Sunday, August 28, 2011

The Best Coffee

Everybody has a favourite coffee shop. That place where you can get the perfect cup of coffee and really launch your day in the right direction. The best part of your morning, that first cup of coffee. Be they big or small, old or new, busy or not busy, we love our cafes. With this post I would like to talk a bit about my favourite coffee house.
The Up Tempo Cafe
The Up Tempo Cafe is located in a hitherto unknown and neglected little neighbourhood on the outskirts of Gwelf where the old city runs creatively alongside the river. This trendy establishment is owned and operated with humour and style by the now regionally famous five Tempo sisters. These five industrious girls have, in less than a year, taken their small, off the map neighbourhood and tuned it into a cultural hub and buzzing hive of activity simply by selling good coffee. Well, very, very good coffee. The best coffee.


Tempo One
Tempo Two
Tempo Three
Tempo Four and Five
What makes their coffee so special and different ? Let's put it this way - the java we all know and love gives you a sudden blast of energy and zings you awake in the morning, which is exactly what we want it to do. But, it can also make you nervous, jittery and jumpy if you drink too much and this is precisely what we don't want it to do. On the other hand, Tempo coffee brings on an enormous feeling of gratitude and well being, which is a completely different kind of rejuvenating energy, and of course, being grateful will keep you from over indulging. So don't worry, you won't go off the deep end. Instead you will find yourself truly appreciating your surroundings and a strong desire to cherish and protect them will grow in you. You will start paying attention to the details and aesthetics will begin to matter. Who can say what kind of primeval faerie glamour the Tempo sister are weaving into these exotic blends but whatever it is sure seems to be working.
Poet
The neighbourhood has been completely transformed. Artists, poets and creative spirits of every stripe are migrating to the area. Improvements and restorations are happening all over the place. Fences are being repaired and gardens tended to. Window boxes filled and litter picked up. There is colour everywhere now - murals, flowers, decoration and Topiary enliven the streets. Even the Luthiers have come back !

Luthiers
Muralist
And yet, somehow, surprisingly, magically, the people who oppose this point of view are unable to find the cafe - more of that faerie glamour I shouldn't wonder. They just never quite seem to make it. They get lost or forget what they're doing and go home, their dirty towels and unwashed dishes a more appealing option than some vague notion of a coffee shop they've heard about somewhere. There seems to be an obvious shortage of vandals, negatorians and nay-sayers in the Tempo neighbourhood.  Oh well, we'll just have to make do without them.
Vandal
So if you manage to make it over to the Up Tempo Cafe be sure to bring your journal, or your sketchbook, or your tin whistle or whatever it is that you do because chances are very good that you will be inspired. At the very least you will have a terrific cup of coffee.

Peace be with you and happy travels.

Cheers.

14 comments:

Ender said...

I moved to a new country, and I reaaaaally miss my old cafe. I want a French countryside style cafe! Or better yet, I'll take this cafe you proposed above!!!!

Thomas Haller Buchanan said...

I ADORE the Tempo sisters! I don't drink coffee any more, but the herbal teas they offer are indescribable.

james weatherhill said...

I sincerely think and believe that
I have never traveled so far and received such blessing from any other establishment ~ known or unknown. I'm told that you are "as I live and breathe",its silent "benefactour".
As it happens, more so than not, I was unable and, once again, forgetful in thanking the five sisters for their Divine service.
And so, I write to you this note of thanks ~ with heartfelt appreciation and a deep abiding sense of gratitude. Thank you for the respite, no matter its brevity. You have UP~lifted my Spirit and furnished me with provisions vital to greet the days and nights ahead.

Porky said...

Cleverly done. The landscape is really filling out now and it's a fun setting.

Larry MacDougall said...

Thanks Ender - I hope you find the cafe you're looking for. :)

Larry MacDougall said...

Thomas - of course they are equally famous for their tea blends. I should have mentioned that.

Larry MacDougall said...

James - You're very welcome of course and I will be sure to pass along your good wishes to the sisters - they can always use the positive feedback, especially on a busy Monday morning.

Larry MacDougall said...

Thanks Porky - there's more coming.

Unknown said...

I wish more cafes looked like this!

chromasketch said...

love the final little sketch there, full figure bringing the coffee!

Larry MacDougall said...

Thanks Austin :)

Larry MacDougall said...

Thanks Chroma - I'm glad you stopped by.

Marc Johnston said...

I love the Up Tempo cafe. Hello fellow ben caldwell fan. :D

Larry MacDougall said...

Hello Marc Johnston - thanks for stopping by. :)