One and all, welcome to my bright, happy, over-energetic little corner of the world.
Thanks for pulling up a chair and visiting with the Sociocafe. This blog is dedicated to sharing the joys of coffee and coffeehouse culture, with cafés indigenous to the Nashville area being regular features in the spotlight.
I am fond of saying that God has a sense of humor, and He loves to laugh! After graduating with an advanced degree at the end of 2008, I thought the world would be my oyster. It’ll be a cakewalk, I thought. Hark? Is that the sound of a potential employer beating down my door to speak with me? Nope. It is a massive economic recession, pounding away at my odds of landing in my original career path.
Needless to say, my time spent in coffee shops grew exponentially as a result, alongside my desire to pursue writing as a career. The more I breathed in the deep, rich scent of the blend du jour, the more I realized that I had found my niche. Their food and beverages found in coffeehouses fuel and comfort us en masse, but there is something more. The social environment found there cultivates the best parts of human interaction: conversation, learning, laughter, silence, healthy debate, acceptance, and the maintenance of an open mind, to name a few. Regulars to cafés are addicted to more than a good espresso; we keep coming back to reaffirm our tiny utopias, wide-eyed and ready to be filled and refilled.
Thus the name Sociocafe was born: since I am writing here not only of coffee itself, but of the places where it lives, and the people who connect with one another and with their communities when gathering around it.
It is my hope that this site will inform you on all things java: whether you’re a novice or an enthusiast. I hope also that this will be a means by which local cafés, their employees, and their regulars can be recognized for their significant contributions to the social fabric of Nashville.
Planned features will include:
- Coffeeology- this feature is dedicated to any and all things related to expanding your coffee knowledge base; beans, products, recipes, and more.
- Cool Beans- find out more about Nashville’s many local cafés and roasters; menus, hours, history, and community outreach efforts that may need your help.
- Addicts- i meet so many wonderful people café hopping, I would be remiss not to include their stories, or highlights from our encounters, somewhere
Of course the name(s) and frequency of these features is subject to change, but I am excited to have already talked to a couple of folks around town who I know would love to be featured. In addition, I plan to find ways to showcase the artists who hang their work in these cafés, and musicians who work (or play) there. There are also lots of quotes, art, videos and more from around the Interwebz that would appease the coffee lover.
So pull up a chair, and get ready to drink long and deep.
