Thursday, November 25, 2004
· posted at 6:01 PM
The perfect cup.
Everything in life is a struggle and the victor is the side which is most powerful. Within the comfortable confines of my home, the tv/putzing around side wins... always. After a few unproductive days of leaving work early to come home and study, but actually watching soap operas and washing dishes instead, I came to the conclusion that in order to study, I should not go home.
So from work I have been going directly to coffeeshops. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. I've been bouncing around, pink-clad laptop in hand to find the prime study spot.
Here's my uncomprehensive review thus far:
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Location: Various
Parking: Convenient, though one must be wary when parking anywhere in San Diego's Little Saigon (Mira Mesa location)
Hours: Open til 9:30 usually.
Menu: Regular coffeeshop fare - madelines, biscotti, and some prepackaged food items. Excellent mocha. "For here" ware can test concepts of conservation of substances.
Environment: Laid-back and friendly vibe from workers and patrons. Temperature a bit on the Antarctica side (Balboa) and rattan seats (Mira Mesa) induce a fear of following through, but overall comfortable.
Internet: None
Extras: Buy 10 drinks, get 1 free.
Caffe Italia
Location: Little Italy
Parking: 2 hr limit on meters and spaces
Hours: Until 10?
Menu: Classic selection of cafe sandwiches - and gelato (though not Mondo). Love the over-sized cups.
Environment: Great interior designer. Cute bud vases with fresh flowers on galvanized tables. Cool newly renovated floor. Populated by several ogle-worthy Italian guys. Dim lighting not terribly conducive to studying. Mosquito problem is a deal-breaker.
Workers: Not exactly the Martha Stewarts of hosting. A patron ordered Nyquil with her tea and the worker replied deadpan (possibly lost in translation) that sorry, they didn't have any.
Internet: Alleged Wi-fi, but not working at the time.
Extras: A magazine stand!
Twigg's
Location: University Heights (additional location in El Cortez Hotel)
Parking: Expect to circle or walk once the sun sets.
Hours: Until 11 or 12pm.
Menu: Standard cafe food and yummy-looking desserts.
Environment: Relaxed vibe, plush seating, ample tables.
Music: If you're lucky, you might hear the wonderous vocal stylings of Daves Son next door in the green room.
Influx
Location: Golden Hill
Parking: Easy street parking, despite proximity to city college.
Hours: Closing at 9pm.
Menu: If variety is the spice of life, this modern decor coffee shop is India to the Christopher Columbuses of San Diego. With an extensive menu ranging from tomato, basil, mozzarella sandwiches to (literaly) crunchy granola items, you could sit from breakfast to dinner without exhausting your taste buds. Coffee good, but order minus the foam!
Environment: Red and white decor along with plastic bubble-esque chair make for a modern furniture showroom. Unfortunately, lights appear more form over function.
Music: Various. They play music ranging from Damien Rice to house.
Patrons: Funky, quirky bunch. Most lingerers are from the city college, annd eavesdropped conversations can include raging debates over feminism to previous night's episode of Lost.
Internet: Free Wi-fi throughout Golden Hill.
Starbucks
Location: Various
Menu: 101 different types of roasts - none of which I can taste a distinct difference post milk and two sugars.
Environment: Seen one, seen them all.
Music: All Christmas all the time in November!
Internet: Through t-mobile for a price.
LeStat's
Location: Normal Heights
Parking: Plan a minimum of 15 minutes driving around for a parking spot in a not-so-sketch locale.
Hours: True to its Anne Rice roots - 24 hours
Menu: Coffee, assorted desserts and snack foods, and possibly blood in the back?
Environment: Can be loud and rambunctious. Often crowded and grabbing a table is not always feasible.
Music: Can get industrial at times. Next door
Patrons: Varying in age but usually all on the slightly scary side.
Internet: Free Wi-fi
The Living Room
Location:Various - College, La Jolla, Hillcrest
Hours: Various. SDSU site shuts down at 2pm
Menu: Doubles as a restaurant by offering breakfast, lunch and dinner at restaurant prices (ouch). Caution: "fruit and bread" meal means an orange section, kiwi slice, 3 grapes and wedge of canteloupe (second rate melon).
Patrons: Varies depending on location, ranging from cramming college students to stuffy La Jollites.
Workers: Catch a glimpse of the Sean Blumberg/Greg Grunberg at the La Jolla location.
Patron policy: La Jolla location doesn't allow book toters.
Extras: Hillcrest location on the strip allows for central viewing of the beighborhood
Cafe MoJoe's
Location:Downtown La Jolla, steps from an ocean view.
Parking: You're relegated to repark your car every two hours during peak hours if you can't fit your banana boat into the small parking lot.
Hours: If you stay until close, you'll still be home before primetime tv begins.
Menu: Decent sandwiches and desserts.
Environment: Cute and cozy, probably my favorite, particularly when school's in session or it's the weekend.
Music: At the whim of the workers, but has always been agreeable. Ranges from Bob Marley to the Beatles to David Poe
Patrons: 3 o'clock rush brings in a flood of polo shirt and plaid-clad Bishop's kids, but short attention spans lead to tumbleweeds by 4pm.
Internet: Free Wi-fi
Extras: MoJoe's has Battleship and books like "Scenic Wonders of Australia"
Everything in life is a struggle and the victor is the side which is most powerful. Within the comfortable confines of my home, the tv/putzing around side wins... always. After a few unproductive days of leaving work early to come home and study, but actually watching soap operas and washing dishes instead, I came to the conclusion that in order to study, I should not go home.
So from work I have been going directly to coffeeshops. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. I've been bouncing around, pink-clad laptop in hand to find the prime study spot.
Here's my uncomprehensive review thus far:
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Location: Various
Parking: Convenient, though one must be wary when parking anywhere in San Diego's Little Saigon (Mira Mesa location)
Hours: Open til 9:30 usually.
Menu: Regular coffeeshop fare - madelines, biscotti, and some prepackaged food items. Excellent mocha. "For here" ware can test concepts of conservation of substances.
Environment: Laid-back and friendly vibe from workers and patrons. Temperature a bit on the Antarctica side (Balboa) and rattan seats (Mira Mesa) induce a fear of following through, but overall comfortable.
Internet: None
Extras: Buy 10 drinks, get 1 free.
Caffe Italia
Location: Little Italy
Parking: 2 hr limit on meters and spaces
Hours: Until 10?
Menu: Classic selection of cafe sandwiches - and gelato (though not Mondo). Love the over-sized cups.
Environment: Great interior designer. Cute bud vases with fresh flowers on galvanized tables. Cool newly renovated floor. Populated by several ogle-worthy Italian guys. Dim lighting not terribly conducive to studying. Mosquito problem is a deal-breaker.
Workers: Not exactly the Martha Stewarts of hosting. A patron ordered Nyquil with her tea and the worker replied deadpan (possibly lost in translation) that sorry, they didn't have any.
Internet: Alleged Wi-fi, but not working at the time.
Extras: A magazine stand!
Twigg's
Location: University Heights (additional location in El Cortez Hotel)
Parking: Expect to circle or walk once the sun sets.
Hours: Until 11 or 12pm.
Menu: Standard cafe food and yummy-looking desserts.
Environment: Relaxed vibe, plush seating, ample tables.
Music: If you're lucky, you might hear the wonderous vocal stylings of Daves Son next door in the green room.
Influx
Location: Golden Hill
Parking: Easy street parking, despite proximity to city college.
Hours: Closing at 9pm.
Menu: If variety is the spice of life, this modern decor coffee shop is India to the Christopher Columbuses of San Diego. With an extensive menu ranging from tomato, basil, mozzarella sandwiches to (literaly) crunchy granola items, you could sit from breakfast to dinner without exhausting your taste buds. Coffee good, but order minus the foam!
Environment: Red and white decor along with plastic bubble-esque chair make for a modern furniture showroom. Unfortunately, lights appear more form over function.
Music: Various. They play music ranging from Damien Rice to house.
Patrons: Funky, quirky bunch. Most lingerers are from the city college, annd eavesdropped conversations can include raging debates over feminism to previous night's episode of Lost.
Internet: Free Wi-fi throughout Golden Hill.
Starbucks
Location: Various
Menu: 101 different types of roasts - none of which I can taste a distinct difference post milk and two sugars.
Environment: Seen one, seen them all.
Music: All Christmas all the time in November!
Internet: Through t-mobile for a price.
LeStat's
Location: Normal Heights
Parking: Plan a minimum of 15 minutes driving around for a parking spot in a not-so-sketch locale.
Hours: True to its Anne Rice roots - 24 hours
Menu: Coffee, assorted desserts and snack foods, and possibly blood in the back?
Environment: Can be loud and rambunctious. Often crowded and grabbing a table is not always feasible.
Music: Can get industrial at times. Next door
Patrons: Varying in age but usually all on the slightly scary side.
Internet: Free Wi-fi
The Living Room
Location:Various - College, La Jolla, Hillcrest
Hours: Various. SDSU site shuts down at 2pm
Menu: Doubles as a restaurant by offering breakfast, lunch and dinner at restaurant prices (ouch). Caution: "fruit and bread" meal means an orange section, kiwi slice, 3 grapes and wedge of canteloupe (second rate melon).
Patrons: Varies depending on location, ranging from cramming college students to stuffy La Jollites.
Workers: Catch a glimpse of the Sean Blumberg/Greg Grunberg at the La Jolla location.
Patron policy: La Jolla location doesn't allow book toters.
Extras: Hillcrest location on the strip allows for central viewing of the beighborhood
Cafe MoJoe's
Location:Downtown La Jolla, steps from an ocean view.
Parking: You're relegated to repark your car every two hours during peak hours if you can't fit your banana boat into the small parking lot.
Hours: If you stay until close, you'll still be home before primetime tv begins.
Menu: Decent sandwiches and desserts.
Environment: Cute and cozy, probably my favorite, particularly when school's in session or it's the weekend.
Music: At the whim of the workers, but has always been agreeable. Ranges from Bob Marley to the Beatles to David Poe
Patrons: 3 o'clock rush brings in a flood of polo shirt and plaid-clad Bishop's kids, but short attention spans lead to tumbleweeds by 4pm.
Internet: Free Wi-fi
Extras: MoJoe's has Battleship and books like "Scenic Wonders of Australia"
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You think it's like this but it's really like this...
Iris Chang (1968-2004) I just read that Iris Chan...
Channel your chi away from me. People will go t...
I'm only a half block out of the store when I see ...
Trapped in the Skinner Box. There was a point in ...
Can you hear me now? It's a big decision. It's t...
From a strictly economic perspective, the market f...
Anyanka: You trusting fool! How do you know the o...
Free Pizza and Town Hall Meeting Fridays Cumulus ...
See Lisa, instead of one big-shot controlling all ...
Morning news
babie goose ryan
bluemouse
daves son
dawntaught
desiree
diorama
emily
escadawg
galveric
high entropy
invisible cube
jepgato
kyellow
lilly
mhuang
mogbert
nudream
starfish + coffee
verbivore
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