location | MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, MN
COFFEE SHOPS:
- Nina's Coffee Cafe: 165 Western Ave N, St.Paul, MN 55102
- Why is it good? - This amazing not-so-little coffee shop is in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood (which is also amazing, btw...go check out the Cathedral. AMAZING!). It's in a great old building with a central corridor clad in wood paneling and beveled mirrors. Anyway, the coffee is good (my default is a dry skim cappuccino) and I generally like their scones a lot. But the atmosphere is what makes it truly unique. It's hard to find seating, but once you have a spot you'll realize you are surrounded by interesting-looking people and usually tons of writers. Did I mention it's located above Common Good Books? Garrison Keillor's bookstore? It's a great little store that I find myself wandering in every time I visit Nina's. I don't even live near Nina's and I find myself going there decently often. Be aware, those writers will get to outlets a lot faster than you... so it is a better place to catch up with a friend than catch up on homework.
- The Angry Catfish: 4208 28th Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55406
- Why is it good? This is a pretty unique cafe - in type to begin with. It's a bike shop combined with a cafe. I know, I know there are multiples in the Twin Cities area, but seriously, this isn't normal for the rest of the country. And the Angry Catfish does not skimp on the coffee part. I got a latte, and it was fantastic. Nice wide-mouthed mug, stripes of tasty frothy foam. I must say, I felt a little out of place when I walked in, mostly because I visited with my mom, and second because we arrived in a car and not a bike. But otherwise the people were friendly, and it was fascinating to watch people walk in and out, some with coffee and some with bike parts. And once more, this is located on one of my favorite little-known blocks in South Minneapolis: 28th Ave and E 42nd Street. This corner has not two, but THREE fantastic shops. 'The Baker's Wife' on the corner, then 'Buster's on 28th' and then 'The Angry Catfish.' So you can visit one of my favorite bakeries ever, a really amazing gourmet pub, and a truly unique coffee shop within a few steps. Go! Bring friends! It makes a great relaxed afternoon. And Minnehaha Falls is not far away.
- http://www.angrycatfishbicycle.com/
location | ALBANY/TROY, NY
- The Daily Grind: 46 3rd Street, Troy, NY.
- Why is it good? This is the place I go to the most, perhaps. They make my favorite drinks. I know most all the staff there (generally), and the food is really good. They have free wi-fi, so I come and stay a bit and study when I can....which allows me to buy lunch or something tasty while I'm there as well. Brunch? Get the fruit and yogurt parfait. First time I ordered it there was a lot of head-snapping by all the people following the order to my table. It comes in a tall milkshake glass, complete with a lot of fruit. Really delicious. I also recommend any of their coffee drinks. And their cake. And their specials. One day they had a grilled chicken/mango/chipotle mayo sandwich on the specials list, and it was amazing. Sometimes it's a little dark in the cafe, but sitting closer to a light or the front windows solves that. Come on the last Friday of every month, and you'll find Tango in the back. There is an open mic every week and live music every weekend. I highly recommend it. There is also one on Lark Street in Albany (actually the original), but the Troy one is within walking distance, and therefore preferred. (PS.. there is a candy machine at the counter where you can get around a half dozen chocolate-covered espresso beans for a quarter. Best cheap pick-me-up in Troy). http://www.dailygrind.com/
- Francesca's: 461 Broadway, Troy NY, 12180
- Why is it good? Francesca's was probably the first coffee shop I adopted as I moved to Troy. It's only open on weekdays, and not very late, it doesn't have wi-fi, but it is one of my very favorites. Maybe it's because they have by far the BEST chai latte (and all it's variations) that I've ever had. My 'plain' way is to get a skim chai latte (the whole/soy milk versions are a little sweet for me) with whipped cream and cinnamon. Delicious. The dirty chai is my new favorite, the same as previously mentioned, but with a shot of espresso (which cuts the sweetness of the chai wonderfully). And then in the warm months, either variation over ice is my go-to drink when I need a treat. Next on my favorite list is the grilled muffins. Yes, GRILLED. It's a delicious muffin, cut in half and caramelized on the griddle with a little butter. I didn't say it was healthy, but it is amazing. To combat any unhealthiness, you can get one of the best fresh sandwiches in town. I almost always get the Ultimate Veggie Wrap with hummus, which is a steal at $6 for a sandwich that can span two meals. My friends are smitten with the Caesar sandwich and the Club sandwich. Be aware, they are huge; but you can always save some for later. The cafe is crazy busy at lunch, as it seems the entire population of office personnel in the city come to pick up their lunches here, but it also makes it lively. Often I come while Francesca's family and friends visit, and there is some chatter in Italian, giggling kids, wise-cracking gray-haired men, and generally lots of people singing with the music. It's a joyful place. What's not to love? (PS. Francesca has one of the sweetest smiles and one of the best memories. She seems to memorize everyone's names within just a couple visits. One more reason it feels like a home-away-from-home.)
....more to come....
