Where is the WiFi?
July 28, 2008 · Print This Article · Written by Jennifer
Cafe Newsstand. Just found out today that this corner cafe has WiFi. Haven’t experienced it yet. But will try tomorrow. Also noticed last Friday that this corner cafe now has wine and beer in the evenings. They turn out the linen table cloths and turn on some charm and it turns out to be a nice spot to stop for a drink and watch people. (map)
Costeaux French Bakery. A Healdsburg tradition since 1923 for baked goods and breakfasts, now offers a fast WiFi connection. It’s good to keep up with the times. To quote one of their customers: “A very casual atmosphere but they serve high quality, tasty entrées.” I will attest to that. Last Sunday, I met with some friends for brunch and to plan a bathroom remodel. We had the Eggs Benedict served up with a side of WiFi. Couldn’t have been a better planning experience. (map)
Snowbunny. An interesting new addition to Healdsburg. The frozen yogurt is made with organic Strauss yogurt and organic Clover milk, and does not contain high fructose corn syrup. Also has an espresso bar that serves up Flying Goat coffee. A little sparse, but knowing there is a fast WiFi connection is important. One of the two window seats has a plug in. Can it get any better than that? (map)
Palette-Art Cafe. In addition to some great food, wine, and original art–if you turn up here anytime between 10AM an 3PM, you’re likely to arrive to a bevy of laptops. It’s quite a nice atmosphere, the staff are knowledgeable and friendly. And you can actually get quite a lot of work done–if you don’t start chatting to the others (which is always a nice change of pace). Additionally, there is a Mac at the counter if you don’t have your own. (map)
Wolf Coffee over at the north end of town. Haven’t experienced the WiFi, the coffee, nor the crepes yet. But I’m sure I will. I will be attending the local knitting circle who meets on Saturdays from 10AM to 1PM. I’ve always wanted to learn to knit and cellardiva and her mother-in-law have agreed to help me learn. (map)
Sonoma County Library. Like most public libraries, the Sonoma County Public Library offers computers (for a duration of an hour) and if you have your own laptop, as long as you need it. The Healdsburg Public Library has the additional benefit of housing the Sonoma County Wine Library with our very own wine librarian–Bo SImons. He’s wealth of knowledge about the area and about wineries. However, much to my chagrin, the library is NOT open on Sundays. (map)
Healdsburg Park Plaza. A few years ago, the City of Healdsburg set up a WiFi network to work primarily in the plaza itself. I was there myself on Friday evening. It was such a lovely night and I was able to catch up on some emails right in the middle of the plaza. The connection is a bit dodgy though and tends to fade in an out frequently. I found it good for text, (chat IMs and emails)–not for larger files or pictures or anything. But, it’s a bit of a novelty setting. (map)
Yet another reason to like Palette. The Flying Goat stopped offering brewed coffee and stopped any sort of refills. Manager Phil is basically telling regulars if they don’t like it, they are ignorant, unworldly and can go elsewhere.
So hurray for the the Palette and the Newsstand Cafe. both places have good coffee & food, fair prices and great, friendly attitude. You’ll see us there.
Oh yeah, and good luck Phil.
Thank you Joan. As a long time regular and lover of the Flying Goat I am also disappointed with many of the recent changes. Also where have all the friendly baristas gone? While many that remain are pleasant, I’ve more than once felt insulted by rude employees. All of the old favorites seem to have left or been fired. Phil and Maura, please stop being so “Healdsburg” and take some time to think of the locals. All the local spots are one by one fading to the hands of the tourists. Is nothing sacred anymore? Why must everything become so yuppie?
Joan and Frustrated Local:
Are you for real? You’re bagging on the goat for trying to make things better? It has nothing to do with being “yuppie!” I had a long conversation a couple weeks back with Phil and Maura (who, btw, are both the original owners of the goat and both know their stuff when it comes to coffee) when they were giving free tastes of the new press coffee for customers. The coffee was terrific (as it always is at the goat), and it became very clear to me that they were, yet again, trying to give us all something better. When I say “us” I mean locals. They aren’t doing this for the tourists (why would they?) Press coffee IS brewed coffee. It’s amazing that they are doing this frankly, because it’s lots of work.
My thought is that Joan is upset because she can’t get free coffee anymore. You’re not going to get that at Palette or Newsstand either. What you will get is coffee that tastes burned and stale, and wasn’t roasted IN Healdsburg!
As for the original question here, WiFi, I’m happy the goat doesn’t have it. It’s already hard enough to find a seat without table campers hogging them all day.
Long live the goat! The best people, coffee and atmosphere.
JC
BTW, Newsstand last I checked, uses Peets coffee. Not only is it corporate coffee, it just plain sucks. Palette’s coffee is equally bad and, ironically, French Press (when I was there recently).
Right then. Remember that the original thread of this story is: Where is the WiFi?
Seems like we have some conflicting coffee stories. I have to go investigate.
Just a quick note and further comment, I was at the Flying Goat this morning. I was able to log onto the City of Healdsburg WiFi from the front window. I bought a coffee and a muffin (always a great morning experience) and sat down to prepare for an interview.
Just to note to the rest of my readers, the Flying Goat was positively buzzing with activity. I’m sure that’s a whole story in itself. The foot traffic at the Flying Goat. So..stay tuned for that.
Regards,
Jennifer
Creator and Publisher of HealdsburgMagazine.com
John and Jennifer,
I’m glad to hear about your good Goat experiences. My experiences were nothing like that.
Goat’s wi-fi isn’t great, but it’s good enough if the atmosphere is warm.
Glad for the conversation….I love this site.
Seriously, Joan? Have you spoken with Phil? To malign him like that implies you have a chip on your shoulder with the man. It also betrays your lack of knowledge about OWNER Phil or his personality. You must be new to town? And given your prefernce for brewed, new to coffee. Locals know that Phil and Maura are personable, humble, and above all utterly dedicated to bringing the world’s very best coffee to Healdsburg. How lucky can we be that one of the TOP rated coffee houses in the country is right here in our little town?
Regarding french press coffee, if you prefer brewed, that’s your call, but it’s like saying, “I prefer wood chips in my Chardonnay instead of oak barrels, no matter what those ‘winemakers’ have to say”. You can maintain your preference for inferior quality, but don’t malign those whose mission is to craft the finest offering possible. Making the switch simply shows that FG is 100% committed to doing right by their customers.
Free refills? Maybe at a truck stop or Adele’s, but at a world class coffee house? Not in the last ten years….Flying Goat was a holdout, if anything, and you should be grateful they gave away free product as long as they did.
Rude employees? What? Well, YOU can expect less than polite service, I’d imagine, if any of the current (and more than expert) staff read your bitter outpourings. And to state that they must have been fired? You really think friendly staff gets fired? For what? Oversized smiles? Come on, Joan…you’re firing barbs at a local business that has done you no wrong.
You have to confess, when you look deep inside that penny-saving soul of yours, that you’ve little idea what you’re talking about. Any further griping on your part, Joan, and I’m going to have to force you to drink Starbuck’s.
Joan didn’t say a word about the staff.
That comment was from someone else.
I’m thinking that Joan and Frustrated Local are either the same person, or friends. Too coincidental that both would find their way to this site within 24 hours to vent on the same topic. Therefore, I addressed as one person…
Either way, this is all silliness. I enjoy some of the world’s finest coffee, less than six blocks from my front door. To bitch about this would be totally fucking absurd. Someday, after Joan has lived here long enough, she’ll understand that in Healdsburg, one must appreciate every tiny sliver of the finer things that come along.