need convenient place to study

i live in the south loop and am looking for a convenient place to study. Right now I either take the blue line to Filter or the red line to Bourgeois Pig, but I'd rather go somewhere closer. I've tried Gourmand, but it's dark, loud, and smoke-filled (and will continue to be loud and dark after the ban). I've also tried Caribou on Wabash, but it's a bit small. Any ideas?

Harold Washington Library

Try the library in DePaul's downtown campus. I haven't been in a couple of years, but there used to be both a decent coffee stand in the lobby and a full cafeteria/food court upstairs. And the library itself tends to be quiet as a tomb, with comfortable seating.

Here are a couple of threads that might help.

Discussion of coffee shops:
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=6722

Here's another discussion of late night coffee shops and other studying places.
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.ph ... ate+coffee

Hi there,

I'm not sure where in the South Loop you are located but there's a great coffee house, off the beaten path located in Pilsen.

Efebos Cafe, located at 1640 S. Blue Island, is a spacious cafe that at once feels quaint and homey. Local art is on display and it seems to change every few weeks. They are also an internet cafe, so there are computers and printers located on one side of the room.

I think Efebos gives the venerable Pilsen institution, Jumping Bean, a run for its money. Efebos has delicious sandwiches (try the turkey) and pastries, and it would surely fit the bill of a quiet place to study. There is a large room up front with the usual couches and tables, and then a smaller room in the back which is great when you need some quiet. Even when Efebos is full, it's still pretty quiet. Their eclectic music selection is great background for anything.

I would like to recommend another place, located on Madison Street (north side of street) between Racine and Sangamon, but I cannot for the life of me remember its name. Again, great atmosphere but a bit busier. If someone knows the name of this place, post and remind me, I can't think of it!

Efebos Cafe
1640 S. Blue Island
312-633-9212

Jumping Bean
1439 W. 18th St.
312-455-0019

Just study at home, so you don't look like the laptoppers at Starbucks.

JimInLoganSquare wrote:Try the library in DePaul's downtown campus. I haven't been in a couple of years, but there used to be both a decent coffee stand in the lobby and a full cafeteria/food court upstairs. And the library itself tends to be quiet as a tomb, with comfortable seating.

Not sure if the policy has changed recently, but as of last year, you had to show DePaul ID to get into the cafeteria. You can still get into the building, and there're some generic eateries on the ground floor, but the rooftop cafeteria was closed to nonstudents/staff/faculty.

(That said, my wife is a student at DePaul Law, and they let me in with her. Smile real nice at one of the students and they'll probably be happy to escort you in as a "guest.")

We used to live in South Loop, and had a hard time finding studying space too. One place we kinda liked was TeaLeaf in Chinatown. Completely American food (hot dogs?), but it's a cozy and usually quiet little place, and you can always zip to a nearby Chinatown eatery if you want something else. The bubble tea is made from powder, not fresh fruit, but it's still tasty. IIRC they have wireless internet but I may be wrong.

TeaLeaf
2336 S. Wentworth, Chicago
(312) 808-3668

oof. deja vu.

if you're in south loop, see my post here

there's also:
Caribou on Halsted:
1328 South Halsted
Chicago, IL 60608
312-738-3570
* can study al fresco ... obviously not right now but...

Iguana Cafe
517 N. Halsted St.
Chicago
312-432-0663
* has liquour license, so you can slurp Irish coffees while flipping pages.

tonite... i'm going to order boba, sit, and enjoy smoke free environs at every Chinatown bakery. after a smoke-free weekend in Toronto, i'm very excited to come back to smoke-free Chicago.

KatyK wrote:I would like to recommend another place, located on Madison Street (north side of street) between Racine and Sangamon, but I cannot for the life of me remember its name. Again, great atmosphere but a bit busier. If someone knows the name of this place, post and remind me, I can't think of it!

This one? It's a trifle east of what you describe.

West Gate Coffeehouse
924 W. Madison, Chicago
(312) 829-9378

TonyC Quoth:

tonite... i'm going to order boba, sit, and enjoy smoke free environs at every Chinatown bakery. after a smoke-free weekend in Toronto, i'm very excited to come back to smoke-free Chicago.

TonyC,

May you live in interesting times and come to the attention of important people.

-- Rabbifucius