Decided to stop by MY coffee shop, Lola and test out this new Blogsy app for my iPad. Btw, have I told you how I love coffee lately?
Apparently I’m so addicted that this is my third coffee of the day. I need my fix!
I first learned about the 3/50 Project by reading fellow ##30DayBC-participant and Scrabble Grand-Champion Taylor’s blog, TotallyTay.
(Yes, I actually click on those links people put on the sidebars, especially if it looks like a well-designed link.)
The point of the 3/50 Project is to support “the brick & mortars our nation is built on”; meaning using our dollars to support local businesses we love RIGHT NOW, instead of lamenting their disappearance later on.
I love this concept for two reasons:
1.)Â I love brick buildings anyways.
2.)Â Local/Indie businesses may cost a little more, but the service you get is 100x better than at a chain, and the money stays here.
So I don’t mind paying a little extra (if that’s even needed) to support a local business because it means that the workers there, who receive my dollars as their wages, will in turn spend the same dollars nearby. In the end my same dollar bounces around and support dozens of buisnesses. Now THAT is “stimulating the local economy”. Plus, local businesses = less empty buildings = less blight = less crime = better neighborhoods.
Consider THAT next time you make a run to Wal-Mart.
So the concept is pretty simple. Pick out 3 business you would hate to see go under, and spend $50/month at those spots. Sure, this sounds like a financial commitment that can have an impact on people trying to make ends meet, but the idea is not to spend more, it’s to spend there instead.
So here’s the three I’ve picked for April:
– Royal Coffee / Urban Grocery (because of their symbiotic relationship, I’m counting them as one)
This week I’ve gone to Urban Grocery for lunch twice and Royal Coffee three times. I went to Lola this morning. I went to Postino’s last Sunday and will be returning on Monday night.
I’m pretty sure that next month I’ll include places like All About Books & Comics, Cheese-n-Stuff, and hopefully I’ll find a good, local bookstore, so I don’t have to always go to Borders/B&N.
Think about the three places you’d hate to see go. Show them some appreciation today.
(This is Day 18 of the 30 Day Blog Challenge, be sure to check out the other participants at #30DayBC)
From David Bickford’s blog Phx Rail Food, regarding my new favorite coffee shop (and one that’s conveniently just around the corner from me), Lola Coffee
“Lola Downtown suggests a workspace with its tables and stools of metal and wood while Lola Uptown suggests a living room with its couches and mint green stools facing Central Avenue.”
“a workspace for Danielle Librera, the expert baker who produces scones, cakes, cookies, tarts, and other treats for both Lola locations. The nicest aspect of her work is its restrained sweetness. Everything that needs to be sweet is, but not to an overpowering extent.”
I completely agree with both of these statements. I first went to Lola Uptown on a Saturday while running errands, and while I enjoyed the coffee and the place, I did get a sort of “updated version of Central Perk” vibe. In comparison, the one on Roosevelt is editted down as much as possible. Plus, what can you say about clearly (and cleverly) reused furnishings; talk about sustainable! I’ve already spent several hours reading or writing or brain-storming at the new Lola, and can’t wait to go back.
The only thing I think Bickford forgot to mention was how great the light is at the new Lola. I’ll post some picture soon to prove it.