Sidamo Café

I rode and I rode and I rode. With no specific destination in mind, I rode down Telegraph Avenue, from 51st toward the center of town. And I rode, and I rode. But alas, there were no coffee shops.

It wasn’t until just past 37th St. that I found Sidamo (3624 Telegraph), a what a welcome place to rest my tired and thirsty head. For all the talk, Telegraph has no coffee shops along that 15 block stretch. Ok, I’m over it. What I’m not over is the big smile and warm greeting I got from Mimi, proprietor of the 2 month old shop. I ordered a cup of the Ethiopian sidamo blend, which was dark and smooth and just what I needed. “Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee,” she told me with a knowing smile, “and Sidamo, Ethiopia is where good coffee comes from.” And that’s where she gets hers, as evidenced by the bean-skins under the counter display. After a good talk, I sat down to enjoy the coffee, the free WiFi, the jazz on the speakers, and the cushions (in addition to tables inside and out front). I felt comfortable and welcome in the understated mix of African decorations and community flyers. Everyone who came in seemed to know Mimi: there were as many smiles and waves as there were customers, and I even got to meet her beautiful daughter. Open Monday through Saturday from 7 to 7 with a great selection of coffees, pastries, smoothies, and a few well-chosen sandwiches (all under $5), she had my whole morning taken care of.

Reading the headlines today, it seems like the reporters wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote until they found something they could underline. Some rather ho-hum articles about the governent: “Governor orders layoffs, heavy paycuts” and “SF mayor proposes fines for unsorted trash.” What!?! Government workers milk the overtime payscale? When did this start and why wasn’t I told? And people put trash in the recycling bin? Those fascists. I propose that everyone getting laid off by Arnold move to San Francisco and become a trash cop. I’m sure there will be plenty of overtime if Newsom tries to make an actual go at that. Rounding out the front page are articles about the Xtreme Country Make-Over! that is happening in Beijing to prepare for the Olympic crowds. It sounds like the front page took this summer day off and took out the microscope to burn some ant-like stories. At least my scope was macro-enjoyable at Sidamo, where I recommend you take a break from the news when you can.

Enjoy your break slow, dear reader. After all, if the front page microscopes our summer, I’ll be watching reporters throw water balloons at each other with watermelon juice dripping down their keyboards.

Breakfast in the Bay: Making sense of waking up since Tuesday, 2008.