🫘 Week 73: Spilled Beans!
Soaking up the sun!
Good morning, Cool Beans!
How was your long weekend? Ours was all about resting, spending time by the pool, and hanging out with friends! Have you seen the forecast for the next 10 days? Wow, it feels like a miracle! There’s so much happening around the city, and we hope you stay outside as long as possible. 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: 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:
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! 😏🚀🔥
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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
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