nightlife
daily grind
Alicia Sanson, Phillipsburg junior, spent a late Thursday night studying art history in Java Break, 17 E. Seventh St. Z. Gordon Strauss/Kansan
Tempting drinks, great people and unforgettable atmosphere promise an escape from the daily grind. Check out these three great-tasting local coffee shops. BY ASHLEY ARNOLD, KIM ELSHAM AND JULIE JANTZER
Coffee shops are our homes away from home. We seek out a few to test the waters, then choose the one that best fits our personality and needs. They are our living rooms, our dens, and our offices. We sit in comfortable chairs, have drinks and snacks, and have a peaceful place to work or hang out with friends. Downtown Lawrence has more than 10 coffee shops to choose from, but we have chosen three that suit a wide range of personalities, interests and tastes.
Starting near campus, Café Luna, 620 W.12th St., offers students a place to hang out and get away from the daily stresses of school. Tucked behind the Crossing, 618 W.12th St., Café Luna is a nearby alternative for those who would rather sit and relax than go to the bars. "I call this my living room rather than my coffee shop," Roxie Kalar, part-owner, says. "We even have poker tournaments with the regulars." She says that her patrons all know each other and are daily customers.
Café Luna makes you feel at home with the décor. There's plenty of indoor seating with a long bar, deep red retrostyle booths, a couch and coffee table to rest your feet. The scuffed-up black-and-white tile floor reiterates the retro feeling, while the local art hung on the walls gives Café Luna its hometown flavor.
Kalar says people even show up with their guitars and play on the patio. The live music takes place almost every Friday and Saturday night, perhaps because Café Luna's customers are no
longer studying these nights. "It's a laidback, loud, community jam session." Kalar says. Last Friday night it sponsored "Go Folk Yourself," featuring songwriter Kevin Lee Clark. Tomorrow, Café Luna will host Michael Garfield at 8 p.m.
Moving North, you will find Java Break, 17 E. Seventh St., on the corner of Seventh and New Hampshire streets. Java Break provides you with another place to drink your espresso or Chai tea, but also a place to surf the Web. This 24-hour coffee shop has indoor and outdoor seating: tables, chairs, and benches outdoors, and tables and softer seating in one of the three indoor rooms, one of which is smoke-friendly. A variety of students hang out at night, says Molly Winters, a manager. In the earlier evening she says most of the customers are diligently studying, but once the late night or early morning rolls around more customers come to just hang out with friends.
"I just don't like the library environment," Shannon Bernsee, Chicago senior says. She and friend, Holly Pantelleria, Overland Park senior, say they come to Java Break once or twice a week to study or hang out. Both say they prefer the coffee shop environment because of the music, fewer distractions, and available caffeine. "You can't get good coffee at a library," Bernsee says.
Coffee lovers who want to invent new caffeine creations can mix and match flavors from the menu for a new drinking experience. Or, they can try a Cold-o-Matic or Fruit-o-Matic that have flavors ranging from the choco-nilla to the straw-nanna. For non-coffee options, there are a variety of soda fountain flavors, hot chocolate, steamers and Chai tea. When hunger sets in, feed your craving with a sone, piece of cheesecake or a muffin. If you need a larger meal, go for a panini or salad.
Just one block south is Henry's, 11 E.
8 jayplay
thursday, September 18, 2003