Tucson, AZ

A few years ago, a friend of mine opened up a Cutters Point Coffee shop on the Northwest Side of town. She has since sold her share of the company, but I continue to visit because I like the environment. Unlike Starbucks, Cutters Point is quiet; some would use terms like “quaint” and “cozy” to describe the atmosphere and they’d be right.

Last night I guest-deejayed at the Red Room. That’s one side of Grill, the 24-hour diner and open-till-two bar at 100 E. Congress (here’s their MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/redroomatthegrill). When you go to Grill, don’t bother reading the long description of how to act on the menu. Just know that you’ll probably wait while for your food; it’s not a drive through. And don’t order milkshakes unless you want to wait even longer.

The people who work at Bentley’s are the best, the food and coffee are really good, there’s free Wi-fi, it’s pretty close to campus, and there’s usually good artwork on the walls. Another big draw is the (usually free) shows. Every Friday is an Open Mic night, from 7:45-10:45 p.m. and a “free acoustic open jam afterwards.” Come early (as early as 7:00 p.m. and as late as 7:30 p.m.) if you want to sign up. Check the website to find out about the “mini-showcaser,” with a spot from 9:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. each week.

The people who work at Bentley’s are the best, the food and coffee are really good, there’s free Wi-fi, it’s pretty close to campus, and there’s usually good artwork on the walls. Another big draw is the (usually free) shows. Every Friday is an Open Mic night, from 7:45-10:45 p.m. and a “free acoustic open jam afterwards.” Come early (as early as 7:00 p.m. and as late as 7:30 p.m.) if you want to sign up. Check the website to find out about the “mini-showcaser,” with a spot from 9:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. each week.

Epic, as it is informally known, is located on the corner of 4th Avenue and University Boulevard. It’s where I go when I want to be surrounded by people and not necessarily talk to any of them. The internet is free, the coffee is pretty good, and the food would be good too, if it weren’t just a little bit too expensive. Outlets are sparse on one side of the room and plentiful on the other, so cords tend to get tangled around all the middle tables and chairs, and it might not be ideal for homework that requires silence for your concentration.

So, I guess it seems like all I do is go to coffee shops. That may take up the majority of my days lately. I’ve been moving around a lot lately, so I end up looking for places closer to home, which right now is usually Coffee X Change, located at 2443 North Campbell Avenue.

I’m doing homework outside today, at Café Passé on Fourth Avenue. Parking was easy, just down the street, with no meters, and finding a table next to an outlet was fine, too. I appreciate Sabine’s Café Passé (what used to be Itl, located at 415 N. 4th Ave.) because the servers are extra friendly, internet is available indoors and out, and the bagels come with tomatoes and basil on the side. None of that packaged cream cheese you have to rip open and spread on yourself, either. Although it’s a pretty small place, it isn’t too crowded in the morning, and the corridor-shaped back patio is ideal for working on a laptop.

I have loved Bookman’s for as long as I can remember. When go there, I often spend more than I plan to, but I usually get a lot for what I pay. And now they offer something free: Wi-fi! The atmosphere at the Speedway Bookman’s, located at 1930 E. Grant Rd. (another one is located at 6230 E. Speedway Blvd.) is more relaxing than most bookstores.

I have loved Bookman’s for as long as I can remember. When go there, I often spend more than I plan to, but I usually get a lot for what I pay. And now they offer something free: Wi-fi! The atmosphere at the Speedway Bookman’s, located at 1930 E. Grant Rd. (another one is located at 6230 E. Speedway Blvd.) is more relaxing than most bookstores.

When I heard that Tooley’s Café had opened a location on Congress, I was eager to check it out. Downtown Tucson can be a treacherous place to navigate these days, with the all the construction and one-way streets. However, Tooley’s on Congress proved to be easy to get to, despite the surrounding streets being torn up. Parking is easily accessed directly to the south of the building, located at 278. E Congress on the corner of 5th Ave. Locals might spot the location better if described as directly across from the old Martin Luther King Building (now being converted into apartments, word has it.)