Fool for the Cities, vol. 3:
A place where two things smell great (books, and coffee). Plus an exciting update!
It’s Friday, which means it’s time for me to be a FOOL FOR THE CITIES and share something I love about living here (the Quad Cities/Davenport, Iowa)! But before we dive in:
A cool thing is happening in real life because of something I wrote! And you can be part of it (if you don’t mind super short notice)!
As I mentioned in a recent post, I’ve been so happy to receive responses to the interview I did with author and illustrator Denise Dorrance.
One of those has now turned into an event at a local bookstore—and it’s happening tomorrow afternoon!
The book discussion for Polar Vortex: A Family Memoir will be hosted by Becky Nakashima Brooke, whose work includes serving as a death doula. (The graphic memoir deals with the author’s caretaking for her Alzheimer’s-impaired mother.)
And here’s the big news: Dorrance—a Cedar Rapids native who has lived abroad for many years now—has agreed to join us via Zoom! If you’d like to participate in the book discussion at The Atlas Collective in Moline—and even though I’m giving you, like, zero time to arrange your schedule—it’s not too late to sign up!
I’m honored and excited that the idea for this event was sparked by my enthusiasm for the book.
Pig in a Poke? Or …something?
As I was considering coming up with a possible logo for my new Fool for the Cities series (about things to appreciate in this Illinois/ Iowa bistate area), I clicked on the AI image generator (within Substack) and typed in a few words, just out of curiosity.
This was the result. (Best commenter wins… nothing! But please do it anyway.)
As I explained when I first launched Fool for the Cities, so much around me (us), locally (ahem, Iowa) and nationally, is increasingly depressing and disturbing. But there are a lot of things to appreciate about life in the Quad Cities, so why not take some time to point out some positives?
Now, remember, I am not receiving kickbacks from the Chamber of Commerce.
And I am not, by any means, indicating that any simple, small joy about a certain place makes up for things like…oh, I don’t know… legislating discrimination, or other despicable acts. (And in today’s post, I’m singing the praises of something on the Illinois side of the river, anyway!)
But without further ado…
Fool for the Cities, vol. 3:
The Java Lab Grind and Dine Cafe
I’m a FOOL FOR THE CITIES because of the fact that...I can use a public library AND sip coffee at the same time!
While any cozy cafe is to be celebrated all on its own, The Java Lab Grind & Dine Cafe, a coffee shop which also features a food menu, is located inside Moline Public Library.
In my workaday life, I rarely get the opportunity to leave my office to grab lunch. Practical demands keep me chained to the mini fridge and the Lean Cuisine lifestyle.
But for the last month or so, I’ve been making a point of treating myself to an occasional escape to the Java Lab to pick up a soup and salad and/or sandwich. (You can call in an order!) Or in one rare case in January, I got to sit and enjoy my meal, with sunlight coming in from the west-facing windows. Bonus: while I wait for my food, (and even though I’m an Iowa resident), I can check out books with an interstate borrower’s card.
One delicious thing I devoured from there recently was a turkey panini with spinach and homemade (I think) artichoke spread, with the turkey being not a slim slice of deli meat, but a sort of grilled-pork-loin-y type of turkey. Yep and that’s why I’m not a food writer.
Pictured above, the tomato soup and a Greek salad. (Find the Java Lab on Facebook and Instagram.)
Note: If you call in, or arrive at a busy time, be kind and patient because (at least as has been the case when I’ve popped in recently), the owner is running everything on her own.
I’m a passionate supporter of public libraries in general, and the quality of libraries across the Quad Cities is another favorite aspect of living here. (Although it’s a bummer that you can no longer check something out on the Iowa side and return it in Illinois. C’mon, it’s only a river between us! Some nerds like me are still mourning the loss of that former freedom.)
Moline is (to my knowledge) the only branch in the QC library systems that has an operating café on site. (If I’m wrong, please point me in the direction of others!) Bettendorf PL used to have one, in the space that is now where donated items sit behind a locked gate until book-sale time. In Davenport, the Eastern Avenue branch also tried one, but apparently couldn’t sustain it. I’m aware of practicalities that likely make public-library coffee shops (or full-on lunch spots!) hard to keep afloat.
But I’m an idealist, and wouldn’t it be nice to see the magical combination of the following words together more often?
“library” + “cafe”
I hope you’ll check this place out if you haven’t already—just don’t do it at the same time as me or you’ll make me late!
Catch up on the fool-worthy things I’ve featured so far.
Fool for the Cities, vol. 1
Fool for the Cities, vol. 2
related posts:
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I’m sitting here this morning and this song is playing in my head … “air pollution here I come!!” And I’m like: Why am I thinking about Foghat? And then I realized why! I consider earworming someone a success!
I may have to check out the cafe in the moline library! I’ve been on the hunt for someplace I can go work and/or write that has WiFi and food!
Also, here’s a great piece by Sean Moeller in the River Cities Reader about the music scene here: https://www.rcreader.com/music/from-local-to-national-qca-music-scene-better-than-ever?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR13affu_IA2K0tkL9mBWh3Pb3i68cHnJCA9kRDplC9GQDyNjGxRixMoPC0_aem_UYU1-1G8vjdN0hcaWQilWw