For no reason at all, one night I made an intention to go to Saint Monday the following Wednesday.
I don’t remember when but I first learned about Saint Monday via Instagram. One day, I noticed that @project_overflo (it’s my community project, please follow and like some stuff) had a brand new follower. Of course, as the young community advocate, I was excited to know who was following the account. I saw it was Saint Monday. I looked on their page and decided, “Hey, we might need more sponsors/supporters in the future and I also really like coffee shops that are also bars that also sells food and that also doesn’t have a real floor or bright lighting.” I made a mental note to visit one day (I’m not joking, I’ve found myself drawn to such places since I moved back to the city).
It was probably a month ago I was in the neighborhood and noticed Saint Monday’s building. “Oh, here’s where it is!” I thought. “Let me see what they have.”
Like any smart young woman living on the East Coast would do, I decided to purchase coffee while asking a million and one questions about the establishment and what apple butter was.
“It’s really popular during this season!” the young man behind the counter assured me. I never heard of it, so I had my doubts as to how popular it really was and with whom. He told me that the coffee was specialty brewed and from New York. I love those non-chain coffees. And I’ve no idea when and how I became this person.
The coffee was bold and fresh, just how I liked it. It gave my heart joy to see, like most non-chain coffee shops I’ve visited since returning to the city. I’ve noticed they supplied no disposable cups for the water or disposable stirrers for the coffee. I thought that was cool. I also thought it was cool that they provided natural sugar and stevia as well as a liquid sweetener. I was even more impressed and decided to visit another day.
Well, that other day came Wednesday morning. After Bible reading, praying, journaling and yoga-ing I decided to head out and visit my friends at Saint Monday.
It was pretty quiet when I entered. I examined the options, first for coffee than for breakfast. A woman ordered before me.
“A blueberry corn muffin please,” she said.
I gasped and clutched my pearls- in my head. I never heard of such a combo. Will it actually taste good? Will it be dry and sad to eat? Soon it was my turn. I ordered the same thing with a coffee.
“Is it possible to have it warmed?” Unfortunately, it wasn’t, but I got there not too long after they’d opened, so there was some warmth. Before turning away to tend to my coffee, I asked, “How is the apple butter?” It’s amazing what one can remember.
“Well, it’s apple concentrated and smooth,” the young woman behind the counter began. “I can let you try some if you want.” She handed me a mini tub of apple butter. I thanked her and spent some time with my coffee.
I enjoy flavors in my coffee. I remembered during my last visit being told it was not offered, so I made sure before I got there that I brought mini flavored creamers to give my coffee even more personality. I don’t mind the coffee shop not having the flavors because the coffee takes on its own bold taste with a complimentary aroma. But flavoring does add a specific boast that only people like me love.
I sat facing the wall. There wasn’t A LOT of table seating. It definitely is a nice place to get some work done or hang out with a small group of friends. There was bar seating in the center, single person seating facing the walls and of course, cute corners with wooden booths and tiny coffee tables.
The blueberry corn muffin surprised me. The blueberry was juicy, and although it was still a corn muffin, it wasn’t crazy dry. Also, the apple butter gave a nice fruity burst in my mouth. I ate, drank my coffee and read a book. I was so relaxed that I most definitely see myself going again.
If you find yourself in Rhode Island, check it out at 393 W Fountain St, Providence, RI 02903.
Kou T. Nyan 