Reflections

So where exactly did the walks from the last month lead me? It has been an intriguing exercise to examine my walks from the point of view of the destination, rather than the entire journey. As was pointed out by a friend recently "have you found anything here that wasn't delicious??", the answer so far is No. Delicious is defined as "being highly pleasing or agreeable to the senses". I have found each of these destinations to be truly delicious. It is highly pleasing to step out of the hustle and bustle of our fast paced day into welcoming spaces. Obviously I love the smell of coffee and the fresh baked treats, but these destinations were full of micro-communities. Each stop allowed me a glimpse at communities within a city that I am only a visitor to. Observing the workings of diverse people all coming from separate places and leaving for separate places, but for a short time unified by this one place. It leaves much (delicious) food for thought. Below are some of the line drawings that I have made from these walks. They reflect the GPS maps that have accompanied my posts and gestural recall drawings I have made upon my return from the walks. Now the question becomes where to go next?

Capogiro

My original intention for this afternoon was to check out Cafe Almaz who boasts excellent coffee paired with Ethiopian cuisine. Once again, I have found that the posted hours of local businesses in Philly are more like "suggestions" than actual information, as I arrived to find a note taped to the door reading "be back Monday". I continued on and looked up to see the word "Espresso" (in full disclosure it was followed by the word "Gelato") and entered Capogiro's on 20th street (one of four local locations). I paired my cold brewed iced coffee with a sandwich on fresh bread with layers of goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes and cucumbers. Yes, it was as delicious as it sounded. The small iced coffee was truly outstanding, each sip deserved a pause in between. I had stopped in to do some afternoon reading and was floored by the non-stop onslaught of customers, and the laid back staff who continued to literally whistle while they worked. Of course, one can not visit a cafe that claims to be "Gelato Artisans" without sampling that sweet treat. A small serving of Hazelnut and Sweet Amish Milk gelato little danced on my tongue for the remainder of the afternoon. I guess sometimes the best laid plans are best if they get you started and leave room for the adventure to unfold...

ING Cafe

In spite of its overpriced location outside of Rittenhouse Square, on the corner of 17th & Walnut, you can always get a good cup of coffee at a good price at ING Cafe. Their understanding of the value of a dollar should be no surprise since they are, technically, a bank. Always bright and cheery (its tough not to be when everything is neon orange), their entire menu ranges from $1-$3 including coffees, teas and baked goods. When I popped in on my way home, there were dozens of people sitting and enjoying the free wi-fi, the five large flat-screened TVs above the bar and the computer banking stations in the back. Situated in the middle of a busy community, their mission includes educating kids about money, as evidenced by the activities available for families. I have to admit I am a fan since their generous support of education also includes grants that have funded my students to travel to see some pretty amazing art. On this afternoon, I settled into a cushy, coffee-house style arm chair and watched the city whiz by out the window. At a time when we are all too busy to stop multitasking long enough to focus on just one thing, how does a business get our attention long enough to engage us? They evolve into a contemporary version of a traditional service by providing a gathering spot in the middle of the hustle and bustle that does not disrupt our flow to enter into. Here, they provide a service that includes a cup of coffee while watching the game, sending work emails, banking and educating our kids, all on the walk home.

Philly Java

You'll notice that today's map is a little different. Instead of showing my path to a new spot, today it shows the path that I returned on. My coffee excursion today was part of a last minute art adventure. Despite the heat index hovering around 103 degrees, I found myself shlepping off towards 4th street. I was headed to the fabulous fabric district to buy a few yards of cloth for a last minute installation. For those not from the area, the fabric district is a cluster of streets where fabric is stuffed from floor to ceiling, sometimes many stories high. Browsing might leave you lost for days, but if you go knowing what you need, you will find it. I quickly did, but knew the walk back would be a killer, so I took the opportunity to discover the Philadelphia Java Company. I stepped into a cool oasis and forgot about my walk home. The coffee shop was bright and filled with sunflowers on this afternoon. Situated on South 4th Street, in what looks like an authentic old store front, down to its tin ceiling, it was filled with people both inside and out. In addition to my rich, dark ice coffee, I fueled up with a labreh sandwich *scrumptious*. This delicious delight involved italian bread, a creamy middle eastern yogurt spread, giant olives and olive oil - most of which ended up drizzled down the front of me because it was so delicious I didn't even notice the mess I was making. Leaving Philly Java, I shook my head at the bravely insane souls sitting outside on this painfully hot day. I wandered my way back to center city through the historic Old City district. Shockingly, the extreme heat had not slowed the onslaught of families to Independence Mall. I took a quick peak at the Liberty Bell as I slipped into the always free and mostly clean restrooms at this national park before continuing to trudge through the heat. I had just come from what really was a neighborhood coffee shop, through one of the first neighborhoods in this city, which was one of the first neighborhoods in this country. While I had taken that for granted, all of the people braving the heat around me had not. I was free to take this walk through the birthplace of freedom and all I was focused on were the free bathrooms, sounds about right.

For those interested in the art that lead to this adventure, you can check out my completed installation if you click here.

Cafe Ole

Today's adventure was due in part to our friend Christine Colby getting into the Graduate Student Show at The Clay Studio in Old City. In celebration, we all set off to congratulate her at the opening. Originally the intention was to hit up Ray's Cafe & Tea House in the heart of Chinatown, but for the second time now the computer has lead me astray. Ray's is still in business, but it did not occur to me they would be closed for the holiday weekend (of course!). A little weary, we continued on, hoping to hit someplace before we made it all the way to the gallery. We happened upon Cafe Ole at 147 North Third Street. The place was packed on this beautiful Friday evening, both inside and out. Seating in front and on the side of the cafe allowed patrons to people-watch and the comfy couches inside seemed to be filled with old friends catching up. Relieved, we found a table for six in the back. Catching all of our eyes, almost simultaneously, were the gorgeous glasses of fresh ice tea (tropical green tea or raspberry black tea) being served that were absolutely stuffed with fresh mint and lemon. We all got in on this business pretty quick. It was hands down, honestly refreshing. This was just the rest we needed, in this artsy little cafe, to continue on. On the way out the door, I grabbed an ice coffee to go. The rich flavor lingered with every sip and I was glad we had braved the packed tables to find ourselves a spot here. Once again, I find myself happy to consider where I ended up when I was forced to move beyond where I had planned (there is something in there about the best laid plans...).

La Citadelle

Today's walk was a short, but familiar one. Rather than letting the computer randomly chose a site in the city to wander off to, I jumped at the chance to join my friend Erica for a quick afternoon caffeine fix at an old favorite. Located at 1600 Pine Street is one of the best cappuccinos you may ever have. I knew this from past experience and was thrilled to add it to this summer's jaunts. This quiet and relaxed spot is much of what I envision when I think of a neighborhood coffee shop. The small tables are packed with people clicking away on their laptops (there is free wi-fi here) and the jovial french owner welcomes everyone who walks through the door. Most appear to be regulars who talk for a while, many engaging the owner in his native french language. While the initial room is small, the high ceilings give it an airy and bright quality as an eclectic collection of global music plays in the background. Now, when you go there and order your cappuccino, pay attention - you are about to witness a master at his craft. The owner runs the espresso machine like he is playing a fine instrument. He casually swirls the frothed milk into your cup with an undeniable rhythm. It is a keen reminder of quality in craftsmanship. Sipping your cappuccino at a small table by the window, with the rich smell of fresh coffee in the air, it will be hard to imagine there is anything else you have to do that day. As you get to the bottom of your cup, you will notice the airy frothed milk that is still clinging to the porcelain sides and if you deny that you sat there and scraped every last drop out with that small spoon, then you are simply a liar. La Citadelle is evidence that a small community neighborhood corner can still thrive within the shadow of a large city.