In a previous post on Post-College Edutainment I mentioned that I don’t love a lot of the spaces in which we learn, especially growing up. I contend that bars, restaurants, coffeeshops, and hotels/hotel lobbies can be nicer spaces for setting a nicely-designed learning experience. However, they are not all created equal. For that reason I’ll try to review them as I visit to reflect on when and why they work and when and why they don’t.
For example, one place I’ve been to for many many book clubs is The Spaniard in the West Village in Manhattan NYC. I’ll review it properly in another post. While I like this place for our dialogues and it’s where we held nearly all of the early, original ones, it really only works right when they open. Try to have a book club at peak brunch hour and you’re going to seriously struggle. Our first book club at the Spaniard was many years ago. Since then I’ve walked by this place at various times of day and noticed a line around the block just to get it like it’s an extra tiny GenZ club now. Definitely don’t try to get in line to book club it up as you can’t hear each other.
That time of day detail is of the utmost importance when you’re thinking about a charming place to hold a wee learning experience using dialogue centered around a book.
Enter Saraghina Caffe in Fort Greene Brooklyn in NYC.
This place is an offshoot of a well-loved pizza spot in nearby Bed-Stuy, serves pizza, espresso drinks, and cocktails and, of course, brunch on the weekends. (Sadly, it is in the old space of an old neighborhood favorite Madiba a wonderful South African restaurant that I miss quite a bit.) I have not had any of their food, just a couple of delightful cocktails so I’ll leave that aspect for a future review or update.
I can speak to the caffe being beautiful and not overbusy between brunch and dinner on weekends. For this reason, I give it a 10 out of 10 as a place to read. Given it’s not too loud and easy to find a seat during this time, it’s also a 10 out 10 for a nice long meandering conversation about whatever book you’ve chosen to digest in a 1 on 1 or with a small group. I highly suggest checking out to read in a cute corner or sit in a window and digest some humanities for a richer life.
For reading
10 out 10
For dialoguing
10 out of 10
Notes
I haven’t eaten here but I want to. I bet it is very good.
It’s going to be busy during peak brunch hours and dinner
What are you reading at the moment?