Grumpy Cafe

Early early morning in the cafe is a busy place. You wouldn't expect there to be a lot of people up at 6am, but if you were trying to find those people the best place to look would be a coffee shop. Its like a beacon for people to come and receive the vital fuel they need to start the day. I have seen this many times now and the varying people who subscribe to the phenomenon. It encompasses people from all walks of life and all professions. It seems the cafe is a platform for the diversity of the city. Even people such as muslim women come to the shop to converse and have their drinks. This was the first time Ive seen a group of muslim women here. At this time in the morning there is not alot of people sitting down, but their group was in the corner making little noise. It appeared that they were young college students who were studying before the day begins. I cant help to think of the negative stereotypes that are cast on them by nationalist americans who have been brainwashed by Fox News. They are like everyone else although they may look "threatening" because of their religion. Indeed some may also think the burqua is somehow frightening and alienating, but it is just a symbolic piece of cloth and does not denote radical affiliations. These girls act like any other girls who are theyre age, and I am sure inside they have the same feeling and emotions that everyone else has. They are not sub human or savage. Although I notice how people stare at them as if they are some sort of spectacle.

The grumpy feeling of the morning could also be felt since people had not had their coffee yet. The attitude of the customer to the cashier seems irritated. One older man avoided saying hello and had to repeat his order twice to the cashier. He getting more frustrated as his transaction was taking longer. As he waited for his coffee he paced back and forth as if he was late for something. When he received the cup he didnt say a word to the barista as he took it from her a little aggressively. Another middle aged african american woman was getting mad because the barista's had made a mistake on her four drink order.  The barista apologized but it didnt seem to appease the lady. She asked for another four drinks in addition to the "ruined" ones that she got to keep. I wondered if the order was actually correct and she was just trying to get more.

Before I left around 7, the crowd had begun to get larger and the line started stretching toward the door. More and more people took the time to sit down and enjoy their coffee as the cafe filled up. Again the noisy atmosphere returned , which was filled with laughs as well. Soft jazz music was playing on the radio and two young girls were dancing to it in a 50s style manner of movement. The atmosphere certainly feels more lively as the morning progresses and people wake up. Also it is again worth noting that there are just as many old people as young people, perhaps more this time.