Is Avondale the Coolest Neighborhood in the World?
No. It’ not even the coolest neighborhood in Chicago. But here are some 10/10 spots you should check out before or after your nail appointment.
No. It’s not even the coolest neighborhood in Chicago. But here are some 10/10 spots you should check out before or after your nail appointment.
Much like how I describe the suburb I grew up in by its proximity to another, much more well-known suburb, Avondale is a neighborhood that people mostly know because of what it’s next to: Logan Square.
Avondale is what some might call an “up-and-coming” neighborhood (read: my rent keeps going up and up). In 2022, Time Out ranked it the 16th coolest neighborhood in the world. A truly overblown accolade, in my opinion. Avondale is FINE. It’s a perfectly fine neighborhood. But coolest in the world it is not.
Now, though, in 2025, it’s been named the FIFTH coolest—and while it is not even the fifth coolest neighborhood in this city, I do really like it here.
I’ve lived in Avondale for about 10 years now. I love the block I live on, I love how friendly everyone is here, I love that my dog is a little bit of a local celebrity around here (okay, maybe not, but people DO recognize her!), I love how walkable it is, and I love that I’m close to the train and a few bus lines.
If you’ve come to me for nails, you’ve experienced a tiny sliver of Avondale and have met the mayor (Roxanne), but there’s more to Avondale than just Nails With One N. In the past several years, a handful of spots have opened up and it’s begun to feel less like a flyover neighborhood—one you pass by on the Milwaukee bus on your way to Logan or Wicker Park, for instance. Some of my clients have asked where a good spot to get dinner is, where they can grab a coffee before or after their appointment, or where they can get a great cocktail (patio optional).
With that in mind, I’ve put together a small round-up—not a “Best of Avondale” list, but a “Jena’s Favorite Spots” list that I hope you’ll enjoy.
These are the places I visit most in my area. This is NOWHERE near an exhaustive list of things to do or places to go in this neighborhood, just a list of my most-frequented places that are located within walking distance of your nail appointment, and as such, are convenient to visit before or after you see me)—and why I think they’re worth it for you to check out, too.
Believe Cafe (3901 W Belmont Ave)
It feels like they’ve been around much longer, but Believe Cafe only just had their one-year anniversary, and I hope they never, ever leave. They’re a standing-room only coffee shop (so plan to grab-and-go), but I can’t overstate how much I love this place. Every drink is phenomenal (my personal favorites are the Real Horchata Latte (housemade horchata and espresso), the Pistachio Drip (drip coffee with pistachio syrup and pistachio milk) and the Abuelita hot cocoa (add a couple of espresso shots to this if you’re feeling saucy). Beyond the drinks, they also sell biscuit-dough empanadas that I get every Friday morning for what I like to call “Friday Treat Breakfast.” Every single one of those is good, too. You truly cannot miss at this spot. The staff could not be friendlier, and I always leave in a better mood than when I walked in. 10/10.
Deep Red Wine Merchant (2901 N Milwaukee Ave)
I have to preface this one by saying I am in no way a wine connoisseur. I like drinking it, I prefer red, but I really don’t know anything about it. That’s where Deep Red comes in. A horror-themed (fear not, it’s subtle) wine bar and bottle shop, Deep Red is a cozy space where I’ve never felt dumb asking “what is this one like” about every glass I have ever tried. The owners are passionate about what they’re selling and are happy to steer you in the direction of something you’d like. I like to read here a lot, and if you get a window seat, it’s good people-watching, too. Bonus points for the happy hour deals from 3 to 5 p.m.—who doesn’t love half-priced glasses of wine in the middle of the afternoon? They’ve got a few non-wine options, as well as N/A wine, too! 10/10.
Central Park Bar (2924 N Central Park Ave)
Since 2021, Central Park Bar has been a staple answer for the “where should we go?” question. They have a spacious patio (dog-friendly and with a fire pit and heaters when it’s chilly out), a cozy interior, and a very chill vibe overall. I’ve been there for birthday parties, I’ve been there on random weeknights, I’ve been there on first dates, and when I launched Nails With One N as a full-time thing, I celebrated with friends there. There’s no real need to wax too poetic about a comfortable neighborhood bar, but it’s popular for a reason. 10/10.
The Brewed (2843 N Milwaukee Ave)
We’ve already covered my favorite to-go coffee shop in the area, but if you’re looking for a place that you can linger a bit longer, The Brewed has you covered. Lots of seating, great decor, good drinks—this spot hits all the marks of what I want in a coffee shop to do work at. Now that I don’t have an office job or writing deadlines, I don’t frequent it as much, but a little bit of Nails With One N lore is that it was at a window seat at this cafe (if you’re noticing a trend, yes, I love a window seat) where I wrote a pros/cons list and decided to (mostly) abandon my corporate career to do nails instead, and for that, I’ll always have a soft spot for it.
El Gallo Bravo 2 (3909 W Belmont Ave)
As Chicagoans, we have no shortage of great Mexican food to choose from. I could list about five places within spitting distance that I like, but this place gets top billing for a few reasons. One, it’s very close by, so it makes for an ideal spot for a quick dinner or a last stop after a night out. Two, everything on the menu rules. How much can one say about an al pastor taco, really? Probably a lot, if you’re a food writer or restaurant critic, but you didn’t come here for that, did you? If so, my apologies. There are people who do this better than I do and there’s probably a more thorough review out there should you want that. Just trust me on this one. If you’re hungry after your 3-hour nail appointment where we used 20 colors, this place will hit the spot. 10/10.
Sleeping Village (3734 W Belmont Ave)
It feels, to me, that SV opening was the tipping point for when the neighborhood started really ramping up. It opened in 2018 and for a while, offered coffee during the daytime before being a regular ol’ bar in the evenings. Nowadays, it’s a bar and music venue with a solid patio. When I had a dog that knew how to behave in public (sorry Roxanne, it’s true and you know it; we’re working on it) I used to bring him here. Nowadays, it’s a chill neighborhood hang for me (sans dog, because Roxanne is more of a homebody). They often have pop up markets, and the show space is great, too—some standouts in my own experience have been seeing Caleb Hearon, Laura Jane Grace/Sincere Engineer and Maddie Diaz. Their forte is beer, though they have some other options on the menu. Anyways, it’s worth a visit. 10/10.
Joong Boo Market (3333 N Kimball Ave)
Yes, I’m putting a grocery store on my list. I think Time Out did, too, in 2022, and it’s warranted. Joong Boo is a Korean market where you’ll find many pantry staples for Asian cooking (sauces, specialty produce, noodles, rice, etc.), but it’s also where you’ll find what I tell anyone who will listen is the best tofu around—Phoenix Bean tofu. You may have seen the brand at local farmers markets, but if you haven’t tried it yet, and you like tofu even a little, you need to get yourself some Phoenix Bean. Other standouts include the snack section (honey butter almonds and churro flavored ‘turtle chips’ are my go-tos), the home goods room and the wall of kimchi. Do not skip the dumpling stand outside, either. For something like four dollars, you’ll get to enjoy a softball-sized, pillowy-soft bun stuffed with your choice of pork, kimchi or red bean. 10/10.
Void (2937 N Milwaukee)
Void is a newer one in the area. It’s a little more upscale than many of the places on this list, which makes it a good spot if you’re looking for something more than a burger or tacos. They also make a non-alcoholic Malort, and if you’re thinking, “Why would I drink non-alcoholic Malort?” you’re not alone—their menu reads “We have successfully removed Malort’s only redeeming feature.” I haven’t tried it—maybe someday (maybe not). Their menu changes from time to time, and when a friend and I went a while back, everything was excellent. Great cocktails, great vibe. 10/10.
Chicago Pickle (3055 N Milwaukee Ave)
At the time I’m writing this, this sandwich spot is temporarily closed due to a fire. My fingers are crossed that it reopens, though. You know what a sandwich is, so I don’t really need to explain that. They make very good ones—hot or cold—and if you want leftovers, get a whole sandwich (no worries, though, a half will be *plenty* to fill you up). They also have a great “fun drink” cooler (I love a fancy soda), an extensive selection of chips and snacks, and a little bakery case should you require a sweet treat. Like I said, fingers very crossed it reopens! 10/10.
Consignment Lounge (3520 W Diversey Ave)
Part vintage store, part bar, if you’re prone to shopping after you’ve had a few drinks, this place may be a little dangerous for you. Everything on the walls and shelves here is for sale, ranging from glassware to found photos to vintage clothing. It’s a cute little spot to visit and I really enjoy seeing what new knickknacks will be there, plus the drinks are great. Bonus points for having solid N/A options. 10/10.
A few honorable mentions:
Tacos Tequilas (great tacos + margs); Cermak Produce (another grocery store, I know, boring! But it’s a good one!); Mother’s Ruin (cocktail bar with great food); Avondale Tap (chill casual neighborhood restaurant); Record Breakers (record store); Brew Brew (more great coffee drinks and pastries); Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club (a perfect brunch, IMO); DiVita’s Pizza (10/10 tavern style).
Okay, now you know my favorite spots in the area.
Maybe it’s cooler than I’m giving it credit for. But coolest in the world? Nah. I’d like to have a word with whatever property management company is funding that campaign.
A Non-Exhaustive List of Nail Colors I Cannot and Will Not Be Without
As a nail tech, I buy plennnnnnnty of gel colors. I haven't counted lately, but if I had to venture a guess, I’ve probably got somewhere in the ballpark of 250 colors available for my clients to choose from. And while there's a few that sit mostly untouched (though hardly unloved), most get used with some regularity. There are a handful, though, that are such staples in my collection that I make sure to have a backup on hand at all times because it would ruin an appointment if I needed it and didn't have it (ok, maybe not ruin, but you know what I mean).
Whether you’re just starting to build your collection, or you’ve already built one and, like me, are always looking for the next greatest thing, or you just like reading about nail polish (hello, welcome), here are a few of my all-time faves—the heavy hitters, the must-haves, the “who knew I'd use this one so much” and the “of COURSE this gets used constantly”—that I make sure I'll never run out of.
As a nail tech, I buy plennnnnnnty of gel colors. I haven't counted lately, but if I had to venture a guess, I’ve probably got somewhere in the ballpark of 250 colors available for my clients to choose from. And while there's a few that sit mostly untouched (though hardly unloved), most get used with some regularity. There are a handful, though, that are such staples in my collection that I make sure to have a backup on hand *at all times* because it would ruin an appointment if I needed it and didn't have it (ok, maybe not ruin, but you know what I mean).
Whether you’re just starting to build your collection, or you’ve already built one and, like me, are always looking for the next greatest thing, or you just like reading about nail polish (hello, welcome), here are a few of my all-time faves—the heavy hitters, the must-haves, the “who knew I'd use this one so much” and the “of COURSE this gets used constantly”—that I make sure I never run out of.
NOTE: This is not an ad, or sponsored, or commissioned; I just really like these colors. If any of these brands wanted to send me some of the goods, though…I would not protest.
ANOTHER NOTE: This list doesn’t include staples like a basic white and black liner for outlining and such. For those, I use Kokoist’s Blackest Black and Bluey White. They’re great, but they’re not as exciting to write a paragraph about. Need a silver or gold liner? Look no further than Presto 153 and 154.
OKAY! Without further ado, in no particular order:
These are my forever first choices for art that needs a neutral base, for clients who like a seamless grow-out, for a clean and crisp French manicure and for those of you who want “just a little something” instead of a clear nail. Shades like Peanut Butter Toffee, Soft Cashmere Toffee, Neut Pink, Rose Tea Toffee, Pink Beige Toffee and Sand Beige Toffee (am I forgetting anyone? Probably. I use SO MANY of these) all look so similar in their jars, but they pick up on everyone’s skin tone a little differently and, as such, every client who uses them here has a favorite (which I keep written in their client file notes). The formula is incredible—they brush on SO smoothly without streakiness and it's just *chef kiss* every time. I simply cannot go without them. Kokoist, if you're reading this, please never ever ever ever discontinue these.
I’m not much of a solid-color manicure gal myself. I almost always have some kind of art on my own nails, but if I don’t—because I wanted to spend one hour and not three (honestly: five) on my manicure—there’s a 90% chance I’m wearing this color. Aptly named, it really is my favorite (and a lot of my clients’ favorite) red. It’s almost neon, a little orangey but not too much, and so saturated. You can’t go wrong. If you’re not into wearing red nails, try this one—you may find yourself, like me, a convert.
3. Presto #300
If you, or any of your clients, want to try out a ceramic-y nail design, Presto has a line of colors that mimic the finish of pottery. I have several of them, but #300 has a milky white base, gray and black speckles and the faintest, FAINTEST shimmer (even if you don’t like glittery shades, I promise you will still like this one). I’ve used it in both shiny and matte designs, and with a matte topcoat (I like Presto’s), it gives a look that mimics clay pottery or ceramics (also: apologies to anyone who works with ceramic, clay, and pottery, as I am sure I have misused the terminology here).
4. Presto SC-168
This is a weird one. Unfortunately, Presto discontinued this one a while back and I am currently on the hunt for a suitable replacement (and I’m slightly sweating because my last bottle is getting low, so…if you know of one, please do holler at ya girl).
It’s a greenish-yellow, yellowish-green. It’s snot-green, baby-poop chartreuse, bright-but-not-neon olive, it’s somehow opaque and translucent at the same time, and when I got it, I *never* would have guessed how frequently I’d reach for it. I don’t know how to describe it. It adds depth to floral/botanical sets, it’s great for a base color against other brights, it’s just… I dunno, man, it’s just excellent. I need it in my life. Presto, if you are reading this, please please please bring it back. It’s practically got its own fan club, and we nail artists would be eternally grateful.
Ok, in compiling this list out of my all-time favorites, I’ve realized a big problem, which is that this neon mac-and-cheese color I bought years ago has seemingly vanished from existence. Grani 025 no longer exists as I know it, but it looks like perhaps #19 might be its replacement. Unfortunately, I cannot read Russian, so the jury is out on whether I’ll be able to restock this one. So, um, again…if you have a color that is the color of the powder in boxed mac and cheese…let me know. I have a client who loves this color so much that we try to incorporate it into almost every set, so I need to find a bottle (or five).
The name of this one reminds me of that one contestant on Project Runway.
Birnam Wood? It’s a black gel. BUT it gets a place on this list because, let’s be real, black gel can be a struggle sometimes. Some of them can be streaky and too sheer, while others can be TOO saturated and difficult to cure. Maybe you don’t have this struggle. But if you’re like me and you’ve been mildly traumatized by buffing even the thinnest possible layer of crinkled, wrinkled uncured black gel off of clients’ nails while reassuring them it wasn’t anything they did wrong, this gel may be a game changer for you. This one is smooth and applies like a dream while still being opaque—AND IT CURES IN ONE GO. Any way I can save time during appointments is a win, and as such, I’ll be repurchasing this one.
7. Kokoist’s “Summer Collection” (and other jellies)
Again, I promise I’m not getting paid to write this. I WISH! That said, I can’t tell you how many times I have repurchased ones from this collection (plus a few of their other sheer jelly colors). Pink Dragon and Tequila Orange make a super summery ombre. Blue Hawaii is perfect for a pool water look. Black Martini is awesome for layering opaque black linework over (think lace or fishnets). Ugh, they’re just all so versatile! I have a few other jellies from this brand too that I love: Rosso Red Glass (try this over a magnetic/cateye silver, trust me); Khaki Oats Glass (another weird chartreuse-y shade); Beet Roots Glass (a more saturated, slightly more fuchsia version of Pink Dragon); Blu Blue Glass (slightly more teal, slightly more saturated).
8. Presto #001
For some reason, this one reminds me of the nail polishes I loved most when I was younger—holographic chunky glitter mixed in with smaller holographic glitter. I love using this as a topper, but it’s also nice with—you guessed it—a jelly color on top. Try it with Kokoist Bourbon Brown. I know, it sounds weird, but it’s so good!
9. Wildflowers’ White Cateye
There are so many silver/white magnetic gels out there—I have several—but this one is my most-used. It’s sparkly without being glittery (does that make sense?) and it’s unmatched when used underneath one of the aforementioned jelly colors. Try it around Christmas with Kokoist’s Rosso Red Glass on top (or, in summertime, use that same combo for making nails that look like those old-timey strawberry hard candies). It’s great on its own, too. AND, it’s a one-coater—what’s not to love?
10. Presto #089
Last but definitely not least. I could not make this list without including my giiiiirl, Presto #089. This was one of the first gels I bought when I started getting into working with gel, and I’ve probably bought a dozen jars of it. It is a true highlighter pink. If you want it to pop even more, use a white base underneath it. Enough said.
Ok, that’s all for now. I hope you enjoyed this list of my all-time faves (for now, anyway). If there’s a color I NEED to know about or one that’s a MUST HAVE in your own collection, please do not hesitate to let me know about it—shoot me a message on the ‘gram or send me an email!
WAIT!!! I FORGOT ONE.
HONORABLE MENTION: The Gel Bottle Studio Gel in “Last Night”
This one can be a little tricky to work with because it’s a little chonky (that’s a technical term we use in the biz*), but it’s worth it. It’s a dense black base with a TON of reflective black glitter in it that’s a bit gritty until you top coat it, and then it really lights up. It’s on sale right now which makes me nervous that they may be getting rid of it. Run don’t walk, maybe? I’ll take 3.
*no it’s not
Ok, bye for real this time!
New(ish) in the Studio - Summer 2025
One of the biggest things I have noticed since starting to do nails is that, so many times, I’ll buy a new product or color and think, “clients are going to love this”…only to never end up using it. Part of that, I think, is because people don’t know about everything that’s available, and it’s vaguely difficult to communicate what new products are in or how we can use them to create cool sets of nails—especially if the only time those products are mentioned is in the five-to-ten minutes that we discuss what they’re going to do with their nails that day.
To that end, I want to start updating here about new things I get in the nail room so that my clients know what’s available to them. Here are some of the newest things I’ve gotten in this summer.
One of the biggest things I have noticed since starting to do nails is that, so many times, I’ll buy a new product or color and think, “clients are going to love this”…only to never end up using it. Part of that, I think, is because people don’t know about everything that’s available, and it’s vaguely difficult to communicate what new products are in or how we can use them to create cool sets of nails—especially if the only time those products are mentioned is in the five-to-ten minutes that we discuss what they’re going to do with their nails that day.
To that end, I want to start updating here about new things I get in the nail room so that my clients know what’s available to them. Here are some of the newest things I’ve gotten in this summer:
1) A new airbrush, a bunch of new paint colors and a bunch of new stencils.
If you’ve come to see me before, you might be thinking, “I thought she always had an airbrush”—and you would be correct. BUT, for my birthday this year, my brother gifted me a new one—the Iwata HP-B Plus—and I am, in a word, obsessed. My first airbrush was an Iwata Neo, and it got the job done for what I mostly needed it for, but it didn’t allow for smaller or more precise lines and detail work. If you wanted a gradient french, an aura nail or a quick ombre, that airbrush could handle it, but for more intricate and layered designs using stencils, it fell short, simply because the nozzle didn’t allow a small enough spray radius.
This new one, though. It’s great. I still need to practice more to really learn the ins and outs, but pictured above are just a few quick trials with it. I used some stencils from What’s Up Beauty and Golden High Flow Acrylic Paint (no aerosolized gel + acetone here!), and for just a few thrown-together ideas, I’m really impressed with what it can do. I’m excited to create some really unique sets of nails. For the next few months, if you tell me ‘do whatever you want’ at your appointment, it’ll probably involve the airbrush.
2) Metal Halloween charms
These have been a hit in the past, and I was running low, so a restock was in order. I found these a couple years ago on Daily Charme, and I really like the quality. Plus, if your nails are medium-length, we can combine the skull charm with the ribcage charm and you can have almost a whole skelly right there on your hand. SPOOKY!
3) DVOK’s “Chilling” collection
I was *heavily* influenced to buy this collection after seeing a few other nail artists posting about it. Most of the magnetic/cateye gels I’ve used and bought have a gray/silver base, but these have a champagne gold base that felt really unique. Plus, just look at how ethereal they all look when they’re next to each other. They’re so pretty!! No regrets.
4) Kokoist Jelly Top
I love little 3D accents, and I’m always game to try the newest product to do them. Kokoist is a heavy hitter in my studio, so I knew if they were putting out something to do 3D elements I wouldn’t be disappointed. I’ve used it a few times since getting it, and I really like it. It does sself-level, but it’s slower to do so than hard gel (which is what I used to use), so I don’t have to flash-cure each little swoop or blob in between—I can do a full nail at once and then send you to the lamp. We all love a time-saver.
5) Pearl embellishments
I’m not sure if I didn’t have these before or if I had just run out and forgot to restock, but let’s just say I won’t be needing to mix pearl chrome powder into top coat to make DIY pearls anytime soon.
6) Sheer red shades from Rozy
I tihnk we’ve all partaken in the “well, I’m paying for shipping, might as well make it worth it” purchases, and admittedly, these were that when I bought the DVOK Chilling collection, but they’re SO PRETTY. It doesn’t show well in the above photo, but these reds are sheer, yet very pigmented, so they look super juicy (for lack of a better word) on your nails. I imagine they’ll get their time in the sun come fall and winter.
Ok, that’s it for now!
As always, if you see something out in the wild that you a) don’t know if I have or b) NEED me to have for your next set of nails, feel free to let me know about it! I’m happy to make sure I’ve got what we need to help you get the nails you’re dreaming about.