🫘 Finding home, is it like waiting for Godot?

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Good morning, Cool Beans!

This week is Memorial Day weekend, and while summer is taking its time to arrive, we're still excited to share some can't-miss outdoor events. Consider it our way of calling summer in early. Enjoy this week’s selection, our longer article about finding Home and the time off!

“Home is neither here nor there. Home is within you, or home is nowhere at all” - Hermann Hesse

Looking for home: a slow dance between longing and belonging

The weekend is over, and attending the event we organized with Vino Divino on the theme of Fellow Feeling left us reflecting deeply on what it truly means to feel at home. We were especially moved by how many people showed up alone, simply hoping to meet someone new—to meet their people.

When do you feel at home? And not in the physical sense—but emotionally?

It’s a paradoxical question, especially in today’s social era, where we’re seeing an epidemic of people staying at home physically, yet feeling deeply lonely. It’s almost ironic: you’re at home, but you don’t feel at home.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General's advisory on social connection, nearly 50% of American adults report experiencing loneliness. That’s a staggering number.

When we first moved to the U.S., we struggled to feel at home, even after having relocated multiple times across Europe. Despite all that experience, something about settling here felt different—like “home” was taking longer to show up.

We’re not here to say what’s right or wrong, but simply to share an observation: it’s genuinely hard to find spaces in the U.S. that naturally invite connection. Places like city centers, walkable neighborhoods, casual spots to linger and meet others—they’re just harder to come by here. Even in a big city like Chicago, it’s not quite the same. Culturally, people here love hosting gatherings at home—and honestly, we love that too. But it does make it harder to meet new people or break into someone else’s circle. When socializing mostly happens behind closed doors, and there are fewer public spaces where communities naturally form, it just becomes a lot more difficult to find your people.

We used to chalk this up to the age and history of the country. It’s all so modern, so new. Cement everywhere. It felt like everything was built for practicality, not connection—spaces designed to move through, not to linger in.

But recently we came across an article from Chris Arnade comparing American and European lifestyles, and one particular part struck a chord:

“If the priority is everyone is the master of their own small fiefdom, as it is in the US, then the public sphere can largely be ignored, because it is after all only a temporary part of anyone's life. A place you have to pass through on your way from your home, which is large enough to also serve as a place to socialize with others, to your job. The result is public spaces in the US are given short shrift, and there is little understanding of why you would splurge on them to worry about aesthetics.

The result, as I’ve noted before, is despite our immense natural beauty and our material wealth, large chunks of the US are ugly, soulless, and dehumanizing, a landscape of bland tract housing, pre-fab strip malls, copy and paste franchises that look as if they were airlifted in and plopped down in plots of land bulldozed flat, with zero shade or attempt to integrate them into the surrounding nature.”

How did we not see this before? It resonated deeply with us—not as criticism, but as context. Suddenly, the discomfort made more sense. Culture shapes urban design, which in turn shapes how (and if) we connect.

So we started asking ourselves: what actually makes us feel at home?

For some of us, it’s something as simple and intimate as waking up on a Sunday morning to the smell of pasta sauce simmering. One couple shared a small but meaningful ritual: making pancakes almost every Saturday. And when they made them for the first time in their new house after relocating, that moment was the quiet declaration: “Okay, I think we’re home now.”

We all had our own stories, but one common thread emerged—we felt at home when we felt we belonged.

It means feeling comfortable asking for help and showing vulnerability. It means being able to—and wanting to—spend time with others without needing to fill the silences. It means recognizing and being recognized, feeling part of something. It’s the courage to be ourselves and the certainty that, no matter what, there will always be space for us there. This moment from a Dexter episode, captures it well (min 1:03).

We’ll leave you with a quote from Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz that feels especially close to our hearts:

“Home is not where you are born; home is where all your attempts to escape cease.”

That line captures so much—finally I can rest, finally I can let go, finally I can take down my guard.
It speaks to anyone who has been running—physically or emotionally—from places that didn’t feel safe.

We’d love to hear from you. When did you feel at home? And if you haven’t yet—write to us.

From one of our events: we asked our guests to write what Home meant to them

• 🪑 Herman Miller drops furniture inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe’s chic desert vibes

• 🐙 We are surrounded by bad news so what about something that will make you smile? Like an octopus carried by a shark?

• 🏠 Airbnb now rents chefs, trainers, and anyone else you need to feel like you have your life together for a weekend.

• 🚖 The wildest things left behind on Ubers.

• 🎥 The Oscars finally realize stunt performers exist.

• 🙅‍♀️ What is the “No Buy” trend we keep on seeing around?

• 🤷‍♂️ Does testosterone define men?

• 👶🏽 Without young people, the future looks like a never-ending staff meeting run by geriatrics.

• 🎤 Lorde is back and she called herself an “intense bitch”.

• 📸 The most famous photo of the Vietnam War may have been credited to the wrong person—and the story isn’t over yet.

Napalm Girl

• 🤤Find the coolest picks for Chicago, this week:

  • 🤤 If you are craving something new: Two weeks ago, we tried Gretel, a cozy gastropub in Logan Square. While the Griddle Burger—served on a toasted everything bun—is a crowd favorite, we stuck to appetizers and sides. The roasted carrots and elote were both excellent—definitely worth ordering. We also loved the chocolate chip cookies. They’ve got a massive selection of liquor, with a whole wall of bottles behind the bar—so tall they actually use a ladder to reach the top. Gretel’s a great spot for a casual dinner or a late-night drink. It’s walk-in only, but usually worth the wait.

  • 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: This Saturday, May 24, at Podlasie Club, Marc Davis and Inés will each play a set for a night of eclectic beats, mixing house, disco, Brazilian, and African sounds, all with a Chicago twist. The event runs from 9 PM to 3 AM, and with a great crowd and vibe, it’s sure to be a memorable night. It’s cash-only, so come prepared and get there early to soak in the full energy of the night.

  • 🎤 If live music is your vibe: Sueños Music Festival is back in Grant Park this Memorial Day weekend, May 24-25, 2025, bringing a weekend of Latin music to Chicago. Headliners like Shakira, Peso Pluma, Don Omar, and Grupo Frontera will be joined by a mix of reggaeton, cumbia, and bachata artists. With food, art, and afterparties, it's set to be an unforgettable event. The festival runs from 12 PM to 10 PM each day, with single and two-day passes still available. Click here to grab your ticket!

  • 🛋️ If the couch is calling your name: A few weeks ago we rewatched 8 Mile and totally forgot how good that movie is. For anyone who (weirdly) doesn’t know, 8 Mile is a 2002 drama starring Eminem in his acting debut, loosely based on his early life and come-up in the Detroit rap scene. It follows Jimmy Smith Jr., aka B-Rabbit, a young rapper trying to break out of poverty and make a name for himself. Set in gritty, mid-90s Detroit, the film dives into themes like ambition, identity, and pushing through tough circumstances. It's packed with intense rap battles, raw emotion, and of course, “Lose Yourself” — which won an Oscar and still hits just as hard today.

  • 🎭 If you feel artsy: Madron Gallery’s In a New Light: The Evolution of American Impressionism runs through May 23, spotlighting how artists like Robert Reid, Robert Vonnoh, and John Henry Twachtman brought French Impressionist techniques home and made them their own. The show traces this transformation with stunning works that reflect a distinctly American take on light, color, and atmosphere. Stop by during weekday gallery hours or book an appointment for evenings and weekends. For more information or to schedule a visit, click here!

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

    • ​Summersalt Market at the Salt Shed on Saturday 24th. Click here for more information and to get your ticket!

    • Randolph Street Market on Saturday 24th and Sunday May 25th. Click here for more information and to get your ticket!

We had an epic weekend attending two unforgettable nights of the event with Vino Divino—and honestly, we don’t want to wake up from the dream! 🥵
Huge thanks to everyone who came and had the courage to show up, meet strangers, and dive into a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
Thank you to Vino Divino team for being just the best at gifting us this unique experience and to our incredible artists for sharing their moving, emotional life stories that breath through their art. If you’d like a chance to own a piece of their work, go check out their IG pages: @impology and @cherrytungart. They’re truly special.

Here you’ll find our active promo codes:

Lori’s Shoes: COOL15, both online and in store (cannot be used with other promos and it’s limited to one order per customer) - valid until July 31st

MERCH Amsterdam is a streetwear label founded in 2019, known for clean designs and bold prints. Based in the city it's named after, the brand focuses on oversized tees and cellphone cases featuring funny, irreverent phrases that reflect Amsterdam’s creative energy. Check out their website to see the full range—they're perfect for a fun, bratty summer vibe.

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