge three tiered porcelain ‘boat’ was brimming with chocolates. There were endless rows of chocolate and chocolate memorabilia. A fluffy brown pillow in the shape of a Hershey’s bar seemed to wink at me from one of the rows. It looked pretty huggable. 
Plus there were shirts and jerseys in dark brown color with ‘Hershey’s’ embossed in silver. I thought it all looked very yummy. And oh, there was the world’s largest Hershey’s bar- 2.6 kilos in all! (“Javed, LOOOOK!”) And a stuffed toy, again in the shape of a Kiss, complete with ubiquitous tag sticking out at the faux aperture. Now if that ain’t cute, I don’t know what is! LOL. And of course, there were hundreds of other things, chocolate themed mugs, bowls and yes, piping hot Hershey’s chocolate which we drank gratefully.
Wait. I haven’t come to the best part yet. The chocolatery was also home to the ‘Magnificent Machine’! What, you may ask, is that? Well for starters, you ought to have watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for that; or even Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Because it so reminded me of those! The ‘Magnificent Machine’ is a machine (pretty obvious, huh?) that has large pipes towering towards the ceiling. At the upper end of each pipe is a fairly large tank. Now what do you do with such a contraption? Easy. There are neat little buckets stacked on the floor. You just pick up one, press a few fancy buttons to choose what kind of chocolate you would like, and viola! The chocolate comes pouring into your bucket! Neat or what? I for one, found it very enchanting. (*Grins*)
Well, alright. Real chocolate aficionados would pooh-pooh the baby talk and probably vouch for Ghirardelli which is right across the street. But unless I pay that store a visit, I think I am going to stick to my buckets.
My husband is in particularly good mood on Friday nights. He had more than chocolate indulgence in store for me. Javed also escorted me to the chic Macy’s store near the Chicago Waterworks tower (I am now a proud owner of a pair of DKNY denims, ahem), Filene’s Basement (a Liz Claiborne wallet, aha!) and then a trip to the Borders book store where we picked a few picturesque calendars for family and friends.
Some evening that was. Alhamdulilah. More coming up. Stay tuned folks!
(For more pictures, click here )
Asak Hello Ma’m
how are you? it was so nice to read your new blogs after a long time. i really enjoyed reading them. i feel like i’v visited all those places with you.
here, we all miss you. hope you come back soon and join college.
till then, enjoy yourself and keep blogging, i am waiting to read them all
Allah Hafiz
Salaams to you and Javed
First of all mubarakho on getting wed, now the hard work commences (well after the honeymoon you currently seem to be on – enjoy!). Hah did feel snubbed at not getting an invite coz even friends and relatives of friends and relatives are supposed to get invited to the “big fat indian wedding” sheesh! And I was in bombay to boot. oh well, maybe if javed has another one (;-$ i’ll get an invited (hehehe…or maybe not). So where are the oompah loompahs i wanted to see a picture of them or at least of you falling into one of chocolate making vats.
Anyway, you probably have now gotten an idea why ateeya and i have gotten along famously and at times infamously. (we both have difficulty acting our respective ages at times!)
So on a more serious and endearing note, hope you have a wonderful trip travelling thru the US. And by all means we would love to host you in Toronto if the winds blow you and Javed this way. If you are going to California/San Fran then try to drop by Sh Hamza Yusuf’s Zaytuna Institute – they have a nice bookstore though small. I believe Rumi bookstore is nearby also. Also checkout Citylights Bookstore in San Fran a really good independent bookstore and publisher (Yes i do enjoy curling up with good books!).
And i challenge you to try out some sushi while there some wonderful places – though it is a bit of an acquired taste. Check out Fuki Sushi in Palo Alto or Ozumo in San Fran. Ateeya refuses to give it a try – i used to think she was bold lekin shadi ke baad badal gayi hai. Hah! hopefully she’ll read this and get worked up!
Take care & Khuda Hafiz
Imtiaz Bhai
PS If javed has a site for his photographs forward that to me sometime. Some of my amateurish stuff is posted at ruhani.blogspot.com my experimental site.
assalam bhabi,how r u?
ur blogs r very nice,i really njoyed reading dem.keep up d gud work,keep blogging!!!
oh ya in u r luking really cute in all d pics,tc