Showing posts with label logan square. Show all posts
Showing posts with label logan square. Show all posts

Monday, May 01, 2017

Damn Fine Coffee Bar




Subject: Damn Fine Coffee Bar
Location: Chicago, IL
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

The first time I heard the words "damn fine" were in the King's English in a CS Lewis book (technically "dem fine"). The Magician's Nephew, still my most loved of the seven Chronicles of Narnia, features an eccentric uncle who refers to the short-tempered Queen Jadis as a "dem fine woman." At the time when I first read this, I took this as scandal, as I was 11 and didn't read books with "sentence enhancers." But years later, after learning all 13 bad words and then banishing them from my lips (as fancy sophisticates should not stain their lips with cursing), I have personally sought to find more creative vocabulary. And so, even though I really don't see the word "damn" as a foul word (unless you use it as a verb, and then you are telling the person/thing to go to H-E-DOUBLE-HOCKEY-STICKS, which is kinda bad if you believe in hell (and I do)), it's a word I just don't use casually any more just to play it safe.

Thursday, March 07, 2013

CC: Gaslight Coffee Roasters



Subject: Gaslight Coffee Roasters
Location: Chicago, IL
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]


Some people I know still shudder and shake at the idea of using trains as a primary means of transportation. Sure the noble automobile has much more versatility, but when you're in a city like Chicago with its superb transit systems, it just makes more sense to take the L where you need to go.

But unfortunately for me one night, I found myself chained to a colleague who refused to let me take the train to get some coffee because it was "unsafe."  Instead, after some negotiation to keep the apple cart settled, I found myself being chauffeured (not a bad compromise) to my evening coffee stop in Logan Square, Gaslight Coffee Roasters.

Getting out of the car, I found Gaslight conveniently situated in a very visible corner space with wide windows. Stepping inside, it seemed that even the cold night air could not chill the warm vibe given off by the clean design and spiffy decor of the interior. The place was also packed and buzzing, despite the late hour.

Sauntering up to the counter, in no time at all I engaged a barista or two in coffee-laden banter, eventually deciding on a espresso of their Ethiopian Sidamo and a pourover of their Colombian Peaberry. The espresso, pulled short with brown crema, shot off rockets of intense flavor, with notes of berry, almond croissant, cocoa, hibiscus, red wine and a little cumin (delicious!). The pourover proved creamy and sweet with wheat, additionally throwing in notes of vanilla, corn and apple skin, proving smooth and thoroughly pleasant.

While I wasn't able to hang out as long as I would have liked (my chaffuer awaited me in the car), it was great to make it out to Gaslight Coffee Roasters. When you're in Chicago, make sure to float yourself over for great coffee.