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Troy Putney's avatar

I feel like I stepped into a Time Machine and experienced one of the first Lattes ever made and listened to one of the most important poets of the century.

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Then my mission is accomplished. :) Thanks Troy

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Leo's SpeakEasy's avatar

You write from the heart Troy. Such a joy to read.

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Thanks 🥰

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Kathleen Clare Waller's avatar

I'm all for the videos and it looks like there's one for me to check out already! :)

This means so much: "A bianco was a pour-over coffee with steamed milk, but it wasn’t actually on the menu so it felt secret and special like ordering a grilled cheese at In-N-Out."

I would like to see that as a whole story!

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Yes, and another one today - it feels so weird, but if Video is the Future, why fight it? 😅🩵 Thanks Kate

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Kathleen Clare Waller's avatar

I think it’s the way you do video. Like slow vs in your face. Look forward to the next, Troy!

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Nathan Slake's avatar

"Despite a certain horror of capturing my soul on video and parading my gay self in front of you all for kicks"

Come now Troy, you know that's what we're all here for. 😊😁

Loved these memories, Troy. There's something utterly special about finding "the" cafe to sit and write in. This one sounds like it was a gem. And with coffees that cheap (no idea about inflation but I'm going to assume that it's still a damn cheap coffee if we took inflation into account), I'd have spent a lot of time there too.

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

haha I suspected as much 👻 Yes, it was a great cafe, and haven't found one even remotely like it here in Spain, even though part of the allure of moving to Europe was supposed to be its "cafe culture" - Oh well, maybe in Italy. Parade continues tomorrow - thanks Nathan

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Nathan Slake's avatar

I would say you're almost certainly guaranteed in Italy!

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Michael Edward's avatar

Ohh the nostalgia was rich in this one, Troy. And I loved it! It reminded me of some of my own haunts and that time in life when I was still so bright-eyed.

Also, yay, yay, yay (and good on you) for the upcoming video series readings! I’m looking forward to it :)

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

It was - I was only 19 the first time I set foot in Med, I can hardly believe I ever was that old! 🤣 Thanks Michael!

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Beautiful walk down memory lane, Troy. Thank you for sharing. Every place from the past always feels like wrapped in gauze to me, standing still against the unavoidability of decay, until one day there's an Hawaiian BBQ in its place (nothing against Hawaiian BBQs; I'm just sayin'). I lost count of how many times this happened to me (and my memories). Anyway, I look forward to the video of you reading Julia's poems from those very book copies (no Hawaiian BBQ will ever replace them, right?).

P.S.: Nice to read about the Latte invention, a strictly American one. As you know, nothing called just Latte exists in Italian coffee shops, besides milk itself (Latte = Milk). Maybe what you guys call Latte, here is Latte Macchiato, or Caffellatte, which is basically what the French call Café au lait.

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Yes, the "invention" of the latte seems a bit specious - from what I can tell, something like it has existed for many years. But I believe that it happened the way they say at Med, even if it wasn't wholly original. Sometimes we need these little stories about ourselves. :) Thanks Silvio!

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Nathan Slake's avatar

This is cool history. Melbourne (possibly) claims to have invented the "flat white" here, which is as ubiquitous as the latte.

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Nina Carroll's avatar

Great story of the Caffe Med and now I am hooked on Julia Vinograd. Wonderful poems so timely, political, and relatable.

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Oh, I'm glad! More to come next week. Thanks Nina!

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Donna McArthur's avatar

Maybe we were at Caffe Med at the same time?!!! I moved to Santa Clara in 92 and the very first place I went was to Berkely. I loved it there, my soul was at home there. At that time it was the polar opposite of northern Alberta (and likely still is)🤣. I would drive from Santa Clara to Berkely every Saturday to study and hang out (everyone in my program thought I was nuts). Thank you for sharing this history about Julia Vinograd, I look forward to your readings.

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Donna McArthur's avatar

We have THE BEST cafe in Canada. Seriously. It’s the Kicking Horse Coffee cafe. KHC was a small independent roaster that grew from two people to now being owned by Lavazza. It’s a huge success story and is all over North America now and we have the only, spectacular, cafe.

You and Leo should come😉

https://kickinghorsecoffee.ca/pages/kicking-horse-cafe

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Of course we would come to see you, and we will go together. 😘❤️☕

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Wouldn't it be funny if we were? I totally understand the change of scenery from SC to Berk - not that I've spent much (any?) time in Santa Clara, but Berkeley is/was one of those nexus places, between the school and the city and all of the movements. Are there any good cafes up in your town?? There was one here in Sitges, and of course they closed and reopened as this odd futuristic all-white space with the teensiest little tables bolted to the floor. Cute name though - Mono ("monkey" in Spanish.) Que mono is what people say of babies and dogs that are too cute. 🐵 Thanks Donna!! 💜

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Deirdre Lewis's avatar

I love this and can't wait for the video.

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

hehe God help me, you shall have it... 🤣

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Thai Pham's avatar

I was at Cal just after you, from ‘92-96, and was one of those baby queers at Milano…small small world!

Thanks for sharing these memories.

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

How about that!! We probably know some people in common from those days... Thanks Thai!

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Annette Marquis's avatar

I’ve never spent much time in Berkeley but your reflection resonants because every college town has a place like this one. They become a part of the culture and the experience of a lot of students. Your description is so rich and vivid.

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

I really kinda miss it, honestly. I've never found such a rich cafe culture anywhere else, even in Spain! (Long story, yes there are cafes but they're ... not the same?) I continue to hope though - maybe in Italy. Thanks Annette!

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M.E. Proctor's avatar

Where do I know Julia Vinograd's name from? I must have had a Beat period that I have forgotten... I know I've never been in Berkeley....

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Dunno - there were a fair few articles written about her after her death, but mostly local/Bay Area. Can't wait to share some of her stuff! Thanks Martine!

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Con/Jur/d's avatar

WOW -- Thanks for the Flashback! I worked at Cody's Café during those years -- Got to know Jonathan Lethem then and arranged the first(?) interview reading of "Gun with Occasional Music" At Other Change of Hobbit when I worked there. Did we know each other? LOL. And thanks for the memories, including my stack of Ganesh printed chapbooks of hers. Wow. Really. Now I'm adrift in memories of Blakes, Mondo 2000, The White Horse

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

I'm sure we bumped into each other. I was going to mention Cody's and its cafe but had to cut for brevity, and I didn't go there much - mostly a Moe's/Med kinda gal. Other Change of Hobbit! OMG, yes!

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Feb 4
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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Should be fun - hopefully no earthquakes! 😅 Thanks Nadia 💜

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