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ARTS&LIFE
FSVIEW & FLORIDA FLAMBEAU | FEBRUARY 10, 2011
Long days and Sheesha Nights Campus cafĂŠ aims to please and shake off the ‘hookah stigma’
Melina Vastola/FSView
Sheesha Nights Cafe offers snacks and drinks in addition to hooka.
RYAN RABAC Staff Writer Sheesha Nights on West Jefferson Street, which opened last September, serves a number of unique snacks, drinks and desserts; however, due to their other specialty, hookah, the business is often mistaken as “just another hookah bar.â€? “The general feedback has been good with the people we talk to,â€? Manager Quinton Brown said. “People often come in and say, ‘This is a whole lot nicer than I thought it would be.’ Everyone walks by the windows and the doors, and don’t really know who we are, which is why we put a sign up to tell people that we have more stuff in here than just hookah and it isn’t really our main focus.â€? When customers read the name on the sign, they may write Sheesha Nights off without checking out everything they have to offer. However, employees pride themselves in attempting to run a true cafĂŠ. “No one thinks of cafĂŠs as cafĂŠs anymore,â€? Brown said. “Now, huge restaurant chains refer to themselves as cafĂŠs. The art of being an actual cafĂŠ has, to a certain extent, been lost and we’re trying to bring that back. I consider us a cafĂŠ because the things I’ve had to learn being here were not about sheesha. The rest of the stuff, like making coffees and deserts correctly, is what we focus on.â€? Another big difference with Sheesha Nights is that it’s locally owned and operated. Its proprietor has been in the Tallahassee area for over 15 years, running several successful businesses. The story gets more personal for Brown. “He picked me up when I was sort of floating around,â€? Brown said. “I attended Florida A&M University but it really wasn’t for me. Five years ago, I walked in the door and I’ve been with him ever since.â€? Sheesha Nights offers convenient options for students on-the-go. Everything on the menu can be prepared to-go and shouldn’t take more
than two to three minutes if they aren’t busy. It also makes for an alternative place to study with free Wi-Fi, and there are power outlets at every booth. “When we put the music on, we try to keep a more tranquil atmosphere,� Brown said. “We want them to come in, feel comfortable and be able to focus.� Brown’s personal favorite is the Lemon Ginseng Tea. He finds it a better alternative to energy drinks, and it that tastes good too. “With its proximity to Southgate and the dorms over here, it’s a good
breakfast place on the way to class,� regular customer Mike Hillard said. “It’s open really late at night, so you can come in and grab some tea. They also have the best falafels.� Brown also recommended some other unique items to try. “We have Whips, which are a heavy whipping cream mixed with a flavor,� Brown said. “These could be chocolate, white chocolate, mocha or vanilla. They are really thick, sweet and savory. We also have granitas, another sweet treat based on shaved ice. The friction between the ice causes
Melina Vastola/FSView
A belly dancer stops by Sheesha Nights Cafe for during an event. part of it to melt, causing the sugar to stick together. We also have a Cinnamon Sip, a cream base with a bang of cinnamon and other ingredients to thicken it up and make it nice. Everyone who tries it really likes it.� The most adventurous of customers may want to try a Saplab, a traditional Arabic drink that is similar
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to oatmeal, with coconut rather than oats. The cafĂŠ is planning on a Valentine’s Day event this month. “We’re going to have a special for couples and for singles, so if you don’t have anybody [to go with], don’t worry,â€? Brown said. “We strive to have at least one big event per month. We’ve been trying to sup-
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port the local music scene, especially people at the school of music.� Sunday nights at Sheesha are Open Mic nights, where all are welcomed to come up on stage and perform. Visit Sheesha Nights at 701 West Jefferson Street and for more information visit sheeshanightscafe. com.
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