One word: HOW?
Okay, we need more words: How have I lived so close and have not been to Koffee Korner before?
Koffee Korner, believe me. I'll make it up to you.
Thank you for giving the introduction, Liz. There is a lot to love here instantly just walking in the door. The cafe layout, the rustic feels, the long bar that extends the length offering seats to view all the preparations and cooking..
I'm truly looking forward to finding the pieces that start to emerge after a love is started and grown over time.
We enjoyed pancakes and open tacos. Tea and Coffee. And it was all perfect.
Cafe TableAU- Located on Broad street in Philadelphia right on the beautiful campus of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (right next to the giant paintbrush) . This gorgeous cafe was a perfect backdrop for a fun meeting with City Year, and the guys from Mind Your Business- a class that will totally change your life.
The large windows, with that early spring sun pouring in, while looking at original student art work made me so happy that I got there a little early, and was able to have some time to enjoy this gorgeous space, before the meeting. (Fun fact: this cafe is run by students from the food ordering to the procuring of art work)
After the barista made my latte, he asked if he could take a picture.. it is picture perfect!
I'm going back in the coffee time machine to a warm January day in New Orleans! While Renee was experiencing the deliciousness of another Cafe. I had the opportunity to go to the iconic, historic Cafe Du Monde!
Cafe du Monde is always packed, there will be a line but it's always fun, exciting, and full of deliciousness.
While I was there I got to hang out with some of my fave City Year Alumni. We chowed down on beignets, and coffee all while soaking in the sunshine and awaiting to start our day of fun in New Orleans!
OCF Coffee House in Old City was a good spot to sit, have a snack, and people watch from one of the bar seats at the window. Newly opened at 3rd and Market, Arianna and I found ourselves stopping in for a girls afternoon to talk about other projects and enjoy our sister time at this sweet spot.
chhaya cafe in South Philly is a pure delight on a winter morning. My childhood friend Katie lives close to the cafe and mentioned we should visit as a part of this cafe project.
When I arrived, I enjoyed being able to just stay near the entrance and really take in all the spaces offered to retreat to within the cafe space. The room is divided with a high bar top in the middle for seating, a front sunny window space with cushy chairs for relaxing, and then tables running along the long wall to the back where there are more tables.
My rooibus tea was delicious and seeped unusually by having a skewer through my tea bag that then hung on the top of the cup. Katie and I both got the truffle toast and just take a look below, there was nothing missing from seat to standing here. We were more than pleasantly surprised with this first visit here.
In keeping pace with another project of interviewing people using the StoryCorps app, Katie was more than gracious to talk to me about some of the steps she has been taking lately and how she has been addressing some self-care this year. My dear friend explored with me why women hold so much in still today and how she is trying to use her voice as a way to process, to heal, and to help others.
Katie is my running buddy from grade school where we had a fairly talented relay team. I find that when you work together to make something work so well in one place in life, it creates a special bond that often can be transferred to other areas in life. Today, Katie is a source of constant support for those around her with holistic energy practices and essential oils. She has introduced me how to best use essential oils and works with doTERRA (and if it sounds like a plug, I most certainly am making it, I will gladly connect you to learn more, just say the word). It's been so good to reconnect with someone passionately figuring out their next big steps in how to spread their light best in the world.
Arianna and I grabbed our friend Gabrielle and heading to the Green Line Cafe today. It is unseasonably warm for February but never too warm for tea and coffee! We sat outside in the sunshine and enjoyed many neighbors with Gabrielle's beautiful daughter Rosalie. Gabby was gracious enough to share with us some of her hopes for her daughter today and for the future. Listen to our short recording here.
Rosie is our youngest guest yet to join us. We enjoyed some tea, talk, lattes and scones.
And mic drops. ;)
I was extremely happy to spend this time with my national service ladies, we met ten years ago through being alumni of City Year.
We learned last week that AmeriCorps is on the docket for a possible funding crisis again. We ask that you contact your representatives and ask them to support national service programs. You can email your local representation through this link here. Thank you. <3
We missed Louisiana at the start of this month and we needed to go no farther than Beck's Cajun Cafe to get a huge dose of Southern love. Reading Terminal Market was in full swing this Saturday morning and somehow we ended up with perfect timing to get two bar stools at the cafe. Our brunch included jambalaya, po boy sandwiches, and Cafe DuMonde coffee. Everything was delicious and dessert was king cake!
It was truly fascinating to sit down with these two wonderful guys (Kevin and Tsolmon) and talk for hours about Tsolmon's immigration journey from Mongolia, his nomadic life before the US, and learn about weeping camels and our own personal stories of favorite tales.
I'm grateful to be spending so much time with friends and new friends through this project. I encourage you to take time regularly and sit down with a cup of tea or coffee and listen to the stories in the hearts of those around you.
Burlap and Bean Cafe is one of the best cafes in Delaware County to do so. Come during the day because you want a really good cafe, and come at night because they have great live performances stopping through town here.
Last month, Arianna and I were able to travel to Louisiana for City Year's Alumni Service Weekend. We both were able to visit some of our favorite cafes while away from home and I got to add a new one that I'll want to return to often: Press Street Station Cafe.
Check out why...
What's even better is that this was the moment I got to sit down and reconnect with one of my best friends after being thousands of miles away. She's been a warrior woman for me and many others since the day we met over a decade ago. Many times we have laughed, cried, served together and shared our lives together while tapping to music, and no one has a better singing dog than her Nala. Aria Mason, I love you, lady. This was truly a gem of a day to spend with you and Givonna.
Nothing feels more like home for me than live music with friends close by and it was an incredible bonus to enjoy the delicious food and a pot of chai tea that Press Street Station perfected while the musicians took us through the afternoon.
Check out our recorded interview here and be sure to also listen to our interview with Givonna Mason, Aria's amazing mother, who also shared some of her life advice with me in our other interview. Givonna highlights how she keeps herself grounded in life and how to look back at your younger self years later.
Opera Creole is the creation of both these talented ladies. If you are ever in New Orleans you should check out both the Press Street Station Cafe and try to catch one of Opera Creole's performances.
Chestnut Hill Coffee is one of my fave spots in Chestnut Hill. Tucked away at the top of the hill right next to an antique shop, this cafe offers delicious pastries, and a daily selection of soup. They roast their own coffee, and have a delicious Mexican Chiapas blend. They also have a secondary location in East Falls on Henry ave.
Cafe Mocha
Today I brewed coffee at home earlier. So for an afternoon treat I ordered a nonfat mocha.. if you're there in the summer try the iced version its equally as heavenly. This was the perfect drink to combat the-sad rainy day-back to work tomorrow- blues. I love this cafe, for a lot of reasons, and in a previous life this was my go to office, I always run into someone I know, and if you get the opportunity to sit in the window on the 2nd floor, it offers a fun view of Germantown Ave.
We hit the ground running this morning... and headed to our first cafe!
Since we were in Mt. Airy we went straight to High Point Cafe at Allens Lane Train Station. This delicious cafe has a sister store on Carpenter Lane and Headquartered on Germantown Ave, with a full roasting facility and a bake shop!
High Point is an incredible place, with the warmth of community that surrounds you the moment you walk in, an incredible selection of tea, coffee, delicious lattes, a full pastry case, and the most delicious crepes this side of Philadelphia!
Happy New Year coffee and tea loving Philadelphians!
Renee and Arianna are embarking on a year mission to visit 100 coffee shops in and around Philadelphia.
Our purpose: Friends, sitting in coffee shops and being observers of life and creating moments with a hot cup of tea or coffee. Send us your fave places, the best place to sit, and a blend or kind of tea to try.
