🫘 Week 58: Spilled Beans!
Our Winter Playlist is OUT!
Good morning, Cool Beans!
A couple of reminders and news as we head into the weekend — a lot is happening! We’ve shared our Winter playlist, this Sunday we’re hosting our monthly event (we can’t wait to hear what our guest thinks!), and Saturday is Valentine’s Day 💘. We hope you spend it with the people you love the most. As always, enjoy our weekly picks!
Find Simona’s coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
🤤 If you are craving something new: Last Saturday, we tried Bad Butter, a bakery functioning exclusively through online ordering and pickup. But exciting news—they’re opening a location in Bucktown soon! We tried the Pain Suisse, Seeded Multigrain Tin Loaf (not in the pic), Cinnamon Knots, Ham and Cheese Croissant, Chocolate Croissant, and Yogurt and Calamansi Cruffin, and all were great. The dough was perfectly flaky on everything.
🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: On Friday, February 13th, Chop Shop is hosting a stacked lineup with gum.mp3, CTRLZORA, and GreenTTea & The Tempos. This is one of those nights where you go in “just for a drink” and end up staying way longer than planned. If you’re into discovering new artists and live music that feels fresh and a little unpredictable, this one’s worth it. Click here for tickets!
🎤 If live music is your vibe: We just discovered Romare and we love him! He is coming this Saturday at Outset and if you’re into electronic music with soul, this one’s a no-brainer. Known for blending house, jazz, funk, and a lot of groove, his sets are the kind that pull you in slowly and then suddenly you’re fully locked in on the dance floor. Click here to listen and here to buy your ticket!
🛋️ If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: Last week we went to see Hamnet and honestly, just go watch it. It’s a beautiful story about grief, love, trauma, and how art can hold all of those feelings at once and express them in the most powerful way. With a magnetic Paul Mescal and an incredible Jessie Buckley, you’ll probably leave in tears — but somehow feeling more alive.
🎭 If you feel artsy: Holding Space at Art City is a thoughtful new exhibition by Nehir Uslu running from February 13 to March 7, 2026. The show features interactive fiber works, soft objects, and weavings that invite you to slow down and reflect — with a focus on care, presence, and belonging shaped by Uslu’s background in mental health advocacy and clinical work. The tactile pieces explore softness not just as material but as a way of thinking about connection and emotional understanding. If you’re curious about art that feels gentle, introspective, and deeply human, this is a beautiful one to experience. More info here!
🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:
Chicago Artisan Market at Artifact Events, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th
Our Winter ‘26 playlist “Cheers To The Tears” is out!!! 🎵 Listen it here!
We picked these songs to let it all out and find reasons to cheers, despite the weather and everything else going on!
The Only Thing More Powerful Than Hate Is Love 💕🔥
This month we are organizing a Sunday Lunch — curated by @_dinnerwithdom_ , an intimate, family-style meal bringing Chicago’s international community together. Share dishes like focaccia & burrata, polpette al sugo, pasta al forno, tiramisu, and more (vegetarian options available).
Across cultures, Sunday lunch is a shared ritual, a moment to slow down, gather around the table, and reconnect. It’s about comfort, conversation, and the feeling of being surrounded by people who feel like family.
We will let you know if spots open up last minute! Check the invite here.
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🎵 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 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!
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