…that is the question: whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing, end them?”
The history books haven’t been accurate. Shakespeare didn’t just travel to France to meet up with other writing dudes. He must have stepped a well-heeled foot inside My Coffee House in Madison to write this soliloquy (with minor edits, of course). Even Shakespeare would have wondered whether to remain silent or “by opposing, end them.”
I grappled with whether I should let My Coffee House be anonymous, known only to the locals, or just blurt it out: this place is a mess. From the minute I pushed open the door, I realized that I was (a) in a coffee house with an identity crisis, and (b) really sorry I had made the trek to 28th & Madison for this. The chipped paint on nearly every wall, the disorganized cups of oats cereal at the front counter, and a coffee seating area that looked like Big Bird just threw up in it made me want to turn around and leave. There were massive amounts of crumbs scattered everywhere, stuffed animals, blocks and kids’ toys in random piles throughout, and a particularly depressing atmosphere for an adult (even one who usually likes kids) just wanting a decent cup of coffee.
As readers of this column know, I advocate the use of ceramic cups in lieu of paper. Hold on…not so fast. My Coffee House might just be the place that stops my rants. I would not have felt comfortable drinking from a cup that someone else had used at this shop; there was nothing to convince me that any modicum of cleanliness was used here, from the countertops to whatever might exist behind the counter…I don’t want to know.
As Mother always said, “If you can’t say something nice…” Okay, then...here it goes: the person who waited on me was exceedingly friendly. The coffee, although stored in the dreaded air pots, actually had a good flavor. And I can see a definite customer base with moms & dads who need a place to use their wireless laptops while the kids play. But My Coffee House isn’t just a “family friendly” establishment; it’s a day care that just happens to serve coffee. Big, big difference.
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