Emily deTar
Places To Meet People
(1,440 words)
A quintessential
college town, Moscow, is teeming with students and a vibrant array of
establishments conducive to both studying and socializing. Although the
downtown has much to offer, there are a handful of places that stand out
as great places to meet people.
One World Café,
(208) 883-3537, 533 S. Main St., Open weekdays 6:30 a.m.-11 p.m. and
weekends 7 a.m.-11 p.m. www.one-world-cafe.biz/index.htm
Since its opening in March of 2005, One World has made its way to the
top of the food chain where Moscow coffee shops are concerned. The menu
appeals to starving students, ranging from a buck for a small cup of
coffee to $5.25 for their highest priced food items. I would suggest the
spinach salad with dried cherries, almonds, and blue cheese for $4.75.
One World offers a small selection of beer, wine, and port along with
more standard coffee shop choices. Their coffee is fair trade and
locally roasted by Landgrove Coffee, and the espresso is ground, tamped,
and pulled with expertise by their ever-friendly and ultra-hip baristas.
Any time of day, meander on in through one of their two street side
entrances and be welcomed by the buzz of good conversation and energetic
beverage preparation with anything from Billie Holiday to local indie
groups playing in the background. The café is spacious and multileveled,
offering a mezzanine with a view, a private study room, and various
nooks and crannies where one or two people can recede from the
collective energy to have a more private experience. The décor is
eclectic, varying from the wood floors, mismatched armchairs, and glass
topped tables below to the plum-colored ceiling. Local artists are
featured and there is a whimsical collection of old doors hanging on
walls and from the ceiling. Live music is always offered at 8 p.m. on
the weekends and some weeknights, and open-mic poetry readings occur on
the first Wednesday and third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. Bulk
coffee, c.d.s from local bands, a small book selection, and bags and
t-shirts sporting the One World logo are available for purchase. Smoking
at the outdoor tables is allowed and pets may come indoors as long as
they stay on the main level of the café. Meet friends for an amazing
beverage, a game of chess, and good vibes all around.
Moscow Food Co-Op,
(208) 882-8537, 121
E.5th St., Open daily 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. www.moscowfood.coop/
Although shopping in a grocery
store might seem the least likely activity to inspire a social
gathering, the Moscow Food Co-op is a blessed exception. It is, in fact,
so much more than a grocery store that it has attracted an almost
cult-like following among Moscow’s hip and health conscious alike. Upon
entering this Mecca of the organic world, the first thing apparent is
the smell: a warm conglomerate of lavender products, freshly baked
bread, and herbs. The Co-op features well-stocked sections of organic
produce and meats, divine foreign and domestic cheeses, unique beer, and
a bakery that puts all other Moscow grocery stores to shame. Their wine
section regularly offers sales that should lift the spirits of any
student. You sometimes can find Chilean red varietals for only $7 a
bottle, and with a purchase of Malbec , a loaf of their warm French
Batard and a wedge of camembert cheese, you’ll feel indulged and
culturally exported to some old world market. Their full-service deli is
a godsend for anyone who likes the delicious and healthy, offering
various vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dishes made from scratch. The
kale slaw with tofu is a must-have as are any of their grilled panini
sandwiches. The Co-Op’s espresso stand is the perfect place to meet a
friend for a cappuccino and a pesto cheddar roll, one of the bakery’s
specialties. The prices are higher compared to other lunch venues, but
are not outrageous; a panini with a side dish can be upwards of $7. The
staff is incredibly friendly and well-informed and is just as likely to
inspire your fashion as they are to offer you an Excedrin if you
complain of a headache. There is a membership available that local
shoppers should definitely take advantage of because member appreciation
days are offered monthly and bread purchases are kept count of on a
“punch card” system rewarding frequent buyers. As for community events,
the Moscow Food Co-op has a benevolent array: Tuesday night music, human
rights community breakfasts, watercolor classes, co-op kids events, and
a whole slew of other activities. A schedule can be viewed in advance on
their website. In addition to the more random, every month there is a
Vigil for Peace held at which community members meet and share ideas,
encouragement and opportunities for positive action.
The Garden Lounge,
(208)882-8513, 313 S. Main St. 3
p.m.-2 a.m. on weekdays, 5 p.m.-2 a.m. on weekends. Happy hour starts at
4 p.m.
This convivial bar and lounge is
the perfect place to meet friends for the first drink of the night, and
Garden specials ensure that students think so just about any
night of the week. Besides being a hot spot on Fridays and Saturdays,
the Garden has the best drink prices advertized via traditions such as
“Blue Monday,” when all mixed drinks are $2.50, and “Martini Thursday,”
when featured martinis are shaken or stirred in the $3 range. The lounge
has three levels, a smoking section, and large areas to accommodate
parties of ten or fifteen as well as corners just right for two. It is
not uncommon to meet one friend there and wind up having your last drink
sitting on a spot on the floor where your table used to be, surrounded
by up to twenty new friends. The drinks are usually well mixed, which
can’t be said of most bars with prices this low, and the efficient and
friendly bartenders are on a first-name basis with frequent patrons.
John’s Alley Tavern,
(208) 883-7662, booking line (208)
882-7531. Open daily from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. www.alleyvault.com
John’s Alley has forged its way to
the deserving premier position when it comes to live music in Moscow. Up
to five days a week, they feature bands from bluegrass to Irish punk
rock and their upcoming schedule can be viewed on their website. The
atmosphere is relaxed pseudo-hippie, and the beer selection is huge,
ranging from the weakest of domestics to dark British varietals. You can
sit at the bar or at one of their large tables perfect for sharing with
friends or fellow music-loving strangers. Tattooed bartenders serve the
crowds with efficiency, and the most entertaining artwork in town is
written on the interior of the bathroom doors. If dancing with a pint
glass in one hand isn’t really your thing, there are pool tables, dart
boards, and a shuffle board. The prices are reasonable, with a bottled
import running at about $3.75. The Alley charges a cover for some bands,
but most weeknight shows are free. The next upcoming band, the date they
will perform, and the price of the cover are advertised on boards
outside the Alley door on 6th street.
Bucer’s Coffeehouse and Pub,
(208) 882-5216, 201 S. Main St. Open 7
a.m.-11 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. - 12 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays,
closed on Sundays.
Bucer’s is one of Main Street’s
greatest offerings. Family owned and operated, Bucer’s is the only café
in town that roasts their own coffee, offers a smoking room, and sells
loose leaf teas and pipe tobacco. Besides the smoking room, there are
two study areas and a main section outfitted with a huge banquet style
table with benches, huge book selection filling an entire wall, and a
piano. Their menu is one-of-a-kind as well; just about every single item
is made from scratch. Try their herb and cheddar crustless quiche or
their key lime pie with real whipped cream and you will be sold. One
food item and a coffee usually will cost about $5, so for the quality
the prices are incredibly reasonable. Pets are allowed throughout the
café, and the baristas boast that Bucer’s is the most family-friendly
place in town as well. Beer and wine are available, and live music
featured on Friday and Saturday at 7. Most evenings, you can see the
place from the street, glowing with warm lighting, filled with students
studying, chatting, and reading recreationally to the sound of smooth
jazz.
There is a lot to do in Moscow,
and whether you are meeting or making friends while you are here, doing
so at any of the above venues will only make your experience all the
greater.