Ellyn "don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do?" E.'s Profile

Decided to stop at several different bike shops for a road bike.  Upon arrival at each store, I gave my criteria to the staff:

"I want a road bike."

"I don't want to upgrade my bike next year or anything."

"I have an interest in joining a riding club and participating in some athletic events."

"I'm not competitive so even though I am interested in some athletic events, I have no interest in beating a time or anything."

BIKE STORE #1 recommended a road bike with an aluminum frame, carbon fork, 105 components - cost around $1200.

BIKE STORE #2 recommended a road bike with an aluminum frame, carbon fork, 105 components - cost around $1200.

BIKE STORE #3 recommended a road bike with an aluminum frame, carbon fork, and 105 components - cost around $1200.

Notice a pattern?  But hold-up for the BIG Sesame Street Moment:

WHICH OF THESE BIKE STORES IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER?

ANSWER:  MELLOW JOHNNY'S!

MELLOW JOHNNY'S recommended a road bike with a carbon frame and a $2950 price-tag.  The staff really promoted the benefits of a carbon frame over anything else.  

I'm glad I went to a number of shops but despite their popularity, Mellow Johnny's was the least able to match my needs with the correct road bike :( Mellow Johnny's FAIL :(

They moved down the street to a new location and pretty much KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK in regard to maintaining the parts that make this venue so unique, eclectic, and South Austin in flavor

WHILE

updating EVERYTHING that was charming but less functional in the old location [like the WI-FI and the restrooms...hello SUPERIOR new bathrooms and SUPERIOR SUPERIOR SUPERIOR new WI-FI].

The space is HUGE, 2900 square feet!!!  With tables, bar seating, and an ample outdoor patio.

I had the Americano and an Italian soda.  Excellent Service.

Bouldin Creek Coffee House & Coffee House, I am giving you Five Stars ON TOP OF the last Five Stars!!!

Yes, on the cold winter days, I want a warm cozy coffee house.  (I know I am from Connecticut and people assume I handle cold weather well...totally untrue.  I DO love snow, but I am chronically cold.  Even on a 100 degree Austin summer day, I might wear a mitten on my right hand; the hand that holds an icy cold Italian soda.)  

Right now, my coat is in the car, and my sparkly turquoise fingerless elbow length gloves from Kohls are still in my purse.  I am sitting by the window feeling warm instead of cold, drinking a perfectly brewed Triple Americano, writing my review, and feeling at home.  So much am I feeling at home, that after three hours at Summermoon, I still don't want to leave.  Also, my level of comfort here is so strong, I find myself projecting internal dialog.

Statements that include:

"I like it here...it looks like the people that come here ACTUALLY have jobs."

"Finally a beautifully quietly engaging coffee house that promotes diversity and niceness."

In regard to the standard "Ellyn E" Coffee House criteria (great Americano and social opportunities):

Today, I am quietly contemplating, but Summermoon has a layout and vibe that conjures interaction if I want it.  I feel confident that I can meet people here and expand my peer group.

Also, I AM SO HAPPY THEY DON'T SERVE ALCOHOL!!!  It's a REAL coffee house!!!

I ordered one drink.

a large black Americano.

Surprise!  It cost FOUR DOLLARS AND CHANGE!!!

I thought it must be a mistake.  Surely an Americano can't cost over four dollars.  But apparently that is what they charge.  (although the menu still has the old reasonable price of $2something.)

I told the barista that due to the price of an Americano, I will not be a return customer to Progress (this is too bad because I have been there before when the drink was reasonably priced and general liked Progress).  The baristas were really nice and they gave me a punch card good for a free drink.  After I mentioned that the price was too high for me to return, they even offered to discount the drink.  

This was nice, but I am not more special than any other customer that walks into Progress.  I will pay for it...this time.  But now that I know the price of my favorite drink, I realize that Progress is not always good.

I would love for the owner to respond to my post.  I have never paid this much money for an Americano ANYWHERE including LA and NYC.  Why does it cost so much money at Progress?

ps.  The drink wasn't as good as the Americano at Starbucks or Whole Foods Cafe which charge around $2.76 for a 20oz with 4 shots at Starbucks and 5 shots at Whole Foods but I would have paid around $2.76 and felt satisfied enough at Progress.

pss.  The bathroom was dirty.

psss.  @ owner: you hired nice baristas (girl with curly hair and guy with short black hair working on Saturday during the Pecan Street Festival).

I will always love this place.  My childhood memories are here.  The music haunts my head sometimes bringing me back to deep breathing, pushing air from the diaphragm, raised soft pallet, head voice.  I was transported through the song and into the story.  This is a simple place decorated purely through voice.

You know when so-called-non-smokers smoke? But refuse to call themselves smokers?  Those people ARE smokers.  Smokers deep in the denial stage of their addiction.  

Apparently, I am in the denial stage of my new addiction - to Yoga Vida.  

For the past several years, I've reminded people, "I don't like yoga" again and again.  

But a few weeks ago, I was invited by people I REALLY REALLY liked (think Sally Field) to attend Yoga.  To be honest, I faked a yogiasm because I wanted to groom some friendships with some very cool therapists.  

I'm pretty certain that Yoga Vida, and the instructor Vic, must have laced the yoga mats with Crack before class because I am quickly becoming a regular participant in Vic's  90 minute Sunday hot yoga class.

Perhaps it's Vic's soothing voice and perfect sense of humor.
Perhaps it's because I like the heat and easy poses.
Perhaps it's because I like to put my $10 donation into the big glass jar for the Capitol Food Bank collection.
(I think it's those Crack-Mats.)

I'm even trying to get my co-workers hooked!

Try it - you'll like it.

Just one downward dog.

Try it.

I double-downward-dog dare you.

So far my experience has not been good.  And I am in total agreement with the inattentive staff and especially Amanda, somehow designated  to assist me.  I showed Amanda the dress I needed for the wedding (I am the Maid of Honor).  She grabbed the dresses in a size 8 and a size 12 because they did not have a size 10 and I would have to guess if the size 10, my usual size was the right size.  I tried on the dress and decided to go with the size 12.  

Amanda and I went to the counter so I could pay for the dress.  When I pulled out my card to pay, Amanda finally said, "we can't order that dress, you'll have to pick another dress.  That dress takes 12 weeks to come in."  Why Amanda, who knew my wedding date when she originally looked up my girlfriend's info in the computer didn't mention this EARLIER, like an hour earlier, beats me.  

Another thing, EVERY time I asked Amanda for another size or style, she would say, "let me go get that."  I WAITED and WAITED and WAITED and WAITED and WAITED in the dressing room.  Finally I came out, even though the dress I had on was not one I could zip myself.  I pretty much walked around the store in a dress unzipped far enough down my back that I had to hold the front across my chest and  hope nothing slipped.  Amanda was deep in conversation with two other customers.  Another staff finally noticed the half-dressed me and came up and said, "oh are you working with Amanda."  I said, "Amanda said she would be right back but I have noticed that Amanda gets easily distracted."  This is what the staff said, "Oh, well, Amanda cares so much about her customers and wants to provide the best customer service that it is hard when she gets pulled away."

[No, let's be HONEST, Amanda provides exceptionally bad service.  Really really bad.  I'll erase my review if it changes - I really will. ]  

After waiting way too long, another sales person brought me some dresses and Amanda returned from Narnia to help me make the final decision (since having to decide without the Bride who picked out the original dress is not a minor decision for a Maid of Honor who LOVES her best friend getting married and WOULD wear a paper bag if the bride requested.)

I picked out a dress and asked Amanda to put all the information in the computer to order.  I told Amanda I would call the Bride ASAP and call to order the dress once I got the go-ahead.  I spoke with the Bride soon after and called David's Bridal the following day.

When I called David's the following day, I said, "Hi, I was there yesterday.  All my information is in the computer.  Amanda should have put it in.  I just have to pay over the phone."

I was put on hold.  And waited and waited and waited and waited and waited.

Finally, someone picks up and tells me Amanda is busy helping another customer.  I repeated, "I just need to pay over the phone.  I don't need Amanda to pay.  I don't care who rings me up.  It should be in the computer and I just have to give you a credit card number."

I paid and the sales person said everything was set.  I asked her if she would e-mail me a receipt and cc the e-mail to the Bride.  The sales person said they do that automatically.  

I'm still waiting.  I called this morning.  No one answered.  I left a message.  

HEY AMANDA.  IF YOU ARE READING THIS, CAN YOU CALL ME BACK?

I don't drink.  What am I doing in a Spec's?  Expanding my peer group, shopping for unique dinner options, and purchasing cigar boxes for an art exhibit of course.  Yes, Spec's had all the items I was seeking (and a few items I was not seeking...but could not leave without!!!).  Among the sought out items: cigar boxes to be utilized in a fabulous art piece I am working on.  Among the not-sought-out items: several cans of artichoke bottoms, a tin of smoked oysters, Haywards baby onions in a jar, President's Prosciutto, and a 25 minute conversation with a stranger about some make-up/costume shop on Riverside (I'll have to check it out).   I don't think it's possible to leave Specs empty-handed.

I don't collect Art...I collect bras by Freya and Fantasie from The Petticoat Fair.  After my first visit to The Petticoat Fair, I threw out all my old bras and replaced them with bras from The Petticoat Fair.  My bra collection is my biggest most favorite splurge, ranging from $50 to $70 per bra, and totally worth it.  Last week, I received a telephone call to let me know a new bra had arrived  (I put my name on a list for them to call me whenever they receive a new Freya or Fantasie bra.)  It seems I can't live without the newest arrival.  

On last note: make sure to purchase the detergent too.  The detergent is inexpensive and does not require rinsing.   Hand-washing is as simple as putting my lovely bras in a large bowl filled with water and a cap of detergent, agitating twice gently with my hand, and letting the bras sit in the solution for a minimum of 20 minutes.

I like Gouda, Cheddar, Swiss, Goat, American, Brie, Mozzarella, Provolone - basically, I like cheese.  Lots of cheese.  And The Highball is totally cheesy and therefore, I am giving it five stars.  Feel free to join me on 80s Dance Party Night.  I'm the BIG CHEESE BALL center stage dressed in Flashdance Attire and working my TOTALLY RADICAL dance moves to songs like Hungry Like the Wolf.

Also, important to note, I really enjoy going out solo to my 80's dance-fest at The Highball.  The Highball is one of the easiest dance venues to meet new friends, and if you're like me, you can get wasted on free seltzers all night long (just FYI, seltzer goes great with a good cheese).