👫🏼 What Community Really Means

Why showing up actually matters

Good morning, Cool Beans!

This week, we took a moment to challenge ourselves, as we always like to do—questioning what community truly means and how moments of loneliness can be transformed by creating one. We are the main characters of our own lives, and while we often long to be part of vibrant communities, real change always starts from within. Sometimes, it begins with something as simple as saying yes.

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious”
- Ruth Reichl

What Community really means

Community gets sold as the magic cure for loneliness, aging, and maybe even climate change—but let’s be real, most of us just want the warm fuzzies without the work. Elle Hunt learns this the hard way when she gets a passive-aggressive (yet completely justified) note about her lazy recycling habits. Turns out, being part of a community isn’t just about friendship bracelets and good vibes—it’s also about not being the neighbor everyone secretly hates.

Charles Vogl, author of The Art of Community, says real community isn’t just about proximity or liking the same overpriced coffee shop—it’s about mutual concern. Basically, would you call this person at 3 AM for a plumbing disaster, or do you just awkwardly nod at them in the hallway? For expats floating between worlds, finding “your people” is crucial, but it won’t happen if you ghost every invite and still haven’t learned your barista’s name.

Dr. Vivek Murthy’s Parting Prescription calls out our obsession with fame, money, and power as the real culprit behind America’s loneliness crisis. We’ve traded real human connection for Instagram likes, service for self-promotion, and purpose for the next paycheck. His fix? Rebuild community through relationships, service, and purpose. We recently listened to the Hidden Brain podcast episode "Wellness 2.0: Who Do You Want To Be?" where psychologist Ken Sheldon discusses how our individualistic culture and intense competition often lead individuals to pursue societal markers of success—such as wealth and status—at the expense of their intrinsic motivations and genuine interests. The same individualistic culture that undermines our ability to build community.

Building a real community takes effort, consistency, and the occasional social risk—like saying yes to an awkward coffee instead of scrolling your way into oblivion. Expats, especially, don’t have the luxury of waiting for friendships to magically appear. So if you want to feel like you belong, start showing up, make the first move, and—seriously—break down your damn boxes.

This topic is at the heart of why we started Cool Beans Expat Club. We truly believe in building real, lasting connections, and we’re proud to say that the friendships formed in this community are here to stay. In a world full of fleeting, sponsored one-off dinners like, we’re committed to making Cool Beans your forever family in Chicago—stronger than Gorilla Super Glue! We can’t wait to share the exciting events we have planned for the rest of the year, so stay tuned and remember: say yes to a Cool Beans event! ;)

• 🏈 In his Super Bowl LIX halftime performance, Kendrick Lamar delivered a powerful commentary on American culture, blending subtlety and tension. He just wants to be a musician, not a messiah.

• Imani Perry's "Black in Blues" explores how the color blue intertwines with Black history and culture, revealing both resilience and suffering. Perry highlights the duality of Black experiences, much like the blues music itself.

• If TikTok’s is out might as well ban Google Maps (so we can all embrace getting lost like it’s 1995) and LinkedIn (because forced corporate cringe should be a crime). We love the New Yorker’s humor.

• ✍🏻 We all have that annoying friend who is always correcting our grammar. Well, send him/her this then ;)

• ♟️ We just found out that the “guy” you play the chess game with on flights is actually a global champion. Magnus Carlsen just took his chess beef with FIDE to a whole new level—forget checkmate, he’s going for total annihilation.

• 😻 We hope your S. Valentine’s celebration went great. To continue with the sugary vibe, look at these cute moments at the Chicago zoo.

• We discovered SNL when we moved to the USA and we absolutely love how liberal it is. Here are the highlights of the 50th anniversary show.

• If you care about your fingers, watch out for this Igloo’s coolers recall!

• 🥮 Not sure if you know about the Italian Christmas dessert Panettone but we always had a debate about raisins in it. We are pleasantly surprised that this debate exists for Antigua and Barbuda’s pudding as well, lol!

• 🎤 If you don’t know Tiny Desk on YouTube, we highly recommend it. This one with Doechii is particularly good.

• 🤤 If you are craving something new: Last week we tried Superkhana International, an Indian restaurant in Logan Square. They were recently named a James Beard Award semifinalist and earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand last year. The food is flavorful and creative, and the atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between laid-back and cozy—you instantly feel at home. Plus, they have one of the best mezcal cocktails in town. Definitely worth a try!

• 🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) to move like Michael Jackson: Saturday, February 22nd, let’s head to Maria’s Community Bar for Excursion! Excursion is a deep dive into the diverse sounds of house music and its offshoots—tech, Latin, Afro, broken beat, jazz, funk, and neo-soul—with resident DJs Johnson Cordell & James Vincent setting the vibe all night long. Featured in Condé Nast Traveler, Maria’s is more than just a bar—it’s a Bridgeport staple and the perfect spot for a night of rhythm, connection, and pure groove.

• 🎤 If live music is your vibe: This Friday, February 21st, we’re heading to Concord Music Hall to see Folamour! Folamour is a French DJ known for his mix of house, electronic, and French house, always bringing the energy to the dancefloor. Grab your ticket here!

• 🛋️ If the couch is calling your name: We just started The Mindy Project, created by and starring Mindy Kaling. The show follows Dr. Mindy Lahiri, a brilliant yet chaotic OB-GYN, as she juggles her career, friendships, and love life in New York City. With its sharp humor and endearing characters, it offers a fresh, funny take on modern womanhood. From office antics to romantic misadventures, The Mindy Project is the perfect mix of comedy and heart, reminding us that figuring life out is never a straight path—but it sure is entertaining.

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

  • The West Loop Fine Art Expo from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd, with over 40 artists from 8 different states. Grab your ticket here!

• We loved the dinner @Coquette, the picture below cannot lie (Like Shakira’s hips)

• The next Intimate Dinner will be at Italian Homemade Company on February 26. Just few spots available and it sells fast! Grab your ticket here!!

Chicken, Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya
We tried this dish for the first time in a lovely restaurant in Amsterdam (we wish we could remember the spot’s name!) and we really loved it. If you don’t like spicy food, it might not be for you but you can always adjust. Enjoy this recipe!

Thinking Mu, based in Barcelona, is a fashion brand dedicated to sustainability, using organic, recycled, and Fairtrade textiles, including a hemp collection that’s kind to the planet. But Thinking Mu is more than just a fashion label—it's a movement. Rooted in art, design, sustainability, and a deep connection to nature, the brand encourages its community to think beyond the conventional. Recently, they launched the Thinking Mu Festival, a platform to bring together fans of unconventional sounds, discover emerging artists, and raise awareness about the ongoing climate crisis. Nature has always been at the heart of their universe, inspiring their commitment to protecting what matters most. Check out their website to explore all their initiatives!

Guess the name of the Movie from the Emojis below!
🍫🦐

The answer to last week’s game was: The Phantom of the Opera. Did you guess it? Let us know!

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✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com

All typos are intentional, we are expats ;)

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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