The Life and Times of Hartford Coffee

You Can Tune a Piano..

2006-03-04T20:18:00.000-08:00

We quit serving tuna salad a while back because it wasn't a frequently ordered item. With Lent in full swing, I've decided to resurrect the tuna with a new (and decidedly more popular)recipe.

Onions. You love them or hate them. Nobody sits on the fence when it comes to onions. Now hear this! The new tuna does not contain onions! You want onions-order them on your sandwich and we'll throw a grip of 'em on there with the lettuce and tomato.

The new and improved tuna salad is huge chunks of white tuna with real mayonnaise and chopped, fresh dill. Purist tuna, if you will. Yummy purist tuna. You want that on the rye swirl bread, of course.

Disclaimer: This is a two-handed sandwich and not suitable for dining while driving. If you eat it at your desk, please move any and all important papers out of the way to avoid "tuna slop."

Red Swingline Not Included

2006-02-27T19:44:00.000-08:00

The smaller office above Hartford Coffee will be available for lease after March 5. Your rent includes all utilities except telephone and the free WiFi is fairly reliable upstairs. The attached balcony is private but the restroom is shared.

If you're interested in seeing the space, please email me at shannon@hartfordcommunitycafe.com or call the cafe. The number is 314.771.5282 and I'm there most weekdays.

Really. Why Leave?

2006-02-23T21:37:00.000-08:00

This weekend will be absolutely HUGE with several events you won't want to miss.

On Saturday night we welcome Java Jam artist anDrea. If you missed her last year, be sure to get there early as the house will be packed despite the extra 20 chairs we're bringing in.

Sunday at 6:00 PM there will be a meeting upstairs in the Java Lounge for folks interested in joining forces with the Marble Stage Theatre group. We're going to need lots of help to get the next show off the ground and we need you! Call me if you have any questions about this at 314.771.5282.

Also Sunday at 7:00 PM is the February Free Candy with Amanda Doyle and KWMU's Tom Weber filling in for Julia Smillie. It's loud, it's fun and you can swear if you want to because most people have the good sense to leave the wee ones at home for this show. Check out their website at www.freecandy.net.

Bring a cot, have a sammie and settle in for the weekend. I know its Mardi Gras and all but I suspect, if you have beads, a full 60% of our staff would be willing to flash some boob to keep you at Hartford Coffee.

Get On "The List"

2006-02-12T07:23:00.000-08:00

What say you to an evening of food, drink, music and art? The more the merrier is our response! Please join us next Sunday the 19th from 5-8 PM in honor of James Fox, our February artist.

Is there a catch? You bet. To make it past the doorman you gotta get on the eVite list by emailing me at shannon@hartfordcommunitycafe.com. Please do this as soon as possible..yes, now is a good time.

Things Are Looking Up(stairs)

2006-02-02T19:09:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, the children's area at Hartford is wildly popular. The original concept of the play area was to have an inviting environment for the parents, children and families of our neighborhood. James and I both believed that too often, families are not considered part of the greater community and very few accommodations are made for them. Hence, the play area. It gets a lot of use and it has afforded countless parents to enjoy a cuppa with their kids close by.

Adults without kids sometimes get the short end of the stick when the cafe is busy. In response, we'll soon be offering an adults only area upstairs. For lack of a better term, we're calling it the Java Lounge at this time. Hopefully, it'll be ready to go within a week.

If you have any books or magazines you'd like to share, please drop 'em by Hartford Coffee so we can have a nice lending library in the Java Lounge. Other features will be comfortable seating, limited tables and chairs and Tah-Dah! no kids!

Anything else you'd like to see in the non-play area? Send me an email.

Renaissance Man

2006-01-31T18:35:00.000-08:00

Some people can do just about anything. I know a man who can fix stuff, work with wood, create pottery, sing and run a restaurant while being a husband, father and professor. On top of all that, this person can also paint.

February's artist is none other than my business partner and road-dog, James Fox.

His paintings are bright, colorful and abstract in style. James paints primarily for personal expression and to make art accessable for all people, regardless of their previous experience with art.

James hopes that by exhibiting his work, he can inspire others to try new and creative endeavors.

Please stop by and enjoy his artistic talent this month only. Information regarding a reception will follow soon.

When It Rains, It Pours

2006-01-30T18:59:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who supported us through a really difficult weekend. Within the span of 3 days, Hartford Coffee had these trials:

The flavored coffee grinder crapped out.

A shipment of green coffee beans did not arrive last week as planned-leaving very little coffee for roasting, drinking or purchase.

The espresso machine broke, creating a very difficult situation as there are only 2 companies in town capable of repairing our super-automatic and they didn't have the parts in stock.

The kitchen equipment was rearranged due to power circuit failure.

A few menu items ran out.

As of Monday night, I'm pleased to announce that all is well at Hartford Coffee. The whole crew spent the whole day restocking, repairing, replacing and recovering. It was exhausing for everyone but we're up and running at full speed.

Thanks again for your business and friendship. You are appreciated!

Fun and Games for 52nd City

2006-01-24T15:35:00.000-08:00

Timesaver Trivia
Sponsored by 52ndCity.com

Where: Hartford Coffee Company, 3974 Hartford, 314-771-JAVA
When: Thursday, February 23; game @ 7:00 p.m., check-in @ 6:30 p.m.
How much: $20 per team of four players
Why: To benefit the publishing efforts of 52ndCity.com

What: If you've played marathon, night-long trivia contests, don't fear. This one's a quick-moving, pop-culturally-themed evening of trivia, with four-person teams. Game's beginning at 7:00 and we'll roll through 50 quick questions, which a heavy emphasis on that pop-cultural clutter in your head.

Some particulars:

Teams need to pay the total of $20 before the game's start. No individual payouts of $5 per player, please! Registrants/team captains are responsible for entry fee.

Though alcohol is not sold at Hartford Coffee Company, you may bring your own.

Winners receive their cash back, plus absolutely fabulous, yet-not-necessarily-expensive, STL-related gifts.

Full rules will be provided at the door, which opens at 6:30 p.m.

Only 15 tables of four are available, so please register early.

Please contact 52nd City for details. Direct questions and registrations to: thomas@52ndcity.com or 314-776-6929.

Thanks!

Free Candy This Sunday

2006-01-24T15:22:00.000-08:00

As the title may suggest, January 29 is our next installment of Free Candy!

Free Candy is a live, unscripted, unbroadcast, uncommon talk show featuring Amanda Doyle and Julia Smillie. Interviews, music, laughter and edible, sweet treats without any cost to you. (Free candy, duh.)

So, call the babysitter and meet us at Hartford Coffee by 7:00 PM Sunday.

SCOSAG and St. John's Invite You

2006-01-21T12:44:00.000-08:00

_______________________________________________________________________________

Make a leaf for the living tree

You
You and your friend
You and your kids
You and whooooever
are invited to stop in to play with clay

****1/23 MONDAY evening, anytime from 4:00-8:00pm
****_Upstairs at the Hartford Coffee Company (A great space for
gatherings if you haven't seen it yet!)

Please stop by to sculpt, stamp, slip-n-score a small piece of the
3-D community tree mural growing up just south of Tower Grove Park which represents just how We Add Up To Make The Whole.

The Living Tree mural is an ongoing collaboration between The South City Open Studio and Gallery, The St. John's Episcopal Church and any-all creative-concerned & available stl citizens, including you.

To witness pieces of the process or to become further involved in the
continuing green-space design, visit www.towergrovechurch.org and the Living Tree link: Organic Growth

Snacks provided!

We All Have Urges

2006-01-11T19:50:00.000-08:00

Let's say, one day, you're sitting around and suddenly feel a wave of creativity wash over you. You suddenly feel like a master painter or you'd like to try your hand at pottery for the first time. Perhaps you just want out of the damned house for a few hours. What's a poi-sson to do?

Pretend for a moment that there's a place you could go where art supplies would be waiting for you in a light, open environment. There may be other adults trying their hands at watercolor or sculpture. There might be a class available or a working artist with whom you could consult on your ideas. What if you could go to this magical place any time you wanted?

There's a movement afoot to make this dream a reality for folks in St. Louis.

If you are an artist who would like to help this idea take flight, please send your ideas, offers and experiences to james@hartfordcoffeecompany.com.

A Few Good Men (or Women)

2006-01-07T18:53:00.000-08:00

The time has come to add members to the nuclear Hartford Coffee family. Here are the requirements.

Applicants must:
Have a working telephone number
Be 18 years of age or older
Have or be willing to get the Hep A immunization
Posess better than average verbal and written communication skills
Have good personal hygiene

Finally, we're looking for organized people who can hustle. (Not hustle in a "Grifters" sort of way but in the sense of moving quickly and efficiently.) Restaurant experience may be helpful but isn't absolutely necessary.

Please contact me directly with email to shannon@hartfordcoffeecompany.com and be certain to put HIRE ME in the subject line.

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

2005-12-30T07:59:00.001-08:00

Lots of events in January. I hope you have pretty paper in the printer so you can hang this schedule on the fridge.

Open mic night-every Friday starting around 7 PM. Songs, poetry, short stories, interpretive dance, experiemental music. (This is pretty much geared toward adults.)

January 7- Music by Sean Henze at 7:00 PM. Sean's music is perfect background for a quiet night out of the house.

Janjuary 14 -Maple Jam in the house staring at 7:00 PM. Fun, sing-a-long music and great vocals. They take requests and I strongly suggest the "Tiki Bar" song. Always a personal favorite.

January 21- HOOTENANNY! It starts early and goes late and you may want to bring a folding lawn chair if you're opposed to perching on someone's lap. Join in or just enjoy the musical village.

January 28- from 8:00 PM-10:00 PM we welcome Lydia Ruffin and Friends. This concert is part of the Java Jam series and is always a popular event.

January 29- at 7:00 PM we'll again be hosting Free Candy with the hilarious team of Amanda Doyle and Julia Smillie. This is St. Louis' only live, non-broadcast talk show so if you miss it-there are absolutely no do-overs. This show is for adults only-so score a babysitter a catch the Free Candy fever!

And They Said It Wouldn't Happen

2005-12-19T14:50:00.000-08:00

Everybody who's anybody will be at Hartford Coffee this Wednesday night. (That would be December 21, if you need an actual date.)

Please join us for the return of the Dave Drebes Players from 7:30 till all the songs are sung. This promises to be the greatest gathering of St. Louis movers, shakers and hipsters this season and you'll probably hate yourself for all of 2006 if you miss the show. Deb Peterson, this includes you, sweetie.

Their last show was SRO, so please arrive early if you want a chair.

Seasonal Hours

2005-12-18T12:41:00.000-08:00

We will be open from 7:00 AM until Noon-ish on December 24th and December 31st.

Closed December 25th and January 1st.

Part Deux

2005-12-13T17:27:00.000-08:00

Check back soon for anecdotes, humour, tales and events at Hartford Coffee.