Every generation has its trademarks, but our generation is particularly inventive. With new gadgets and technologies cropping up left and right, it’s hard not to get caught up in our own vocabulary words and ways of life. Generation Y, or rather all of us twenty-somethings, are taking over the scene. So true, right?

We are full of abbrevs and timesavers these days, DMing potential contacts on Twitter and BBMing emoticons to our BFFs (wait, the Blackberry is so not cool anymore). Out of the country? Skype me. Don’t know the answer? Google it. We vent about our co-workers via g-chat and flirt simultaneously through texting more often than phone calls. Social media is the only media, as far as we’re concerned.

Grindr Photos/Flickr

We are the meme generation, laughing over cat videos, David After Dentist and Sh*t Girls Say. We blog on Tumblr, photograph on Instagram and shop online for the best deals. We express ourselves through Facebook statuses and trending topics, and we communicate with our favorite celebs by tweeting at them instead of sending in fan mail. Self-expression exists IRL (in real life) and on our profiles…OMG, tag me in that mupload (mobile upload).

We are one of the most educated and ambitious generations yet, according to Examiner.com. We have goals and dream jobs, and we are young enough to believe we can make them happen. We’re open to new ideas, but if you haven’t heard about the latest band on the scene, forget it. Seriously.

We have the latest apps, too. Oh, what’s the name of that new Coldplay song? Let me Shazam it. There’s nothing our smart phones can’t do. Our social circles consist of our combined contacts between LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and maybe even Google+, too. If we’re too far to meet for drinks, we can just FaceTime later. The guys have their bromances, and the girls have their movie nights, livestreamed off of Hulu or Netflix, of course. We are technology and social media mavens, except when the fail whale ruins our Twitter sesh. Ugh, FML.

Sure, we love to go out and meet new people, but it’s just as common to date online, too. We consult Yelp and Urbanspoon to find our favorite bars and restaurants (did you check in on Foursquare?). We find decorating inspiration for our studio apartments on Pinterest and take recipes from baking blogs, not our grandma’s old recipe book.

We manage to check the score, respond to our e-mails and show up to work on time, all while staying up to date on current events and staying in shape at group fitness classes at the gym.

We are gen.y/beta FTW. Wait, BRB for a sec…

Survey says yes, if you can afford them.

mark-vauxhall/Flickr

Electric car charging station

Our conventional gasoline automobiles do emit air pollutants and greenhouse gases, unfortunately. And aside from contributing to smog, gasoline costs are consistently on the rise.

“When you go to the gas pump and put a bunch of money in it, wouldn’t you rather not do that? Wouldn’t you rather have a more efficient product than a less efficient product?” said Ted Lowe, director of the Chicago chapter of the Fox Valley Electric Auto Association, a non-profit organization that promotes the technology and use of electric-powered vehicles.

The Fox Valley Electric Auto Association actually converts gasoline cars into electric ones. Pretty cool, right? Lowe hasn’t filled up at a conventional gas station in years.

Lauren Gold/Chicago Loopster

Check out the ChargePoint website or download the app to find an electric car charging station near you in Chicago.

But our Honda Accords and Ford Explorers get us where we need to go in a convenient way. Some electric cars have a limit on how far you can go before they needed recharging. You can use an electric car to run errands, drive to and from work or go shopping, for example, but long-distance travel might be out of the question without a charging station. Gasoline vehicles have been the go-to option for longer trips. Stop at a gas station, fill up and go along your merry way.

That is changing, apparently.

“There’s a merging technology that will extend the range of electric cars, basically getting the advantage of both cars, both technologies,” Lowe said. “That’s called a hybrid.”

Meet the Chevrolet Volt ($40,000), the latest electric car. It’s different from other hybrid vehicles, like the Toyota Prius.

Chevrolet

Chevrolet Volt

The Prius is actually a gasoline car with an electric motor assist, whereas the Volt uses only an electric motor. The Volt uses gasoline only to recharge the batteries when they get low. It only takes 10 hours for a complete charge, according to the Chevrolet website.

“It’s genius as far as I’m concerned,” Lowe said. “I think it will be the model for many future cars. It’s clean, efficient, quiet, low pollution.”

The advantage of electric propulsion over gasoline propulsion is that it’s twice as efficient. The disadvantage? You pay a steeper price up front to buy an electric vehicle, though you probably save on gas costs over time.

Hopefully, that will change. This year, 12 electric car models from different manufacturers are coming out for sale. The all-electric Nissan Leaf ($35,200 as of December 2011) is also gaining in popularity, as are a few others. The Nissan Leaf and the Mitsubishi i MiEV will both be featured among others at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show Feb. 10 through Feb. 19.

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi i MiEV

By the end of 2012, there will be 200 to 300 electric car charging stations scattered throughout Chicago at convenient locations like Walgreen’s Pharmacy and Whole Foods Market, Lowe said.

Already own an electric car? Awesome! Find a charging station near you using this map.

Taste it yourself:
Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Root Vegetable Stew with Herbed Dumplings

Our hungry team of dedicated reporters scoured the streets of the city to bring you a few new food trends that may be next to capture the city’s imaginative food cravings.

Vietnamese sandwiches

roboppy/Flickr

If your standard BLT sandwiches just aren’t cutting it anymore, you may want to get in on the latest craze: Vietnamese sandwich shops. Light, airy bread, called banh mi, filled with grilled meat is sure to quell your cravings. Think cucumber slices, pickled carrots and oven-roasted pork belly or Vietnamese sausage. Or try soy options with fried eggs, cheese and tofu. Whatever your preference, these sauteed chicken, pork meatball or spicy chili sauce sandwiches are sure to replace your standard brown-bagged lunch.

• Nhu Lan in Lincoln Square, Ravenswood

  2612 W. Lawrence Ave
  Chicago, IL 60625, Map
  773-878-9898

• Bun Mi Express in Lakeview

  3409 N. Broadway St.
  Chicago, IL 60657, Map
  773-661-2228

• Bon Bon Vietnamese Sandwiches in Wicker Park

  2333 W. North Ave.
  Chicago, IL 60647, Map
  773-278-5800

Cupcakes

michellerlee/Flickr

When you’re ready to give up on your New Year’s diet resolution, your local bakery (or should we say cupcakery) should be your first stop. We know cupcakes have been around for a while, but we’re okay with that. At Molly’s Cupcakes in Lincoln Park, a portion of their profits go straight to local schools. That means you’re giving in and giving back all in one bite. Sweet!

• Molly’s Cupcakes in Lincoln Park

  2536 North Clark Street
  Chicago, IL 60614, Map
  773-883-7220

• Crumbs Bake Shop in the Loop

  303 W. Madison St.
  Chicago, IL 60606, Map
  312-263-6500

• Phoebe’s Cupcakes in Lakeview

  3327 N. Broadway
  Chicago, IL 60657, Map
  773-868-4000

B.Y.O.B. sushi

Kitten/Flickr

Bring Your Own Beer, or B.Y.O.B., sushi is a hip way to experience the eclectic compositions of Japanese cuisine and still enjoy that whole bottle of wine without paying an arm and a leg. Enjoy the invigorating coolness of raw fish with sharp-tasting patches of wasabi without thinking about paying for that spicy, big-flavored wine.

• Toro Sushi in Lincoln Park

  2546 N Clark St
  Chicago, IL 60614, Map
  773-348-4877

• Seadog Sushi Bar in East Ukrainian Village

  1500 W Division St
  Chicago, IL 60642, Map
  773-235-8100

• Ora

  5143 N Clark St
  Chicago, IL 60640, Map
  773-506-2978

Froyo

Nicki Knacks/Flickr

You can perhaps call it the most colorful treat in a city known for its indulgent foods. Self-serve frozen yogurt, or Froyo, is a new alternative for ice-cream. You can put many spins on your treat by mixing flavors and adding spice – or calories – to it with toppings of fruit, nuts and candies. You can fill your cup with as much or little yogurt as you want because the payment is based on weight.

• Froyo

  446 N State St
  Chicago, IL 60654, Map
  312-755-4486

• Pinkberry

  635 N State St
  Chicago, IL 60611, Map
  312-475-0641

• Forever Yogurt

  931 W Belmont Ave
  Chicago, IL 60657, Map
  773-770-6953

What are your favorite food trends, and where can we find them? We’re hungry! Post ‘em here, or tweet them to us @ChicagoLoopster!#trendy
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