                                    The Coffee Shop Scene:
Perhaps one of the favorite bits of Denver is the vibrant coffee shop scene. Full of people spending the afternoon working from "home" which becomes code for the coffee shop, the weekday daytime coffee shop scene has manifested into a web of competing--yet each markedly unique--spaces to spend the day working from the comfort of your own laptop.Â
gather (11th Ave. & Delaware) (Golden Triangle):
I stumbled upon gather, self-described as a place to "eat. drink. think." it certainly fits the bill. An industrial, light-filled space with exposed brick walls, gather is filled with people doing just that.Â
One wall is marked by lightly finished oak counter tops, at which stainless steel backless seats pose--pre-molded to conform to the contours of your butt. I thought it odd, but then I sat on one. Glorious.  By the end of my few hours there, my back was hating me for the stool's not having a back.
Wifi is readily available (password: innovate)--though I had to ask the barista for the password.
The noise level is echoing, the bartender and baristas' conversations as well as those seated at the bar are easily overhead from the other side of the room.Â
For doing technical, high-focus work, this isn't the best pick because there is a shortage of individual seating. While there are a number of stainless steel high-top tables, none are accompanied by a chair with a back--only those stools. And with the remainder of the comfortable chairs monopolized by community seating around a coffee table, it's not really the best spot to hole up and commit to a sustained period of concentrating work.
For doing creative work or writing, this could be inspiring. Again, though, where are you going to really sit--unless beside a business meeting on a bluetooth where it appears only one man sitting in stripes--carrying on talking to himself.Â
For people watching, it's an interesting scene of fashion forward mixed with business chic. Eavesdropping into conversations is pretty easy for the noise level too, so basically, if you have not much to do and you're just looking to creep and sneak, come on in to gather.
For mingling and conversation starting, the spot ranks fairly high. I unwittingly crossed eyes and exchanged smiles with a number of folk here that had the potential to turn into casual conversation--or business connection.Â