Arguably the best coffee in the U-District, but also has an amazing chai selection that will titillate anyone’s taste buds (though maybe slightly offend traditionalists). I’ve got the best drinks from the morning baristas, one of whom was ranked #2 in all of Seattle in a recent contest.

The crowd is a mix of students, computer geeks (UW’s tech building is nearby), artists, and musicians, usually aged 18-30. The music is usually a combination of electronica, indie, and some obscure [to me] hip-hop.

There’s an open mic on Monday night where a lot of the performers know each other. Poetry is often ignored by the mostly college-age audience but music with alternative/indie/rock influences or a high amount of novelty is very much appreciated. Performers play on Friday and Saturday nights and many have monthly gigs.