Week 1

I went to the Ugly Mug Cafe this afternoon to sit and observe the traffic. I sat in a well traveled area next to the cash register in one of the folding chairs. I chose to study the Ugly Mug because I find that I can relate to the clientel as well as the cashiers and other patrons of the Cafe. I think the cafe is pretty much fascinating and I love the layout and the overall atmosphere.

The cafe, from what I understand, is frequented by college students and commuters on their way to work. To stereotype these people are typically "free spirits" or "hippies". The cashiers are also college students. I'm an insider in this sense, I'm a college student and a commuter. I'm also considered a hippie or a free spirit.

I, however, do not yet have a regular time that I frequent the coffee shop, so I am not yet a regular customer and in this sense I am an outsider. I don't make inside jokes or converse with the cashiers yet about random goings on in the shop, community, school, etc.

I think I will be able to fit into the community quickly because this project will require me to become a regular customer. I think I have an open mind and I should be able to adapt quickly and blend in with the rest of the customers. The layout of the restaraunt may cause me to get sidetracked, but I'm sure that I can avoid that.

I'm looking forward to sitting in my black hoodie with a hot cup of ethiopian coffee and an onion with cream cheese bagel for the next six weeks. I really think I'm going to like this project.

considerations for a community

I would like to observe a community that I am not that familiar with, unfortunately for me I spend a lot of time observing communities. For instance I work and practically live in the music building so I know that that community is right out. Another community I may consider, or some of you may now be able to consider if your still looking for ideas, is at the Rec/IM. I work there as well and it would be very easy for me to observe the swim team practicing or for me to find another MMA (mixed martial arts) class for me to observe. Unfortunately these are my easiest choices because I'm constantly around them so I can't pick them. I wouldn't be an outsider.

I am considering a few choices. I'm not in the union that much considering it's a bit of a hike for me from the music building so that is one of my options. I was also considering the eateries considering I'm not involved in dorm life and haven't been for some time so I wouldn't really know what's going on there. But the place I am think that I am going to go with is the Ugly Mug Caffe. If you don't know what that is allow me to enlighten you.

The ugly mug caffe or, as I will likely refer to it, the Mug is a coffee shop on the corner of Cross and Hamilton and just so happens to be my favorite place to and grab coffee in the morning. Great news, it's not owned by starbucks, but instead by some really cool local hippies much like myself. I'm really interested in the spot because so many people use this coffee shop but many students don't either because of not knowing of it's exhistance or because they look at it and think its shabby.

While I'm there I hope to be able to go in at a few different times- in the morning, during the day, and in the evening- preferably when there's a jazz combo playing. I would like to observe what the costumers are like; are the friendly? are the gruff? Do they speak nicely to one another and the personel behind the counter? Do people really pull the books off the shelves and read them? How many people prefer to sit in the sunlight compared to wanting to sit in the darker cozier corners? Do people order just coffee from various places around the world or do they order what they would have at a starbucks.

If you haven't guessed I've already put a lot of thought into this. Also I can't stand starbucks.

Happy hunting on your observations.

Erin