Tala-To-Go: A Cozy Christmas Adventure
Join us with ‘Tala To-Go” as we take our coffee beyond the café and into the heart of our local communities. Whether it’s a festival, a neighborhood market, or popular spot, we’re there with a cup in hand, discovering what makes each area around our cafes unique. Together, let’s explore the places and events that bring our community to life, one sip at a time.
The tala Winnetka cafe is just blocks away from downtown Winnetka, a historical town in a premier location of Chicago’s north shore. With many hip and groovy shops and restaurants, there are so many places to explore after grabbing a drink from tala!
Stepping into Tala to kick off my adventure, I’m welcomed by warm smiles and the cozy glow of newly hung Christmas decorations. I treat myself to one of our festive holiday drinks, the Candy Cane Lane—a house-made peppermint mocha—before heading to my next destination: the newly opened Hewn bakery, just a mile down the road.
As I step into hewn my senses are instantaneously lit up as I experience a beautiful display of over 20 delicious pastries. Brian and Stina greeted me in the cozy bakery and tell me about Hewns history. The main hewn bakery in Evanston is where pastries and bread get baked every single day and delivered fresh to each of the bakery locations twice a day! You are guaranteed a fresh treat no matter when you arrive. On top of that, Hewn locally sources all their ingredients and makes sure their breads are free of preservatives and herbicides, insecticides, pesticides. Hewn puts a lot of care into the quality of their breads and you can definitely tell when you try one of their treats. Brian put together a box of chocolate croissants for me and it was one of the best chocolate croissants I have ever had!! I brought some for my coworkers and they all agreed as well. A baked good from Hewn is the most perfect combination with a cup of Tala coffee, and both places are a 5 minute drive from one another.
My adventure wrapped up at the Home Alone house in Winnetka—a spot that instantly brought back memories of the classic holiday movie. As I approached, groups of families and friends were already gathered outside, taking photos and sharing laughter. Their excitement was contagious, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth as I watched them enjoy seeing a piece of movie history come to life.
I found myself wondering about their stories. Were they locals making a festive outing, or fans who had traveled a long way to visit? I also imagined what it must be like for the homeowners. Owning such an iconic house must come with a mix of responsibility and joy, knowing it brings so much happiness to so many. Perhaps they take pride in sharing this piece of holiday magic, welcoming the spirit of connection and nostalgia that the season brings.
I was very grateful for the day I had at Tala, Hewn, and the Home alone house in the beautiful cozy town of Winnetka. It was the perfect short adventure just in time for the holiday season- one that you too can have with your family and friends!
Viscaria Liu
Viscaria is one of the friendly faces at Tala’s Winnetka location. Passionate about the great outdoors and exploring new places, she brings her adventurous spirit to the café every day. When she's not brewing your favorite drinks, you can find her planning her next travel adventure or soaking up the beauty of nature.