the social

A M E A N B E A N : E A R W A X C A F E

as the years pass, it becomes more and more clear that things don't stay pure for very long. wicker park in chicago, specifically the six-corner intersection sometimes known as the crotch, is no different than said things.

back in the late eighties the neighborhood was the midwest's metropolitan epicenter for the arts and subculture. flash forward deux decades and it has still stayed somewhat true to it's roots, despite being infiltrated by the mainstream (including strip malls, starbucks and the like).

earwax has it's roots firmly planted within the same culture the neighborhood was born in to. the wicker park coffee shop and cafe is known for drawing quite a crowd in it's already cramped environment. the fare is both carnivore and vegetarian friendly, and it's highly recommended that when getting a caffeine boost, you refuel on some nosh as well. aside from your standard coffee bar and cafe choices, the espresso milkshake, sweet potato quesadilla, black bean burger and the turkey, spinach and feta burger are all well worth a trip to this windy city gem.

dig around for some earwax.

photo: time out chicago 

 

A M E A N B E A N : E S P R E S S O M A R T I N I

if you're okay with being associated with the popped-collar, fake-and-baking, polo-wearing and fake-breasted crowd, then, yes, go ahead and order that redbull and vodka. or, hell, revisit twenty-oh-five and go for a jagerbomb. 

however, if you're looking for a classier, more sophisticated alternative that will leave you just as wired but looking like less of a king douche, wrap your hands around an espresso martini.

to concoct, simply add two ounces cold espresso, one and a half ounces kettle one vodka and half an ounce of butterscotch schnapps to a shaker filled with ice. shake it like you're gonna break it and strain into a chilled martini glass. garnish with a few coffee beans if you're feeling extra fancy.

photo: i love my grub

A M E A N B E A N : S P A N I S H C O F F E E

sometimes cases of the mondays trickle into the rest of the week... in which case, it's best to start your days the same way champions do: with an alcoholic beverage cloaked in innocent-looking coffee.

first, brew a couple cups of java. then, take a lime wedge and wet the rim of two brandy snifters and dip in a plate of sugar to rim the glasses. add half an ounce of almond liqueur (such as armaretto), one ounce of orange liqueur (such as cointreau) and one ounce of coffee liqueur (such as kahlua) to each of the glasses. then, add three-fourths cup of coffee to both of the snifters, stirring with a spoon. finally, garnish with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

whoever said the best part of waking up is folgers in your cup was seriously lame, because this shit is tops.

photo: tangobiker

A M E A N B E A N : K O F F I E V A N B R U N T

 
considering that valentine's day is coming up, and that it's a completely nauseating holiday, i deem it completely appropriate to cope by means of putting a little syrup in your java...

but, of course, if you're going to do so, it should be done with class. a 7-eleven cup filled with three-fourths coffee and one-fourths kahlua? that's some bullshit. be a real grown up and waltz into work with your thermos full of koffie van brunt. 

add one shot of both dark rum and cherry heering liqueur to a mug. add two teaspoons of packed brown sugar as well as three-fourths cup of hot coffee, stirring to dissolve the sugar. garnish with two tablespoons of whipped cream and top it off by finely grating a hint of orange peel and cinnamon over the drink.

just a word of life advice, loneliness slash desperation mixed with alcohol should at least attempt to never equal making lewd passes at the mildly attractive director of human resources. but the nerdy chic webmaster or buxom receptionist? well... game on!

recipe and photo: epicurious

A M E A N B E A N : T H E S M I L E

 
am i the only one who feels like miss keys and mister carter are trying to convince me (and doing a damn good job of it) of purchasing a one-way ticket to nyc? if i'm not alone in this boat, we all might want to think about at least taking a trip to new york.

and while there, we definitely should visit the uber-hip cafe, the smile.

carlos quirarte and matt kliegman brought this cafe and mixed-use concept store to life in the late winter/early spring of oh-nine. the two dudes received a lot of help from an art caterer (melia marden), a tatto artist (scott campbell) and a los angeles coffee aficionado (jeff johnson). it's the city's only cafe, retail store and tattoo parlor, all under one roof. featuring stellar products, including those done by wool and the gang and downtown stationary cards, and wake-your-ass-up strong coffee, this mixed-up venue (on paper) completely delivers (in person).

you can find the smile at twenty-six bond street (between the bowery and lafayette) in noho. 

put a fucking smile on your face.

photo: wool and the gang

A M E A N B E A N : N E S P R E S S O V A R I A T I O N S

 
 
i'm sure the cat lady of an office assistant at your current place of work has been playing christmas music since october seventeenth because it's the only time of the year she has somewhat of a life, so i know i don't need to remind you that the holidays are coming up.

but, while we're on the subject, nespresso just launched their line of delectable holiday caffeine-packed shots. the winter line includes gingerbread, chestnut cream and apricot. the gingerbread espresso shot has hints of crystalized orange zest, honey, cinnamon and a strong base of ginger and brown sugar. the chestnut cream variety has a sweet, concentrated taste of nostalgia-inducing candied chestnuts. and, last but not least, the apricot espresso has the aroma of a very fresh, ripe sampling of the aforementioned fruit. 

perfect for the caffeine addicts on your holiday shopping list, and also relatively cheap at under one bone per prepackaged espresso shot. now the espresso machines... well, you might want to leave supplying that up to the gift receiver.

get your holiday fix at nespresso.

photo: mawel

A M E A N B E A N : J A V A H H H

 
early mornings make you want to scream? well, this halloween, indulge in those desires with the social's version of your morning cup of joe: javahhh.

brew your breakfast blend as usual. then, bring a few inches of water to a boil in a sauce pan while holding a heat resistant bowl above the liquid. combine 2 egg whites, one-third of a cup of sugar, half of a teaspoon of cream of tartar and a pinch of salt into the bowl and whisk above the boiling water for one to two minutes. once it is hot to the touch and the sugar has dissolved, remove the bowl from the heat and whisk for about five minutes. add a dollop on top of your caffeinated beverage and add small candies for eyes to complete.

because we all know that without your javahhh, you'll be a wicked bitch witch all morning...

photo and recipe inspiration: food network

A M E A N B E A N : S I P C O F F E E H O U S E

whether you're reading pride and prejudice or the latest issue of us weekly (hidden behind a copy of nylon, of course. i mean, what would people think?), sip coffee house could make even britney spears feel indie.

a coffee shop after my own heart, they sell anti-starbucks stickers at the register. but that's not all to love from this chicago coffee house. walk in at any time during operating hours and you'll find the laid-back clientele lounging at the tables inside - and in summertime chi, many scattered about the outdoor garden. 

oh, yeah, and the coffee... it's lives up to the atmosphere of this chicago gem. using direct trade (a.k.a. even better than fair trade) intelligentsia beans to brew our lattes and iced coffees, not only does the coffee taste better than good, but the fact that the growers are paid higher wages, will also make you feel good. they also serve up teas, desserts, baked breakfast goodies and pastries.

go ahead, take a sip.

A M E A N B E A N : O S T C A F E

a little bit of seattle in the upper east side. 

it has the same quaint, genuine coffee house experience that you would expect from the northwestern regions (i.e. san fran and portland), but nestled in the ebb and flow of busy new york city. you would think, with new york being a mecca for pretentious people and over-priced goods, this cafe would follow suit. 

well, they defy the mold and have very friendly staff and very moderately priced caffeine fixes - all while still having a hip location, with comfortable seating and loads of literature to read while sipping your joe. 

if ost cafe were in high school, they would for sure be that girl who's the hottest in class, but doesn't really seem to know it and is friends with everyone. as a matter of fact, i think most of the baristas were that girl in high school.

get your next cup of iced bold roast from ost.

A M E A N B E A N : C A F E P A T A C H O U

indianapolis might not be the first thing that comes to mind when looking for associates of the words indie, rad and pack your bags, lets go, but after visiting patachou cafe, it will take the number one spot.

patachou is a swanky little cafe that has the town buzzing about its homemade bread, delicious omelets and killer java. unlike the ihops, perkins' and denny's of the world, patachou caters to those who aren't looking to have to undo their belt buckle after a meal and that, i don't know, actually have taste.

the heavy hitters of the lighter fare menu at this adorable cafe are the open yolk sandwiches, any omelet, the cinnamon toast and of course, the coffee. and the rad part? the majority of the ingredients are from local farms and they're fresher than governor sanford in argentina.

visit patachou and you'll see why they put the indie in indianapolis.