Firstly, let me apologize for my extended absence. Not that anyone really noticed. Except for a few family members, I don’t really have any regular readers and my single day record for unique visitors was 51 (and that was back in September). But still, we plug along, sending our thoughts out into the vacuum of (cyber)space.

I was inspired to write here again by this little bit o’ fluff from the New York Times about coffeehouses that don’t allow e-readers in their establishments.

Leaving aside the fact that it seems unfair single out e-readers, unless they are just hard core bibliophiles and this is an effort to protect traditional publishers and bookstores – but let’s be honest, this is just about getting us in and out as quickly as possible so they can maximize profits, it brings to mind the question of the true utility of the coffeehouse.

They are certainly well within their rights to try and maximize their profits, but I cannot help attaching a certain social responsibility for coffeehouses. This comes from my high school and college days, when coffeehouse, by and large, were not places where one found quality coffee, but rather primarily existed as social venues – a place to create gathering places from the sixties, places to read your poetry, play your music, talk politics and art, and play chess with strangers. Now that I’m older and a little more knowledgeable, I would say that the true model were the coffeehouses of 16th century England. Dispensing a bitter, burnt brew, but primarily hotbeds of debate and even relative egalitarianism.

This is not the only model for the coffeehouse, of course. Very near my apartment in Washington, DC is a place called Peregrine Coffee. It specializes in extremely well brewed coffee – and on that level, it succeeds. It has tables and seating and even free wi-fi, but the vibe is not to sit and socialize, but more to get your coffee and go. I have never gone there just to hang out, only to get coffee or to have meetings with people for a very specific purpose. The decor is very stripped down and functional (no big comfy chairs) and inspires an “all business” attitude.