š« Week 59: Spilled Beans!
Thank you for coming to our first Sunday Lunch!
Good morning, Cool Beans!
Weāre still thinking about our last event ā it was absolutely mouthwatering ā and canāt wait to do something similar soonā¦ maybe even start a series? Who knows! But March is just around the corner, and so is our next monthly event. In the meantime, hereās our pick of this weekās events. Enjoy!
Find Simonaās coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
š¤¤ If you are craving something new: Last week we went back to Coquette, a modern French bistro and wine bar located in Chicago's Fulton Market District. The restaurant features a vibrant interior with bold colors and geometric shapes paying tribute to Mondrian, YSL, and Bauhaus. It's one of our favorite spots for pre-drinks or an after-dinner cocktail. This time we tried some appetizers, including the salmon crudo and black truffle croquettes. The cocktail program focuses on seasonal ingredients, and the wine list celebrates France's under-appreciated regions. Overall, it's a fun, stylish spot perfect for a night out in the West Loop.
šŗš» If your feet canāt stop (wonāt stop) moving like Michael Jackson: This Sunday, February 22nd DJ Duane Powell is back at The Land School for the first Sunday Service of 2026! Sunday Service is a laidāback, musicācentered gathering that blends house, gospelāinflected grooves, and soulful rhythms into a communal Sunday afternoon experience. The vibe isnāt a traditional club night ā it feels more like a collective listening session where the beat heals as much as it moves you, making it a welcoming way to spend a Sunday with good sounds and good energy. Donate here!
š¤ If live music is your vibe: On February 20, 2026, The Head and the Heart take the stage at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. The Seattle band is known for big harmonies and emotional, folk-leaning anthems that somehow feel just as good in a huge arena as they do through headphones. If youāre into nostalgic lyrics, strong sing-along moments, and that slightly indie, slightly heart-on-sleeve vibe, this oneās worth the trip outside the city. Click here for tickets!
šļø If the couch (or the armchair) is calling your name: Weāre currently watching The Pitt on HBO Max** and really liking it. The medical drama is set inside a Pittsburgh hospital and unfolds in real time, following doctors and nurses through one chaotic ER shift. What makes it different from most medical shows is that you donāt just see patients briefly and move on ā you follow them throughout their entire journey. Itās also set in a post-COVID world, and you can feel the lingering trauma and exhaustion some of the doctors are still carrying, which makes it all hit a little harder and feel more real.
š If you feel artsy: Tomorrow, February 18, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago hosts Night for Yoko Ono, an evening of live performance celebrating Onoās birthday and the closing of Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind. The Northwestern University Contemporary Music Ensemble performs works by Yoko Ono alongside pieces by John Cage and Toshi Ichiyanagi, mixing avant-garde sound with Onoās iconic instruction-based scores. More info here!
š¤ Still not feeling it? Check these others out:
Last Sunday we hosted our first real event of the year: a classic Sunday Lunch. As Europeans, we're deeply nostalgic for this ritualāyou know, the kind where you camp out at the table for hours, savoring a proper homemade feast like the one our amazing Chef Domenico whipped up š. Honestly, the pictures below capture the vibe better than we ever could with words! šš„°
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šµ Curated Spotify playlists
āļø 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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