Welcome home Wildkittens! Between the best week ever Welcome Week, registering for classes, and moving into your dorms, you’ve got a lot on your plates. There will definitely be things you need to figure out yourself (like getting around Tech, sorry engineers), but navigating Heavanston Evanston is not one of them. Keep reading for the ultimate primer to your new town: the basics and my special favorites.
THE BASICS
These are the spots that you need to know. They are ingrained in Northwestern culture. The Alex to Northwestern’s Piper. The Ron to its Hermoine. You get the picture.
CHEESIE’S
Open until the beautiful hour of 5 am, Cheesie’s is the ultimate destination for late night bites. As the name suggests, their speciality is grilled cheese – but this isn’t just cheese and butter between two slices of bread. Between the ‘Mac, which is literally macaroni and cheese on a sandwhich, and the widely agreed-upon favorite the Tenderizer (cheddar, mozzarella, BBQ sauce, hot sauce, chicken fingers, and bacon), there is an artful creation to suit every cheese-enthusiast’s palette. However, as delicious as it sounds, Cheesie’s is typically only frequented from about midnight to its closing – the only time most of us can rationalize eating that much on a sandwhich.
UNICORN CAFE
Right on Sherman Ave., Unicorn is a great coffee shop and study spot. It’s more laid-back than Starbucks, and all of its baked goods, delicious sandwiches (which come with an always perfect slice of cantelope) and vegan soups are made fresh daily. The coffee and tea are extremely high quality; they taste as handcrafted as the design on your cappaccino. It rarely gets too noisy or crowded, so enjoy a muffin, a dirty chai (my personal favorite), and free wi-fi for as long as you’d like.
ANDY’S
I’m a froyo person. Coming to Northwestern, I expected Red Mango or another froyo establishment to be my go-to for sweet treats. Then I was introduced to Andy’s and my life was literally forever changed. Andy’s makes frozen custard, which is like a creamy soft-serve ice cream, right in front of your eyes. Next, you choose from a variety of mix-in options, either getting a pre-designed combination or creating your own concotions. However, the stand-outs are often Andy’s limited edition flavors, such as pumpkin pie, in which literally A WHOLE SLICE of pumpkin pie is mixed into your ice cream. Don’t be afraid to be daring and creative, the best concretes are normally the most outraegeous.
THE MUST-TRY SPOTS
NAF-NAF GRILL
Although it’s starting to gain a following on campus, Naf Naf is sometimes overlooked by students because it’s not on the Sherman Ave. stretch. Some friends took me to Naf Naf for the first time late winter quarter, literally dragging me through a snowstorm. It was totally worth it. Naf Naf is like the Chipotle of Mediterraenean food: you pick your base (salad bowl or pita) and your fillings. The pita bread is outraegeous and the flavors are super unique; it’s a nice change from dining hall basics. No matter what you choose for your main meal, you must get the fries, which can only be described as the child of french fries and potato chips. Need I say more?
ENVY
So, before I go into detail about my favorite clothing store in Evanston, I’m going to start out with a little anecdote. I needed a dressy outfit for Friday, it was Thursday, and nothing I brought to school fit me due to the wonderful places I’ve mentioned above. Panicked, I ran to Envy based on a friend’s recommendation, announced “I don’t know anything about clothes, help me” and walked out an hour later with a fantastic outfit. Envy has super trendy, fun pieces at low prices. The staff is helpful, fashion-forward, and friendly. It’s also great for basics – I got my favorite skirt there and went back for it in multiple colors, all without breaking the bank.
BLIND FAITH CAFÉ
This vegetarian restaurant is home to hands down one of the best meals I’ve ever had. Ever. While it’s not as close to Northwestern as these other picks, it’s definitely possible (and worth it) to walk here; if you’re feeling lazy it wouldn’t be too expensive to take an Uber. Vegetarian restaurants can get a bad rap. People often expect a group of hippies serving them nothing but home-grown, organic vegetables with the dirt still on them. However, even carnivores I know have fallen in love with Blind Faith. Everything is beyond fresh and the dishes are so creative and satisfying you don’t even miss the meat. While most of the main courses have a healthy (yet delicious) flair, they don’t skimp on the deserts. From warm fruit tarts to rich chocolate cake, you’re bound to leave Blind Faith with a food coma and a smile on your face.