Chicago Bites #35
NaNoWriMo Coffee Shop Tour
The coffee at the Pick Me Up Cafe gives novelists the jolt needed to keep writing.
Tammy and I have been M.I.A. for a while. That’s because, in addition to all of the holiday madness that descends this time of year, we both participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. Let me tell you, it was no small feat. But we both emerged victorious with our pens brandished high.
And NaNoWriMo also gave us the perfect excuse to lug our laptops to coffee shops throughout the city to sip the brew, sample the food, and Write In Public (WIP). From Starbucks, to eclectic neighborhood places complete with overstuffed couches, we toured the gamut. Listen in to learn which places are most accommodating to aspiring novelists.
(8.7 M)
00:00 - 02:15 Intro- Our NaNoWriMo Quest
02:18 - 05:20 The Starbucks Baseline and What to Look For When WIPing
05:21 - 07:07 Uncommon Ground Review
07:08 - 09:04 Comments on Laptop Abandonment
09:05 - 11:45 Pick Me Up Cafe Review
11:46 - 13:51 Gourmand Review
13:52 - 16:31 Other Places we WIPed
16:32 - 18:49 Wrap-Up and Sign-Off
Starbucks
106-108 W. Germania Pl.
Uncommon Ground
3800 N. Clark
Pick Me Up Cafe
3408 N. Clark
Gourmand
728 S. Dearborn
Michael's
101 W. North Ave.
Third Coast
1260 N. Dearborn
The Grind
4613 N. Lincoln Ave.
Bridget would most likely write at Gourmand or the Pick Me Up Cafe
Tammy would most likely write at The Grind or Gourmand
They like butter at Michael's. Seriously.
Tammy and I agree on the granola at Uncommon Ground. It's super tasty and healthy too!
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Bridget Houlihan & 
Tammy GreenWe're here for 3 reasons:
- To meet people
- To expand our culinary horizons &
- To play with cool technology
You two always look like your have so much fun and you make the food look great. Also great job on the podcast. they are sound better great!!!
It's all your fault! I am "King Walsh" hear me roar!
Congrats on the novel writing!
One thing that makes cafe's more flexible is to get a mega-life battery. I upgraded to one of these and no longer have to hug the wall at cafes or at the airport. Makes life nice.
I just discovered Evanston's Brothers K at Main and Hinman. Very comfy, particularly compared to the "Cafe Depress" that it used to be. They have power along the walls, good coffee, baked goods and some food. They also have outdoor seating in the better weather.
I tend to like places where there is a human vibe going on. If the coffee shop is empty, I might as well stay home and caffeinate there.