Loving Lazy Sundays
Cafe Strada: Original artist hereiskaty
I cannot remember the last time I had a nice, sunny Sunday. The sun has gone the way of the french worker and has been on strike (or vacation) for the longest time.
Today I was reminded of my love-*grumble* (as opposed to love-hate) relationship with the bay area. As typical of my lazy Sundays, I found myself at Strada Cafe in Berkeley. As I lazily read the Sunday paper, I saw the weather go from overcast to sunny to overcast to rainy. Make up your mind Mother Nature! I really, really cannot wait for spring to roll around. At least I read a funny article about how more and more men are waxing these days that made me just LOL.
As I huddled under my jacket, I pondered over my eventual move to the South Bay. Where will I spend my lazy Sundays?? The starbucks of the local strip mall? Ugh. I miss the charming cafes of Berkeley already. With the move they will most certainly be out of reach.
I had another Scavenger Experience today. I was done reading the paper and I went to place some of the unwanted content (ADS) in the recycle bin they have at Strada. I wasn’t gone 3 seconds (it was literally 10 ft away from me) when I looked back and could tell something was awry. It was probably the semi-concerned look of the girl sitting next to me. When I got back to my seat, the guy sitting across from me asks, “Oh is this yours?” gesturing to my paper which was in his hands. Hmm… well let’s see. I’ve only been sitting here the past hour, long before HE got there and the rest of my stuff is still on the table I was sitting at. “Yeah it is. Thanks,” I say as I grab my paper from his hands and leave. What a vulture! As I was walking away I could hear him make some sort of remark that went, “Leaving your paper there is like leaving your seat open…” etc. Dude. No apologies, just admonishment. Thanks, buddy. I didn’t know there was a 2-second rule with leaving your paper around at the cafe. Next time I’ll be sure to write my name is big, round letters indicating that it is mine. *grumble*
As I walked back to the car, it began raining again. *grumble*
I have to say, though, that lazy Sundays are what I really love about the bay area. I love reading at cafes. Is it cheesy to admit this? Is it cheesy to admit that while I’m at cafes I sometimes day dream about what I would do if I had a cafe of my own? (Outdoor spots definitely, a fireplace and jazz.) Despite the poor weather, I found myself smiling as I drove through the windy roads of Claremont with the heater on high and latin jazz that KCSM plays on Sundays.
April 16 2006 03:50 pm | ;P
April 16th, 2006 at 7:54 pm
I have made peace with the rain. Ok rain, you win. Today, it started pouring pouring while sunny (as it does with that whole sun->rain->sun thing), and I found it rather refreshing, actually. The sunlight was golden, the air, crisp and fresh and the lawn has never looked greener.
My cafe would be Italian - stone floors, that outdoor fireplace sounds lovely, and it would filled with that orchestra music from Piazza San Marco.
April 17th, 2006 at 7:20 am
Oh! I miss Strada and all other charming cafes of Berkeley! This is the exact reason why I boycott Starbucks. Unfortunately, there are not a whole lot of crusaders around here about to join me in this boycott. Least of all New York City, where you can’t turn the corner without running into those commercialized aggressive monsters with no originality. I’m jealous of you, Peter! What… you don’t like the yuppy places of the South Bay?
April 30th, 2006 at 5:28 pm
wha? complaints about rain? guess who’s working in washington state where it’s rare to see the sun. i find that when it DOES come out once in awhile, that i appreciate the warmth MUCH more than i would if i were still back in irvine.
as far as cafes… i support ANY cafes that simply stay open late. hey pete… how bout we open a cafe open 24/7? i’ve always dreamt of owning and running a cafe. even seattle doesn’t have my ONE favorite cafe as far as i know. i can’t believe the damn town closes everything so early.
anyhow… DUDE.. moving back to south bay? why?