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 - 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 - 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!

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

Starbucks - North Park

This Starbucks is in the North Park neighborhood of Chicago - right across the street from North Park University.  My owner did his usual - laptop & Vivaldi's Virgins (this is the last entry for that book, however).

Starbucks #14 for Ollie!

Starbucks - Northfield, IL

Another Starbucks.  My owner worked on his laptop and read Vivaldi's Virgins while here - between his two jobs.

Starbucks #13 for Ollie!

Starbucks - Niles, IL

Starbucks once again.  There was a fairly high proportion of people here working on laptops (my owner included).  Not that many people, maybe about six, but four of them were on laptops.

Starbucks #12 for Ollie!

peek-a-boo