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CYM Coffee Co.: Peaceful, quaint and cozy

A rustic sign welcomes guests at the entrance of CYM Coffee Co.

Photo by Matthew C. on https://www.yelp.com/

CYM Coffee Co. is located at 5404 N.W. 8th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32605. The shop is also known as Cymplify, and the letters “CYM” stand for the phrase, “change your mind.” The shop’s mission is to create a place that helps people get from where they are to where they want to go. 

Its name has a rich history, and if you’d like, you can learn more about it at http://www.cymplify.com/.

The shop is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m, and Saturday through Sunday from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Free high-speed Wi-Fi can be joined by guests both inside the shop and on the patio. 

The shop is established about three miles away from the University of Florida campus in a small house. Its homey setting gives it a cozy and rustic atmosphere. Seating inside the shop includes tables, couches and oversized beanbags. Outside, there is a large patio that holds tables and chairs for additional seating. 

Cymplify’s comfortable atmosphere makes it a peaceful place to study, write or simply relax while enjoying a warm beverage. Personally, I have sat in one of the shop’s oversized beanbags for hours while working on an essay. 

Colorful beanbags and wooden coffee tables are set up in one corner inside Cymplify. This area is lit by natural light from the surrounding windows.

Photo by Paula C. on https://www.yelp.com/

Cymplify’s menu includes various high-quality coffee beverages, teas and baked goods. There is a wide selection of specialty coffee beverages that vary during different times of the year. In addition, the baristas are quite knowledgable on the menu items, and can customize any beverage to the customer’s liking.

Salted caramel mocha latte. One of Cymplify’s most popular specialty coffee beverages.

Photo by CYM Coffee Co. on https://www.facebook.com/

If you’re looking for a relaxing place to spend an afternoon, or a peacefully productive environment, CYM Coffee Co. is a great choice for you. With its comfortable seating, tasty beverages and homey atmosphere, CYM Coffee Co. will certainly leave you delighted in your experience.

Sources:

http://www.cymplify.com/

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Pascal’s Coffeehouse: Coffee, community and Christ

Pascal’s Coffeehouse, 112 N.W. 16th St, Gainesville, FL 32603, is established in the Christian Study Center of Gainesville. Its mission is to provide a place where people can come together as a community to share in their love for one another, and for Christ.

An outside view of the Christian Study Center of Gainesville. The study center was launched in 2000 when a generous donor made this two-story building available to a group of Christian academics.

Photo by http://www.pascalscoffee.com

Pascal’s is located just two blocks away from the University of Florida campus. Its location makes it a great place for students to study, socialize and collaborate. 

The coffeehouse is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Pascal’s is closed on Sundays, to honor this day as a day of rest and worship. 

Free Wi-Fi is available for guests both inside, and on the patio of the coffeehouse. Inside Pascal’s, there is an upstairs and a downstairs level with abundant seating on each level. The downstairs level holds both tables and couches in a spacious arrangement. The upstairs level has multiple tables that are arranged to promote a quieter and more private area for studying.

The atmosphere of the coffeehouse resembles that of a library, which makes sense considering it is located in a study center. Pascal’s gives off a relaxed and friendly essence that makes its customers feel welcomed.

An upstairs view of customers studying and collaborating in the downstairs seating area at Pascal’s.

Photo from https://www.alligator.org/

The menu offers a selection of espresso, tea and baked goods at reasonable prices. Drinks are served in either disposable cups or porcelain mugs, depending on the customer’s preference. Pascal’s prides itself on serving its customers the best cup of coffee, rather than the fastest cup of coffee. 

A Cuban espresso with cinnamon. Pascal’s is known for its Cuban espresso.

Photo by http://www.pascalscoffee.com

On https://www.google.com, Pascal’s received almost a perfect five-star rating, and reviewers admire the coffeehouse for its friendly staff and comfortable atmosphere.

Pascal’s Coffeehouse is one of my personal favorite coffee shops in Gainesville. Its welcoming atmosphere, spacious seating and delicious beverages make it a great spot for studying, socializing or simply relaxing. 

If you decide to give Pascal’s a visit, I recommend trying their Cuban espresso. It’s tasty, smooth and gives you a great caffeine kick!

Sources:

http://www.pascalscoffee.com

https://www.google.com/maps/uv?

http://christianstudycenter.org/pascals-coffeehouse/

[megansskaggs]

Curia on the Drag: Vintage, funky and expressive

A large, street view sign welcomes customers as they enter Curia on the Drag’s parking lot.

Photo by Megan Skaggs

Curia on the Drag is located at 2029 N.W. 6th St, Gainesville, FL 32609. This shop is situated on more than two acres of land, directly off of Northwest Sixth Street. This location is about three miles away from the University of Florida campus, which makes it a great place for students to escape their daily campus lives.

Another advantage to Curia’s location is its accessible parking. With its large land area, Curia offers parking spaces for both scooters and cars right outside the shop.

Curia on the Drag is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-12 a.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.-12 a.m. Curia is one of a few coffee shops in Gainesville that stays open until 12 a.m. In addition to its long hours, this shop offers free high-speed Wi-Fi that can be accessed from both inside and outside the shop. Seating inside the shop is somewhat limited with only a few booths, tables and bar stools. However, there is outdoor seating on each side of the shop.

Spacious, retro-themed booths are available for guest seating outside the shop. Plants, mirrors and string lights are displayed as decor on Curia’s patio seating area.

Photo by Megan Skaggs

The inside of the shop displays plants at every corner, and beautiful murals are painted on the walls. In addition to this, there is a painted school bus parked behind the shop that brings together Curia’s vintage and expressive mood.

The painted school bus is parked on a small grass field behind the shop. Guests are welcome to take pictures outside the bus, and enter inside the bus if they wish.

Photo by Megan Skaggs

On its menu, Curia offers coffee, tea, alcoholic beverages and baked goods. The shop’s employees are both friendly to customers and knowledgable about the items on Curia’s menu. Its menu items are vegan friendly with a variety of customizable dairy options. In addition, all coffee and tea beverages on the menu are reasonably priced below $5.

A Masala Chai at Curia. This beverage is a blend of black tea with cinnamon, cardamom, ginger root, black pepper and cloves.

Photo by Arni S. on https://www.yelp.com/

On https://www.tripadvisor.com/, Curia on the Drag received a rating of four-and-a-half stars out of five stars. The shop has also received multiple positive reviews that refer to Curia as “quirky,” “earthy” and “fun.”

Curia on the Drag is a great spot for anyone looking to getaway from campus for the day. Whether you’re studying alone or exploring with friends, Curia’s eccentric atmosphere makes for an exciting and unique experience. If you decide to give Curia a visit, be sure to walk around the back of the shop to see the groovy school bus!

Sources:

https://www.curiaonthedrag.com/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g34242-d8119851-Reviews-Curia_On_The_Drag-Gainesville_Florida.html

[megansskaggs]

Maude’s Classic Cafe: Indie flare at the downtown square

Maude’s Classic Cafe, 101 S.E. 2nd Place, Gainesville, FL 32601, is a small cafe located near the Gainesville downtown square. The cafe first opened in 1995, serving coffee beverages, pastries, small bites and more. 

A street view of Maude’s. A chalkboard sign displays the shop’s logo and specials for the day. 

Photo by Megan Skaggs

Its downtown location makes Maude’s a great place to stop by after enjoying an afternoon or evening downtown. There is street parking in many areas near the cafe, as well as parking directly across the street.

Maude’s is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-11 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday from 9 a.m.-11p.m. The cafe offers free Wi-Fi that can be joined by guests either inside the cafe or outside on the patio. 

Inside the cafe, the seating area includes both booths and tables. There are multiple outlets located near the seating that are great for students who may need to charge their computer while they work. Outside, on the patio, the seating area includes many tables and chairs with strands of lights hanging above. These lights add to the indie-themed atmosphere of the cafe, especially during the evening.

Maude’s also offers a number of board games that guests are welcome to play while at the cafe. These board games are great for a casual afternoon or evening at the cafe. Personally, I visited Maude’s in the evening to enjoy some hot cocoa and a game of chess with a friend. 

The cafe offers a selection of high quality coffee, tea and alcoholic beverages. Each coffee and tea beverage is made to order, and can be customized by the barista with a variety of flavored syrups and milk choices.

One criticism in the https://www.yelp.com/ reviews of Maude’s is that the prices on its beverages are too high. A large cappuccino costs $5.97, and a large mocha latte costs $7.95. Customers complain that these prices are too high, especially considering the dense population of students in the area. Many say Maude’s drinks are too expensive, while others believe Maude’s drinks are worth the price.

A large sized beverage set on one of the outdoor tables at Maude’s.

Photo by Connor D. on https://www.yelp.com/ 

Despite its high prices, Maude’s is admired for its indie atmosphere, great location, late hours and complimentary board games. Whether you’re looking for a productive environment to study, or a unique place to spend an afternoon downtown, Maude’s Classic Cafe is a great choice for you. While you’re there, be sure to order a beverage, and decide for yourself if it’s worth the price!

Sources:

https://www.yelp.com/biz/maudes-classic-cafe-gainesville

https://www.facebook.com/pg/maudescafe/about/?ref=page_internal

[megansskaggs]

Coffee shops have personalities too

Welcome to The Gainesville Coffee Shopaholic. This blog will follow my research and exploration of the unique coffee shops in Gainesville, FL.

My name is Megan Skaggs, and I am a sophomore at the University of Florida. As a college student, I have grown to become quite familiar with coffee. Some would call my love for drinking coffee an addiction; I call it a vocation. 

A not-so-rare sighting of me enjoying a cappuccino in a coffee shop.

Photo by Audrey Skaggs

With our hectic class schedules and late studying hours, it is hard for college students not to build a relationship with coffee. During my free time, while studying and while out with friends, I enjoy searching for the best coffee shops in Gainesville. In fact, I’m sitting in one right now. 

You may be thinking, why go to a coffee shop when you can just brew a pot of coffee at home? You’re right. You could just brew a pot of coffee at home, but nothing compares to the atmosphere of a coffee shop.

I believe each coffee shop carries its own personality, and offers more than just a cup of coffee. Often, when visiting a coffee shop, the experience is what matters more than the actual coffee you are served. 

All this is why The Gainesville Coffee Shopaholic is dedicated to exploring unique coffee shops in Gainesville, FL. On this blog, I will post evaluations of local coffee shops based on their location, atmosphere, internet access, menu offerings and more. I will also include information I have gathered from other sources in my posts. 

With this blog, I hope to help you discover the local coffee shop that is perfect for you. Let the exploration and caffeination begin.

[megansskaggs]

Buy a Pumpkin, Feed a Child: A festive event with a cause

Buy a Pumpkin, Feed a Child is a local pumpkin patch event held during the month of October at Gainesville Church of God, 7003 NW 39th Ave. Gainesville, FL 32606. All purchases and donations made at this event go toward feeding children and families in need. Buy a Pumpkin, Feed a Child gives 100 percent of their proceeds to the Salvation Army, Food4Kids Backpack Program of North Florida and Guatemala Feeding Centers.

This event’s mission is to provide food, education and health to individuals in need. Buy a Pumpkin, Feed a Child helps to provide these services to local and Guatemalan communities. Throughout the past five years, Gainesville Church of God, alongside Flames of Fire Ministries, has built seven feeding centers in Guatemala. Buy a Pumpkin, Feed a Child allows these centers to continually feed, clothe and educate more than 500 children in Guatemala.

In addition to its great cause, Buy a Pumpkin, Feed a Child is an event where children, families and students can gather during the fall season. The pumpkin patch includes a wide selection of pumpkins in varying colors, shapes and sizes. Children can enjoy a bounce house, corn bin, tractor train and a children’s picking patch. There are multiple photo stations scattered throughout the patch that are perfect for capturing memories. Lastly, once guests have enjoyed the many festivities in the patch, they can purchase some freshly made pumpkin bread that is sold at checkout. With its powerful mission and joyful atmosphere, Buy a Pumpkin, Feed a Child is an outstanding fall event for people of all ages.

Pictured above is the the pumpkin patch from the entrance of the event. A hand-painted directory greets guests as they enter the patch. 

Maegan Chant, a 21-year-old student at the University of Florida, enjoys the wide selection of pumpkins in the patch. Pumpkins are displayed on wooden pallets throughout the patch. 

The pumpkins in the patch vary in size, shape, color and texture. The price of each pumpkin is determined by its circumference.

Pictured above is the Youngn’s Pick’n Patch, where children can pick their own pumpkin. Children enter through a miniature entry way, and choose from a selection of petite pumpkins. 

The patch offers two bounce houses for children to play in while at the pumpkin patch. Children must take their shoes off before entering the bounce houses, and parents must supervise their children.

Pictured above is the tractor train that takes children and adults on rides around the patch. 

Halley Taylor (left) and Savannah Schoenher (right) enjoy one of the many photo displays at the patch. These festive displays are scattered throughout the patch.

All purchases and donations made at Buy a Pumpkin, Feed a Child go toward feeding children and families in need. Guest are thanked by this hand-painted sign as they exit the patch.

http://www.buyapumpkinfeedachild.com/