The other day I was introduced to yet another French coffee shop in my area and I must say the warm blueberry-filled crepes dusted with powder sugar were absolutely delicious, but my waiter did not look anything like the fellow pictured above and the coffee shop did not look like anything pictured below.

No, I guess one must go off to Europe, take a trip back in time…

or find a book like this one, “The French Cafe” by Marie-France Boyer, in order to enjoy such romantic places.

Here in the States there are coffee houses to be had, but they look more like this one.

Another view…

And here’s my favorite view because it contains a picture of my son Patrick working on his statistics.  But nice as this coffee house was, and I came here a number of times myself, there were no waiters in black tie nor were there any white tablecloths to be seen.  Sigh!

I was impressed because this Starbucks had live orchids on some tables.  Do you see one in the background?

Starbucks does have a good dark espresso roast so I’m always happy in one, and do you know –  if you buy their coffee in the market, you can bring your empty bag  back to the Starbucks, turn it in, and get a free cup of coffee? Yes, it’s true.

But I enjoy all sorts of coffee houses and when I’m back in Hudson my favorite is a Pete’s.

Until recently the Hudson Pete’s was  a Caribou Coffee and it looked like this.  There was a fireplace and a wall of windows.  The windows are still there but the fireplace is sadly gone now, and there have been other design changes in the room too, but many of the workers are the same people and the coffee is just as good.

Do you enjoy spending time in coffee houses as I do?  A coffee house is a great place to read a book, write a letter, meet a friend,  plug your laptop in and create posts for your blog  or reach out to the whole world via internet or while writing letters while sipping a cappuccino.

My “dead friend” Lord Byron said, “Only in letter writing do we have solitude and society simultaneously”, but though he has a point there, coffee houses also grant  a certain amount of solitude while enjoying  society.

You can even make new friends while enjoying a coffee house.  I met a lovely man recently by the name of  David.  He is old enough to be my father, so don’t worry.  There’s no hanky-panky going on, just friendly conversation.  It’s always so nice to meet interesting new people, don’t you agree?  David worked in theatre and public relations, but  he also created and still creates  beautiful leather goods.  Every time David and I see each other at the coffee house I learn more and more about this interesting man, and isn’t that how friendship grows?

Was I surprised when he gave me this lovely pencil case which he made with his own two hands.  I would’ve never met David nor enjoyed owning such a great pencil case if it weren’t for my love of coffee houses.  And look how much I’ve learned about leather. Now you’re learning about “naked” finish leather too and all because I frequent coffee houses.

So

Unless you’re reading this in France you may not be able to find coffee shops where waiters are wearing black tie and carrying  white towels, and you may not find coffee shops with white tablecloths, but nevertheless,  GO!…

Go to a coffee shop.

Read there!

Write there!

Meet People!

Coffee shops are great!

They’re for me and maybe they’re for you too.

Let me know what you think.