At the downtown Jittery Joe’s, every morning smells of caffeinated promise. There’s so much you’re going to accomplish once that cup of coffee is in your little hands. Everything seems possible, even squeezing two laptops on those small round tables. In the afternoon there’s the whiff of people refueling to grind their way through the afternoon. The nights, though, are the best. There are the lights, the busy sidewalks and the sweet smell of desperate students Where do I even begin? staring at overpriced textbooks, cramming for a test they should’ve studied The fact for a week ago. that I nestle in the hearth of Two StoryIt’sCoff an in the morning. God I love that smell. likeee,napalm unholy of times each week, While amount an archipelago of coff ee shops dots the Athens seascape, presume thatJittery I would the At the Learning Center, I’m such a I’mmay an unapologetic Joe’sbefan. best person mycoff love for regular they oftto enprofess start my ee before I can order it. As it says on my this establishment, but barryhollander.com, maybe it website, the cleverly named a decaffeinated life is not would make me the worst. worth living. Howa special would fondness I count for the the days I have downtown Jittery Joe’s with its scuffed that Ifloors, drovethedown the gravel wooden tables squeezed together. Coffee shops are among the of this coffstudents eehouse mix in search fewlotplaces where with non-students (also known as human for quiet and of caff einated bent over books next to a university beings). You’llsolace find a table students concentration? vice president plotting the next tuition hike next to a townie checking out the conversations of fails: both at lighthisOr tattoos next to, it never least one scruffy guy with a dog, usually heartedness andfront depth, positioned near the doorfragrant as he nurses the same cup for hours at a time. with roasted frothed Joe’s – University administrators Everyone passes aromas through and the downtown steamed milk? in with suits,expertly wide-eyed freshmen in flip-flops and that guy with the dog. HowJoe’s, would I of describe the serves as a third place. A first place Jittery like a lot coffee shops, warm faces that populate this Third places are those community is the home, a second place is work. establishment — mix thefreely, baristas anchors where people like a dog park or Ramsey. I admit there’s in as we suspenders and our screened smartphone god, and lessstrapped mixing now sit and worship energized of oftheir that’s too bad.by Ththe e coffbeauty ee shops 1700s England drew people together to craft the andissues the intimate community discuss of the day, nurturing concepts you may have heard of, like of coff ee-drinkers? public opinion, like democracy. How I condense the you’d get out of this essay without Hey, I’m awould professor. Did you think wisdom of the weathered wooden learning something? desk on the second flwas oor,like brimming If more of America our Athens coffee shops, this country would notes inspiration and be with in much betterofshape. human vulnerability?
As Athenians, we’re blessed with almost too many options when it comes to settling on the coffee spot that’s just right. We’ve all encountered the quintessential Goldilocks syndrome of too-small tables, poorly mixed playlists and overpriced lattés. So when you find that place it makes that hot mess of searching worthwhile. I honestly couldn’t tell you about the first time I went to Walker’s. But I can (without fear of hyperbole) say that other than the college radio station (WUOG90.5FM), it’s where I spent most of my college career. For me, Walker’s has the magical combination of raised, spacious tables, solid coffee selections and a soundtrack that is suspiciously in tune with what I want to hear. On damp winter mornings I sought refuge in the high backed booths with (probably too many) toasty Americanos. In the spring I rejoiced alongside my fellow coffee shop campers when the street facing garage door was raised. I’ve used it as an excuse to “study” with friends late at night or to skip early morning classes to be more productive (or to revive myself with copious amounts of coffee). Those surprisingly cozy cubbies have played host to countless group study dates, first dates and solo blogging sessions. In between four years worth of iced coffee and hot toddies, I made some of the best memories. Maybe I didn’t realize quite how special it was at the time, but, after graduation, I realize now more than ever that Walker’s was my place. Through fitful WiFi, nail-biting midterms and woefully large assignments, I could always snag a booth. So thank you for the late-night caffeine fix, the post-class happy hours and the early morning pickme-ups. When I leave Athens, I sure am going to miss you Walker’s.
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