Top 10 Things For Which Overflow is Thankful in 2014

10. Our location.  Many aren't aware but behind-the-scenes there's been a renewed sense of working together with a few of our neighbors at 1550 S. State.  One example is that we're now providing lunches for some students at Daystar School.  The kids get healthy lunches and we get some increased revenue.

9. Our neighborhood.  The South Loop continues to grow and nurture more and more businesses, which means more residents stay in the area and others come to the neighborhood.  We're excited to see where the future takes all of us.

8. Our roaster.  Ipsento continues to do a great job and roast quality tasting and ethical coffee.  We love to drink it and are proud to serve it to you!

7. Our baker.  Delightful Pastries keeps delivering excellent and ethical pastries.  We love to eat the non-GMO wheat, real butter, easy sugar, and locally-grown ingredients.  We might love it too much.

6. Cash.  We're thankful when people use it to pay instead of plastic.

5. Our neighbor local, small businesses.  There are too many to name but they give us places to go and "Eat, Drink, Buy Local!"

4. Our partners.  We love the Greater South Loop Association and the Daystar Center and the added value they bring to Overflow!

3.Our team of baristas.  "Teamwork makes the dreamwork."  We're thankful for Justin, Mark, Dan, Caleb, David, and Dustin.*

2. Our customers.  YOU are the life breath of Overflow.  We wouldn't exist without YOU!

1. The magic that happens when customers, baristas, and our partners all work together, embracing their diversity and their similarities, to change the world one cup at a time.  Let's call that magic "True Community."

*If you know any females with barista experience, we love to have more ladies on the team.  ;-)

See and Hear Barista Mark Perform

We all know how baristas are often artists who count on their barista work for stable income while they pursue their art endeavors.  It just so happens that one of your favorite Overflow baristas is a guitarist with exceptional skill and resume.  Here's a run down:

Mark Anderson (Chicago native, Code name: "RogerTango")

• Masters in Classical Guitar Performance at San Francisco Conservatory of Music
• Adjunct Professor of Guitar at Illinois Wesleyan University
• Guitar Instructor at The Academy of Movement and Music in Oak Park
• Performed the U.S. premier of “Rising Spirals” by award winning composer Chinary Ung

In his cover letter to apply at Overflow, Mark wrote,

"As a musician, I have learned to appreciate the full aesthetic of everything I engage in. Coffee is not a drink, it is an experience that I can create and share with a customer."  

You can see why we hired him.  Now, as part of the Daystar Center concert series, come see and hear him perform along with Necati Emirzade.  Together, they make Duo Tandem.  In addition, Zach Lehner will be displaying art before/after and creating live art during the performance.

Here are the details:

Thursday, April 17 and Saturday, April 19 (same show both dates)
7:00pm - two 45 minute sets with an intermission
General Admission: $20, includes gourmet appetizers
Bring your own beer or wine or purchase a beverage from Overflow.
Advance tickets are encouraged.  You can get them here.

Still not convinced to come???  Hear some samples of their work here.

Meet Our Staff: Jessie H.

Post 6 of 6. Last but certainly not least.

Jessie H.
1. Where were you born?
Burlington, Vermont


2. What is the top value that shapes your life?
I hope it's honesty but I don't know if that's true.


3. What's your main passion?
Music. (Note: You can check out her band here.)


4. Who is your role model?
I don't have one.


5. Tell us 1 thing you must do before you die.
Drive all the way down Route 66 from beginning to end.


6. What's your favorite drink or food at Overflow?
Iced Nutella Mocha.


7. What do you like most about Chicago?
Biking around the city.


8. Tell us 1 random thing you'd like people to know about you.
I was a beekeeper before I moved to Chicago.

Meet Our Staff: Chris M.

This is post 5 of 6.  Hope you're enjoying learning about the people who make your lattes.  :)

Chris M. 
1. Where were you born?
Hoffman Estates, Illinois

2. What is the top value that shapes your life?
Joy. Seeking joy and giving joy to others.

3. What's your main passion?
Music. (Note: Check out Chris' awesome band Mathien.)

4. Who is your role model?
My mom, my dad, and my brother. They really know how to be good people.

5. Tell us 1 thing you must do before you die.
Visit Brazil.

6. What's your favorite drink or food at Overflow?
The Fort Dearborn sandwich and regular coffee.  Our coffee is really good.

7. What do you like most about Chicago?
The diversity and the fact that I can never stop discovering the city no matter how long I live here.

8. Tell us 1 random thing you'd like people to know about you.
When I was three I ate a mushroom off the ground. My dad gave me syrup of ipecac and I threw it up.

Meet Our Staff: Justin Bo.

This is post 4 of 6.

Justin Bo. "The Pirate"
1. Where were you born?
Sacramento, California

2. What is the top value that shapes your life?
The Kingdom of God is becoming my ultimate value.

3. What's your main passion?
I get really passionate about seeing people go from hopelessness to excitement by being reminded of hope, truth, and beauty.

4. Who is your role model?
My parents, Bobby Morrison, Linda Baley, and Randy Flemming.

5. Tell us 1 thing you must do before you die.
Make a successful feature film.

6. What's your favorite drink or food at Overflow?
A latte because the espresso is really good.

7. What do you like most about Chicago?
The summer.

8. Tell us 1 random thing you'd like people to know about you.
My birth was broadcast on cable television.

Meet Our Staff: Zach B.

This is post 3 of 6 where we ask Overflow's staff 8 questions.  Have fun getting to know your favorite baristas.  :)

Zach "The Adorable Mr. Goldilocks"

1. Where were you born?
Concord, Massachusetts (Note: Zach is the newest and youngest member of the Overflow team.)

2. What is the top value that shapes your life?
Above all do no harm.

3. What's your main passion?
People.

4. Who is your role model?
Everyone. If I respect a certain quality in someone, they become my role model for that quality.

5. Tell us 1 thing you must do before you die.
Go to Legoland.

6. What's your favorite drink or food at Overflow?
Iced Coffee.  Black.

7. What do you like most about Chicago?
The people.

8. Tell us 1 random thing you'd like people to know about you.
I'm hopelessly addicted to Community (the TV show).

Meet Our Staff: Justin Bu.

Post 2 of 6 to help you get to know your favorite baristas here at Overflow.  :)

Justin Bu. "The Cowboy"

1. Where were you born?
Hinsdale, IL.

2. What is the top value that shapes your life?
Looking out for God's and others' best interests, alongside my own.

3. What's your main passion?
Understanding how people and things work and relating to them rightly.

4. Who is your role model?
My dad.

5. Tell us 1 thing you must do before you die.
Travel to Europe.

6. What's your favorite drink or food at Overflow?
The Botz Special.  It's different every time, whatever inspires Botzman. (Note: Botz is another employee. His post is next in the series.)

7. What do you like most about Chicago?
Summer activities.

8. Tell us 1 random thing you'd like people to know about you.
I've been an extra in a Bollywood film.

Meet Our Staff: Thelma G.

This is the first in a series of posts where we ask Overflow's staff 8 questions.  Have fun getting to know your favorite baristas.  :)

Thelma "The Secret Weapon"

1. Where were you born?
Portsmouth, Virginia

2. What is the top value that shapes your life?
Love God. Love People. Period.

3. What's your main passion?
Still trying to figure that out.

4. Who is your role model?
Rachel Lloyd. (Note: We're showing Very Young Girls in June.)

5. Tell us 1 thing you must do before you die.
Go to the Philippines.

6. What's your favorite drink or food at Overflow?
The Speziato.

7. What do you like most about Chicago?
The summers.

8. Tell us 1 random thing you'd like people to know about you.
I used to be Mickey and Mini Mouse at Disney World.  Then I was Daffy Duck and the Tasmanian Devil at Six Flags in Gurnee, IL.