After a month of resting (more or less), we’re back! Did you miss us? We definitely missed you! The wait is finally over, and we have lots of news and events to share with you so you can keep enjoying the summer—it’s not over yet! Enjoy this week’s selection!

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: Couple of weeks ago we tried Outside Voices in Logan Square has one of the cutest patios in the neighborhood. It’s the kind of place where you can grab a drink, sit outside with friends, and easily lose track of time. Definitely worth adding to your summer list.

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: This Saturday, September 5th, Omar+ is playing at Spybar. His sets are a mix of house, techno and plenty of groove, so expect a late night and a dance floor that won’t be empty for long. A good excuse to keep the long weekend going a little longer.

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: This Friday, September 4th, Masego is bringing his smooth mix of R&B, jazz, soul, and a little bit of everything else to the Aragon Ballroom. Known for his saxophone skills and laid-back sound, he’s the kind of artist that makes you want to dance without even trying too hard. A perfect way to kick off the long weekend, especially if you’re looking for a night that feels a little more chill but still has plenty of energy.

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the park) is calling your name: Ted Lasso is back! After a few years away, the new season brings Ted back to AFC Richmond, this time coaching the women’s team. Same team spirit, plenty of laughs, and hopefully the same feel-good chaos we loved the first time around. New episodes are out every Wednesday, so add it to your weekly watch list.

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: This Saturday, September 5th, Face Value: an Exhibition of Portrait Art opens at Agitator Gallery in Logan Square. The group exhibition brings together 21 Chicago-based artists, all looking at portraiture in very different ways. It’s about more than just faces, exploring identity, personal stories, and what we carry with us. The opening is from 7–10PM, so it’s an easy one to pair with drinks or dinner in the neighborhood afterward.

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • Jazz Fest Chicago - from Thursday September 3rd to September 6th. Click here for more info!

• We are working on the September calendar but stay tuned as it will be announced soon! 👀

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our exclusive WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

Here are the articles in collaboration with expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

This e-mail was forwarded to you? Subscribe below!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

We are taking a break from events planning, newsletter, and Instagram for the month of August while we are traveling and enjoying some vacation 😃

BUT don't go anywhere, as we'll be back in September!

STAY TUNED! 👀

It’s officially Lolla weekend! Chicago is about to be filled with music, crowds, and that special summer energy that makes the city feel even more alive. Whether you’re heading to Grant Park, catching an aftershow, or just enjoying the buzz around town, there’s no shortage of things happening this week. We’re also keeping an eye on the weather (because Chicago always likes to keep us guessing), but hopefully the skies will cooperate and we can make the most of these last summer days. Here’s what caught our attention this week. Enjoy!

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: If you’re looking for a way to survive the summer heat, add Miko Italian Ice to your list. This Chicago spot serves up refreshing Italian ice (similar to our granita) with plenty of flavors to choose from, making it the perfect stop after a walk, a beach day, or just when you’re craving something sweet. Simple, refreshing, and exactly what a summer treat should be.

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: On Friday, July 31, Detroit house legend Theo Parrish returns to Smartbar for a night of deep, soulful, and unpredictable dance music. Known for marathon DJ sets that effortlessly blend house, jazz, funk, disco, and rare grooves, Parrish has spent decades shaping underground dance culture without ever following trends. If you're looking to escape the festival crowds and experience one of the most respected DJs in the world in an intimate club setting, this is the place to be. Click here for tickets!

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: From July 30 to August 2, Lollapalooza returns to Grant Park for four days that officially turn downtown Chicago into the center of the music world. This year's lineup brings together Charli XCX, Lorde, Tate McRae, John Summit, The Smashing Pumpkins, JENNIE, The xx, Olivia Dean, and dozens more across nine stages, plus plenty of food vendors, art installations, and aftershows happening all over the city. Even if you're not heading into the festival, the energy spills far beyond Grant Park, making it one of the most exciting weekends of the Chicago summer. Click here for tickets!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the park) is calling your name: If the couch (or the park) is calling your name: Have you watched The Odyssey yet? We're going on Sunday and can't wait to finally see what all the hype is about. If you've already seen it, let us know what you thought—no spoilers, please!

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: Until September 20, the Art Institute of Chicago is hosting Willem de Kooning Drawing, the first major exhibition dedicated entirely to the artist's drawings. Featuring more than 200 works alongside paintings and sculptures, the exhibition offers a rare look at how drawing shaped every stage of de Kooning's career. Perfect for anyone curious about Abstract Expressionism or looking to discover one of the 20th century's most influential artists from a different perspective, this is one of the season's standout museum exhibitions. Click here for tickets!

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • Chicago Full Moon Jam on Wednesday 29th at Foster Beach.

• Unfortunately, we had to cancel yesterday's meetup because of the weather (Chicago doing Chicago things 😅). We were really looking forward to seeing everyone, but don't worry—we're already planning the next one, and it's coming very soon. Keep an eye on our Instagram and WhatsApp group, because we'll announce the new date soon. We can't wait to see you all!

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our exclusive WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

Here are the articles in collaboration with expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

This e-mail was forwarded to you? Subscribe below!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

How are we feeling after another Chicago summer weekend? The city has been in full summer mode with concerts, outdoor movies, lake days, and plenty of reasons to be outside. We know the air quality has been a little frustrating lately, and we really hope the situation improves soon so we can all enjoy these beautiful summer days the way they’re meant to be enjoyed. In the meantime, there is still so much happening around the city, and this week’s selection is full of events, new spots, and ideas to make the most of it. Enjoy!

Why I said 'You don't have to' when someone offered to help me

(Author: Francesca)

So this came up during our Happy Hour at The Dandy Crown last Thursday.

At some point people started telling me they wanted to help me with Vood Vintage. Tell their friends about the business. Connect me with people they know. And my immediate reaction was panic. Full embarrassment. I heard myself say “you don’t have to, it’s ok”, because I didn’t want to bother them.

A fellow Cool Beans attendee, and now friend, saw my face and just said: “when people offer to help, just say thank you.”

That’s it. That’s the whole sentence. And it’s been sitting with me since.

Why is it so hard to just say thank you? Why do we deflect the exact thing we need?

I think it’s about not feeling worthy enough to ask. Not wanting to take up the space that’s legitimately ours, and being ok with taking it. Somewhere along the way we decided that needing something from someone else is a debt, an imposition, a small failure, instead of just... being human.

But here’s the thing. Asking for help is what makes relationships go deeper. Not the small talk, not the perfectly curated version of ourselves. The moment you say “actually, I could use this” is the moment something real can happen.

What do we actually have to lose?

We show our vulnerable self, and it’s basically a test. People will love you for who you are (the messy, needing, vulnerable version )and if they don’t, well, better to find out now so you don’t waste your time on the wrong people.

I have so much more work to do on myself here. Saying thank you instead of “you don’t have to” shouldn’t feel like a workout, but for me, right now, it does.

A few notes, because I went and looked into this:

There’s real research behind that flinch. Stanford psychologist Xuan Zhao has found that people consistently underestimate how willing others, even strangers, are to help, and overestimate how inconvenienced those helpers will feel. We assume we’re a burden. We’re usually wrong.

It goes further than that. Frank Flynn’s research (the study literally titled “If You Need Help, Just Ask”) found that people underestimated by as much as 50% the odds that someone would say yes to a direct request for help. Some follow-up work on the same effect found people predicted only about 48% of people would help them, the real number was closer to 84%.

The reason, according to Flynn’s research, is that we’re bad at putting ourselves in the other person’s shoes. When we’re the one asking, we only think about how inconvenient it is for them to say yes. We forget how socially awkward it is for someone to say no to a person they care about. So we brace for rejection that almost never comes.

Basically: the math is on our side. We just don’t believe it.

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: Last weekend we stopped by Guillotine Bakery in West Town, one of Chicago's newest bakery openings. The space is bright, the open kitchen lets you watch everything being made, and the smell of fresh pastries hits you as soon as you walk in. We tried the pain au chocolat and the classic croissant, and both were buttery, flaky, and gone in a few minutes. The cortado was good too... but still no spoon on the side (Italy is crying somewhere). If you're planning to go, get there early because the line gets long fast.

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: This Sunday, July 26th, head to Castaways for ARC At The Lake with Jerro, an afternoon of music, lake views, and summer vibes. Known for his melodic and emotional take on electronic music, Jerro is bringing his progressive house sound to Chicago for a perfect Sunday session by the water. Click here for tickets!

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: On Sunday, July 26, Daniel Caesar is bringing his Son of Spergy Tour to the United Center, joined by Faye Webster. If you’re into laid-back R&B, this is an easy pick. Expect a mix of fan favorites like Get You, Best Part, and Japanese Denim, plus songs from his latest album. It’s the kind of concert where everyone knows the lyrics and the crowd does half the singing. Perfect for wrapping up a summer weekend. Click here for tickets!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the park) is calling your name: On Saturday, July 25, Oz Park is hosting a free outdoor screening of Wicked: For Good. Bring a blanket, some snacks, and settle in for a movie under the stars in one of Chicago's best parks. The film starts at dusk, making it an easy summer night plan with friends, family, or anyone who's been waiting to see Elphaba and Glinda back on screen.

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: Until August 26, the Art Institute of Chicago is showing Nora Turato: I hear you, I hear you, an exhibition that turns the nonstop flow of language we consume every day into an immersive video and sound installation. Using everything from social media posts to advertising slogans and everyday conversations, Turato explores how words shape the way we think and communicate. It's fast-paced, a little overwhelming in the best way, and a great pick if you're looking for something different on your next museum visit. Click here for tickets!

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • Randolph Street Market Festival - on July 25th and 26th. Click here for more details!

• Our July calendar it OUT, see it here.

• Thanks so much to everyone who joined our Happy Hour at The Dandy Crown last Thursday. It was truly the worst weather we could have, and it felt like we were in the Independence Day movie. We had such a great time that we forgot about our phones and just enjoyed talking to each other, which means literally no pictures to post! 💕🥰

• Onto our next event, on Monday July 27th, we will host a Meet Up at Millennium Park for the Summer Music Series. RSVP here! 🔥

  

• Our Summer Playlist “Loca Loca” is finally here! Listen to it here!

  

We recently discovered Puebco, a Japanese lifestyle brand that makes the kind of objects you don’t really need… but somehow make your home feel much better. From vintage-inspired storage pieces and quirky decor to everyday items with a story behind them, everything has that perfectly imperfect, collected-over-time feeling. We love brands that make you slow down and appreciate the little things, and Puebco definitely falls into that category.

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our exclusive WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

Here are the articles in collaboration with expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

This e-mail was forwarded to you? Subscribe below!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

What a beautiful weekend! We celebrated a friend's birthday, spent hours in the sun, and honestly didn't want it to end. These are the weekends that remind us why we put up with Chicago winters. Luckily, there are plenty more summer days ahead, and this week's picks are a good excuse to stay outside for as long as you can. Enjoy!

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: If you're looking for a new mexican spot, La Lunita in Logan Square is well worth a visit. We stopped by recently and were seriously impressed. The steak tacos were the standout—perfectly cooked, full of flavor, and served on soft handmade tortillas that let the ingredients shine. And whatever you do, don't skip dessert. The tres leches cake was one of the best we've had in Chicago: incredibly moist, light, and not overly sweet. It's the kind of neighborhood spot you'll want to keep coming back to.

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: If you're looking for a Sunday plan, Hello?! Sundays is back at J. Parker on Sunday, July 19, this time with Chicago house icon Terry Hunter behind the decks. Good music, skyline views, and a rooftop full of people enjoying summer—it's one of those events that reminds you why Chicago does this season so well. If the weather cooperates, it's an easy yes. Click here for tickets!

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: If you have been waiting for some good old rock and roll, The Black Keys are coming to The Salt Shed Outdoors on Thursday, July 16 as part of their Peaches 'N Kream World Tour. Plus, Chicago blues artist Eddie 9V is opening the night, making it an even better lineup. Click here for tickets!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: Tonight, Millennium Park is screening When Harry Met Sally as part of its Summer Film Series. Who wants to miss a classic on a warm summer night? Grab a blanket, pack some snacks and drinks, and enjoy one of the best free traditions in Chicago—watching a movie under the stars.

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: Gallery 400 is hosting a conversation between artists Carolyn Castaño and Arnold J. Kemp on Tuesday, July 14th The two have been friends and collaborators for decades, and they'll be discussing Castaño's My Mother Mountain exhibition, their creative process, and the ideas that have shaped their work over the years. It's a nice opportunity to hear two established artists talk about painting, community, and friendship in a relaxed setting.

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • West Fest Chicago - from July 17th to 19th. Click here for more details!

• Our July calendar it OUT, see it here.

• On July 16th, we are hosting our popular Happy Hour at The Dandy Crown. RSVP here! 🔥 We have limited spots!

• Last Saturday, we had a blast celebrating Simona, Ify and Matt. Thanks so much from the bottom of our hearts to the people who showed up and were brave enough to come to an event with 60+ strangers. 🥰💕 That is scary and it takes courage! Enjoy the pics below 👇

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

We wrote 3 articles in collaboration with 3 great expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: This week we came back to Plenty Goods Cafe, a modern cafe in Chicago's Ukrainian Village neighborhood. The women-owned establishment focuses on health-conscious options, offering a straightforward menu of salads, grain bowls, sandwiches, and smoothies. We usually get the sandwiches, but we also love their salads. I recently tried the avocado toast with my choice of toppings and loved it. Don’t skip the vegan chocolate chip cookies, they’re probably my favorite in the city

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: On Saturday, July 11, thousands of people will gather in Jackson Park for one of Chicago’s most iconic summer traditions: the Chosen Few Picnic. It’s a full day of house music with legendary DJs, dancing, lawn chairs, coolers, and people of all ages coming together to celebrate the music that was born right here in Chicago. The vibe is more neighborhood picnic than traditional music festival, and that’s exactly what makes it so special. If you want to experience a true piece of Chicago culture, don’t miss this one.

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: We just realized we jumped the gun last week and recommended this one a week early... but since we like to stay consistent, here it is again! On Monday, July 13, Australian indie duo Royel Otis is coming to The Salt Shed. After breaking through with songs like Oysters In My Pocket and their viral cover of Murder on the Dancefloor, they've become one of the most exciting indie bands around. If you love catchy guitar riffs, laid-back indie rock, and summer concerts by the river, this one's worth checking out. Click here for tickets!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: Today, the Goethe-Institut Chicago is hosting a free screening of City of Lost Souls, Rosa von Praunheim's wild 1983 underground trans-punk musical. Set in Berlin's vibrant club scene, the film follows a cast of unforgettable outsiders with plenty of humor, music, and unapologetic chaos. A major inspiration for Hedwig and the Angry Inch, it's a rare chance to see a landmark of queer independent cinema on the big screen. Click here to RSVP!

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: Starting Saturday, July 11, the Logan Center for the Arts is opening Longer Than the Sky: Art of the Obama Years, a new exhibition celebrating the opening of the Obama Presidential Center. Featuring around 30 works by artists including Kerry James Marshall, Glenn Ligon, Amanda Williams, and many more, the exhibition explores the cultural, social, and political landscape of the Obama presidency through contemporary art. Even if you're not an art expert, it's a great excuse to visit one of Chicago's best exhibition spaces and see work that reflects a defining moment in recent history. Click here for more details!

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • Southport Art Walk - from July 11th to July 12th. Click here for more details!

• Our July calendar it OUT, see it here.

• On July 16th, we are hosting our popular Happy Hour at The Dandy Crown. RSVP here! 🔥 We have limited spots!

  

• On Saturday July 11th, we are hosting again a triple birthday party! 💕 We will celebrate the birthday of Simona, our co-founder and of two community members, Ify and Matt. See the invite here to attend a pic-nic at Montrose beach. Last year we had a TON of fun!

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

We wrote 3 articles in collaboration with 3 great expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved

Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: This week we're talking about a classic neighborhood bar we love, Bangers & Lace. Cozy in winter, fun in summer, with the perfect patio for people-watching on Division Street 😉 We're also big fans of their mezcal cocktail, the Wild Mohave. Highly recommend for an unplanned night when you want something chill but cool!

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: Spend your 4th of July at Beach RITUALS at Whispers at Oak Street Beach. From 4 to 10 pm, the beach turns into an open-air dance floor with house and Afro house music from Dabura, Tash, and a live saxophone performance by Saxxdoc. It's a great option if you'd rather celebrate with music, sand between your toes, and skyline views before heading to watch the fireworks. Click here for tickets!

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: On Monday, July 13, Australian indie duo Royel Otis is coming to The Salt Shed. After breaking through with songs like Oysters In My Pocket and their viral cover of Murder on the Dancefloor, they've become one of the most exciting indie bands around. If you love catchy guitar riffs, laid-back indie rock, and summer concerts by the river, this one's worth checking out. Click here for tickets!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: Instead of staying in, check out a screening of It Is Not the Homosexual Who Is Perverse, but the Society in Which He Lives, a 1971 film by German director Rosa von Praunheim. The film follows a young man who moves to Berlin and explores gay life at a time when being openly queer came with major challenges. It's an important piece of LGBTQ+ cinema that still feels relevant more than 50 years later. Click here for more details!

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: On Friday, July 3, take a stroll through Wicker Park and Bucktown during the free First Fridays Art Walk. Galleries, artist studios, and creative spaces stay open late, so you can pop in, discover local artists, chat with gallery owners, and enjoy a few light bites along the way. It's a fun excuse to explore one of Chicago's most creative neighborhoods and makes for an easy date night or evening with friends. Click here for more info!

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • 34th Annual 4th on 53rd parade. Click here for more details!

  • Jazzin’ at the Shedd. Wednesday July 1sr. Click here for tickets!

• Last Saturday we hosted our monthly yoga in the park + farmers market stroll… and what a day it was! Kiara was absolutely wonderful as always, leading a gentle flow that worked for every level. Then we wandered over to Green City Market to pick up lunch, and honestly… could it have been any more perfect? Thank you so much to everyone who came and shared this time with us. The pics say it all 🌿🧡

• On Saturday July 11th, we are hosting again a trible birthday party! 💕 We will celebrate the birthday of Simona, our co-founder and of two community members, Ify and Matt. See the invite here to attend a pic-nic at Montrose beach. Last year we had a TON of fun! 🔥

• Stay tuned for our July monthly events, coming out soon! 😎

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

We wrote 3 articles in collaboration with 3 great expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

Summer is officially here, even though the weather keeps going up and down, but we’ve got something to look forward to — this Saturday we’re hosting our event in Lincoln Park (yes, the actual park 🌿) and we cannot wait to see you all there! But if you can’t make it, don’t worry — here are Simona’s picks for the week. Enjoy!

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: Last week we stopped by Osteria Langhe and we really enjoyed it (not the first time for some of us and it’s always good). For starters, we had the Patata, Burrata and Insalata. As main, we had Fettuccine pasta with Ragu and as dessert the Affogato. The wine, Erbaluce di Caluso, was also great, recommended by our friend who is in the industry. The full menu here!

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: Next Saturday June 27th, Beauty Bar is hosting its legendary 90s Night, a party dedicated to the decade that gave us Britney, TLC, Tupac, NSYNC, and far too many questionable fashion choices. It's the kind of night where you'll walk in planning to stay for one drink and somehow end up screaming lyrics with complete strangers at 1 a.m. No shame, just good music. More info here!

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: This week at Thalia Hall Asgeir, bringing his signature mix of indie folk, soft electronics, and impossibly good vocals. The Icelandic musician first caught international attention with songs like King and Cross and Torrent, and his live shows have a way of feeling both intimate and expansive at the same time. If you're in the mood for a concert that leans more reflective than rowdy, this is a great excuse to spend an evening at one of Chicago's best venues. Click here for tickets!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: A few weeks ago we watched Legends, on Netflix. Based on a true story, it follows undercover British customs investigators who infiltrated the drug world in the early 1990s.

  We enjoyed this one. If you’re a sucker for British accents and anything spy-adjacent, this hits the spot, it’s got all the tension of an undercover operation without the Hollywood gloss. Our only gripe is that the ending felt a little rushed, like they ran out of runway right when things were getting good. But overall, recommended!

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: Opening June 26 at Avondale Collective, Petalo: The Myth of Us is a new solo exhibition by Chicago-based artist Quetzali. Through painting, film, and installation, the exhibition explores identity, transformation, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. At the center of the show is a large suspended tulle maze and a striking 9-foot painting of a winged figure representing the idea of becoming your own savior. Dreamlike, immersive, and deeply personal, this is the kind of exhibition that invites you to slow down and get lost in another world for a while. Click here for more info!

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:
  - Tuesdays on the Terrace - Tuesday 23rd at the MCA. More details here!

  - Full Moon Jam - Monday 29th. More details here!

🌿 Our event is finally OUT! And it’s 6 days away, don’t miss it!

On June 27th, we will be back with another Yoga session led by the incredible Kiara, but this time we’re taking it outside. We’ll be flowing in Lincoln Park, then heading over to the Green City Farmers Market together to grab a snack, browse the stands, and soak in the morning. RSVP here!

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

We wrote 3 articles in collaboration with 3 great expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

The city is fully outside right now—rooftops are packed, plans are multiplying on their own, and “just a quick drink” is officially a lie we’re all comfortable telling. Our June event, a yoga class, is officially out, and this time we’re going outside. Here’s your weekly selection: a mix of things to eat, see, and dance to—basically your permission slip to stay out a little later than you planned. And, as every month, enjoy the long form in the First Sip section!

The Sunday Lunch Problem (Or: Why We Eat Out Much Less)
(Author: Francesca)

Fresh from our Sunday Lunch event in May, I reflected on this topic since it’s so dear to our hearts.

There’s a scene that keeps coming up. It’s a Sunday somewhere in Italy or Europe. It’s 2pm. The table is still full. Despite being full we are still talking about food and commenting on it. The waiter has just brought the third bread basket without being asked. Nobody has looked at their phone in an hour. Nobody is thinking about the check. Time has, genuinely, slowed down.

Now back to Chicago, you sit down. You haven’t had time to put away your jacket and the waiter is already asking what you want to order. You sense — you feel — that the clock has started. The empty plates are whisked away (without even waiting for everyone to finish, which I find very rude). And then comes the moment every expat dreads: the check. Unrequested. Placed gently, but firmly, on the corner of the table. A polite, unmistakable message: it’s time.

It could be just me, but this is something I will never get over — not now, not in 10 years… I hate it!

We don’t blame the waiters. We want to say that clearly. The system was never designed around joy.

In Europe, the Sunday lunch is not just a meal (though honestly, the same goes for all meals). It’s an institution. You don’t “grab lunch.” You have lunch. For hours. The table is the destination. What happens around it — the arguments, the laughter — that’s the whole point.

This is what we were trying to recreate when we hosted our first Sunday Lunch event here in Chicago. A proper homemade Italian meal, served slowly, meant to linger over.

Here’s something that took us a while to put into words: Sunday has been colonized by errands. By meal prep. By catching up on work you didn’t finish on Friday. By the vague, anxious feeling that you should be doing something productive before Monday arrives. (I’m honestly guilty of that too now, it’s difficult not to be when we’re all so busy during the week.)

Talking about the restaurant scene… we’ve almost lost the joy of going out to eat in the U.S. Not because the food is bad — Chicago has extraordinary restaurants, genuinely! But because the experience has started to feel like an economic transaction dressed up as hospitality.

Last Friday, a restaurant owner walked us out and locked the door at 9:58pm on a Friday night. I mean… c’mon!

You are a cover. You are a turn. The dining room needs to flip twice, and every lingering table is a liability. The trendy restaurant that costs $200 for two people and plays music so loud you can’t hear each other isn’t selling dinner. It’s selling a photo opportunity.

And then there’s the specific heartbreak of the Italian restaurants here. Because you’d think — you’d hope — that an Italian owner would get it. That somewhere in their DNA, the memory of a four-hour Sunday lunch would override the American money machine. You’d be wrong.

We have two stories. Both true. Both still sting a little. We won’t mention where, because we are nice people.

The first: we’re at an Italian spot in Chicago, happy hour, chatting away. We’d spent around $60 on drinks and food. The place was half empty. And the owner comes over and tells us — not asks, tells us — to give up the table if we’re not planning on having dinner. We sat there for a second in silence, genuinely not sure if we’d misunderstood. We hadn’t. Half empty restaurant. Sixty dollars spent. And we were being asked to leave because we weren’t planning on spending more.

The second: same world, different restaurant. The waiter leans in, warm and enthusiastic, and says oh, you absolutely have to try the tiramisu, it’s amazing, you can’t leave without it. You know that energy. It feels like a gift recommendation, like someone sharing something they love. So you say yes, obviously. And then the bill comes. And the tiramisu is on it. Full price. Because of course it is. When someone forces you to try something with that level of enthusiasm, you don’t expect to pay for it. In Italy, you wouldn’t. That’s called being a host. Here, it’s called upselling.

To be clear: there are American restaurants with real soul, and there are Italian ones that are perfectly miserable. But these two moments, at Italian restaurants, run by people who presumably should know better, say something important: the system wins.

What We Lose When We Eat Fast

The research on this is actually quite clear, even if we don’t need research to feel it in our bones. Longer meals mean more conversation. More conversation means stronger relationships. Stronger relationships mean better mental health, longer lives, more resilience. The Sunday lunch isn’t just a nice ritual. It’s social infrastructure.

When we moved to Chicago, one of the small griefs we didn’t anticipate was this one. Not the big obvious things — the healthcare system, the distances, the small talk that goes nowhere, but this: the loss of the table as a sacred space. The loss of the meal that goes on too long and nobody minds.

That's why we'll keep hosting our Sunday Lunches. Not just because the food is good (though it is — Chef Domenico!!). But because for a few hours, we get to pretend we're back somewhere that understood something important: that eating together slowly is not a luxury. It's a necessity to feel alive.

P.S. — this is the perspective on an Italian living in Chicago. We want to hear from you! Let us know if you feel the same or differently in the comments or send us an e-mail at coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com.

• 🏀 8 things that didn’t exist the last time the Knicks won it all (and yes, it’s been a while).

• 🇯🇵 How Tokyo avoided an ecological collapse.

• 🦋 Why do we feel butterflies in our stomachs?

• 🗿 Ever wondered why statues are always naked? Here it is explained.

• 🗣️ If you think you are too old to learn a language… Well, it’s not true and here’s why!

• 🧊 We say “Break the ice” all the time. But why?

• 🇺🇸 America turns 250 — here’s where to celebrate this Fourth of July.

• 💵 Yikes, inflation hits 4%, highest in the last 3 years.

• 🗽 Having been to NYC twice in 2 weeks, I asked myself why we see steam coming out of the ground only here. Here’s the answer!

• 🥶 Some vintage advertisements which have aged terribly over the years (some are pretty bad!)

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: We already talked about Daisies before, but this week we went back for breakfast and tried the breakfast sandwich (not usually our thing—we’re more on the sweet breakfast side), and it was honestly delicious. The bread was soft, the flavors were super balanced, and it somehow works even if you don’t typically go for savory in the morning. Breakfast at Daises is definitely worth it.

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: This Sunday, June 21, Hello?! Sundays by House Calls returns to the J. Parker Rooftop with a set from LF SYSTEM, the Scottish duo behind the global dance hit Afraid To Feel. Think skyline views, sunset energy, and that perfect “one last dance before Monday” kind of mood. If you’re in the mood to end the week properly, this is your excuse to dance it all out above the city. Click here for tickets!

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: My favorite pop star is coming to Chicago this Saturday, June 20. Rosalía brings her LUX Tour to the United Center. Known for blending flamenco, pop, reggaeton, and electronic music into something entirely her own, the Spanish singer has built a reputation for performances that feel as much like art pieces as concerts. I literally cannot wait to see her! Click here for tickets!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: If you’re looking for an easy watch, Jennifer Lopez is back in rom-com territory with Office Romance, now streaming on Netflix. The film follows Jackie Cruz, the CEO of a family-run airline company whose strict no-dating policy is put to the test when a charming new lawyer joins the team. Starring J.Lo alongside Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso), the movie delivers plenty of workplace chaos, witty banter, and the kind of feel-good romance that made early 2000s rom-coms so addictive.

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: Through June 21, Mana Contemporary is hosting Chillona of the Forest, an immersive exhibition by French-Peruvian artist Natalia Villanueva Linares. Built around years of handwritten secrets, thoughts, and emotions that are ultimately transformed into unreadable forms, the project explores vulnerability, memory, and letting go. Using sound, photography, film, and installation, Villanueva Linares weaves together branches gathered from Chicago streets, rainwater collected over several years, and hidden stories shaped by her time in the forests of Tennessee. The result is a thoughtful and atmospheric exhibition that feels equal parts personal archive, ritual, and meditation on transformation. Click here for more info!

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • Taste of Randolph from June 19th to 21st. Click here for more details!

  • Chicago Pride Fest from June 20th to 21st. Click here for more details!

🌿 Our event is finally OUT!

On June 27th, we will be back with another Yoga session led by the incredible Kiara, but this time we’re taking it outside. We’ll be flowing in Lincoln Park, then heading over to the Green City Farmers Market together to grab a snack, browse the stands, and soak in the morning. RSVP here!

Founded by designer Yoko Sakamoto in Osaka, the brand focuses on timeless silhouettes, natural fabrics, and garments that feel better the more you wear them. Every piece is produced in small batches in Japan, often using traditional dyeing and weaving techniques that give the clothing a lived-in character from day one. The aesthetic is understated, relaxed, and beautifully crafted—proof that great design doesn't need logos or trends to stand out. If your dream wardrobe consists of fewer, better things, this brand is worth knowing.

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our exclusive WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

Here are the articles in collaboration with expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

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If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

Hope you had a good weekend and you’re getting back into the week slowly. Chicago is finally feeling like summer, and it’s the kind of weather that makes you want to be outside from morning to night. There’s a lot going on this week—movies in the park, live music, and a few fun openings—so plenty of excuses to step out and enjoy the city.

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: Last weekend we tried QXY Dumplings at their new Wicker Park location. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, perfect for a laid-back evening with friends or even a casual lunch during the week. Known for folding every dumpling fresh to order, QXY has earned a reputation as one of Chicago’s top destinations for Northern Chinese cuisine, and the new location makes it much easier for North Side residents to get their fix. The menu features a wide variety of handmade dumplings, from classic pork and cabbage to more unique fillings, all packed with flavor. If you're a dumpling lover, this spot is definitely worth adding to your list.

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: This Friday, June 12, RÜFÜS DU SOL is playing Wrigley Field, and it feels like one of those perfect Chicago summer nights in the making. The Australian trio has built a huge following with their mix of electronic music and live energy, especially on tracks like Innerbloom and Alive. Their shows are known for being both emotional and fully danceable, with visuals that pull you in from start to finish. With summer finally here and Wrigley as the backdrop, it’s an easy yes for a Friday night out.

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: On June 6 at the Athenaeum Center, Like a Star: Celebrating 20 Years of Corinne Bailey Rae brings a special night honoring two decades of her music. From Put Your Records On to Like a Star, the set revisits the songs that made her a defining voice of the 2000s, along with deeper cuts that longtime fans will appreciate. The intimate setting of the Athenaeum makes it feel personal, almost like the songs are being shared right in front of you rather than performed on a stage. It’s a warm, nostalgic night for anyone who’s followed her journey—or just loves timeless soul music. Click here for tickets.

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: This Wednesday, June 10th, The Outsiders will be playing as part of Movies in the Park at Mary Bartelme Park. Bring a blanket, some snacks, and settle in for a relaxed summer night under the sky. The screening starts around 8 PM, so make sure to arrive a bit earlier to grab a good spot and get comfortable before it begins.

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: Soccer fans and art lovers have a unique reason to stop by Elise Seigenthaler Gallery this month. The Soccer Show: A Celebration Of The World Cup brings together artists exploring the world's most popular sport through painting, sculpture, and contemporary art, looking beyond the game itself to the culture, community, identity, and emotions that surround it. Whether you're a lifelong soccer supporter or simply curious about the intersection of sports and creativity, the exhibition offers a fresh perspective on how the beautiful game continues to inspire artists across different mediums. Click here for more info!

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:
  - Vibes on Logan on Sunday June 14th. Click here for details!

  - Less is More by OLIO Curated Spaces on Friday June 12th. Click here for RSVP!

  - Old Town Art Fair from June 13th to June 14th. Click here for details!

Last Sunday we kicked off the summer at Sportsman's Bar for their annual Sunday BBQ Series — a weekly tradition where they invite a different restaurant's chef each time. This week featured Maxwells Trading, and it did not disappoint. If you haven't been to this restaurant yet, it's highly recommended.
See all upcoming Sunday dates here.

🌿 Our June calendar is here — and it’s a good one.

On June 27th, we will be back with another Yoga session led by the incredible Kiara, but this time we’re taking it outside. We’ll be flowing on the lakefront, then heading over to the Lincoln Park Farmers Market together to grab a snack, browse the stands, and soak in the morning. RSVP will be out soon! Stay tuned!

Check out the full calendar here — you won’t want to miss it.

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

We wrote 3 articles in collaboration with 3 great expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

How are we feeling after the first real summer weekend in Chicago? We spent a few days in NYC, ate far too much, and walked even more! In the meantime, it’s somehow already June, and our monthly event is finally out. We can’t wait to see many of you there. There’s something about June in Chicago that makes us want to say yes to every patio, festival, concert, and spontaneous plan. The city is officially awake again, and this week’s selection is packed with reasons to get out and enjoy it.

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: Last week we were in NYC so we didn’t get the chance to try new spots in Chicago, but one of our closest friends went to Noriko—the handroll bar tucked in the basement of Perilla—and she absolutely loved it. The menu is à la carte, with handrolls and shareable appetizers that make it easy to just order a bunch and pass things around. She started with the edamame dip with crispy seaweed chips (which disappeared pretty quickly), followed by the award-winning oysters that really lived up to the hype. The surprise of the night was the lychee martini—fresh, perfectly balanced, and honestly unforgettable. If you’re looking for a cozy spot for seafood and cocktails, Noriko is definitely worth checking out.

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: This weekend, Beyond Wonderland takes over the Huntington Bank Pavilion, and we couldn’t be more excited to see LP Giobbi perform. One of the most uplifting artists in electronic music right now, LP Giobbi has built a loyal following thanks to her infectious energy, feel-good house tracks, and live piano performances that make every set feel special. If you're heading to the festival, make sure to catch her set—you’ll be dancing with a smile on your face the entire time. Click here for tickets!

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: Next Monday, June 8, James Blake will take over The Three Top Lounge as part of his Trying Times tour. The British singer, songwriter, and producer has built a devoted following thanks to his unique blend of electronic music, soul, R&B, and hauntingly beautiful vocals. Known for creating intimate and emotional live performances, Blake's shows feel just as powerful as they do personal. Whether you've followed his music for years or are discovering him for the first time, this is a rare chance to see one of the most distinctive artists of the past decade in a unique Chicago setting. Click here for tickets!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: Now that summer is finally here, we spend very little time in front of the TV and usually save our screen time for something light and easy to watch. That's why Off Campus recently caught our attention. Set in the world of college life, the show follows a group of students navigating friendships, dating, and all the chaos that comes with being in your twenties. It's funny, uncomplicated, and perfect for those evenings when you're too tired to start a serious drama but still want to unwind with something entertaining.

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: On June 6, Perspective Gallery in Evanston will open Homesick, a new solo exhibition by photographer Kathryn Rodrigues. Through a series of self-portraits created over the past five years, Rodrigues explores themes of identity, motherhood, belonging, and the search for stability after a childhood spent moving between countries. Blending humor, vulnerability, frustration, and hope, the photographs offer an intimate reflection on what it means to build a home and put down roots after a lifetime of movement. The exhibition runs through June 28 and is well worth the short trip north for anyone who enjoys thoughtful, personal photography. Click here for more details!

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:
  - FIRST FRIDAYS ART EXHIBIT on Friday 5th June at Fulton Street Collective. Click here for more details!

🌿 Our June calendar is here — and it’s a good one.

On June 27th, we will be back with another Yoga session led by the incredible Kiara, but this time we’re taking it outside. We’ll be flowing on the lakefront, then heading over to the Lincoln Park Farmers Market together to grab a snack, browse the stands, and soak in the morning.

Check out the full calendar here — you won’t want to miss it.

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

We wrote 3 articles in collaboration with 3 great expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: Today a dear friend brought us some pan de queso from a Colombian coffee shop called Cielito Paradise and they were so good I immediately had to look the place up. Located in Lakeview, Cielito is known for its Colombian coffee and cozy atmosphere, making it the kind of neighborhood spot that is absolutely worth trying. If you are looking to support a small business, drink excellent coffee, and eat some seriously addictive pan de queso, add this one to your list.

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: This weekend, Castaways and ARC at the Lake are bringing together a beautiful lineup for a late afternoon party by the water. Lee Burridge and Oliver Koletzki will take over the decks from 4:00pm until after sunset, setting the perfect soundtrack for the first real lakefront day of the year. Expect dreamy electronic sounds, golden hour views, and the kind of atmosphere that reminds us why Chicago summers are truly unmatched. Click here for tickets!

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: Indie legends Belle and Sebastian are finally coming back to Chicago on Thursday, May 28th at The Salt Shed. Known for their intimate live shows and loyal fan base, the Scottish band has spent decades creating songs that feel nostalgic, emotional, and strangely comforting all at once. Whether you have been listening to them since the early 2000s or only recently discovered their music, this feels like the perfect outdoor summer concert to slow down, sing along, and fully romanticize your life for a couple of hours. Click here for tickets!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: AirOtic Soirée is coming back to Chicago on May 29 and 30 for a provocative summer run at Experience 868 in River North. The internationally acclaimed show blends breathtaking aerial acrobatics, burlesque performances, seductive choreography, and immersive visuals into a high-energy experience that has already sold out in cities like Paris, New York, and Lisbon. Expect dramatic performances, handcrafted cocktails, and an atmosphere that feels intimate, theatrical, and a little chaotic in the best way possible. Click here for tickets!

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: From May 29th to August 23rd, Jeanette Andrews, a NYC-based artist, presents On Wonder, Mind & Magic at Elmhurst Art Museum, an immersive exhibition that blends illusion, sculpture, sound, and interactive installations. Inspired by psychology, perception, and the art of magic, Andrews invites visitors into a world where nothing feels entirely certain, encouraging moments of curiosity, surprise, and reflection. Rather than simply observing the work, audiences become part of the experience itself, making the exhibition feel playful, intimate, and deeply engaging. Click here for more details!

  

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • Do division festival from May 29th to May 31st. Click here for details!

  • Maifest Chicago from May 29th to May 31st. Click here for details!

Some of us spent the long weekend exactly the way we had been dreaming about for months: stretched out by the pool, soaking up the sun, and finally feeling like summer has officially arrived in Chicago. After such a long stretch of unpredictable weather, it felt almost surreal to spend entire afternoons outside without checking the forecast every five minutes. We also took a long walk on the 606, and every single time it amazes us how different it feels once everything is in full bloom. The trees, the wildflowers, and the little pockets of green taking over the path make it feel like a completely different place compared to the colder months. In fall and early spring, the 606 has this quiet, bare beauty, but by late May it suddenly becomes vibrant, alive, and full of energy. It’s one of those moments that makes us fall in love with Chicago all over again.

And while we are fully embracing summer mode, save the date for June 13 because we’ll finally be dropping our monthly event … and trust us, you won’t want to miss this one! 😏🚀🔥

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

We wrote 3 articles in collaboration with 3 great expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: Last weekend we wanted to try Gus Dip and Sip, but the three-hour wait made it pretty clear something big was going on. Later we found out it had been nominated—along with three other Chicago bars—for the list of the 50 best bars in the U.S. We’ll report back as soon as we make it in, but if you’ve been sooner, let us know!

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: Chicago’s house music scene is getting the love letter it deserves with House Music Is Love Day Party, happening on May 23rd at Le Nocturne Chicago. Bringing together DJs, dancing, and the kind of feel-good energy the city’s nightlife is known for, the event celebrates the deep roots of house music right where it all started. Click here for tickets!

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: Tomorrow, May 20th Khalid is bringing his It’s Always Summer Somewhere Tour to Huntington Bank Pavilion on May 20th, and it’s shaping up to be one of those perfect summer concerts by the lake. Known for hits like Location, Talk, and Better, Khalid built his career on smooth vocals, emotional lyrics, and songs that somehow feel both nostalgic and effortless. With special guest Lauv joining the tour, the night is basically guaranteed to turn into one giant sing-along. Click here for tickets.

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: Theater of the Mind is running in Chicago through August 30th, offering an immersive, walk-through theatrical experience that blends storytelling, neuroscience, and sensory design. Created by Academy, Grammy, and Tony Award-winning David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar, the production takes audiences through a series of multi-room environments that explore how memory, perception, and emotion shape the way we understand reality. Instead of sitting in a traditional theater setting, guests move through the installation themselves, becoming part of the story as it unfolds around them. It’s a unique experience that feels less like watching a performance and more like stepping directly inside the human mind. Click here for tickets!

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is currently hosting Crafting Character: The Costumes of Paul Tazewell, an immersive exhibition celebrating the visionary work of the acclaimed costume designer behind productions like Hamilton, Wicked, and West Side Story. The exhibition showcases an extraordinary collection of original costumes, sketches, and behind-the-scenes materials that highlight how fashion, storytelling, and performance come together on stage and screen. Click here for tickets!

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • Suenos Music Fest on May 23rd and May 24th. Click here for tickets!

  • Randolph Street Market on May 23rd and May 24th. Click here for details!

Last Sunday we hosted our monthly event, and we couldn’t have asked for better weather, a perfect day to officially welcome summer in Chicago!

Chef Domenico (@dinnerwithdom) truly outdid himself with an incredible menu. I’m still thinking about that genovese beef, and having the leftover gnocchi today was the highlight of my dinner!

A huge thank you to everyone who came out. Seeing so many new faces in the crowd brings us so much joy. Don’t go anywhere … Sunday Lunch is back in August! 😊

The photos below speak for themselves — enjoy! 💕😋

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

We wrote 3 articles in collaboration with 3 great expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

This Sunday we’ve got our event and we honestly can’t wait to see you all there. Fingers crossed for good weather because it looks like it might finally be a nice one — perfect excuse to walk over to the Riverwalk before or after and just enjoy the city a bit. We’ve got a lot planned this week too, so we’re excited to share this selection with you. Hope you like it and see you Sunday!

Acknowledging Each Other’s Presence As Humans Is Not Cool Anymore?

(Author: Francesca)

I walked into a restaurant to grab takeout. Nobody gave a damn about me standing there. It took forever to get my food because the shop was prioritizing online orders.

And you might think: of course, a rider was coming to pick it up — time pressure, makes sense. No. Nobody showed up. They were just piling up app orders before getting to mine. A real person, standing right there, paying to buy food.

I couldn’t help but wonder: is acknowledging each other as human beings not cool anymore?

It happened a few times. Different shops. Same treatment.

And it’s not just food. Look at the numbers: 67% of the average restaurant’s revenue now comes from online or phone orders. Only 45% of customers even prefer ordering through a human employee.

Same story everywhere. My friends in Italy say the same, students not showing up to class, studying “remote” (I mean, going to class and make new friends was the only thing that kept me going, I cannot even imaging doing it at home), fewer people going out. A slow retreat from presence.

And then there’s dating. I’ve had so many conversations here about how rude it’s considered to talk to strangers, or try to meet someone at a bar. People are shocked. They look at you like you’re doing something wrong.

But how the hell are we supposed to meet people organically if a normal conversation is perceived as a scandal? A person I know once asked me, dead serious and in shock: “Oh my god, do you like being picked up at a bar?” And look … no, that’s not what was happening. But how is a guy supposed to meet a girl — and vice versa!! — if we can’t even talk to each other? There are a hundred ways to approach someone in a kind, educated, respectful way. We all know the difference.

Cannot talk to me but.. please match me on an App. I’ll be there.

We built a world of frictionless connection and ended up more alone than ever.

I’m not saying technology is the enemy. But when a restaurant treats the person standing at the counter as the lowest priority, and when starting a conversation at a bar makes someone look at you like you’ve committed a crime … something has flipped. The technology stopped serving us and started serving itself.

Let me know what you think about this topic! Comment on Substack or send us an e-mail at coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com.

• 🧠 Does psychopathy even exist?

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• 🎼 7 Hit songs that sound happy but they are super sad!

• ⛰️ Do you know what Alpine divorce is? I actually just recently came across this and it’s scary!

• 🍝 7 of Martha Stewart’s favorite restaurants in the U.S.

• 🌚 “Once in a blue moon” … where does it come from?

• 🖼️ Banksy appears in London.

• 🏨 Did you know that the first hotel on the Moon takes reservations?

• 🎥 7 famous movies that were filmed in less than a month…one of my favorites is there!

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: Saturday we went to Il Milanese to celebrate our friend’s birthday (and our friendship), and hands down it’s our favorite restaurant in town. We started with a few appetizers, including the prosciutto (excellent), the octopus, and the zucchini flowers, before moving on to a selection of pastas and the cotoletta. Everything felt simple, authentic, and incredibly well executed, exactly the kind of meal that reminds us why Italian food is so special when done right. If you want to experience truly authentic Italian food, there’s honestly no better place in Chicago.

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: The Martinez Brothers are coming to Radius on May 15 (and to open there is our beloved Tommaso), and if you’ve ever seen them live you already know how good this is going to be. Their sets are fun, energetic, and the kind that keep you dancing for hours without even realizing it. Expect a packed crowd, great music, and one of those nights where everyone in Chicago somehow ends up in the same room. Perfect plan for a Friday night if you ask us. Click here for ticket!

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: Rodrigo y Gabriela are coming to the Chicago Theater on May 13th for their 20th Anniversary Tour, and their live shows are always worth seeing. The Mexican duo mixes flamenco, rock, and Latin influences in a way that feels energetic without trying too hard. Even if you don’t know their music, it’s the kind of concert that pulls you in from the first song. Definitely a good pick if you want something different from the usual live show. Click here for tickets!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: Lately I rewatched Lost in Translation and wow—such a beautiful movie, with one of my favorite quotes: “The more you know who you are and what you want, the less you let things upset you.” Set in Tokyo, it follows two strangers who drift into each other’s lives while both feeling a bit out of place in the world. Not much “happens” in a traditional sense, but that’s exactly the point: it’s about mood, connection, and those in-between moments when you’re just existing and thinking.

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: On May 15yth “Canvas, Color, & Vision” opens on at Bridgeport Art Center and runs through Friday, July 3rd. The show brings together Ron Jerak and Michael Preski, two artists with very different approaches — Jerak with bold abstract compositions built on strong color and geometry, and Preski with layered, detailed surrealist works that feel more narrative. Together, the exhibition feels like a dialogue between structure and storytelling, with each piece reflecting everyday emotions and lived experiences through color and form. Click here for more info!

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • Summer Kick Off Party - Sunday BBQ Series at Sportsman on Sunday May 17th. More info here!

This Sunday we have our monthly event: A Sunday Lunch cured by @_dinnerwithdom_ is back! The event is currently sold out but we are monitoring the weather forecast and if it stays wonderful.. we will open up more spots, stay tuned for updates on the WhatsApp group or Instagram!

After the incredible response to our last lunch (refresh your memory here!), we’re returning for round two. To meet the high demand and allow more of our community to join, we are evolving the format into a vibrant buffet-style experience!

Across cultures, Sunday lunch is a shared ritual, a moment to slow down and reconnect over a meal that feels like home away from home. This new format means more seats at the table and even more room for community.
When: Sunday, May 17 | 12:30 PM until full 😉
Where: Logan Square (exact location revealed 24h before!)
Get your tickets here in case we open up more spots!

Los Angeles Apparel is a basics-focused clothing brand based in Los Angeles, known for its simple, heavy-weight staples like t-shirts, hoodies, leggings, and sweatpants. The brand is “made in LA” and it keeps production local and focusing on cut, fit, and fabric rather than trends. The aesthetic is very clean and minimal, with a slightly vintage athletic feel that makes everything easy to mix and match. It’s the kind of label people go back to for everyday essentials that feel a bit more intentional than your average basics.

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our exclusive WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

Here are the articles in collaboration with expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

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If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: Thanks to Adam's recommendation, we finally tried 4 Letter Word Coffee in Logan Square. Not only was my cappuccino delicious, but the café itself is extremely cool and artsy (a classic great spot for a bathroom selfie ;)). When the weather is nice, you can sit outside in the adjoining space, which also doubles as a record shop!

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: Disclosure is coming to The Salt Shed for a solid night of house and electronic music. Known for tracks that are easy to get into and hard to stand still to, the UK duo mixes older hits with newer releases in a set that keeps the energy steady from start to finish. It’s a good pick if you just want to be out, listen to something familiar, and stay on the dance floor for a while. Click here for more info!

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: On Thursday March 7th Mac DeMarco is playing at The Salt Shed with Mock Media. Known for his laid-back sound and slightly offbeat charm, Mac DeMarco’s shows feel easy and unpolished in the best way—guitars, mellow vocals, and songs that drift between indie rock and soft psychedelia. It’s the kind of concert where you can either zone out or sing along, depending on your mood, and just enjoy being there without overthinking it. Click here for tickets!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: Last week we went to see Michael and we’re honestly still thinking about it. What stayed with us the most was Jaafar Jackson’s performance—yes, his nephew—which felt kind of unreal at times. The voice, the presence, the small details… it was all so close to Michael Jackson that it caught us off guard. If you’ve ever been a fan, we’d really suggest going to see it—and maybe getting ready for part two, expected in 2028.

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: On view at the Art Institute of Chicago, Korean National Treasures: 2,000 Years of Art brings together a wide range of works that trace the evolution of Korean art across centuries. The exhibition features around 140 pieces, from ceramics and Buddhist sculptures to paintings and everyday objects. Click here for more info!

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • Logan Square Farmers Market Opening Day on Sunday May 10th.

Alessandra dropped the May event!! 🔥

By popular demand, Sunday Lunch cured by @_dinnerwithdom_ is back!

After the incredible response to our last lunch (refresh your memory here!), we’re returning for round two. To meet the high demand and allow more of our community to join, we are evolving the format into a vibrant buffet-style experience!

Across cultures, Sunday lunch is a shared ritual, a moment to slow down and reconnect over a meal that feels like home away from home. This new format means more seats at the table and even more room for community.

When: Sunday, May 17 | 12:30 PM until full 😉
Where: Logan Square (exact location revealed 24h before!)
Get your tickets here, we are almost SOLD OUT! 🚀

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

We wrote 3 articles in collaboration with 3 great expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved

Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: A couple of weeks ago we took a half day off to go see the cherry blossoms and stopped for a quick bite at Medici on the 57th in Hyde Park. Medici has been a neighborhood staple for decades, known for its laid-back, welcoming atmosphere and comforting, no-fuss menu. It’s the kind of place where students, locals, and visitors all blend together over oversized sandwiches, pizzas, and fresh baked goods, making it feel both timeless and effortlessly alive. Definitely worth trying if you are in the neighborhood.

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: This Thursday at Row 24, Jazz Gumbo is bringing a Brazilian twist to the city’s vinyl scene. Expect a warm mix of samba, bossa nova, and Brazilian jazz classics, all spun the way they’re meant to be heard—on vinyl. Click here to buy tickets.

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: If you’re in the mood for something more intimate, Keli Holiday is playing at on May 3rd. It’s a small venue, so the whole thing feels close and easy—no big production, just good music and a crowd that’s actually there to listen. Click here for tickets!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: I should say “if you want to laugh non-stop”, Matteo Lane is taking over The Chicago Theatre. His mix of sharp jokes, personal stories, and a bit of chaos makes the whole thing feel easy and real. He jumps from impressions to random operatic moments without missing a beat, and somehow it all works. It’s one of those shows where you go in for a comedy set and end up laughing the entire way through. Click here for tickets!

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: WITHOUT PERMISSION is opening Friday, May 1st at Chicago Grand Gallery. The group show brings together works by Paul Sierra, Kevin C. Lawler, and David Hauptschein, each exploring identity, authorship, and transformation through very different lenses. The exhibition sits in that in-between space where nothing feels fixed. It’s less about clear answers and more about tension, contradiction, and letting meaning stay unsettled. Click here for more info!

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • Friday it’s winter again and we are going to watch Michael. We’ll report back!

• Stay tuned for the announcement of our May event…COMING SOON!! 🍝💕

• Our Spring playlist is out! 🌼 As always, 15 songs to make you feel like you are blooming like a flower..or a Daisy 😏 Check it out here!

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

We wrote 3 articles in collaboration with 3 great expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: If you know us even a little, you know coffee is not just a drink for us! Metric Coffee, based in Chicago's Fulton Market, is one of those places that truly care about coffee. The roastery was born from a true partnership: co-founders Xavier Alexander and Darko Arandjelovic, one a Chicago native, the other an expat who came to the United States from Serbia and built something from nothing. Their motto, "made by humans," says it all. The pastries are genuinely wonderful too, don't skip them. You may remember we already mentioned their Milli My Metric location in this newsletter; well, consider this your reminder that the whole Metric world is worth exploring. This is coffee as it should be: made with care, made by humans.

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: Saturday, April 25th Monty Kiddo is playing at Spybar—one of those spots that always delivers when it comes to intimate, no-frills dance floors. Monty Kiddo leans into a mix of house and electronic with a darker, groovier edge, the kind of set that keeps people locked in for hours. Spybar’s small, low-lit space makes it feel close and sweaty in the best way, where the focus is fully on the music and the crowd actually dances. Click here for tickets!

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: If your playlist has been a little on the emotional side lately, this one might hit. Lewis Capaldi is coming to the United Center on April 25, marking his return to the stage after taking a break over the past year. It’s the kind of concert where you already know half the room will be singing along. He’s known for songs like Someone You Loved—and honestly, who could forget that moment at Glastonbury Festival when the crowd sang it back to him?
  Click here to get your ticket!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: We also caught a screening of The Drama this week, mostly because we couldn’t risk having the internet spoil the "big secret" for us! It’s one of those rare films where the cinematography really steals the show, the way it’s filmed is incredibly unique and keeps you completely captivated from start to finish. Zendaya and Robert Pattinson are incredible together, with an electric chemistry that makes their relationship feel so real even as the tension ramps up. We won't give anything away, but the visual storytelling alone makes it a must-see and the perfect conversation starter for our next meetup!

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: From April to September MCA is hosting Dancing the Revolution: From Dancehall to Raggaeton. The exhibition dives into the histories of dancehall and reggaetón, not just as music genres but as forms of resistance, identity, and community shaped across places like Kingston, San Juan, and New York. Through installations, video, photography, and sound, it traces how these cultures grew from grassroots movements into global forces, while staying rooted in Black Atlantic history and the fight against colonial oppression. Featuring artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Isaac Julien, the show blends art and music in a way that feels immersive without losing its political edge—especially in moments like the “perreo combativo” protests in Puerto Rico, where dance itself became a form of resistance. Click here for tickets.

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • One of a Kind Spring Show - From April 24th to April 27th. Click here for more info!

Our monthly event at Txa Txa Club was an absolute blast. So many new faces! 🥰 It was great to meet you all. You guys keep us going … you are the whole point! 💕

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

We wrote 3 articles in collaboration with 3 great expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: If you’ve been craving a cozy, no-frills Italian spot that actually delivers, Pizz’Amici is one of those places to have on your radar. The atmosphere feels very cozy and curated — the kind of place where you immediately settle in and don’t feel rushed. We tried the caponata with focaccia and it was good, full of flavor and a great start to the meal. The pizza, however, leaned a bit too spicy for our taste, so just something to keep in mind depending on what you order — but overall, still a solid spot for a relaxed night out.

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: Toy Tonics is bringing the energy to Chicago with Chicago Jam on April 18th. Hosted at Serum, with a lineup with Kapote, Sam Ruffillo, Tommaso, and Mayya. Expect a mix of house, disco, and underground sounds — the kind of night where you show up “just for a bit” and somehow end up dancing until close. Tickets here!

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: If your idea of a perfect night involves live music and a laid-back crowd, catching Tobacco City live in Chicago is the perfect choice. They’re performing at Lincoln Hall on April 16th. Their concerts tend to feel intimate and unpretentious — the kind of night where you grab a drink, sway along, and end up staying longer than planned just because the vibe is that good. Click here for tickets!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: Until April 26th at the CIBC Theatre you have the chance to go see Hamilton. This musical has made a real mark, telling the story of America's beginnings with hip-hop, R&B, and classic theater songs. Alexander Hamilton’s journey unfolds with sharp writing, energy, and unforgettable performances that bring a nation’s early struggles to the stage. Click here for more tickets!

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: Close to the Ground by Marina Kuchinski is now on view at the Lee E. Dulgar Gallery. The exhibition brings together mixed media sculpture, ceramics, and installations that explore the blurred boundaries between humans and animals, touching on themes of transformation, vulnerability, and our connection to the natural world.

  

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • Green City Market Lincoln Park (just reopened 2 weekends ago). Click here for mor info!

  • Free entry to museum of science and history. Click here for more info!

This Thursday we have our April event! 🚀

We’re beyond excited to be hosting it at TXA TXA Club, which is one the most bookmarked place in Chicago! We will have an exclusive menu for out community, you cannot miss it! ❤️🔥 RSVP here and block your calendar for April 16th at 6pm!

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

We wrote 3 articles in collaboration with 3 great expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

This is one of those weeks where it actually feels like the city is waking up again. The days are getting longer, people are out more, and suddenly there’s something going on every night without even trying. Whether you feel like going out, trying a new spot, or keeping it low-key with a show, there’s a bit of everything right now. As always, we pulled together a few things we’d genuinely be into—so take a look, see what matches your mood, and go from there. Annnddd … enjoy the First Sip of the month!

Wow, maybe we found ONE THING that is great about the U.S.
(Author: Francesca)

Today I want to tell you a story.

A month ago I launched Vood Vintage. I started experiencing a crisis about my job a few years ago. I had climbed the corporate ladder like a soldier for years, but there was a voice inside me that kept getting louder the more I gained awareness about my true self and who I really am. I didn't have the luxury to choose when I was a kid — I just followed what I thought could give me a different life, with different opportunities than the ones I had growing up. I have an innate passion for beautiful things like interior design and vintage furniture (cannot judge a Libra;)) and ended up furnishing my home in Chicago with vintage pieces, without even realizing it. I mean, I loved it, but I didn't make much fuss about it. Until last year, when that voice became clearer and clearer and I decided to give this passion a try. Giving vintage furniture a second chance — but also giving myself a second chance to be who I want to be.

In the process of building it I realized something nice about this country (I’m not going to talk about everything else right now but… nice things are getting harder to find).

I opened an LLC in ten minutes. On a website. With a credit card. That’s it. That was the whole thing.

In Italy, to do the equivalent, you need a notary. You need to pay a government grant tax (€310), a registration tax (€200), a stamp duty (€156). You need to register with the Chamber of Commerce and pay their fees too. Italy ranks 98th out of 190 countries specifically for ease of starting a business. 98th …This is the country that invented banking. Incredible. The United States, for context, ranks 6th out of those same 190 countries for overall ease of doing business. And it shows. It really shows!

What that ranking actually means in practice: you can have a business up and running in under a week. The paperwork, the registration, the whole thing. Some people do it in a day. I did the LLC part in ten minutes.

And it’s not just people like me doing this. In 2021, a record-breaking 5.4 million new business applications were filed in the US in a single year. And those small businesses account for 99.9% of all US firms and were credited with nearly two-thirds of all new jobs created between 1995 and 2021. The whole engine runs on people deciding to try something. One study ranked the United States as the world’s best place to start a business, factoring in survival rates, employment, cost of living. Best in the world.

But honestly, the rankings aren’t even the main thing. The main thing is the people.

I needed shelving for the Vood Vintage warehouse. The owner spent twenty minutes trying to get me to buy less. Running numbers, reconfiguring the layout, actively trying to save me money. He had zero financial reason to do this. My insurance (three different policies), the kind of process that in Italy would require weeks of waiting and a folder of documents and at least one person sighing at you heavily, took two hours. My business bank account, one hour. And every time I call, an actual human answers and actually helps me.

In Italian we say puzza sotto il naso. Literally “a smell under the nose.” It means someone who acts too important to deal with you. The classic stereotype is the Milanese, but honestly it could be anywhere in Italy. The bank teller who makes you feel like a burden. The person at the city hall who sighs before you’ve even opened your mouth. That energy. I have not found it here. Not once.

What I found instead was a woodworker called Walnut Spaceship (literally leasing the unit next to mine.. how lucky?!) I sent a text. The next day we were working together on a difficult restoration piece. One text, one day. The reupholstery businesses I work with have given me many useful advices. The people at Fishman’s Fabrics didn’t just sell me fabric, they sat with me and explained how to actually sell, what to buy, what clients want. Strangers doing this. For free. Because they wanted to.

And here’s what I think is actually going on underneath all of it. America has this weird, almost irrational instinct to root for someone who’s trying. You say “I just launched Vood Vintage” and something opens up in people. Not always. Not everywhere. But enough. There’s something in the culture here — some leftover residue of the American dream maybe, who knows — that responds to ambition with generosity instead of suspicion.

In Italy it’s the opposite and I’ll just say it plainly: if you try to make money, if you build something and talk about it openly, people look at you like you did something wrong. Like you must have cheated somehow, or stepped on someone, or had an unfair advantage. There’s this deep cultural reflex that wants to pull down anyone who’s climbing too visibly. Ambition is fine in theory and resented in practice. You don’t celebrate the neighbor who opens a business. You wonder what they think they’re doing, who they think they are. It’s not entrepreneurship culture. It’s a witch hunt in slow motion, and the witch is anyone with the nerve to try.

The other thing I learned, and this one surprised me the most, is how much a simple sentence can do. “Hi, I just launched a business.” Say it to people. Say it out loud, in rooms, over text, to strangers. You will be genuinely shocked by what happens next. Doors open that you didn’t even know existed. People want to help. They want to connect you to someone else. The network builds itself if you just say the words. Same can be applied to making friends. Say yes and come to our April event ;)

• 🐝 Do you know how many types of insects exist? Spoiler alert: it’s not a small number.

• 🖼️ 8 rising Asian American women artists to watch.

• 🧳 The easiest countries to move to with a work visa, mapped out.

• 🌎 Does the Big Bang Theory have more holes than Gruyère?

• 💻 Turns out the secret to AI was hiding in a machine older than your parents.

• 🍝 6 loved restaurants by Anthony Bourdain in the United States. Do you think Chicago makes the cut?

• 🧠 Turns out telling everyone to 'just be positive' isn't a personality, it's just denial with better branding.

• 🚀 Something special is happening in space right now!

• 📵 Phone-free bars and restaurants on the rise across the U.S.

• 🎤 After 10 years of career, Caamp finally gets his tiny desk moment.

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: Last week we went to see Rusowsky in Pilsen and we grabbed a bit at Taqueria Atotonilco. It’s one of those no-frills spots where the focus is entirely on the food, and honestly, that’s all you need. Think perfectly seasoned meats, generous portions, and tacos that disappear way too quickly. If you’re in the mood for something casual but seriously satisfying, this is your sign. Honestly, a must try if you are in Pilsen!

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: This Friday our friend Tommaso is playing at Podlaise, together with NoshaLuv, Andrew Emil and Raven Wright and we cannot not go to support him! If you’ve been meaning to go out but needed the right excuse, this might be it. Sulla Pista is all about good energy, great music, and that feeling when you don’t want the night to end. Expect a mix of sounds, a packed dance floor, and a crowd that actually came to dance—not just stand around. Go with friends or solo, you’ll be fine either way. Click here for more info!

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: April 10th and 11th Florence and The Machine are playing at Allstate Arena and do I need to add anything else? Florence’s voice live is something else, and the whole show tends to feel more like an emotional experience than just a concert. If you’re even slightly into their music, it’s 100% worth it. Click here for tickets!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: If you haven’t heard of Titanique yet, it’s basically the Titanic story… but completely reimagined through Céline Dion, and yes, it’s as chaotic as it sounds. The whole show doesn’t try to be subtle—it’s loud, funny, a little absurd, and very self-aware. You get big vocals, iconic songs, and a cast that clearly leans into the madness of it all. It runs until April 12th, so don’t miss it! Click here for tickets!

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: This is one of those weekends when the city feels a little more alive. From April 9th to April 12th EXPO Chicago brings together galleries, artists, and collectors from all over, and even if you’re not deep into the art world, it’s still a fun experience. You can wander through massive installations, discover artists you’ve never heard of, and honestly just people-watch a very stylish crowd. Click here for tickets and more info.

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • Hugo Boss Sample Sale at 260 from April 7th to April 11th. Click here for more details.

  • Spring Vintage and Artisan Market at Stan Mansion on April 11th. Click here for more details.

• First, we want to give a shout out to our community member, Lauren, author of the newsletter “From Loneliness to Belonging”, who wrote a beautiful article about the story of Cool Beans and the truths behind it. Go read it and subscribe to her newsletter! (The articles about us or in partnership with other writers are always at the bottom of our newsletter ;))

• Seconddddddd! Alessandra dropped the April event! 🚀

  We’re beyond excited to be hosting it at TXA TXA Club, which is one the most bookmarked place in Chicago! We will have an exclusive menu for out community, you cannot miss it! ❤️🔥 RSVP here and block your calendar for April 16th at 6pm!

Last weekend I went to New Orleans and found the cutest vintage shop with an amazing jewelry selection. Of course, I left with one piece (from a brand I already knew), but I was especially impressed by one we hadn’t come across before: Cleopatra’s Bling., Cleopatra Bling What makes it stand out is that it doesn’t feel like typical vintage or typical modern—it sits somewhere in between. The brand pulls a lot from ancient Egyptian references (hence the name), but mixes that with bold, almost playful statement pieces. It actually started as a small, artist-led project, and you can tell—it still has that handcrafted, slightly imperfect feel that makes each piece more personal. It’s one of those brands that feels like a find, the kind you don’t see everywhere yet but probably will soon.

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our exclusive WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

Here are the articles in collaboration with expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

• Cool Beans and the Art of Showing Up by Lauren

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

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If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!

Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
Tag us on Instagram if you try any of the recommendations below!

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: Two weekends ago we tried Txa Txa Club, and we really recommend it. They started as a supper club, and about a month ago they also opened a coffee shop, now running from 8am to 8pm (which is pretty rare in Chicago). The vibe feels very aligned with us — especially the music selection. We had the corn cake and it was delicious. We loved it so much that we decided to collaborate with them for our April event (scroll down for all the details).

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: This Friday, April 3rd, Afrobeats to the World is taking over Metro Chicago, with high-energy beats and a dance floor that stays busy all night. Click here for info and tickets!

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: This Saturday April 4th Rusowsky is coming to Thalia Hall, bringing his dreamy, genre-blending sound with him. It’s one of those concerts where you don’t need to know every song to enjoy it — you just show up, let the music take over, and see where the night goes. Click here for tickets!

• 🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: A couple of weeks ago, we went to see Sirât at the Music Box — and we went in completely blind, following Jacob Elordi's advice (and you should too!! Not linking the movie on purpose 😏). Directed by Oliver Laxe and winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes, the film follows a father and his son who travel to a rave deep in the mountains of southern Morocco, desperately searching for their daughter and sister who vanished months earlier at one of these endless, sleepless parties. We are still in shock two weeks later. It's a raw, relentless film and absolutely worth watching — but go in prepared. It hurts.

• 🎭 If you feel artsy: “In All Directions, At Once” is one of those exhibitions that invites you to slow down and really take it in. The show plays with perspective, movement, and the idea of being pulled in multiple directions at the same time — something we can probably all relate to. Closing night is April 4th. Click here for more info!

• 🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:

  • If you celebrate Easter, here’s a list of Easter brunch spots.

Communityyyy! Alessandra is dropping our April event tomorrow … stay tuned! 👀 Here's a little sneak peek at the flyer to hold you over. We're so excited to be hosted by TXA TXA Club, which we also featured in this week's newsletter. We tried it out, fell in love on the spot, and knew we had to bring you all there. Double the excitement doesn't even begin to cover it!

📷 Our Instagram page
💬 If you want to join our WhatsApp Community, please send us an e-mail with your phone number
🎵 Curated Spotify playlists
✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

We wrote 3 articles in collaboration with 3 great expats around the world. Read them below!

• The Mediterranean Vs North American Lifestyle with Nolan

• Should you move to Chicago? with Elizabeth

• The story of Cool Beans and our take on Community with Emanuela

• We registered a podcast (in Italian) with Americanate on the wedding culture in the US from an Italian point of view. Listen here!

Get involved
Do you want to be featured in our Meet the Community video series? Or do you want to share your expat story with us? Interested in hosting an event, promoting your brand, or joining a community project? Reach out through the links above!

If you like what you are reading and would like to support us, you can do it through the link below :)

Buy us a coffee!