Cafe mud reaches first anniversary

Cafe Mud

1936 Maple Ave.

(847) 733-9904

Monday through Thursday: 7:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 10:30 a.m. – 12 a.m.

Sunday: 10:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

If there’s one thing Northwestern students can always find, it’s a coffee shop.

When Cafe Mud owner Aryst Kirsch opened his cafe almost a year ago, he was confident that the cafe’s unique format would draw a crowd despite the competition.

“Business has been really good,” Kirsch said. “During the school year, we’re very busy.”

Cafe Mud, located near the Foster Street El stop, offers traditional espresso drinks and several house specialties, such as the Snickers Mud latte. When it comes to atmosphere, Kirsch said he tried to be as far from Starbucks as possible, which required more effort than creating the average cafe.

“The concept wasn’t to open just another coffee shop, but something between a European style cafe and a fast food place,” Kirsch said. “There’s a sensitive ambiance and feel to the place, which actually took a lot of time and money. We often say that our product is ambience.”

Although Kirsch said he wanted to create an environment where students could study and work, the coffee house is also home to live music and theater performances.

Most recently, Cafe Mud showed a production of “Moscow-Petushki,” an international play.

“We try to feature small theater productions, showing all over the world, that have won awards,” Kirsch said. “With music, we try to go more for quality of performance. We’d like to intensify our future with theater production and music.”

The cafe’s 1-year anniversary is Nov. 4, and Kirsch said he is looking forward to many more years of success. He said he has been very pleased with the student response to Cafe Mud.

Not only do they study in the cafe, he said, but four students even have used the place for filming.

“We want to involve students as much as possible,” Kirsch said. “This place is for them.”

Dia de los muertos celebration

Casita Azul Folk Art

817-B Chicago Ave.

(847) 424-8180

Saturday, Oct. 29, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 30, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Free admission

Folk art store Casita Azul features pieces from all over the world, but African, Thai and American art will take a backseat this weekend for the gallery’s Dia de los Muertos open house and fundraiser.

The Mexican holiday, called Day of the Dead in English, is a festival held Nov. 1-2 that honors deceased friends and relatives.

“It’s a major holiday, and lots of art is done,” said Casita Azul co-owner Jill Negronida Hampton. “We have sugar skulls made in Mexico, art depicting people in various occupations, and just a lot of fun, whimsical things.”

In American culture, “fun” and “whimsical” aren’t words used to describe holidays remembering dead loved ones. But Hampton said that’s exactly what she finds most important about celebrating the day with art.

“I really think the way death is looked at in Mexico is much healthier than our sorrow and morbid fear of death,” Hampton said. “Dia de los Muertos is setting aside days to reconnect with people and celebrate who they were and the lives they lived, rather than just mourning their passing. I want to be remembered for the things I did – not just because I died.”

The event is open to everyone and refreshments will be available. Hampton said some American Dia de los Muertos art will also be featured, as well as the gallery’s regular inventory.

A portion of the proceeds from sales at the show will go to La Casa Norte, a Chicago-based community organization in Humboldt Park that works with abandoned and homeless Hispanic families.

“I’m incredibly impressed with the work they do, the respect the staff has for the people they work with, and the dignity of the organization,” Hampton said.

Reach Kristyn Schiavone at [email protected].