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!

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.

Painting the Town Red in Reidsville

The Backstreet Buzz Coffee House in downtown Reidsville wants to be the community's "third place." It's not your first place (home) or your second place (work), but a third place where you can gather informally with long-time friends, new friends, young friends, and old friends.


CoffeeCat has already blogged about the wonderful-ness of coffee shops. Now I'm learning about other writers who think third places such as coffee shops are much more than places to buy coffee. They're good for our psychological well being and give us a sense of belonging. They improve our relationships and help us form new ones. If you're curious, you can read the books A Place for Us by Benjamin Barber and Great Good Place by Ray Oldenburg.

Or, if you'd prefer to find out firsthand, stop by the Backstreet Buzz and chat with Dave and Linda. You can't miss it - it's the red building on Market Street!

Then, try some of the other coffee shops on our Coffee Shop Guide and let CoffeeCat know what you like about these third places.