Coffee in the Morning

I like the idea of taking a walk and getting a cup of coffee in the morning.  It's often not just about having a delicious beverage, but for the experience of going for a walk, taking in the expected weather for the day, and having a chance to obtain an understanding for what to plan on doing.



While there are many coffee shops in New Haven, the one that I think that I prefer the most on Mondays as well as other great days of the week is probably Willoughby's on Church and Grove. Especially in the morning, because of the way that the light shines into the surrounding windows, and for the reason that there's almost always a table.



The staff is the most friendly of any coffee shop that I'm aware of, and really look for a sincere answer when they ask me how I am.  I really appreciate that and I always ask them the same.



How are you today?

I'm doing alright..

And how are you?



It's a good way to start out in the morning.



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Help yourself to a biscotti.

The Coffee Pedaler. You can find it on Yelp.  

You know how the Olympics has five rings? CP has five stars. If you live in East Rock, you probably already know about it by now as one of the top places to jaunt in the snow. Elsewhere in town, if you're looking for it, drive all the way down State Street until you get to the end. When you see that sign, turn around. That's how you'll know you're at the Coffee Pedaler. 

Coffee Pedaler: Open

If there's a snowstorm, feel free to swing on by the Coffee Pedaler on State Street. One of the most economical things is to pick up a carafe of coffee for six bucks. It makes like 8 cups of coffee and that's more than enough for you and a couple of friends. Comfortable ambient atmosphere and friendly staff make this coffeeshop the only five-star rated on Yelp in the area, and the best place for you to get some work done, and be semi-sociable in the process.

It's more than worth it. I found myself surrounded by birds, with highway traffic on the Interstate in the background. Not many souls dared to trek to the pedaler this afternoon, but it was an acceptable tour of the neighborhood for myself and Willowbee, my dog, this morning.

I suggest you get some fresh air and enjoy the global warming happening out there too.

Coffee Pedaler - Now Open! (Video)

New Coffeeshop at 605 East Street - New Haven, CT.  

With plenty of spacious seating and a brand-new interior, The Coffee Pedaler is ready for business.  Proprietor Ryan Taylor makes delicious coffee 7am-5pm at the new shop, located on East St. near the corner of State Street and Mechanic (next to Gloria's, across from the Pantry).  They've got great wifi, even outdoor seating with a couple benches.

With enough of the same bicycle-friendly atmosphere going on in the Upper State Street neighborhood nowadays, and some entrepreneurial finesse, Ryan counts the beans (in real life, with a digital weight measurement device) of each cup he makes.  You can select from any of his variety of beans for your morning coffee.  Read more for video.

Duncan from Koffee? On Point NPR Today (Audio).

We've got a thing for NPR here in New Haven.  And apparently NPR has a thing for us.  "On Point" with Tom Ashbrook's radio show topic today was changing careers, and starting new ones. Changing careers can be tough, but the topic is raised, which I found to be most pertinent:  Does time equal money?

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New Bicycle Themed Coffee Shop Coming Soon

How soon?  Very soon.  Ryan Taylor, local musician, cyclist and now coffee shop owner is preparing to open his doors very soon.  Take a look at some of the interior of his beautifully decorated coffeeshop by following his Instagram profile (@thecoffeepedaler on Insta).  Nice job, Ryan!

Alderpersonal Open Hours

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A recent trend in local politics is making it possible for more people to meet with their representatives in public places intentionally.  "Open Hours" involves going to a coffee shop, usually early in the morning before business begins for most people, to discuss the issues of the day with your most immediate government representative:  your local alderperson. 

important:  Check Twitter accounts to verify that your representative will actually be there on the morning you plan on meeting. 

Where you can find Doug tomorrow morning.
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Doug Hausladen offers open hours at Koffee? on Audubon (see map) on Tuesday at 8am.
Justin Elicker* does the same, at Lulu in his district at precisely the same date and time. 

Join me tomorrow at 8am at Koffee on Audubon for office hours! Come discuss what makes #NHV the Greatest Small... http://t.co/OFIJBh0fwd
— Doug Hausladen (@doughausladen) September 23, 2013

Check Calendar for details.  If you're an alderperson and would like to offer your availability in a similar manner, feel free to email the website with date, time and location of your open hours.

Fueling the Arts at a Local Coffeeshop.

Coffeeshops are known for their product, which is coffee.  It should also be noted that some coffeeshops also feature art.

This month at Fuel, check out the artwork on display.  It's actually pretty good.  They're painted window panes and snare drums.  Original ideas from one of the kids that work there.

He might even make you a latte.  Or watch your response as you examine each one above the people sitting at the tables below.  It's kind of a classic scene, when you think about it.  The fellow who made the paintings said that music is his main form of expression, and that painting was a second thought.  Not a bad second thought.   This is his first art showing.
Not bad, for a first show.

The artist's name is Alexander Burnet and he's a member of the band The Proud Flesh.  He's part of the Local Music Scene, as well as evidently the Art Scene.  He's also a Barista who reminds me of Rinsey.

Few could pick a better spot to drink their coffee than here on Wooster Street.  It's walking distance from the Saturday Farmers' Market, and it's a relatively quiet place to sit, drink coffee, have a conversation with an old friend, or make a new one.

Check out the local scene page for more information about the local music scene.

Where You Bean?

Nhv.Org likes to bean at Willoughbys, because there's no better coffee in the universe.  I always picture a story about a lone pilot flys his way to Guatemala to bring back the beans.  A guy named Hernando.

What beans?  Coffee beans.

Recent Rain Causes Damage to Buildings in 9th Square

Recent rain has provided a challenge for the city's water supply system, in particular the area near the 9th square, which contains some of the lowest elevation points in the city.

Complicating matters for business owners at Bru Cafe, located at 141 Orange Street, the mold situation from basement flooding went sorely out of control, to the point where the property management negligently fired "Serv Pro" when mold was discovered.

A quote from Bru Cafe, who rent the building:

"This is mold found in Bru's basement by ServPro during clean-up off the incursion of sewage, water and other debris into the first floor and basement areas on Friday, Saturday and today. Landlord fired them once the mold was found. This grew in four days. I don't think I can purchase enough peroxide."

On display in their window (Devils Gear Bike Shop sign in the background) is a piece of the mold, and an explanation as to why their business is closed.


[The] landlord is an limited liability company called Orange Palladium, LLC. Orange Palladium, LLC is managed by Lynne Franford, the wife of the late Michael Franford. Her son, Brian Franford, claims to be the "building manager" but also claims he is not employed by Orange Palladium or his mother, and further disavows any connection to Orange Palladium, LLC. 
To the best of my knowledge, this is the only building left from the Franford Properties. 

You can contact the building manager at (203) 530-7996. Ask him when Bru will be open for business!



Hopefully this will all get straightened out.  That's why it's good to have news.

Where's Your Favorite Coffeeshop?

View Coffeeshops in #NHV in a larger map


The NHV has some of the highest density of coffeeshops per one mile radius.  I've put together a customized Google Map so that you can find your favorite one, based on their description.  


In addition to the business-related information, you also get a graphic image, showing their storefront, some ratings pertaining to different categories, as well as the name of the street they're on. 


Categories of information include Wifi, Busy, Line and Staff.  


Description of Categories


"WIFI" is obviously the rating of their wifi signal.  I should know this stuff, because I tried every single one of these shops.  "BUSY" is how often it is difficult to find a seat.  High ratings for "busy" mean that it is very tough to find a place.  "LINE" is how lengthy of a period of time before they take your order.  High ratings for "line" mean that it takes forever to get your drink, and either sit or go.  


Finally, "STAFF."  Now, that's a tough decision because I can't base the rankings on subjectivity of character.  This rating means basically how on point the people there work as a group.  I couldn't put all Four Star Sandwiches up on everyone, because then nobody would have anything to work for.  


If I was rated as staff, I'd get 2 stars myself for all the weird cupflips that I'd be doing, or the fact that I'd try to have a conversation with just about every single customer made me probably the most annoying and worst-dressed (I admired my shirt with the most stains on it) coffeeshop worker in all of history.  


Want to have a discussion about it?  This is an open thread.  All you need is to be signed into Gmail.


QUESTIONS

• What's your favorite coffeeshop? 
• Are any of the rankings off the mark?
• Did I miss any shop completely?
• What do you consider a coffeeshop?

Please comment below.

What Is The Opposite of Fast Food?

Michael Cook from Slow Food Shoreline spoke at Green Drinks last night.  Here's what he had to say:  

Slow food was started in Italy. It was actually a protest when McDonalds first moved into Rome.  They were passing out bowls of pasta and they were chanting "We want slow food, not fast food!"  It was really about keeping the tradition alive.  Once fast food and chain restaurants move into a community and people start to lose what's interesting about their food and culture.  

It's the idea of appreciating food.  Fast food, to some extent, is like checking a box.  It's the fast culture of "I need to eat, I don't care what it is, its impact on the environment or my body."  But slow food is about the lifestyle.  It's about slowing down and appreciating what you're eating.  It's about being thoughtful about where that food comes from, and what that food's effect is on the community and on the environment.  

A full version of his talk is at the top of this page.  Give it a listen!

Attend their next event on February 4th, the Slow Food Swap.  It's on a Saturday at Woodland Coffee and Tea, which is in Sherman Alley on Chapel Street.


See Feb. 4th

Add to this calendar yourself!

 Visit their Facebook Page or their  website to get involved!

Willow-Bees!

More protesters enjoy free Willoughby's ©offee than any other kind!  What are you drinkin? 

This says it all. 

Locations In New Haven

* Church & Grove * York & Chapel *

Official Website
Map of Coffeeshops *Coming Soon!

Cafe Romeo

Remember KoffeeToo?

Remember KoffeeToo? and other such places?  This is a testament to all of the old websites that simply got lost, forgotten, misplaced, or otherwise got swept into the depths of the archives.

Nothing is lost on TownOfNewHaven!  The website that keeps the best archives.  Better than the Advocate (and not waiting for the Advocate to tell me that, either).  They'll never acknowledge this website because it would lead to their DOooooOOOm!


So here ya are.  For all of yall's that might have forgotten about the time there was a place called KoffeeToo, and a young web designer served coffee and made websites for free.  Keep in mind the potential awesomeness of the SelektaDrink program, which serves to anticipate every beverage that could possibly be selected, based on a flowchart of decisions (a simple precursor to "Time Language" and other such works.
Enter Old KoffeeToo Site
(works best at home)

Blue State Coffee On Twitter