An online magazine from Whole Foods Market, Dark Rye brings together pioneers of unconventional ideas to explore the edges of the creative life. Here on the Dark Rye Tumblr, we’ll compile a mixtape of their secrets—a daily how-to and counter-convention dose of sass and entrepreneurialism for your own neighborhood.
We’ll offer perspective on our monthly themes as well as the pioneer’s blueprint: fresh insight and an idea-starter that makes every day feel like a sleeves-rolled-up Saturday morning in spring. Hang out here to stay revived between Dark Rye feasts.
5 posts tagged cafe
The Fine Art of Coffee Portraiture
Here’s more evidence to back up all those studies on boredom inspiring creativity: Meet Mike Breach, barista extraordinaire, who “paints” everything — and everyone — into his lattes. “I’m an esspressionist,” he proudly proclaims. Just last year, Breach was idling away his customer-less hours in the back of a hotel kitchen with only a dormant espresso machine for company. He taught himself how to inscribe ornate hearts in coffee foam, with a bamboo skewer as his paintbrush.
We’re at the Smile To-Go, and he’s frothing some milk behind the counter; the shushing of the machine almost drowns out his words. He reflects. “It’s like, if something is lacking, you’ve got to find a way to make it exciting and fun. Right? I mean, I’m so happy that my old job was so boring! Otherwise I wouldn’t be making these! And this is just the beginning. I want to start a movement.” The milk is now pillowy, foamy-soft — perfect for the latte Breach is about to pour. He stares into his empty chestnut-colored canvas, and suddenly looks up. “I’ve been wanting to try Snoop. Let’s do that, yea?”
Do one thing and do it well.
There is a little place in the heart of Copenhagen called Central Hotel & Café, which may be the smallest café and hotel in Denmark. There is a café on the ground floor (the coffee bar measures 12 square meters), and above the café you find the hotel’s only room with a view of Tullinsgade. Definitely a spot where a visitor would find a nice and quiet stay as well as good coffee and the day’s newspaper. Owner Leif Thingtved designed the place with Parisian café influences and style.
(via ginandbird:)
Doesn’t this just make you want to run across the street—shhh—and grab that table by the window, next to the stove—shhh—and sit down and whisper for a hot cup—and shhh—and sit—shhh—and peek—and duck—and phewph.
(via cottonandkimchi)
“Our friend and neighbor Melissa Dittmer is an architect with Hamilton Anderson here in Detroit, and over the course of the year she opened a dialogue with the suburban owners of a mostly-vacant strip mall that is the only retail space in our neighborhood. They had recently opened a grocery store in the plaza and were open to her ideas about temporary use of vacant storefronts to increase visibility and foot traffic and encourage new businesses to open. Melissa got the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation involved and together they transformed one huge vacant storefront into what we call the “MIES space” after the florescent lights in the front window that spell Mies, for Mies van der Rohe (the neighborhood’s major architect). After two successful art/design events and panel discussions in the space, Melissa began working with Jordi Carbonell (the owner of a community-oriented cafe in Southwest Detroit, Cafe con Leche) to turn the space into a pop-up coffee shop…”
(Read the whole, wonderful piece and see more at Sweet Juniper: Cafe Con Leche del Este (through December 1, 2012) | sweet juniper inspiration)
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