Maybe you need an extra oomph for your outfit or forgot to pack a pair of sensible heels for dinner. Ikram’s range is from Alaïa to Vaquera. Well merchandised and well stocked.

No frills mani pedi spot with trashy weeklies to keep you company while you dry your nails. Gels are also available. Full staff, bit buzzy when I walked in during lunch time. Definitely recommend if you need to kill a couple hours and don’t feel like roaming around the outdoor mall of West Loop.

Bumped up next to Sawada Coffee in a shared space, Green Street Smoked Meats is open at 11 am. Pictured is the “Wild Child”. Pulled pork, pulled brisket topped with coleslaw and pickles sandwiched in a Martin’s potato bun. Had to throw in a side of broccoli salad for greens and a delightful crunch to contrast. Not bad for a $20 breakfast for a Big Girl, but probably better with another friend or two. Beer hall environment with long picnic tables shared with Sawada Coffee. Beers on draft and a few big screens to watch a game. A spot to swing by with friends and order a platter of meat with a bunch of Americana sides.

I was curious to check out how Hogsalt would do coffee so took a $50 cab ride from the airport for a “Military Latte”. Matcha, espresso, almond milk over ice. Although all the press, reviews and pedestrians note the touch of a world renowned Barista, it’s really about location and the neighborhood experience. Long picnic tables invite you to chill and pull out your laptop or just hang with friends. Located on N. Green St. around the corner of my personal fave, “Girl and the Goat”. It’s in a convenient location and has an open, airy industrial charm with Green Street Meats attached.