Youth Action Team, Holidays, etc.

Rosie's last blog post really captured a lot of what I and others feel about the coffeehouse.  It really is a third place - although in my case, it's pretty much my first, second and third place.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  I went home to Nashville, TN for Thanksgiving, and it was amazing to be home again.  I got to see my family, my girlfriend, Sparky and Rocket, some old high school friends I hadn't seen in a while; I got to roam my childhood neighborhood and see the trees - overwhelmingly deciduous - bare and sprawling, unlike the towering evergreens I've grown accustomed to; I spent time in the local coffeehouse.  I mean, I was sad.  I got up at 4 in the morning Nashville time (2 o'clock here) and traveled all morning and into the early afternoon, jostled in and out of sleep on the plane - the malaise had me.

I know you know there's a "but" coming.  Okay, here it is: when I turned down Second and saw that mustard and cranberry colored building, the malaise melted off my shoulders and disappeared in the dirt.  I love this place.

Currently, I am in the process of bringing the Youth Action Team back, which we have been sorely missing.  This could be a huge opportunity for the youth to get experience on a board or committee and to establish their own voice within the Commons.  Please encourage every volunteer you know to consider joining the Y.A.T.  Here is the description I have drawn up:

Youth Action Team
A group of dedicated volunteers eager to help define both the internal culture of the South Whidbey Commons and its role in the greater community.

I. Goals

a.  Establish an organized youth voice in the South Whidbey Commons
b.  Develop a core group of youth leaders within Island Coffeehouse and Books, which will set a good example for fellow volunteers and provide input in regard to the direction and function of the coffeehouse, including, but not limited to:

i. allocation of "youth incentive program" funds (ex. team-building activities and trips, movie nights, etc.)
ii. marketing (ex. commercials, posters, etc.)
iii. community outreach (ex. newsletter, education)
iv. and recruitment of new volunteers.

c. Provide youth volunteers with working experience in the functioning of boards and committees.  There will be agendas and minutes, titles, and responsibilities; and each member will have the opportunity to attend a South Whidbey Commons Board of Directors meeting.
d. Allow the most motivated volunteers to use their creative energy to positively impact the coffeehouse and greater community.

II. Requirements

a. At least one standing shift for a total of at least two hours of service at the coffeehouse per week.  The member will be expected to maintain this standard for the entire duration of their membership on the Team. 
b. Each member will commit to monthly, or, at times, bimonthly meetings.

 

 

The Third Place (Rosie)

I've heard it said that we all have three places. Our home, our work and a third place we gather for community, friendly discourse and nourishment of all kinds. It's tricky for me, since this is where I work, but it is often where I find myself, even when I am not working. I am comfortable here. I am nourished here, literally and figuratively. In a world fraught with so many unhappy, isolating things, it is a comfort to find a place where one feels safe. Where there is a sense of belonging.

I have loved bookstores since I was old enough to toddle around. The smell, the treasures found within the pages, all of it. Island Coffeehouse and Books is also a bookstore! It seriously doesn't get any better. At least for me. I am unabashedly finding all my holiday gifts here for prices not to be believed. I hesitate to even mention this here as this is the best kept secret in Langley. Seriously. Other used bookstore owners come here from everywhere and buy books for themselves!

This morning it was in the 30s. Winter is upon us, Langley has lit her lights and the sparkle of frost and holiday is everywhere. I arrived at the Coffeehouse Bookstore, chilled, and the fire was on, it was toasty warm, there were a fair number of friendly faces who called out a cheery greeting while enjoying their hot drinks or baked goods and reading or working on their laptops. I just felt my chest expand as I breathed it all in, thinking, This is where I belong.

Great music on the docket for this Friday! One Horse Band! Which is also a benefit for Good Cheer. Come early. This will be standing room only. And next Friday we have Russell Clepper and Ro Purser. If you missed their last show here, you will not want to miss it again. And if you were here, then you already know. The Coffeehouse will be full to the brim. Plus we are starting up our 2nd Sunday on 2nd Street Poetry night on Sunday, December 13. Local poets will read as well as a few surprises. Rob Harrison is the host for this monthly event.

There's more to come, but even on a regular day, it's a pretty special place to come and hang out, chat with old and new friends, catch up on your reading or email, get a bowl of soup or just look out the window with a cuppa joe.

Renovation, Funding, etc. (Justin)

This is a copy of an open letter I posted on the Langley Community Forum:

Hello all,

I heard about Langley Community Forum and thought it would be the perfect place for me to introduce myself. I know the length of this message is daunting, but there’s a lot of good information here (and a desperate plea for community support, which you can find by skipping forward to paragraphs three and four, if you’re under a time crunch), so I hope you’ll give me a little time. My name is Justin Bailey and I am one of the four AmeriCorps volunteers working with South Whidbey Commons here in Langley. We all work as baristas at Island Coffeehouse and Books, which is a non-profit, volunteer run coffeehouse and used bookstore that also serves as a youth training facility on 2nd Street in Langley. In addition, I am in charge of marketing for ICB. (To that end, check out my blog:www.islandcoffeehouseandbooks.blogspot.com ).

I have to say that this is no easy task. I have tried fliers, mass emails, handouts—all with no noticeable success. It’s a shame, too, because this is a very exciting time for the Commons and the Coffeehouse in particular. We have an amazing new manager, Rosie, who has and continues to be a screenwriter, actress, chef, poet, creative writing teacher, among other things, and brings an incredible energy, a wealth of experience, and a vision of local, organic, sustainability to the table. She has completely redone the way we do food. Now, we use only Chef Jess of Mukilteo (she supplies a variety of soups and gluten free baked goods), Kichlii’s Bagels, and Tree Top Bakers (the best cookies, scones, pecan sticky buns, cinnamon rolls, and pumpkin bread I’ve ever had). Also, we have, as always, a wide selection of “like new” used books for sell at lower prices than I’ve ever seen, and I’m a big used bookstore guy. We have free wireless Internet. We have egg, cheese, pesto, and olive tapenade breakfast bagels. We have friendly baristas of all ages who have generously donated their time to serving the community.

We also have a great mission statement, and, perhaps most relevantly right now, a great need. Our youth volunteers who run the coffeehouse are getting great jobs as a result of their experience here, we’re providing a safe, nourishing place for high schoolers to hang out, but—and this is a weighty but, a but that I hope you will feel sympathy for, empathy even—we need your help. Our kitchen floor is sinking, our roof is leaking, our electrical wiring is ancient and any day this place is likely to fall through the core of the earth and into China or open a window in the roof to the rain or spontaneously combust (of course, don’t let that deter you from coming in; we’ll gladly give you a free coffee card if you are unfortunate enough to be present when such an event occurs). We have a fantastic renovation plan but we need funding, badly, in order to get it done. All of us at ICB are convinced that there is huge potential for our expansion as a community service once we get the renovations done, but right now its completion is no certainty.

So, for those of you charitably minded folks, please consider patronizing our fine establishment or contributing funds to our renovation project. For those of you who are not in the financial position to give but do want a good book or well-brewed cup of coffee, an expertly pulled shot or gourmet soup, please come check us out and see what you think. I am certain that people of all ages and interests can find common ground at Island Coffeehouse and Books.

Also, feel free to respond with thoughts about the South Whidbey Commons and ICB, suggestions, ideas, well wishes, or anything at all. Thanks for your time!

Sincerely,
Justin Bailey

Unforgettable Evening of Music (Rosie)

Yes, Jim Page performed at the Coffeehouse last night. It was an incredible night. Having read the reviews, I was eager to hear him, but nothing compared to the actual man with his guitar. He is a consummate story-teller and his singing is evocative and moving. You hear and feel every song. He is also a warm and lovely person who would stop now and again and encourage people to come to the coffeehouse and support "this fine establishment". Before the show, he asked questions about our youth programs and volunteer opportunities and then mentioned it between songs. I have to say he had an incredible amount of "get it" and to his credit, the coffeehouse was full to the brim. And then some. On a blustery night when there were other events going on around town, it was a testament to him that we had standing room only. There were a few songs that brought tears to my eyes. I will never forget it.

I also want to take a moment and talk about Piper Reva from last week. She was wonderful. An eclectic blend of music, artistry, story-telling. Unique and intense. Piper is a completely engaging performer. I felt like I was in a bluesy club in New Orleans. If you have a chance to see her around town or in Seattle, don't miss it.

It is Halloween and it looks to be another blustery day. We will be prepared with treats for the wee trick or treaters with hot apple cider and hot cocoa for parents as well. Chef Jess has made a splendid Mushroom Miso Soup and we have special treats from our Tree Top Bakers. Coffeecake, sticky buns, pumpkin bread as well as the usual yummy scones and cookies. If you haven't tried a cookie from then, hurry up! They sell out every time.

New Winter Hours! We are changing to our Winter Hours beginning today.Monday through Friday - 9:00AM to 6:00PM and Saturday and Sunday - 10:00AM to 6:00PM with the Friday and Saturday evening hours for events as usual. See you at the Coffeehouse!

Jim Page tomorrow night!

Just a reminder that tomorrow night's Friday Night Live will feature Jim Page, a singer-songwriter from Seattle, who is amazing.  I'm not exagerrating either.  I haven't seen him live, but I have listened to his music (you can do so as well, here: www.jimpage.net).  Word on the street is that last time he came to Whidbey Island, 500 hundred people showed up and they had to hold it at the Middle School.  This time, however, we are very pleased that Jim has decided to play at Island Coffeehouse and Books. The show will begin at 7pm.  Here is his bio from the website:

Began playing guitar at 15. Went to New York in 1970, Seattle in '71. Changed street singing laws in '74. Went to Europe in '77, began touring and living abroad. Returned to Seattle in 1983 where he still lives.

After seeing him perform at the High Sierra Music Festival in the summer of ‘97, Rob Bleetstein of Gavin wrote:
“Jim Page is a lyrical genius with a guitar. This man personifies the word ‘free-flow.’ Page takes to the mic and the song invents itself on the spot; his talent is a natural wonder.”

And in any of the many countries, from the countless tours and stages he has played people say the same. “A truly amazing man...one of the great originals. Ignore him at your peril.” - Hot Press, Dublin

Jim has been on the scene for more than twenty years and his reputation continues to grow. He has shared the stage with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Dan Bern, Michelle Shocked, Leftover Salmon, Mickey Hart, J.J. Cale, Robert Hunter, Chuck Brodsky, and John Hammond. His songs have been performed by Christy Moore, Michael Hedges, John Trudell, The Doobie Brothers, Joanne Rand, Casey Neill, and (yes) David Soul.

Often cited for his biting political pieces he is in constant demand by the social movements of the day.
“More reminiscent of the Woody Guthrie I heard as a boy than anyone I’ve listened to in the intervening years” - Philip Elwood, San Francisco Examiner

“A master of the craft of song writing, a wicked guitar player and the most relevant topical musician of his day.” - Casey Neill, Earth First! Journal

Jim easily fits into the concert hall or the class room. Brian Tokar, Goddard College: “Even the most skeptical students were convinced by the end of class that, in your able hands, the rich tradition of topical song writing is alive and well in the late 1990s. Your songs bring a phenomenal mix of humor, irony and lyrical brilliance to exposing the outrages and absurdities of our times.”

Or in the house concert. Peter Sussman, Duncan, British Columbia: “Jim is truly one of the best song writers of our day....the range of his creations is extremely broad and runs the gamut from biting satire to beautiful, sensitive love songs. He must be heard.”

And of course, at the festivals sitting in with his electric friends:
“The best had to be when that wonderful folksinger Jim Page joined the mainstage outdoor closer Leftover Salmon. He strums a few chords to get them started and then they build the melody up. Jim starts to improvise lyrics... And all of Leftover Salmon is grinning ear-to-ear. I’ve seen 1500-plus concerts and that moment was as wonderful a band/audience connection as I’ve ever witnessed.” - Dupree’s Diamond News

New Tables and Chairs, Piper Reva, and Exclusive Discounts (Justin)

Howdy folks,

I hope you have all been in to see the new layout because it is good, real good.  Rosie, Gena, and Patty (I believe it was those three that made the decision) have a fine eye for spacing and style because the new look has it all. It sleek and cozy and fine-looking like a guitar made in Alhambra and sings, too, when the place is crowded, seemingly overflowing with people now that the capacity is doubled, and the fresh scent of espresso and scones (have you tried the pumpkin cranberry scones?!) and soup (creamy tomato in particular...) and egg and cheese bagels and pumpkin loaf and...sorry, I need to control myself.  But it is a beautiful thing.

There is something, though, that we need to work on, and all of you out there can help.  We have the capacity, we have boom hours certainly, and we have the Mukilteo coffee and scones and soup and the cheapest used books I've ever seen and all the makings for the coolest place around, but people don't know that.  Even some of the high school volunteers don't know that we have egg and cheese bagels and adults in the community are constantly shocked when I tell them that we sell Mukilteo coffee or that we have FREE WIFI.  Should I say that again, just to emphasize the point?  Okay, I will: At Island Coffeehouse and Books, on 2nd Street in Langley, WA, on the Island of Whidbey in the Sound of Puget, we have FREE WIFI. 

That means that you can come in, buy yourself a drip coffee, peruse the books, open up your laptop, wander through the endless sources of stupefying diversion now available with just a click here and a tap there, and then purchase an egg and cheese bagel with pesto on, for example, a jalapeno cheddar bagel, check the score of the Seahawks or Huskies game (in my case, the UNC or Titans), see for yourself that President Obama has declared the H1N1 swine flu a national emergency, check out the upcoming Friday Night Live events at southwhidbeycommons.com, and then finish it off with a moist slice of pumpkin loaf.  Doesn't sound too bad, does it?  That's what I do every single off day, actually, except today, because I went in yesterday to study for the LSAT and got sucked into conversations with people (I blame you, friendly people at ICB and distracted by the display of goodies at the counter and the exciting sight of four--that's right, FOUR--high school volunteers on shift, and accomplished exactly nothing (aside from learning that Obama declared H1N1 a national emergency). So please, pretty please, spread the word.  Tell people about our new food, our soups from Chef Jess at Mukilteo, the new seating arrangements, about your amazing experiences at ICB.  Even post a comment right here on the blog about it.

Speaking of Friday Night Live, I unfortunately could not attend Piper Reva's show at ICB this weekend, something that really bothers me because I had spoken with her on the phone and she was really friendly and introduced herself and I had wanted to see her just for that reason and because by all accounts it was a spectacular show, a true spectacle.  I am listening to her music as we speak actually (www.myspace.com/piperreva) and can confirm that her voice really is an incredible husky, mercurial thing.  She just sang, "every morn I curse myself because I am so damn beautiful" and I'm hanging on every word and thinking, "that's how I feel about missing your show!"  She even brought her own lights in and hung art as a backdrop and wore a top hat.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that she will decide to play again.  From what I hear, there are about fifty other people who came to the show and doubtless feel the same way.

Finally, the exclusive discounts.  So here is how that works.  From now on, Rosie or I will post a Question of the Week on the blog.  If you come in with the answer, then you get 20% off one item of your choice.  This week's question:  Who is the best quarterback in the NFL?  Now, you might argue that this is a subjective question but I disagree.  Just as it was 12 years ago during the Heisman Trophy debacle, it is objectively true that this certain quarterback is the G.O.A.T.

Giddy (Rosie)

So, after a long day which started before we opened with Chef Jess delivering our new soup and gluten free muffins and granola and two kinds of cookies (all organic, by the way) at the coffeehouse and then traipsing in Seattle looking at and consequently buying new tables and chairs, though not at our first restaurant supply house, mind you, I am that interesting combination of queasy and giddy. Money was spent. Bought some great things for the coffeehouse and looked at new equipment for down the road. It was a fun day seeing downtown Seattle with our intrepid Program Director, Gena and our stellar President of the Board, Patty. Patty knows everything about everything in Seattle. It was so cool downtown, I almost thought about moving there, but realized how much I love life on the island and our ever changing coffeehouse. And decided to stay put.

The food today was soo good. I had some cold soup (it wasn't ready when I left for Seattle), with more on the near horizon. For those granola lovers out there (and honestly, who isn't a granola lover?) we now have a signature granola and will have options from cow, soy, rice milks to yogurt and fresh seasonal fruit. Starting tomorrow.

Some super cool things on the horizon. Besides the food, new tables and chairs, I mean. There's some amazing musical offerings and a poetry event that will benefit Good Cheer. And it just keeps getting better. Stay tuned for more info.

Justin, get yourself to the Olympic Peninsula. You won't be disappointed. Everybody else, get yourselves into the Island Coffeehouse and Books. You won't be disappointed either.

I got my tent, my stove, my backpack, and my optimistically empty journal. The question is: should I stay or should I go now? (Justin)

It's been a while since I've posted, as has been pointed out by our dedicated following (meaning my mom, dad, aunt, and fellow blog contributor, Rosie).  It has been a great week for the coffeehouse and for me.  I'll start with developments at the coffeehouse, specifically with food at the coffeehouse, since that's my primary interest.

We recently worked out an arrangement with Mukilteo Caffe's Chef Jess and will now be carrying their fresh-baked cookies and stews.  Today marked our first day with Spanish rice soup, oatmeal cranberry cookies, chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon coffee cake, and pumpkin muffins, which are made with some sort of black bean flour, interestingly enough.  One of our duties as ICB managers is to be familiar with all of our new products so that we can recommend them to customers.  Needless to say, I enjoyed being in the coffeehouse today.  The soup was so good I forked out the money for a big bowl and seriously considered getting another; but, alas, I am working on the salary of an AmeriCorps volunteer, which is only nominally different from that of, say, an unemployed college student with a modest salary from daddy (sub in government for daddy and probably make the modest salary even more modest) or even a homeless person with a knack for raising funds through forced windshield washing.  The point is the soup is incredible.  Two types of beans that I could make it, chunks of fresh tomatoe and large slices of onion.  Good stuff.  Finish it off with a cranberry oatmeal cookie and that is the proverbial stuff. 

Another reason I've been riding a good mood for some time now is I got to see some fantastic at least semi-local music this weekend.  Lake and Karl Blau played Saturday night at the Children's Theatre and our very own Rosie played a leading role as merchandise saleswoman--a job she performed extraordinarily well, if I may say so.  Molly, Caitlin, and I were all impressed by all of the musicians' abilities to exchange instruments without a change in displayed competence, and the syncopated rhythms and creative lyrics (Karl Blau's song that feature a chorus that went something like, "One: November, Two:December, Three: January, and so on, stuck out in particular, and his mustachioed North Wind's (a member of Lake and Blau's backing band) sound effects heightened the playful energy and amusement.  I know that Eli, a member of Lake, at least spends some time in the coffeehouse, so it was cool to watch them perform.

Also, despite my aforementioned financial strain, I went on an online shopping spree at REI.com and got myself a tent, Jetboil stove and French Press converter (YES!).  I'd been needing those things for a while so I could get out in the wild.  After I ripped open the packaging like a six-year-old on Christmas morning (or myself on Christmas morning at any age), I got on the internet and planned out my trip.  Here is the agenda:  Friday night, ferry over to Port Townsend; Saturday morning, wake up at dawn to ride up Hurricane Ridge to the observatory then ride back down and drive to an undetermined trailhead to hike in and camp out "under the stars" (quotations marks are there for a reason, you'll see), then hike out the next morning and catch the ferry back.  I told everyone about this, even my cat Samson, who only speaks Spanish and Hebrew and didn't understand a word I was saying.  Then, I checked the forecast.  And bkoughk! (explosion sound effect)! Rain, my friend.  Rain, rain, and more rain.  I think I might go for it anyways, though, and if I don't, at least I can chill in the coffeehouse, listening to our new Lake CD and eating Spanish rice soup.  And that, I think, is never a terrible thing.

Monday Morning and Breakfast Bagels (Rosie)

So, while Justin is adjusting to this fine, crisp Autumnal weather (Caitlin's right, Justin, no pity) the Coffeehouse is busy with their new Breakfast Bagels. As I expected, people are already creating variations on the theme...Clyde wanted his on The Tree Top Bakery's German Rolls and Carol and Cynthia asked about making one sans the bagel... So, it seems that folks are craving something for breakfast, with or without the bagel. In any case, each week we'll have a new flavor and see what happens. Should be interesting.

Oktoberfest made for another superb Saturday. Not simply busy, we also had spiced cookies, an amazing pumpkin spice bread that sold out in about 2 minutes and Oktoberfesty drinks. Not to mention that watching grown men wander the streets holding beer steins in lederhosen with very rakish caps with feathers was something everyone should witness at least once in their lives. Toward the end of the festivities, the caps and feathers began to slip a bit and we were busy with all the usual locals as well as any number of rosy-cheeked festival goers getting hot cocoa and spiced cider.

The evening was wonderful as Bainbridge Island writer, Suzanne Selfors read from her new teen novel, "Coffeehouse Angel". It was a fun and lively evening and we heard that her first novel, "Saving Juliet" is being made into a film! She signed and sold books and everyone left happy. It was our first collaboration with the Langley Library. One of many, I imagine. Thank goodness for Caitlin who worked a split shift and helped me close!

Just another day in Langley.

This week we hope to add in even more items to our growing menu. Stay tuned!

Oh, and I'm thinking of starting a fund for long underwear for Justin so he makes it through the winter.

First experience with non-southern falls, pumpkin loaf, Oktoberfest, and other things (Justin)

One time, I dressed up for a Halloween party in flip flops, jeans, and a lion costume (it was a furry vest with a maned hood attached) that had been made to fit the three-year-old version of me, as opposed to the then 17 version of me.  I don't need to tell you that it no longer velcroed across my front or hung down to my waist.  You can probably imagine the ludicrous spectacle, though it might be harder to understand the appeal to a 17-year-old of intentionally becoming that spectacle.  The point is, it was the 31st of October and I was actually warm, exposed chest and all (Actually, I was positively sweating at one point in the night, after my impulsive petty crime of hurling a gummy bear at a passing car--something any adult should excuse on the grounds of, "Oh he's just a kid, no harm no foul," right?--left me facing a testosterone-fueled tirade from the 30-somethings driver, whose decision to slam on the brakes and confront my friends and I so caught us off guard that we neglected to run, prepare an explanation, or do anything at all aside from gawk and nod in agreement to his fiery assault on the irresponsibility of today's youth, a memory I still rewrite from time to time to have me heroically defending myself with an overwhelming torrent of words or intimidating display of raw animal vigor.)

I bring this up because right now, at 2 PM on October 3, it is 54 degrees.  My plans for today had been 1) wake up 2) play with Samson, our kitten 3) make breakfast--probably 2 cage free eggs and 2 Morningstar Farms vegetarian "breakfast patties", which is my staple 4) ride my bike for 20-50 miles 5) come to Island Coffeehouse and Books to read outside on the patio, write a blog entry, and then make my way around Langley to see what our version of Oktoberfest was like.  Well, I did items 1 through 3 just fine, skipped number 4--the one I was most looking forward to--, and am now shivering on the lawn of ICB, too stubborn to go inside or crawl back to my bed (we're too poor to use the heat, so it's the only warm spot in the house) and dream of warmer days in the south.

Fortunately, though I'm too cold to read, today is a fantastic day to people watch in Langley.  TGFO (Thank God For Oktoberfest).  As I typed that, a man wearing white tights, green velvet bloomers, a white shirt and gray vest, and a feathered cap actually walked by.  There he is again!  And now one of his fellows is strolling by with some sort of sweet decoration on his cap.  It looks sort of like a conical dusting feather turned upward and attached to the cap at the base.  Interesting.

All this brings me to the positives about the cold weather, Oktoberfest, and living in Langley: seasonal specials at ICB and the joy of walking into a warm, welcoming coffeehouse from the cold.  Today, we had incredibly soft, hefty slices of pumpkin bread for only 2 dollars.  Needless to say, I polished off a slice prior to beginning this blog entry and would go back for a second if I didn't want to save them for patrons of ICB.  I heartily recommend them, though, and all of you should immediately come claim one of the remaining slices.  Also, we will have pumpkin spice lattes available very soon.  Yum.

As a final note, I want to say that just thinking about our incredible board of directors warms me up inside despite the cold weather--Caitlin has just informed me that I will receive no sympathy because this is not cold and prime biking weather in fact.  I cannot imagine a more energetic, supportive, effective group of people, and it is a pleasure for all us AmeriCorps to work with you.  That's all.

Post Django-Fest-Children's-Day Syndrome (Rosie)

It was a stellar weekend to be sure! Incredible weather, happy people and on Sunday, while about 30 musicians jammed in the front of the coffeehouse, approximately 10,000 motorcyclists were passing through the island for their annual Oyster Run. This is not to be confused with the Tour de Whidbey our own intrepid Justin rode the day before, but another thing altogether. So in addition to the gypsy music filling the town, we had about a gabillion (yes, it's a number, I just decided) leather clad cyclists enjoying the fine day. By the end of Sunday, we'd run out of just about everything and I couldn't form a sentence or remember my name. Mercifully, I was rescued by a kitten who might be the cutest thing I've ever seen and is now living with Justin, Molly and Caitlin.

Now a few days (daze?) later, we are all recovering and the weather has turned the corner into Autumn. Rain and gray skies. But lest you think we are resting on our laurels, think again! We've been busy with ordering new items, working on our menu and plenty of folks are coming in to find a cozy place to sit and read or write, sip a favorite coffee drink and enjoy the ambiance.

Oktoberfest is on the docket for this coming Saturday and it's sure to be another busy weekend. We plan to have some seasonal fare (pumpkin spice bread, spiced cookies, very berry scones, pumpkin lattes, hot apple cider, a rose and cardamom flavored hot milk...just to name a few) Lot's of new things on the horizon! We also have author, Suzanne Selfors, coming to read from her newest book "Coffeehouse Angel" (great title, don't you think?) this Saturday evening. I expect another crazy, mad, happy weekend. It just keeps getting better.

Djangofest, Tour de Whidbey, etc. (Justin)

This weekend was epic.  So epic, in fact, that the paper found it important enough to write about it.  This was my first Djangofest but it certainly won't be my last.  Business was great at the coffeehouse, there was consistent live music due to spontaneous and informal django jam sessions on the front lawn, and we actually stayed open late one night because Molly was having too good a time to shut it down.  The energy was intoxicating, so much so that I almost grabbed a guitar and jumped in.  Fortunately, I realized that trying to play with those guys would have been like trying to jump onto the Dean Dome court to scrimmage with the UNC basketball team (for the uninformed among you, UNC won the 2008-2009 NCAA basketball tournament and is widely considered the greatest program in the history of the NCAA (I also happen to be an alumnus but would like to assure you that this metaphor and the underlying analysis is the product of completely objective journalism)).  The musicians who were kind enough to play at our coffeehouse were extremely talented, and you can catch a short clip of them under the "Video"s section on the left of the page.

For those of you who don't know, Django Fest is a celebration of Gypsy Jazz and the music of Django Reinhardt.  Here is a short summary of Gypsy Jazz taken from the WICA (Whidbey Island Center for the Arts):

GYPSY JAZZ (also known as "Gypsy Swing") is an
idiom sometimes said to have been started by the Ferre
brothers in the late 1920s, which later became popular
due to the work of guitarist Django Reinhardt in the 1930s.
Because its origins are largely in France , it is often called
by the French name, "Jazz manouche," or alternatively,
"manouche jazz," even in English language sources. Django
was foremost among a group of guitarists working in and
around Paris in the late 1920s and 30s.

Many of the musicians in this style worked in Paris in
various popular Musette ensembles. The Musette style
waltz remains an important component in the Gypsy jazz
repertoire. Reinhardt was noted for combining a dark,
chromatic Gypsy flavor with the swing articulation of the
period. This combination is critical to this style of jazz.
In addition to this, his approach continues to form
the basis for contemporary Gypsy jazz guitar.
Reinhardt's most famous group, the Quintette du Hot Club
du France, also brought fame to jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli.

Gypsy jazz, along with traditional Gypsy music, is learned
by the passing down of knowledge from older generations.
Many Gypsy musicians do not read notated music. It is
more common for beginners to spend hours learning
and memorizing songs from recordings and
gleaning techniques from more experienced players.

In Gypsy jazz, guitar and violin are the main solo
instruments, although clarinet and accordian are also
common. The rhythm guitar is played using a distinct
percussive technique, "la pompe”, which essentially
replaces the drums. An upright bass fills out the ensembles.
Although many instrumental lineups exist, a group
including one lead guitar, violin, two rhythm guitars,
and bass is often the norm.

I actually tried to write a blog post while drinking a cup of Mukilteo French roast (our current drip) and listening to the music on the lawn, but the chugga-chugga-chugga of the rhythm and the playful interplay of the soloists made it impossible.  I'd reach for a word and boppa-bah-dy! would come out instead; I'd hope for a lofty phrase of high art criticism and something like, "The lead guitarists fingers--bah-dah-bing!--dance up the neck--shick!--and seem to laugh at the persistent shuffle of the rhythm, the jokester musician laughing at the seriousness of life with a jazz flourish."  Actually, I just made that up on the spot to try to recreate my ridiculous attempts to transform the carnival into a Harold Bloom piece.  To be perfectly honest, my only attempt at writing a blog was in my own head; my hands were too busy tapping the table and the coffee buzz wouldn't let me do anything but appreciate the music.  I think many people felt the same way.  It was, as they say, an experience.

That's not all we did this weekend, though.  The Commons put on Children's Day, which was a huge success, with about 600 hundred kids passing through the maze.  I, unfortunately, could not help with Children's Day because I had masochistically undertaken the 100 mile Tour de Whidbey, which was spectacular.

What will doubtless be most interesting to those of you that think with your stomachs, Molly and I experimented with egg and cheese bagels today and came up with some excellent combinations.  Hopefully, we will begin selling them this coming Monday.  Imagine the scent of pesto wafting toward your nostrils as your teeth sink through the everything bagel and into the egg, your teeth meet and pull back and a string of melted cheddar cheese stretches across the void like the Golden Gate Bridge.  Or, imagine the startling presence of chili powder and nutmeg cooked within a savory mozzarella egg, a crunchy hint of sweetness from the cinnamon raisin bagel.  What do you think?  Comment and let us know.

Testing, Testing...Testing 1, 2, 3 (Justin)

As some of you may know, there are four AmeriCorps volunteers working at Island Coffeehouse and Books: Lissa, Molly, Caitlin, and myself. We all have specialized coffeehouse jobs in addition to general barista duties; my area is the vaguely defined task of "marketing."

Now, in school I wasn't a marketing major or any practical major at all, in fact. Instead, I studied English literature and Economics. Neither is exactly known for keeping its students grounded, for learning and acting in the job market, for developing projects and implementing them. You can go to Paul Krugman's blog for an authoritative (biased? politically motivated? accurate?) pontification on the extent to which economics has deviated from real world study and application.

I suppose it sounds like I'm explaining every reason why I'm not qualified for this position, but that's not it exactly. What I really mean to communicate is my excitement to get away from theorizing and reading and do some actual, honest, measurable work. In school, I noticed a strong and puzzling relationship between study hours and spontaneous sleepiness. Now, I find myself waking up when it comes time to work (is that because I work at a coffeehouse and thus drink about 7 shots of espresso a day?...nah) and thinking about ideas even when I'm off-duty, and one of those ideas was this very blog you are looking at.

Why a blog, you might wonder? Because everyone likes a good blog. Everyone also dislikes a bad blog, so I'll try to avoid the mindset that every thought I have is worthy of being communicated to the world; I know I find that annoying, and I imagine you do, too. Here is the purpose for this blog, as I see it: first and foremost, to entertain. I'm thinking an "overheard at the coffeehouse" section, videos/commercials that the kids will work up, maybe a series of videos on drink innovations, and a list of what I and other AmeriCorps and community volunteers are reading, listening to, and watching. Also, I see it as an excellent means of communicating to the public some of the plans ICB and the South Whidbey Commons (Susie and Rosie in particular, the Board of Directors, and AmeriCorps volunteers as well) have for the coming months. Because comments will be enabled and welcomed, it will be a great way for community members to discuss some of these things and share their own stories and ideas. So there you have it. Enjoy.