View from the Belfry

Beans’ 10^th Rail Road Day

By JIM

Well Rail Road Day is over and I don’t know about anyone else but our

10^th R.R Day was dynamic, exhilarating and exhausting.

 

 

Partly due to perfect weather, partly due to great city planning but mostly due to the many friends we’ve made since we opened our doors in October 2004 we served more coffee, more cake and more Paninis in two days than we have in any weekend in our history.

 

True confession: we didn’t even have Paninis in 2004!

 

I remember standing out front on West Potomac reassuring the curious (and the hungry) that we were serving food not saving souls. 

 

 

Some souls have probably been saved at Beans in ten years but it was more likely our friend Rev. Phil or one of the other clergymen and clergywomen who did the saving,

 

 

I believe they come to us to “keep body and soul together”.

 

Having said that Beans has hosted numerous first dates, Valentine Brunches, bridal showers, two weddings, wedding receptions (you see where this is going?) baby showers, kids birthday parties, anniversary celebrations but no wakes yet.

       

 

Seems like Mother’s Day Brunch should fit in there somewhere!

The café honors the Rail Road and  the Western Maryland Traditions of Brunswick and never more so than on the first weekend in October

 

 

A favorite tradition which seems to be pretty universal is goofing o- – uh that is to say –Applied Sociological Analysis of the Indigenous Population while Maintaining Semi-recumbent Body Alignment.  Brunswickians of all ages refine their technique at our sidewalk tables.

 

Since our big civic celebration shares October with Halloween the café was decked out with pumpkins, ghosts and witches rather than hearts and flowers.

 

This weekend our young clients and some not so young, were fascinated by the “Flaming Skull” which Melanie personally wrested from an evil witch and brought to the cafe.                                                                                                                                      

 

 

There are tales of the terrible, scary battle between the heroic, beautiful, young founder of Beans and the hideous and ancient sorceress who created the dreadful artifact but because of the magic spell the story can only be told one night a year, Halloween!

If you ask her she might tell you the story this year on the 31^st.

  

I can tell you one thing right now though. If you dare stick your hand in the skull flame Santa will be extra good to you this year- but only if you really do believe in him!

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A less fearsome tradition of Brunswick is the Collage Ice. (No, not college, Collage) and it, unlike the story of the flaming skull, is available 364 days a year. (Beans is closed on Christmas.)  Our baristas can make one for you.

 

  Hanna our charming and talented Events Coordinator, Tea Hostess, Chef Supreme, Head Flower Arranger, Fine Linen Custodian and Mel’s Mom has arranged (she won’t tell me in which capacity) for an honored European custom to be instituted at 122 W. Potomac Street.

 

 

 

 

If you sit at a table outside long enough, everyone you know will pass by. If you are unmarried (and want to change that) the “Special Person” will come and sit down with you if you just wait (and drink our coffee).

 

 

Don’t ask me how she does it. I don’t know. I think it’s an “Old Country” thing they do over there.

I know it works though, ‘cause she told me so!

 

 

 

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