Coast-to-Coffice: Urban Joe Cafe

Winter in Milwaukee is never a treat, and with a polar vortex descending on the city not once, but two times, this winter’s been worse than ever. The coffices in town have done a great job of making their places even more welcoming to compensate for the dismal conditions outdoors. Urban Joe Café, in West Allis, for example, serves warm apple cider that takes the chill off as you sink into a cushy, overstuffed chair – after plugging in and connecting to the free Wi-Fi, of course.

With only 50 seats, Urban Joe’s is small, but the thoughtful layout and muted earth tones make it feel spacious. Owner Joe Tairi is very friendly. If it’s not too busy, you might just find him tapping away at his own laptop across from the counter. Come for lunch as well as work because the sandwich selection is excellent, including vegetarian options. Everything is made with fair-trade or organic ingredients as much as possible.

West Allis is named for Edward P. Allis, who ran a late 19th century Milwaukee manufacturing firm. From Urban Joe’s giant windows, looking through the falling snow, the historic facades of the Greenfield Avenue business district create a softly blurred picture of the city in Allis’s time.  If you squint, you can almost see men in top hats and women in bonnets strolling by the shops.

Urban Joe’s is exactly what a coffice is supposed to be: a comfortable place to work with good food and drink and a refreshing view.  Well done, Joe. Well done.

Riverview Campground (Waco, Texas)

Riverview Campground seems to be out in the boonies when you transition from the highway to the back roads that take you to it.  But it’s actually  just 15 minutes from downtown Waco and the dealership where Mike was working. Be careful driving those rural routes, though.  You might have to navigate around roosters in the middle of the road like we did!

Riverview is a lovely park with pull-throughs, full hook-ups, and paved sites.  We paid $30 a day for our 50-amp, full hook-up, pull-through spot that included Wi-Fi.

Amenities include a brand new laundry room/shower building and a small play area for the kids. The property has three different club houses for large or small RV clubs.  Next to an in-ground, salt water swimming pool is a large dog run with a park bench and a couple of trees to provide shade from the sun.

We celebrated our six-month anniversary of being on the road while we were there in early January.  Most of the trees were bare.  We figure it’d be beautiful in the spring, summer and fall when the leaves and flowers are in full bloom.

Warrior RV Park (Tulsa, Oklahoma)

Mike was working at Myers-Duren Harley-Davidson, so our next stop after Waco was Tulsa. We chose Warrior RV Park because it was fairly close to the dealership, had good reviews, and was reasonably priced. $28 a day included a pull-through site with full hook-ups and a grassy strip with a picnic table.

Warrior RV Park has 38 pull-throughs with 30- or 50-amp service and concrete pads that are 8 feet by 15 feet. There are also 17 back-in spots with 30-amp service.  There’s a dumpster on the back side for trash along with a larger grassy area for walking the dogs.  The highway runs next to the park, so it can be loud.  Our rig’s insulation kept the road noise to minimum when we were inside. A bathroom/laundry building is roughly in the center of the park.  The park has decent free Wi-Fi and a ridiculously large selection of free cable channels.  We especially appreciated the propane tank on property because we wanted to have plenty of propane as we headed out to Milwaukee.

My memories of our stay in Tulsa will always be bittersweet. We had to say goodbye to our Charlie kitty while we were there.  He developed a saddle thrombus in the afternoon on January 14th that cut off the blood supply to his legs.  Mike was able to leave work early, bringing the Jeep with him, and we took Charlie to a vet Mike’s students had recommended.  The vet and his assistant were very kind, but there was nothing they could do to save our boy.  Since Charlie was 23 years old, we knew his time was going to come soon.  It still broke our hearts, though, to have to let him go.  He was with me for half my life, and he’s irreplaceable.

When I learned that the wife of the couple that owns the park rescues cats, I gave her Charlie’s leftover food and made sure to buy a chocolate bar that she sells for fundraising.  I rescued Charlie all those years ago, and it made me feel good to help someone else trying to do the same.

Coast-to-Coffice: Grouchy John’s

Las Vegas’ independent coffee shop culture has been growing, and Grouchy John’s is a great example of that.  Grouchy John’s began as a mobile coffee truck.  In late 2011, namesake owner John Ynigues opened up a brick-and-mortar location in Henderson, complete with a drive-thru, and Grouchy John’s was promptly voted Best New Coffee Shop in 2012 by Las Vegas WEEKLY.

Like many of these independent shops, Grouchy John’s firmly believes in community partnerships.  So, the coffee is brewed with beans from Colorado River Coffee Roasters in Boulder City, and pastries come from neighborhood bakeries.  The idea is to support good people and local businesses so the money stays in the community.  That’s one of the primary reasons I like to work in these places.

Of course, ambiance is just as important as what’s in the cup, and Grouchy John’s is definitely a creative gathering space.   It’s very homey.  Games and books are available for your entertainment.   If you need to pick up a gift with your latte, Grouchy John’s has pieces from local artists on the walls that are available for purchase.  If you’re a social media passionista, following Grouchy John’s on Facebook or Twitter will make you privvy to specials and give you glimpses of shenanigans going on at the store.

Those wanting to use the free Wi-Fi can plant themselves at a high countertop by the window or at one of the small tables.  Those looking for conversation can relax on leather couches.   Grouchy John’s an excellent place to get away from the chain experience and give your hard-earned dollars to a locally owned neighborhood shop.

Coast-to-Coffice: The Beat

Even though we were in Vegas to celebrate Christmas and the new year, there was still work to be done.  This time, though, I knew exactly what coffice I wanted to work at.  I’d first visited The Beat Coffeehouse when I was the City Leader for CRAVE Las Vegas, a coffee table book project for women entrepreneurs, and I’d attended lots of meetings there.  The vibe is relaxed; you can perch your laptop on the counter while you eat or grab a couch and get comfy.  As a bonus, it was within walking distance of our temporary home at Main Street Station.

The  independent coffeehouse at Sixth and Fremont, just two blocks from The Fremont Street Experience, is a gathering place for those who live and work in downtown Vegas.  Along with the requisite free Wi-Fi for customers, The Beat has small menu with eclectic food, coffee drinks and a nice selection of beer and wine in the evening.  The space in the Emergency Arts building includes a vintage store and creative businesses, including galleries and artist studios.

My favorite munchie at The Beat is the Slap & Tickle sandwich, a hipster twist on the classic PB&J with peanut butter, homemade jam, crisp bacon and optional jalapeño slices to kick things up a notch.  Paired with some iced tea, it’ll take you through your afternoon to-do list.  And, you can easily take quick breaks to people watch out the window while you’re getting things done.

Coast-to-Coffice: Liquid Johnny’s

Liquid Johnny’s is a bar and restaurant on the corner of 76th Street and West Main Street in Milwaukee, easy walking distance from the Wisconsin State Fair RV Park.  I wrote a post about it back in September after we’d discovered it when we were working Harley’s 110th.

In addition to an amazing Fish Fry Friday, Liquid Johnny’s has free Wi-Fi.  The place is small and casual, with a bar on one side and four-seat tables on the other.  Laminated menus stay tucked up against the wall at each table.  It’s not really a sports bar, but there are plenty of TVs scattered around if you want to catch the game.  Although there’s no charge for Wi-Fi, you do need to ask for the password.

One night when I still had work to do and Mike wanted to have dinner with a colleague, we headed to Liquid Johnny’s.  I had some chips and salsa with a glass of Merlot while Mike chatted with his friend.  It was a nifty twist on the usual coffice experience!

$5 movie night at the Majestic

The Marcus Majestic on the outskirts of Milwaukee may look retro, but it’s got all the modern amenities to make for a fun night out at the movies.   The place has 16 state-of-the-art auditoriums, including two 72-foot-wide, 3-story-tall UltraScreens®.   The bowtie-wearing clerks and grand piano in the middle of the lobby give it an upscale feel.  Food and drink choices go well beyond the usual concession stand favorites to include the Take Five Cocktail Lounge, Zaffiro’s Pizza Café, and Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Shop.  You can eat at the tables scattered throughout the lobby before your show, or you can bring everything in with you.    Mike and I split a small pizza and some cheesy garlic bread and carried them in to our screening of Homefront with Jason Statham.

The Majestic makes the dinner-and-a-movie experience into an all-in-one event with Big Screen Bistro In-Theatre Dining.  While watching the latest blockbuster, you sit in a big, comfy chair, sip beer, wine or a cocktail, and nosh on tasty restaurant fare.   Free Wi-Fi means you can get some work done, too, before the lights go down.  Spots book quickly, so be sure to make your online reservation as soon as you can.

If you’re on a budget, be sure to check out $5 movie day.  On Tuesdays, every movie, all day, costs only $5, AND you get a free small popcorn!

Coast-to-Coffice: Colectivo Fifth Ward

Sharing space with other commercial enterprises, Colectivo‘s Fifth Ward location upcycles a discarded building into a cool coffeehouse that pays homage to the past.  The Foundry café, in Milwaukee’s emerging Fifth Ward neighborhood, is housed in the former Kramer International foundry.

When Milwaukee was first settled, the Fifth Ward encompassed the area south of the Fourth Ward, between the Milwaukee River and First Avenue.  Over time, that area was absorbed into Walker’s Point.  Unfortunately, as the years went by, Walker’s Point became associated with crime and pollution.  Interest in historic preservation and a desire to make the Fifth Ward more appealing prompted the re-adoption of the name.  Interestingly, Colectivo (which was then Alterra) began roasting on the fifth floor of a warehouse in Walker’s Point.

The Kramer International foundry produced non-ferrous and ferrous products for pump manufacturers.  The café honors that manufacturing tradition and history with its post-industrial design.

As with all the Colectivo shops, everything is baked fresh every day at the Bay View location.  They source from local farms as much as possible, and they also partner with other Wisconsin food producers.  Wi-Fi is free, although it does ask you to re-accept the usage agreement after a couple of hours.

The Fifth Ward location – with its friendly baristas, funky ambiance, reliable Wi-Fi, and range of great beverages and food – is an eccentric yet cozy place to be productive.

Coast-to-Coffice: a 24-hour joint with Greek flair

Pegasus Restaurant, on Greenfield Avenue in Milwaukee, is just a couple of blocks away from the Wisconsin State Fair RV Park.  It has coffee and tea to go with the free Wi-Fi, but it’s not the fancy stuff.  We’re talking basic beans and bags of Lipton here.  But that’s not the reason for making Pegasus your coffice du jour… or de la nuit.

Pegasus is a grown-up version of the all-night college diner.  It’s open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  The tables are spacious; the booths are roomy. It’s casual, so there’s no pressure to dress fancy or worry about breaking out your laptop.

You get free wine or beer or dessert with your meal.  Before you get too excited, though, the gratis vino is a choice been a Chablis or a rose.  Did I mention it’s not fancy?  If you’d rather drink outside the box, they have some cool retro cocktails to choose from.   How fun would it be to mix new and old by writing a blog post while sipping a Brandy Manhattan!

Pretty in pink: a blushing Greek dressing

The menu is made up mostly of classic American dishes, but some Greek selections are sprinkled in.  The Greek salad dressing is a lovely shade of pink with crumbles of feta, and I give the place props for serving their salads on chilled plates.  The spinach pie is a well balanced blend of veggie and cheese with a nice flaky crust. The chicken breast is tender.  Serving sizes are generous.  I brought most of my entree home and enjoyed it for lunch the next day.

Athenian Style Chicken Breast & Spinach Pie with rice pilaf and Athenian sauce

So the next time a deadline means you’re working at midnight and all the usual coffices have gone dark, Pegasus might be just the place to work, drink, and get your Greek on.

Coast-to-Coffice: Colectivo Lakefront

I’ve been sharing my coffices for a while now, but I’ve decided to formalize my reviews under a “Coast-to-Coffice” column.  My focus will be on locally owned, small business establishments, rather than the chains (although I enjoy working at Starbucks on occasion, too).  I’ve also added a page to the blog devoted to coffices.  That way, anyone who might be looking for a place to work and get to know a community while enjoying awesome beverages (and yummy eats) can check out where we’ve been.

Colectivo Coffee began its life in Milwaukee as Alterra Coffee in 1993.   After years of building the business locally, Alterra attracted national attention, and the company sold its name and certain artistic assets to Mars Drinks.  They ultimately gave up their connection with Mars and renamed themselves Colectivo, a name which was “inspired by the artful and funky buses used for public transportation across Latin America, ‘colectivos’ (co-lec-TEE-vo), and the iconic part of everyday life they represent for everyday people”.  There are 12 cafes in the state, eight of which are in Milwaukee and its suburbs.

The Lakefront location is across from McKinley Marina in the historic Milwaukee River Flushing Station which was built in 1888.  The Flushing Station’s purpose was to flush out pollution by pumping fresh water from Lake Michigan into the Milwaukee River. The cafe inhabits two-thirds of the building, and the flushing pump, which is still functioning, takes up the remaining third.

My first reaction to learning that the coffee shop was in an old flushing station was, “Eww!”  A collaboration between a food and beverage company and the Milwaukee Metropolian Sewerage District seems kind of gross.  But, when you visit, all the nasty images are replaced by the quirky look and cool vibe Colectivo has created, not to mention the living museum quality of the flushing station elements.

Colectivo’s Lakefront location goes beyond creating a sort of living history to include environmentally-friendly features.  There’s apparently a wetland garden that captures and filters parking lot runoff, although we couldn’t see it while we were there in late November.  And, supposedly plants on the grounds are irritgated by rainfall from the roof that’s routed into barrels.  The three levels of the cafe are made from recycled materials like wood decking from an old soap factory, brick and steel recovered from pre-existing buildings, and salvaged pump room wood.

But what about the coffee?  The coffee is excellent, likely a result of the long-term farmer and co-op partnerships Colectivo has developed over the years. Colectivo also offers Letterbox Fine Teas, a hand-selected line of teas.  And the food’s pretty good, too.  Like the coffee, prices are reasonable.  Everything is baked fresh every day at the Bay View location.  They source from local farms as much as possible, and they also partner with other Wisconsin food producers.  Wi-Fi is free, although it does ask you to re-accept the usage agreement after a couple of hours.

Every summer, the Lakefront location is also host to the Florentine Opera and Musica del Lago outdoor music series.  It’ll be fun to check that out when we’re here in the warm weather.