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It’s grande non-fat Peppermint Mocha season, ho ho-ho. And I’m reviewing another Starbucks as a place to get out your laptop and drink coffee.
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Coffee and Wi-Fi in Lincoln Park, Chicago
Hotspots-a-Go-Joe, edition II/iii
Lincoln Park Starbucks at Fullerton & Racine
- Peppermint Mocha. So-o-o-o minty. One can order a Peppermint Mocha any time of year, but I restrict myself to the Christmas season – and by that I mean two weeks before Halloween (in a good year, all the way back to August) to either a full week after New Year, or until the needles fall off the tree, which, one year, was Valentines Day.
- Starbucks for Life. It’s a little weird, Starbucks’ confidence that my life won’t extend beyond the next 30 years. Even so, Tom Jones and the Carlton; how can you resist? But more importantly, a free sandwich for the next 30 years,[1] that could be my retirement. God knows that once the baby boomers demolish Social Security, free sandwiches at Starbucks might be my only hope. I could trade Venti double lattes for prescription meds on even days, and eat lemon pound cake on the odd days.
Workspace Pros & Cons
- Pro: This ‘Bucks is enormous. You could hold a wedding reception here. Pro: There are so many electrical outlets. I think there are more plugs than could conceivably be used, given the layout of the tables near them. Pro: Even the window seats have plugs. Pro: You can comfortably work here while drinking good coffee. Pro: Decent WiFi and a unobjectionable bathroom.
- Con: It’s not the best coffee in Chicago. The coffee’s good; you can’t deny it. But it’s not the best; you have to acknowledge that. Con: Lacks a live turtle.
You might feel like this ‘Bucks is in the Sheffield Neighbors neighborhood, but my money’s on Lincoln Park.
Starbucks Lincoln Park – Fullerton & Racine
1237 West Fullerton Ave
(3.5 / 5)
Notes:
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To read about other Lincoln Park establishments that we’ve reviewed, click here.
Other places to log on: Archer Heights, Boystown, Edgewater Beach, Fulton River District, Gold Coast, Lake View, Pilsen, Ravenswood, Rogers Park, West Loop, Wicker Park, Uptown
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Nearby this Starbucks…
If you bring them five shirts, they’ll clean three of them.
Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your site?
Not at all, Blair! Somewhere in the fine print of my site, it suggests exactly that.
Who ever heard of Sheffield Neighbors? That is so made up.
Fucking baby boomers.
We should all be much more vocal about pointing the finger at them.
Seriously. They’ve ruined the world.
You joke, but I would be surprised if my eventual social security ever amounts to more than a sandwich a day.
I get you, James.
Although I dislike the idea of Christmas beginning at the end of summer, I do like the idea of a Christmas Valentine’s Tree.
I’ve always wanted to do that.
Maybe Starbucks knows your life expectancy because they know what they have been putting in your coffee all these years.
Interesting thought, David.
Thank you for have the brass balls to admit that Starbucks does not serve the best coffee in Chicago.
One has to climb a little higher on the coffee chain to eventually see that, Paul. Didn’t we all start with Folgers?
Electricity near a window? What will they think of next?
An injectable latte?
I am a fan of the peppermint mocha, Chef Jeff, but as a guy, I find it hard to say those words out loud in public. Any advice?
Grow an epic beard.
President Trump?
I fear we may be collectively stupid enough to do that.
President Trump will never read this.
I wonder if anyone’s ever had their wedding reception in a Starbucks.
Computer says no, Nikki.
Really, Paula. Not cool.
I just can’t think of any reason any self-respecting person would ever have to be in this neighborhood. Except maybe to burglarize something.
You could just come for the Grande Non-Fat, No-Whip Mocha, Paula.
I am kind of super into Starbucks.
I can see that from your website, Mary Louise. When I first started reviewing cafés, I had planned to review all the Starbucks in Chicago, but I soon realized that I’d rather spend my time in independent cafés. More variety. But then peppermint mocha season comes along (coinciding with the Christmas season, which begins in the last full week of August), and I miss Starbucks.
I love Lincoln Park.
I agree with you, Constantine. I just think that it’s too big to call itself a “neighborhood.” It’s the size of a small town.
There are more than 120 that I know of.
Man, you cannot get far from a Starbucks in Chicago.
Uh, have you been to the south side, Sandro?
What I meant was, President Trump! (By the way, I only visit Starbuckses for the bathrooms. Get your coffee at an indie shop.)
Oh, well, pardon me. I’m sure you’re not one of the stupid of whom I was referring. (That’s one of the best thing about Starbuckses. Although, I frequent the one in the West Loop, and I notice they’ve put a lock on the door. So, I asked for the combo one day, figuring that then I’d have regular access, but they change the fucking code every day or so! Arg! So, you have to buy some coffee – which isn’t such a horrible thing – and then ask the workers for today’s code. Ask the bearded barista, if you can. He’s cool.)
Thanks for these café reports!
You’re welcome, Philip David.
I must have entered a hundred time, but I did not win. Did you? We are doomed.
Don’t worry, Adam Jackson, President Trump will save us.
But what if Tom Ford does read it?
Life will go on as usual, I guess.
I think Tom Ford will read this post.
No he won’t. Why would he?
If live turtles are going to be the way you judge a café, then we’re all doomed.
The vortex can save you, Malcolm.
I recently read that it will be Gen X who kills social security. So you might be OK.
Whew. That’s a relief.
Excellent article. Keep writing! One of these days, maybe we’ll make you an honorary Lincoln Park resident. But not an actual one. We don’t want your kind here. 🙂
You must be one of the ladies with the baby carriages that I’m always tripping over.
Starbucks is a cool company, and these days that is rare. I think you should finish your original quest.
You mean to visit all the Starbucks in Chicago, Bea? I do like Starbucks; in fact, I’m sitting in one right now, enjoying a caramel latte, as I’m writing this! Starbucks is a corporation, not a person. During the course of my quest, I began to question why I was offing a money-making machine free assistance. I agree with you, though: they are a cool company. From what I can see they seem to take a genuine interest in their employees.