Appendix E-J

At 1 am this morning, Darren Fred lost his father-in-law. Darren is the leader of the Timberline Oldtown/Everyday Joe’s organization. Ray Gowing passed peacefully.

The service for Ray will be on Friday the 30th of April at 2 pm at Timberline Church. Everyday Joe’s will be closed that day from 1 – 4:30 pm so we can go be where we need to be. Thank you for understanding.

For multiple reasons on 1 or 2 levels, the passing of Mr. Gowing rang loudly with me, as did the engagement of two Everyday Joe’s volunteers yesterday. I (Chris) posted thoughts on my personal blog earlier today and they can be read below. These are not being re-posted for proud or selfish reasons…but because Mr. Darren Fred has taught many of us many things and he continues to do so as he leads his family through a time of celebration and tears.

SEISMIC

Four years ago…shortly after I met my friend Darren…I lost my grandfather. It was my first experience with familial death. “Your grandma’s reality has changed,” he said.

Two weeks ago, Darren’s father-in-law was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. The anti-rejection medicine he took for his transplanted kidney caused it to turn into a lung infection that his body could not fight. This morning at 1 am, Ray Gowing gave up his ghost. “He went well,” the text message from Darren said.

While Darren was with his family at the hospital yesterday afternoon, two young people I love very much were on the banks of the Poudre River. He was down on one knee, and she was watching a ring slide on to her finger. “She said yes,” the text message said.

Three days ago, I told the young man with the ring still in his pocket that in 48 hours his life would change completely. Earlier that afternoon – as the recovery of Ray Gowing began to look unlikely – I shared with Darren what he shared with me four years ago. I told him I think about it most days. Reality changes bits each day. Some days more than others. “Seismic changes in reality,” he said.

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At Everyday Joe’s we love music and we love coffee and we love people. If we were to put that in an order of importance: people takes first place. Coffee and music are tied for second.

People are nice to be around most of the time, especially if we throw a party. And if the party can include exciting new music and a some high-stakes coffee making…then we’ve hit the jackpot.

Jackpot!

Everyday Joe’s loves the music of Josh Ritter. It is a dream of ours to see him here at 144 S. Mason one day. While that day remains to be seen, something almost as wonderful has happened. We have been chosen as one of 18 sites across the country to host an advance listening party for Mr. Ritter’s new album So Runs The World Away.

And it will be a party. Snacks. Good times. Etc. PLUS PLUS PLUS….

A latte art throwdown! Some of you may remember back in February we hosted one of these during the Mountain Regional Barista Competitions. The winner took home right around $300.

The big shindig will happen on April 27 (that’s a Tuesday). The evening starts at 7 pm and is free to attend. If you want to compete in the throwdown, there is a $5 buy-in. Otherwise, just come and listen and watch. We’re going to need folks to drink all the lattes.

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The day began as we planned: breakfast amongst children barely able to sit still because Disneyland is across the street. Then, off to volunteer at the United States Barista Championship. Volunteer we did, filling 6 of 8 positions.

Shortly thereafter, something hit Chris’ system that caused vomitting. He returned to the hotel, hoping to be ready for the opening reception later that evening. Alas, the evil in his tummy kept him in bed watching lots of HGTV. If you want to rent an apartment on Central Park in NYC, it’ll run you $30,000/month.

But, the other’s went on to the party. Chris stayed under the covers, thankful that good people love Everyday Joe’s enough to pay their own way to get to Anaheim so they could love the people in the coffee industry.

People felt loved enough that a fellow from the competition took Ben Thomas by the shoulders and pushed him to the stage at the reception, handed a $5 bill to a lady, and entered Ben in the latte art competition. $1000 on the line.

Ben didn’t make it past the first round, but he poured some legit art. Pictures!:

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Last night, We headed down to Irvine for good burgers and a lecture sponsored by the Veritas Forum. The man speaking was an impressive man – the founder of Not For Sale amongst other things.

The lecture was good. It was nice to be in a lecture hall again, as odd as that sounds. Ben ran into a fellow he knows from a summer job. Many good things were said, but one particularly rang true with Everyday Joe’s:

“We are all created uniquely and with gifts. We must use those gifts to serve others.”

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Most folks would call Colorado out west. We’re further. Anaheim, CA. Land of many things, though we are here for specific reasons. Tonight: a Veritas forum at UC Irvine. Tomorrow: the start of a 4 day coffee convention. Friday night: a free Josh Ritter concert. Lots more in between all those things, plus we’re cruising SoCal in a Dodge Caravan. The best way for 6 folks from a non-profit coffee house to get around if you ask me.

No killer pics yet, mainly just afternoon power naps after drinking killer coffee and eating killer fish tacos. But we promise to keep you updated – both here and on the Twitter.

Talk soon

love.
everyday joe’s

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Now presenting a way to prepare your auditory system.

You may remember mention of a concert coming to Everyday Joe’s on May 1 featuring our good friends Sleeping At Last, their good friend Jeremy Larson, and our other good friends The Autumn Film.

Yes/No? Well then! How about a visual cue:

The best thing to follow a visual cue? Well, a link to a free download of Sleeping At Last’s latest effort, Storyboards. On April 7 & 8, the band will be offering the album for free at http://noisetrade.com/sleepingatlast. Until then and after then, you can still download their 6 song sampler for free.

Enjoy the sampler. Enjoy Storyboards. Enjoy your days until we see you on May 1.

FURTHER:

• Buy tickets to the show
• Sleeping At Last Official Site

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A quick note about this one…

We have a lot of conversations with folks about opening a shop like Everyday Joe’s: non-profit, volunteer powered, a place of community and love and Truth that loves nothing more than good relationship. All the convos are enjoyable, though rarely does a shop come out of one. The conversation with the people of Sola happened one year ago and the shop opened in November of 2009. Rejoicing is happening in our hearts right now.

Coffee Shop: Sola Coffee Bar

Location: Old Town Scottsdale, AZ

Drink: double capp, hot chocolate, chai tea, hario v60 drip (’twas a family outing)

Drinkers: Chris, Jessica, & Thomson Hess

Every year the family & I spend one week in Scottsdale, AZ where my parents have a place we can stay free. Vacations with free lodging, a fridge full of food, and a delightful assortment of beverages for the drinking are the ones to take. Oh, and free babysitting thanks to the grandparents.

Last year I used one afternoon of my vacation week to sit and talk with two fellows: 1)Matt, who is a member of the Everyday Joe’s family whom moved to Scottsdale a few years ago and met a lady and got married & 2)Jared, who is a fine fellow with nice hats and a good heart. We sat and shared pizza and cheese fries and conversation about Everyday Joe’s and how it operates. Because, you see, Old Town Scottsdale was screaming for a place like the one Oldtown Fort Collins has. Jared heard the screams, and ignored those saying he shouldn’t spend too much time on “this coffee house thing.”

Before returning to Scottsdale this year, the thought ran through my mind to call Matt and see if the shop we talked about ever opened. I called once we got to town. The shop was open. It is called Sola Coffee Bar. I became happier.

BUT…

I was a little apprehensive. The coffee & espresso bar culture is different than the cafe culture. Coffee bar’s don’t generally encourage hanging around for too long. It is a place to sit and drink a craftful drink, talk for a bit, and then move on. Some pretentiousness might also be thrown into the mix.

HOWEVER…

Upon arriving at Sola, and being greeted by volunteer barista Johnna, these thoughts were erased from my mind. We, as a family visiting a place for the first time, were at ease. The room was at ease. Two long tables with seating for about 12 sit in the middle of the room. A small couch area by the window. It felt like home.

Sola has two paid employees – the afformentioned Jared and Toby, the latter of which soon joined Johnna behind the bar. We talked coffee and Sola/Everyday Joe’s for a bit…then moved on to other things: dropping out of college, vinyls, churches, serving. It was good. It felt like home.

My good lady Jessica enjoyed a chai. My firstborn Thomson enjoyed a hot chocolate steamed to perfect kid temperature (a task that seems simple but can – for some unknown reason – can be hard to do). I enjoyed a double cappuccino to start, and then moved on to a selection from their drip bar, which uses the Hario V60 pour-over. Sola brewsthe beans roasted by Cartel, which are delcious. Johnna & I had a brief convo concerning the stewardship of the beans we pay for and the expression of service through drinks that are well-made. Her thoughts on the matter translated right into my capp, and Toby’s right into my Hario drip.

I could continue to sit here and gush over this place, but I will stop after communicating two things:

• If I lived in the state of Arizona, I would be a regular at this place and get to know the people behind the counter because they are simply that lovely.
• If you live in the state of Arizona, you should be a regular at this place and get to know the people behind the counter because they are simply that lovely.

We’ll be back in AZ in June, and will again imbibe some bevs at Sola. Until then, please visit in my stead.

It feels like home.

 FURTHER:

• Sola Coffee Bar official site
• Follow Sola on Twitter
• Other People’s Coffee: Cartel Coffee Lab

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