Life in America before coffee and teas shops
How did we live in America before coffee and teas shops for workers to caffeinate so they can keep going; friends and acquaintances to meet face-to-face without technical interference; artists and writers to create; and lonely people to socialize vicariously? Mill Mt. Coffee and Tea, located on the cobblestone streets of Shockoe Bottom in Richmond, VA, is referenced in my novel-in-progress, Charmville. Anyone would appreciate the warm, homey atmosphere surrounded by history.
Coffee and computer ready, I sit at a back table for a binocular view. Today I’m interested in location, not people. Rusty-red, cream, and charcoal brick walls display an array of original paintings: dragon fly, cricket, railroad tracks, power lines, wooden chair, tall towers, and more. Each one could provide an hour or more of contemplating color and technique.
I look around. Wooden paddles on brass fans call my attention to a white, pressed tin ceiling above and below hardwood floors the color of molasses. Everything is long and rectangular, including the wooden bar and stools. Tables and chairs line the walls. In one corner three body-dented, comfy chairs and a sofa nest.
Image from CarbonNYC / David Goehring
