Blog #2
Greetings from the even snowier Gold Coast! This past weekend we were absolutely buried, receiving just about a foot of snow! It has certainly made for an interesting commute to work each morning, but also for some cozy evenings indoors. The last couple of weeks have been packed with work and learning but has also been filled with adventures and time with friends.

I have continued to get my necessary coffee fix! Over the last few weeks, I have revisited Intelligentsia where I tried their specialty brew, a strong and smooth roast. I also made it to PiniPico, a Brazilian cafe in the Gold Coast and before class on Wednesday, I made a trip to Big Shoulders Coffee which is right down the road. These are just a few of the ones I have tried!

My adventures have also brought me to Portillo’s where I tried a famous Chicago dog and their chocolate cake shake, which was divine! The first round of the Chicago Semester pizza tour gave us a chance to try Lou Malnati’s pizza, which was also very good! A scavenger hunt brought a few of us to Wrigleyville, Cloud Gate (the Bean), and Buckingham Fountain which is one of the largest in the world. Valentine’s weekend also brought new experiences. Some of us visited Happy Camper in Old Town for a night out. The fries and the pizza are fantastic (highly recommend), and the atmosphere is so much fun!

My girlfriend was in town for the weekend, so we did brunch at Sunny Side Up Chicago cafe on Valentine’s Day and followed that up with a visit to 360Chicago, the observation deck on the 94th floor of the John Hancock building. The views are absolutely stunning from that high up and the pictures are always awesome! I also made my first trip into Jewel Osco, a local chain grocery store, and made Instant Pot macaroni and cheese, which was incredible!