Yes, it's true. Even Balboa Peninsula's ultimate ennui establishment has been forced to close its doors.
Alta Coffee, home of stunning baristas, live music, freshly brewed coffee and - as written about in Best of OC 2005 - a damn fine vanilla soy chai latte, is closed this hazy Monday.
What could force me into Starbucks, with its alluring T-mobile hotspots and sickly-sentimental soundtrack for the Starbucks-sponsored movie playing in the background? What could cripple the Alta?
According to t
With 7,100 Starbucks locations closing tonight at 5:30 for a three-hour, nationwide "training session," what's a coffee addict to do?
There are dozens of local coffeehouses that should be cashing in and welcoming new costumers. A few worth a visit:
• Kean Coffee, 2043 Westcliff Dr., Ste. 100, Newport Beach, (949) 642-5326.
• Gypsy Den, 2930 Bristol St., Ste. B102, Costa Mesa, (714) 549-7012. Also at 125 N. Broadway Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 835-8840.
• Avanti Cafe, 259 E. 17th St., Cos
If you need to get your Satisfaction fix, good news: front man Michael Rosas will be performing tonight at Alta Coffee in Newport Beach, which has to be one of the coziest little coffee houses in Orange County—let alone Newport Beach.
Rosas goes on at 9:20 p.m. and he promises to get his "acoustic soft jam on" with his personal mixture of Satisfaction material, covers and original songs.
Michael Rosas at Alta Coffee House, 506 31st St., Newport Beach, (949) 675-0233; www.myspace.com/altac
By "anti-Starbucks" I don't mean they've launched campaigns against the coffee behemoth (not that I know of, anyway), but that in terms of look, feel and menu they're the antithesis of the chain everybody loves to hate. The Gypsy DenOf the two locations (Costa Mesa and Santa Ana), I prefer the larger Santa Ana one. The décor is kooky, the cakes excellent, and the events--including Lee Mallory's Factory Readings on the first Tuesday of the month--impressive. Alta CoffeeThe coffee's nowhe
