Stardust Coffee

People too old trying too hard. It's been a long time since I was "cool" and an even longer time that I cared that I wasn't. This is a great people watching place, but they do cary the Bohemian thing a little far. Middle aged hair dressers and northern transplants wearing black on black on black with a side of black is the norm, all with the finely tuned air of "I want to look like I don't care" that takes alot of preparation and practice to pull off. Don't expect to fit in if you don't fit the mold but they do make a damned fine cup of Joe. Enjoyable to watch the show. more

Stardust is so much more than a coffeeshop. It's more than a video rental house, too. It's really more than the sum of its many parts: live music venue, coffee bar, video rental store, and lunch and dinner café. The food is good, vegetarian friendly, and far superior to lunch chains like Panera. The hours are, well, extensive. On any given day, Stardust is probably open more hours than you're awake. The video selection is quite thorough. You'll even find kids' stuff. If you're overwhelmed by the maze of seemingly random arrangement (there is an intuitive method to it all, but I haven't quite deciphered it; that's part of the experience, I think) start in the first concrete cubby on the right: Sleepers. Movies that should've made it big, but didn't. And they have that holy grail of coffee shops: free wireless internet. A last tip: try a brownie. Not quite fudge, not brownie - they stand up great to a triple shot of espresso. more

Stardust is an independently owed video-coffee shop. It also serves a great selection of food, bear, and wine. The business in owned by a nice who has been at it for a number of years. Some of the staff can be a bit pretentious, but overall they are nice. Avoid Thursday nights at all costs around nine if you do not like spoken word poetry. They have a wonderful selection of videos and DVDs, including many documentaries and foreign films (although the Simpons are sorely missed). Only complaint really is that the place could use a bit of renovation, but it also helps to keep the "squares" away. more

This store is like five of my favorite stores rolled into one. The Stardust has a great selection of used books, ranging from literature to modern day bestsellers, and a huge selection of VHS and DVDs, with a movie playing at the counter and the lounge area at all times. You can find a lot of rare and independent videos, as well as the just-released. The coffee and teas are the best in town, and they also have a full menu. Music is playing at all times, either from the jukebox or radio, and they sell eclectic CDs at the counter for 4 bucks. It's nice to find a used book and coffee and curl up on the couch or one of the tables in the lounge. A lot of people like to smoke cigarettes and talk outside, others will sit for hours at tables inside with their laptops. Depending on when you go, the place can be packed and you'll have to park across the street. more