Dogwood Coffee

By the time you read this, our two-week run of glorious Indian summer will have passed. While it was here, I acted like a true Minnesotan (I'm a transplant), and got outside while the getting was good. I'm a newbie to bicycling, and my younger son just started kindergarten, so I grabbed the opportunity to take longer rides and try some new things. The long stretch of good weather is probably gone for a while, but many of the lessons I learned and places I visited can be appreciated year round.

There's a new coffee bar in Uptown. This is news, you ask? Yes, it is. In November, Greg Hoyt opened Dogwood Coffee in Calhoun Square, across from Kitchen Window in the space formerly occupied by Starbucks. The differences between the previous chain tenant and this new local installation are dramatic. The space is light and airy, with reclaimed wood fixtures locally sourced and built. The menu is small, and there are only a few baked goods. Yet with a selection and execution this good, I didn't miss a thing. In fact, I found myself already planning my next trip back.