Biggby Coffee: I Have a Dreadful Secret

I am just going to come right out and say it. Unless I move and it is my only option, no Biggby Coffee, will ever be the spot where I choose to go hang out and write.

Not only are the hours less than significant, the reason is simple: the ambiance wigs me out. I just don't feel it. Taking the color orange, mixing it with the seventies and creepy frogs that look high, then openly advertising that you are an evil corporate franchise that furnishes it's place with uncomfortable hard wooden chairs because they are cheap is just not my thing, but really who am I to judge? After all, I do like Starbucks and I love their Mermaid. Some people might think that's creepy.



I have heard people describe Biggby lattes as "sweeter" than Starbucks' which people may prefer. I have heard other people who are Biggby fans describe Starbucks' coffee as "burnt" and it's true they do have a darker blend. It seems that these two places are just meant to be polar opposites and those who prefer one place may not prefer the other.

However, I have a dreadful secret. I used to work at Biggby. I won't say which one, but I think it was the worst job I ever had. The owner was a frickin' dragon lady, who I bet did not have higher than a high school education considering how she trashed her employees like she was in the movie "Mean Girls."

Not to mention "corporate" used to come in once a month and quiz like drill sergeants us on policies, dress code and drinks. Seriously, once I was reciting Biggby's motto to them and I accidentally said the word "beverage" instead of "drink" and they circled it in red pen.

Some people may think that my dislike for writing there may only come from the horrible time I spent working there, but let me tell you that I have worked at other coffee shops that I did not always enjoy (it was my go-to after college job before I became a librarian, hence the barista characters) and I would not rule them out as a writing spot like I am ruling out Biggby Coffee. 

Nevertheless, I do enjoy their smoothies. I do not think any other coffee shop has mastered smoothies such as the banana cream freeze or the strawberry shortcake quite like Biggby Coffee. So, I am admitting that I will go there on occasion. It's just not somewhere I will be hanging around. I will just be running in when I crave a delicious smoothie and then running out. More like a fast food place than a coffee shop.

Ink Stains Magazine: A Missisippi Delta Writing Project

Writing is an inspirational art form. There is a live interaction that happens between the text and writer while it is being written and between the text and every reader that reads what has been written.

As someone who has briefly taught and tutored in the writing community, I know that allowing students to understand the empowerment of sharing their writing through publication will inspire them to have a sense of pride and encourage them to continue to write.

If children are encouraged to express themselves in this manner then it is possible they will become more confident in articulating their voices in the future, which will create a wider variety of voices and opinions in the community they belong too.

With that said it is also important that as part of the writing community we support one another. I have recently heard of a new publication project that is a magazine called Ink Stains, which is a magazine created by teachers of Mississippi Delta that plans to publish writing pieces by students between 5th and 12th grade. This magazine is currently looking for more backers and pledges from the public inorder to reach their goal. It only takes $1.00 to support them.

You can read more information about it at this link:

                  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/334505540/ink-stains-magazine

Update on the Hunt...

Yes, here I am almost a year later and still continuing my search for the perfect coffee place and the perfect writing spot...so far I think Starbucks is winning.

I hate to admit this because as an artist just starting out who would like to support local artists and businesses...it just seems so corporate, but you see their hours and the green glowing mermaid give them lots of points. Especially since one of my writing projects was inspired my mermaids and I even wrote a poem about the Starbucks mermaid-so not have on me now, will post later.

But the search is still on! So Starbucks hasn't one yet.

I would like to sadly report that since I started the hunt the local Primo Coffee has gone out of business. Good-bye fluffy gigantic muffins...*sigh*

Also, it looks as though the Espresso Royale in Ypsilanti and The Coffee Lounge have disappeared as well...Espresso Royale was supposed to be my next destination....and so soon I will travel to Biggby Coffee and test them out for a writing location.

There has also been some additions added to my list, that are in Ann Arbor, which means I would have to pay for parking, which means I would rather not go there...BUT local artists and writer friends of mine have been raving about cafe ambrosia or every time I mention I have a blog about local coffee shops people respond with "Have you been to Comet Coffee?!" So these places are worth investigating.

That would make my list:

1. Primo Coffee - :(
2. The Ugly Mug - :\
3. Perk and Brew- :(
4. The Common Cup- :\
DETOUR: Sweetwaters Cafe- :\
5. Starbucks Ypsilanti-:)
6. Starbucks Arborland-:)
7. Starbucks Carpenter-:)
8. Espresso Royale- :(
9. Biggby Coffee- ?
10. The Coffee Lounge- :(
11. Beezy's- ?
12. Harvest Moon Cafe-?
13. B-24's-?
14. Cafe Ollie-?
15. Comet Coffee-?

:(= Gone                   :\ = maybe      :) = winner so far          ? = yet to be explored    

We Danced

This piece of writing was inspired by a journal prompt, once again from Patricia Ann McNair's blog. Sorry, no journal sketching this time as I seem to have left my sketchpad and crayons at home.

We danced. There was rarely ever music, but we waltzed; one waltzed step after another. Then my favorite part he'd spin me. I would swirl under his arm, usually landing with a stumble facing him with a laugh and smile. We were this way whether people were around or not. We never really needed the music. The melody of our heart strings was always perfectly in-sync.


This prompt hasn't really turned into a story or anything, but I'm all day dreamy thinking about it just the same. I wonder if one of the baristas are ever going to feel this way....