Bean There has the perfect feel for a cafe - lots of space between tables, allowing air to settle between each customer. Entering between two rows of tables, one along the wall, and the other along the tall windows, the customer makes their way back to the service area, after passing a wall mounted bookcase full of loose tea.
Bean There Cafe
The cafe staff was engaging with customers and stepped into the table area twice in a half hour to clean tables and sort out the customer coffee prep area. The staff asked each seated customer if they were done with each plate or cup before removing, being friendly and polite.
My double macchiato was superb. Served in a cappuccino mug, with a bit more foam than to spec, while maintaining the perfect creme. My first sip after it was served was as good as the last sip I took a half hour later. The flavor and texture were evenly consistent throughout the entire experience.
The music was grooving at just the right volume, loud enough to hear, but quiet enough to allow me to ignore it if I chose; just loud enough to hear the lyrics. Teh corner store layout, with windows on both corner walls, coupled with 12 foot high ceilings, allowed plenty of natural light to filter in.
This was a great coffee experience, just a 15 minute walk from my apartment. I will have to try the great selection of tea.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Depot Bookstore and Cafe, Mill Valley
When I first moved here, I used to think that this was the best place to come for coffee in the entire Bay Area - great coffee and baked goods, a bookstore and a beautiful plaza with a few colorful people sitting on the fringes. Maybe it is very provincial, or I know the upwardly aspiring Marinite too well, but I do not come here for the people anymore. The people have changed, but good coffee and a sunny morning on a beautiful town plaza can make for an exceptional morning.
Depot Bookstore and Cafe
Last night I decided I would stop drinking coffee, maybe because I had three macchiatoes yesterday and my skin was crawling last night after so much caffeine. After my recent vacation from coffee, that lasted two months, then reverting back to coffee for two weeks, every day, I definitely can see its negative physical effects - dry skin, more skin irritation, less sound sleep and that burnt brain feeling.
When used occasionally, it medicinal effects are very useful - the ability to easily focus on one task for extended periods of time, extended concentration and extra late night energy. Caffeine definitely helped me get through the end of school this year, grading all of my student work for the grading period so that it all could be passed back to kids by the last day of school, and their grades could be reported in person to them. This extra boost also allowed me to get back the previous week's work back the beginning of the last week of school so that it could be included in their portfolios if they were waiting for that last key assignment.
Depot Bookstore and Cafe
Last night I decided I would stop drinking coffee, maybe because I had three macchiatoes yesterday and my skin was crawling last night after so much caffeine. After my recent vacation from coffee, that lasted two months, then reverting back to coffee for two weeks, every day, I definitely can see its negative physical effects - dry skin, more skin irritation, less sound sleep and that burnt brain feeling.
When used occasionally, it medicinal effects are very useful - the ability to easily focus on one task for extended periods of time, extended concentration and extra late night energy. Caffeine definitely helped me get through the end of school this year, grading all of my student work for the grading period so that it all could be passed back to kids by the last day of school, and their grades could be reported in person to them. This extra boost also allowed me to get back the previous week's work back the beginning of the last week of school so that it could be included in their portfolios if they were waiting for that last key assignment.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Hallow Cafe, Irving near 16th
espress, desserts, gift...
Open for about 2 1/2 years, the sign Ritual Coffee drew me in to this 8 by 16 square foot footprint store front, facing north. The cafe was very warm, but considering that I had been outside in the 60 degree overcast weather walking from 25th, maybe it was me.
The off-white alabaster walls were countered by walnut cabinets full of hand made curios and gifts from independent producers including a selection of $28 bottles of perfume. Music played from behind the counter, mostly female folk music reminiscent of the late 90s. Of the four small tables, the window seat was taken by a business meeting in progress. Most of the light came from the storefront window and a couple of 60 watt bulbs coupled with two ceiling spotlights.
Hallow
The single macchiatto, made with Ritual Coffee was exceptional. Each sip retained its flavor and texture over the fifteen minutes that I nursed the demitasse.
The ambience suggests a quiet place to read a book, or have a quiet, serious conversation, but I suspect that most orders are to go. As I sat there, two neighborhood customers came in, very friendly with the barista.
The dessert selection was a combination of gluten free and fine baked goods, mostly subtle sweets. Based on the available baked goods, this does not seem to be a morning coffee place. They also serve "Red Blossom" Tea, which I have since found out has a fine tea house on Grant Street in Chinatown. Unfortunately, the barista did not know what types of teas were labeled green or black, nor could she tell me anything about the two herbal teas beyond their names.
I will surely come by again for an excellent espresso and a bite size dessert.
Open for about 2 1/2 years, the sign Ritual Coffee drew me in to this 8 by 16 square foot footprint store front, facing north. The cafe was very warm, but considering that I had been outside in the 60 degree overcast weather walking from 25th, maybe it was me.
The off-white alabaster walls were countered by walnut cabinets full of hand made curios and gifts from independent producers including a selection of $28 bottles of perfume. Music played from behind the counter, mostly female folk music reminiscent of the late 90s. Of the four small tables, the window seat was taken by a business meeting in progress. Most of the light came from the storefront window and a couple of 60 watt bulbs coupled with two ceiling spotlights.
Hallow
The single macchiatto, made with Ritual Coffee was exceptional. Each sip retained its flavor and texture over the fifteen minutes that I nursed the demitasse.
The ambience suggests a quiet place to read a book, or have a quiet, serious conversation, but I suspect that most orders are to go. As I sat there, two neighborhood customers came in, very friendly with the barista.
The dessert selection was a combination of gluten free and fine baked goods, mostly subtle sweets. Based on the available baked goods, this does not seem to be a morning coffee place. They also serve "Red Blossom" Tea, which I have since found out has a fine tea house on Grant Street in Chinatown. Unfortunately, the barista did not know what types of teas were labeled green or black, nor could she tell me anything about the two herbal teas beyond their names.
I will surely come by again for an excellent espresso and a bite size dessert.
Trouble Cafe, Outer N-Judah
Judah and 46th, SF - 12:15 pm
The next to last stop on the N Judah, at 46th yields a small neighborhood strip on both sides of the street. The small store front, had no tables, but bar seats built along the window, the wall and along the coffee service area. There was also outside bench seating for three and a built up planter around the tree in front of the window.
Trouble Cafe
The counters themselves are only about eight inches deep, enough room for a cup of coffee and a small treat (and my journal). I sat at the window counter in the corner, offering a view of the entrance. I ordered a macchiato and a piece of cinnamon toast, which seemed to be a very popular order. Its thick slab of white home made bread doused in butter and cinnamon was truly great.
One of the unique drinks served here is coconut water served in a full coconut shell with slabs of tender coconut, which the couple next to me was sharing with a straw and long stemmed spoon. They were in love - nuzzling and exchanging smooches in between straw fulls of coconut water which must have been doing its magic.
After I was hypnotized by the consumption of most of my cinnamon toast, as I looked out onto the overcast sidewalk a couple sat down on the bench built along the outside of the window. They both had coconut mugs. As I sat, neighbors, mostly 20 somethings converged on the cafe, some with children and others just for to-go coffee during lunch.
After I finished my burnt macchiato, I obtained a free "swisher" shot of coffee, labeled such by the server. The coffee by contrast was truly great.
In the future, a cup of coffee, a coconut juice and a cinnamon toast would make for a great alternative brunch, or even lunch. As more people came in, the cinnamon toast seemed universally popular - "toast - it's not just for breakfast anymore!"
Unlike most cafes that have become laptop offices that provide wifi, between the narrow bars and the neighbors that visited each other during the lunch rush, not a computer or tablet was in sight. This cafe was a neighborhood stop for talk, chatter and other human utterances that used to make most cafes before the laptop the social alternative to getting drunk at a bar. This place is quite a pleasure. Perhaps more cafes should cut their wifi, for that lost neighborhood conversation center that was the domain of the morning cafe for years.
The next to last stop on the N Judah, at 46th yields a small neighborhood strip on both sides of the street. The small store front, had no tables, but bar seats built along the window, the wall and along the coffee service area. There was also outside bench seating for three and a built up planter around the tree in front of the window.
Trouble Cafe
The counters themselves are only about eight inches deep, enough room for a cup of coffee and a small treat (and my journal). I sat at the window counter in the corner, offering a view of the entrance. I ordered a macchiato and a piece of cinnamon toast, which seemed to be a very popular order. Its thick slab of white home made bread doused in butter and cinnamon was truly great.
One of the unique drinks served here is coconut water served in a full coconut shell with slabs of tender coconut, which the couple next to me was sharing with a straw and long stemmed spoon. They were in love - nuzzling and exchanging smooches in between straw fulls of coconut water which must have been doing its magic.
After I was hypnotized by the consumption of most of my cinnamon toast, as I looked out onto the overcast sidewalk a couple sat down on the bench built along the outside of the window. They both had coconut mugs. As I sat, neighbors, mostly 20 somethings converged on the cafe, some with children and others just for to-go coffee during lunch.
After I finished my burnt macchiato, I obtained a free "swisher" shot of coffee, labeled such by the server. The coffee by contrast was truly great.
In the future, a cup of coffee, a coconut juice and a cinnamon toast would make for a great alternative brunch, or even lunch. As more people came in, the cinnamon toast seemed universally popular - "toast - it's not just for breakfast anymore!"
Unlike most cafes that have become laptop offices that provide wifi, between the narrow bars and the neighbors that visited each other during the lunch rush, not a computer or tablet was in sight. This cafe was a neighborhood stop for talk, chatter and other human utterances that used to make most cafes before the laptop the social alternative to getting drunk at a bar. This place is quite a pleasure. Perhaps more cafes should cut their wifi, for that lost neighborhood conversation center that was the domain of the morning cafe for years.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Higher Ground Cafe, Glen Park
Diamond and Chenery, SF - 2:30 pm
I lingered at home until about 12 pm, maybe 11:30, then made my mind to get to two bookstores today that both specialize in poetry: Books and Bookshelves in the Duboce Triangle then off to Bird and Beckett in Glen Park.
After taking out a very wet bag of compost downstairs, I mailed Josh's Camp registration at the Post Office on the way to the N Judah Muni stop at Cole and Carl. It was a beautiful day in the mid-70s, bright and sunny.
After jumping off the N-Judah one stop away at Noe, I walked to Books and Bookshelves. Since we lived in the Duboce Triangle, almost 20 years ago, Janine and I have always driven by this storefront thinking it was just a bookcase and cabinetry store with a pithy name. I have walked by on occasion as well, but have never bothered to walk in to look at what I thought was various arrays of bookshelves. As the Google search revealed this morning, this store also sells poetry books, exclusively poetry, mostly new small press selections. Once I walked in, I was not disappointed, and happy to learn that this space had always been a bookstore until the owner decided to move into the bookshelf business originally as an aside for some extra money in the late 80s. Since then, B&B has sold small press poetry, perhaps the largest selection I have ever seen in one place, including Harvard, UCLA, Berkeley and SFSU bookstores, as well as a better selection of small press editions than City Lights in North Beach sells.
Books and Bookshelves, San Francisco
I emailed my poetry workshop teacher, Julie Bruck, and asked if she was aware of this place, which I sure she must be. I bought a book she recommended to me in class last week in response to my poem about hammers: Hammer by Mark Turpin. Typically, she recommends books to different class members, and I always have looked for the recommendations, and have been hard pressed to find them anywhere most of the time, unless I found the small press online or at City Lights.
After the ride on the J, I arrived in Glen Park and walked to Bird and Beckett Records and Books which had jazz filling the space off a visible turntable behind the counter and not a half bad poetry section, filled with about half used books. Compared to Green Apple, on Clement near 7th, which has the best used selection of poetry in the City, this was a good showing, while no store in the City could beat City Lights for new volumes of contemporary poetry.
While there, I bumped in Claire Hawkins, an old compatriot, that I used to work with at Alta Loma Middle School in the South San Francisco USD. She works through Adult Ed exclusively, initially following Bruce Grantham, my favorite principal to work with of all time, when he was transferred to Adult Ed in 2000. She is happy there. We talked about Alta Loma for a while, commiserating about old times. She also caught me up about her partner, Marilyn, the leader of the band Shrubbery that I was in sometime around 1998 or 1999. Lastly, Claire shared that she was almost finished with her novel, I imagine the same one that she has been working on for all these years.
Higher Ground Coffee House, San Francisco
Claire recommended Higher Ground Cafe, at the corner as she had to go take care of her laundry. She said it was the only place to drink coffee in the neighborhood, and that I should look up at the ceiling. I walked over to the small corner cafe, which seemed to have been many things, but always a breakfast hash place for some time, the counter and the tight spaced grill part of the same work line. There are about 16 - 20 seats inside, benches lining the walls with tables and two tables outsides in front of each side of the entrance. The menu centers around crepes and coffee. I ordered a chicken pesto crepe which was truly exceptional. The accompanying potatoes were crisp, yet bland, requiring some spices during the cooking process. The double macchiato was served in a small coffee cup and was pretty good. The outside seats were a real bonus on this warm day.
Sitting out here gave me a clear view of the locals. This is neighborhood of the City, as opposed to a destination. people seem very laid back, if not suburban. I am sure tourists would not invade this place. Granted it is very slow on a Monday, not a fair comparison to make against a busy weekend in the Haight.
I lingered at home until about 12 pm, maybe 11:30, then made my mind to get to two bookstores today that both specialize in poetry: Books and Bookshelves in the Duboce Triangle then off to Bird and Beckett in Glen Park.
After taking out a very wet bag of compost downstairs, I mailed Josh's Camp registration at the Post Office on the way to the N Judah Muni stop at Cole and Carl. It was a beautiful day in the mid-70s, bright and sunny.
After jumping off the N-Judah one stop away at Noe, I walked to Books and Bookshelves. Since we lived in the Duboce Triangle, almost 20 years ago, Janine and I have always driven by this storefront thinking it was just a bookcase and cabinetry store with a pithy name. I have walked by on occasion as well, but have never bothered to walk in to look at what I thought was various arrays of bookshelves. As the Google search revealed this morning, this store also sells poetry books, exclusively poetry, mostly new small press selections. Once I walked in, I was not disappointed, and happy to learn that this space had always been a bookstore until the owner decided to move into the bookshelf business originally as an aside for some extra money in the late 80s. Since then, B&B has sold small press poetry, perhaps the largest selection I have ever seen in one place, including Harvard, UCLA, Berkeley and SFSU bookstores, as well as a better selection of small press editions than City Lights in North Beach sells.
Books and Bookshelves, San Francisco
I emailed my poetry workshop teacher, Julie Bruck, and asked if she was aware of this place, which I sure she must be. I bought a book she recommended to me in class last week in response to my poem about hammers: Hammer by Mark Turpin. Typically, she recommends books to different class members, and I always have looked for the recommendations, and have been hard pressed to find them anywhere most of the time, unless I found the small press online or at City Lights.
After the ride on the J, I arrived in Glen Park and walked to Bird and Beckett Records and Books which had jazz filling the space off a visible turntable behind the counter and not a half bad poetry section, filled with about half used books. Compared to Green Apple, on Clement near 7th, which has the best used selection of poetry in the City, this was a good showing, while no store in the City could beat City Lights for new volumes of contemporary poetry.
While there, I bumped in Claire Hawkins, an old compatriot, that I used to work with at Alta Loma Middle School in the South San Francisco USD. She works through Adult Ed exclusively, initially following Bruce Grantham, my favorite principal to work with of all time, when he was transferred to Adult Ed in 2000. She is happy there. We talked about Alta Loma for a while, commiserating about old times. She also caught me up about her partner, Marilyn, the leader of the band Shrubbery that I was in sometime around 1998 or 1999. Lastly, Claire shared that she was almost finished with her novel, I imagine the same one that she has been working on for all these years.
Higher Ground Coffee House, San Francisco
Claire recommended Higher Ground Cafe, at the corner as she had to go take care of her laundry. She said it was the only place to drink coffee in the neighborhood, and that I should look up at the ceiling. I walked over to the small corner cafe, which seemed to have been many things, but always a breakfast hash place for some time, the counter and the tight spaced grill part of the same work line. There are about 16 - 20 seats inside, benches lining the walls with tables and two tables outsides in front of each side of the entrance. The menu centers around crepes and coffee. I ordered a chicken pesto crepe which was truly exceptional. The accompanying potatoes were crisp, yet bland, requiring some spices during the cooking process. The double macchiato was served in a small coffee cup and was pretty good. The outside seats were a real bonus on this warm day.
Sitting out here gave me a clear view of the locals. This is neighborhood of the City, as opposed to a destination. people seem very laid back, if not suburban. I am sure tourists would not invade this place. Granted it is very slow on a Monday, not a fair comparison to make against a busy weekend in the Haight.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Brio Cafe, Arcata
The Plaza - 9:34 am
Today is the Oyster Festival on the small town plaza with food and beer booths circling the grassy square with a small stage for rock and reggae bands starting up. This is the largest gathering of people in Humboldt County each year. The weekly farmers market booths are on the sides streets just off of the square.
There are several people drinking coffee here and at the other cafe I saw, both with lines out the door as the fair is still half started and half set up.
This cafe has a great bakery, and has a small breakfast menu. I ordered the two poached eggs on bakery fresh sourdough bread over bacon. Patrick recommended this place and I am not disappointed. The macchiato, served to spec Blue Bottle Roastery standards was exceptional. The cafe decor was very clean, almost a French cafe motif. The sourdough bread was amazing, I have to come here for a croissant, which may have the real flakiness of a French one.
The chained off area sidewalk seats seem like prime real estate for watching the fair. I watched through the window until an outside table opened up, and grabbed the table on the other side of the glass that I was watching.
Brio Cafe, Arcata
It seems that it will warm up to the mid seventies today. I'll get rid of my shoulder bag and my vest and just carry my camera and my sunglasses once I start to walk around. I am glad I came here early enough, able to get free street parking two blocks away. When I get to my car, I will buy some sunscreen at the drug store.
When I travel, I always have this thing about looking like a regular joe for the area I am planning to visit. There are plenty of people here in button down shirts with jeans as well as guys with middle aged bellies hanging over there tight belted pants. I don't think I will have any trouble fitting right in. Maybe there is no problem with how I dress wherever I go, whether it is Paris or Arcata. If I look like a teacher, then others dress similarly that are not teachers. All of the clothes are made in the same 5 countries anywhere and sold in the same 5 stores that we all shop at. The only thing I could do to look different than I do now is lose some weight - an age old problem that I have typically worried about, but as I get older, I do feel it in my knees and lower back. Time to think about that - at least so I have more energy, which is the most important factor to worry about as I get older.
It seems that Arcata and its visitors has as many older folks as mid-aged and youngsters. There is also an aspiring midding class in contrast to the youth image marijuana culture projected to the outside world.
The social stratification is no different from Santa Cruz, California, judging at least from a busy Saturday crowd, with its transplanted student population looking for some idea in Redwoods and a good party to change their consciousness to aspire to more authentic and/or hippie inspired spiritual pursuits. This aura, may be an unofficial marketing strategy of both the university and the chamber of commerce to sell the college experience as a foot in the door to eventual settlement by graduates. This in turn offers a direct line to the middle class suburban created bank accounts of the parents, who fully support their child's need for self-discovery and personal fulfillment.
In this way, I am no different, ultimately settling in the Haight Ashbury in the belief, however quickly shed, that my neighborhood was some idealistic communal experience now sold off as souvenirs to tourists, as the place where being a hippy began. To that end, love does not fall out of the sky nor does it line the streets, but instead must be earned and nurtured by the individual in a modern paradigm that often reduces one to an electronic identity, and consumer, far removed from all six senses required to make real human contact.
In other words, if Arcata is a vortex for love and a communal sense of community, when it is incumbent upon me is to open all channels to people and reciprocate kindness and accept all for who they are. If that feeling is in my mind and heart, then at least I can be the reality I wish to see, realizing that nothing is simple, nor without an effort, and nothing is free. At least, maybe, I am surrounded in my neighborhood by people who thought initially as I did, only to realize we must all aspire to the reality we wish to be in, by first expanding our own internal reality to the possibility.
Today is the Oyster Festival on the small town plaza with food and beer booths circling the grassy square with a small stage for rock and reggae bands starting up. This is the largest gathering of people in Humboldt County each year. The weekly farmers market booths are on the sides streets just off of the square.
There are several people drinking coffee here and at the other cafe I saw, both with lines out the door as the fair is still half started and half set up.
This cafe has a great bakery, and has a small breakfast menu. I ordered the two poached eggs on bakery fresh sourdough bread over bacon. Patrick recommended this place and I am not disappointed. The macchiato, served to spec Blue Bottle Roastery standards was exceptional. The cafe decor was very clean, almost a French cafe motif. The sourdough bread was amazing, I have to come here for a croissant, which may have the real flakiness of a French one.
The chained off area sidewalk seats seem like prime real estate for watching the fair. I watched through the window until an outside table opened up, and grabbed the table on the other side of the glass that I was watching.
Brio Cafe, Arcata
It seems that it will warm up to the mid seventies today. I'll get rid of my shoulder bag and my vest and just carry my camera and my sunglasses once I start to walk around. I am glad I came here early enough, able to get free street parking two blocks away. When I get to my car, I will buy some sunscreen at the drug store.
When I travel, I always have this thing about looking like a regular joe for the area I am planning to visit. There are plenty of people here in button down shirts with jeans as well as guys with middle aged bellies hanging over there tight belted pants. I don't think I will have any trouble fitting right in. Maybe there is no problem with how I dress wherever I go, whether it is Paris or Arcata. If I look like a teacher, then others dress similarly that are not teachers. All of the clothes are made in the same 5 countries anywhere and sold in the same 5 stores that we all shop at. The only thing I could do to look different than I do now is lose some weight - an age old problem that I have typically worried about, but as I get older, I do feel it in my knees and lower back. Time to think about that - at least so I have more energy, which is the most important factor to worry about as I get older.
It seems that Arcata and its visitors has as many older folks as mid-aged and youngsters. There is also an aspiring midding class in contrast to the youth image marijuana culture projected to the outside world.
The social stratification is no different from Santa Cruz, California, judging at least from a busy Saturday crowd, with its transplanted student population looking for some idea in Redwoods and a good party to change their consciousness to aspire to more authentic and/or hippie inspired spiritual pursuits. This aura, may be an unofficial marketing strategy of both the university and the chamber of commerce to sell the college experience as a foot in the door to eventual settlement by graduates. This in turn offers a direct line to the middle class suburban created bank accounts of the parents, who fully support their child's need for self-discovery and personal fulfillment.
In this way, I am no different, ultimately settling in the Haight Ashbury in the belief, however quickly shed, that my neighborhood was some idealistic communal experience now sold off as souvenirs to tourists, as the place where being a hippy began. To that end, love does not fall out of the sky nor does it line the streets, but instead must be earned and nurtured by the individual in a modern paradigm that often reduces one to an electronic identity, and consumer, far removed from all six senses required to make real human contact.
In other words, if Arcata is a vortex for love and a communal sense of community, when it is incumbent upon me is to open all channels to people and reciprocate kindness and accept all for who they are. If that feeling is in my mind and heart, then at least I can be the reality I wish to see, realizing that nothing is simple, nor without an effort, and nothing is free. At least, maybe, I am surrounded in my neighborhood by people who thought initially as I did, only to realize we must all aspire to the reality we wish to be in, by first expanding our own internal reality to the possibility.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Coffee Critic, Ukiah
Off Highway 101 - 11:24
I've been here before, just a few blocks north of Ukiah's old downtown on the way to strip malls.
They have great coffee here, although their macchiato is more of a half cap, i.e., a macchiato with a little milk added. The space is very large and sort of feels like a diner done in black and white checker tiles.
It is in the mid 80s outside, but it doesn't seem that warm (the air conditioner is on in the cafe).
One customer comes in at a time. The oat cake is chewy.
The Coffee Critic, Ukiah, Ca.
Before last week, I had coffee maybe once a week, but now that school is out, I have been drinking at least one macchiato a day. I had quit drinking coffee for almost eight weeks, and found that I slept much more soundly, rarely waking in the middle of the night. Now that I am drinking coffee every day, sleep is a small problem again.
I have another three hours to go before I make it to Eureka. There is more traffic than I thought there would be to this point.
I've been here before, just a few blocks north of Ukiah's old downtown on the way to strip malls.
They have great coffee here, although their macchiato is more of a half cap, i.e., a macchiato with a little milk added. The space is very large and sort of feels like a diner done in black and white checker tiles.
It is in the mid 80s outside, but it doesn't seem that warm (the air conditioner is on in the cafe).
One customer comes in at a time. The oat cake is chewy.
The Coffee Critic, Ukiah, Ca.
Before last week, I had coffee maybe once a week, but now that school is out, I have been drinking at least one macchiato a day. I had quit drinking coffee for almost eight weeks, and found that I slept much more soundly, rarely waking in the middle of the night. Now that I am drinking coffee every day, sleep is a small problem again.
I have another three hours to go before I make it to Eureka. There is more traffic than I thought there would be to this point.
Flowers Cafe, Garberville
Off Hwy 101 - 3:47 pm
Mint Tea. Small strip of a town with two exits off the freeway, which seems really built up - new bridges, emergency lanes on both sides of each two lanes per direction. The town is about four blocks long, with one intersection that leads back to the freeway.
Besides some of the locals, including some older, rural worn hippies, either tourists or forest folk are here to hang out or to shop for vital goods not yielded under the canopy. One advantage of the town is a cell phone tower that allowed me to connect with Patrick to get his exit and arranged to go out to dinner.
Garberville Information
Now that my third Julie Bruck class at the Writing Salon is concluded, here are few things to work on when editing my poems -
1. What is the poem trying say - what thesis or statement of message is missing?
2. Avoid gerunds
3. Remove extraneous words - slim down the verbage
4. Where is all the detail and description going?
5. With the backdrop securely painted, where is the action?
6. Audience? Who is the poem for?
7. ARe the line breaks in the right place?
8. What does the poem sound like? Is there music - rhyme, rhythm, and or poignant words or phrases that sing in the ear?
Mint Tea. Small strip of a town with two exits off the freeway, which seems really built up - new bridges, emergency lanes on both sides of each two lanes per direction. The town is about four blocks long, with one intersection that leads back to the freeway.
Besides some of the locals, including some older, rural worn hippies, either tourists or forest folk are here to hang out or to shop for vital goods not yielded under the canopy. One advantage of the town is a cell phone tower that allowed me to connect with Patrick to get his exit and arranged to go out to dinner.
Garberville Information
Now that my third Julie Bruck class at the Writing Salon is concluded, here are few things to work on when editing my poems -
1. What is the poem trying say - what thesis or statement of message is missing?
2. Avoid gerunds
3. Remove extraneous words - slim down the verbage
4. Where is all the detail and description going?
5. With the backdrop securely painted, where is the action?
6. Audience? Who is the poem for?
7. ARe the line breaks in the right place?
8. What does the poem sound like? Is there music - rhyme, rhythm, and or poignant words or phrases that sing in the ear?
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Matching Half Cafe, NOPA
Baker and Fulton, SF - 2:10 pm
This cafe was Japji's suggestion. Not bad. Their ice coffee is shaken in a chrome jigger with the preferred amount of sugar and cream added behind the counter - classy touch. I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich with chutney and carmelized onions for $5 - a great grilled cheese on great bread.
http://www.matchinghalfcafe.com/
Planning a trip to Seattle after camp later this summer for both Janine and myself. Had a good time with my cousins Lauren and Steve and their two college aged daughters, Ashley and Ariel. A lot of healthy walking. I think the Thai Restaurant last night was too much for the girls, who were very particular about their food. I relented on the battle to pay the bill, considering I chose the restaurant and they are guests here.
Tomorrow, I am off to Eureka, California for the Arcata Oyster Festival and spend two nights at Patrick Riggs house about a half hour south. I need to buy something for him, maybe take him out to a great dinner. It's a five hour drive. I'll probably leave by about 9:30 am.
Today I took a walk to Fillmore at Sutter to my optometrist to adjust my sunglasses. I went to the Japanese market at Sutter and Webster and bought a Futomaki roll and a package of four small bean cakes. I walked back to this cafe for a round trip hour long walk.
This cafe was Japji's suggestion. Not bad. Their ice coffee is shaken in a chrome jigger with the preferred amount of sugar and cream added behind the counter - classy touch. I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich with chutney and carmelized onions for $5 - a great grilled cheese on great bread.
http://www.matchinghalfcafe.com/
Planning a trip to Seattle after camp later this summer for both Janine and myself. Had a good time with my cousins Lauren and Steve and their two college aged daughters, Ashley and Ariel. A lot of healthy walking. I think the Thai Restaurant last night was too much for the girls, who were very particular about their food. I relented on the battle to pay the bill, considering I chose the restaurant and they are guests here.
Tomorrow, I am off to Eureka, California for the Arcata Oyster Festival and spend two nights at Patrick Riggs house about a half hour south. I need to buy something for him, maybe take him out to a great dinner. It's a five hour drive. I'll probably leave by about 9:30 am.
Today I took a walk to Fillmore at Sutter to my optometrist to adjust my sunglasses. I went to the Japanese market at Sutter and Webster and bought a Futomaki roll and a package of four small bean cakes. I walked back to this cafe for a round trip hour long walk.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Beanery Cafe, Inner Sunset
9th and Irving, SF - 1:08 pm
The Beanery - an excellent macchiato and a House of Bagel sesame bagel. The outside seats on the sidewalk are great for watching people get off the N-Judah and move into the neighborhood. This street is very popular, but not full of tourists as the Haight often is.
Beanery Cafe - yelp.com review
I was sitting there, and was accosted by three twenty something girls at my table trying to pitch men's cologne. I wasn't interested, but they insisted on making their pitch, in terms of training. I acted the part. When it was done they left, the trainee was not very convincing, although knowing that I was not going to buy probably dampened her enthusiasm.
Japji is interested in going on my coffee quest tomorrow, suggesting the Matching Half Cafe at Baker and Fulton tomorrow.
The Beanery - an excellent macchiato and a House of Bagel sesame bagel. The outside seats on the sidewalk are great for watching people get off the N-Judah and move into the neighborhood. This street is very popular, but not full of tourists as the Haight often is.
Beanery Cafe - yelp.com review
I was sitting there, and was accosted by three twenty something girls at my table trying to pitch men's cologne. I wasn't interested, but they insisted on making their pitch, in terms of training. I acted the part. When it was done they left, the trainee was not very convincing, although knowing that I was not going to buy probably dampened her enthusiasm.
Japji is interested in going on my coffee quest tomorrow, suggesting the Matching Half Cafe at Baker and Fulton tomorrow.
Review of the Week
Review of the week: Continuing my small summer mission to have coffee at different coffee places in a different neighborhood every day... today is the fourth or fifth day, depending how you count it. On Saturday I went to Cole Valley Cafe. On Sunday I went to Tully's in Cole Valley. So, both of my regular hangs are off the list now. On Monday, I went to Noe Valley in search of coffee, but was out of luck. The one place that had outside chairs was full and a chain store that resembled Starbucks.
As a result, I walked to Valencia Street and found the coolest, double store front cafe in all of San Francisco. Very designer, Blue Bottle coffee, the Mission twenty-somethings at work on their laptop. Chill music - just listening to it makes me feel cool. I will have to go back there.
The macchiato had the perfect crema and served in a demitasse with the perfect amount of foam to spec - as all Blue Bottle baristas are trained to deliver.
After that experience, I walked all the way through Hayes Valley, before turning back to Haight and Laguna (walking past the hip tea house, Samovar) to catch the 71 line back home.
Monday, June 13, 2011
The Summit Cafe, Mission
Valencia and 19th, SF - 3:25 pm
Very hip, cavernous space with rows of long tables, eight backless stools on each side. They serve Blue Bottle Coffee. A full cafe, a huge couch area. Bar seats and counters in the window. Cool chill music in overhead speakers. A split level office deck - on the open air second floor - some hip company that thinks cafes are conducive to work conducts business upstairs, at least that what it seems like.
A German couple sits across from me, very hip, planning their next cool tour move. They obviously know where the place is to drink coffee. Maybe she if from England with a strong Germanic brogue.
http://The Summit Cafe
Today was pretty boring - watched T.V. and played that old Sid Meier Commodore 64 ported Pirate game. Then I decided it was time to get off my ass and go - I took the Divisidero bus to Noe Valley. I walked through the neighborhood, thinking coffee, but the two places I used to go to when I had a Short Story writing class through City College annex were gone, replaced by Starbucks and a generic corporate clone of Starbuck a block a way. There was still the best donut shop in the city, but I haven't had a donut in a long time.
I decided to walk to Valencia Street in the Mission and here I am. Pretty messy script. Maybe I should work on my handwriting.
Advantages of journaling:
1. Internal monologue allows for
2. Personal Reflection.
3. Focus time during thinking about one idea at a time
4. Allows writer to write about their record.
5. Vehicle for growth.
Very hip, cavernous space with rows of long tables, eight backless stools on each side. They serve Blue Bottle Coffee. A full cafe, a huge couch area. Bar seats and counters in the window. Cool chill music in overhead speakers. A split level office deck - on the open air second floor - some hip company that thinks cafes are conducive to work conducts business upstairs, at least that what it seems like.
A German couple sits across from me, very hip, planning their next cool tour move. They obviously know where the place is to drink coffee. Maybe she if from England with a strong Germanic brogue.
http://The Summit Cafe
Today was pretty boring - watched T.V. and played that old Sid Meier Commodore 64 ported Pirate game. Then I decided it was time to get off my ass and go - I took the Divisidero bus to Noe Valley. I walked through the neighborhood, thinking coffee, but the two places I used to go to when I had a Short Story writing class through City College annex were gone, replaced by Starbucks and a generic corporate clone of Starbuck a block a way. There was still the best donut shop in the city, but I haven't had a donut in a long time.
I decided to walk to Valencia Street in the Mission and here I am. Pretty messy script. Maybe I should work on my handwriting.
Advantages of journaling:
1. Internal monologue allows for
2. Personal Reflection.
3. Focus time during thinking about one idea at a time
4. Allows writer to write about their record.
5. Vehicle for growth.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Cole Valley Cafe
Cole and Waller, SF - 2:37 pm
http://www.colevalleycafe.com/
I woke up at 5:30 am then snoozed a while before Electra (cat) jumped on the bed, demanding a rub down, purring and nuzzling.
Meditation and some yoga. Vitamins. Now here, thinking about summer and my last poetry class with Julie Bruck at the Writing Salon.
Today's commodity poem topic: hammers.
Hammer's in my tool kit
Different hammers
Different uses for hammers
Toy hammers when a wee kid
Different experiences using a hammer
Furniture I have built with a hammer
Other tools used with a hammer
Types of nails used with different hammers for different jobs...
http://www.colevalleycafe.com/
I woke up at 5:30 am then snoozed a while before Electra (cat) jumped on the bed, demanding a rub down, purring and nuzzling.
Meditation and some yoga. Vitamins. Now here, thinking about summer and my last poetry class with Julie Bruck at the Writing Salon.
Today's commodity poem topic: hammers.
Hammer's in my tool kit
Different hammers
Different uses for hammers
Toy hammers when a wee kid
Different experiences using a hammer
Furniture I have built with a hammer
Other tools used with a hammer
Types of nails used with different hammers for different jobs...
Friday, June 10, 2011
Cole Valley Cafe
Cole and Waller, 2:37 pm
http://www.colevalleycafe.com/
There was a day, two to three days ago, when I was spent, reminding myself, "just a little longer." And I was so anxious. I loved the year up to Spring Break, but after that, I felt so burned out, and waited patiently through May and the past two weeks.
Thought - a man that never gets off his horse to feel the humbling Earth, is not a man, since a horse that charges in to be in charge, to take control, also casts a speedy retreat in battle, while a man who stands for the Earth, stands and has no other place to run. As that relates to summer, or to the end of the school year, despite my burn out, I stood, and finished grading all papers this week, putting in two late nights and waking up at 4:30 am this morning from anxiety to finish entering my grades.
I walked by Mike's place, where I get my hair cut, to wish him luck for running the Haight Street Fair this coming weekend. I ended up speaking with Ezu for some time. She runs the neighborhood tours, that Stannous Fluoride also gives. Her long black hair really makes her stand out on the street, that drapes her petite frame. We spoke about 20 minutes about people that we knew in the neighborhood.
Summer is here.
http://www.colevalleycafe.com/
There was a day, two to three days ago, when I was spent, reminding myself, "just a little longer." And I was so anxious. I loved the year up to Spring Break, but after that, I felt so burned out, and waited patiently through May and the past two weeks.
Thought - a man that never gets off his horse to feel the humbling Earth, is not a man, since a horse that charges in to be in charge, to take control, also casts a speedy retreat in battle, while a man who stands for the Earth, stands and has no other place to run. As that relates to summer, or to the end of the school year, despite my burn out, I stood, and finished grading all papers this week, putting in two late nights and waking up at 4:30 am this morning from anxiety to finish entering my grades.
I walked by Mike's place, where I get my hair cut, to wish him luck for running the Haight Street Fair this coming weekend. I ended up speaking with Ezu for some time. She runs the neighborhood tours, that Stannous Fluoride also gives. Her long black hair really makes her stand out on the street, that drapes her petite frame. We spoke about 20 minutes about people that we knew in the neighborhood.
Summer is here.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Haight Street Market
1530 Haight - 8:32 am
The first tables to drink coffee on the mid-block section of Haight since Coffee, Tea & Spice closed down about five years ago.
I sip a macchiato, to their exact specs and a toasted sesame bagel from House of Bagels.
This short break is a stop to enjoy the people on the street on a busy weekend. True it is morning, on a Friday and the delivery trucks line the street in front of Gus and Georgia's burgeoning business since their expansion of the store after acquiring the old Ethiopian restaurant, which also included a certified Blue Bottle espresso bar.
Haight Street Market
A slight feather dusting of the sky, luminous with a crisp morning sun, will burn off quickly to reveal a beautiful morning during the late spring. A humbling 55 degrees, almost shirt sleeve weather starts the day, as students scurry off to Urban H.S. around the corner, or bicycle commuters pedal past on their way to work.
Today, at 12:15, I fly out of Oakland International Airport to Los Angeles for my last CTA State Council of the year. I actually like the fact that I didn't fly down last night, as I usually do, in a hurried rush to finish substitute teacher plans and inevitably leave many more papers to grade for the fast and furious last week of school. If I didn't grade the student portfolios last night before I left school, I surely would not be ready to pass them out at the beginning of next week.
The first tables to drink coffee on the mid-block section of Haight since Coffee, Tea & Spice closed down about five years ago.
I sip a macchiato, to their exact specs and a toasted sesame bagel from House of Bagels.
This short break is a stop to enjoy the people on the street on a busy weekend. True it is morning, on a Friday and the delivery trucks line the street in front of Gus and Georgia's burgeoning business since their expansion of the store after acquiring the old Ethiopian restaurant, which also included a certified Blue Bottle espresso bar.
Haight Street Market
A slight feather dusting of the sky, luminous with a crisp morning sun, will burn off quickly to reveal a beautiful morning during the late spring. A humbling 55 degrees, almost shirt sleeve weather starts the day, as students scurry off to Urban H.S. around the corner, or bicycle commuters pedal past on their way to work.
Today, at 12:15, I fly out of Oakland International Airport to Los Angeles for my last CTA State Council of the year. I actually like the fact that I didn't fly down last night, as I usually do, in a hurried rush to finish substitute teacher plans and inevitably leave many more papers to grade for the fast and furious last week of school. If I didn't grade the student portfolios last night before I left school, I surely would not be ready to pass them out at the beginning of next week.
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