@

Sip Cafe

Zero Post Office Sq
Boston, MA 02109
Neighborhood: Financial District

Review originally published on Yelp.

Some coffee shops thrive off the location, and Sip Cafe is one of those shops. Located right in downtown Boston’s Post Office Square, an adorable park compliments the experience of enjoying a coffee. This shop thrives in the warm season, but thanks to a loyal customer base, they do just fine all year round.

I bought a small (8 oz.) coffee on my first visit. Sometimes a small is 8 oz, I get it, especially when the coffee is quality, which it was. They offer a drip coffee as well as a Daterra Southern Italian espresso, which is pretty, pretty nice. Of course, they have teas and other beverages too, as well as a great selection of tasty edibles if you’re hungry.

Go in, get something nice, and take it outside. Sit in the park and watch the city move and breathe around you. I do that on every occasion, as the indoor scene is hard to adjust to.

Big Bear Cafe

1700 1st St NW
(between N Florida Ave & N R St)
Washington, DC 20001

Review originally published on Yelp.

As a tourist to DC, I relied on my friend to show me around, and while there, I made him aware of my fascination with coffee. He said to me, “before you leave here, I’ll take you to a great coffee shop.”

Big Bear Cafe is that shop, and I have to agree with him on that. Every bit of the experience prior to ordering reminded me of other truly organic independent cafes across the country. The place feels warm and old fashioned. The casual, intellectual vibe existed both inside and outside, where we ended up enjoying our cups of direct trade brew. They know how to prepare a good cup of coffee, and they do it with a smile.

The coffee was great – strong, well balanced, a perfect pick-me-up after a morning at the farmer’s market. They get their beans from Counter Culture Coffee, a well-known distributor in the area that prides itself on all things coffee. I take that as a promising sign, and the staff at Big Bear agree.

I felt like a regular sitting outside, drinking and chatting with my friend the day before I took off to continue my cross-country trip. I took a button from them that had they’re adorable “Big Bear” logo on it, a memory distilled, even after several future experiences of coffee consumption.

Next time I visit DC, I plan to revisit this place.

Stell Coffee & Tea Company

1580 Barton Rd
Redlands, CA 92373

Review originally published on Yelp.

This place is what independent coffee shops are all about. They roast locally, and distribute locally. And while I only got a cup of the usual on my brief visit to Redlands, I could taste the quality – strong, aromatic, and full of body. It’s a simple operation they have over there, and they’ve perfected the process.

They roast their beans inside the shop, and it gives the place a hearty coffee smell. It’s an adorably small and welcoming atmosphere, half inside and half outside. Their staff is very friendly. Their edibles are pretty appetizing, especially the chocolate chip cookies and panini sandwiches. They put time and effort into their product, and that’s enough for me to buy a bag before continuing on my cross-country trip.

Tryst Coffee House Bar & Lounge

2459 18th St NW
(between N Belmont Rd & N Columbia Rd)
Washington, DC 20009

Review originally published on Yelp.

Tryst is one of those coffee shops that feels like home to locals, and hell to tourists. I was a tourist, but I actually really enjoyed the atmosphere. Granted, there’s no pleasure in hunting for a seat at peak hours, but the payoff is in the traditional cafe experience.

Small tables with chairs, couches and coffee tables, places by the fireplace (do they work?) where you can read a book, write a book, or talk with others. I was there to write a book, and enjoy a coffee. Waitstaff bring your orders straight to you, lest you lose your seat, and they don’t mind you camping for hours. Just be sure to tip them.

Their coffee is great, and that’s with options. You can have a house drip or their french-press, whatever your pleasure, and I like that. And, if you want to get drunk, then good news! It’s a bar as well.

Their food menu is really… bohemian. They didn’t serve eggs, which is less than ordinary, but they have black forest ham, and honey, and tasty bagels, among a wide variety of healthy items. I made my own sandwich, and the waiter actually took it down as a possible item to add to their menu. No matter, be prepared to try something different. Their baked goods looked good.

I was well-cared for, and definitely would make that a regular hangout if I lived in DC. My fondest memory of that experience was when I reached the end of my stay. A trio was hovering around me, sensing my departure. One of them was wearing a legitimate sports racing jacket, and when I started to collect my things, he jumped on it like a tiger on it’s prey. Expect that when no other seats are available.

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of attending a webinar on Facebook Marketing Strategies, hosted by Dave Kerpen, co-founder and CEO of Likeable Media. Likeable is a social media and word-of-mouth marketing company, and for the last four years, they’ve helped thousands redefine their business marketing strategies through Facebook and other social media platforms. As I began to consider Artifact’s future, I thought it would be helpful to listen in and take notes on what Dave had to say.

A lot of us who use Facebook are familiar with “pages.” Pages can act as a face for businesses. They’re great for distributing news and promotions to the general market. They’re also quite great at destroying a company’s public image if not properly managed. It’s important to consider those implications before creating a Facebook page to represent your business.

Once you enter the social media market, you have to listen to everybody: customers, prospects, competitors, even the customers of competitors. Among that broad audience, people are going to share problems, problems that your business can solve. As Dave put it so eloquently, “Don’t ‘Listen, then sell. Listen, and emphasize.’” Communicate with your customers to build a relationship. Don’t just throw answers at them.

You want to get inside the head of your customers. Simply put, familiarize yourself with the behaviors and habits of your prized fans. In a profit-driven business, that’s essential. For Artifact, it’s different. Blog followers who enjoy reading, art, food, wine, traveling, coffee, and so on. Who likes to read about that stuff? What are they looking for that may drive them to you? Understanding that will help you attract them.

Dave was nice enough to share many reasons why people “like” fan pages on Facebook: to receive discounts, to show support, to get free samples/coupons, for fun, for updates on content, activities, projects, and sales, among other reasons. Depending on the company, some reasons are greater than others. Artifact’s fan page is there to show support, and keep people updated on new content.

Facebook is there to connect people. As a company, you have a responsibility to connect with your customers. You have to be there when a customer’s experience is less than acceptable. It’s the equivalent of addressing a customer in front of a million other customers. Everyone is watching, and it’s up to the company to address any issue as quickly as possible. Of course, the same level of courtesy should be shown to those who endorse your business. The key is to listen and emphasize any comments or concerns.

Share stories with your customers. Dave considers company stories “social currency” and for good reason. Developing a rapport with customers is as easy as sharing your company’s story, or perhaps the stories of satisfied customers. Domino’s Pizza, for example, has taken advantage of this by connecting with customers and sharing stories of how they’ve improved their product and business thanks to their suggestions. Describing times when obstacles were overcome really hits home for current and potential customers. It inspires others to share stories too, which is another great strategy that Facebook can help with. Wall posts get shared with everyone.

Facebook advertisements can really spread awareness beyond normal reach. Without going into too much detail, you can target millions of customers based on several factors, like location, interest, age, and so on. The key ingredient, however, is social. I’m likely to enjoy something my friend enjoys, because I know them, and I trust their judgment. Friends spread the word for you.

Dave was nice enough to end the webinar with a clever little lesson: “get customers to engage without asking them to like you.” He offered a prize: a signed copy of his book, and to win it, people had to write a comment on the “Likeable Media” fan page wall about the webinar. Of course, you had to “like” the fan page to write on the wall, but he didn’t ask us to join it, he asked us to comment in it. Within five minutes, an extra few hundred people joined his page. Just like he mentioned earlier, it’s good to offer something back to people as thanks for joining their page. Making customers feel welcome is the first step in building a loyal fan base on Facebook.

To learn more about Dave Kerpen and Likeable Media, visit Likeable.com

Kinley’s House Coffee & Tea

2231 N Mesa St
El Paso, TX 79902

Review originally published on Yelp.

Independent coffee shops in El Paso are hard to find. I found myself really searching the local scene for this one, and I was satisfied with the results. Oddly enough, it’s right across the street from a Starbucks, and yet it survives the fierce competition.

Kinley’s House has established itself in the UTEP area for having great coffee, tea, and food. Much like any proper coffee house, their place is open and inviting. They have an outdoor seating area as well, which is great. They have an extensive variety of teas and espresso drinks that are worth trying, but not by me (this time). I got a cup of their fair trade organic roast and relished in the experience by the windows facing North Mesa Street.

The coffee was quality: smooth, bold, and aromatic. I sat there for close to an hour, watching the customers come and go, listening to them talk and ultimately drive back into the sprawling panoramic of El Paso. I left feeling satisfied; I would go there again on my next visit.

Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea

53 W Jackson Blvd
(between Wabash Ave & Michigan Ave)
Chicago, IL 60604

Review originally published on Yelp.

Coffee lovers can’t tour the country, stop in Chicago, and leave without visiting Intelligentsia. This place is, without a doubt, a premier destination for coffee in Chicago. Known for their diverse variety of robust offerings, Intelligentsia is a luxury brand that few can stack up to.

It’s not surprising that their coffee house in Chicago looks like a modern art gallery. The ambiance is cool and well-distributed with photography and fine art. People sit and conduct work like any other coffee house, but something seems different, more refined. I almost feel unworthy to be there.

A slew of coffee drinks are available, and while espresso seems like caviar, I decided to try a slow-pour cup of coffee, a large (for once), and watched the barista grind the beans and prepare the slow pour with steaming hot water, all the while chatting with me about their beans and technique and the history of the shop. They have it down to a science, and it shows in their product.

Anyone who loves coffee will do good to visit an Intelligentsia coffee house in their lifetime. Experiences like this are not common, and while they do distribute nationally, you simply can’t get the same feeling without visiting the source.

Bloc 11 Cafe

11 Bow St
Somerville, MA 02143

Review originally published on Yelp.

Bloc 11 is a great coffee house in the heart of Union Square. They have an eclectic menu of sandwiches and salads. Try a scone if they’re available. They care about their coffee, and where it comes from. They get imports from Intelligentsia and Stumptown, two very serious coffee makers, and rotate their offerings daily.

Their drinks vary in complexity. I stick to simple cups of coffee, but they have a variety of espresso drinks to choose from. Try their Vietnamese coffee, a blend of sweet and smooth. Try their edibles. I’ve had some of their sandwiches, and a lot of people are on the fence about it. Not many places make a “spicy curry tofu salad sandwich” with apple slices and avocado.

Tell you what, go there and try their egg sandwich with prosciutto and cheese on rosemary foccacia bread, and then tell me what you think! It’s my favorite.

Their walls are usually decorated with cool, local artwork. The music is mild and doesn’t distract the scores of locals who hangout with books and pads and work to be done. It’s a great place to talk, and you can have privacy in the back if necessary. In the evening, they host a variety of live music events. What else could you ask for?

Cafe Rose Nicaud

632 Frenchmen St
New Orleans, LA 70116

Review originally published on Yelp.

Logo Credit: Pat McDonald Fowler

On a last-hour sweep of the French Quarter before leaving New Orleans, I decided to walk down Frenchman Street to take some pictures and find a coffee house. I found this place by accident, and decided to give it a try. It was one of the best decision I made while out there.

It was warm inside and relaxed, with folk and indie-rock music playing lightly over the sounds of cups clanking and people talking. The lovable staff knew their regulars. I got a cup of coffee, a slice of pecan pie, and a smile from the pretty girl working behind the counter.

The pie was excellent. The coffee went well with it, too. It was like desert after breakfast. I would have stayed their longer, but I had a train to catch for El Paso later that day, and I only had so much time to see the area.

Today, SPIN Magazine opened the floodgates for avid fans of Hooray For Earth (HFE) by streaming their entire upcoming album “True Loves” online. I wasted no time in listening to it here. I urge to do the same, before this offer disappears. The album goes public on June 7th.

For everyone who got here late, HFE is a guitar band originally from Boston. They now operate in New York, and have since then exploded. Their heavy-hitting presence from years ago (i.e their EP “Momo”) has not changed. If anything, they have complimented that energy with music that makes people feel alive. The vocals resonate on almost every track, as if welcoming listeners to sing along. Check out songs like “Last Minute” and “True Loves” to get a feel for what I mean.

There are layers to their music that simply never existed before. They’ve been exploring the boundaries of guitar rock with electronic enthusiasm, and their hard work has paid off. I sense a very strong and positive reaction to their new release from Dovecote Records. Check out their music video for “True Loves” below. It aptly demonstrates the caliber of their work.

Rao’s Coffee

17 Kellogg Ave
Amherst, MA 01002

Review originally published on Yelp.

I don’t know about many other independent coffee houses in Amherst, and as far as I’m concerned, I don’t need to know. I’ve known about Rao’s ever since I was a kid, and when I became old enough to appreciate it, I went there as often as I could. They have changed so much since the beginning, when their shop was smaller, and they didn’t have a private roasting house in Hadley.

They roast their own beans, and distribute them regionally, which is so nice, but the experience is home in Amherst center. They have a rustic decor inside their shop that smells like good coffee, and the buzz of machinery behind the counter blends perfectly with the buzz of customers’ eclectic conversation. Their espresso drinks are great. When I was in my “cafe mocha” phase, I would only buy them there.

You’re buying quality for a little extra per cup compared to mainstream shops, but believe me it’s worth it. You’re getting a one-of-a-kind product and experience here. Don’t feel intimidated by the liberal crowd that hangs out in there. You’re there for good coffee, or else you’d go somewhere else.

Hang out outside when the weather is warm, and feel like a part of the town.

CC’s Community Coffee House

941 Royal St
New Orleans, LA

Review originally published on Yelp.

CC’s is perhaps one of the best coffee houses located in the French quarter of New Orleans. Their coffee is well-known in the area, and they distribute locally to a lot of businesses that swear by it. I had to visit their home and try a cup while on my cross-country tour.

The shop is set up like a cafe with areas to sit and talk with friends. They offer a few blends on tap that are far from ordinary. They have a passion for bold roasts. I got an Ethiopian Yirgacheffe that had a complex taste and body to it. They also have free refills, which was a big plus.

They have a variety of beans you can take with you, flavored and premium. Someone suggested the “Roasted Pecan Praline” blend, which smelled great from the bag. If only I had the room to pack it, I would have bought it. If I ever visit New Orleans again, I will make a point to go there and get a bag.

Boston Common Coffee Company

515 Washington St
(between Avenue De Lafayette & Chickerling Pl)
Boston, MA 02111

Review originally published on Yelp.

This shop was my morning destination for great coffee for nearly three years. Every morning I went to work, I would stop there to get a small cup of coffee, and possibly a scone or a honey wheat bagel with butter on it. They knew me like any loyal customer. I had almost every blend they offered, and for better or worse, I discovered what good coffee is all about, all thanks to this place.

This is not your ordinary cafe. This is a fair-trade, small business success story. It’s a coffee house with room to relax; great for people to sit down and talk. They have great background music that changes with the moods of the staff, who are great, knowledgeable, and certainly willing to offer suggestions if you can’t figure out what you want. I don’t recommend getting in line without an idea, however, or you’re likely to vex the others waiting patiently.

Their Guatemala Antigua and Breakfast Blend offerings are at the top of my list. Their muffin-tops and scones are great in the morning, and their panini sandwiches are also something to write about. My favorite one is the “Big Tony,” a sliced meatball marinara creation that hits several different spots at once.

I recommend this to every single Bostonian in the metro area. Break away from the Dunkin doldrums and try a truly unique drip.

Peter Bjorn and John @ Paradise Rock Club
Boston, MA
05/05/2011
Margaritas

Boston was once again the place to be for this year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration. The weather was pretty, and everyone of age was having some tequila, toasting “¡salud!” to the end of another year at college. I was at Sunset Cantina with a few friends, drinking margaritas with blue salt on the rim, eating nachos and catching up before the main event at the Paradise Rock Club.

Peter Bjorn and John – the indie rock trio from Sweden that spiraled upward in fandom when they came to the states – was a much-anticipated event. We made every sacrifice to see them play a Cinco de Mayo show together. The last time they did this in Boston was back in 2007, right as they were getting national acclaim for their third major album, Writer’s Block. They were making waves in the indie scene with their single “Young Folks,” and I was promoting them through a local radio station that fostered their rise to fame.  This year, the trio returned to show us something new.

Photo Credit - Diana Wong, Brooklyn Vegan

On one of Boston’s most notorious drinking holidays of the year, the trio (guitarist Peter Morén, bass guitarist Björn Yttling, and drummer John Eriksson) took to the stage and immediately dove into my favorite song, “Up Against the Wall.” It was serendipitous; my friends and I had discussed our favorite songs by them earlier in the night. I was glad this wasn’t just a tour of their new album, Gimme Some, even though that would have been amazing. The tracks they did highlight embodied an optimistic enthusiasm for live performance. They played a variety that spanned over several albums, giving me a taste of everything new and old. They brought a great, frenetic energy to the stage. Their sound was powerful, poppy, new wave and enjoyable all around.

Photo Credit - Diana Wong

Photo Credit - Diana Wong

There were occasional jam sequences that blew my mind, and Peter would sometimes grind into his guitar and improvise solos that made my head bang uncontrollably. He even jumped into the stage a couple times to play his harmonica, and Bjorn would rock the bass in wild support. Even John had his moment, playing his heart out, standing over his drums, banging incessantly while P&B offered instrumental backup. They played an hour-long set, left the stage, and came back with drinks in their hands minutes later, toasting and celebrating before returning to another great set. I regret not staying long enough to thank them personally for an awesome show. It went on until just about midnight, and I eagerly picked up a t-shirt before racing to catch the last train home.

Rubblebucket, Millionyoung, and Com Truise @ Le Poisson Rouge
Greenwich Village, NY
04/20/2011
Red Fish IPA

New York City is a ready-made home for music lovers looking to experience something new. Their scene is so eclectic, and yet it gives every band and artist a place to peacock. Greenwich Village is one of those places, a hotspot for music, and it’s there my notes began.

My bus from Boston dropped me off in the heart of Chinatown, and I waited, leaning on a newspaper kiosk at the corner of Canal and Bowery, scanning the countless passing faces for my friend, Lapre, to meet me after work. He, like me, wouldn’t pass up a show like this.

Le Poisson Rouge (The Red Fish) is a great venue. It looks like a nightclub, and its basement feels like a trendy jazz club. The tables were cleared out for standing room only, and yet, having arrived there when the doors opened, we dropped our gear at a standing bar table near the VIP lounge, and began to marinade on Red Fish IPA and colorful lights blanketing a slowly-growing audience.

The show started for Com Truise, and the club was quarter full. I could tell right off (but was surprised) that he was the opening act. I’m familiar with his work, and recognize it as the night begins. He breaks into something new that flows with his style of heavy percussion and synth waves. This is future electronic music. He improvises on the machines, even though it is an orchestrated piece. Lapre compares it to a modem and a drum, and I laugh.

He grooves to his own music as he plays on stage, and on occasion he looks back at the wall, covered with visualizations. A song plays with reverberating alarms, and dissipates to a rolling thunder of applause. A set of hieroglyphs flash on the massive screen, and I try to grasp what they mean. A sun rises over a polygon mountain. A pair of Italian women talk under the music at a table in front of us, smiling and laughing with big Italian smiles.

I’ve heard this one before. He is in his groove now, and more people have filled the club. A couple people dance by themselves as the heavy song and vibrant visuals coat us listeners in an odd, electronic fog. I seldom consider how prepared these guys are, especially when they run into something at 150BPM and they tap-tap-tap away on music machines, turning knobs and blending track after track. He made it look easy.

A quick intermission allowed me to meet Com Truise after the show and simply thank him for the great show. He was chatting with a couple that met him before I did, so there was an awkward standby moment in front of them as I waited for my chance to interrupt. “Hey man, great show, I’m glad I came out for it.” He was happy to hear it, thanked me, and we shook hands before I made my way back into the club. The next act, Millionyoung, was setting up, and it was only 10pm. I ordered another Red Fish IPA.

Photo Credit - Jessica Lehrman - on The Jealous Lover

Millionyoung was a discovery that resonated with me ever after. They explode from the start in bursts of electro indie flavors comparable to Animal Collective. They open with a track that reverbs harmonic vocals and melodic, beat-infused guitar rock. There is an atmospheric quality in the results, something apt for beach-side parties. They certainly know how to get a crowd moving and cheering. There is energy brewing in their music, and it bubbles over in vocals sweetened by reverberating delays. They use it well, and my head bangs.

If Cut Copy heard this last song, they’d probably go along with the groove. Their sequences of synth, pop, and rock highlight an ambient quality in their vocals. A lady sits alone between us and the Italians, drinking a glass of Vodka neat, and she bobs her head to the beat. The band comes together in a cavalcade of sounds, and despite the odd delay, the vocals really make it great.

We applauded as they collected their things and left the stage. I found them after the show and talked with them briefly, mentioning I traveled from Boston to see the show. They were flattered, and I gave them my card in case there was a chance to see them play in Boston. I had no idea they were playing the following night at Brighton Music Hall, but it wouldn’t have been the same kind of show. I shook their hands and thanked them for the great show, and made my way back into the club. Another Red Fish IPA, and I sit in wait for the final act of the night.

Photo Credit - Jessica Lehrman - on The Jealous Lover

The club was full as Rubblebucket took to the stage. They completely blew the top off any preconception I had. They explore the space around us with harmonic energy. The horns and natural melody in their music bring everything together in a funky groove. They’re beats are uplifting, juxtaposed against afro-like themes and eye-closing harmonies. The crowd was clapping and jamming along, and so was I. The Italians left their table to join the dancing masses, and the lady alone grooves even harder than before in the barstool in front of us. Someone threw a bra on-stage, and everyone was chanting “Happy Holidays!” between songs. The trumpet player did a stage-dive, and everyone was loving it.

I want to know what this song is; it has a happy groove to it, slow but in step with a confident satisfaction. I smile as the vocals take on a jazzy instrumentation, ushering in a breakdown revival of ska and funk. The singer has a great voice that reminds me of Bjork and Sister Nancy. Her melody inspires a state of jam that feels like it could go on for much longer. Thankfully, I think I found the right track, and posted a video for it below.

The show was over late, and Lapre and I were well-off with our drinks before the night came to a close. He had to get up in a few hours to go to work in Manhattan, and yet that didn’t seem to bother him. In the closing notes of the night, I remember the long train ride home, and the pit stop for munchies, handing over my few remaining dollars to impatient ethic men wearing uniforms and hats.

Sitting at Lapre’s kitchen counter, we ate snails from their shells and chased them with sweets, while sipping Glenmorangie scotch and rehashing the night’s encounters. I told Lapre about my conversations with the artists I talked to, and he helped me conceptualize the sounds we heard in words that made sense – it’s a hard thing to do when you’ve never heard music like this before. I only hope for your sake, you get what I mean.

Bloc Party has been around for years now. And yet, every time I listen to their album “Silent Alarm”, I am reminded of a great experience I had in June 2007. It was Boston’s Best Music Poll, and Bloc Party was headlining. I was working for The Phoenix, the media group that put on the show, and they gave me an all-access pass to document the show. I was free to explore the stage and get close to the action. I had not really listened to their music beforehand, but the show itself was a defining moment for me. Many people would agree; live performances surpass a studio recording in more ways than one. They opened with “Like Eating Grass”, drawing out the introduction for everyone to know, and went on from there, playing “Silent Alarm” song by song. Their sound resonated with me ever after.

Fast-paced guitar rock blended with powerful vocal harmonies to make waves in the ocean of people that flooded the streets. They started playing “Banquet” and I couldn’t help jump along with everyone else. I was there, fifteen feet from the stage, moving around every song to capture pictures of the band in their element. By the time they started “She’s Hearing Voices”, the percussion took on an industrial presence, and everyone began clapping their hands and jumping to the beat. A girl next to me was losing herself in the vibrations of the song, dancing in place with her eyes closed and mouth slightly open.

Listening to their album now, I feel the same vibrations, echoed years after they released it. Their sound has changed since then, incorporating more electronic instrumentation, but they still have that iconic, indie feel. It’s only getting better.

People compare them to The Cure, Joy Division, and The Smiths, all of which fall under a subgenre of English alternative rock. It’s only fair they share the same sound; the British influences have shaped their music in such a unique way. There is so much energy and emotion in the sound and lyrics, almost like a rebellion. A teenage rebellion, which is exactly what I saw on Landsdowne Street that night. I snapped picture after picture of the show, trying to capture a visual piece of the moment. Years later, I can look back at these pictures, while listening to this album, and remember a great experience, one-of-a-kind, not likely to be forgotten.

Washington D.C.
2/9/2011

Hammer took me to Yum’s Carryout on 14^th and U to finally try some mumbo sauce. Mumbo sauce is a tangy blend of duck sauce, barbeque sauce, and a third (secret) ingredient that makes it a DC-specific slice of culture. Go to any carryout in the city (Chinese carryout, to be precise) and ask for it by name. Ask for it on your fried chicken, your fries, and your dumplings. Hell, ask for extra sauce on the side, and dip whatever you want in it. The subtle blend of sweet and tangy goes well with anything. It was worth having fried chicken and chicken-fried rice for breakfast that morning because I got to taste that authentic flavor of inner-city culture. The juices made my palette yearn for more, new, things.

Just wait, my senses. Just wait for what’s ahead.

Abraço

86 E 7th St
(between 1st Ave & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10003

Review originally published on Yelp

One of best coffee shops in the lower east side. Hands down, this place is a gem, a diamond in the rough. Anyone looking for unique espresso and coffee offerings would do well to visit this place.

Their drips are quality. They take the time to make it good. Their edibles are rich with flavor. The olive oil cake is awesome! Try the lemon rose cake as well.

The experience is unique because its literally as big as a closet, just enough room to order and warm up before enjoying yourself outside. They have a spot outside to hang out during warmer weather, but the honest situation is a brief, in-and-out, no frills and no bull coffee stop. The best places are hard to find.

This one is worth searching out.

Disclaimer: there is a whole different story being made called “John Harvard’s Beer Flight,” but this is not that story…

I went to John Harvard’s for dinner sometime ago with a friend, Jimmy C., and took the chance in trying a flight of their microbrews. I recommend you try it, if you like trying new beers. Couple that with a good dinner and you’re all set! They gave us a good deal for ordering two, and we ended up ordering pints of our favorites afterwards.

John Harvard’s Beer Flight:

Colonial Gold
Pale Ale
Holiday Spice Ale
Demon DPA
Milk Stout

Colonial Gold:
This was a their blond ale, a German-style offering that’s smooth and very light in body and color. It was refreshing, but had a hoppy aftertaste.

Pale Ale:
This was a great pale ale, full of body and smooth taste. It was darker and sweeter than the Colonial Gold, kind of like Sierra Nevada, but with a floral aroma to it.

Holiday Spice:
This was their seasonal offering, a holiday brown ale loaded with cinnamon and nutmeg. It was a great blend of sugars and spice that made this one go with the season.

Demon DPA:
This is their double IPA, a stronger hops, a stronger beer. It was smooth going down, and there was a light aftertaste, but that thing had a strong, hoppy bite. Very tasty!

Milk Stout:
This was a variation of a classic rich stout, smooth and flavorful. It wasn’t overpowering at all; it was very dark, sweet, and milky, and the roasted malts tasted like coffee.

My favorite out of all of them was the Milk Stout, seconded by the Pale Ale. I bought a pint of each before the night was through, Jimmy had another Holiday Spice. It was a great way to sample everything they had in the house. Their food menu is a whole different story!

Film buffs with hard stomachs may find Gaspar Noe’s work hard to swallow. Noe is famous for his unfiltered appreciation of taboo concepts such as on-screen drug use, gratuitous sex, and extreme violence. The best example I can offer is in an earlier film of his called “Irreversible,” wherein a man is bludgeoned to death with a fire extinguisher, and a woman is raped for ten minutes in a dirty alleyway. Granted, the victim was Monica Bellucci, it still doesn’t sit well with most viewers.

Gaspar Noe brings another offering to the counter-culture film community with “Enter the Void.” Set in the seedy red light district of Tokyo, Japan, a teenage drug dealer (Oscar) experiences the ultimate trip. Without spoiling the obvious plot turns, the film takes a unique stand on the concepts of life and death. It’s a disorienting invitation to an underworld most of us are better off not knowing about.

Oscar is violently removed from physical reality and forced to live on in a “metaphysical void.” He pulls us along, whether we like it or not, in a way that numbs and arrests the viewer. We are forced to feel his natural and synthetic highs that distort perception. Like a ghost, we watch the world react without having an influence. There are strong sexual undertones that hint to an oedipal complex, but again, Gaspar Noe is known for pushing those buttons.

What makes this film so profound to me is the point-of-view camerawork. You see through the eyes of the main character, Oscar, as he takes drugs and goes on elaborate hallucinations. He later looks at himself in the mirror and you see his hands move as if they were your own. This alone is an accomplishment in modern cinema. The camera eventually acts like a transient specter, flowing through and around the world Oscar knows, giving us a harsh look at his life (and death). Sometimes, I didn’t want to see, and other times, despite my better judgment, I couldn’t look away.

Prepare yourself for graphic, intense, and realistic experiences that will take a while to fade out of memory.

Led Zeppelin 2 @ Paradise Rock Lounge
Boston, MA
01/12/2011
J&B straight

It was right in the middle of “Dazed and Confused” that I realized what it felt like to attend a Led Zeppelin concert. The only difference was that these guys were not the original members of the band. I couldn’t tell however, because they looked exactly like the original members during the time in which they created their following. Unless Led Zeppelin played at Paradise Rock Lounge back in the day, there was no other distinction. Did that actually happen?

It was the culmination of Kulp’s 30^th birthday celebrations. His girlfriend and roommates put all the bells and whistles on what I can only call a frenetic pleasure-fest of the senses. Before I knew it, I was drinking J&B straight, licking gobs of chocolate alcohol-infused whip cream off my two, good fingers, and sampling bits of a Lincoln-log, fried Philly Cheesesteak abomination, better known as “The Kulp.” It’s due to appear on http://www.thisiswhyyourefat.com/ any day now.

The night sped up when I half-ran from Cambridge Terrace to Paradise Rock with J-Lew. We thought we were late, but the show had not started. Typical. People got there within minutes of us, and it eventually turned into the apex of everyone’s night. Opening with “Rock and Roll” was the most appropriate entrance, testing the limits of everyone’s expectations. I was right there, two layers away from the stage, leaning in and taking a glimpse of the moments felt by millions across time and space.

At first, the levels were out of whack. The rock was too much, and the mixers had to find a balance before people’s head’s exploded, before “Dazed and Confused” turned up. I rocked at that point, screaming “Go!!” and “Yeah!!” while the band jammed on. Then they played “Since I’ve Been Loving You,” and there was a moment in the confusion when I truly felt unlike any other. They played “Stairway to Heaven,” and it felt like the lighter in my hand was my soul, burning out in satisfaction. It made me think the end was near, and then they gave me more.

I lost sight of my friends when the band finished their second set. I stayed to buy a t-shirt and talk to the roadie selling swag. It turned out the band wasn’t finished. They came back and played a two-song encore to a reasonably smaller crowd. One of the songs was “Moby Dick,” and an outrageous drum solo ensued for close to five minutes. When the show was over, they talked with the few people remaining, including myself, about the nature of their cover band, and the intimate relationship they have with the music and the era. Almost like a religious mission, they tour the country, spreading the word of one of classic rock’s greatest acts.

I bled from the hand, not realizing it until the lights came on. The rich, red coagulation on my index finger only enthused feelings of rebellion and rock, and when the roadie made me aware of it, I wrapped it up in the newly-purchased tour shirt. After the show, the band members were nice enough to sign it, impressed and concerned about the blood stains I proudly presented. I unfortunately had to wash the shirt, but the memory, much like the song, remains the same.

YOU CAN BE A WESLEY @ Great Scott
Allston, MA
1/20/2011
Victory HopDevil Ale

Stepping into Great Scott for the first time in several years felt liberating, as if I had broken some taboo against enjoying myself in Allston. Indeed, it felt energetic to be there again; the indie-rock lovers of Boston were slowly filling the bar as the opening act, “You Can Be a Wesley,” took the stage. Four solid players of garage-pop rock flooded the speakers and made me thankful for showing up within minutes of arrival.

The vocals lifted the sound of the band, and at times the band carried them, and me, and the rest of us to an interesting place. They played this one song, “Old in Florida,” and it had me closing my eyes at times to take it in. A music video was well-deserved for this song, and even after that plug, they continued to make use of Great Scott for over an hour. Not knowing the band beforehand truly made this experience worthwhile. They certainly know how to hit the fan with head-banging rock.

It’s a great progression of indie-label music, and they just kept flowing, even after the audience stopped clapping their hands and beating their heads. Mild frenzies of musical sensation made me smile for most of their performance. Their last song made me shiver when they switched from major to minor keys. The force of their percussion radiated something chemical around the stage, and people like me were simply blown away by their on-stage talent. I almost feel like ruining the moment by asking what that last song was, but maybe it’s better I leave that to my imagination.

Before leaving the bar, their bassist Nick gave me one of their last limited edition poster prints from a previous show at Great Scott. As an original, I thought you’d like to see it. Check out their new music on Myspace!

ATLAS SOUND – BEDROOM DATABANK: VOLUME TWO

I’m listening to Atlas Sound’s album “Bedroom Databank: Volume 2” and leaning recumbent in an office chair. My head falls back as acoustic sounds progress,  (opportunistically) like a snow flurry (on a day filled with love) turning into a beautiful blizzard for hours and hours. It turns electronic.

The energy keeps me happy, seeing stars and moonshine, feeling warm, under a jacket and earmuffs, gloves, hat and scarf. I dust my mind and recognize the blatant indie-rock “-ness” of my situation, and begin to focus like a good Grizzly Bear song on the meaning of it all.

Being inebriated (and alone) is an unusually Zen experience while listening to some of this music; I think freely and do what I want.

On beaches at night, the plaid-wearing hipsters could lay around bonfires enjoying a good conversation, and/or resting before sleep, looking up at the stars, wondering how this music’s still on with only one man  (Bradford Cox) playing all the instruments. I often thought of MGMT, Washed Out, and Panda Bear.

The vocals stood out among all of his instruments, along with the bass guitar; I really liked the sound and style of both. I also really liked “Here Come the Trains” at the end, a great example of what his project is all about. It’s enough to get me looking into his other work. Overall I enjoyed the album very much, and await another production.

I found this song shortly after discovering Atlas Sound, and thought you’d like it. Enjoy!

Ahmad Jamal @ Regattabar
Cambridge, MA
11/20/2010
Sam Adams Lager

His entrance was noble; the last one to show up, sitting down while everyone was clapping, and jumping right into something groovy. The band was on queue and picked up right when he did. The tempo was fast at times, and made me think of the fast city streets.

There were moments of release that charged the audience and got us moving in our seats. At other times, things were slower, orchestrated to perfection. There were great solos from all the players, full of improvisation and personality. Manolo Badrena was a creative delight on the percussions. Idris Muhammad was sharp and strong on drums, and James Cammack kept the rhythm and foundation on standing bass.

Ahmad Jamal took the melody and harmony to incredible levels. It was my first impression of him as a musician, and I had no idea he was a major influence on jazz in the 1950s and 1960s. Elements of swing swept the beat from song to song, not wasting a second too long for applause and cheer. My leg kept tapping to the beat underneath the cocktail table, almost spilling my Sam Adams Lager.

I bought his most recent album after the show, and I noticed he was signing autographs after the show. I was the last in line to see him. I told him it was the first time I ever heard his music, and this show made me a fan. He was pleased to hear it, signed the album cover I handed to him, and wished me well as I left. I left him there, knowing he would sit there silently before returning to the stage for a second show. He’s still got it.

I like to imagine the world and the universe once acted like the story in Italo Calvino’s “Cosmicomics” entitled “The Distance of the Moon.” In my imagination, the moon was not the first to grow apart from the Earth. The whole cosmos once lived as neighbors around our world, within earshot and eye, at distances where we could see galaxies swirl with one another, and recreate themselves in endless chemical attraction.

At night, I would sit out on my rooftop and smell the solar vapors of Alpha Centauri. I wouldn’t be trying to take Ferris wheel rides on the moon. Instead, I would shed a solitary tear, for the moon, for the stars, for the worlds beyond ours. We don’t mean to push you away, but it’s our nature to grow and change. You might as well leave right now, I’d say, and still, everything took their time. Now, several tens of hundreds of thousands of years later, the memory of a time long past is but an ever-distant photograph.

The closer we get to seeing it all, the closer we get to capturing but a moment’s feeling of that relationship we once had with all things.

– And for your entertainment, here’s a short film I found that tells the story of “The Distance of the Moon.” Enjoy :-)

Artifact Loves Viva Radio
WWW.VIVA-RADIO.COM

Despite sailing through a legal storm of issues right now, LA-Boutique clothing company American Apparel proudly supports a radio station online, and it’s just great. VIVA-RADIO.COM, go check it out. It was well-received by employees and customers of American Apparel when it first went live, but in time it grew thanks to word of mouth and the way of the web. Now, anybody can listen to it. I’ve been listening for a few months, and it has effectively replaced the other radio stations I frequent.

It is no surprise that a station like VIVA RADIO would sprout from chic retail like this, but it is surprising that so few competitors market their stations the same way. Plenty of retail stores (like Hollister, Gap, Guess, etc) have a dynamic theme to their fashion, be it sexy, business, casual, or more. Their standpoints on fashion provide an opportunity to better retain customers; using music as a mode of media marketing, retail companies have the power to influence consumer interest and demand.

VIVA RADIO is brought to you by a group of freelance music producers, each with a sound that agrees with the style: chic, artsy, trendy, hipster, basic, yet original. That means pop, disco, funk, hip hop, and a mishmash of electronic genres that I am unable to categorize. Some of it comes from far reaching places around the world. The producers who submit work to Viva Radio do so for a generation of young, savvy, and capable listeners who live for the moment. Such is the mission… Viva!

For enthusiasts, there is a blog you can follow from their site. Check out interviews, upcoming shows, emerging artists and music trends. It’s a great resource for people looking for new music, as each DJ brings something new to the front. With that in mind, I want to give a special shout out to POSSO, The DJ duo Vanessa Giovacchini and Marylouise Pels. After listening to their show, I fell in love with the station. Thank you girls, and thank you VIVA RADIO for keeping the music loud and proud.

WWW.VIVA-RADIO.COM

SEA MONSTERS
Precinct – in Union Square, Somerville, MA
Sunday, September 5^th, 2010
BBC Lost Sailor IPA

I rolled up my socks and left for Union Square around 10pm, a quick walk downhill in temperate evening air. I was the first to get there, and the back of the bar was starting to show some life. The show was set to go on any minute. I made that awkward stroll through the whole spot to find potential friends, but instead of finding them I found an excellent place to sit during the entire show – SEA MONSTERS. The Labor Day Weekend let me have my fun for once on a Sunday.

My IPA was cold and delicious, crisp and hoppy. Over the next several sips I began to notice groups come together. Out of nowhere, my old neighbors Adam and Michele showed up, and with smiles and surprise we embraced and talked until my friends showed up. They told me all about the band, and how they only played at PRECINCT on Sunday Nights. Each band member had a side project they worked on professionally, and once a week they showed up to play a show together at this place only.

Their weekend act is a headline hit. People from all walks of life were dancing and jamming to their indie blues rock. The improv work by Christian McNeill, co-founder of the band, was very impressive. The other founding member, Jesse Dee, was not present for the show, which was unfortunate. Even with one front man down, the other players held it down. They had a strong sense of soul, but it was rustic; acoustic guitar and retro-keyboard sounds mixed bits of classic rock and R&B together in a good way.

It was bluesy, and often went on groovy jams that spurred applause and howling when each instrument took a turn in the spotlight. It was not your average garage band event, but a workshop exhibit of the best and brightest group in the area. It was the best eight dollars I had spent in ages.

And they certainly knew how to draw a crowd, too. People local to the area know the story better than I do. Their fame precedes them, and their sound lives up to expectations. They all gave great solos that made me wonder what other shows this bar plays. The under-80, standing-room-only ambience left me satisfied for over two and a half hours. What other greats have come and gone underground in that back room at PRECINCT? It doesn’t really matter; SEA MONSTERS have become iconic figures there, and I don’t expect that to change.

HOORAY FOR EARTH – August 17^th, 2010
T.T. The Bear’s Place, Cambridge, Massachusetts
9:45pm, Pabst Blue Ribbon

Lights passed above as I entered the dimly lit spot in my friend’s hand; welcoming the others and grabbing a beer at the slightly vacant bar. Not too many people were around yet. People were loitering around the more popular scene next door. The joke was on them – the real show was back here.

I get there late but the show hadn’t started yet. My friend was entertaining a seedy group of enthusiasts inside before he came out to welcome me. He gave me my ticket; I was upset to see a different band headlining – ADMIRAL RADLEY – but I didn’t care. They were not what I came to see. I came to see HOORAY FOR EARTH, and they were on shortly.

At a place like T.T. THE BEAR’S, bands can embrace the small performance arena, throw everything they got at the audience at volume ten, break the knobs, and still sound great. That doesn’t work for all bands out there; unfortunately… you have to have talent. The ground shook when HOORAY FOR EARTH came on stage. Almost out of competition, THE MIDDLE EAST – DOWNSTAIRS had a show on too, and their fire down below was completely smothered by the footfalls of rockers young and old. It was the best live act I’d seen in a long time.

HOORAY FOR EARTH is Noel Heroux, Chris Principe, Gary Benacquista, and Joseph Ciampini, formed in 2005. They’re mostly based out of New York, but they have roots in Boston that keep them coming back to destroy local venues. Joe on the drum keeps the energy going while Noel and Chris tear up the guitar and bass. Gary’s on the other side, playing synthesizers with the occasional guitar act. Noel, the man behind stories of sleep-deprived inspiration, broke off on occasion in frantic mini-fits of thrash and metal. It was awesome. Chris and his bass kept the melody in motion with on-point precision, and my head began to rock uncontrollably with the beat.

These guys know each other, like good friends, and it’s helping them control and mold the musical fury they create. Their sound is clean and their energy is hot. I bought their MOMO EP a few weeks back on my friend’s recommendation (including the vinyl, a very cool press). Fortunately for me, they played that album live at T.T. THE BEAR’S, so it was all my familiar favorites, and if anything they bettered their studio work. Young, indie, club rockers across the world would eat this stuff up.

Hands rise in the air when “SO HAPPY” begins with its anthem guitar distortion, and people dance when they bring on “SURROUNDED BY YOUR FRIENDS,” a personal hit laced with uplifting undertones of life and death. Their lyrics seep into the teenage wasteland within, and they stand behind a thrash-electro-pop sound that makes contemporary rock wonder where its mojo went. Just try “HOW ARE YOU HERE” and you’ll hear what I’m talking about. As for a top track suggestion, I would go with “VIDEOSTORE” for its climactic finale, a total blowout of melody and percussion that hits an apex unachieved by other pieces. The audience rocked around me, bobbing like waves of skin and sweat, praising ecstatic when they finished their last song. I was hitting my apex too… and then the lights came on for the next act and final act.

I would check them out whenever you get the chance. They are definitely worth a listen. Try the three sites below for songs and more information on upcoming shows.

http://www.myspace.com/hooray4earth
http://hoorayforearth.net/shows/
http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Hooray_For_Earth/track/Video_Store

A small crafts store in Western Massachusetts called THE MERCANTILE is where I found a pack of postcards inspired by the book ALL THINGS OZ. I bought them knowing one day I would send them to close friends who would enjoy their novelty.

Inside I found a timeless collection of portrayals and interpretations from the book that made me think of The Wizard of Oz in a way unlike the motion picture classic. Made of quality papers and inks, the limited pressing feels like it was produced in the Land of Oz, hopefully by cool little munchkins. They’ve grown difficult to part with, but have (and will) entertain several people when the time is right.

There is a growing niche market for designer postcards like these. The independent designers who get turned down by major publishers go rogue and produce their own. It has become increasingly easier to make your own customized everything, and all it takes is some word of mouth to get your work picked up.

Craft stores like THE MERCANTILE are a good place to start; local small-businesses that appreciate home-grown talent and look down on mass-merchant peddlers. I asked around, and realized the best deluxe card shoppers shop by artist, pressing, and novelty. Find a style that fits your creativity, and leave the kind of impression you’d expect from a postcard.

It’s a good feeling when bands gain international fame. It’s an odd feeling, I bet.

Everything Everything. In little time, they have come out of the woodwork of the UK with a music video for their new single, “MY KZ, UR BF” and I have to tell you, it’s a really great song. Give it a listen, give it a look, I embedded a music video below for you to watch. The song tells the story of a guy who’s been found out by this girl’s boyfriend. Enjoy :-)

This track should be highly rated on big billboards, and have a great “one-hit” feel to it for a while. The lyrical quality is strong and plays a big part in the band, acting as an instrument of its own. Rekindling this energy felt in the minor chord, they took pop and guitar rock to a nice, mellow level. While their other music is varied in vibration, they have a clean sound that is not often heard. Their studio work is mint. I hope to hear more just like it.