J. Arthur's Coffee: through the lens of Instagram

The next place on my list is the lovely J. Arthur's coffee shop in Roseville, conveniently located in a strip mall in the suburbs to brighten up the place. 

They originally opened in 2008 to be a training seminar and meeting space for employees of ACR homes nearby, and a place for those with disabilities from ACR to come enjoy a "cup of coffee and a friendly atmosphere." They soon opened to the public, and ever since then have been a space for working, meeting, and just hanging out. 

There is a large open area with comfortable chairs, tables of all sizes, and a fireplace. I know from doing homework that people like to spread out, and there were many larger tables conducive to this, as well as the small tables for two to enjoy a coffee date. It almost felt like walking into someone's living room. There also, however, happened to be a coffee counter.

Sophomore Alex Densmore came with me, and she has often expressed her love for the J. Arthur's atmosphere. "I forget that I'm at a coffee shop, I start thinking I'm back at home on my couch. It's the best feeling," she said. 

They also have a meeting room, where there was a meeting going on. This space can be used for business meetings or private parties, and has doors that close it off from the rest of the shop. 

Occasionally, they have live music playing in the space beside the fireplace. One of my friends has come to perform here in the past, along with other more famous people and rising artists in the Twin Cities area. 

The employees were all very friendly, and when I asked about what I should get, they were very informed about their coffee and the way different things taste, how they mix together, and different methods of brewing and things that I wasn't aware of. These are smart people working at J. Arthur's.

I ordered a dirty Chai, a chai latte with a shot of espresso. This may have been the best choice I have made all day. The chai was very sweet, but just the right amount of sweetness. It contrasted with the bitter espresso very nicely. It tasted like cinnamon in the best ways. Other orders included a regular chai, a mint mocha, and a vanilla latte. I expected the regular chai to be extremely sweet because of the way it tasted in my dirty chai, but it wasn't too sweet. It is one of the best chai lattes I have ever tasted, if you have a sweet tooth like me. The mint mocha was also perfectly balanced between sweet and bitter, as was the vanilla latte. They know how to do it here.

They also know how to do that, which is very impressive. It definitely added to the enjoyment of the coffee. Side effect: a strong urge to 'Instagram' your drink and stare at it for a good 20 minutes before daring to mess up the design in the espresso. By then your drink will be cold, fair warning.

The price breakdown: I paid just over $3 for a dirty chai in a decent sized cup. The chai and the vanilla lattes were about the same, and the mocha came in at just over $4. 

So, fairly priced. A high class place in my opinion, but the price doesn't show it. I enjoyed my experience very much. 

I also started to feel like I was back at home drinking a fancy drink at my dinning room table. I felt so comfortable there, and I got so much more homework done there than I ever have in the library. So, students and workers, that's a plus!

The Blue Door: a secret delicacy

You will find the Blue Door Pub on Selby avenue off of Snelling, next door to an antique shop on one side and a long block of residential houses on the other. It seems as if someone stuck a restaurant in the middle of a neighborhood and called it good. The atmosphere screams "you don't belong here!" and "welcome to our home!" all at the same time. Surprisingly, this vibe leaned toward 'welcoming' for me, overwhelmingly so.

A friendly neighborhood reminder not to get too crazy on your night out.

The booth next to us, after the patrons left. Someone got creative with the chalkboard!

These photos do not speak to how small the pub was. Just about the size of someone's living room and kitchen. The bar area was on the left from the entrance, and a little window by the door was where a hostess was ready to seat whoever crowded in front of her first. There were far too many patrons, and it was loud the whole time. Our table was right in front of the door, and the cold air kept coming in, as well as hungry (and thirsty) Blue Door regulars. The small space sure was worth it for the food, though.

 A blurry picture (it was dark inside) of the Sweet Chili Lime Wings from the appetizer menu. They had bones, which adds to their authenticity. Though I was hesitant at first, these were delicious. Their interesting flavor combinations proved satisfactory twice!

 Another blurry picture (apologies) of the Latin Kisses, which were Jalapeño peppers stuffed with cream cheese, wrapped in bacon and sprinkled with their famous Karma sauce. To someone who counts themselves as a "picky eater," these may sound dangerous. But, be assured, if you like bacon, these will satisfy you! They were surprisingly delicious and rich. These two appetizers fed 3 people comfortably. Though the dishes themselves were a little more than averagely priced, they fed us well for what they were worth.

Clearly, we enjoyed them.

The price breakdown: 

Wings: $8.50

Latin Kisses: $7.50

Total: $16 (feeding 3 people, which is about $5-6 per person) 

While this was not a complete meal, it is a good choice for a late night snack, similar to half-price apps at Applebee's and probably cheaper than a breakfast run to Perkins. The atmosphere alone was worth the trip and the price. Definitely a young crowd, catered toward those who can handle small, loud, dark spaces. Such a unique find.