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?

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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!