Tag Archives: The Coffee Chronicles

Coffee Chronicles: Caffé Pronto, Norridge

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Cumberland road ain’t so easy on the eyes, but Caffé Pronto will make you want to linger a bit on your way through Norridge. It’s a local joint and a great place to sit on a steaming Americano so hot the owner offered to water it down a bit. Lots of conversations. Lots of loud conversations. Lots of loud gossipy conversations too juicy to share on this blog but greatly appreciated while waiting on Henna to get her hair done.

Caffé Pronto is an Italian-American local joint with a good menu. The kind with a TV on that no one is watching but everyone hears.  And men sitting alone in booths occasionally joining in with the crazy loud gossip bantered back and forth like a racquet ball.

I wish I had gossip to share with the crowd. Scratch that. I wish I had gossip that people here would care about. Could use someone to play cards with too. But there is freedom from being unseen, sipping a too hot beverage and amazed at all the depravity festering in Norridge. As I typed that last sentence an unwell man leaned over me to say something in a voice too low to be understood; I nodded my head so that he would walk away. The man sitting opposite (also sipping at a too-hot beverage) witnessed the exchange and then the two of us talked. I finally had something to gossip about.

Caffé Pronto: 4501 North Cumberland, Norridge (photo pulled off the net)

The Coffee Chronicles: Jackalope Coffee and Tea House, Bridgeport

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Bridgeport baby! South but not too south (and don’t get Corey started on that). Bridgeport roasts in the shadow of Comiskey (or whatever the hell the White Sox call their dumb stadium). It is also the working class neighborhood hipsters love to crash. And where there are hipsters there are cool coffee houses.

A rare action photo of the elusive Corey

Like over caffeinated cats we sat by the window while regulars spilled into the “frunch room.” Outside it was all cold and gloom. Inside was the mixing of the usual Chicago adornments (prominently displayed photo of the 1985 Bears, check) with a ton of fun sci-fi/fantasy souvenirs. The vibe honestly had a Butkus/Sheldon collaboration kind of feel and that is more than all right with me.

The menu tilted toward the latter and I greatly enjoyed my “Centaur” (a turkey, cheese and avocado panini). I also loved my cortado. Corey liked her cappuccino. Most importantly though the right person won at Gin.

We loved our time at the Jackalope and hope to come back soon. But we also seek out new coffee adventures. So we ask you, loyal reader, to message us with your favorite independent coffee spot. What should we chronicle next?

The Jackalope Coffee and Tea House is located at 755 W 32nd Street. Come for the coffee and their tasty paninis.

The Coffee Chronicles: CoCo & Blu (Arlington Heights, IL)

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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.

Just fifteen minutes by train separate Edison Park with the wonders of downtown Arlington Heights.

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.

A sad Noel after Corey soundly beat him at 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.

Yummy treats