Sunday, April 13, 2014

The Coffee Shop Chronicles No. 13

After I wrote my blog post "A Time for Roaming" and my husband read it , he looked at me and said "I don't agree, you can't stop writing your Coffee Shop Chronicles. They are too good and people look forward to reading them." I do not remember writing in that blog post that I was going to stop doing them. I said they would be "a little less frequent". Which means, I might not get to a coffee shop every week like I was able to do during the winter months. Mostly what it means though is that I want to roam to some new coffee shops and that might not be possible every week. I will do the best I can, I promise.

I returned at the end of last week to the area that my girlfriend Jill and I had visited earlier in the week. This area seems to be under my skin at the moment. So much to see and explore and all within an hour drive from my house. After I got home from my day with Jill I did some research on the area including what coffee shops were nearby. There were eight coffee shops in a three mile radius. Many looked intriguing but one rose like cream to the top of the must visit list.

I arrived at the coffee shop at quarter to ten.


The Sparrows, a lovely old storefront of a place filled with charm and character. I pushed open the heavy wooden door to see a true coffee house spread out before me. Original wooden floors and beautiful detailed metal floor grates.


The sweet young girl behind the counter reminded of a willow branch, a tall, thin wisp of a girl. She was probably near my daughter's age, which did make me feel a little old for a moment, but only a moment. Since many of the customers were young, hipsterish men, it was interesting to watch her interaction with them.

One particular young man caught my attention since he was trying so hard to hit on the sweet young girl. He was busy chatting her up, talking about random nonsense, when all of sudden he utters this weird phrase. I had no idea what he said and neither did Miss Willow Branch. He says "Oh sorry, that was my French slipping out". When this gets no response from Miss Willow he chuckles and says "I'm not really French. I'm really as American as you can get, really". He chuckles again, still with no response from Miss Willow. He decided to take his "Americano" coffee to go and move on.


The customers that frequent this coffee shop are much younger than the ones at my usual coffee shop. They also dress much differently.


One of the reviews I read on this place when I was doing my research said it was frequented by the young hipster crowd but the reviewer said he saw just as many families on the day he was there. I would say the hipster crowd was in the majority on the day I was there, at least as far as to go orders went. Busy young lives with places to go.


The tables as the back of the coffee shop were occupied by slightly older than me gentlemen, either reading their newspaper or working on their computers.

The two gals at the table to my left were probably around my age. They spent quite a bit of time talking about writing. They kept saying to each other what good writers they were but that they really needed to figure out a strategy. I probably heard that word "strategy" ten times in the hour that I was there. Wouldn't they be surprised to know that the girl at the table next to them had her strategy figured out and was actually writing. Even funnier I was writing about them.


I asked Miss Willow if I could take some photos inside the coffee shop with my digital camera. I explained that I write a blog and I do a series on coffee shops that I visit. I said the photos always add a nice visual touch for my readers, and her coffee shop was beautiful and unique. She said "of course". The gals at the next table overheard this conversation and were looking at me in a whole new light as I started taking some photographs. See gals it isn't about strategy it is about courage.


I can definitely see a return trip to The Sparrows in my future.

Until next time...

27 comments:

Beverly said...

Such fun Sarah! Since I'm a fan of your state, I'm intrigued by the coffee shops you visit and love reading about the atmosphere of each one. The floor of this one has a wonderful inviting patina and color. I adore the nickname you gave to "Miss Willow"! Your strategy is definitely a good one, and is working.

Michelle said...

Sounds like a wonderful spot with a good vibe.

Lynne said...

Looks like a great "new find" . . . Love your coffee visits . . .

Sandra said...

I do love the outside decoration of that new coffee shop: the pink and the green, carried right through to those pink paving stones in the foreground of your top picture! I really like the used wooden floors and the metal grid.
I also loved Miss Willow's cool when she was approached by the various techniques by Mr. Chatter Upper! He'll be reviewing his style then in the future!

Suburban Girl said...

We do look forward to the chronicles. I love the old time feel of this coffee shop, just love things with character! Poor guy, I wonder how many rebuffs he gets with his chatty approach. Amusing observation about the girls without a strategy.

overthefencephotos said...

I want to visit. Poor guy. I wish she had been a little nicer. But I suppose she gets hit on all the time. It would get annoying. He should have had a different strategy!

Ahayes1225 said...

I love your nicknames but I am still looking forward to your adventures.

Diana said...

I wish I were there. Love this series.

Dotti said...

Okay, now ... this coffee shoppe looks like one I could like. Do they do tea?

Viv@Thoughts from the Desktop said...

That looks like a good coffee shop and the scone looks tasty. Oh how I wish I had a coffee pal, mine is in Spain now.

Michelle B said...

I love the old wooden floor, it is perfect for a coffee house. The scone looks yummy! Courage, yes it is all about courage. :)

stacie said...

Love it! I really like the sign with all the fun names of the drinks and the guy hitting on the girl :)

Barb said...

I like the antique feel of this shop. So funny about the "writers' next to you - it IS about just doing it, isn't it?

Donna Hopkins said...

Sarah, I love your story. What I am most impressed by is your point - of which I am in complete agreement - that a certain degree of courage is needed to create. Once I stopped being afraid - life became more of an adventure. Like you, I just ask - can I take a picture or two? I love an action-oriented girl. I don't know what to call this strategy, but I often feel like I'm flying by the seat of my pants! I'm really enjoying your Coffee Shop chronicles.

cheryl Crotty said...

I thought of you last night as I visited my favorite "tea shop" in a town 20 minutes from my house...I don't do it often but I think I will try to do it more...and just take my book with me...I love that you do it frequently.
Your husband is right...it is fun to read about...
Happy Monday...

Kim Stevens said...

Yes, life is about courage, some days I have more the others, some days I have more than I should, lol! Cute coffee shop with awesome old floors too...and the shelf with the blocks, I had the urge to go make something with them. ;)

Anonymous said...

I laughed at the young man whose French just "accidentally" slipped out. Nice try, guy! I also enjoyed the irony of the ladies discussing their writing strategy, while you were actually writing -- about them. The Sparrows is a great addition to the Coffee Shop Chronicles!

Justine said...

oh I do love your adventures, yes, it's all about courage

Carol said...

Another great read!!

Sherri B. said...

I love this post...what a quaint, beautiful coffee shop. Here where I live, we only have Starbucks. Not that I'm complaining, but I like the uniqueness of privately-owned ones! Thanks for sharing, Sarah. :)

Melanie said...

Yes, a return to this place is a must! Can't wait to read more. Lovely shop, loads of character. We had one here, but sadly, it is gone now, and that is a shame!

Karen Lakis said...

This looks like a great coffe shop, and I feel kind of bad for the guy chatting up Willow - he was trying to hard. Maybe he had too much strategy, too.

Ps - I haven't forgotten about emailing Boston info!

Cathy H. said...

I can see why this shop attracted you. I love the old floors and the toy blocks on the shelf...wonderful! I wondered if you'd frequent coffee shops as much when spring arrived. I know you like to be out and about. I'll look forward to the coffee shop chronicles or your outings, which ever you decide to do.

Unknown said...

I thought of you as I sat in Barnes and Nobles Friday. I am getting up the courage to do my art journaling in public. Difficult as so few people know what art journaling is. This week's chronicle is heartwarming and a bit humorous! I chuckled as I read about the "slip" of French and the ladies chatting about writing. The photos made the place come alive, especially the one of the wooden floor with the metal grate. Captivating story this week.

Anonymous said...

I always find it interesting when people zoom in on a word and use it numerous times... it's as though they are trying to drive home a point or impress the person they are speaking with with that word... hence, 'Strategy' and their use of it ten times... LOL

Roxi H said...

What a gorgeous place! Silly girls! I love those blocks.

Nicki said...

I love people watching through your words.