Comments on: Cafes that are good places to write, part 1 http://cafedave.net/cafedave/archives/2007/11/cafes-that-are-good-places-to-write-part-1 searching for good decaf, and describing what happens along the way Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:31:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: dave http://cafedave.net/cafedave/archives/2007/11/cafes-that-are-good-places-to-write-part-1#comment-34746 dave Wed, 14 Nov 2007 22:41:02 +0000 http://cafedave.net/cafedave/archives/2007/11/cafes-that-are-good-places-to-write-part-1#comment-34746 I'm inclined to recommend half-a-dozen cafés for different reasons, and perhaps that would be a good starting point for discussion. Getting to know the staff will help: not sure how tipping fits in with our non-tipping culture in Sydney. I've found that it takes a varying amount of time to become a "regular", but once you cross that threshhold, you have a lot more freedom to spend time in a place. I’m inclined to recommend half-a-dozen cafés for different reasons, and perhaps that would be a good starting point for discussion.

Getting to know the staff will help: not sure how tipping fits in with our non-tipping culture in Sydney. I’ve found that it takes a varying amount of time to become a “regular”, but once you cross that threshhold, you have a lot more freedom to spend time in a place.

]]> By: /Karen/ http://cafedave.net/cafedave/archives/2007/11/cafes-that-are-good-places-to-write-part-1#comment-34745 /Karen/ Wed, 14 Nov 2007 22:16:20 +0000 http://cafedave.net/cafedave/archives/2007/11/cafes-that-are-good-places-to-write-part-1#comment-34745 I take your point about it being hard to come up with a criteria. Perhaps I should reread that section about writing in cafés (well “restaurants”) in Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. She talks a little about what works and doesn't work for her. For me, I think the most important factor would be the staff: whether they're happy for you hang out for a little (like the Tea Centre) or whether they're keen to shuffle you out and claim your table (Urban Bites was a little). Goldberg always recommends tipping well to show the staff you appreciate their consideration, and also building up a relationship with a place over time. I take your point about it being hard to come up with a criteria. Perhaps I should reread that section about writing in cafés (well “restaurants”) in Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. She talks a little about what works and doesn’t work for her.

For me, I think the most important factor would be the staff: whether they’re happy for you hang out for a little (like the Tea Centre) or whether they’re keen to shuffle you out and claim your table (Urban Bites was a little). Goldberg always recommends tipping well to show the staff you appreciate their consideration, and also building up a relationship with a place over time.

]]>