Enjoying long summer evenings this season, I’ve been on the hunt for coffee shops that stay up late too. While mornings have always been coffee shops’ domain, they’re increasingly becoming our local late-night hang-outs, with many shops adding small plates, wine and even beer on tap alongside the coffee offerings.
One of my favorite additions? Live music. Comfortable, low-key cafes play natural hosts to such performances, and establishments adding them to the calendar continue to rope in customers as late as 10pm, 11 or even midnight. Music has always been an important part of our wellbeing, even from the days of listening to nursery songs, so this is a welcome advancement. The following are five places with live music worth checking out.
Trees Organic Coffee, Vancouver – The Vancouver-area mini-chain, known since 1996 for quality organic coffee and exceptional cheesecake, holds an open mic on Thursday nights, plus three shows every Friday night hosted by popular local blues musician John Pippus. Both weekly events occur at Trees’ Granville Street location from eight to ten pm.
The Crux, Boise – Longtime all-ages music venue The Crux knows what the people want – and between great coffee, craft beer, Otter Pops, local art on the walls and nightly music performances, they’ve got the bases covered.
Ford Food & Drink, Portland – Once or twice a week, Ford Food & Drink adds live music to the smorgasbord of coffee options and breakfast, lunch and dinner food (pizzas, panini, nachos, rice and beans, all sorts of things). The vibe is laid-back, the seating is comfortable and conversation flows freely well into the evening.
Victrola, Seattle – One of three Victrola locations, the candidly named Victrola Coffee and Art on 15th has hosted arts events of all types, including venerable local radio station KEXP’s first remote broadcast, since opening a matter of blocks from the flagship Victrola café and roastery on Capitol Hill. Victrola, named for a vintage acoustic phonograph, continues to host music from rockabilly to rock opera alongside things like classic movie nights, community talks and an “insect safari.”
Calypso’s Coffee & Creamery, Coeur d’Alene, Ida. – From its perch on the shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene, Calypso’s slings breakfast through dinner fare plus espresso and ice cream (and the thereby-requisite affogatos), and hosts rotating art shows, bands, poets, comedians and open mic Mondays.
