Plugged In
a place to code, design, brainstorm, and let's be real, futz around on Facebook at the home office away from home.
As a freelancer myself, I’ve spent hours at Bean Bag Cafe writing, scheming up new ideas, and getting a Big Daddy IPA once my work is done and/or happy hour rolls around at 3 p.m. And I’ve always wondered: What are my unofficial “officemates” working on? Are they writing the next Pulitzer novel? Designing the next “it” iPhone app?
So I set out to see what they were up to.
Next I had to figure out where I could find the highest density of café-lovin’ telecommuters. I decided on Coffee Bar, the minimalist, industrial-chic café in the Mission. The first time I ever walked in there, the upstairs bar was completely lined with MacBooks and their owners fervently typing without blinking. I was convinced Coffee Bar must have been hosting a hack-a-thon, but that's just how serious the work vibe is over there.
I’ve come to Coffee Bar to break the silence (or at least the sound of The Shins Pandora station) to investigate my fellow potential entrepreneurs and freelancers.
Name: Wil Shipley, founder, Delicious Monster Software
How long have you been here today? 30 minutes
What's your stimulant of choice? 1/2 caf soy extra-ice latte
What's your favorite distraction? Girls
Extra (snap)shot: Wil’s been working on his start-up in cafés since 2004, and currently leads a team of three out of Coffee Bar. He wants to take the co-working idea to a whole new level, so he plans to build a co-working and café space in the Mission, available on a subscription basis.
Name: Rosie Lila, Movement Play Events
How long have you been here today? 30 minutes
What are you working on? Production of a high-end entrepreneur’s dinner
What’s your stimulant of choice? Music - Amanda Blank and Aphex Twin
What's your favorite distraction? Lust
Extra (snap)shot:
Rosie just instituted a new work-flow system in her life that involves splitting her day in
three sections: creative time, work/admin time, and play time. So organized, she splits her thoughts across
five different notebooks.
Name: Matt Day, CEO, Silverfox ad agency
How long have you been here today? 2 hours
What are you working on? Marketing strategy for a client
What's your stimulant of choice? Coffee
What's your favorite distraction? Other people, their energy
Extra (snap)shot: For after-hours brainstorming, Matt turns to his favorite watering holes. "I like sitting at bars and working," he said. This was not so kosher seven years ago when bartenders would give him the stink eye, but Matt says there are a few spots like The Phoenix and Il Pirata that are safe for both work and play.
Name: Anna, unemployed
How long have you been here today? 2 hours
What are you working on? Job search
What’s your stimulant of choice? Coffee!
What's your favorite distraction? Facebook, looking for new music, looking at fashion websites
Extra (snap)shot:
Anyone looking for a video game marketing guru or
fashion buyer? Anna’s
your girl!
Name
: Sean Pfitzenmaier, co-founder,
SmartMarket
How long have you been here today? 1 hour
What are you working on? Marketing plan for releasing our first app
What's your stimulant of choice? Earl Grey with steamed milk
What's your favorite distraction? Twitter/Facebook
Extra (snap)shot: Turns out Sean’s been working out of Coffee Bar only for the last week, making it one of his first usual spots after moving from New York. “I’m new here,” he said. “It helps to have people around.” Plus Coffee Bar reminds him of home – New York’s DUMBO neighborhood to be exact.
Name: Lily Morello, freelance writer/illustrator; blogger for The Yuppie Lifestyle
How long have you been here today? 1 hour
What are you working on? Writing (contract work)
What’s your stimulant of choice? Caramel lattes/macchiatos
What's your favorite distraction? Facebook
Extra (snap)shot: Lily’s other go-to is Whole Foods in Potrero, where they have free Wi-Fi in the café. “They don’t strictly enforce the two-hour parking, either,” she said. And yes, she acknowledges that working in a café is definitely a part of the yuppie lifestyle.
If you've got some designing, writing, or studying to do, Coffee Bar is a great reason to get out of your pajamas and get 'er done. There are plenty of outlets and a strong Wi-Fi connection (which is sometimes more important than the coffee!). But no worries, the Mr. Espresso beans will keep you wired, and Coffee Bar’s rotating menu of sandwiches, soup, and salads will keep you satiated. And also, keep your eyes and ears out – the next Mark Zuckerberg might be sitting right next to you.
