An invitation to the public from the CHNA,

The College Hill Neighborhood Association (CHNA) will be hosting a moderated and prepared Q & A discussion panel for the Providence mayoral candidates on Thursday, August 26th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Wheeler School, Wheeler Hall Auditorium during their annual meeting.  All five of the mayoral candidates will be in attendance.  Just prior to the start of the panel discussion, CHNA community awards will be given to Officer Nicole Darling for her service in the graffiti initiative, and to Preserve RI for their community outreach and attention to the historical preservation of the Governor Henry Lippitt House.  “This event is open to all Providence residents.  The members of the College Hill Neighborhood Association are pleased to provide this opportunity to those who may not have been able to attend previous panel discussions at other locations,” states Allison Spooner, President of CHNA.

Refreshments will be provided courtesy of Blue State Coffee (organic, fairly traded coffee, roasted to perfection!), Brown University, and the Brown Faculty Club.

Free, open to public, Thursday, 6:30pm, Wheeler Hall Auditorium, 216 Hope Street

Hey, we’re famous. Andrew Ruben, founder of Blue State Coffee, has a piece over at HuffPo about doing business with coffee suppliers whose practices comport with the progressive values espoused by the company. He opens with a discussion of the potted coffee plant kept on the counter in the Thayer Street shop, a plant I have been known to water from time to time. (Disclosure: I am an employee at Blue State Coffee. The Alex mentioned in the story is our manager, Alex Payson. Benjamin runs the New Haven shop.)

In February, two Blue State Coffee managers traveled to Costa Rica and Colombia to meet the men and women who grow, pick, sort and ship the coffees that we serve to our customers every day. . . In Colombia, at the Mesa de los Santos Farm, Benjamin and Alex observed firsthand the intricate process of picking coffee cherries. In an hour of picking, they collected just one tenth of what a seasoned picker could.

Maybe they were just . . . pickier. It’s actually kind of nice working in a place where all this matters, even if they work me like a rented mule. Kidding! Plus, it’s really good coffee.

The voting deadline for The Providence Phoenix ‘The Best 2010′ poll has been extended until March 18th. Pick your favorites in the various and sundry food, drink, entertainment and arts categories. (The fragmentation within these categories is getting a little ridicolous — wiener joint and wiener/hot dog joint?)

Having said that, under ‘City Life’ you will find the ‘Best Blog’ category and even if we here at The Dose act all too-cool-for-school, we are actually horribly needy and insecure, and in constant need of stroking and validation, and would really love to win this honor. . . again. The other nominees are worthy enough — although there are a few glaring omissions — but just vote for us. Pleeeeeeze.

(Um, also, go to ‘Place for Coffee’ and vote for Blue State Coffee.)

Check out the staff art show now on exhibit at Blue State Coffee on Thayer Street. These are witty and beautiful works in a variety of forms — tapestry, painting, sculpture, even needlepoint. Curated (and spackled) by Genevieve Hancock — who also created little, webby, framed treasures that I covet — this collection will remain on display indefinitely and many pieces are for sale. The painting above is by Mea Duke. (More pix after the jump. You have to see the needlepoint of a. . . I want to say. . .  a goat-headed space alien of the old west.)

Blue State Coffee, 300 Thayer Street, closes 10pm

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Stocking stuffer idea of the day — stroopwafels! A Dutch Brown student has seen a gaping hole in the sorely underdeveloped American snack food market and filled it. As a freshman, Abhishek Pruisken had brought some traditional Dutch waffle cookies from home and they were a big hit. Finding none available stateside, he and his friend Erik Ornitz started fiddling around in their dorm room and now it’s a real business and taking off.

All the Van Wafels baking is now carried out in the kitchen at the Hope Club on Benevolent Street which must be interesting. All I know is these cookies may be the most successful point-of-purchase impulse buy ever sold at Blue State Coffee. At $2/package of two, they are flying off the shelves almost like in a Dutch coffee shop, but without their synergistic marketing advantages. (They are also available at George’s Deli, Meeting Street Cafe, the Blue Room at Brown and pretty much anywhere Abhishek can get his foot in the door because he is charming and adorable and probably could have sold us wooden shoes, but these things really are delish.)

All of this has reminded me of the famous David Sedaris story of ‘Six to Eight Black Men’ an account of the utterly insane St. Nicholas Christmas tradition of the Netherlands, which I have to ask Abhishek about next time I see him. (Nutty video accompanies a David Sedaris reading of the story after the jump.)

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The Providence Ghost Tour, featuring the Extraordinary Rendition Band and the Riff Parade, steps off today from the park at Prospect Terrace on Congdon Street (leave Roger alone!). I totally ganked this off LotsOfNoise where they have a map of the parade route which appears to go straight through Blue State Coffee! Tip generously.

[Additional Note: As 'Dave the Commenter' has noticed, the date on this image appears to be off. But according to the Providence Ghost Tour website the marching is today, October 30th. But, the time may be more like 6pm. Jeez, you would think ghost tour professionals would run a tighter ship. You are on your own folks.]

Free! 5-ish, Friday, Prospect Terrace, Congdon Street

Wednesday is Scrabble night at Blue State Coffee. There are two boards and one dictionary on site (as well as Uno and dominos and chess — play whatever you want) but bring your own board if you’ve got one. You will also need paper and pencil, and money to buy coffee and stuff. Bring a friend, or look around for kindred spirits with excess word knowledge but limited social skills. Purchase drinks and food at the cash register right next to the tip jar.

6pm to closing 10pm, Wednesday, Blue State Coffee, 300 Thayer Street

Don’t forget the tile bag, sweetie. Wednesday is Scrabble night at Blue State Coffee. There are two boards and one dictionary on site (as well as Uno and dominos and chess — play whatever you want) but bring your own board if you’ve got one. You will also need paper and pencil, and money to buy coffee and stuff. Bring a friend, or look around for kindred spirits with excess word knowledge but limited social skills. Purchase drinks and food at the cash register right next to the tip jar.

6pm to closing 10pm, Wednesday, Blue State Coffee, 300 Thayer Street

Things to do on Wednesday. First, remember to go to Langevin’s meeting at Warwick City Hall, 3275 Post Road at 6pm. (I am heartened by news (NYT) that the Dems have suddenly realized that they are the majority party and that attempts at bipartisan cooperation are, and always were, pointless and stupid. Why are we even bothering with these things? Just do it.)

After that, tonight is Scrabble night at Blue State Coffee where you can relax in air-conditioned comfort, sip an iced latte and get all worked up over something other than health care. Wander in any time after 6-ish. Bring a board if you have one (there are two on site) and paper and a writing implement. This is an opportunity to actually meet and talk to a real person who is sitting right across the table from you, like in olden times.

Casual players (who enjoy winning) are invited to Blue State Coffee on Thayer Street for Scrabble Wednesdays. People start showing up after 6pm. Bring a board if you’ve got one and definitely bring paper and a writing implement. Snacks, tea and coffee drinks can be purchased at the register right next to the tip jar.

6pm to 10pm, Wednesday, Blue State Coffee, 300 Thayer Street

And delicious. Come play Scrabble tonight at Blue State Coffee (emotional support lions welcome with doctor’s certification). Just wander in any time after 6pm. Bring a board if you’ve got one, and pencil and paper. The floor hostess will adjudicate all disputes — no arguing balls and strikes. Purchase tea, coffee, espresso etc. and yummy baked goods (from Seven Stars) at the cash register, right next to the tip jar.

6pm to closing at 10pm, Wednesdays, Blue State Coffee, 300 Thayer Street

Someone at The Onion must be into Scrabble; it gets abused with such frequency (and accuracy). Whoever writes these things knows the game. This week we learn the terrible truth behind the unhappy life of CEO Mortimer Z. Hassenfeld in ‘Jilted Hasbro CEO Laughs Coldly As Scrabble Destroys Another Relationship’. If you are trying to get someone to break up with you, bring him or her to Blue State Coffee tonight for Scrabble Wednesdays. Bring a board, and a pencil and paper to keep score. Purchase coffee, tea, espresso drinks etc. at the cash register next to the tip jar. (One of the words pictured here is not a good Scrabble word.)

6pm to closing, Wednesday, Blue State Coffee, 300 Thayer Street.

Tonight is Scrabble Wednesday at Blue State Coffee, corner of Thayer and Cushing Streets, from 6pm to 10pm. Bring a board and your own pencil and paper. BSC will supply (sell you) coffee, lattes, espresso etc. at a very reasonable price. Baked goods by Seven Stars. Pay at the cash register located next to the tip jar.

6pm to closing, Blue State Coffee, 300 Thayer Street

Okay, the weather still stinks. Why not stay warm and dry and play Scrabble tonight at Blue State Coffee. This is an unsanctioned gathering of people with boards, so no dues and no timers (unless you want). Bring paper and pencils for keeping score. Sidearms will be confiscated at the door as arguments will arise. All challenges will be settled with the Official Scrabble Word List (we don’t care if you are an English major, and read a book once where it said blah, blah, blah . . . we must have certainty and finality). No table service, you order food and drink at the register next to the tip jar. (This hoodie for sale by Word Gear at the NSA website.)

6pm to 10pm closing, Wednesdays, Blue State Coffee, 300 Thayer Street

The Rhode Island Blood Center donor coach will be parked at Blue State Coffee on Thayer Street this afternoon. Head over and do something nice for a stranger. After donating you will be down a pint — all donors can enjoy a free brewed drink courtesy of the good people at BSC (tips still welcome). For more info call the RIBC at 800.283.8385 or set up an appointment online (sponsor code 2275).

2pm to 5pm, Tuesday, Blue State Coffee, 300 Thayer Street

I’m way behind the curve on this one, but that’s okay. Discovering an awesome ‘new’ band is like finding money. The above mentioned Witch — current project of Dinosaur Jr. guitarist J Mascis, now on drums — released their second cd Paralyzed over a year ago, and nobody told me nothin’. Fortunately, Witch is in heavy rotation over at Blue State where it pairs nicely with my other dark mistress, the coffee bean. Good description on their own myspace page.

The punk overtones and sped up tempos are largely due to Kyle Thomas’ shift in songwriting to suit the free wheeling energy of J Mascis’ drum playing. This is clearly evidenced in “Mutated” and “1000 MPH”. Thomas admits, “J plays drums with a lot of energy, so I decided that instead of writing slow songs and having them speed up when we play them live, I should just write faster songs”.

9pm, $8, Sunday, AS220, 150 Empire Street