Loved your comment about subscribing to something that you already enjoy for free. Thanks for the Monday morning chuckle. You are quickly becoming one of my faves, and I will one day be a paid subscriber. Just need to collect a few more paying subscribers myself so I can spend that money reading other newsletters :). A parallel, I work part-time at Crate and Barrel, a fun little retirement job, which brings in next to nothing after I bring home the weekly must have. My husband loves to joke, "Honey, I don't think this part-time job is really working out for you." I smile and nod, "oh, actually, it is." Have a great week! 💟
Thank you Sue! There is a lady who works as a cashier at the supermarket around the corner I've been wanting to profile for a future issue. She is such a delightful presence at the store and one day we got to talking and she told me she is retired from her job as a minister hospice chaplain. She told me, "this is my fun job!" She just likes to see people at the store and hopefully brighten their day. It sounds like you are like that.
Thanks, Anne. I can only hope I brighten others' day. I have a great time chatting with the customers about cooking or decorating their homes. It's amazing how many people are happy to stop for a few minutes and tell me about their lives. I'm sure you find the same with what you are doing. People are amazing which you point out weekly in your newsletter.
Just one more fun share, we have an employee Margaret at the store who is in her 80's. She's got more energy than all of the other employees, never takes a break, brings in amazing baked goods every week, knows everything about the kitchen department, has treats waiting for any dogs who accompany their owners into the store. She's been with C&B for something like 30 years. She just returned from a trip wherein she provided eldercare for a friend in her 90's as the caretakers were on vacation. They played scrabble and shared a bottle of champagne each afternoon. I love this woman. She's who I want to be when I grow up. 💟
It’s so nice to read about all the fun and quirky things in New York instead of all the violence and mayhem. Reading your lovely posts almost let’s you forget about the people getting sucker punched, being pushed in front of trains, babies getting shot on street corners while their moms take them for a walk in their strollers, EMT’s getting stabbed to death just going into a bodega for lunch, police cars getting destroyed in broad daylight and cops getting shot while sitting in their cars. Homeless people defecating in public and shooting up gets depressing after awhile. Watching violent offenders getting released with no bail the day after they attack someone is depressing too. Thanks Anne for allowing people to escape the reality of living in New York, if only for the three minutes it takes to read your charming articles.
Hi Kathy! I do like to think that the newsletter is less an escape from reality and more a look at the everyday experience of living here rather than what's in the news. But I know what you mean. Thanks for reading and for your kind words!
Congrats on the anniversary! Cafe Anne does feel like a funny small town! And I love the special offer of 15% off on something I get for free. That said, I pay because Cafe Anne isn’t just a newsletter, it’s a damn treasure!
Happy Anne-iversary! 🎉🥳 Love the song. . . an excellent soundtrack for the upcoming documentary, right? I mean, creatively, that is the next logical step! Thanks for the updates on all the stars of the story, too!
Wow! A theme song for your Newsletter is out of this world and great to listen to. What makes this EXCEPTIONAL? Self-awareness. You did not celebrate what you have accomplished, you celebrated the people you met along the way. No judgment, no Christmas letters, real people, honest and just fun.
I've been wondering how your approach the people you want to interview. Do you open with the same spiel of do you adjust it depending on the vibe you get from the prospective interviewee?
Thought your song theme song was pretty good. Could be the intro to your off Broadway show which is only a matter of time.
I have done a lot of experimenting on how to approach people and I've found the magic intro is super simple and straightforward. I walk up to them and smile and say "Hi! I'm Anne! Can I interview you for my blog?" Like a total idiot. They almost ALWAYS say yes.
The trick, as it seems you already surmised, is knowing who to approach. Some people exude an open vibe and I can just tell they'd be happy to chat, even if they are reading a book or fiddling with their phone.
Okay, not that I don’t have faith in you, Anne, but I pressed the play button totally prepared to cringe. That song is awesome!!!!! How could I ever doubt that it would be?! I vote more songs in future Cafe Anne editions!
Haha love hearing this! I wrote songs and played in bands around NYC for about 20 years so I'm not TOTALLY music clueless. It's been a while since I produced a song though so it's great to hear this. Thank you Holly!
Jesus, Mary & Joseph, Anne!! You're familiar enough with me from the WSJ days to know that often unrecorded and sometimes seldom heard actualized tunes are my passion, pastime and delight BUT I absolutely ADORE your theme tune. I's clever, fun and absolutely charming- I especially love the ba=ba=ba=bup-ba-bah segments. Now I may actually have to put my own mayoral tribute "1 Adam 12-1 ADAMS SHELVE" to real music because I'm so inspired!
As a latecomer I'd missed your Guardian Angel profile, and was super pleased to see it. Now there's a public service so deserving of funding yet you never hear Curtis begging for money!
I'm always appalled to hear things like "It's the 30th Anniversary Of (fill in whatever useless pop culture rendering you wish), but I hope you actually make it to celebrate such a number for your Cafe!
I especially like the price of the cafe con leche there!
Oh yay Chris I am so happy you liked the song! I've written a lot of songs and I have to say life got a lot easier once I quite insisting on real lyrics and just started using a lot of ba-ba-bas and such.
I would LOVE to hear your ERIC ADAMS song put to music!!
Wow 30 years of CAFE ANNE what a thought. Thanks for your kind wishes!
Happy Anne-iversary! 🎉🥳 Love the song. . . an excellent soundtrack for the upcoming documentary, right? I mean, creatively, that is the next logical step! Thanks for the updates on all the stars of the story, too!
Congratulations on one year! What an amazing growth trajectory and accomplishment. Also, that song is the cat's pajamas, and it's going to be stuck in my head all day 😁
Happy 1 year Anniversary! Here is a Haiku to celebrate:
Pure Nyquil Chicken
Highlighting Local Heroes
Thank You Cafe Anne
LOL
Thank you Kyle I will set to music.
Due to thousands of requests, here is the limerick-
There once was a blog from New York,
More useful and curious than a spork,
From A mere dream it began,
Yes it’s thee cafe Anne,
She almost killed her dog with NyQuil Chicken, not pork!
LOL
Especially enjoying the odd capitalization choices, random employment of Olde English pronoun and rhyming of New York, spork and pork.
I’m ready for the annual Cafe Anne Poetry Slam Off. Tell me when and where and I’m there!
Loved your comment about subscribing to something that you already enjoy for free. Thanks for the Monday morning chuckle. You are quickly becoming one of my faves, and I will one day be a paid subscriber. Just need to collect a few more paying subscribers myself so I can spend that money reading other newsletters :). A parallel, I work part-time at Crate and Barrel, a fun little retirement job, which brings in next to nothing after I bring home the weekly must have. My husband loves to joke, "Honey, I don't think this part-time job is really working out for you." I smile and nod, "oh, actually, it is." Have a great week! 💟
Thank you Sue! There is a lady who works as a cashier at the supermarket around the corner I've been wanting to profile for a future issue. She is such a delightful presence at the store and one day we got to talking and she told me she is retired from her job as a minister hospice chaplain. She told me, "this is my fun job!" She just likes to see people at the store and hopefully brighten their day. It sounds like you are like that.
Thanks, Anne. I can only hope I brighten others' day. I have a great time chatting with the customers about cooking or decorating their homes. It's amazing how many people are happy to stop for a few minutes and tell me about their lives. I'm sure you find the same with what you are doing. People are amazing which you point out weekly in your newsletter.
Just one more fun share, we have an employee Margaret at the store who is in her 80's. She's got more energy than all of the other employees, never takes a break, brings in amazing baked goods every week, knows everything about the kitchen department, has treats waiting for any dogs who accompany their owners into the store. She's been with C&B for something like 30 years. She just returned from a trip wherein she provided eldercare for a friend in her 90's as the caretakers were on vacation. They played scrabble and shared a bottle of champagne each afternoon. I love this woman. She's who I want to be when I grow up. 💟
Haha I was reading this and was going to write, "She's who I want to be when I grow up" and you beat me to it!
It’s so nice to read about all the fun and quirky things in New York instead of all the violence and mayhem. Reading your lovely posts almost let’s you forget about the people getting sucker punched, being pushed in front of trains, babies getting shot on street corners while their moms take them for a walk in their strollers, EMT’s getting stabbed to death just going into a bodega for lunch, police cars getting destroyed in broad daylight and cops getting shot while sitting in their cars. Homeless people defecating in public and shooting up gets depressing after awhile. Watching violent offenders getting released with no bail the day after they attack someone is depressing too. Thanks Anne for allowing people to escape the reality of living in New York, if only for the three minutes it takes to read your charming articles.
Hi Kathy! I do like to think that the newsletter is less an escape from reality and more a look at the everyday experience of living here rather than what's in the news. But I know what you mean. Thanks for reading and for your kind words!
Congrats on the anniversary! Cafe Anne does feel like a funny small town! And I love the special offer of 15% off on something I get for free. That said, I pay because Cafe Anne isn’t just a newsletter, it’s a damn treasure!
Awww thank you Mr. Estrin! You've been such a great presence and newsletter pal pretty much from the beginning!!!
The feeling is 100% mutual!
You have a hit on your hands with "Dear World!" So upbeat and joyous!! Bravo!!
Thank you JRB! And thanks for being such a fun part of the newsletter every week!
Happy Anne-iversary! 🎉🥳 Love the song. . . an excellent soundtrack for the upcoming documentary, right? I mean, creatively, that is the next logical step! Thanks for the updates on all the stars of the story, too!
Thank you Debra. It was really fun to write the tune and I'm so happy you enjoyed this and the updates too.
A documentary! Like Spinal Tap but for newsletter writers?
Wow! A theme song for your Newsletter is out of this world and great to listen to. What makes this EXCEPTIONAL? Self-awareness. You did not celebrate what you have accomplished, you celebrated the people you met along the way. No judgment, no Christmas letters, real people, honest and just fun.
Thank you Mr. Dolan! You were big part of making this a very fun year on Substack!
I've been wondering how your approach the people you want to interview. Do you open with the same spiel of do you adjust it depending on the vibe you get from the prospective interviewee?
Thought your song theme song was pretty good. Could be the intro to your off Broadway show which is only a matter of time.
Thank you Micheal!
I have done a lot of experimenting on how to approach people and I've found the magic intro is super simple and straightforward. I walk up to them and smile and say "Hi! I'm Anne! Can I interview you for my blog?" Like a total idiot. They almost ALWAYS say yes.
The trick, as it seems you already surmised, is knowing who to approach. Some people exude an open vibe and I can just tell they'd be happy to chat, even if they are reading a book or fiddling with their phone.
Okay, not that I don’t have faith in you, Anne, but I pressed the play button totally prepared to cringe. That song is awesome!!!!! How could I ever doubt that it would be?! I vote more songs in future Cafe Anne editions!
Haha love hearing this! I wrote songs and played in bands around NYC for about 20 years so I'm not TOTALLY music clueless. It's been a while since I produced a song though so it's great to hear this. Thank you Holly!
Yay! Happy anniversary CAFE ANNE!
Max age 5 says of the song, why is it so short? More song!!!
Thank you Meredith!
Please let Mr. Max know that an EP version of "Dear World" can certainly be arranged.
Big congratulations, Anne!! Your newsletter is such an inspiration. It also always makes me so proud to live in our quirky city.
Wow that makes me VERY happy to hear. Many thanks Jillian!
Jesus, Mary & Joseph, Anne!! You're familiar enough with me from the WSJ days to know that often unrecorded and sometimes seldom heard actualized tunes are my passion, pastime and delight BUT I absolutely ADORE your theme tune. I's clever, fun and absolutely charming- I especially love the ba=ba=ba=bup-ba-bah segments. Now I may actually have to put my own mayoral tribute "1 Adam 12-1 ADAMS SHELVE" to real music because I'm so inspired!
As a latecomer I'd missed your Guardian Angel profile, and was super pleased to see it. Now there's a public service so deserving of funding yet you never hear Curtis begging for money!
I'm always appalled to hear things like "It's the 30th Anniversary Of (fill in whatever useless pop culture rendering you wish), but I hope you actually make it to celebrate such a number for your Cafe!
I especially like the price of the cafe con leche there!
Oh yay Chris I am so happy you liked the song! I've written a lot of songs and I have to say life got a lot easier once I quite insisting on real lyrics and just started using a lot of ba-ba-bas and such.
I would LOVE to hear your ERIC ADAMS song put to music!!
Wow 30 years of CAFE ANNE what a thought. Thanks for your kind wishes!
Happy Anne-iversary! 🎉🥳 Love the song. . . an excellent soundtrack for the upcoming documentary, right? I mean, creatively, that is the next logical step! Thanks for the updates on all the stars of the story, too!
Congratulations on one year! What an amazing growth trajectory and accomplishment. Also, that song is the cat's pajamas, and it's going to be stuck in my head all day 😁
Oh wow that makes me soooo happy. Thank you Brian!!
Cafe Anne all the way down!
Can NOT stop repeating this song, looping endlessly in my head. Thanks! haha
Oh that makes me so happy. Thank you Jason!