Perks Cafe - Lake Cook Metra Station - Deerfield

We went to Perks Cafe which is in the Metra station (named Lake Cook) in Deerfield, IL.  It was fun to watch the trains (both commuter and freight) pass by us, though, as always, it inspired me to travel.

While there, an employee came in to relieve the one who served us.  They chatted for a few minutes, and she mentioned that she had recently seen a movie at the Glen 10.  I wanted to say, "Hey, I've seen a movie there!"  But, I don't have a voice.  Well, I do, but my voice is here online.  So, if you're reading this, Miss Barista, an empty roll of TP saw a movie there too! :)

a look into the depot waiting area

train going by

Starbucks - Northbrook (Village Square)

My third Starbucks in Northbrook.  This on in the Village Square Shopping Center.  It was another day of just reading for my owner.

Starbucks #26 for Ollie! (third one in Northbrook)

Starbucks - Vernon Hills (Townline Rd.)

Another Starbucks in Vernon Hills, remember the other one I went to was one of my first ones - #3 to be exact.  This one is #25!  A quarter of the way to the century mark!

My owner just read - Everything is Illuminated.

Starbucks #25 for Ollie!

Starbucks - Rockford (Bell School Rd.)

This was a day to work for my owner.  While writing on his laptop here, it rained really hard, then moved on and the sun came out.  I saw my first rainbow!

Rainbow #1 for Ollie!
Starbucks #24 for Ollie! (the third one in Rockford)

a rainbow!

I had to go outside for a better look!

Starbucks - Elgin (Randall Road)

We were here on Mother's Day.  The staff was complaining about their "Happy Hour" coming up where they had some special and got busy - but today was the last day of it.  Anyway, my owner read - Fahrenheit 451.

Starbucks #23 for Ollie!

reclaimed urban wood

Starbucks in the Dominick's in Ukrainian Village

We bought a coffee as we were walking to the bus stop in Ukrainian Village.  This one is inside the Dominick's grocery store there.

Starbucks #22 for Ollie!

Caribou Coffee - Vernon Hills

After that car accident getting resolved, we had some coffee (and a strawberry-banana smoothie) at Caribou Coffee in Vernon Hills.  I wrote a message on the chalkboard there!

Caribou #5 for Ollie!

Can you see my message?  Just look below

Caribou Coffee - Arlington Heights

At this Caribou, my owner finished his book The Wind Through the Keyhole.


Caribou #4 for Ollie!

Starbucks - Hainesville

This Starbucks is in Hainesville, IL.  I'm running out of things to say about Starbucks, I guess.  But never fear, I will continue on my quest!

Starbucks #21 for Ollie!

Starbucks #20 - Janesville

Well, number twenty.  Wow.  This Starbucks is in Janesville, Wisconsin.  My owner worked on his laptop for a long time, he also read a bit.  It was a relatively busy location, but the pictures below won't really show that aspect of it.

Starbucks #20 for Ollie!  (second one in Wisconsin)

reclaimed urban wood

Starbucks - Arlington Heights (Euclid & Salt Creek)

Wow, number nineteen.  What more can I say?  I'm almost out of my teens, with respect to Starbucks.

Starbucks #19 for Ollie!

Meg's Daily Grind - Perryville

Meg's Daily Grind is a cafe in Rockford.  From the sleeve on the coffee cup we got, it looks like there are multiple locations.  The one we went to was on Perryville Road.

The atmosphere was nice, there was a fireplace (though, not lit) and some comfortable chairs, as well as tables.  All my owner did was read today, though - Alias Grace as has been usual, recently.

website is here

The table with the fireplace in the background

Although we started at the table...

...we decided to sit in the chair.

Starbucks - Rockford (State & Trainer)

There are two Starbucks locations on State in Rockford.  This one is the one closer to Mulford.

Fairly typical, though the front of the store is a narrow hallway with tables in it - it allows for more privacy if you are able to snag a table at the end.  But, as it is in the front of the store (at least in terms of facing the parking lot), it allows a view to the outside world too - so it's perfect for introverted claustrophobes.  Thankfully I'm neither.

My owner worked and read (Alias Grace) for a long time here.  And for a long time was cursing the slowness of his laptop.  By the time we left it was dark and raining.  Heavily.  Thankfully I'm still transported in my carrying case!

Starbucks #18 for Ollie!

My eighteenth Starbucks.

It's raining!

Starbucks - Warrenville

Starbucks once again.  More reading (Alias Grace) more working/writing.  The outlet worked, as did the Wi-Fi, so that's what mattered.

Starbucks #17 for Ollie!

This never gets old

Cafes and walking around in Ukrainian Village, Bucktown, Wicker Park and East Village

Today we spent a lot of time in a few of Chicago's neighborhoods.  First we went to Cafe Ballou and my owner worked for a bit - he also read from Alias Grace for a bit too.  The bathroom there is crazy - there is an actual bath in there.  I took a few minutes to get to know the TP there too, of course.  Embarrassingly, there are pictures.  Then we walked around and you can see some pictures from that (including a squirrel that I thought might jump at me).  We ended up at Filter, a diner/cafe where we had more coffee (we got pretty wired that day) and had a chicken salad sandwich.  The dude next to us smelled a bit and the outlet didn't work for the laptop.  Then we went back to Ukrainian Village where my owner met his friend.  I got put in the car not too long after that, so that's the end of my day.

Overall it was a good day!

Cafe Ballou

Getting to know the help.  Also, want to bathe?

See, it's a public restroom

Cafe Ballou

Killer Squirrel!

Wicker Park / Bucktown

McDonald's casts quite a shadow...

Filter

Coffee in a Chicken Soup mug

Filter

Filter

Chicken Salad