May Day Cafe

You'd think a two and a half week vacation would afford ample time for visiting more cafes. But alas, I've managed to keep myself somewhat occupied and my free time slowly slipped away from me as it always seems to do! Late mornings, travels and family time (all of which are important!) kept me away from my task of cafe critiquing.

Here is an entry from back in July, when I stopped for a coffee and a bite at the May Day Cafe in the Powderhorn Neighborhood.

We'll see if we can't get another cafe post up in a week or two.

July 17th, 2010

So begins another chapter in my cafe quest. May Day Cafe on 34th and Bloomington is where I've landed this morning, arriving by bicycle. "This place has to be good" I thought to myself as I locked up my bike to the nearest sign post. "The line is nearly out the door!" It feels so great to travel on two wheels around Minneapolis, especially to morning coffee! It's all part of the city experience.

This is a neighborhood cafe if there ever was one. The light green walls are dotted with photos from the immediate area. Through Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall these pictures show the many faces, characters, stores, ideals and values of the people who live here. Lots of pictures of bikes and bike accessories, pets, people and May Day Parade puppets.

As for the cafe, itself, the seating arrangements are composed of humble, time tested tables and a smattering of uniquely styled wooden chairs. It seems the owners acquired what they could through thrift shopping and garages sales, offering a homey feel to customers. Then there's the folksy-artsy fiddle music drifting about the tables. My table is especially unique in that it looks to be an old desk, sans drawer, with half of its paint stripped. So it's half red, half black. Sitting proudly atop resides a lamp with a base of what seems to be a Greek goddess shedding light onto my thoughts and my book. So eclectic! But awesome.

I ordered my cafe au lait and chocolate croissant and have nestled into my corner. Wow. It's been awhile since my last chocolate croissant, but this one is nearly authentic to those I tasted in France! And the best part? They are made in house! Too perfect.

The people who frequent this place are friendly and seem to spend much of their morning shooting the breeze with other locals while they watch the ebb and flow of customer traffic pass through the doors. In fact, I shared my table with an older gentleman as I nibbled away on my morning croissant.

I've been meaning to visit this place for sometime and I'm so glad I made it here today. Doing some research on the internet has helped me locate some great places near me to hang out and just people watch, journal, read and altogether enjoy life.

We shall see where I end up next! Hopefully it will be within biking distance!

A Lesson in Biking

Even though it is pouring buckets as I tat, tat, tat on the keyboard, I thought I'd share some thoughts I had during a life changing bike ride around Minneapolis:

May 14th, 2010

After an entire week of rain and dismal dreary skies, the sun has finally bestowed its warm and comforting rays upon us once again! Couldn't have had better timing for the weekend, too! Thought it might never come back. Anyways, I've been enjoying the sunshine today by biking in the parks around the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis. So relaxing and nature oriented (if you can believe this is in a city!). Plenty of green all around, bustling walkers, bike commuters, kids walking with mom, lovers going for a stroll.

Me just taking it all in.

My revelation for the day came to me as I biked along St Anthony Main, weaving in and out of pedestrian traffic while admiring the quaint shops, restaurants and seemingly planted brick cobblestone streets next to me.

A rush of happiness overwhelmed me as I realized that my bike ride was more than just about myself. Diners, passers-by, motorists and pedestrians were part of my urban landscape as I rolled along; yet I was part of theirs.

I helped create the hustle and bustle of city dwellers that draws people to share a meal on the patio or people watch over a cup of coffee. Today, I felt part of a larger community, outside myself, my age, AmeriCorps even!

My participation in life affects those around me, even if in the smallest way.

Who thought a simple bike ride could show me that?

A Seward Saturday

I actually began visiting cafes for their unique and sometimes eclectic atmospheres back in the fall of 2009. Having just moved to Minneapolis, I was new to 'big city' life where people find community in belonging to a certain neighborhood rather than just the city. And each part of town has a very distinct flavor and culture of its own. The following entry was originally inked into my personal journal, but it is worth sharing with you! I think it illustrates my overall goal and provides a baseline for future cafe visits and updates. Enjoy!

10/31/2009

Happy Halloween! I'm enjoying my Saturday morning at Seward Cafe on Franklin, reading my book for book club and just enjoying the atmosphere. It's amazing what happens when you actually get out of bed on a Saturday morning! I've come up with a fun new goal for myself: to find, visit and enjoy a wide variety of coffee shops in my area. I think it will be a fun subject for journal entries. Let me describe Seward Cafe.

It's definitely got a culture of its own. Their website told me they serve a wide variety of vegan and vegetarian options and those lifestyles are definitely evident in their decor, as well. Artwork, photos and very local neighborhood-y things line the walls, Chinese paper lanterns hang above the booths (which I'm curled up in, enjoying my coffee) and both the servers and clientele give off that hippy, urban feel. 5 o'clock shadows, distinctive glasses and decorative hats folding over their heads. Some even boast dread locks. Earthy and natural, I guess one might call it. As someone who has never been here before, my first experience has exposed me to their way of doing things.

The cook shouts your name when you order is ready to be picked up at the food window. So, I've been struggling to engross myself in my reading over the shouts of "Hey Larry!" "Hey Laurie!" "Hey Michelle!" not to mention the laughter of the group in the next room, the wet hiss of the espresso maker and the constant clanks and bangs of the baristas preparing customers' drinks. While this may not be the best place to read, this visit is definitely chock full of interesting things to witness.

Another thing to note is that they do not accept any plastic payment! Cash or check only, so the very distinct, rigid sounds and beeps of the one and only cash register have been captivating me, as well. Ahh the sounds of a coffee shop. "Hey Tyler!", oops there he goes again. Overall, this cafe exudes a neighborhood friendly, earth friendly, open and very homey feel, welcoming any and all who pass through their door.

As for the food, I don't have a good idea of the quality of vegan and vegetarian selections, as I've kept to my coffee and muffin. I imagine they might use local, fresh ingredients from the Seward Co-Op just down the street, a concept that seems to define this neighborhood. Perhaps this warrants a second visit for a chance to hear "Hey MaryEllen!"