The Coffeeshop Experience: Part 1

As I mentioned in my last post, the search is on to find a place that could serve as my writing home away from home. With the addition of two more people in my house, at least for the next few months, my search has gotten a bit more urgent.  

As I spend a good chunk of my week 15 miles from my home, I’ve visited more coffeeshops there than in my hometown, so that’s where my adventure begins.  

Cornerstone Coffeehouse is a treasure within the confines of the quaint borough of Camp Hill, PA. I’ve been there quite a few times and it’s very popular with the locals. While the vibe is very laid back and the food is awesome, I did not feel at home there from a writerly perspective. First of all, seating is limited, and the place always seems crowded, so to find a decent table to lay out all my writerly things and actually write is a challenge for me. I found myself getting easily distracted and therefore, no significant writing was done.  

On the plus side, Cornerstone has an outdoor patio that is lovely for people watching and thinking if you don’t mind a little bit of noise.  

My Writerly Grade: B

I discovered Down to Earth Café in Mechanicsburg a few months ago and liked this place so much that I decided to have done here part of my photo shoot for my author website and next book. Down to Earth Café has a mission of sustainability and supporting local business, so that was a big draw for me. As soon as I entered, I felt like I was at home. The earthy tones of the décor is soothing and inviting as well as the light from the floor to ceiling windows that surround 75% of the café. There was plenty of seating, including a luscious couch in front of a gorgeous wooden design of the café’s logo.  

I ordered my usual chai latte and settled in at a table at the far end of the café. As I looked around, I noticed the easy conversations and relaxed vibe of the other customers. Noise was at a minimum. I spent a few hours writing here and could’ve spent a few hours more if it were not for an appointment. Since that first visit, I’ve returned a few times and will again. If only this place was right by my house!!

My Writerly Grade: A+ 

A few weeks ago, I visited Nour in Camp Hill, PA. I love supporting small business (Buy Local, people!!), so when I had heard that this place was not only a new small business with a social service mission, I knew I had to make a stop here. I love that this area of PA has become more progressive in this area. Nour’s mission is to bring awareness about people with intellectual disabilities and to empower them by providing job opportunities.

So on an overcast Tuesday morning after a local networking meeting, I checked this place out. I immediately noticed the low-key, minimalist feel with a touch of industrialness. There were a few people hanging out by the floor to ceiling windows, but it wasn’t crowded. So far, so good.

Then I ordered my usual tea from the barista who was a delightfully cheery person. It didn’t take long to get my order and I settled in along the wall. As I began working on my latest book, I noticed the shop was getting more and more crowded. And with that, the noise level rose, of course. I’m okay with noise for the most part – after all, I’m the mom of many kids. But at this place, the acoustics were so poor that I couldn’t tune out the cacophony of voices, coffee machine whirrings and Lord knows what else. I felt like I was in a tin shack and the sound was annoyingly reverberating off the walls and pounding on my ears. At that moment, I regretted not bringing my earbuds.

My stubborn self remained planted in my seat though because I’m no quitter and I was determined to stay here to give this place a full chance. I was minimally successful in tuning out the noise. Then, what seemed to be a busload of people came in. It turned out they were part of a field trip. I gave up at that point and left.  

I don’t want this less-than-stellar experience to remain in my brain though, so I will be back, Nour, but maybe at a different time than a Tuesday morning.   

My Provisional Writerly Grade: B-

And now I’m sitting at a table at Idea Coffee on Walden Way in Mechanicsburg. Again, it’s a Tuesday morning after another networking meeting. This coffeeshop is part of a local chain of shops with two locations in Mechanicsburg and another in Mount Joy. At this particular location, it’s settled in the center of a planned residential community with a small-town feel. As I look out the windows, I do get that small-town vibe and it’s comforting. By the way, this is one of the latest housing trends as people are looking for places that allow them to live, work and shop in proximity.

So, on to the review. Parking was super easy at this location – up to three hours of free parking in front of the coffeeshop, so that’s an immediate plus. I was greeted by a charming array of trees with patio tables and benches underneath, so in the warmer months, writing outside would be an option. Inside the shop, I was the only person there – yet another plus – and I was promptly served my chai latte. The vibe is laid-back with adequate indoor seating. No big comfy couch but that’s not a dealbreaker. I could see myself returning here.  

My Writerly Grade: A

The hunt continues. My goal is to find a permanent spot by summer’s end.

If you’re in southcentral PA, what is your favorite go-to spot to write? Give me some suggestions! You can send them to lori@loriapeterswriter.com.  

Write & Rise, my friends!