The life of a Chapel Hill/Carrboro coffee shop. In case you were on a scavenger hunt for said things.
But even if you were doing less important things, say studying for finals or writing those big essays (tis the season), the Chapel Hill/Carrboro coffee shop has something to offer. Mostly warm coziness, caffeinated liquids, hippie hipsters, fun art, interesting encounters, and of course a welcoming change of environment.
I happened upon Looking Glass on a dark and stormy day a while back. I thoroughly enjoy being in a coffee shop when it’s storming outside–something really poetic about it that makes me want to do my homework and/or wax poetic. Though I have been back more than a few times after that, none of those times storming.
The exterior of Looking Glass looks either sketchy or quaint (beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all), but the interior has an overall warm glow that is inviting and comforting. There was a lot of quirky corners to explore (i.e. the couch with a little teddy bear, the red european style scooter); wooden tables of various heights, random chairs, couches, settees/lounge chairs; a wooden ceiling looks as if its the real floor and we’re all just upside-down; and three separate rooms. One of them is a “boutique” billiard-esque room with a pool table. Definite study break bonus.
There’s some great seating outdoors like a cute patio/park mixture with lights at night–small, tiny delights. (I wouldn’t recommend for now, though I am sure there are those of you who thrive academically in the cold.)
The best experience at Looking Glass though, was not the delicious mocha or that I was super productive. It was when this random stranger came up to my friend and I and gave us each a pink carnation. It was all very fitting. Very poetic.
(My friend Taylor, a transfer from University of Texas at San Antonio, and I with our flowers)
Notes on Looking Glass: the stuff on the menu costs exactly what it says (tax included) so it’s always nice and even. If you get tea you get it in a little tea pot (how cute). LG’s got it’s own parking lot, but it does get a packed quickly usually on the weekends. Wifi is free – town of Carrboro’s free wifi.
Open Eye had a totally different feel. Huge glass-paneled windows, brick, exposed pipping, and a huge wide-eyed green eye (pardon the redundancy) staring at you from the outside. More factory, less romance; more work, less leisure. Like a place where you would go in, roll up your sleeves and inject yourself with some caffeine. Ironically I was less productive there.
I think maybe the big windows had something to do with that. I kept watching the outside world: the sporadic shrubbery and red picnic bench and metal table and chairs, the view of the street and the life of Carborro on a Saturday morning; Glasshalfull with its faded red bricks and Steel String Craft Brewery next door, and the big imposing Wendy’s with bright, unfading paint; all the bikes and the pink food truck parked by Glasshalful; the people in scarves and drapey cardigans and pointy boots or oxfords walking by with purpose, coffee in hand.
I got a cappuccino–a tiny little thing (I’m not used to getting cappuccinos, so should they be bigger?). I watched a fly buzz around me, a little too friendly. There were some who sat at the couches and were there solely for social reasons, but I would say besides them and that fly, everyone else was pretty immersed in work.
Notes on Open Eye: there’s gravel parking out front and street parking to the left, and municipal parking lot also to the left. Lots of plugs along the walls and free Wifi (Carrboro’s I believe).
My favorite place to study (or my lazy day study place because there’s one 5 minutes away from my apartment) would be Caribou Coffee. It’s got all of the coziness and taste of the non-chain cafes for slightly cheaper and easier access. I mean who doesn’t want to lounge in a log cabin with a cup of joe and pretend their on a ski vacation? Both the Caribou on Franklin near Columbia and Franklin near Estes have huge study areas and lots of tables and couches.
And if you are ever feeling adventurous, or want to escape Chapel Hill/Carrboro (and want to venture into, dare I say, the Durham area), Straw Valley Cafe off of 15-501 is a great place to explore. It’s got this courtyard thats so feng shui (bamboo garden, sculptures, water fountain) you’ll probably reach zen by the end of your time there.
The drinks are perhaps more pricey than you would want to pay (but if you can pay for zen, how much would it cost?), the whole area contains not just a coffee and wine bar, but a restaurant and a back bar, among other things behind close doors I have yet to explore. I think the price of the drink is really just for the space you get to be in while drinking said drink.
Note on Straw Valley: Apparently the wifi is not so good. It’s a bit hard to find, since you have to actually pass the place before turning onto Mt. Moriah and then taking the service road to get to the location.
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