Oak Street Coffee Shop

Remember that the coffee community all over the world is also under siege, and have a moment with some of the many places I have been thankful for the farmers, roasters and baristas- all entrepreneurs- that provided a valued experience wherever I have been. Some you can look up, others are just here. I have a backlog and will post them more often than I might otherwise. Oak Street lives in cyberspace- some of these have lived for decades, some a few years.

With loving thoughts of Charles Feruzza, and memories of the morning that yielded this piece. Kansas City is solemn, today.

Friends, we have more traffic here than you might think. How do YOU nourish community?

I am sorry, but the last post seems to disappear about half the time. So, again, if you would like to have a box of scones or cinnamon rolls in the next few weeks , including before Christmas, please send a message with your email and/or phone mumber and I will get back with what you need to know. I only now have the time, but can be pretty flexible with flavors and close delivery. We are so happy that Oak Street Coffee Shop lives on in your memories!

If Oak Street scones and cinnamon rolls in the next few weeks interest you, please send a message. you must include an email or textable phone number, deleted after receiving. Messenger was not dependable last time. Thanks!

I like this page.

Music. I recently spent a couple of weeks in the UK, popping into more than two dozen shops (of the couple of hundred I walked past, conservatively). There was a consistency I find acceptable, but puzzling: the number of places I heard music from 1965-1980, songs I listened to on an AM radio in my hometown. Top Forty, was the category. I laughed just now as American Pie sounded just as it did in the fall of 1969. It is everywhere. Sometimes too loud, on bad speakers. A...nd puzzling: there is just so much good stuff to listen to. By the way, I love American Pie. And I love music from 1965-1975, particularly. I also love Chance the Rapper, and Mozart, and Miles Davis, and Bob Marley. and Dolly Parton, heartland music of France and Scotland and Zimbabwe and every other country. I would bet the folks at these shops do, too, but it takes an investment of time to organize playlists. And experimentation to keep noise levels low enough to have a coffee shop life. (Posted while listening to Logan Richardson's SHIFT and thinking it comes close to perfect shop music. Try it.)

It is a good day when your shop makes the Sunday New York Times, and Ian Davis' first spot is happy to crow about it. Many of us renember when! Photos in a following post. BTW, Blip is roasting again.

Oak Street closed its brick-and-mortar store six years ago today, and I will post a few photos. It seems to have found another life, however. every few days someone (often a complete stranger) asks me about it. There is always Broadway coffee, and Blip carries its spirit (and baristas) in its own style. The scones will be seen in the reasonable future. It's all love to me! Thank you very much.