Warm Glow

A Warm Glow. That's what you'll get from the atmosphere at Insomnia Coffee Company. Good drinks, pastries, and desserts. Fun friends, conversation and games. Great music. You might even say it's a great place to escape to. It's legal, too.


“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.” -Edgar Allan Poe

Boggle!

Insomnia Coffee Company has games. Here's a rousing round of Boggle.

You'll find them on the game shelves, so called because they are the shelves with games on them. Grab some friends, pick a game, and play. There are tables of all sizes to suit however many people you have playing.



Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play. -Heraclitus

Meet Your Blog Editor

Opening night Friday, and Becky and I couldn't be more proud of what our daughter Amy, son-in-law Evan, and their friend Tyler have done here. They've put together a real fun place, and this is just the beginning.

We'll be stopping in at Insomnia Coffee Company often, so be sure to say Hi when you see us there.


“Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them.” -Richard L. Evans

Alfred

Amy likes to collect funny cards, photos, and fridge magnets and plaster them on her appliances. Hers a shot of Alfred Hitchcock and one of his bird friends on the back of the espresso machine.

She'll be posting more in the days to come. Little surprises everywhere.



Television is like the invention of indoor plumbing. It didn't change people's habits. It just kept them inside the house. -Alfred Hitchcock

Read Any Good Books Lately?

It's nice to know that in this era of the internet there is still a good use for the old encyclopedia.

Now if you need to look something up, you can use Insomnia's WiFi network on your laptop computer. Better yet, especially if you left your computer at home, get in on a game or a conversation with the others at Insomnia.



Nature and Books belong to the eyes that see them. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

First Night

Friday night's opening was great fun at Insomnia Coffee Company. A lot of old friends showed up and a lot of new friends were made. The live music was great, and they'll be back for Saturday evening. The drinks were the best, as were the desserts. No stopping these guys now - they're having way too much fun.

Open 'til midnight again Saturday. Come on by.



“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun” -Katharine Hepburn

Very Comfortable

Comfy furniture and a spot to set your drinks and desserts - what more could you want?


When I was a little kid, I kind of perceived everything as having a life of its own. You know, chairs and furniture and stuff. -William Joyce

Mmmm...Cheesecake

Nice work, Amy! Can we just frame it and hang it up as a piece of art?


Because you don't live near a bakery doesn't mean you have to go without cheesecake. -Hedy Lamarr

Fantasy Cake

Mmmmm! Fantasy Cake.

Okay, I'll be holding out 'til about elevenish and then I get a slice of Insomnia Coffee's Fantasy Cake - fresh slice, large slice, leftover slice, I don't care - if it's the last piece and you waited too long, well, tough luck.


“My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of M&M's and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.” -Dave Barry

Honk for Mike!

It's opening night tonight and Mike is out telling the world. Insomnia Coffee Company will officially be open from 6 to 12 tonight. Coffee, tea, desserts, mmmm, desserts. And there's a rumor of a little live music, too.

Good job Mike! Beep - Beep.


Meep - meep -The Roadrunner

Before the Curtain Goes Up

Jane, Tyler, and Amy spending a little time relaxing before the curtain goes up on opening night. First performance will be Friday at 6:00 p.m.

That green sign will be out on Baseline Road, and one on 53rd, once they open. Friday night at 6:00 p.m. the curtains go up and act one, scene one of the long awaited production of Insomnia Coffee Company begins. The stage is set, lines and cues memorized, rehearsals are over.

Come in for coffee and treats, and meet the cast. It's going to be fun!


If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee - Abraham Lincoln

Support

Victor from Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters has been helping all along the way. Evan's coffee world is full of support team members, and he's thankful for all of them. You've only met a few on this blog because I wasn't there when most of them were helping out. The Insomnia support team is huge, though, and you can meet a lot of the team at Insomnia, because they'll be hanging out there after the place opens.

Long time friend and support team member Stacy, behind Evan, came up from California for a week to help out and to see the opening day. That day is very soon. Let me put it this way - it's likely that the anticipation will be keeping the Insomniacs awake tonight.


“In the end, all business operations can be reduced to three words: people, product and profits. Unless you've got a good team, you can't do much with the other two.” - Lee Iacocca

Training Day

Jane from Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters enlightening the Insomniacs to the finer points of coffee brewing.

Evan, Amy, and Tyler were so zoned in on what Jane had to say that I don't think they even knew I was there.


“Sometimes it's to your advantage for people to think you're crazy” -Thelonious Monk

Espresso Bar Detail

Tyler, Amy, and Evan spent a lot of time going all over the place finding old building materials to incorporate into the decor of Insomnia Coffee Company. They didn't even know what they were going to do with some of it. If they all agreed to pick something up, it got picked up. Then they figured out where to put it.

This is a detail of the side of the espresso bar. The tin ceiling panels contrast nicely with the woodwork salvage from some very old Portland State University staircases. Lot of history there - maybe you once walked those stairs. The origin of the tinwork is unknown, but there is probably a story behind it.


“Architecture is a social act and the material theater of human activity.” -Spiro Kostof

A Little Help From Our Friends

Actually a lot of very valuable help.

Victor and Jane from Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters came in from Cannon Beach to help out with last minute details before the opening. They have been very generous in giving their time to share knowledge of the art of great coffee. You can stop by and see them in Cannon Beach, and see where they roast the same great Sleepy Monk Coffee you'll get at Insomnia Coffee Company.



Friendship should be surrounded with ceremonies and respects, and not crushed into corners. Friendship requires more time than poor busy men can usually command. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Stuff

Here's a good sign. Leftover stuff is being picked up and put in one place. Tools and lumber and stuff that doesn't have a place once the final construction is done. So now they are in the cleanup stage. Once they have it all cleaned up and the furniture arranged, I'll get a shot of the inside. Then you'll know the opening of Insomnia Coffee Company is next.


“Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that, I'll be over here, looking through your stuff.” - Jack Handy

Sneaking Around

Snuck (not 'sneaked' you know) into the back and got this shot of some sinks. Looks like the dishwashing area. There's lots more back there, but not for everyone to see.

Been putting off posting shots of the interior of the Insomnia Coffee Company because it's almost there. Once it's 'there' and all tidied up I'll get some good pictures. So for now here are some sinks - boring, but necessary.


“All drains lead to the ocean.” -Gill in Finding Nemo