Take a hike!
Mocha Mutt got the weather reports a little confused. Last Saturday I decided it would be a great day to try out a coffee shop on our local university campus and take a long walk with a friend and my dogs. However, it wasn't until a couple of minutes into the walk that I realized it was cold, dreary, and verrry windy, so we were especially glad to visit with the staff of a locally owned (and heated!) coffee shop and enjoy hot drinks. We continued on our trek, but the wind made it difficult to hold on to the dog leashes without spilling the drinks, so we had a challenging time. We made it through the long, cold walk, enjoyed our cookies and hot drinks, and were very happy to get back to our warm, toasty house.

Today was a beautiful, warm, sunny day - one of those rare treats we Carolinians get to enjoy in February. Again, we decided an afternoon walk with the pups was a great idea. This time, though, just a week after our last campus adventure, we enjoyed iced tea as we walked, got to meet pedestrians, chase squirrels, and admire the daring moves of skateboarders. It was the perfect day for taking a hike with your best friend(s).

Tomorrow is forecast to be even warmer than it was today, so even if you don't have a canine friend to tag along, stop by your favorite coffee shop for a cool beverage and take a long walk in the sunshine.

Coffee & a Flick

Fans, I'll be updating the events page soon. But let me give you a tip: the Community Arts Cafe is coming alive! The latest is the Cinema Pub Winter Shorts Series - screenings of short, original films made right here in the Triad!


Now, the poster puts the idea of beer and pizza in your head, but that doesn't fool me. CoffeeCat can sniff the coffee a mile away. And I know there's coffee in that cafe!

Bad Idea

Never update the blog on an empty stomach. The coffee shop treats look so yummy - can't wait for my next coffee shop lunch, dinner, breakfast, or snack. Be sure to check out the sandwiches & more that many coffee shops offer.

And, in downtown Winston-Salem, the Big Eat continues through February, with Tuesday specials at a couple of downtown coffee shops. Check it out!

This blog's for you! & Coffee Road Trip: Durham

Coffee shop fans, this weekend is what I'm talking about! It's exactly why I created this blog - to let you know about the coffee shop events happening every day of the week at locally owned Triad Coffee Shops.

If you didn't get to check out one of the bazillion events happening this weekend, then I hope you have a better weekend in the near future! As for me, this was an animal rescue weekend, so I didn't get to attend any events . . . but the weekend isn't over yet!

http://www.joevangogh.com/

On the bright side, I did get a long-awaited visit to Joe Van Gogh in Durham. Although I could only stay long enough to have a muffin and half a cup of coffee, it was a great pick-me-up in the middle of a hectic day that involved about 300 miles of driving. Tell me, fans, how on earth can we do that kind of serious driving without a coffee break?

Joe Van Gogh is a great little haven near some of the best academic opportunities in our state - Duke U. and the School of Math and Science. Hold on, now UNC fans. I'll have a coffee road trip to Chapel Hill soon enough. For you State fans, check out our Coffee Road Trip: Raleigh. Wake fans - check out the Coffee Shop Guide for the great shops right here in the Triad.

Anyway, I enjoyed some locally roasted coffee at a locally owned coffee shop that's saving lives by donating to the fight against cervical cancer in developing, coffee-growing countries. Who says coffee drinkers can't save the world?? Just keep the coffee coming & we'll do the rest!

All in all, CoffeeCat is thankful for many things today - including the folks who support locally owned small businesses. If you want to be in the know, follow my blog and join us on Facebook.

Coffee Break - give me a double!

I'll confess. I missed having a coffee break with a friend on National Coffee Break Day. I was swamped with meetings and projects and the day just got away from me. I wasn't too concerned, seeing as how CoffeeCat pretty much makes every day a coffee holiday.

So, I made up for it by taking 2 coffee breaks today at Triad Coffee Shops. First, a coffee chat turned into lunch at Community Arts Cafe with a new friend. What a treat! How often do we enjoy conversation, getting to know someone new, bounce ideas off each other without cell phone interruptions and without stopping to look at the clock? Like, never!

As if that wasn't great enough, I took a coffee break with the kiddos (not mine, but kiddos nonetheless!) at Chelsee's. Kids love coffee shops, and they're perfect for a little family down time in the midst of a hectic, errand filled day. Why are they perfect? Because, while the kids are getting hyped up on hot chocolate and cookies, the grown-ups can get hyped up on coffee. Even Stevens!

When I first started sharing my coffee shops with my young nieces, I explained they have to be on their best behavior so they can go to a grown-up place. So now, they're well behaved and feel like they're getting special time with the grown-ups. And, vice verse, taking a kid to your favorite coffee shop can make you feel younger. Especially if the kids are not your own :-)

Fans, if you've been meaning to have coffee with a new friend, old friend, a kid or a grown-up, don't put it off. Do it! Whether it's 30 minutes or a few hours, you'll be so glad you slowed down to enjoy time at your locally owned coffee shop.

Over the River and Through the Woods

Yesterday, out of the blue, I saw my family's home video of the Blizzard of '93. It was March 14, the day of my grandmother's 80th birthday party. My family missed the party because we were snowbound at home two counties away. (No, this was not in the Triad!)

We had 3 feet of snow in less than 24 hours. It took a full day to dig our cars out of the snow drifts. The snow plow clearing our road wrecked and got stuck in a ditch. While the few people who made it to Grandma's party were eating cake and drinking punch, my family was digging cars out of the snow and hanging around in general disbelief.


I'm still a little sad that we missed her party, but everyone has great stories to tell of the Blizzard of '93. I told Grandma that the Governor declared her birthday a holiday. She had a good laugh - it was actually a state of emergency. Same difference, when you're the star of the day!

Grandmas need love too!

Anyway, I won't say too much about blizzards because winter isn't over yet, and so far it's been very wintry! So, on the topic of grandparents - why not treat yours to coffee at your favorite Triad Coffee Shop? If your grandparents aren't around anymore, borrow someone else's for a few hours. Take a grandparent to a Triad Coffee Shop just for the heck of it.


Spend a little time chatting about the old days, and let your grandparent(s) fuss about kids today. If you're 40+, you'll probably agree.


If your grandparents live over the river and through the woods, as mine did (literally!), a Triad Coffee Shop would be a wonderful treat. Or, get some coffee to go and drive it over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house.


She'll be happy to see you. She'll say you didn't need to bring coffee (she just bought a 3 lb. can of Maxwell House, you know). And she'll beg you to stay a little longer. So do it.


Just be back before the next snow on Tuesday . . . . or pack a bag just in case.

Have you had your coffee break?

Today is National Coffee Break day, celebrated by the National Coffee Association. If you haven't enjoyed a locally owned coffee shop today, there is still time!

Today is a good day to fall in love with a new Triad Coffee Shop or visit an old favorite. They're all listed on our Coffee Shop Guide. If we've missed one, let us know, fans!

Be honest. Have you ever regretted a visit to a Triad Coffee Shop? Never! (Shh, you don't have to tell us about the awful blind date. We'll pretend that one never happened.)

Have you ever wasted a dollar spent on mood-elevating caffeine in a cup?

I didn't think so! Enjoy your coffee break to the fullest!