I'm just a girl that loves to dish the dirt on pop culture while sipping delicious coffee and listening to good tunes! Join me on this rollercoaster we call life filled with happy thoughts, drama, emo nights, sleepless nights, randomness, pop culture and more. Podcast on Spotify & Follow me on Instagram. (@musicloveandcoffee)
Well… it’s not that often (especially in Arizona) that we can say that we are keeping a close eye on the weather as Tropical Storm Rachel and Hurricane Simon are moving towards us. Normally, I would welcome the cooler temps, light rain, and thunderstorms. Any crazy weather California and Mexico receive always makes it beautiful in our neck of the woods… or should I say desert? Unfortunately, especially during this time of year, this weather is wreaking havoc on our work. Over $1500 from guests have already been moved to different dates because they are worried about rain ruining their plans. Some guests are just hanging in there in hopes that our ever-changing weather will cooperate. I’ve seen all late morning and early afternoon rescheduling clients or talking to them over the phone.
This hurricane season is chaos. When have you ever seen so many hurricanes or tropical storms hanging out in the Pacific Ocean?? So wild. It’s crazy when all 3 weather apps give you complete opposite information on the weather. I’ve said it before…Why the hell to do we have weather people if they can only tell us when it’s raining as it’s raining?? It’s like… Thanks Captain Obvious for the heads up! Looking at the weather today on all three apps, it goes from a “light rain” to ” hurricane winds and flooding”. I’m traumatized by these forecasts. It’s like being in some sort of twisted love triangle with someone that says they love you and then repeatedly treats you like you are disposable garbage. Make up your fucking mind weather person… am I gonna need to sandbag locations and work through heavy winds or is the clouds going to spit on me a bit? What are we doing here… throw me a bone why don’t you. Better yet, can all of you weather apps get on the same page for crying out loud? It’s like one of you gave your forecast and the others are just saying the opposite just so they can have a 50-50 chance of being correct. That is wild.
Also, random side note, I saw a ghost last night while cleaning our new location. Yes. We knew it was haunted BUT have I ever saw something with my own eyes there… nope … not in the 2 years I’ve been going in and out of that place at all times of the day. I was washing my hands at the sink, looked up in the mirror (and just like a fucking horror film ) this woman was behind me. Needless to say… I was a bit startled. I tried every which way to debunk what I saw but I couldn’t. I saw a young woman in a white dress, with a belt around her waist, and long auburn hair. You bet I’m going to look through records and photos of everyone that has lived at that location to see if I see this woman. I definitely was not surprised to see her but I also was surprised. I dunno…. I have mixed feelings about it I guess. Tonight we will be going back with some staff to see if we run into her again. Crazy weather partnered with the veil thinning this time of year… sounds like a fun Friday night to me!
Well, I have a group of teens that just walked into our gift shop and a lot of these crazy kiddos have sticky fingers downtown …. not all .. but most. We always get stickers, pins, crystals, jewelry, randomly missing after they leave. hahaha! Crazy ass kids. On a brighter note, we always get the bands that come into town to play at the music venues. It’s always fun meeting them. One time, they brought us some toe tags and signed them. It was such a sweet gesture. I love when they come in and tour the place and buy our stickers to put on their tour bands and vans. So fun!
Ok.. babbled enough…
I hope you all are doing well and that you aren’t getting horrible weather with everything going on. Everyone stay safe, have fun, and have a great weekend!
I was deep in thought with my peach green tea today (while I was scrolling through The Weather Channel app) and I got so excited to see the cooler temps coming up with the potential of a few days of off and on rain. As I opened the radar to look at the weather at a wider glance, I soon realized that the cause for our soon-to-be beautiful weather is cause by other parts of the country having absolutely chaotic and destructive weather. When I was looking in my own bubble, all seemed well… but taking a wider look at things showed me the cause and effect that never crossed my mind at that moment. I was just excited to bring a sweater to work or to open my windows at night. Instant gratification blinds us sometimes. On your path, everything could. look amazing but looking down the path behind you.. could be a lot of destruction some that could possibly take years for that area to heal. It’s crazy that one persons pleasure could be the cause or effect of another’s pain. The ying & yang of life is truly wild. While you’re celebrating your promotion, someone else is going home to tell their spouse that they have to keep their day job. While you’re celebrating your big wedding day with family and friends, someone could be wandering around the mall heartbroken that they lost the love of their life. Damn… life is crazy. Don’t get me wrong, it’s totally cool to celebrate the wins in life. Hell … it’s rare we get them, right? I just can’t help to feel a LITTLE bit of guilt being happy about something knowing that it could be effecting someone else so differently. It kinda takes the wind out of my sails a bit. In my current situation, we have a chance to expand our business. It’s a good deal, they sought us out but the kicker is, this was a friend of ours location that they lost. So.. it’s hard to get excited knowing a friend of yours has lost a business that they loved and cared about for 14 years. They definitely lost it, they can’t take care of it, they sort of fled the location… but still my heart hurts for them. Good things are happening but they are also scary because of all responsibilities that could be coming our way. Are we able to handle of it? Can we handle running a historic location with a lot of landscaping duties… this is an area I know nothing about. I can’t tell you how many plants I’ve deceased. I once killed $130 of carpet roses (ones that are suppose to be indestructible). Totally killed them in 4 days. Also.. irrigation.. I don’t understand and can not comprehend how all that works. I feel incredibly overwhelmed with stress and I want to feel excited. I truly do. There are so many opportunities and my mind just wants to focus on the welfare of certain people in my life. I want them to be safe and happy and most importantly healthy. Life is coming at us so quickly… and its full ups and downs. I guess all we can do is hold on and hold on to each other as tight as we can through it all. I just want to see the one’s I love be happy and to feel loved as much as possible. We just gotta be here for each other through the pleasure and the pain.
There has been a sudden change in plans for today. The weather has decided it wants to play hard ball and give us a little rain this evening. This means… our evening tour is cancelled and moved to a different day, it’s going to be a very slow day at the shop, and I will get to close at 7pm tonight instead of gettin home after 10pm. So it’s going to be an afternoon of chillaxin’ here at the shop and the most exciting thing that may happen down here is watching the skateboarders fly around the sidewalks. I gotta figure out what to do with my time because this may be a very long 3 hours. Although it sucks for business, I do love this kind of weather. It’s my favorite actually. When the sun goes down it’s going to be awesome out and it will feel a little like fall.
I can see the wind picking up a bit and it just makes me happy. I’d be happy with light rain, the kind you can walk around in, and some good lightening and thunder. Although my one cat is terrified of thunder, the other one loves sitting in my window and watching the storms. When I was in my late teens and early 20’s, I would just get something to drink and go find an dimly lit and empty parking lot, turn on some good tunes, recline my seat back a bit and just enjoy the lightening. It was such an endorphin boost! Maybe I’ll do that this evening? Give my mind and soul a little reset and boost. That sounds fun.
Well… today I’ve already spent the late morning and early afternoon dealing with some heavy business decisions with the direction we are taking next. Plus discussing Taylor Swift’s new Encore album dropping on Friday… because that is a very important topic around here. Now… I dunno? Clean the windows? Clean out my inbox? Make content? Or just veg out, drink coffee, and chill at the front desk. A Rainy Day schedule always throws a day for a loop.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day schedule?
A WTF UPDATE:
Ok it’s 3 hours later and let me just say… what the hell weather channel? Why can’t you “weather” people pull it together?? You have a 50/50 chance of being right and you fucked it up today. We cancelled everything for tonight and it didn’t rain one drop. Why on earth did I trust you?
Damn it.
I’m too trusting and believe people at their word. Story of my life. 🙄
Let’s have a Coffee Talk. Downtown Mesa, AZ is such a vibe. Many people sleep on what’s going on over here. I love downtown with all my heart, so I wanted to start spreading the word about “what’s good” in DT Mesa.
Of course, I’m gonna start with the topic of coffee. Now before we get started let me just say there are MANY coffee shops in the area but they are all so uniquely different and have their own specialities. The following are in the DT Mesa area (or close to it ) and some of my faves.
Honey Bunny’s Cafe 1454 W. Main St. Mesa, AZ 85201
@honeybunnyscafe
This hidden gem is one you don’t want to miss in DT Mesa. If you loved the 90’s (and started your iced coffee drinking career at that time) you are going to LOVE it! Their coffee tastes like my first latte and the nostalgia it brings is beyond words. Women-owned, cozy, fun, friendly, and they have great coffee and food. They even have gluten-free options. They aren’t open later than 2pm so make sure you get there! This place is easy to pass, and you have to really look for it. It’s in a yellow building, next to a tattoo shop, and in the same parking lot as Doug’s Bugs & Bunnies a spot featuring vintage Volkswagens. Details: Drinks: Hand crafted espressos & lattes featuring customizable options. My fave is the Honey Bunny Latte which is a lavender and vanilla. I haven’t ordered it with a soft top yet. FYI – Their mochas taste like a 90’s mocha… I can’t describe the nostalgia but it’s there! Eats: Fresh grab and go breakfast, lunch items, pastries, and more. My fave the Tommy Boy & Breakfast Burritos. There are also plant-based and gluten free options. I’ve heard their pastries are pretty damn good too! Perks: You can order on Door Dash. Side Note: It is a small cafe. Seating is limited.
Lost Dutchman Coffee House 12 N. Center St. Mesa, AZ 85201
@lostdutchmancoffee
Check out this cozy, western-themed cafe. Very relaxed and rustic atmosphere. The Lost Dutchman Coffee Company has been around since 2014. They have a very smooth tasting coffee. One of the best in Downtown. Details: Drinks: Signature and rich espresso classics. My personal fave is the Caramel Macchiato. Eats: They have gelatos, smoothies, and house made baked goods. My fave, their chocolate peanut butter bar. Perks: If you like their coffee and want to make some at home.. you can! They offer small batch bean subscriptions that you can pick up. Side note: If you are in a hurry, I would opt for somewhere else. It does take a minute to get your items. Lost Dutchman is a great place if you have the time, getting some computer work done on location, or catching up with friends.
The Nile Coffee Shop 105 W. Main St. Mesa, AZ 85201
@thenileshop
This local gem sits in the historic 1920’s Nile Theater building. Well known to locals for their chill environment & a 100% Vegan, but also loved for theirclose ties to the community and local live entertainment scene. With indoor and outdoor seating, this is a great location for work, meet ups, and get-togethers. Details: Drinks: Serving locally roasted coffee brews, handcrafted drinks and tea options. They also have a cooler for grab & go options. Their seasonal drinks are popular amongst locals which are my personal faves plus their lavender rose latte. Eats: Vegan Pastries, breakfast & lunch. Perks: Their Grab-n-Go cooler is usually stocked with drinks and goodies, great if you are in a hurry. Plenty of seating options. This location also has free yoga on Saturday mornings. Their old school Photo Booth is so fun and a must! Side Note: On weekends (especially on downtown event days) give yourself PLENTY of time to order and to get your items. It’s gonna take awhile. Keep in mind when ordering that all their food and drinks are VEGAN. Their hours vary, so keep an eye on their social media for updates.
The Organic Bean Cafe 40 N Macdonald Mesa, AZ 85201
@organicbeancafe
This local spot is woman-owned & independent coffee shop. OBC is perfect for girl’s day out, business meet ups, and to step away from the hustle and bustle of it all. This spot is cozy, charming and gives you the warm and fuzzies. Locals love their organic drinks and they are well known for their banana coffee, gluten free treats, and sourdough options. This is also close to three museums: Arizona Museum of Natural History, IDEA Museum, and Mesa’s Haunted Museum. Details: Drinks: Famous for their banana coffee, turmeric lavender lattes, and seasonal drinks. If you like your coffee strong and need an extra kick …. this is a great spot! Eats: Light snacks and vegan, gluten-free, and keto-friendly options. My fave is their sourdough breads and bagels. .They are delicious! Perks: Parking right out front. Indoor and Outdoor seating. Friendly staff. Convenient location in the middle of local events. Nearby shops: Novel Ice Cream & Nile Record Shop Side-Note: During events or construction, their street does get shut down. Better to park in the IDEA Museum parking lot or the lot behind Level One & Milano’s music.
LoneStar Coffee Bar 126 W. Main St. Mesa, AZ 85201
@lonestarcoffeebar
Talk about hidden! Most don’t know that tucked in the back of LoneStar Music Depot is their coffee bar. Head through the front door and proceed to the back (just before you hit their record and poster area) and you will run right into their coffee bar. This spot is perfect if you are in a hurry but still want a tasty beverage and for supporting the locals. Details: Drinks: Rotating specialty drinks from coffee, teas, matcha, and punch. They have a signature “Texacano” that is popular which packs a punch. Eats: a selection of Fresh-baked goods Perks: Loved for their laid back artistic environment. Sip while you browse. A fun community gathering spot. Free parking garage behind the business with back door access. Side-Note: Hours could vary. Please check their social media for any updates.
Jarrod’s Coffee, Tea, & Gallery 109 W University Dr. Mesa, AZ 85201
@jarrodscoffeeteaandgallery
Nestled in a historic bungalow in Downtown Mesa, Jarrod’s is full of local love. Local artwork, handmade crafts, jewelry and did I mention that it’s haunted??? Jarrod’s is a local favorite packed with tasty drinks, community events, and a welcoming attitude. Details: Drinks: Handcrafted coffees, teas, smoothies, and Italian sodas. My fave is their blackberry Italian soda and their vanilla chai is very good. Eats: Artisan sandwiches and pastry ( with vegan & gluten free options at times) Perks: A great place for friends to gather, first dates, business meet ups, or a girls day out with inside and outside seating. Paranormal lovers will love the location and hearing about the local lore. Locals love to shop and sip while others attend their community events such as, vinyl nights, comedy shows, art night, and more. Side-note: This is a spot to take your time, unwind, and take in the atmosphere. During event nights it gets busy, plan accordingly. Street parking and there is a small lot behind their location.
Buddha’s Brew Coffee Cafe 710 E. Main Street. Mesa, AZ 85203
@buddhas_brew_coffee_cafe
Under new ownership (The owners of award winning The Guadalupe On Main) This local spot is great place to gather with friends or family with great coffee and delicious eats. Can’t wait to see what the new owners do with the spot, they always have a great vision and “The Guad” is ran with impeccable taste and incredible service. Details: Drinks: Specialty hand crafted drinks alongside classic pour-overs, cold brews and teas. Eats: Great sandwiches with vegan and gluten free options. Perks: Ran by locals who love what they do and it shows. A cozy atmosphere with plenty of seating. The location is great with a local boutique & tattoo shop next door. Side-Note: It’s a little higher priced than nearby cafes but the quality is definitely there.
Not in Downtown Mesa but worth the mention….
The Stand Coffee Co. 1839 E. Gilbert Rd. Gilbert, AZ
@thestandcoffeeco
This little spot is NOT in Downtown Mesa but… close enough! It’s worth the extra miles for sure and one of my faves. Currently they are mobile but are in the parking lot of where their brick and mortar is currently being built out. Do not sleep on this spot. Their coffee is one of my absolute favorites. Details: Drinks: Praised for the rich espresso , energy spritzers, and tasty specialty drinks. Their seasonal drinks are absolutely phenomenal. Worth the hype! Eats: Currently it’s all small snacks & pastries but it will be interesting to see what they do once they move into their new building. Perks: Loyalty rewards & discounts. Discounts for military veterans. Sometimes they pick a random name to get a discount! Great and Fun social media presence and that joy is carried over to their customer service and craftsmanship. Side Note : If you pull up to their mobile spot and see a lot of people … you will be there for a hot minute. If you have time to wait… trust me it will be worth it.
In Closing…. I hope you get a chance to check any of these local spots out. I’m currently obsessed with Honey Bunny’s Cafe and have been going about 3 times a week. All in all.. they all bring something unique and fun to the counter and it’s always awesome to support local small businesses. If you try any of these out, let me know in the comments and who knows.. maybe I’ll even see ya there!
