Kalani's Place

Well, so much for writing every day.

I've done nothing productive for the last few days. Well, I got my car fixed after it broke down, but that is about it. I really, really love summer and the fact that I have 3-day weekends for now. I have a week or so left of my semi-vacation before I'm off to a wedding, playing host to my parents and starting a class. So I'm using this last weekend well -- by doing absolutely nothing. It is glorious.


So my self-prompt for today is to describe my dream shop. I have it planned out it very specific detail.

First, near PLNU there is a small tea-shop type place named "The Living Room." It is an old house that somehow ended up in the commercial zone. It sells teas and coffees and a few very California-y type foods -- whole grain, fruit, yogurt, etc. The rest of the house has chairs and tables that you can use to sit at and study, whether individually or in groups. I really, really liked the way the domestic spaces had been turned into study rooms, etc.

Secondly, I love used books.

Thirdly, I have an artsy streak that comes out in strange places, like knitting (but only scarves because I can only knit in straight lines and can't even purl), turning old clothes (especially jeans) into various kinds of purses and containers and quilts, scrapbooking physically and in MS Word, and even painting random boxes.

Fourthly, I like travel, international foods, and maps.

So. My ideal shop (which I would own and run, of course). An old house in a commercial district. A largish house, preferably. Two or more stories. The first floor would be the cafe/restaurant/bookstore/performance area. A used bookstore, of course. The kind that buys people's books (if they are good) and sells them again. Lots of tall bookshelves lining the walls in dark wood colors. The books would be divided by genre, focusing heavily on fiction titles, with different genres in different rooms. As much as possible the center of the rooms would be open with low, comfortable chairs, loveseats and couches. Hopefully some comfortable but easily cleaned material, like vinyl. End tables and coffee tables convieniently placed. The cafe/restaurant would have a number of different kinds of coffee and tea and apple cider, but would also have smoothies and ice cream cones in the summer.

Each month would have food/decorations in a different country's theme. Some things would always be on the menu as sort of staples, but other than that it would change. Italian one month. Mexican the next. Chinese. British. Southern. Indian. Middle Eastern. French. A few accent pieces around the store changed and reused the next year.

The largest room, besides having books and couches, would have a stage area at one end, not only for any author readings or signings, but also for open mic night on Saturdays, and live-band performances on Fridays. Local artists could put up paintings and sculptures and photographs around the building and let customers buy them. Music artists could sell cds at the front of the shop. People who make crafts -- knitting, sewing, jewelry making, could put out some of their wares, too, to sell on consignment.

This would all be on the first, and possibly a part of the second floor. The second (and any other floors) would be rooms -- some for private study groups' use on a day-by-day basis and others rented out as studios for painters, sculptors, etc.

Of course this would be located in a (warmish at least) university town, drawing local and rising artists of all sorts, open 24/7 during finals and the weeks leading to them, employing students, providing a place to study, and selling used books. It would be called "Kalani's Place," as I like my name, think it is interesting, and think it is as ambiguous as it needs to be to name a restaurant/cafe/bookstore/studio/stage/venue.