#calhoun's

[foodpornguy]

Whenever I am in Knoxville TN I have to get some wings from Calhoun's on the River.

[averycanadianfilm]

Calhoun's Kitsilano, Vancouver BC Canada.

[tjkl895]

2014 Calhoun's Ten Miler by Knoxville Track Club

[tjkl895]

2014 Calhoun's Ten Miler by Knoxville Track Club. (https://flic.kr/p/jz4T8r) 

[brotherhusbands]

Hey, you know when your friends whip out their crescent wrenches in a diner and compare the jaw sizes? That's what happened last night at 2 am.

[colourmereckless]

Flashback: Tea at Calhoun's

It was cloudy when I left, but the warmth of the sun somehow made this awful day seem bearable. I was meeting up with M today - I haven’t seen her since Christmas break. My mind was still reeling from the frustration and anger that I felt this morning. As I contemplated and went over the things that I said to Her, I made my way through the station. Still wrapped up in my thoughts, I realized that I got on the wrong train. Shaking my head and rolling my eyes, I told myself to focus and snap out of it. I walked quickly up the three flights of stairs and exited swiftly out of the station. There was a long line up for the bus and as I stood in line, it was starting to get cold. Gusts of winds were blowing harshly from all directions and I caught a few stares directed towards me. Clearly, the sight of my body, “jacket-less” was shocking towards onlookers. I felt strangely refreshed and relaxed. The breeze calmed me down. Unbothered, I looked ahead and continued going over the things that happened and the things that I said this morning. I sighed. I felt terrible. When the bus arrived, I got on… only to realize 5 minutes later that I went on the one going the opposite direction. I silently cursed myself for my stupidity and got off immediately. I took a deep breath as I walked off the bus and felt a few drops of water land on my hair. I looked up and before long, there was torrential downpour. Great, I thought to myself. The one time that I don’t bring an umbrella or wear rain boots. I finally got on the correct bus and followed the directions and address that M texted me. As I got off the bus, the rain was falling even harder if that was even possible. I quickened my pace and tried to stay dry underneath the few roofs of the stores that I passed by. Before I was halfway to Calhoun’s, I was drenched. Half of my hair was sopping wet. The people walking by stared at me, mustering sympathetic smiles as I raced by. I realized the familiarity of this whole setting - Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I felt as if I was living out the romantic scene at the very end, with very major details changed. Somewhere in my mind, the instrumental music of Moon River was building up. Too bad I wasn’t wearing a trench coat. Realizing that I went too far, I re-traced my steps and saw the huge, cursive writing that read Calhoun’s. I don’t think I have ever felt so happy to reach my destination. I pulled open the huge red doors and entered looking like a mess. I was quickly adjusting my hair and discreetly wringing it out as I looked for an empty table. As I sat down, the guy in front of me looked at me with a strange expression. And who wouldn’t? I probably looked like a wet mess. The water, however, did bring out the natural waves of my hair. I grabbed a few napkins and wiped my purse clean and discreetly squeezed water out of the strands of my hair. I settled down for a bit before I saw M, looking pretty much like I did. Her hair was messily done in a side-braid and I could see her glancing around, looking for me. I got up and we both exchanged knowing looks at our appearance, before hugging each other. I was more than ready to talk to her about everything that had happened within the past 5 months. We sat down and after all of the “catastrophes” that took place beforehand, we finally had tea at Calhoun’s.

[ryannamba]

Coffee shops: My urban happy place.

Coffee shops are among my favorite urban hangouts. For the things I love doing -- reading and writing, for instance -- there are few better places.

Coffee shops and cafes allow me to be "passively social" -- being with other people but without directly engaging -- making them the perfect place for me to get things done.

Everywhere that I've been, coffee shops feature fondly in my memories. In Claremont, CA, the local Starbucks was one of precious few chains that were allowed in "The Village" by local ordinance, and it became a popular meeting place and destination; I remember many a "going for a Starbucks run, you in?" IM throughout my college tenure. (I first developed a taste for coffee on lattes there, in fact.)

In Vancouver, Calhoun's on Broadway Avenue became my second home -- homey, affordable, and with a great food and drink (including local craft beers) selection. What more could you ask for? My insomnia was pretty fierce while in Vancouver, so the 24-hour pub/cafe was a blessing. It was here in the wee hours of the morning, chatting and bonding with the local cops (grabbing coffee on their beats) and local homeless (grabbing respite from the winter cold) that I decided to leave seminary, feeling more at home amidst the street public than the academic lecture crowd.

Here in Seoul, coffee shops pepper the landscape, and, while a bit pricier than at home, are comfortable, warm, and rather elegant in their food selections. Like my much-loved Calhoun's, Korea's Caffe Benne is open round-the-clock, as well. And at a nearby Tom N Toms, I was surprised to see a smoking section walled in its own glass enclosure. It was a first for me, but makes good sense: Why not get a nicotine fix while dozing up on caffeine, right?

At home in Honolulu, I essentially work out of Starbucks. The Keeaumoku, Manoa, Kamehameha Shopping Center, and Kahala Mall locations have been my offices in the past, and are a lifesaver for the work-from-anywhere crowd. Coffee, atmosphere, and free wifi (with proper security precautions, of course) make for a perfect work environment.

Coffee shops are my happy place, at least in urban settings. What's yours?