Hudson Bay Cafe

The Nitty Gritty

Hudson Bay Cafe

Location: College and Manila

Hours: Mon-Fri  6am-8pm; Sat-Sun 7am-7pm

Java: $1.56 (drip coffee) - $4.10 (double mocha, double caramel latte)

Goodies: $1.85 (various kinds of large, delicious looking cookies) - $2.00 (big, crumbly scones)

Breakfast: $2.25 (bagel with hummus) - $4.25 (bacon, egg and cheese bagel)

Lunch/Dinner: $3.75 (cup of soup du jour) - $6.95 (veggie lasagna)

Credit cards: It really *is* everywhere you want to be.

WiFi: Just ask for the key when you order. You get one hour per $3 purchase. *UPDATE* This is what they tell you, but it's on-your-honor. You don't get booted after an hour.

Power outlets: Requires a bit of tactical maneuvering, but there are plenty.

Bathroom: Clean, odor/fragrance free, and adorably asymmetrical.

Seating: Sofa and easy chairs with excellent window lighting, if you can nab them before someone else does. For the rest of us, there’s a counter facing out toward college (this is where the outlets are), and lots of tables and chairs big enough for 2 or 4 people. There are also a couple of bar seats.

Music: Radio, so I can’t guarantee what you’ll get. Today it was primarily early folk rock, but thrown into the mix were some newer bands that try for the same sort of vibe. And, inexplicably, a Chuck Barry cover artist. The volume was unobtrusive, but loud enough that your headphones would require an uncomfortable number of Hertz (Haha, get it? Uncomfortable because it HERTZ?! Damn I am one funny S’Bitch) if you wanted to drown it out. [note: I realize that Hz is not actually a measure of amplitude. BUT higher frequencies - more Hz - do lead to an increase in our perception of loudness. So there.]

Ambient noise: Almost everyone here is dutifully typing away. There’s a minimum of quiet chatter, and the charming squeak of hinges on the front and bathroom doors.

Temperature: I was here on a chilly day, and the temperature inside was just right, even though I was sitting near the door and folks were going in and out a lot.

Parking: The side-streets here have free FOUR hour parking. Bonus!

Bicycle parking: You’ll have to go around the corner and make a hitchin’-post of a street sign, but I wouldn’t hesitate to park even my nice bike around here (locked up, of course).

Biggest pro: Really conducive to work. Nice, but not comfy enough to make you want to stay all day and check your email just one more time.

Biggest con: Need for outlets limits seating options.

Recommended for: Working at the counter, cozying up on the couch with a good book

Not recommended for: Conversations that you wouldn't like everyone present to hear

I wish I had an awesome story to tell you, but really we just sat and worked. Like, we were ridiculously productive. I rewarded myself with a slice of the pumpkin bread, which was amaaaazing. As S'mug Bastard pointed out, it actually tasted like pumpkin. It still had all your classic pumpkin spices, but not so much of them as to overwhelm the pumpkiny goodness. I think there might have even been cream cheese in it. Such a good plan.

As far as cafe atmosphere goes, I'm not super excited about this place. I am excited about the imbibables and prices thereof, and Hudson's feasibility as a workplace. I will definitely be back.