travel – Page 2 – Lauren Warnecke

A Coffee Post that is Not About Starbucks

One of the reasons we decided to drive to Florida this year was to create a reason to go to Nashville. While I don’t necessarily envision Nashville as a final destination, stopping over for the night was something I was really looking forward to. Provided you don’t stay at the Ramada by the airport, it’s a really good time… but that’s another story.

Crema is a totally rad coffee shop a little off the beaten path from the big flashy bars and touristy country music stores. I’ll always love my Starbucks, but this place is special. We met up with a friend who swears by their Cuban coffee. Since she’s marrying a Cuban guy you can be sure she’s a reliable source. A had the cortado, which is essentially a really, really strong latte. I wish I hadn’t eaten a crappy waffle at the Ramada, because I would have loved to try the house-made quiche, or a breakfast “cremarito”. On a chilly Sunday morning it was easy to find a cozy corner to chat or read a book, but from what I hear the place can get packed pretty easily. People don’t mind the wait, and after trying Crema once, I wouldn’t mind it either.

Using the Nashville filter in Nashville… naturally

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Crema is located at 15 Hermitage Ave. in Nashville, TN. Store hours are MON – FRI 7AM – 7PM // SAT 8AM – 6PM // SUN 9AM – 4PM. Follow them on twitter @cremacrema

Starbucks Around the World: Somewhere outside Atlanta, GA

Ah, how I love a road trip. I’m not going to say that I rely on road trips to fill out my collection of Starbucks site visits, but it sure doesn’t hurt.

Leaving this winter wonderland behind wasn’t too hard…

… to spend the holiday vacationing in Florida. Along the way we came across rising temps and a nice little Starbucks outside of Atlanta. Apparently you aren’t supposed to drive through Atlanta, though I can neither confirm nor deny the horrendous traffic that is rumored to be there. After a couple hundred miles with not a green siren in site, this was a misto I’d been waiting for (which might explain the weird look on my face… or maybe I was in the middle of sentence. Either way…)

Starbucks Around the World: Denver, CO

The last time I was in Denver I lived there. I was 8, Stapleton was the only airport, and cookies and milk were far more important to me than coffee. It was a quick layover on the way to Gillette, WY to teach musical theatre for three weeks, and this misto was just what I needed to get through the next flight on a really tiny plane.

Starbucks Around the World: Bolingbrook, IL

Well, I’m back on the road to St. Louis for the second time in a week. The Starbucks off of I-55 in Bolingbrook was pretty much the same at the Starbucks in Springfield, with one notable exception:

The cashier appeared nervous. Perhaps he somehow knew that I’m a famous travel writer visiting Starbucks-es around the world (she says sarcastically). Actually, he had cut his hand and I think felt nervous about serving customers. He was wearing a glove (good move), explained to me why he was wearing it…

…to which another barista replied that he was actually imitating Michael Jackson today…

…to which I replied that he would do a better imitation if he studded his plastic glove in rhinestones.

Starbucks Around the World: Springfield, IL

Once you leave the St. Louis area on the way to Chicago, there are no Starbucks-es until you reach our Illinois state capital: Springfield. Not an easy distance, I traversed 60 miles on zero caffeine convinced that I’d see a siren along the way, to no avail. So this Grande Misto was one of the tastiest I’ve had in a long time – if for no other reason – because it happened to be my first cup of the day…..

…at noon.

In fairness, this Starbucks was clean, fast, and friendly. They didn’t overfill my personal cup, which has happened a lot lately. Right next door to the Starbucks is the adorable Sgt. Pepper’s Cafe, where they make good and crispy hashbrowns and use little yellow submarines all over the place for decoration, but don’t have very good coffee.

So, if ever you find yourself in Springfield, IL and highly under-caffineated, go eat some hashbrowns, and then cross the flower bed for a great cup of coffee.

Not Your Typical Memorial Day BBQ…

While most Midwestern Americans are whooping it up backyard barbeque style, I’ve got quite a different plan in mind. Memorial Day in St. Louis is probably the same as it is in Chicago, with the exception of a big ass dance festival at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center. In lieu of brats and Bud Light, I’ll be high-browing it with some of the best dance companies in the Midwest (and the country) at the Spring To Dance Festival.

Fortunately my time here isn’t all work and no play. I get to play tourist by day and dance writer by night, and made a promise to myself to explore some new parts of St. Louis I didn’t see last year.

Lafayette Square was one such discovery.

Beautiful french-colonial style homes, a really big park, cobblestone streets, and pervasive greenery… this is clearly where the old money lives, and the closest I’ve come to the feeling of Paris in a long time. If ever in St Louis, skip the arch and come here. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’d like to live here.

Walk through the park, and be sure to dine at Eleven Eleven Mississippi.

The food is fresh, seasonal, and unpretentious. You’ll get great service, and a kitchen open to the dining room made Eleven Eleven one of the best food experiences I’ve had. Period.

So maybe my Memorial Day weekend is a little different than yours, but there will be plenty of time during the white pants season to sit in a lawn chair and drink beer.

St Louis Vacations

Starbucks Around the World: Wheaton, IL

I found myself in Wheaton last weekend to attend a shared bill concert of Hubbard Street 2 and the Wheaton College Orchestra.. Downtown Wheaton is cute as a button, and so is its Starbucks. Besides its good looks, this Starbucks was about the friendliest I’ve been to, well, ever. It kind of felt like an alternate universe out there in the West suburbs. The cafe is small, and a girl sitting alone was willing to share a table… for THREE hours…

Friendly baristas, fast service, fresh coffee, and a comfortable place to sit and grade papers. Just another day in paradise.