the commons coffee dilemma

2012-01-20T22:06:00.008-05:00

Wondering what Adam has been up to?

2012-01-10T15:52:00.005-05:00

Philip Auerswald , friend and regular, forwarded me this article (in which he is also mentioned!): the cover story to Fast Company magazine, featuring Adam Hasler, one of three founding partners of Modern Times Coffeehouse. Many of you knew Adam, and, often, ask about him and his whereabouts since his departure in 2009.
The article starts with his tenure at MTC and follows him, and his restless intellect, into today's world of work and the "four-year career." I'm delighted to see him recognized for his striving for innovation in the field of social media and technology, never losing his idealism, or compromising his ultimate goal to help people.

shout out to P&P in Doonesbury!

2012-01-10T12:27:00.006-05:00

View yesterday's comic strip in Slate

thanks for a wonderful year

2011-12-31T16:09:00.001-05:00

We'll keep seeing you all in 2012! Thanks for making us your home away from home!

Reminding you

2011-12-17T11:31:00.000-05:00

Please don't leave your things, whether big or small, unattended or out of your sight. This includes walking away to grab a napkin, setting your stuff down to save a seat, ducking into the area by the bathrooms to take a phone call (yes, we all do it). Several folks, including employees, have had items stolen within a matter of 30 seconds of turning around.

Saving money...and cups

2011-12-17T09:44:00.000-05:00

Did you know you get a 50 cent discount on your drink every time you visit by using a Modern Times/Politics & Prose mug? That means you can get our featured large single origin coffee from Guatemala for $1.5o, or a double latte using our house espresso for $2.75. They're on sale by the condiment stand. They also make great gifts!

america's sweetheart

2011-11-29T09:59:00.002-05:00

From a recent episode of the The Simpsons, which includes among many other things: parodies of heist films and young adult fantasy novels, satirical commentary on the world of children's book publishing, and a guest appearance by Neil Gaiman(!!!):

Lisa Simpson, planning to write the next great teen novel series, opens up a laptop in Springfield's favorite local bookstore/coffeeshop "Bookaccino's".

"Sitting in a coffeeshop, I couldn't feel more like a real writer."

Sighs with satisfaction.

"Oh! Better set up my wi-fi, in case I need to do some research."

Stops to contemplate.

"But if I'm gonna use their free internet, I really should buy something."

Joins the line at the coffee bar.

"God, I love being a writer."

Hello Ceremony Coffee!

2011-11-27T10:48:00.007-05:00

Our local coffee provider has changed their name. Caffe Pronto is now called Ceremony Coffee Roasters. They will continue to supply us (and you) fresh every week with espresso, coffee blends, and a fine selection of single origin varietals from around the world, craft roasted right down the road in Annapolis, Maryland. We love their coffee and are pleased to support a local, independent business that uses fair trade, direct trade, Rainforest Alliance, and certified organic products.

Price changes

2011-11-15T08:39:00.003-05:00

Due to increasing global food, gas, and coffee prices, we have chosen to add a slight increase to some of our drinks and food selections. We held off as long as we could, but we can no longer continue to absorb the increased cost of our wholesale ingredients, especially dairy, bread, and coffee - which, when you think about it, comprise ninety percent of our menu. We will continue purchasing the best quality ingredients, sourcing from as many local vendors as possible, and preparing our food in-house.
We feel that our new price structure is comparable to similar businesses in the area. Plus, we have incorporated ways for you to save money (and produce less waste): if you purchase a travel mug from us, you will receive a 50 cent discount every time you buy a drink at the shop. You can also choose to bring your own mug and receive a 15 cent discount.
As always, we value your business and thank you for supporting your local independent coffeehouse.

The Only Constant is Change

2011-11-04T13:03:00.003-04:00

The one thing I can say about the people whom with we choose to work is that they are strong-willed, dedicated, quality-oriented, over-worked, small-business owners, artisans, delivery people - sometimes all of these things at the same time.
So, we gave Cacao a try, or, really, they gave it a try. Their products made our collective mouth water and impressed us with their creations. However, Cacao could not find a way to keep up, grow, with our demand. A lifetime of baking skills can't be taught overnight, and they were more willing to lose daily revenue than to deliver sub-par pastries! For the moment they are eliminating the wholesale portion of their business and focusing on their retail stores. Good while it lasted.
Heller's Bakery also reached the end of its tenure here. Another example of people eager to please but, realistically, dragged down by the pressures of owning and running an already successful business without a good support staff. They had been with us from the beginning; I remember they were the only people willing to deliver pastries during one of the severe blizzards a couple of years ago. However, inconsistency in their delivery times and products forced us to make the decision to no longer carry their donuts and muffins. As disappointing for me as it is for you, believe me.
That brings us to this week, when we approached Patisserie Poupon. You might know them from their retail store in Georgetown. We're still getting to know them but what we've tried so far has impressed us. I've gotten the most raves about the almond croissants. My personal favorite has been the glazed apple turnover and, for late in the day, a mini chocolate eclair coupled with a macchiato can erase the chill from the air.
As always, let us know what you think! We want to continue providing the best in quality and service and sourcing pastries from only the best local bakers!

2011-10-31T18:22:00.000-04:00

19th Century Secretary of the Smithsonian on the subject of Coffee

2011-10-28T14:42:00.005-04:00

Samuel P. Langley (1834-1906), in a letter to his niece Mary, wrote about the preparation of the "best coffee in Carlsbad,"in Bohemia.
I imagine that the legend of figs used in the preparation of the coffee came about because of the blend, the combination of four different varieties of coffee and perhaps their unique roasting technique. It's not uncommon to find fruit notes, even mango and raspberry, in some cups of coffee.
If I could only travel through time....any historical figures with whom you could imagine sharing a cup at Modern Times?

(from the Smithsonian Air and Space blog)

Current Exhibit: History of Peirce Mill

2011-10-05T21:15:00.005-04:00

An opening reception for this month's exhibit "Peirce Mill: 200 Years in the Nation's Capital" will be held from 6 to 8pm on Thursday, October 6 at Modern Times Coffeehouse. Complimentary food and drink will be provided to guests and wi-fi will be turned off during those hours. Please join us to learn more about this important landmark just around the bend from us in Rock Creek Park.

“Peirce Mill: 200 Years in the Nation’s Capital,” an historical exhibit featuring the works of Washington designers/artists Katherine Lenard and Mary Belcher. The exhibit tells the story of how a Quaker milling family became one of the largest landholders in Washington during the 19th century, and the later transformation of the Rock Creek Park mill into a beloved landmark operated by the National Park Service.

The show coincides with the re-opening of the mill after a 20-year shutdown. For more information on Friends of Peirce Mill, check out the website at http://peircemill-friends.org or their Facebook page.

Local Music Day

2011-10-05T08:42:00.010-04:00

Listen Local First will host DC’s first ever Local Music Day. The purpose of Local Music Day is to promote LLF’s mission and develop partnerships between local musicians and businesses in order to create additional avenues for local music exploration.

On October 5th, 2011 local businesses across the city will partner with Listen Local First and stream a playlist featuring the albums of 8 local artists all day.

You can also listen from home on a webstream by clicking here.

Thank you for supporting your local artists and musicians, AND your locally owned coffeehouse!

Lance on Kojo

2011-09-21T16:35:00.007-04:00

Yesterday, our arts and events coordinator, Lance Kramer, appeared on the Kojo Nnamdi Show to discuss the role of his company, Meridian Hill Pictures, in the production of the documentary, "Life as Collage," directed by students at the Sitar Arts Center. We're so very proud of Lance and his students and always admire his commitment to and involvement with the DC arts and social education community!

listen here (skip to about 41min32sec).

what jerks!

2011-09-04T09:49:00.000-04:00

Caffenol - finally, a good use for instant coffee

2011-08-15T11:54:00.004-04:00

UPDATE 9/4: couple of scanned negatives developed with caffenol. My mistakes are a result of overestimating developing time and not loading the film into the developing spool properly, but that's half the fun.

basic ingredients are instant coffee, vitamin c and washing soda!

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/07/skill-builder-caffenol-homebrew-film-developer.html

Current Art Show/Sale Extended! Matthew Scott Davis!

2011-08-07T15:09:00.008-04:00

For this new series of multi-medium screen prints, local artist (and beloved MTC employee) Matthew Scott Davis will donate a portion of proceeds from show sales to support the non-profit organization Partners In Health (PIH). It is a continuation of the “We’re All Human Beings” series from May and will be focused on the simple solutions to “Stupid Deaths” in poor communities and countries.

The prints speak to major issues these countries and communities face that have simple solutions— issues such as HIV/AIDS, access to water and food, curable diseases, and the cost of drugs.

UPDATE: Matthew's prints will remain on our walls through September/October and most are still available for sale as Matt and his family make the move from Washington across the ocean to another continent! For questions or purchases, please contact MatthewScottDesigns{at}gmail.com Subject line: “Stupid Deaths show"

Welcome, CACAO

2011-07-28T14:29:00.006-04:00

The free samples have been, well... sampled; the crumbs wiped off our shirts and the votes have been cast. The pastries baked by Jacques Poulain of CACAO were an immediate hit with our expert panel of tasters. The croissant and pain au chocolat share that flakey exterior and airey buttery-ness found in expertly baked patisserie. The peach danish was so delicious that I forgot how to share; I'm looking forward to the other seasonal fruits they will be locally sourcing. The biggest surprise and staff favorite was the beignet - fried dough coated in sugar - a perfect accompaniment to our upcoming single origin coffee, the Brazil Cerrado Gold. If you're looking for something smaller, look for a selection of their macarons on the counter; we're expecting mango, chocolate, and raspberry tomorrow.

I'm so happy to have found passionate individuals like Jacques and Vili, welcome them, and introduce you to their work - that is, if you haven't had it already: Jacques bakes out of the Cleveland Park location just a few block south on Connecticut Ave.

Hope you appreciate the hard work that is sampling pastries; we'll do anything for you!

Meet P&P's new owners and be active in planning its future and that of Modern Times

2011-07-20T11:32:00.001-04:00

A message from P&P's website:

Friday, July 22, 4 - 6 p.m.
Customer Focus Group
This will be the first of several small focus groups with customers intended to elicit your ideas and suggestions for the store. (Sign up required at the information desk or by phoning 202-364-1919 – first come, first serve)

Documentary Appreciation Salon

2011-07-18T23:38:00.006-04:00

7:30 pm, Thursday, July 21 @ the Coffeehouse

Docs in Progress presents

Documentary Appreciation Salon:

Documentary's Impact on and Influence from Reality TV

This salon series brings together filmmakers and documentary film aficionados to discuss and debate great issues in documentary cinema. Each salon will focus around a particular sub-genre of documentary and use clips from documentary films and questions from the moderator to spur reflection and discussion. As a way to encourage greater discourse on documentary film, this series is free to the public although donations are always welcome.

This month's topic will focus on how documentary has influenced and is influenced by "reality" television. Now an almost default setting for mainstream entertainment, Reality TV emerged in the early 1970s as a highly experimental and controversial mode of documentary expression.This salon focuses on Reality TV’s intersections with different trends in documentary filmmaking, how the mode has shifted over the past four decades, and its current place in the broadcast industry. Groundbreaking programs such as PBS’s An American Family (1973) will be central to the discussion.

 We are pleased to welcome guest facilitator, Josh Glick. He is a PhD candidate at Yale University in the departments of Film Studies and American Studies. His research and teaching interests are focused on the history and theory of American documentary film, Hollywood, and race and representation in popular media.

Although this is a free event, because of limited seating (of no more than 15 participants), advance registration is highly recommended. Wi-fi will be disabled during the event. For more information, visit www.docsinprogress.org

Coffee Granita

2011-07-13T15:44:00.005-04:00

This is a great way to use up stale coffee beans or leftover coffee. Brew it up strong and then sweeten and freeze. From The Flavors of Sicily, by Anna Tasca Lanza.

Granita di Caffé/Coffee Granita

3/4 c. sugar
2 c. water
1 + 1/4 c. strong coffee

Dissolve sugar in water in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Boil for about 5 minutes until reduced to a light syrup. Stir in the coffee and let cool.

Pour the mixture into a shallow metal pan or ice cube trays and freeze for 2 or more hours. Every 30 minutes use a fork to break up the ice crystals.

Chip the granita into cups or mugs that have been chilled in the freezer. Top with whipped cream, cream, or milk.

desperately seeking pastries

2011-07-07T13:27:00.004-04:00

We're sorry to say that we will no longer be getting croissants, danishes, or focaccia from Farid Fellag for reasons beyond our control. We are currently searching for an adequate replacement and would appreciate your suggestions and recommendations.

send us an email:
coffeehouse (at) moderntimescoffeehouse.com
javier (at) moderntimescoffeehouse.com

or leave your comments below.

(Again, we're really sorry. We're pretty bummed here at the shop as well, but have gotten some good leads thanks to some of you.)

June Art Exhibit EXTENDED

2011-07-06T13:24:00.001-04:00

Note: This photo show has been extended until July 14, 2011. In addition, all photographs are on sale for reduced prices. Please contact the artist directly to arrange purchase. (Business cards can be picked up at the cafe counter). An online gallery of "Tidal Ways" can be found here.

Rick Crockett’s “Tidal Ways”, currently on display at Modern Times Coffeehouse, is an ongoing series of photographic images whose ultimate purpose is to capture and chronicle the accidental artistry created by the sea as it interacts with the natural elements and debris its tides deposit along the coastlines of North America. Not a single component is ever added, removed, or rearranged during the process of photographing what not only emerge as works of art that can be simultaneously beautiful, humorous, and haunting, but may also upon deeper reflection cause one to feel as if they are participating in a Rorschach test that has been intricately etched into a canvas of sand.

Intrigued by the idea of celebrating a world seen only through his own viewfinder, Mr. Crockett became a serious photographer within moments of taking his first camera out for a test run on the back streets of San Francisco more than 25 years ago. Since that day he has created a body of work that encompasses a wide range of subject matter and themes, all driven by the simple principle that anything visually and emotionally compelling is worth the effort to memorialize that experience as an image that could outlive the person who captured it -- himself. To that end, Mr. Crockett has taken pictures of musicians, magicians, politicians, chimpanzees, children, Caribbean sunsets, Scottish ruins, urban demise, lobster shacks, and coastal life on opposite sides of America, as well as having lent his eye to innumerable public and private events in his capacity as a professional photographer.

In addition to his photographic efforts, Rick Crockett is the author of four books of poetry. His latest collection, MOSES STUTTERED (Musings on Love, Faith & Other Tricks of Light), features several images from his “Tidal Ways” series. Mr. Crockett is also the creator of “Lines on the Face of Portland,”a framed exhibit of six impressionistic "wall poems” commemorating the 350th birthday of Maine’s largest city. His work has drawn high praise from Lawrence Ferlinghetti, an American poet whose A CONEY ISLAND OF THE MIND still remains the most popular book of poetry ever sold in the U.S. Current projects include “Beyond the Call of Beauty,” a compilation of images exploring the inevitable, slow-motion deterioration of physical and natural matter as it is observed in the real-time world around us. Rick Crockett is also working on his next collection of poems, tentatively titled, TALKING IN MY SLEEP.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival - Colombia

2011-07-01T09:47:00.004-04:00

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Mall runs this weekend and next weekend. One of the featured countries/cultures is Colombia. There are a number of coffee related sessions including:

Coffee culture
Coffee basketry
Coffee growers and Juan Valdez
Coffee cuisine

Check their website for complete schedule and more information and do let us know if you go!

parallel evolution?

2011-06-21T11:00:00.006-04:00

While visiting Istanbul's Sahaflar Çarşısı (Old Book Bazaar) last month, I came across some beautiful examples of Ebru, or Turkish Paper Marbling. What struck me initially was the similarity between the various marbling designs (mainly flowers and hearts) with our own "folk art" practiced in the coffeehouse - latte art. Upon returning from my trip, I found videos online showcasing some of the techniques used in creating such intricate, dazzling patterns.

We owe the emergence of the coffeehouse to Istanbul's dynamic history. Now I can say that we also share kinship in the creation of intricate designs using the simplest of materials (although ours is inherently ephemeral in order to be enjoyed fully).

New Ownership Announced for Politics & Prose UPDATE

2011-06-17T17:09:00.003-04:00

The owners of the Politics & Prose Bookstore, Barbara Meade and David Cohen, have announced plans to sell the company to two Washington journalism and public policy veterans, Bradley Graham and Lissa Muscatine, who will become the store’s new owners later on this spring. Read the official announcement on the P&P website.

For more info:

Read The Washington Post story.

Listen to the WAMU story.

Read Bradley Graham and Lissa Muscatine's op-ed in The Washington Post.

Read the Washington CityPaper cover story from last October.

* It's official! Bradley Graham and Lissa Muscatine have assumed full ownership of Politics and Prose Bookstore. Read their welcome message on P&P's website.

I am looking forward to sharing a long and prosperous relationship with them, and want to express my never-ending love, gratitude, and admiration for Barbara Meade and David Cohen - true mentors and good friends. - Javier Rivas *

Overheard at the Coffeehouse

2011-06-16T12:49:00.004-04:00

"When the coffeehouse section was first added to Politics and Prose [1993], Carla Cohen offered a $100 gift certificate to the person who came up with the best name for the downstairs space. The winning entry was 'Best Cellar Coffee;' however, it never stuck and continued to be know as, simply, 'The Coffeehouse at Politics and Prose.'"

Can anyone corroborate this story? Do you want to share any stories, memories, or photos(!) from Coffeehouses past? We would love to hear from you.

Bring Capital Bikeshare to the neighborhood

2011-04-29T14:02:00.001-04:00

Capital Bikeshare is a project of the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) that allows users to rent bikes from stations across Washington, D.C. and Arlington, VA. Bikes may be rented for any length of time and returned to any station. Many of our staff members and patrons use Capital Bikeshare; unfortunately, the closest bike depot is located at the Van Ness/UDC Metro.

The corner of Nebraska and Connecticut is a finalist for DDOT’s planned expansion of 25 new Bikeshare stations.

We would love to offer this additional form of transportation to our staff, friends, and patrons who are looking for a convenient and reliable way to travel to and from our store and the neighborhood. You can read more about the Capital Bikeshare expansion here.

DDOT is interested in resident feedback about proposed stations. Please send an email to ddot.bikeshare@dc.gov to say that you support a Bikeshare station at Nebraska and Connecticut!

April youth art show: "Critical Exposure"

2011-04-07T19:30:00.010-04:00

Modern Times Coffeehouse is proud to present our new April art show, featuring photographs from youth in Critical Exposure's education programs.

Some background info on Critical Exposure: we teach youth how to use the power of photography and their own voices to become effective advocates for school reform and social change. Through partnerships with youth programs and community organizations, we seek to create a connection between art and advocacy using a three-pronged approach that focuses on:

1. Youth Empowerment – Provide students with training in documentary photography, leadership, and advocacy; teach them how to document issues that impact their lives; and help them to use their images and voices to advocate for positive solutions to those issues.

2. Public Engagement – Inform and engage the public by using students’ photographs and writing to create traveling exhibits that can be shown in galleries, coffee shops, and other public spaces to build awareness of the issues facing young people.

3. Policy Change – Partner with advocacy and community organizations to implement creative strategies that use youth photography and voices to strengthen campaigns to improve

our schools and our communities.

For more information on Critical Exposure, visit www.criticalexposure.org

"black coffee. freshly ground, fully packed"

2011-03-27T12:48:00.014-04:00

An ode to black coffee, strength and independence:

From the 1972 Ike & Tina Turner LP "Feel Good."

REMINDER: keep your valuables close.

2011-03-23T16:27:00.005-04:00

Pickpockets have struck in the coffeehouse, taking items from inside purses and from off of tables/chairs. Do NOT leave any of your items including phones, wallets, bags, etc. unattended, even if it's just to walk to the counter to return a dish or grab a napkin, etc. These thefts happened in a matter of seconds and they seem to be perpetrated by professional thieves; often taking only credit cards, leaving the wallet or purse behind, and making large purchases in local electronic or chain retailers in a matter of minutes. Please report any suspicious activity to the managers of the coffeehouse or the bookstore. Thank you.

Coffee prices on the rise

2011-03-10T23:45:00.006-05:00

We've been hearing about this for some time now. Read a discussion on coffee production, consumption, commodification and culture at The New York Times "Coffee, the New Shaky Commodity".

"coffee gives you the time to dream it"

2011-03-09T21:03:00.004-05:00

If David Bowie, Cicely Tyson, and Kurt Vonnegut are doing it, then count me in.

March 2011 art show: "A Blended Family"

2011-03-03T04:24:00.005-05:00

For our March art show, Modern Times Coffeehouse is excited to present a unique family collaboration. The show features paintings by Tanya Renne, illustration by Rose Jaffe and writings by Cindy Morgan-Jaffe. The show is dedicated the journey of becoming a blended family over the past ten years, with the work of family who have experienced some of the toughest times now presenting side by side.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Tanya and Cindy have been together for twelve years. Before that, Cindy was married and had three girls named Anna (now 24), Rose (now 22) and Claire (now 19) who grew up in Chevy Chase DC and attended Lafayette Elementary. A set of twins, Paul and Olivia now 9, joined the mix along with two dogs, a cat, and a swirl of guppies under their roof across the Park in 16th St. Heights. The household has been one of many comings and goings both physically and emotionally — juggling split households, two (not just one expected) babies, a start up software company run by both Tanya and Cindy and new relationships. Luckily, a passion for art is shared by all, but particularly Tanya and Rose, who are the most active visual artists in the family. As viewers of the art on display will see, each brings a different style and personality to their work and to life. The writings by Cindy add a literal voice to the mix.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

TANYA RENNE

Tanya’s description of her art is that it is “exploration of color and texture. Period.” She was an art and women’s study major at Colorado College where she graduated in 1992. Her broad range of art skills include pottery, printing making, etching, and technical illustration. In addition to her art, Tanya runs a software company, is a mom, enjoys exercise, gardening, cooking, and if often seen working here at the Modern Times Café.

Email Tanya [at] orchidconnect.com to learn more about her work and to arrange a purchase.

ROSE JAFFE

Rose grew up in Washington DC with a passion for drawing. This spring, she will graduate from the School of Art and Design at the University of Michigan where she has focused her work primarily on pen and ink media. Rose likes to explore all aspects of the human body with a concentration on the face and head. Her subjects come in a variety of shapes and sizes, often squeezed, stretched or pinched, pushing the definition of caricature to a new level. She has created illustrations for the show as well as a coloring book and handmade magnet sets. To contact Rose email her at jaffe.rose [at] gmail.com.

CINDY MORGAN-JAFFE

Cindy grew up in Wyoming in a family of five girls where arts and crafts were a common pastime. She migrated to the East where she graduated from Hampshire College and then found her way to Washington, D.C. and eventually became a mother, graphic designer and internship maven. Along the way, she has expressed her love of words and her family through writing, and especially poetry. “I enjoy the meanings, sounds, rhythms and visual nature of words."
The writings here are from her personal collection.

it's our 5th birthday!

2011-03-01T10:31:00.004-05:00

Ring in another year for us! Many thanks and much love!

I'm so proud of our little shop and so thankful that you've been here to experience our evolution. What's next? New coffees, great new art and events and the best staff, always!

What do you wish to see happen in Modern Times in the upcoming years?

patterns and process

2011-02-11T20:27:00.004-05:00

This reminded me of some of the patterns our baristas create out of simple materials: milk and espresso. Living paint! Art in everything!

Beans of Change

2011-02-09T16:01:00.003-05:00

I am happy to announce that, starting this week, we have decided to start carrying coffee roasted by the fine people of Caffe Pronto. With a roasting facility in Annapolis, they can provide fresh and delicious tasting coffees sourced from the best current crops in over 15 countries worldwide. I can't tell you how exciting this is for us; I've been consistently blown away by their Vincente espresso blend - overflowing with sweetness and chocolate tones - and look forward to sampling all of their varietals (currently stocking a Sigri Estate Papua New Guinea). Try it! Tell us what you think. Thanks for being with us as we take another step in Modern Times evolution.

Feb 2011 art show: Nathaniel Pearlman's 'Timeplots' and paintings by Nicole Bourgea

2011-02-02T22:13:00.012-05:00

This month, we're pleased to present the work of two unique local artists: Nathaniel Pearlman and Nicole Bourgea.

Nathaniel Pearlman is an information artist who resides just a few blocks from Politics and Prose. Pearlman studied at Yale College with Edward Tufte, renowned guru of the art of visually displaying quantitative information. Pearlman works in a tradition that seeks to communicate a high density of data honestly and elegantly.

Pearlman’s first five “Timeplots” are political because Pearlman has long been involved with American politics. He began his career building political technology applications for redistricting and campaigns. Then in 1997, in the attic of his home, Pearlman started a political software company. From a one-man operation, that company grew to a 130+ person firm, now called NGP VAN, Inc. NGP VAN’s software powers most of the fundraising, compliance and field organization of the Democratic Party and its candidates, including President Barack Obama. NGP’s success allowed Pearlman to step away from the day-to-day leadership of that company and pursue his enthusiasm for information art.

The complete process for creating each print takes many months and involves multiple phases: brainstorming, data collection and research, programming, and design. And many redesigns.

Though aided by a range of design and programming tools, all of the Timeplots are fundamentally hand-crafted, with every pixel and data point placement reflecting painstaking

attention to detail. Pearlman hopes that the Timeplots celebrate and communicate culturally, socially and political significant information and histories — while simultaneously producing art that challenges the viewer to see details, facts, figures, data and knowledge in a new way. Pearlman's work resides in the collections of Supreme Court justices and politicians, but is intended for anyone interested in the subject matter.

The five political prints now on display at Modern Times Coffeehouse during the month of February offer the newcomer to information art a new way to learn about political history and niche info art. For more information, or to purchase a print, visit www.timeplots.com

--

Nicole Bourgea is a third generation artist and resident of the greater Washington, DC area. She enjoys the challenge of applying her artistic vision to projects ranging from individual portraits and home portraits, to larger projects for schools, offices and interior designers. In all of these cases, her contemporary expressionistic paintings are concerned with microcosms that suggest a whole larger than the sum of its parts.

Bourgea is currently working on a series of large-scale portrait installations exploring the protective psychological instincts surrounding the experience of being noticed. For more information on Nicole's work, visit: www.nicolebourgea.com

Sounds of Modern Times

2011-01-31T01:44:00.008-05:00

One of our little joys of working within the coffeehouse is our freedom to play whatever music we find most suitable as we make you your drinks and food and, thankfully, it seems that a sizable amount of you all seem to agree with us. There's always a steady flow of questions - namely, "I like this, who is it?" - about the different types of music we play so we'll be periodically posting little pieces on these albums and the bands behind them. Having said all of that, on to the muzak:

Recommended by James

I have a special affection for the music of a woman named Zoe Keating who plays the beautiful, looping cello that you'll hear almost every day if you come in before 10:00A.M. I first heard of Zoe on the (single best) radio program out there, Radiolab. In an interview on the show, she describes her methods of layering her own recordings over each other to create weird, enchanting melodies and extra-long notes that blend perfectly with her knocks on the cello itself that give the music a percussive element that keeps it all moving along. You can download the Radiolab short featuring Zoe on iTunes for free or stream it from the Radiolab website- it's called Quantum Cello and is well worth your time, along with every other episode.

Recommended by Anna

On Fire, album from late 80's/early 90's band Galaxie 500. Shoegazers before their time, this three-piece band released three albums and developed a signature minimalist sound that you simply either like or you don't. After singer/guitarist Dean Wareham left the band to form Luna, and then Dean & Britta; bassist Naomi Yang and drummer Damon Krukowski played under the name Damon & Naomi and recorded a fantastic collaboration with the Japanese psychedelic band Ghost. The two bonus tracks at the end of On Fire-- and the ones that most people tend to hear and ask who is on the speakers-- are actually covers: a sparse version of George Harrison's lovely Isn't It A Pity; and a searing, reverb-y rendition of the bittersweet New Order/Joy Division single Ceremony.

Recommended by Alex (MTC Emeritus)

Nude Beach - Self Titled

For fans of The Replacements, Bruce Springsteen and 80's style garage rock and punk. This album showcases some incredibly catchy and impressive guitar work and the lyrics and their reverb-drenched delivery are perfect for the type of anxiety that only a cup of black coffee can induce. A must-have for anyone who considers his/her self to be a fan of rock'n'roll.
Myspace

Recommended by Javier

Lately, the album that I have gotten the most questions about while at the shop is Ch ancha Via Circuito's Rio Arriba, a beautiful blend of South American Nueva Cancion samples, cumbia, psychedelic swirls and endless echoing electronic beats. Sounds of a decaying city-jungle dream.

Speaking of Nueva Cancion, I recently discovered Victor Jara's body of work. His mournful voice, a perfect medium for folk songs and stories of love, oppression, war and social justice, was silenced in September 15, 1973 during the Chilean military coup.

What about you? What kinds of music do you like to listen to while you're here?

We're open!

2011-01-27T08:39:00.004-05:00

YES! We have the power!

New art show featuring the work of James O'Gara

2011-01-04T22:53:00.011-05:00

Modern Times Coffeehouse is pleased to present a new art show by local photographer James O'Gara, which will run through the month of January. For more information or to purchase prints, contact: james [at] ogaraphoto.com. All photos are © James O'Gara.

Notes from the artist:

Commonly seen as a locus of menace, the Arab ”street” is in fact neither menacing nor the monolithic location implied by the term ”street” so much as a collection of unique societies held together by little more than a common language. The photographs in this exhibit were taken over the past decade in Egypt and Yemen, two Arab countries that share remarkable histories and relative poverty.

Yemen in particular is one of the most beautiful places imaginable for a photographer. The air is clear, the light is even and pure, and the average adult male is more distinguished looking than Alec Guinness. Yemenis are remarkably hospitable, and fairly laid back about photography, but there are limits. There will be no photographs of women, who are almost universally veiled (with the niqab: just a slit for the eyes). When a woman passes by, the proper move is to ostentatiously point one’s camera at the ground, as we all learned to do in summer camp when the archery instructor was out fiddling with the targets.

Other limits include a visitor being warned by a friendly Yemeni Army enlisted man not to photograph the large State Security building (known to locals as the “fingernail factory”). Similarly, a German tourist with no knowledge of Arabic is said to have been arrested for photographing an ornate Arabic graffito outside the Great Mosque that turns out to have been an obscene reference to the buttocks of a woman named Afra.

The ability to connect favors the photographer who has the time, inclination, patience, and ideally the language skills to engage with his subjects, preferably long enough that they become bored and revert to their normal way of acting and interacting. This reversion to normalcy, every bit as much as the time after sunrise and before sunset, is the photographer’s golden hour. Photographing people at work or at play dramatically speeds up this process: you can’t let yourself be distracted by some guy with a camera if you are in the backgammon fight of your life, or are this close to making a sale.

This ready intimacy can also crumble surprisingly abruptly. In Egypt, where four wars have left a degree of security consciousness verging on paranoia, the crumbling happens when a bystander shares his view that there is something suspicious about a visitor who is photographing ordinary people rather than extraordinary pyramids.

Closing in on three decades in power, the regime of Hosni Mubarak is totally out of gas. But Egypt, a slender, densely populated ribbon tracing the Nile, is nothing if not governable from the center, the opposite of Pakistan’s North and South Waziristan in every way imaginable.

Cairo’s insane overcrowding reaches its worst in the city’s Manshiet Nasr neighborhood, an old dump largely reclaimed by Christian migrant workers, and cut off from the rest of the city by a highway. The garbage workers, or zabaleen, have created a system of 16 types of trash, from paper to glass to cloth.

Eking out a living in the collapsing splendor of Cairo is no mean feat; more remarkable still is the way illiterate peasant migrants from the countryside have found steady work in sorting, cleaning, melting, and otherwise recycling garbage, all done with machinery that would cause an OSHA inspector to faint. The worst jobs, such as culling the slop for the quarter’s pigs, pay among the best, and they are jobs only the low-born would consider.

The government basically stays out of the ecosystem that is Manshiet Nasr, with rare but tragic exceptions as in 2009, when public fear of swine flu was translated into a campaign, unsupported by the science, to slaughter the city’s 350,000 pigs and pay their owners below-market rates.

Egypt and Yemen are two of the poorest countries in the Middle East, yet in neither country is life unremitting misery, as family life is strong and the calendar is punctuated by numerous religiously inspired festivals (called moulids), and these too are a subject of my photography. As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote in his Nobel Prize lecture, on art: “Ours is a world where some weep inconsolate tears and others dance to a light-hearted musical.”

Notes on the Gear

I use a mix of 120 and 35mm film cameras and full-frame digital equipment, and output my work on an Epson large-format archival pigment inkjet printer that is the size of a stove. I shoot almost all of my subjects with a fast 28mm or 85mm lens, and most of my landscapes with a 20mm lens.

The Middle Eastern sun is harsh and directional, a fine environment for black and white film but a challenge to the dynamic range limitations of digital sensors, as are the odd wavelengths thrown off at night by fluorescent light bulbs, ubiquitous in the Middle East. Much of my outdoor and night photography are therefore shot in black and white, while I typically turn to the digital sensors for low-light images and images of colorful subjects.

For more information or to purchase prints, contact: james [at] ogaraphoto.com. All photos are © James O'Gara.

2011!

2010-12-31T19:13:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone!
We wish you peace and happiness from our Modern Times family.
See you in 2011!

Regina Holliday's show featured on Voice of America

2010-12-31T09:55:00.004-05:00

Local painter and health care advocate Regina Holliday, whose work is currently on display in the Coffeehouse until January 3, 2011, was featured yesterday in a Voice of America news article and short video documentary. Check out the story here.

holiday hours for coffeehouse

2010-12-20T23:24:00.004-05:00

Friday 12/31 8AM to 5PM

Saturday 1/1 CLOSED

Sunday 1/2 OPEN 8AM to 8PM

Buy and get your gifts wrapped here

2010-12-16T14:02:00.005-05:00

We all do it-- wait until the last minute to wrap gifts. You dig through the back of your closet only to find ten giant rolls of paper that you never liked anyway with wrinkled, awkwardly shaped scraps left that will barely cover the gifts that need wrapped. And then you run out of tape. Avoid all of this by taking advantage of this annual service from P&P and The Washington Literacy Council. Volunteers are here at the store to gift-wrap your books, MTC mugs & shirts, and more, through December 26th. WLC provides reading education and support to District adults with the most limited reading skills, greatest needs, and fewest resources. The suggested donation is $1 per item to support this WLC fundraising campaign. You may also sign up as a volunteer gift wrapper by contacting Jennifer Durkin at WLCgiftwrap@gmail.com; just put "P&P Wrap" in the subject line.

South of Laptopistan

2010-12-08T17:35:00.005-05:00

In this article in the NY Times, David Sax profiles a cafe in Brooklyn where laptops rule the tabletops and 5/6 of the overall space. I'm not wishing to move the cafe toward that particular business model - I believe we've achieved a careful balance within our small space. However, Sax was able to personalize the laptop drones who he originally believed "were just sitting around e-mailing other writers in other cafes around the world."
I've have met many writers, business people, moms, professors, students in Modern Times Coffeehouse; some of you have been calling this your "third-space" before that term was coined. I can't keep up with every one who comes through; so, inspired by this article, I'm asking you to introduce yourselves - here, on our Modern Times Coffeehouse blog.
What are you typing away for over there? What has been haunting your screen lately? The classic DC question: What do you do? Who are you?

new website coming soon!

2010-12-06T22:00:00.003-05:00

In the meantime while we get our new website ready, please won't you say you like us on Facebook? Come on, you're just going to log in to it right after reading this anyway. We're latecomers to it, but hope to use it to give you updates about things like holiday business hours and snow days, menu items, merchandise, and events happening in the coffeehouse and bookstore.

T-shirts-- back in stock!

2010-12-05T16:19:00.003-05:00

It's always been easy to look good inside the Coffeehouse, now the Coffeehouse can help you look good wherever you go.

After much anticipation, we are proud to release our new, limited-edition, hand-screen-printed Modern Times Coffeehouse shirts. Screen-printing is no small task, so before making the t's available, we wanted to let everyone know a bit more about the process and all the love that went into making these shirts a reality.

Late this summer, while stumbling upon what seemed to be just another ordinary yard sale in Mount Pleasant, former Modern Times barista Matthew Davis discovered an old, empty screen printing frame, alongside a bag of inks and a swatch of silk-screen fabric. Not sure it would all work, he decided to haul it home anyways. Many of you have experienced Matthew's fine artistry served up warm in a cup. You may not have realized, however, that his artistic expression extends far beyond a delicious espresso. Now employed as a full-time illustrator and graphic designer, for years, Matthew had talked with Modern Times owner Javier Rivas about designing a custom t-shirt for the Coffeehouse. Now armed with (at least some of) the necessary screen printing tools, Matthew decided to take action.

Step one: creating two prints and a design prototype. Step two: boss' approval. Step three: lots of pizza. Step four: calling lots of friends to provide free labor in exchange for pizza.

With a full, rag-tag screen printing crew mobilized, we began work on an initial batch of 20 limited edition shirts. A near fatal accident with an excited cat, spilled ink and flying kitty litter, caused a temporary detour in the production process. But Matthew's determination to complete the job meant that three days later, the beautiful new t-shirts were ready for their introduction to the world.

First batch is just 20 strong. Each t-shirt is designed by Matthew, hand-printed and individually numbered.

That means for now, until we print more, only 19 people in DC can look as good as you (if you buy one).

$25 buys you one.

For more information on Matthew's work, check out davisionary.tumblr.com or follow his tweets @davisionarybros.

P&P Sale; limited wi-fi hours

2010-12-02T08:23:00.014-05:00

The annual Politics & Prose Member Sale runs Dec 3-5. It will be crowded, so plan accordingly. This also means that on Saturday AND Sunday we will NOT have wireless internet access available between the hours of 11a and 7p. Please help us by sharing a table and keeping the areas where the public and staff walk through free of stuff. Thanks for supporting your local bookstore and coffeeshop!
photo and latte courtesy of James B.

You're invited to a PARTY to celebrate Open Mic

2010-12-01T12:18:00.017-05:00

This Friday, December 3, we will be celebrating the fourth anniversary of the MTC Unplugged Open Mic with a party! Four years seem to have gone by like a drop in the bucket, but we have some great reasons to slow down and get together to celebrate our wonderful community of musicians, poets, variety acts, artists, coffee slingers and listeners.

Some notable highlights include this years feature article in the Washington Post's Weekend Section and the upcoming piece that will air on local NBC Channel Four (air date TBA). This weekly event, often called the best open mic in DC, is a direct result of all the like-minded folks who bring talent and respect together in a stimulating, nurturing environment that just keeps growing. As always, all are welcome and there is no cover. The coffeehouse will be serving a full menu of drinks and food, but note that there will be limited seating available and we ask that if you want to use your computer that you sit at one of the tables in the bookstore.

4th Anniversary Open Mic

Friday, December 3, 7:30pm - 10:30pm
Featuring DJ Manimal and a live music jam (bring your instruments!)
We will be auctioning off a limited edition hand printed MTC shirt (read about them on the previous blog post) and other goodies!
Light fare and drinks will be provided

(photo by l.a. seidensticker)

New art show featuring the work of Regina Holliday

2010-12-01T11:14:00.002-05:00

Modern Times Coffeehouse is proud to present the artwork of local painter and health care activist Regina Holliday. Many of you are already familiar with Regina's work through her iconic mural entitled 73 Cents, just outside the Coffeehouse, on the wall opposite the CVS parking lot. Regina's paintings will be on display in the Coffeehouse throughout the month of December. For more information on Regina and her health care advocacy, check out her blog.

Some words from Regina about the show:

Did I ever mention Fred was for the most part a stay-at-home dad? Yes, he was an adjunct at three universities and worked part-time at the video store, but otherwise he was with the children. When Isaac was a baby and Fred would have to wile the hours away taking care of an infant, he would often strap Isaac into a front-pact baby carrier and go to Politics and Prose. Politics and Prose was Fred’s favorite store. He would spend hours there. As Isaac grew, Fred would place him first in the backpack, and as time passed, the stroller, and off they would go to Politics and Prose and divide their time between the film section and the mouse hole in the children’s section.

This was Fred and Isaac’s routine for three years. Then in March 2009 Fred became ill. Fred could no longer visit bookstores. I would bring books to him instead. On his birthday, I brought him three books from P&P, and due to his intense pain and his pain medication, he would never finish one of them.

When Fred died in June, we received many letters of sympathy, but one letter I treasure the most came from a P&P bookstore employee. She said how sorry she was that we had lost Fred and recounted all the many times Fred had carried Isaac in her store. I had had no idea that they had spent so much time within the store. While little Freddie was in school and while I worked, Fred and Isaac were surrounded by a maze books in a room filled with a love of knowledge. My eyes filled with tears as read of this vision of a father and son.

While painting the mural 73 cents in July, many staff members came to speak to me about the painting. Even the co-owner Barbara came out a few times to talk about medicine and paint.

When Howard Dean had a book signing at Politics and Prose, he came out to see the mural with one of my friends. When I tell people how to get to the mural 73 cents, I often say you can’t miss it. It is right by Politics and Prose.

So you can image how happy I was to be invited to show my canvas work at Politics and Prose later this month. The canvas work I have done will be displayed in the coffee shop in the basement of P&P from November 19, 2010- January 5, 2011. The opening reception will be Monday, November 22 from 5:00-7:00 pm. I will be showing many pieces about our personal struggle for information during Fred’s cancer journey. I will also show some pieces that comment on social media, open government and Meaningful Use. I hope you can make it.

I am glad I will see Fred’s face again inside of P&P, or as my little Isaac calls the store: Daddy’s Library.

Carla Cohen Tribute Event

2010-11-21T12:22:00.002-05:00

On Sunday, November 21, 1 p.m. Carla Cohen (1936-2010) Memorial Tribute

For 26 years, Carla Cohen, the founder and co-owner of Politics and Prose, brought her energy and intellect to building and maintaining one of the nation’s great bookstores. Please join us as we pay tribute to her incredible legacy in a memorial reception to which customers, colleagues, family and friends are invited.

Our tribute event is scheduled to begin with a program of brief speeches followed by a reception.

Tributes and Memories

Barbara Meade
Anne Shields
Howard Norman
Mary Kay Zuravleff
Seymour Hersh
Alexandra Zapruder
E.J. Dionne
Phyllis Theroux
Mark LaFramboise
David Cohen

2:30 - 4 p.m. Reception
Catering by Judy Starrells

If you cannot attend our tribute to Carla on Sunday, it will be livestreamed by beNOW.tv on our Politics and Prose website, www.politics-prose.com, starting at 1 p.m. This is an appropriate first livestreamed event with our new partner, and the beginning of what we hope will be a long relationship. BeNow.tv's founder and president Brian Gruber, a former C-SPAN executive and FORA.tv founder, says, "Carla was a warm, funny and generous partner and a big booster of beNOW.tv's plans to automate and livestream the production of author events. My memories of Carla holding court in front of the store - talking about books, authors, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. - will always represent to me the pinnacle of smart and passionate independent bookselling." --Barbara Meade

Nov Art Show: "Friday Photo Forum"

2010-10-23T09:28:00.001-04:00

Modern Times Coffeehouse is proud to present a new photography show by the "Friday Photo Forum." The show will remain in the Coffeehouse until Nov. 18.

A statement from the artists:

"Our group of women photographers came together through classes and darkroom work at the Smithsonian RAP photography program over the last ten years. Several of us "went digital" and left the darkroom a few years ago. Then Frank Lavelle, who had run the program and taught a variety of interesting classes as well as supervising the lab at the Ripley Center, relocated to Oregon. We all missed his guidance and the collegiality he had built up so we banded together to provide each other support for our photographic endeavors. We continue to meet monthly to share and critique our work and on occasion photograph together locally or on photo tours abroad. The show is at once a celebration of our friendships and of our love of photography."

If you are interested in purchasing any work, please contact the photographers directly. Their email addresses are posted on flyers throughout the Coffeehouse:

Alice Burton began taking pictures with a Brownie camera in her home state of Wisconsin in the late 1940's. Influenced by her father, a talented amateur photographer and painter, Burton experienced the pleasure of observing the natural world through a camera lens at a young age. Throughout her life and career as an educator and social worker Alice has expressed her admiration for the resilience of the natural environment.

Jane Cave’s photographs focus on two main themes: city streets and still lifes. In both cases she aims to capture images that the human eye barely registers, either because the moment itself is fleeting or because the camera can focus on a detail that would otherwise be lost in the surrounding clutter. She has studied at the Smithsonian Institution, the Maine Photographic Workshops, and the Center for Photography at Woodstock. She is a member of the Art League in Alexandria and Mid-City Artists, a multi-disciplinary group based in the Dupont-Logan Circle area of DC.

Wilda Heiss enjoys travel and landscape photography. She has exhibited at Frame Masters in Vienna, Greenbelt Community Center, and the Annual Art Show for the Library of Congress Professional Association for which she was named the Craig Hobson Memorial Photographer in 2003. Judge's commentary: ".....a sense of timelessness"...."ability to capture the beauty of the land"...."passionate feeling for the landscape"...."eloquent use of color and composition, coupled with imagination."

Barbara Johnson’s photography focuses mostly on people and the occasional abstract landscape scene. She uses film and shoots with medium format, 35 mm and Holga cameras. Barbara prints with traditional black and white materials, palladium, wet plate collodion, and Type C color. She is a member of the Art League in Alexandria and the Capitol Hill Art League. Barbara exhibits in juried shows in the Washington DC area and in national competitions. She studied at Syracuse University, the Corcoran College of Art and Design, the International Center of Photography, the Maine and Santa Fe photographic workshops and at the Smithsonian.

Pamela C. Richmond is known for her landscapes and still lifes. She now shoots and prints digitally in color. She also employs alternative processes such as Van Dyke brown, cyanotype and palladium. She was juried into the Torpedo Factory Artist’s Association in 2006 and is a member of The Art League in Alexandria. Her study of photography has been at NOVA, the Smithsonian RAP program, Maine Photographic Workshops and on tours with Frank Lavelle and Ernesto Bazan.

Sandi Robin grew up and was educated in Washington, D.C. Her husband is a second generation resident of D.C. Sandi and her business partner sold their retail business in Bethesda several years ago. In retirement, she felt it was time to express her creative ambitions and enrolled in photography classes at the Smithsonian Associates program. The darkroom and workshops created a passion for street photography and capturing the quirky, fun, and changing scenes of everyday life. Over the years she has been a part of a group show in Palm Beach, Florida, photographed events for her family, and assisted on photo shoots at weddings and bat mitzvahs.

Elinor Yudin Sachse, after many decades of painting in oils, found photography a natural extension of her painter's eye. She captures images on film and does all her own printing, both in color and in black and white. Repeated lines and curves attract her and, a creature of habit, she returns often to the same places, finding new aspects to interpret every time. For Ellie, the camaraderie and intellectual stimulation of the Smithsonian's darkroom and the relationships that evolve through it are further spurs to creativity. Her photographs have appeared in many shows, both solo and group, and are also part of a number of private collections.

Marge Silverberg has shown her work at the Alexandria Art League for the past several years, winning several honorable mentions. She has studied at the Smithsonian Institution’s Department of Photography and traveled with photographer Frank Lavelle and Ernesto Bazan.

Yoma Ullman’s main interest is in flower and garden photography. Her quest is to capture the improbably beautiful flora of our world. She has taken classes at the Smithsonian Institution’s photography program and the Maine Media Workshops. In a group led by Frank Lavelle, she took photographic tours to Venice and to the state of Oregon. She placed for three years in the Washington Gardener Magazine’s contest and in June 2008 had a solo show at Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD.

Sandy Yuffee. The arts have always been her passion, whether it be sculpting or studying. She has devoted the past 10 years to photography. Her photography is not mainstream, but rather an expression of her conviction that beauty comes in many forms.

Modern Times is Helping Prevent Homelessness, One Cup at a Time, through Cups of Kindness!

2010-10-17T22:12:00.003-04:00

On Thursday October 21st, Modern Times will donate a percentage of our gross sales to benefit Thrive DC! In addition, our staff has pledged to donate their tips to the cause as well. On this day, you won't only be supporting your local coffee shop, but your purchases will provide hope to the vulnerable individuals who turn to Thrive DC each day.

Over 6,000 people in Washington, DC face the night without knowing where they will sleep or what they will eat. Thrive DC makes sure that no one has to face homelessness alone or on an empty stomach. Each day, Thrive DC provides over 200 meals and supportive services to help homeless men and women end their homelessness and change their lives.

So feel good about getting that extra cup of coffee during Cups of Kindness!

Carla F. Cohen 1936-2010

2010-10-12T14:20:00.002-04:00

A message from Barbara Meade:

With deep sorrow, I am writing to inform our friends and neighbors that my beloved store co-owner Carla Cohen died this morning. For all of us here at Politics & Prose, it is difficult to believe that someone larger than life is gone, and I will deeply miss my friend and partner.

A funeral will be held at Tifereth Israel, 7701 16th Street, N.W. , at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13th.

The store will be closed from 12-4 p.m. on that day. We will have a memorial service in the store at a date to follow in November.

(Apart from this closing, all other events will proceed as scheduled.)

Please read the obituary post from the Washington Post here.

We welcome and encourage your condolences, tributes, and memories here.

October Thursday Night Throwdown barista competition

2010-10-05T23:56:00.000-04:00

wire-free coffeehouse

2010-09-28T16:11:00.011-04:00

Starting 10/10/10, we will make the move to an almost wire-free coffeehouse. This means that, if you are planning on bringing your laptop, fully charge its battery prior to joining us. Internet access through our wireless router will continue to be free of charge for paying customers, and some power outlets will be available to customers sitting at the bar. We hope that this is no great inconvenience: modern laptop batteries, if taken care of properly, should last from three to eight hours (depending on the individual computer). Thank you, and, as always, we welcome your comments.

Kim O'Donnel presents 'The Meat Lover's Meatless Cookbook'

2010-09-22T12:34:00.011-04:00

In the Coffeehouse at 7 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 28:

Kim O'Donnel will read from her latest book, The Meat Lover’s Meatless Cookbook: Vegetarian Recipes Carnivores Will Devour. Kim will also bring several dishes to taste, based on recipes from the cookbook.

Meatless Monday was launched in 2003 to help Americans reduce saturated fat intake. Now viewed as not only a healthy, but eco-friendly choice, becoming a once-a-week vegetarian is sweeping the nation as a way of life, with restaurants, businesses, and schools providing menus sans meat 52 days a year.

In The Meat Lover’s Meatless Cookbook: Vegetarian Recipes Carnivores will Devour, author Kim O’Donnel provides over 95 mouthwatering meatless recipes for once-a-week and full time vegetarians. With dishes ranging from gluten-free to vegan and dairy-optional fare, dishes are not only healthy, but tasty, filling, and easy to make.

Chefs looking to give Meatless Mondays a shot will find menus grouped by season, with each section containing 12 meals—one for every Monday. Established vegetarians will enjoy sections like “Kitchen Tricks,” full of helpful tips and techniques, “Wild Card,” which has meals for every season, and “Make it a Meal,” a list of favorite sides with mix-and-match versatility to jazz up meals that are already part of their everyday fare.

Kim O’Donnel is a trained chef, nationally recognized online food personality, and online journalist. A graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education, she is a regular contributor to True/Slant.com and Culinate.com. She has also written for the Washington Post, Real Simple, and Huffington Post. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she now lives in Seattle with her husband.

PLEASE NOTE: From 6-9 pm, tables and chairs will be rearranged in the Coffeehouse for the event, and the wi-fi will be turned off. Thanks for your understanding.

CURRENT EXHIBIT: Emma Norman's Photography

2010-09-19T12:16:00.005-04:00

Emma Norman is a film photographer who got her start at Glen Echo Park in Maryland. Since then, she has studied photography at the Maine Photographic Workshops and Scripps College in Claremont, California. Emma currently works as a Museum Assistant at The Phillips Collection in Dupont Circle and teaches photography at The Field School.

This show features 15 photographs (10 black and white and 5 color) as well as a collaborative installation with her father, local novelist and regular at Modern Times Coffeehouse and Politics and Prose Bookstore, Howard Norman.

Jaybird Coleman - Coffee Grinder Blues

2010-09-16T10:25:00.006-04:00

Ain't nobody, it ain't nobody
Ain't nobody in town can grind a coffee like mine

I drink so much coffee, till I grind it in my sleep
I drink so much coffee, I grind it in my sleep
And when it get like that, you know it can't be beat

It's so doggone good that it made me bite my tongue
It's so doggone good it made me bite my tongue
Will keep it for my daddy, ain't gonna give nobody none

I ain't ever loved it this-a way before
I ain't ever loved it this-a way before
And I hope the Lord that I won't love it any more

I've got so now that I can't control my mind
I've got so now that I can't control my mind
I go to bed blue and I get up cryin'

It's so doggone good that it made me talk out of my head
It's so doggone good it made me talk out of my head
And it's better to me than any that I have ever had

Now I grind my coffee, at the 2 and 3 dollars a pound
I grind my coffee, at the 2 and 3 dollars a pound
And it ain't no mo' cheap like mine in town

It's so doggone good until it'll make you bite your tongue
It's so doggone good that it'll make you bite your tongue
And I'm a coffee grindin' mama and won't you let me grind you some?

You say cafe, I say coffee bar

2010-09-07T11:19:00.003-04:00

...and then there's also coffeeshop, coffeehouse, etc. Adding to the neverending discussion on the place of wi-fi, computers, and the like in coffeeshops, read: The New Coffee Bars: Unplug, Drink, Go

UPDATED: Parking Spaces

2010-09-04T13:20:00.003-04:00

As of Monday, about 20 spaces were available for use in the re-paved parking lot. These were the spaces that are closest to the alley. We hope that the full lot will be open on Tuesday.

September TNT Latte Art Competition

2010-09-03T01:23:00.000-04:00

http://wdcthursdaynightthrowdown.wordpress.com/

Kreider Farms milk is here!

2010-08-23T15:46:00.004-04:00

We had been seriously unhappy and frustrated with the quality of the milk coming in from Shenandoah's Pride. Unexpectedly, we began having trouble steaming our milk to the perfect velvety texture we had been used to. After much frustration and experimentation, we determined that our milk supply was the issue.
We're happy to introduce to you the happy cows at Kreider Farms in Lancaster County, PA. We can now say our milk is local and sustainably produced in an environmentally responsible facility, farm fresh and better tasting.

RESCHEDULED: August TNT Barista Competition

2010-08-06T22:04:00.010-04:00

rescheduled date is august 19th!

check out the details on the TNT website.

happiness is a warm latte

2010-08-05T11:00:00.000-04:00

by james b.

WARNING -- PROTECT YOUR STUFF!

2010-07-27T09:20:00.001-04:00

There has been a series of thefts in the coffeehouse, including items taken from inside purses and from off of tables/chairs. Do NOT leave any of your items including phones, wallets, bags, etc. unattended, even if it's just to walk to the counter to return a dish or grab a napkin, etc. These thefts happened in a matter of seconds. And feel free to please report any suspicious activity to the managers of the coffeehouse or the bookstore. Thank you.

Electricity restored

2010-07-26T15:04:00.004-04:00

Power's back = back in business!

(help us celebrate by getting refreshingly "electrified" with an iced chai latte, Arnold Palmer, or dark chocolate iced mocha)

Video from the Itinerant Poetry Librarian

2010-07-15T22:55:00.004-04:00

Just in case you missed the Itinerant Poetry Librarian, and her traveling roadshow of out-of-print poetry and fussy British librarian antics...

The Itinerant Poet Librarian @ Modern Times Coffeehouse from Lance Kramer on Vimeo.

Documentary Appreciation Salon

2010-07-13T09:53:00.005-04:00

This salon series, moderated by Docs In Progress co-founder Erica Ginsberg, brings together filmmakers and documentary film aficionados to discuss and debate great issues in documentary cinema. Each salon focuses around a particular sub-genre of documentary and use clips from documentary films and questions from the moderator to spur reflection and discussion. As a way to encourage greater discourse on documentary film, this series is free to the public.

This month's topic will focus on how place is approached in documentaries. While sometimes just a setting or backdrop, the location or locations of a documentary can often be almost a character in and of itself. How do different documentarians treat the role of place in their films? We will look and discuss a number of clips from classic and contemporary documentaries. This program is sponsored by Modern Times Coffeehouse at Politics & Prose Bookstore.

When?

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 from 7:30-9:30 pm

Where?
Modern Times Coffeehouse at Politics & Prose Bookstore (5015
Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington DC - Lower Level)

Cost?
This is a free program. However it does take place in a cafe space and we encourage you to support our sponsor by getting some yummy food or drink while at the program.

July 14: The Itinerant Poetry Librarian

2010-07-06T20:44:00.007-04:00

Need FREE membership of a travelling library of 'lost & forgotten' poetry? You're in luck good citizens of Washington D.C. – we've arrived!

Continuously, since May 2006, The Itinerant Poetry Librarian has been travelling the world with a library of ‘Lost & Forgotten’ poetry, installing the library & librarian and archiving the sounds, poems and poetry of the cities, peoples and countries she meets.

Modern Times Coffeehouse is delighted to welcome the Itinerant Poetry Library and Librarian on WEDNESDAY JULY 14th 2010, where from 7-10pm, she’ll be installed in our coffeehouse with her library OPEN. Come and visit her, discover her ever-expanding poetry collection – and add to it yourself if you've an appropriate title to donate – or even join the growing community worldwide who are members of TIPL.

The Itinerant Poetry Library is a free travelling poetry library, which for the past 4 years has circumnavigated the globe providing a free public poetry library service to the good citizens of 12 countries, 29 cities, in 150+ different locations, and with over 1000+ members undergoing joining procedures during the 1000+ hours of public library service it has provided. Come Join Before She Travels On!

For further information see The Itinerant Poetry Library website: http://www.tipl.info

Or follow the library's locations by twitter where a map URL and address are posted as soon as the library has a new location: http://www.twitter.com/librarian
(Photo credit is: Downey/Wingate Gray)

Independence day hours

2010-07-04T07:07:00.003-04:00

For today:

7am - 4pm

have a fun and safe 4th!

Upcoming Event this Saturday! Reception with bk.iamART.adams

2010-07-01T10:59:00.004-04:00

Modern Times Coffeehouse is proud to present a new art show by iconic and esteemed Washington DC artist (and longtime patron) BK Adams. The installation will be shown in the Coffeehouse from early June through the end of July.

(photo by Jim Darling)

A free reception and meet-and-greet with BK will take place Saturday, July 3 at 7pm in the coffeehouse.

If you are not already familiar with BK's vibrant work, you may
have seen him hanging out in the Coffeehouse, riding around town on one of his painted bicycles, or depicted in one of his ubiquitous stickers proclaiming "I AM ART."

BK was also the subject of a Feb. 23, 2010 front page article in the Washington Post entitled 'Art Man' Bryant K. Adams seeks to beautify D.C. through found art'

Please enjoy the art and feel free to contact BK directly with any questions about purchasing his work at iamartbkadams[at]yahoo.com.

It's your imagination that will set us FREE.

by bk.iamart.adams

Some a blueprint of mi Life others

a treasure map of mi mynd. All and

expression of a true exiperence

a painted DREAM

A RED HOUSE underneath a painted waterfall

Perhaps an opportunity 2 present a life story

on canvas without stealin the viewers______

imagination!

FREE 2 imagine what U will?

Some like 2 B told. Some need 2 B told

Some u tell and they don't see anyway?

Still i share! Enjoy the show.

south american knockout round!

2010-06-28T11:21:00.002-04:00

Brasil v. Chile @ 2:30PM on the wall of the coffeehouse today!

Parking Woes UPDATED

2010-06-28T08:25:00.000-04:00

Well, it just so happens that the District of Columbia has no jurisdiction over the strip of dirt next to the woods; it is, actually, part of Rock Creek Park, and, therefore, under federal jurisdiction. Nick Gill, our landlord, has an agreement with the Park Service - allowing cars to park in that area (as long as it remains reasonably maintained). Carry on.

on 6/23/10, I wrote:
"A parking enforcement officer visited our parking lot today to inform us that PARKING ON THE GRAVEL/DIRT ABUTTING THE WOODED AREA IS ILLEGAL. I would suggest parking on the paved lot or on 36th St. while we, along with the other businesses on the block, try to appeal this decision since using those spaces has been an accepted practice for several years. I will keep you informed of any developments."

¡mas futbol mañana!

2010-06-22T17:54:00.003-04:00

EEUU v. Algerie 930a
Germany v. Ghana 230p

(assorted found video in between)

World Cup Today!

2010-06-22T13:39:00.002-04:00

We will be streaming the World Cup TODAY in the coffeehouse! Korea v. Nigeria @ 2:30PM ET. (Various internet-found video art before and at half time.)

a nod from the new yorker

2010-06-20T13:29:00.005-04:00

I just want to point out, that Hendrik Hertzberg's heartfelt post about the future sale of Politics & Prose on The New Yorker website, included a wee mention about getting espresso at the store: "P&P is not just a place to buy a book or sip an espresso, though I make it a point to do both every time I’m in the vicinity." Read the full post here.

what's the deal with iced coffee?

2010-06-14T07:00:00.002-04:00

We've been serving cold-brewed coffee for a few years now, but ever since last summer the notoriety of iced coffee has skyrocketed. Convenience stores, fast food joints, and corporate coffee chains are marketing iced coffee as the cheaper, but just as delicious, alternative to an iced latte. (Iced lattes are more expensive for this reason: they involve the barista pulling regular espresso shots to order, then a full serving-- usually 8 oz. or so of milk and sometimes a flavor shot is added.)

We were highlighted briefly in the Express last summer about cold-brewed iced coffee, and then the Post followed up with an article, quoting awesome food scientist Harold McGee on the flavor marriage of milk and coffee; also highlighted was the cold espresso-based drink the "shakerato" (which for you oldschoolers-- we actually used to serve at MTC).

Also mentioned was an incident with a now-defunct coffeeshop where a customer was refused espresso over ice (and threatened, via a blog post, with a very specific form of punishment) because the establishment wouldn't serve a coffee beverage where the form/quality of the espresso was compromised.

Why all the hullabaloo? Coffee beans for espresso are roasted and blended to preserve unique flavors that bloom under the intense pressure and temperature of the espresso machine. When that hot, concentrated shot of liquid is shocked with ice, it tastes completely different than the fragrant, savory, sweet, and creamy treat that it was meant to be. Most of us agree that taste is well, bad. We also don't like to see those carefully roasted espresso beans covered up in a drink with tons of milk and most likely, sugar.

Lurking in the background is another reason why some people have been known to order espresso over ice-- they simply use the "free" self-serve condiment milk to fill the rest of the cup up, essentially making their own iced latte for the cost of just ordering a regular espresso. There's even a pejorative term for it, but I don't like to use it. One can understand the motivation behind this-- but considering that vast majority of people only use 1-2 ounces of milk in their coffee, someone taking 8-10 ounces of milk for their on-the-sly iced latte cuts into the bottom line of a business. At our store, the additional dollar you pay for the iced latte vs. a double espresso accounts for the milk, the ice, and the barista pre-mixing it for you.

Cold-brewed coffee tastes completely different than say, hot-brewed coffee that is just leftover and then stuck in the fridge until cold. It can be enjoyed on its own, or with a little bit of milk or simple syrup (sugar that has been pre-dissolved in water) to enhance the natural flavors. If you like your espresso unaltered or like to drink regular hot coffee black, you'll probably find cold-brewed coffee a refreshing, flavor-packed substitute when you need a cold jolt on a hot day. And if you usually drink iced lattes, try iced coffee with milk-- you will be surprised of the flavor difference.

For the record, there are some specific methods out there for brewing coffee directly over ice to actually capture flavors at the point of chilling-- notably the Japanese method, which uses a pour-over brewing style, filtering the concentrated coffee directly onto ice cubes; or Vietnamese-style iced coffee, which brews a single serving of coffee over ice and sweetened condensed milk.

Many thanks!

2010-06-10T15:36:00.004-04:00

As you might have read already, Barbara and Carla are looking to move on and are currently in the process of looking for a buyer who will continue their legacy and preserve Politics and Prose Bookstore as a D.C. institution.
I am forever indebted to them and have nothing but love and good wishes for both in their retirement. The coffeehouse, as it exists today, could not have happened without their continued encouragement and patience.
Thank you, Barbara and Carla, for taking a risk on a bunch of business greenhorns! I feel proud to have had you as mentors and to be a part of the P&P family.

SIZE of our drinks

2010-06-02T01:44:00.012-04:00

Recently, an "Anonymous" commenter had this to say regarding our decision to eliminate the larger cup sizes:

"I, too, do not understand how an "efficient supply and consumption of both materials and space" affect getting a large regular coffee. Non-espresso coffees do not require more time to prepare, and only marginally more materials. I regularly buy a large coffee, drink some on site, and take the rest with me. Taking away the ability to do this for the reasons stated not only seems ridiculous, but may drive me to other places. Very user-unfriendly."

I understand how our decision, originally-presented, can be confusing and disconcerting for some people. For the sake of brevity in my original blog post, I did only mention the quality of espresso drinks as the impetus behind this change. Questions arose, and, subsequently, Anna added that efficiency of materials and space, and streamlining the flow of our movements and those of the traffic within the shop, also influenced our decision. She also stressed our ability to adjust specific orders - i.e. adding extra shots or even filling larger sized non-disposable travel mugs.

If that does not make our decision clearer, let me add a few more reasons that were not explicitly stated. Our menu is now easier to read. Our storage space is very limited and, as a small business, our margins thin: inventory is now much easier to manage and maintain in order. Furthermore, keeping larger cups behind the counter and not using them for espresso drinks would only lead to confusion, misunderstandings, subsequent lengthy clarifications interrupting our otherwise efficient workflow, and would, perhaps, add conflict to our otherwise peaceful coffeehouse. We still offer coffee refills, unlimited quantities of them, even! Sit a while, enjoy what you are drinking.

Also, remember how the coffeehouse used to serve 20 oz hot drinks and people's reaction to eliminating that size drink?

I didn't think you would.

Free Documentary Film Screening - May 24th

2010-05-18T15:53:00.012-04:00

Versailles, New Orleans is home to the densest ethnic Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam. For over 30 years, its residents lived a quiet existence on the edge of New Orleans. But then came Hurricane Katrina, the immense garbage piles, and the shocking discovery of a toxic landfill planned in their neighborhood.

S. Leo Chiang's documentary about this resilient community's struggle for environmental and social justice will be shown on Monday, May 24rd at 7:00pm in the coffeehouse as part of the PBS and ITVS Independent Lens Community Cinema program and in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Watch as they fight back, turning a devastating disaster into a catalyst for change and a chance to build a better future.

Co-sponsored by DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival.

Current Exhibit: Photos from 'We Grew It, Let's Eat It!'

2010-05-16T11:08:00.001-04:00

Modern Times Coffeehouse is delighted to present a new photo show for the spring — featuring local photographer Becky Lettenberger. The prints all come from the new book by Justine Kenin, entitled We Grew It, Let's Eat It! (published by Tenley Circle Press, and available for purchase in the bookstore for $15).

Becky Lettenberger is a native of the Garden State (New Jersey), where she began photographing at the age of ten. The photographs currently on display were made with dirt and love during the summer of 2009 while working on We Grew It, Let's Eat It! All of the prints are available for purchase, the smaller for $75 and the larger for $100. Please contact becky.lettenberger@gmail.com for more information.

About the book: DC twins Annie and Veda learn about the White House veggie garden and want to grow fruits and vegetables, too. But how, if you live in an apartment? Watch the twins and senior gardener Ida work and play their way through planting, tending, and harvesting in a neighborhood Community Garden. Then comes the fun of preparing and eating simple, tasty, homegrown food! A picture book for young readers (ages 3-8 -- Pre-K- Grade 4). By Annie and Veda as told to Justine Kenin. Full-color photos by Becky Lettenberger.

56 pages, soft cover 8.5” x 11”, with recipes and books for further reading. ISBN: 978-0-9773536-4-4, $15.00

For more information on arts events in the Coffeehouse, contact Lance — art [at] moderntimescoffeehouse.com.

Throwing down with espresso

2010-04-29T20:37:00.012-04:00

Last month several of our staff participated in a monthly event known as the "Thursday Night Throwdown", where local baristas gather over PBR ("official sponsor") and show off their latte art skills in some friendly competition with the hopes of winning a small pot of cash and bragging rights until the next month's gathering. The Post covered the March event and gives some good background, read the story here. For April's event, check out all the pics of the evening's challenge: the macchiato. Above, the ones from our staff-- Anna, Javier, Matt, and Bear (former MTC).

Spring renewal

2010-04-13T20:32:00.004-04:00

The season for rebirth is here. We are preparing some refreshing additions to the menu and major remodeling in the upcoming weeks.
First of all, we will be eliminating the 16oz size for warm beverages and the 20oz size for cold. We believe that, by making this change, we will best be able to focus on serving quality, well-balanced drinks. We will continue offering our 8oz and 12oz sizes as well as the 6oz classic cappuccino size. Once we run through our supply of large cups, we will institute the changes.
By the end of this week, we will be adding two new sandwiches and a new salad to the menu. The prototypes have caused much excitement and anticipation among our staff. I'll say no more. Just keep watching the menu board.

TONIGHT: Film Salon on Political Docs

2010-04-13T06:55:00.004-04:00

From Erica Ginsberg, executive director of Docs in Progress:

Docs In Progress is excited to bring back the Documentary Appreciation Salon to Modern Times on Tuesday, April 13 from 7:30-9:30 pm. We held our first Salon at the Coffeehouse back in February and drew 15 documentary aficionados to watch clips from personal documentaries — and then discuss them (while enjoying delicious coffee and food from Modern Times).

Some of the films are known to the audience. Some are new. Every clip is built around encouraging reflection and discussion. This time around, we will be focusing on political documentaries. Some of the clips we'll be discussing include Iraq for Sale, Iraq in Fragments, Jesus Camp, Expelled, and of course Michael Moore and his critics. The Salon is open to all, though we strongly recommend an advance RSVP so we can get a sense of who will be there. For more information and to RSVP, visit the Docs In Progress website at http://www.docsinprogress.org.

April's Art: Sheridan School students exhibit 'Sequential Art'

2010-04-09T00:27:00.007-04:00

Artwork by seventh graders at the Sheridan School will be on display in the Coffeehouse throughout the month of April. The Sheridan School's seventh grade class studied sequential art (including its history, luminaries, and techniques) for several weeks to inform their own efforts at constructing and conveying a narrative rooted in the dynamic worlds of movement, space and time — while still being fixed to the static medium of the two-dimensional page. Whimsical or poignant, action-packed or serene, their work is as diverse and expressive as the students themselves. The art is not for sale — and a reception will take place at the end of the month.

About the Sheridan School

The Sheridan School is a small K-8 private school nestled in Northwest Washington DC. A progressive school, Sheridan hopes to help students grow into confident, responsible and kind children who are well-prepared to meet the challenges and demands of a complex and changing world, while maintaining their own unique voice. For more information, visit www.sheridanschool.org

Happy 4th birthday Modern Times!

2010-03-02T16:47:00.002-05:00

Yes, four years! Unbelievable. All I can say is thank all of you for getting us to this point. The shop has never felt better and I look forward to continue improving the space.
I love our staff and truly appreciate all their hard work and dedication to the craft and the community.
Hope to see you around for many more years to come.

2010-03-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed these beautiful, non-disposable "to go" cups? Just look at them. Durable, ceramic, silicone top, dishwasher safe, AND, if used in the coffeehouse, you will receive 50 cents off your drink, every time. Emblazoned with the Politics and Prose and Modern Times logos. Perfect! Available only at Modern Times. Ask your friendly barista for one.

Docs In Progress Documentary Appreciation Salon

2010-02-23T07:00:00.001-05:00

Tuesday, Feb. 23rd

7:30pm

This free salon series brings together documentary film aficionados to discuss and debate issues, elements and genres of documentary cinema. This month's topic will focus on personal documentaries. First-person films have become more and more common in the past 30 years. We will look at several different approaches to personal films and discuss what they say about the filmmaker, his or her world, the larger society, and the voyeuristic role of the audience.

The Documentary Appreciation Salon is organized by the non-profit arts organization Docs In Progress and takes place in odd months at their headquarters in downtown Silver Spring and in even months at the Modern Times Coffeehouse at Politics and Prose. RSVP through the Docs In Progress website (www.docsinprogress.org) is highly recommended.

For more information, email Kramer.Lance [at] gmail.com

Friday: back to normal

2010-02-11T19:36:00.006-05:00

Normal hours on Friday!

Here's a few photos from wind gust Wednesday:

Thursday hours UPDATED

2010-02-09T22:06:00.007-05:00

Snowpocalypse 2010 update:

Coffeehouse hours
10a - 6p

Bookstore hours
12p - 6p

Until the bookstore opens its front doors, please use the parking lot entrance to the coffeehouse. Be careful out there.

Let's all think warm thoughts and look forward to a return to regular schedule and functioning.

Feb 21: Reception with featured artist Halcy Bohen

2010-02-08T13:23:00.002-05:00

Despite the chill outside, the walls of the coffeehouse will rollick with warmth and action through February and March as they are filled with Halcy Bohen's paintings and drawings of dancers, musicians, chefs, and food.

The show, called Eat, Play, Dance! displays Bohen's range of styles and media, including oil, ink, watercolor, and acrylics. Describing her work as "filled with lightness and movement, fluid lines and color," critics praise her use of "the slightest line and action to capture the subject, revealing the essence of the being itself."

Halcy's work has been juried into shows at the Smithsonian, the Yellow Barn Gallery and the Caladan Gallery. She has also exhibited locally at the American Painting Gallery, the Watergate Gallery, the Bethesda Library and the Starfish Cafe.

Her affinity for art is allied to her career as a psychologist, each role requiring both close observation and a creative response from her.

A reception with the artist will take place on Sunday, Feb 21st from 6-8 pm in the coffeehouse. Please note that there will be no wi-fi available and the furniture will be rearranged to accommodate the event.

She can be contacted at 202-364-0962 or at halcybohen@aol.com.

coffee snow cream cones?

2010-02-05T23:55:00.000-05:00

Found, in a Mennonite cookbook from 1976:

Snow Ice Cream

2 1/2 quarts of clean snow

1/2 c. milk or cream

1 t. vanilla

1 c. sugar

new tea choice

2010-01-28T23:59:00.003-05:00

In addition to our jasmine and gunpowder teas we have a new organic green tea named Yun Wu Cha. Loosely translated by our resident Chinese-speaking barista Kurt, that means "Cloud Fog Tea", as it's grown in the mountains of Jiangxi Province. It is lightly colored and delicately flavored, so you'll want to avoid over-steeping-- no more than 3 minutes.

Photography Exhibit CLOSING

2010-01-28T00:41:00.004-05:00

The current exhibit featuring photographs of architecture and landscapes from around the world by Larry Ponsford will close at the end of January. Several have sold, but many are still available for very reasonable prices. Can you guess which structure this is?

Doc screening + POTUS speech in the coffeehouse!

2010-01-27T12:43:00.006-05:00

Join us in the coffeehouse for a screening and discussion of the environmental documentary Hope in a Changing Climate (see more info below); immediately followed by President Obama's State of the Union address. Please note there will be no wi-fi access after 7pm and seating will be re-arranged to accommodate viewers.

Local filmmaker series in the Coffeehouse begins Jan. 27

2010-01-12T09:39:00.022-05:00

On Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 8 pm, we will screen the new environmental documentary “Hope in a Changing Climate,” as the first film in our new local filmmakers’ series. Produced by the Environmental Education Media Project (EEMP) in Friendship Heights, the documentary was just aired on BBC World, shown in Copenhagen during the COP15 Summit and was the subject of a recent op-ed in The New York Times.

“Hope in a Changing Climate” tells the story of how large-scale ecosystem restoration projects in China, Ethiopia and Rwanda have rehabilitated damaged ecosystems, lifted local people out of endemic poverty and simultaneously sequestered carbon naturally. Following the film, join EEMP executive director Jonathan J. Halperin and the Politics & Prose Climate Action Project for a discussion on ecosystem restoration and the outcome of December’s COP15 summit.

This event is free and open to the public. Please note there will be no wireless internet available in the coffeehouse during the event.

The new Modern Times Coffeehouse Screening & Discussion series will offer an opportunity for local filmmakers young and old, professional and amateur, to show and share their work in a creative, supportive and engaging atmosphere. Click here for more information on the series or for information on how to submit, please contact Lance Kramer at Kramer.Lance [at] gmail.com.

New DC "Bag Tax"

2010-01-11T23:59:00.004-05:00

In an effort to curb plastic bag use and subsequent disposal entering into the Anacostia, DC's "Skip the bag, Save the river" policy goes into effect this month. Certain food establishments and retail businesses that sell food items are now required to charge the customer 5 cents for each plastic or paper bag that is used to carry out multiple items from that store. There are tons of exemptions and you can read about them here. Long story short, MTC is exempt because we only give out paper bags for carry-out items AND have seating.

We've recently made some changes to help reduce the trash being generated from our store, including getting rid of disposable wooden coffee stirrers and offering reusable water cups. You can help us further by doing the following:

We recycle: newspapers, cardboard, glass, aluminum, plastic bottles, and plastic cold drink to-go cups. Just place them in or near the bus bin on the bar.
Use a "real" cup if you are staying inside the coffeehouse. If you are taking it to go, bring your own mug or use a MTC coffeemug (currently out of stock).

the commons coffee dilemma

Wondering what Adam has been up to?

shout out to P&P in Doonesbury!

thanks for a wonderful year

Reminding you

Saving money...and cups

america's sweetheart

Hello Ceremony Coffee!

Price changes

The Only Constant is Change

19th Century Secretary of the Smithsonian on the subject of Coffee

Current Exhibit: History of Peirce Mill

Local Music Day

Lance on Kojo

what jerks!

Caffenol - finally, a good use for instant coffee

Current Art Show/Sale Extended! Matthew Scott Davis!

Welcome, CACAO

Meet P&P's new owners and be active in planning its future and that of Modern Times

Documentary Appreciation Salon

Coffee Granita

desperately seeking pastries

June Art Exhibit EXTENDED

Smithsonian Folklife Festival - Colombia

parallel evolution?

New Ownership Announced for Politics & Prose *UPDATE*

Overheard at the Coffeehouse

Bring Capital Bikeshare to the neighborhood

April youth art show: "Critical Exposure"

"black coffee. freshly ground, fully packed"

REMINDER: keep your valuables close.

Coffee prices on the rise

"coffee gives you the time to dream it"

March 2011 art show: "A Blended Family"

it's our 5th birthday!

patterns and process

Beans of Change

Feb 2011 art show: Nathaniel Pearlman's 'Timeplots' and paintings by Nicole Bourgea

Sounds of Modern Times

We're open!

New art show featuring the work of James O'Gara

2011!

Regina Holliday's show featured on Voice of America

holiday hours for coffeehouse

Buy and get your gifts wrapped here

South of Laptopistan

new website coming soon!

T-shirts-- back in stock!

P&P Sale; limited wi-fi hours

You're invited to a PARTY to celebrate Open Mic

New art show featuring the work of Regina Holliday

Carla Cohen Tribute Event

Nov Art Show: "Friday Photo Forum"

Modern Times is Helping Prevent Homelessness, One Cup at a Time, through Cups of Kindness!

Carla F. Cohen 1936-2010

October Thursday Night Throwdown barista competition

wire-free coffeehouse

Kim O'Donnel presents 'The Meat Lover's Meatless Cookbook'

CURRENT EXHIBIT: Emma Norman's Photography

Jaybird Coleman - Coffee Grinder Blues

You say cafe, I say coffee bar

UPDATED: Parking Spaces

September TNT Latte Art Competition

Kreider Farms milk is here!

RESCHEDULED: August TNT Barista Competition

happiness is a warm latte

***WARNING -- PROTECT YOUR STUFF! ***

Electricity restored

Video from the Itinerant Poetry Librarian

Documentary Appreciation Salon

July 14: The Itinerant Poetry Librarian

Independence day hours

Upcoming Event this Saturday! Reception with bk.iamART.adams

south american knockout round!

Parking Woes **UPDATED**

¡mas futbol mañana!

World Cup Today!

a nod from the new yorker

what's the deal with iced coffee?

Many thanks!

New Ownership Announced for Politics & Prose UPDATE

WARNING -- PROTECT YOUR STUFF!

Parking Woes UPDATED