Places to Pow-Wow
The other day, when asked by one of my clients who doesn’t have an office in town where would I (who also doesn’t ‘have an office’) like to meet to discuss a few items of business, I panicked. I mean, in Manhattan that would have been a no-brainer: there were any number of coffeehouses and/or cafes where you could meet for a cup of coffee, perhaps even connect to the internet, and talk turkey. But here I am in Darien, now as a grown-up with my own business and no office … what are my options? What about places to meet locally for book clubs, committee planning, or just coffee and a muffin with the girls?
As it turns out, there are quite a few options, and as I investigated them I became inspired to think more broadly about our town and meeting places other than cafes … and I didn’t come up with much on that front, but I’m working on it! So I really need the help of other Insiders to build my list, but I’ll start with the below.
Coffee-House Vibe
Yes, we have a Starbucks in town, but while I’m the first person to declare that Starbucks makes a great latte and has delicious breakfast sandwiches, I find them in general to be crowded (especially the one in Darien, which doesn’t really offer anywhere to sit) and the WiFi is only “free” if you have a T-mobile account. You can sign up for one for the day, and if there were nooks where you could sit comfortably it would be worth it … but aside from the few outdoor cafe tables that are usually taken and would only work on a non-rainy day, I think this particular location is not ideally suited for pow-wows.
Panera Bread offers an ample variety of seating options, ranging from booths to tables for two to large easy chairs with side tables; there is free WiFi (internet access ), and there are many outlets next to the tables so you can plug in your cell phone or computer easily. The whole environment is warm … and the best part of all: it’s a bakery, so it smells delicious! You can enjoy a breakfast sandwich and coffee in the morning, fresh baked bread and delicious hearty soup all day long … it’s a terrific discovery and perfect environment for pow-wows.
My client told me Cosi was another place that had a comfortable, quiet vibe — the few I’ve been in in the city have been very big and busy, but they’ve got the roaring fireplace/ hearth thing going on in there and their website says they modeled their atmosphere after a Parisian cafe, so I’m sure it’s great. I’m planning to stop by this week, and readers have input to offer on the Darien location?
Cafes, Outdoor Seating
When the weather finally turns from cold to warm and sunny, everyone loves a chance to sit outdoors …
We already mentioned that Starbucks has a few cafe tables outdoors, and Uncle’s Deli has a giant picnic table outside on the sidewalk which could be a good place for a casual meeting — albeit a public one, as the table is right on the sidewalk of the Post Road. Good Food Good Things is an adorable gourmet cafe and gift shop and there is one little cafe table for 2 in the front window of the store that you might be lucky enough to snake on a weekday … And in Noroton Heights, we love the Doughnut Inn which has indoor tables as well as a few outdoor cafe tables. During the week, this tends to be highly trafficked by commuters, as the Noroton Heights Train Station is directly across the street. On weekends, this is THE hot stop for parents with small children and strollers from the area, and the coffee is so good that people drive in from other parts of town (i.e. all the way from the Ox Ridge school district, gasp!) just to grab a cup of the stuff. The reason I bring it into the Pow-wow writeup is because of its proximity to the train: during the off-peak hours you can sit outside and set up your laptop and have a meeting while waiting for the train into the city.
Free WiFi
This is a growing list, as I’m only just starting to take notice of who offers this and who does not (and will also list locations where you can access free networks even if not officially sponsored by the retailer)
Duchess Family Restaurant — Offers free WiFi, makes their fast food fresh, has a nice big and well-lit seating area of booths and tables … can definitely get busy during “peak” eating hours throughout the day, but I think that’s true for any of these places, and is probably not the first place you’d think of when planning to meet and discuss, but you should!
What about anyone else out there, do you have any ideas about places to pow-wow to share?
Don’t forget New England’s favorite, Dunkin Donuts. It ain’t fancy, but it’s clean and there always seem to be a few seats free. Not great for two-hour discussions, but pretty nifty for a half hour. Only problem… parking!
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Cheers! Sandra. R.