Just like The Chronicles of Narnia but with fewer witches and more caffeine, we bring to you the Coffee Chronicles where we set off each Sunday on a magical adventure in search of new coffee shops. Today’s adventure brought us to the kingdom of Arlington Heights where I sipped for the first time a “cortado” which, I learned, means tiny cappuccino. Ironically Corey had a cappuccino about the size of her head. They both were lovely. So too were the cardamom bun and almond croissant. If we had arrived with just a bit more of an appetite we might have tasted one of their incredibly tempting quiches or other such delicious bites.

But it was lovely on a Sunday afternoon, with the Bears playing for no apparent reason whatsoever, for us to wander just a wee bit outside our cozy home in Edison Park to the boisterous downtown wonders of Arlington Heights. If it was cold outside it was also very friendly both on the train and then inside the toasty, blue tinted coffee shop. A mail box by the counter boasted direct delivery to the North Pole and every few minutes a small child would approach to drop off a letter (their parents snapping pictures while they did so). The train provided us with a two hour window which allowed us a spirited game of gin.

It is nice to drink coffee with your best friend in an unfamiliar place. It is something we hope to do more of this winter. And thus we bring to you The Coffee Chronicles.