North Side Notes | Andrea’s Uptown + Lincoln Square Favorites
If you know Andrea, you know she carries a quiet European ease with her everywhere she goes — walking into meetings with a tote full of German chocolates, answering emails from a café bench, or catching up with clients on long neighborhood strolls. As she transitions from her leadership role at the German International School Chicago into her next chapter with Sage Haus, we wanted to share a few of her go-to North Side spots — the places that feel like home, the ones she recommends without hesitation, and the ones where she’s most likely to run into someone she knows.
Crema
Uptown
Andrea calls Crema her “easy yes” — a place where you can order something warm, unhurried, and (most importantly) bring your dog inside with you. It’s a true neighborhood café: warm lighting, reliable coffee, and regulars who always seem to be having a very good morning. If you see a poodle mix curled up under the table, you’re probably five feet away from Andrea.
Sunnyside Mall
Uptown
Less of a walking route and more of a Fußgängerzone without the storefronts, Sunnyside Mall is where Andrea stops to sit for a moment. It's a small, tree-lined pass-through on the way toward the lakefront — a place to sip a coffee, watch kids play, and observe the choreography of dogs and their owners passing by. It’s the closest thing in Uptown to a European-style public square, even in miniature.
Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen
Lincoln Square
When homesickness hits in the most specific way — when you want that mustard, that chocolate, that moment of “this feels like where I grew up” — Andrea heads to Gene’s. It’s her shortcut to Berlin, Frankfurt, and everywhere in between. She’ll tell you what to grab (the pretzels), what to skip (the pretzels when they’re sold out), and which aisle brings the most joy (the candy section, always).
A Few More North Side Things Andrea Loves
A casual lunch on the go
Taste of Lebanon, Andersonville
When she wants something quick, unfussy, and consistently great, Andrea heads to Taste of Lebanon. The falafel wrap is her favorite in the city — warm, crispy, fresh — and the owners greet you like they’ve known you for years. It’s the kind of spot that makes a weekday feel lighter.
Where she walks her dog
Montrose Dog Beach to Foster Beach
Andrea’s dog is her shadow, especially on the lakefront. Montrose Dog Beach is their happy place, but a simple walk along the waterfront trail toward Foster brings just as much joy. Wind in your face, waves in the background — the “big city dog with a European heart” moment she loves most.
A cozy glass of wine with a friend
Farm Bar, Ravenswood
When the day winds down and a friend texts, “Wine?” — Farm Bar is the answer. Warm ambience, neighborhood energy, great small bites, and a wine list that never disappoints. It’s the kind of corner spot that becomes a ritual without trying.
Andrea has been a steady presence in the German community on the North Side for years — someone who loves Chicago through the lens of where she comes from and where she’s going next. As she steps into her role at Sage Haus, these small neighborhood rituals remain the grounding points in her day.
This is her corner of the North Side.
Her way of feeling at home.
