CoffeeCat's Back and I'm Drinking More Coffee

Thank you fans, for bearing with me while I took a break from the blogspot! I was distracted by a bow-wow who came to live with me for two weeks! 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. walks in the freeeezing cold weren't my favorite thing to do, but I was happy to provide a safe place for pup until he found a wonderful, energetic, loving family.



Notice cats are first & last on the list!!



Now I can return to blogging with cats on my lap or at great Triad Coffee Shops! I'll be using some coffee gift cards I received for Christmas. I loved doing my holiday shopping at coffee shops and with animal rescue groups. I gave coffee & animal rescue gifts, and got some in return. I'm proud to say that my Red Dog Farm t-shirt is covered in cat hair. Take that, bow wows! :-)



If you're my friend on Facebook, you already know that I've resolved to drink more coffee in the New Year. I'm off to a great start. In fact, I brewed some holiday blend at 9:00 last night. What was I thinking?? Bzzzz. I'll be writing more about resolutions for tomorrow's post, but don't worry. I would never suggest that anyone resolve to drink less coffee, eat fewer coffee shop treats, or spend less at Triad Coffee Shops. So, come back and read what CoffeeCat has to say about resolutions.

In the meantime, please check with your nearest coffee shop (see our Guide page) to figure out where you're going to get your black coffee New Year's morning!

What a week for coffee!

BRRR. CoffeeCat is freezing, even with all the good coffee at cozy Triad Coffee Shops. Here's a treat to get your mind off the freezing cold: a coffee shop filled with cats! Yes, we just have to travel to Japan to enjoy it.


http://www.jonathanbrilliant.com/



I enjoyed seeing the Have Sticks, Will Travel World Tour by Jonathan Brilliant at the McColl Center for Visual Art in Charlotte. The only thing that could have been more delightful than a sculpture of woven (not glued, taped, or stapled) coffee stir sticks would have been a cup of coffee to enjoy while walking around and under the sculpture. Brilliant also created a sculpture from paper sleeves and a portrait of coffee lids. If you want to see it, you have until Jan. 8. I'm waiting for word on a dismantling event. If there is one, I'll blog about it!



Triad Coffee Shops continue to have great shopping opportunities for fans who want to shop local and buy gifts off the beaten path! Krankies Craft Fair was a huge hit but there are still plenty of treats at Triad Coffee Shops. Check out CoffeeCat's likes & friends on Facebook for quick links to items such as freshly roasted coffee, baked goodies, unique gift items, and more!



Hey, why does CoffeeCat get cappucino??
This "meezer" is available for adoption
at http://www.va.siameserescue.org/

 CoffeeCat gave up some much-needed coffee shop time to attend my first cat show this week. Purrrr. What a great feeling, to be surrounded by cats while helping to raise money for Siamese Cat Rescue Center! Can't wait to volunteer again, but next time I am going to plan a little better and make it a coffee road trip. Coffee, cats, and rescue - I'll call this "Coffee Road Trip: Paradise."

A coffee shop toast to graduates & soldiers

This week, I combined a rare business trip with a coffee road trip. Since this week is the anniversary of my graduate graduation, I decided a coffee shop toast was in order! I treated myself to coffee at Jackson's Java near UNCC. The shop, as always, was full of students plus a few business people chatting over coffee.

I gave thanks that I was not one of the students hunkered down during finals week. I wanted to jump up and down, raise my cup in the air, and offer a toast, but I dared not gloat in a room full of caffeinated 20-somethings stressed over chemistry, calculus and Shakespeare. In case you missed it, I was jumping up and down on the inside!

As locally-owned coffee shops tend to do, Jackson's also makes the world a better place. Next to the tip jar is a clear box labeled "GI Java." Donations are collected to send coffee to U.S. troops overseas. Each time I visit, I skim the thank you letters posted on a bulletin board in the back of the shop. The troop leaders who get to divvy up the coffee among their troops are sincerely grateful to Jackson's and its customers.

It's hard to imagine the sacrifices the troops make to carry out their orders. As grumpy as I am on any given day before I've had coffee, I can't imagine doing what these men and women do on behalf of our country. The least we can do is help fuel their work with some freshly roasted, gourmet coffee.

There's not much that I can do for the soldiers who spend their days or nights on patrol. But I can help send them some tasty coffee so they, too, can enjoy coffee shop treats. Can you think of anyone who deserves it more?

Uploaded from Holy Joe's Cafe on facebook

For more about coffee shops making the world a better (and safer) place, read about these two examples: http://oregonmildep.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html
http://www.holyjoescafe.org/

Facebook Friends

CoffeeCat now has 40 Facebook Friends. I'm thrilled! If I were any other Facebook page, I'd offer some incentive to get hundreds of people to like my page.

But that isn't cat like. Cats do not beg for friends or offer treats to people who pet them. No, a cat says to its friends, “You feed me, give me water, nurture me, and treat me like royalty. I must be God.”

Cat as King

So, for every new friend on Facebook, I'm going to treat myself like royalty and have a cappuccino or latte at a Triad Coffee Shop.

You might be thinking, "What's in it for me?"

Not much, I'm afraid, except more reports on the purrfect triad coffee shops I'll be sampling and plenty of event listings each week. Thanks, friends!

BAH HUMBUG!

The Grinch stole my event listings!!!! Sorry, fans, if you were lost for a day. Saturday's events are now being updated. I think I was dozing off while blogging . .  . as I often say, CoffeeCat needs more caffeine to do this job!

Humbug Status Update

Still not humbug! Feels kinda weird, like something is missing this year. I refuse to think of Christmas while I'm still in Thanksgiving mode. So, I think I'll go bake a pumpkin pie.

Coffee Shop Dilemma

One day after I wrote the yummy post about all the coffee shop treats I found on coffee shop Facebook pages, Cafe Roche posts this:
"Civet Cat Coffee is here! $49.99 per French Press. Great Gift for any Coffee Connoisseur!"

Thanks for the conversation
starter, Cafe Roche!

What is it and why is it 50 bucks, you ask? If you haven't seen Morgan Freeman's explanation to Jack Nicholson in The Bucket List, read all about it on Wikipedia, then hurry back to the blogspot.

Now, you're back. My dilemma is, do I say "Blech, gross, how could you??" and forget about it? Or, intrigued by two of the greatest actors ever, do I try it to see what all the fuss is about? Or, does the price pretty much weed out all the people who aren't already believers?

Now, the information is in your head and YOU have a dilemma. My suggestion: Buy the coffee, invite all your friends over, and watch The Bucket List. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll start writing your own list. The experience is probably worth the $50 bucks and if the coffee tastes great, it's a bonus. As we near the start of a New Year, the timing couldn't be better.

Now that's some profound advice from CoffeeCat (no relation to Civet Cat.)

Coffee Shop Treats

the perfect gift
uploaded from Perfect Blend

Reading CoffeeCat's Facebook page is making me hungry, so I thought I would share some of these coffee shop treats with you, plus a coffee road trip.

Simplyummy's Groupon deal runs Dec. 1. It's a deal you won't be able to resist. And try the new prosciutto breakfast panini.

Coffee Shop, Gift Shop: The Wet Whistle Co. offers gluten free and vegan products from Zen Cat Bakery, including pumpkin bread, fig cookie, triple ginger and lavender-lemon shortbread. Great stocking stuffers!

Not just for breakfast anymore! Krankies Airstream offers sandwiches made fresh by Camino Bakery, including homemade pimiento cheese, vidalia onions, tomato; brie, apple, arugula, balsamic-poppyseed vinaigrette; basil pesto, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes; and artichoke lemon tapenade, sweet peppers, sprouts, manchego cheese.

Why settle for a candy cane when you can have a peppermint affogato (two scoops of Homeland Creamery peppermint ice cream drowned by two shots of espresso) at Cafe Roche?

Coffee Lovers Love Books! See what NPR says about a new book on the specialty coffee trade, God in a Cup.  
 
Coffee Road Trip: Charlotte, Counter Culture Coffee Charlotte Regional Training Center, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m. 

Join some of Charlotte's most talented baristas for a Thursday Night Throwdown latte art competition. Free admission. Open to the public. $5 to enter competition.

For more cool stuff about coffee & tips on coffee shop treats, join CoffeeCat on Facebook.

An Escape from the Ordinary . . . refrigerator

After a Thanksgiving day of eating, napping and baking holiday treats for humans and canines, this morning was time for Mocha Mutt to escape from the almighty, overstuffed, delectables-filled refrigerator at home . . . and to get back to work!! Where better to do this than one of my favorite Triad Coffee Shops? I could get a sandwich (chicken, not turkey, thank you!), a warm, highly-caffeinated beverage, and about 10 miles between me and the refrigerator. So, I could focus on my work, enjoy holiday music in the background, and eat only what I needed to eat, and not everything in sight.

While the thrill of the hunt motivates many people to shopping centers on Black Friday, Mocha Mutt prefers the relaxed, happy atmosphere of a coffee shop - - it's a refuge from the traffic, noise, and busy-ness of the season, and a pleasant way to enjoy a small meal and "comfort" beverage. Won't you join me?

Thank You!

Thanks, Mom & Dad!

 On Thanksgiving, let's give some thanks to Triad Coffee Shop owners and staff who:

• get out of bed when it's cold, dark, and too doggone early so they can have the coffee ready for us
• hold charitable fundraisers and share the dough with worthy organizations
• learn everything there is to know about coffee so we can enjoy the best
• buy fair and direct trade coffee so folks can provide for their families and their communities in developing countries
• enjoy the company of the neighborhood regulars and make strangers feel just as welcome
• let regulars keep their own mugs handy!
• post pictures of yummy baked treats and espresso drinks on Facebook
• employ hard-working college students
• make the world a better place, one cup at a time.

Let's also give some thanks to the coffee shop fans who:

• support small businesses and buy local every day
• know a good cup of coffee when they smell it!
• take time to enjoy a conversation with neighbors at the coffee shop
• put green money in the tip jar
• read this blog. CoffeeCat writes it for you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey Grumpy! Yeah, you!

Don't go to the in-laws' house in a foul state of mind. Don't go shopping in a funk. Get some caffeine from your favorite Triad Coffee Shop before you go anywhere!

Check out the Events page for holiday opening/closing info and some "get-me-out-of-the-house" happenings on Friday & Saturday!

Come to think of it, you can do all your shopping & football watching at a Triad Coffee Shop. Hmmm. . . I'm thinking of some new holiday traditions for CoffeeCat!

Coffee shop owners, please post info about your holiday weekend events here!

NOT to humbug (so far)

Although I nearly went berserk when I heard around-the-clock Christmas music starting on a certain radio station.

Coffee, take me away!

The blog posts are a little sparse this week. I'm having coffee shop withdrawal! So, I'll point you to a few interesting things going on around local coffee shops. And I'm making a point to clear my schedule so I can get to a coffee shop 7 days a week!

Tazza Cafe & Bistro is remodeling and asking customers to pitch in and lend some elbow grease the week after Thanksgiving. In exchange, drinks and snacks are on the house. They'll host a grand re-opening on Friday, Dec. 3, so stay tuned for more details.

Robust-ah is featured on a nifty website for designers. Take a look at these 40 Delicious and Beautiful Coffee websites, but only when you've got a great coffee shop drink in hand. Looking at this website without a cup of coffee is like watching Food Network with an empty refrigerator.

Coffee shops, including Tate Street and Community Arts Cafe, are packing the Thanksgiving weekend full of literary & musical events. How did they guess we would need a place to get away from it all?? Hmmmm. . . .

Cafe Roche invites musicians, poets and other talented people to sign up for acoustic nights on Thursdays, starting Dec. 2. Somehow, I don't think they meant me! So, someone with talent please sign up. I can't help ya on this one! You bring the talent, Cafe Roche provides the caffeine.
Caffe Prada is planning Christmas stories and music for the family to enjoy. Hey, kids love coffee shops, too. Your kids work hard all week, too. Give 'em a treat!
Coffee shops, keep the news & events coming so we can inform the fans.

People are Hungry

So feed 'em! Once again, Triad Coffee Shops are stepping up. See the events page for a great idea - Braided Cord Coffee is throwing a packing party to pack Thanksgiving meals to share with others. The Wet Whistle is accepting donations of canned food at its weekly wine tasting Friday afternoon and musical performance that evening.

Holiday food drives will start soon and the homeless shelters need your help serving food 7 days a week -- not just on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

We coffee shop fans are fortunate that we can work, earn our living, and have some bucks left over to enjoy great coffee in nifty little shops. But don't assume we are spoiled . . . most coffee shop fans are smart cookies. We contribute to fundraisers all year that coffee shops host.

All year, you'll see fundraisers at Triad Coffee Shops for all kinds of charities. Although CoffeeCat and MochaMutt love to write about the howls & meows, we, along with most coffee shop fans, love helping their human friends, too. Coffee shops, please let us know how you are saving the world and ending world hunger!

No Excuses!

If you think of yourself as a writer, poet, painter, singer, performer, or artistic type of any sort, there are no more excuses to procrastinate! The Triad is full of opportunities to learn and perform.

Check out the Events page and you'll see just a smidge of what I'm talking about. Especially in Winston-Salem, where, apparently, we are taking no prisoners in our quest to be the City of Arts and Innovation. I love all the Triad, but Winston-Salem is keeping my head spinning. There are tons of opportunities from around the Triad on Smitty's Notes official event calendar at http://www.everwondr.com/. 

It's a great time to be CoffeeCat, sampling Triad Coffee Shops and writing about them. My family has caught the bug, too! They alerted me to a new shop in Kernersville and they drank coffee without me in Summerfield.

Ay yai yai, so many coffee shops, so few hours in the day.

Bah Humbug? or not to humbug? That is the question

We all grumble - yes, even me - about the Christmas ads that begin on Halloween. We grumble about the commercialism and materialism of Christmas. We grumble because Thanksgiving gets trampled in the shopping stampede. Have you tried to find Thanksgiving decorations lately?


gingerbread whoopie pies
at Cassanova's Coffee.
Simply Yummy has
pumpkin whoopie pies.



Let it stop with YOU and ME. We can't stop the stampede or the annoying commercials. But we can choose how to spend our time, money, and words starting now. And, of course, CoffeeCat has figured out how Triad Coffee Shops can help!

 First, go to your neighborhood coffee shop and have a gingerbread or eggnog latte, pumpkin spice chai, or apple cider along with a pumpkin or gingerbread whoopie pie. Sniff deeply. Stop to look at the fall leaves and scurrying squirrels.

Next, celebrate the Thanksgiving season as long as you want to! Why give this all-American holiday the short end of the stick? Several Triad Coffee Shops said thank you to veterans today and Perfect Blend in Lexington gave vets a free cup of coffee. So, start celebrating now!



Coffee beans make a
great gift and double as
a fragrant potpourri
for the home



Do some good deeds that show the spirit of the season. Collect nuts for the wildlife. Rake leaves for your grandma. Cook a homemade meal for a hospice patient or take some cookies to the hospice house in your town.

Say thank you to special people with treats from coffee shops and local bakeries. A $10 coffee gift card or a pound of freshly roasted beans are a great token of thanks. Giving at an unexpected time ensures that your gift will stand out in the crowd! And your dollars spent at a locally owned coffee shop will help the bucks stay close to home while helping small farmers half a world away.


CoffeeCat tried something new this year - homemade cakes for our favorite vet & vet techs. It was an unexpected treat and didn't take a back seat to Christmas fudge and cookies. Next, I'm taking on a holiday project for charity which will keep me from turning into a grinch. It also makes me a holiday advertiser, but I'm doing it for the groundhogs!
 
While others are grumbling and fighting crowds at the mall, I'll be relaxing at a Triad Coffee Shop and resisting the Bah Humbug habit! I'm optimistic. Will I succeed? Stay tuned.


Why give neckties and bathrobes from the mall?
Give mom and dad a coffee subscription.



Quilts, Poetry & Cosmic Cows. Whoa! Burros, too?

Triad Coffee Shops truly offer entertainment for people of all ages and artistic tastes. Take a look at the events page. This weekend, we have poetry at Community Arts Cafe, quilts at Chelsee's, cakes & coffee at Caffe Prada.
Green Bean & Krankie's win the prize for most unusual band names - makes me wonder if the Green Bean will be transformed into a beach? I'll wear flip flops just in case.

Curious about the Cosmic Cows? You'll have to check out the Events Page. And while you're browsing, don't forget Howls & Meows. Where else will you find a wild horse & burro adoption fair? For those who love to shop, an exclusive shopping event at The Shoe Market and a huuuuge book sale. I donated a few books to make room for the ones I want to buy!

What coffee shop do you want to live in?

Wishing I lived upstairs over a coffee shop on a bustling urban street, with a wooded backyard so cats can watch birds and bunnies all day. Ideally, rent would include 24/7 access to coffee and a reserved table where my books and papers are safe! Does this slice of heaven on earth exist?

Add your comments on Facebook.

Coffee shop weather is here!

The Wet Whistle in Archdale
nice patio!

As much as I love summer evenings on coffee shop patios, I love the indoor coziness on a cold day just as much.

On a warm fall day recently, I stopped by The Wet Whistle and admired the patio. I also enjoyed meeting and writing about Serendipity, a great jazz group that played there recently. You can see them at local restaurants & events.

Last week I stopped by Juicy Java in Kernersville and The Coffee Break in Greensboro. I found freshly roasted Larry's Beans at Washington Perk & Provision Company in Winston-Salem. Next week, I'm sure to find a great Triad Coffee Shop where I can come in from the cold and watch the leaves fall.

Sniff! Fall is in the air and it smells like pumpkin chai, gingerbread latte, and muffins. Yum.

An All American Day

Lest you think CoffeeCat does nothing but hang out in coffee shops (not like there's anything wrong with that), I'll tell you about my all-American day. This was a productive day, in spite of not being fueled by coffee from my beloved coffee shops. At least I had some fair-trade brew at home to get me started!

  

With that exception, here's how to have a pretty decent all-American day.

1) Go to polling place in the dark and vote (I almost wrote in Mooch for a couple of offices. Those blank lines are so tempting! Why should they stay empty?)

2) Work full 8+ hour day (must earn coffee & cat food money)

3) Serve dinner at homeless shelter (see, it's not just about coffee!)

4) Call parents to talk about election (parents love phone calls! Hey you, phone home!)

5) Set alarm clock, program coffee maker (a dream gift from said parents) and prepare for another all-American day.

So fans, will you tell CoffeeCat about YOUR all-American day? (It doesn't have to be election day.)

A beacon in the dark

It's cold and dark. You're tired and grumpy because it's cold and dark.

You're driving to work or you're leaving work and dagnabbit, it's dark already??!! Yes, but wait . . .

You see the glowing neon sign. Its familiar blue and red lights dance off the glass storefront. The sign calls out to you. It beckons you. It says, "OPEN."

It is the coffee shop. Who can resist the hot, cozy drinks and the bright lights and friendly faces within?
Why should we try? Go ahead, give yourself a boost on these cold mornings . . . they're only going to get colder. Stop by that coffee shop!

Goodbye, Summer

I'm not sure if I should say goodbye to summer or not. Every time I think "This is my last chance to enjoy a coffee shop patio this summer," we get another heat wave. Now, it's well into autumn. The mornings are cold (yikes! 39 degrees) and the days are cooler, so I am still soaking up every sunbeam. The cold, dreary half of the season could descend any moment.

So, this weekend I sunned myself in Cafe Roche's window, looking over a busy neighborhood street lined with colorful trees. I enjoyed the slightly cool air coming in from the street. Sipping a gingerbread latte energized me for a new project. Looking out at the world around me makes it easier to be disciplined and get the work done!

Later, I chilled (50 degree chillin') on the Back Street Buzz patio listening to A Cup of Blues in the dark, breezy night. I think I got it backward - must remember to do the patio thing by day! At any rate, it will be wonderful if we can stretch the patio entertainment any further into the season. But, winter will come sooner or later, and then we can get cozy in our favorite coffee shops with hot drinks!

I'm also still looking for a time traveler - I have a vision of teleporting myself to every event on the Events page one weekend. Maybe when I'm President or Queen or Billionaire, my people will drive me there, whisk me in and out of the coffee shops, and all the events will be timed to coincide with my photo-ops.

Looks like another gorgeous, cool fall day is here today. Have a great day, fans!

Hot off the Press!

8 - count 'em - 8 Triad Coffee Shops have concerts tonight! Check out the Events Page and take advantage of these great times at low cost. Several are fundraisers, too! Why stay home and write a check when you can have fun and spend some greenbacks for a good cause?

Do You Get This? Hellooooooo?

Listen up, coffee fans. If you've been paying attention to the blogspot, you know that I advocate saving some coins all week long so you can get your coffee shop fix & entertainment on the weekends. HAVE YOU SEEN the entertainment values on the Events Page? Am I kidding? No way!

Concerts for 0 to 8 bucks at Triad Coffee Shops. Count 'em! That leaves you plenty of dough for a beverage, snacks, and tips to the barista and band. Why pay 100 buckaroos for a big fancy celebrity at the coliseum when you can see big talented celebrity-to-be at a Triad Coffee Shop?

Bypass the ringing in your ears and enjoy some ear-saving, volume-controlled, family-friendly (most of the time!) and culturally enriching entertainment at Triad Coffee Shops.

'Nuf said?

(p.s. If there's a big fancy celebrity playing at the coliseum who started out in coffee shops, let me know! I'd like an exclusive interview for the blogspot!)

Life in Forsyth: Phonophoto of the day

Life in Forsyth: Phonophoto of the day

Aha! The photo to go with my post written at Krankie's.

Start with a blender . . .

add espresso, strawberries, milk, ice, spiced chai latte, and a shot of caramel. Oh, yeah, and some of those things from the Events Page. What would you get, besides a bizarre smoothie? A blogspot scavenger hunt!


Here's what came out of the blender for me:

1. a game of Scrabble en français
2. an ox playing ukulele under a magnolia tree
3. fruit smoothies with Dr. McDreamy (pause here for daydream)
4. Tony Buckman trivia open mic
5. Dr. McSteamy poetry slam (sonnets, anyone?)
6. wolves do the Gallery Hop (kinda like the Lindy hop, but post modern)
7. free book tasting with gelato on the side
8. green bean jam (is this sold at the Farmer’s Market?)
9. High Water on the patio (who cares if we're wet, we've got coffee!)

Now you try it, fans. Blend your own coffee shop adventure!
By the way, if anyone has tried my smoothie recipe, let me know - is it safe to drink?

Autumn, a.k.a. Heaven on Earth

Mocha Mutt has been on the loose lately, enjoying the crisp autumn air, sunny days, occasional rain showers, the snifferific (dog speak for "awesome") smell of newly fallen leaves, and the crunchiness of older, dried leaves beneath my paws. In short, it's autumn, my favorite time of year, and I just can't resist sharing some great parts of it with our readers.

The best season of all is also showcased indoors, as Triad Coffee Shops mix their magic to take advantage of the best scents and tastes of autumn.

Be on the lookout for baked treats featuring pumpkin, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and caramel.

Pumpkin spiced chai latte is a great spin on my usual standard, a chai latte. Ask your friendly barista to add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the foamy top and lookout - you will be in tea-lovers paradise!

On a recent evening, a friend and I had the rare chance to go to a Triad Coffee Shop together - no kids, no co-workers, no phones ringing. To make it even better, it was just cool enough for me to order and enjoy a steaming hot chocolate, made with dark chocolate syrup. I am so glad for that crisp autumn chill that evening! I was a little worried that my caffeine-avoiding, lactose-intolerant friend would not find a drink to enjoy, but, alas, he found an old favorite - - hot spiced apple cider. Talk about the perfect autumn beverage!

So, coffee shop fans, whether you love coffee or hate it, thrive on caffeine or avoid it, shun milk or lap it up like a CoffeeCat, you will find a creative, soothing fall beverage to your liking at any of the Triad Coffee Shops. So, don't let autumn fade away without a visit to a friendly, locally owned coffee shop.

Another Reason to Go to the Coffee Shop

A little to the right, please.
No, my right!

Imagine that you sometimes work from home. Imagine that your pet likes to sit directly in front of the computer monitor for some reason - to get warmth from the electronics? - to get your undivided attention? - to supervise your blog posts? to finish off your breakfast or lunch? to read the Howls & Meows page?

Oh, now the pet has moved away from the computer onto the desk, and wants to chew your freshly printed documents. What's a dedicated writer to do?

As much as I hate to say it, sometimes you've got to escape the pets and find a place to work. This weekend, I enjoyed working at Tate Street and Juicy Java, sans felines. It's great fun to write about coffee shop musicians while sitting in a coffee shop listening to live music. It's also great practice in tuning out the extraneous background noise that makes coffee shops so lively. It's good to stay in practice tuning out distractions, yet being aware that there's life going on around the solitary act of writing, rewriting, and rewriting some more.

It takes discipline to write (or for some coffee shop patrons, to study chemistry and Shakespeare!) and thankfully, our coffee shops welcome people who do both. Just be sure to make your stay worth their while - buy your sandwich, snack, and beverage at the coffee shop, and never forget to tip the barista. Green is the right color!

I've written in many Triad Coffee Shops, and it's always been a pleasure! Whatever your distractions, your deadlines, and your caffeine desires, there's a coffee shop for you!

A Statement on the Human Condition



Photo by Krankie's Airstream. See
the original in all its museum-
quality artsy-ness on Facebook.

 Looking at this photo by Krankie's Airstream made me think about how great life is in North Carolina. We drive cars. We buy freshly roasted coffee that someone brews for us. We don't have to get out of our cars for it. We pay cash money and have enough left for a tip. The barista smiles and genuinely wants us to have a nice day.

Sure, not everyone in the Triad has a car or the disposable income for a $2 cup of coffee. Not everyone drives on beautiful Reynolda Road to work every day. Heck, not everyone even has a job to drive to.

But, if you're a coffee shop fan and a fan of this blog, chances are, you're doing OK. We don't live in a war-torn country or a dictatorship. We don't live in an impoverished land that's been stripped of its natural resources and devastated by an earthquake. We live in a community that's prosperous enough to help those among us who aren't.

If you have any doubts how lucky we are, take a look at the Winston-Salem Foundation's annual report. Much more than a year-end financial statement, this report showcases the amazing generosity of our city's founding families and the contemporary heroes who continue to give and sustain the legacy. Watch the video about Senior Services and Meals on Wheels on page 23. Do you see the preschooler pushing a cart of food? What a kid! What a mom to introduce him to giving at this age.

If you think you've had a rough day or things aren't going so well for you, stop thinking! Start looking! Look for the generosity that's all around us. Savor the luxuries we take for granted, like hot chocolate made with real milk and Ghirardelli chocolate (thank you, Coffee XChange!). And thanks to our Triad Coffee Shops and Smitty's Notes for reminding us how good we have it around here!

Told Ya So - Life Happens in Coffee Shops

How do I know? I saw it on stage, and everyone knows art imitates life.

If you haven't seen Conversations in a Cafe, today at 5 p.m. is your last chance. It's showing at Korner's Folly in Kernersville. You can get your caffeine fix, too – Performance Coffee Roasters will be there to serve coffee before the show and during intermission. Korner’s Folly has its own coffee blend!

Newton's Cafe in a not-so-fashionable neighborhood of New York City attracts regulars whose paths begin to cross in life-changing ways. There are some characters you might recognize from your favorite coffee shop - the writer who borrows from the conversation around him, the bookworm bookseller who comes to read and chat with her social-butterfly friend, the glamorous city employee who comes to escape the bureaucracy and brush off people who think she's someone famous, the stockbrokers who come to escape from the rat race, and the workaholic accountant. And the ever-present New York character - the waitress who is a struggling young actor.
 
I'm not a theater critic and won't try to be. But I continue to be amazed at the theatrical talent in the Triad from people who live and work among us - many of them at day jobs, just like you and me. Production details are well planned, including the ubiquitous chalkboard menu and the stage hands bussing tables between scenes.

This world-premiere play is about finding love, friendship, and the ever-elusive happiness. I can't give away any surprises, so you'll have to see it yourself!

See my previous blogpost and see the playwright's website for performance details.

Boo!

A friendly face from Krankie's

The first coffee shop Halloween party is posted on the Events page. CoffeeCat's favorite holiday is just two weeks away!

Krankie's Airstream kicked off the season with its annual pumpkin carving event. The Airstream is next door to Reynolda Farmer's Market. Where else can parents kick back with a cold coffee beverage while the kids carve pumpkins in the sun?

Backstreet Buzz is planning its annual Halloween party. Last year, iCoffee hosted trick-or-treating. Some events might be on Saturday, some might be on Sunday, so we will post the details as soon as we find them.



Coffee shops, you can post your events here in the comments or on our Facebook page.

A quaint, cozy coffee shop, or . . . ?

This column in the weekly Triad Arts This Week e-mail news letter caught my eye. I've used the term "City of the Arts" in a few of my own blog posts lately, so I read along as Martin Tucker debated whether Winston-Salem lives up to the name it has given itself.

He makes a convincing argument, but the fur (CoffeeCat, after all) on the back of my neck stood up when I read, "you probably imagine a quaint, cozy coffee shop with great scones. And you’d be right."

ACK! Is someone about to say something bad about quaint, cozy coffee shops? Hey, I like quaint! I like cozy! I like scones!

Ahhh. Deep breath. He moves right along and says, "But 'the café' is so much more."

Crisis averted. No one is bashing my beloved quaint coffee shops! You know who you are! But being CoffeeCat, you know I love the not-so-quaint and not-so-cozy coffee shops, too. Triad coffee shop fans are so lucky to have a variety of shops to choose from. And we're lucky that some are quaint and cozy by day, but lively and hopping with good music by night.

So, coffee shop fans, what's your preference? Quaint and cozy? Bright and bold? Rocking and rolling? Scones or sushi? The Triad has 'em all!

[MORE] Stuffed Again!

Brace yourselves for another STUFFED coffee shop weekend. Check out the Events Page - bullet points under a date mean "WHEW, look at all these places to be and people to see, all in one day!"

For starters, you can fill up on Casanova's fudge in exchange for a donation of books to Lewisville Library. Nothing goes better with fudge than coffee, a good book, a warm blanket, and a snow storm . . . oops, sorry folks, it's October! Let's hold that until January. For now, we'll take sunny days, fudge, and festivities at the historic Lewisville Mill.


Lab wants some latte

 I'm still looking for my time travel machine for Saturday night. Let me know if you see one on e-bay. I hope you coffee shop fans are having as much fun as I am!! Bzzzzzz.

Don't forget the events on the Howls & Meows page, too!
And a shout out to Smitty's Notes awesome event calendar at http://www.smittysnotes.com/.

Art Happens

at Triad Coffee Shops! Check out this album of photos taken at Krankie's in Winston-Salem. What about others? Tell us about your photos, art, music, drama, and comedy happening at Triad Coffee Shops.

You Never Know What You'll See

on your coffee shop adventures! I was so glad to find the Coffee XChange, a classic coffee shop in Asheboro's business district. The iced cafe mocha was just what I needed when the temperature climbed to 80 degrees!

Just down the street, I saw artist Susan Harrell painting this mural on the side of a restaurant. It's called The Polar Bear Project and celebrates the city's residents at the North Carolina Zoo.

 It was the perfect day to sit and catch my breath in the coffee shop, get a caffeine bzzzzz, and tool around this traditional "main street" kinda place. If you like antiques, crafts, local eateries, and bargain books (thanks to the friends of Randolph Library), then spend an afternoon here. Also nearby is Bicentennial Park, which is home to events like the Tractor Heritage Parade and Show and a Latino Festival.

Next time, I'll leave time for a visit to the real polar bears!

Somebody's Gotta Do It

It's a great job, and CoffeeCat's just the one to do it!

This weekend I will be pounding the pavement looking for some new coffee shops in a Triad city that I'm just getting to know. I've heard rumors of coffee shops and bakeries in this city, so I'm going to put my feline curiosity to work and sniff out some cafe au lait!

If I'm successful, I'll blog about these yummy new finds. If I fail, well, you know the answer - CoffeeCat will travel to another Triad town and find success! In the Triad, there is never any reason to go a weekend without a coffee shop fix. And CoffeeCat never gives up on local coffee shops.

One recent Sunday, Mocha Mutt and I were seeking a new coffee shop. We drove around and around the shopping center where it was supposed to be, but with no luck. With caffeine headaches threatening to ruin our day, we booked it to a tried-and-true coffee shop. But, we later found out the lost coffee shop had moved and all is well!

Coffee shops are just like life - sometimes you want an adventure and the thrill of a new discovery, but other times you don't fix what ain't broke. Whichever way comes out on top this weekend, you can be sure that I'll manage to get my caffeine bzzzzzz and some good info for coffee shop fans!

Be sure to check out the Events Guide to plan your weekend bzzzzzz. By the way, I'd love to hear from you about last weekend's STUFFED calendar. What events did you enjoy?

Conversations in a Cafe

Here's proof that CoffeeCat isn't the only one who sees life happening at coffee shops. A world-premiere play set in a coffee shop starts this weekend at Korner's Folly in Kernersville. Conversations in a Cafe follows eight characters who cross paths at Newton's Cafe, a small coffee shop in New York City. All characters are in one phase or another of seeking love, lust, a relationship or even just a friend, while their waitress contributes and comments.

Get full details here: http://www.billcissna.com/conversationsgen.html

Coffee Road Trip: Wrightsville Beach

Wrightsville Beach
on a cloudy fall morning -
just steps away from a coffee shop!

So a coffee shop may not be the first thing on your list when planning your beach vacation, but wait . . . don't you need a good cup of coffee or chai just the same as you do at home? Don't you miss your favorite coffee shop where everyone knows your name (or your dog's)?

Lucky for vacationers at Wrightsville Beach, NC, there's Cafe del Mar on Lumina Avenue - just a few yards from the ocean. This tiny cafe offers locally roasted coffee, espresso, smoothies, biscuit sandwiches and breakfast wraps.

You can play it the Triad Coffee Shop way and enjoy your favorite coffee shop beverage with the neighborhood regulars (people and pooches). Or, you can get your drink and a breakfast sandwich to go and carry it just a few yards to the ocean front. What tastes better than a great cup of coffee on the beach, with a view like this? So what's a few grains of sand on your sausage biscuit or blueberry muffin?

Cloudy, breezy, cool fall days like the ones we had this weekend are perfect "coffee drinking on the beach" weather, especially in the mornings. No one asks, "Isn't it too hot to drink coffee?" No one yells, "Come on in, the water's fine." (Like CoffeeCat would fall for that one).

Triad Coffee Shop fans, don't forget to support the local coffee shops wherever your travels take you . . . and please tell CoffeeCat about 'em. I need more excuses for random road trips and travel destinations off the beaten path.

National Coffee Day

I would celebrate like crazy, but EVERY DAY is coffee day at Triad Coffee Shops! We're having a great time keeping up with all the coffee shops we know and discovering new ones almost every day.


BOO! A spooky latte
at Cafe Roche.

So we'll reserve some celebration for the days to come. Keep watching the blogspot for the latest coffee shop news, and join our facebook page, too!

We love the e-mails, but don't be shy . . . you can post your coffee shop news & comments on the blogspot . . . just remember, CoffeeCat likes 'em all, so be nice.

Most Likely to Succeed

Do you have the rainy day blues? Do you need a new outlook on life? Are you feeling down in the dumps about anything at all? Then you must go to Greensborough Coffee on Friday night and see just how fortunate we coffee shop fans are.

A 28-year-old former refugee from Burundi named Ndabarushimama Christopher has seen the worst in human nature -- things we can't imagine and certainly don't want to think about. Yet he is making a name for himself as a talented, cheerful, giving human being. Thanks to Greensboro, this young man and his siblings have escaped the refugee camps and are building successful lives in the U.S.

Christopher will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. at Greensborough. Take the family and a pocketful of tips for this hardworking musician and, of course, your friendly neighborhood baristas!

Kudos to Triad Coffee Shops that give not-so-ordinary folks the chance to share their gifts with the Triad.

This is the week

It's OK to hide until you've had enough
coffee to adjust your attitude.
CoffeeCat understands.

to check out the great weekly events at Triad Coffee Shops! Every day of the week, there's something special planned - see the Events Guide. CoffeeCat won't be trying the French conversation club (it brings back bad memories of French 101, French 102, French 201 . . . uh, you get the idea!). But, I'd love to hear from someone who tries it and enjoys it! I will give you a virtual gold star!

On the other hand, if you feel like being grumpy and not going along with the program, as we coffee drinkers sometimes do, then avoid the crowds and special events, by all means! Sneak into a new coffee shop where no one knows your name, hide behind the newspaper, and drink coffee until you're in a better state of mind. Trust me, it works! In fact, I should be at a coffee shop right now!

Have a great week, coffee shop fans.

Coffee Road Trip: Raleigh

Larry shows tourists the
silos full of green coffee beans
waiting to be roasted &
distributed to coffee shops

Larry's Beans, a Raleigh coffee roaster that distributes freshly roasted beans on the East Coast, opens its doors twice a year for a free tour. What a treat for coffee shop fans! People of all ages - babies, their parents, their grandparents, 20 somethings, and even a couple of teenagers showed up to see where the magic of coffee roasting  happens. Everyone got to sample different roasts and brews (cold and hot), eat yummy gourmet appetizers, and listen to music by Freylach Time, the Klezmer Dance Band.

 The fans also got to see some of Larry's "greenovations" - little things that add up to an earth friendly business. Their delivery bus runs on biodiesel (recycled vegetable oil), the plant hosts a tank of biodiesel that serves Raleigh drivers, and the plant incorporates extensive use of natural sunlight and other energy-saving practices.

 Larry also explained fair trade practices and how the company partners with the farmers year after year to grow the best beans possible. This has helped Larry's develop unique, tasty, and dependable blends of coffee year after year.

The veggie bus delivers coffee
around the Triangle region



To get an invite to the next tour, you need to sign up for Larry's e-mail list. Larry's Beans are used in Triad Coffee Shops, including Washington Perk & Provisions, Tate Street, and Espresso Doctors (Kernersville). Look for the funny cartoon guy drinking coffee (he's on the bus, too).

Be sure to find out which roaster supplies your favorite coffee shop. Many of them offer tours for their fans!



Pups on the Patio

You do the math! One adoptable puppy + several neighborhood dogs & their people + warm summer night + live music + patio + coffee shop + a great niece to share it with = a lovely Friday night!

Tazza Cafe & Bistro in Greensboro hosted a fundraiser for Animal Rescue & Foster Program. Lyn Koonce & Friends provided great toe-tapping music. Tazza has a great selection of sandwiches, snacks & all our favorite coffee shop beverages.

Reese enjoyed treats on the patio
She is up for adoption with ARFP

Lyn Koonce & Friends performed at Tazza. Saturday they're playing at Greensborough Coffee's one year anniversary celebration

What a great way to kick off the STUFFED Coffee Shop Weekend. Hope you coffee shop fans are ready to get your caffeine bzzzzzzzzzzz tomorrow - check out the Events and Howls & Meows pages.

STUFFED

This coffee shop weekend is STUFFED full of great events. ARGH. How can I possibly be in all these places at once? I can't, so I'm counting on coffee shop fans to check them out!  Support your locally owned coffee shops and the artists, musicians, and others who make them great places to hang out.

Coffee Shop Weekend

We're setting a record for number of events in one weekend at Triad Coffee Shops. Starting tonight, there are multiple coffee shops holding events through the weekend. Check out Friday & Saturday on the Events page.

One of these days, I'd like to make it to every event offered on a Friday or Saturday night at Triad Coffee Shops. It would require planning ahead with Mapquest. Some coffee shop fans might require a designated driver since more coffee shops sell wines & host Friday night wine tastings. Designated driver should be no problem, though. Doesn't everyone have a friend who prefers a caffeine bzzzzzzz and loves to down espresso shots?

We also have many animal related events listed on Howls & Meows. A fashion show, doggie jog, pet adventures, fundraisers, and more are happening this weekend.

OK, so this weekend whirlwind might not be something to write home about, but it's definitely something to write to CoffeeCat about! Don't be shy. Post comments about your favorite events!

Where will CoffeeCat show up next?

Keep checking the Events and Howls & Meows pages. You never know where CoffeeCat will show up (although we know it will be a coffee shop or someplace full of animals!). What do I always say? "So many coffee shops, so little time." I've already had to send that bow wow Mocha Mutt on recon missions to check out some Triad Coffee Shops. Geez!

I'm looking for one of those Jetson space vehicles, you know, a thingamajig, to get me to all the September events! Let me know if you see one in the classifieds! It's even faster than a cat leaping from the top of the refrigerator onto your head (ouch).

In the meantime, I've got plenty of caffeine to keep me bzzzzing around!

Enjoy your Triad Coffee Shops and remember: Take time to savor the coffee and pet the basset  hound.

Hey, that was MY idea!

For years, I've peered into the artists' studios in Winston-Salem's Downtown Arts District and asked myself, "Why aren't there studios for writers? Where do writers go to write? I would like a studio!"

But did I do anything about it? NOOOOOO.

uploaded from
http://www.press53.com/CenterforCreativeWriting.html

Lucky for us, someone did do something! Jim Tedder, creator of Community Arts Cafe, offered Press 53 a spot in this building to represent the literary arts! So, Press 53 publisher Kevin Watson created the Center for Creative Writing to provide space for writers to work and gather. The Center offers a quiet room with  cubicles that writers can rent by the hour. It also offers a conference room, an open reception area, lending library, and access to literary journals and local magazines. It's just steps away from the coffee bar, an open cafe area, art galleries, music studios, and a performance theater.

Did I say it's just steps away from a coffee bar??? The literary arts are finally finding a place of their own in the City of the Arts. Whether you are a writer, a reader, or someone who wants to rub elbows with an author, you've got to check this place out.

And for you coffee shop fans in other cities of the Triad, please help CoffeeCat find other writer-friendly places.

New Coffee Shop Stuff This Week

A smattering of news & info for coffee shop fans this week.

Simplyummy Cafe is giving a prize to one lucky fan who posts on fb, "why do you love simplyummy?"


photo uploaded from Chelsee's Coffee
- just one of the fabulous coffee shops that
brings CoffeeCat to downtown WS! 



Community Arts Cafe is now complete --- with a coffee bar! See the Coffee Shop Guide for address. Be sure to subscribe to the CAC weekly newsletter for a listing of upcoming events, delivered on Thursdays so you can plan your weekend.

Cafe Roche now offers bees wax lip balm and hand cream. Your skin will appreciate these on those breezy, cool days when you're walking the bow wow and stopping by for a treat!

CoffeeCat likes church, but wonders how everyone else can sit still so long, so early in the day, without caffeine. Is it just me? Maybe not! Chelsee's Coffee hosts a Moravian church service every Sunday morning. All customers are welcome to come in for coffee, even if you don't stay for church. Hmmm, maybe I'll give this a try.

Feed Your Brain at Triad Coffee Shops. Tired of TV, computer games, football and other less-than-entertaining-entertainment? Choose your challenge! Monday night offers a choice of French conversation or trivia, Wednesdays are Scrabble nights, and Thursdays offer a book club. Not to mention the mentally refreshing art, music, and literature you'll find at Triad Coffee Shops. Check the Events Page for details!

This is just a smattering of info! Please share your info with CoffeeCat so everyone can check it out!

Coffee, Animals & Books

Patrick McDonnell, creator of Mutts
http://www.muttscomics.com/

What more could we want from a Saturday afternoon? Although the rain seemed to keep people away, it also brought the first hint of official coffee shop weather: cool, rainy, fall days. The highlight of the day for me was seeing Patrick McDonnell, creator of Mutts comic strip, speak and draw his famous characters on a flip chart. YESH!

I escaped the rain and cool breeze by going into Chelsee's Coffee & More for hot cafe au lait and a blueberry muffin. That warmed me up and fueled me for the rest of the afternoon! It was so thoughtful of BookMarks to plan the festival around the coffee shop location!

It's great to see the literary arts celebrated in the Downtown Arts District.

Sept. 11 is here

Celebrate EVERYTHING this weekend, coffee shop fans!

It's Patriot Day, and memorial events for 9/11 include an observance at the Winston-Salem Air Show and a downtown ceremony. Gov. Purdue has asked everyone to participate in a day of service to honor this day. Second Harvest Food Bank is holding a drive-by food drop off, Piedmont Rehab is hosting a volunteer day to help care for critters, and I'm sure there are other opportunities out there.

Celebrate the arts & literacy. Our facebook page has a post about the incredible number of events happening in Winston-Salem. I'm already chasing my tail, so I haven't even looked for events in the rest of the Triad!

Tonight is another Winston-Salem Shuffle at Krankie's. Coffee shops, if your events aren't listed on the events page, please email coffeecat@earthlink.net or just post a comment here to promote your event!

Vote for Coffee!

It's time for the goTriad Readers' Choice 2010. Vote for your favorite coffee! Also consider Triad Coffee Shops when you're voting for farmers' market, music venue, wine shop, gift shop, ice cream & more.

Can you find more categories that encompass coffee shops? Voting ends midnight Sept. 15.

Got Coffee?

If this is how you plan to spend your weekend, you need coffee!
If this is how you feel when your alarm clock rings, you need coffee!
If this is how you feel after a wild night at a Triad Coffee Shop, uh, hmmm, how might I say this delicately . . . you might be a groundhog!

Hansel & Gretel of

Piedmont Wildlife Rehab, Inc.

No matter who you are, there's a Triad Coffee Shop you're bound to love. If you work a 9 to 5 downtown, there are plenty of shops there. If you work a noon to 9 at the mall, grab a cuppa joe on your dinner break or stop by to catch the last bit of live music on the way home.

If you're doggone broke, save your Coke & Cheez-It money all week and scrape together 10 bucks for your weekend entertainment. Many coffee shop events are free, while others charge a $3 cover. What a bargain!

Coffee Road Trip: Charlotte

CoffeeCat is jealous! All the time I spend in coffee shops, and I never got the brilliant idea to create works of art from coffee stir sticks and other materials found in coffee shops. Sigh.

I'll have to let the McColl Center for Visual Art explain this one:

uploaded from http://www.jonathanbrilliant.com/

"Jonathan Brilliant, who uses only coffee stir sticks, creates installations that are both ironic and labor intensive with a traditional craft sensibility. Inspired by the visual phenomena of patterning and mark-making, Brilliant’s installation, “Have Sticks Will Travel” uses the coffee shop as a natural environment and a common material found within most coffee shops, to suggests that the coffee shop and related consumer environs are more organic and nurturing than the “real” natural environment."

An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 24, 2010, from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibit will be there until January, so there's NO EXCUSE for coffee shop fans to miss it.


What about it, readers? Do you think the coffee shop is more organic and nurturing than the environment?

Back to School

Coffee shop fans can feel good about spending money at Triad Coffee Shops. Sure, it costs more than brewing coffee at home. Yes, the economy is tough. But the benefits of your coffee shop coin reach far beyond a mere caffeine fix. 

Now that school is back in session, it's a good time to recognize the students who work at coffee shops. Many coffee shops rely on high school and college students to work nights and weekends. These student baristas work hard at serving customers and, when business is slow, they can snatch a few minutes to do homework.

Your coffee money helps create jobs that benefit not only the small business owners, but the students they employ. Your tips help even more! So, although we may never be able to endow a scholarship, coffee shop fans are helping students pay for their education and earn valuable real-world experience in pleasant surroundings.

You never know -- your local barista may someday be your child's teacher, an Oscar-winning producer, a biomedical engineer, or owner of your favorite coffee shop. Wow, think of the possibilities -- and remember this post when you're standing by the tip jar waiting for your drink. (hint, hint)

Have a great school year, everyone!

Vitamins C & D at a Triad Coffee Shop

I stopped by a new coffee shop, The Braided Cord Coffee & Book in Clemmons. As soon as you walk into the shop, you'll see posted a reference to Ecclesiastes 4:12. I was curious, so I looked it up:
"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (New Living Translation)

Sounds like hand-to-hand combat - in a coffee shop? Hmm, need more research! Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary, explains:

"In all things union tends to success and safety, but above all, the union of Christians. They assist each other by encouragement, or friendly reproof. They warm each other's hearts while they converse together of the love of Christ, or join in singing his praises. Then let us improve our opportunities of Christian fellowship."

A ha! Coffee, ice cream, books, background music, comfortable seats, a peaceful patio - it all adds up to Christian fellowship. While you're soaking up some Vitamin D from the rays of sun beaming onto the patio, you can enjoy some Vitamin C - Christian fellowship.

What vitamins do you get from your favorite coffee shop?

In the end - what do you love?

Have you hugged a tree today?
latte art by Cafe Roche

"In the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught." - Bab Dioum

I found this quote on Piedmont Wildlife Rehab's page, and it struck me as true, whether I'm talking about native North Carolina wildlife, cats and dogs, or locally-owned coffee shops. We truly do put our money, time, and effort toward the people, things, or causes we value most. We may talk about other things, but in the end, our time and money goes to what we value most.

I put a lot of time, energy & thought into this blog because I want to promote and therefore, conserve, locally-owned coffee shops.

In turn, many coffee shops sell shade-grown coffee, which often is grown on Central and South American land where migratory North American birds spend the winter. Shade trees on the coffee farms provide a home for the birds. Some of these birds could be ones rescued and nurtured by Piedmont Wildlife Rehab. This group, like a few other local organizations, has benefited from the generosity of fundraisers at Triad coffee shops.

Once again, your neighborhood coffee shop connects you to the world. Would you expect any less?

Kick off the holiday weekend

There are more coffee shops
in downtown WS than you can
shake a biscotti at!

There are plenty of activities to kick off the holiday weekend for those who are staying in the Triad! Check out the updated events page. Friday night is packed full. In downtown Winston-Salem, we have a poetry meetup at a coffee shop CoffeeCat just posted on the Coffee Shops Guide, the first Friday gallery hop, and free wine tasting at Caffe Prada. Not to mention, our long-standing yummy coffee shops in downtown are there waiting for you with iced coffee & espresso drinks!

Saturday night, the Astanza Project is playing at Tate Street -- if you're wondering what "world music" sounds like, well, get off the couch and go listen!

It's officially September, so get out there and take advantage of all the events crammed into the busiest month of the fall! If you know of more events this weekend, post 'em here for everyone to see!

Coffee Shop Treasure Hunt

While you're being a tourist in your own town, see if you can solve recent challenges posted on our Facebook page.

Can you find a Triad Coffee Shop that sells:

• Krispy Kreme donuts
• hot dogs
• espresso walnut brownies?

Hint: It's 3 different coffee shops in 3 different towns (but if you find one that has all 3 of these goodies, let me know. I think I'll pack my bags and move into it!)

Post your answers in the comments. The prize: You get to discover new Triad Coffee Shops! (Someday, CoffeeCat might offer real prizes. Stay tuned!)

How to be a tourist in your own town

You're wondering what being a tourist in your own town has to do with coffee shops. Don't you know by now that CoffeeCat can relate almost anything on the planet to coffee shops? It's true.

When you're tired of the beaten path you take every day to work, the gym, the kids' school, the grocery store, and home, it's time for a coffee shop break. Even if you're bored with your town and too broke for a weekend getaway, coffee shops have something for you!

Start with the Coffee Shops Guide. Pick any coffee shop that you've never been to. It can be in your town, or, if you're really, really, bored, pick another town. Map out the route from your house to the coffee shop, and then throw it to the wind! That's right, you're going to get there off the beaten path.

Taking the major highway or the main route is allowed, but you must stop along the way at anything that intrigues you. It could be a shop you've never noticed, a park, a historical marker by the side of the road, or even another coffee shop. (How do you think I find all these coffee shops? On the way to some other coffee shop, of course!)

uploaded from http://www.ncmarkers.com/

For example, try to map a route that takes you past this marker honoring Underground Railroad legend Levi Coffin. Then throw it to the wind when you see something else that intrigues you even more!

Tell CoffeeCat about your Coffee Shop Tourist experience, and you might get a guest post on the blogspot!