Jackson Heights Life

No worries, I am quite calm actually, in a peaceful, detached, Zen like manner. 

Recreational reading by American youth is at pitiful levels, irregardless of racial/socioeconomic status, etc. etc.  The kind of kids who are most at risk for gang activity and would most likely be persuaded by Williams' words probably don't read a whole lot of books to begin with, even if it's required in school.

Actually, here's the covers of two of his books:





There's something a bit odd about the marketing of those two books, perhaps a little irrelevant.......I can't quite place it.......let me ponder it and report back to the forum what that is when I figure it out.......

Okay so I'm very excited to have Tomo two blocks from me.  I know I was less than enthused when I first heard about them, but I'm singing a new tune.

Went today for the lunch bento box special. LOVE THEM.

Hi EJ,

Welcome to the neighborhood !

JH does have a vibrant and active gay population, even outside of the bars on Roosevelt Ave. which at the moment you are too young for.

I had heard things about Romanticos, I have been trying to gather info to shut-them down. 

I had also been told that they have prostitution in the basement.

I am going to make a formal inquiry to the officials, we do not need this filth here

Hi Everyone,

Speaking for myself, I hope at the end of this conversation, Espresso 77 comes out for the better.  I want to see this neighborhood gem do well.

Patrons of e77 that bring their laptops in and treat e77 as their personal office for the whole day whilst only buying a cup of small coffee is probably not the kind of business that will allow e77 to thrive.

BUT, I'm not sure it is all that useful to characterize every patron with a laptop in this manner.  I've seen two laptop users sharing a table.  I've seen laptop patrons getting up every 30 minutes to buy another cup of coffee (while making a pitstop at the loo).  I would argue that it is much too easy to characterize every patron with a laptop as the source of the problem simply because they are the most visible in a very tight space. 

If achieving a high-turnover is our only concern, shouldn't e77 be worrying about the mothers and nannies that drag in their kids - occupying more than one seat - while only ordering a cup of coffee?  (Let's not even discuss the screaming that those "awful" kids do that can drive other patrons up the wall)  What about the older patrons who seem to hold court both inside and on the benches outside e77 during the day whilst nursing their one cup of coffee...how do they contribute to e77's bottom line?   

Suggestions made above such as posting a sign limiting computer usage to 30 minutes reminds me of fast food chains like McDonalds.  Treating laptop patrons like the homeless and vagrants that camp out at McD seem a little extreme.   Moreover, I certainly don't want the nice granny enjoying her cup of coffee on a sunny afternoon to be booted out of the shop after 30 minutes.  Why should the 30 minute limit apply only to computer users?

In my opinion, there is nothing "cool" about laptops at a coffeeshop per se, but it is the diversity of people visiting a store that serves a quality product that makes e77 cool.  Young and old, laptop and non-laptop, etc, etc makes e77 cool.  This mix of people and the energy they create...and not just the brightly colored walls and artwork makes e77 an attractive store to go plop down 3 dollars for a cup of beverage. 

And for those that are "put off" by the computer users at e77, I know of other people who avoid shops like Lety's and Dunkin Donuts because they think its used by the senior residents of JH as a lounge. 

My suggestion would be to limit the number of laptop users at e77 to perhaps 3 patrons at any given time.  That way, laptop users continue to contribute to the diversity of e77 while making a less significant impact on turnover rate and seats occupied.  Those that use e77 as their office will be constantly asked by incoming patrons carrying laptops how much longer they were planning to stay.  Plus, the nice barristas at e77 won't have to become "hall monitors" with stop watches. 
For me, I love the diversity...best illustrated by the past two story hours at e77...moms, dads and kids, older folks...all with drinks in hand...and a few laptop patrons sprinkled in for good measure!