5/5 Mackenzie I. 1 year ago on Google
It
had
been
a
few
years
since
my
last
visit
but
I
had
decided
to
swing
through
again
after
scheduling
a
coffee
date
on
a
Sunday
morning.
The
streets
were
still
relatively
quiet
and
foot
traffic
was
light
-
likely
due
to
locals
choosing
to
sleep
in
or
heading
off
to
Sunday
services.
And
the
shop
looked
relatively
the
same
as
I
had
remembered
it
from
the
last
time
I
was
there,
which
brought
me
some
comfort
as
familiarity
often
does.
However,
it
was
impossible
to
miss
the
small
boutique
that
had
been
added
in
the
corner
at
some
point
over
the
last
several
years.
It
looked
out
the
large
front
window
onto
the
street,
where
the
occasional
passerby
would
stop
and
cup
their
hands
over
their
faces
to
peer
inside.
The
colorful
displays
of
Chicano
and
LB
bits
and
bobs
hanging
among
the
walls
and
cabinets
added
a
splashes
of
vibrancy
to
the
cooler-color
palette
of
the
interior.
There
was
once
a
stage
in
the
corner
as
well,
where
poetry
readings
and
open
mic
nights
had
often
filled
my
earlier
years.
But
there
was
a
large
picnic
table
in
its
place
instead.
The
additional
seating
space
was
welcome
but
it
highlighted
how
things
have
changed
since
the
pandemic
altered
the
lifestyles
of
artists
and
performers.
Soon
after
my
arrival,
my
date
entered
and
we
ordered
our
drinks
-
for
her,
a
simple
pour
over,
black,
no
sugar,
no
cream.
And
for
myself,
an
americano
with
the
same
staunch
simplicity.
There
were
breakfast
options
like
oatmeal,
hot
sandwiches
and
other
tasty
treats
available
but
we
had
both
eaten
beforehand.
My
drink
was
a
little
too
watery
for
my
taste
-
which,
what
do
you
expect
for
something
that's
espresso
w/
additional
hot
water
added?
I
made
a
mental
note
to
order
something
with
more
body
next
time.
The
lounge
area
was
already
occupied
so
we
found
ourselves
a
table
and
spent
nearly
two
hours
talking.
By
then,
more
people
had
begun
to
arrive
and
a
short
line
had
formed.
The
staff
had
tied
their
hair
back
and
gracefully
moved
between
the
machinery
behind
the
counter.
My
date
and
I
took
a
moment
to
watch
as
they
doled
out
the
orders
with
smiles
and
down-to-earth
attitudes.
We
soon
noticed
that
there
were
people
standing
around
and
talking
about
their
plans
for
the
week,
so
we
finished
our
drinks
and
departed
for
the
day.
Overall
the
experience
was
enjoyable
without
the
unnecessary
bourgie
attitude
that
has
become
all
too
common
at
cafes.
Coffee
cost
as
much
as
coffee
should
and
the
staff
was
charismatic
and
genuine.
My
usual
coffee
place
went
out
of
business
some
years
back
but
I
think
that
Viento
y
Agua
will
likely
become
my
new
regular
place.