Coffee Coves: The coziest off-campus study escapes in L.P.

As a new year unveils itself, it's as good of a time as any to resolve that you'll pick up that GPA.

Unfortunately, some students balk at the idea of holing up in the Richardson Library and running into hordes of fellow students. This can often be a deterrent for students in need of a quiet place to study.

The following are a collection of local coffee shops—all serving coffee and tea with free Wi-Fi—that are more than suitable alternatives to our glum library.

TOPICS

In early December, the coffee bar Topics opened just a short walk from the Lincoln Park Campus and owner Lou Vidaillet has thought of it all.

Topics was "designed for productivity," offering private workspace rentals for only 10 cents per minute ($6/hr.) as well as a printer, copier, scanner, and fax machine on top of the usual finds.

Students can stop by before class to do some last-minute studying and print an essay right from their laptop while picking up an addictive (and inexpensive) cup of Intelligentsia coffee or organic tea.

Getting work done at this location is anything but Richardson-Library-gloomy. The large and well-lit space is filled with sleek, minimalist furniture, familiar music at a reasonable volume, and the works of local artists.

Jared Applegate's paintings currently line the walls and plans for a student gallery is in the works.

Overall, this is the place to find light-heartedness over pretension, and no choice need be made between getting a decent cup of coffee and printing that paper.

Mon-Fri: 6 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sat-Sun: 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 2122 N. Halsted St. topicsusa.com

NOBLE TREE COFFEE AND TEA

Located on Clark Street between Fullerton and Arlington, Noble Tree offers an environment unique from anything found at your local Starbucks.

The three-story, vintage home-turned-coffee shop wears its dust with pride and values its mismatched antique chairs, couches, lamps, and tables over any sleek, modern furniture that other places opt for.

The quiet, comfortable ambiance and guaranteed seating draws more customers than the menu, though Noble serves Metropolis coffee and a notably large selection of teas.

Highly recommended menu items include espressos, caramel lattes, and the vegan and gluten-free pastries.

The downside to this coffee bar is a slow Wi-Fi connection with a two-hour time limit, making it best for homework involving mostly reading and writing.

Mon-Thu: 7 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Fri: 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat-Sun: 8 a.m.-8 p.m., 2444 N. Clark St. nobletreecoffee.com

NADA TEA & COFFEE HOUSE

Nada is another great place to get work done right near Lincoln Park Campus; only five stops west of Seminary on Fullerton's 74 bus.

There is nowhere better for students with skyrocketing stress levels than Lincoln Park's only Japanese-style coffee house. The space was purposefully designed to create a Zen atmosphere complete with modern bamboo furniture, Japanese artwork, and faint classical music.

To boot: everything is delicious. The hot chocolate is rich and creamy, there's food under $5 (the most popular being Donburi rice bowls), and quality tea comes served on an adorable tray with an egg timer and all. Every ingredient used is free of MSG and any other artificial ingredients.

Keeping with the "Zen principle of simplicity," Nada has minimal seating but is never full, thus, a great location for those easily distracted in a crowded atmosphere.

Mon-Fri: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (hours vary, call ahead), 1552 W. Fullerton Ave. nadateahouse.com

iCOMPUTE CAFE

A year and a half ago, MD Technological Services teamed up with iCompute Café to create an Internet café that also offers computer repairs, training, software, and accessories.

Along with free Wi-Fi, iCompute has a selection of computers to rent ($6/hr.) should yours be out of commission. A printer, copier, and scanner are all available as well.

Oh, and the cake drops alone are worth the trip; dense balls of chocolate cake dunked in a thick layer of Godiva chocolate—yum. Other bestsellers include their imported, Bridgeport coffee, Redbull, and brownies.

Mon-Fri: 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 2461 N. Lincoln Ave., icomputecafe.com

LINCOLN PERK

Lincoln Perk is a bit further from campus than the other names in this collection, located just near Clark and Wrightwood. The cozy space envelops customers in warm, calming colors and displays of local art.

Unlike corporate coffee shops, it is rare to find more than a couple of customers enjoying the shop at a time.

Everything LP serves is home made including their selection of fresh baked pastries. Popular menu options include, of course, coffee, as well as sandwiches, paninis, tiramisu, and the Eggnog latte currently offered for the winter season.

This isn't the place to come if you need a large table to spread out on, but just right for getting some reading done and working on a laptop in the company of some delicious food.

612 W. Wrightwood Ave., lincolnperkcafe.com