Homer's Coffee House

January's Warm Exit

2012-01-31T03:46:00.001-08:00

i can't remember when more customers and baristas have talked about what a warm winter this has been. thanks kristen for being a hat model, and thanks carol for being a hat maker!

Wail on With Wailin' Wall

2012-01-27T06:43:00.000-08:00

come wail at homer's tonight with the band wailin' wall! we had a good practice last night (your humble blogger is in the band btw), we're pretty sure you'll enjoy the show. the music starts at 7:30.

Cotton Candy Sunset

2012-01-26T04:54:00.000-08:00

this was how the sunset looked outside of homer's last night. someone else's camera might have taken a better pic, but i didn't let that stop me. you never know what you'll see when you look up.

Happy Birthday Mary!

2012-01-25T06:03:00.000-08:00

it's mary rowlands' birthday today! mary has been on the homer's staff longer than i have. at last count there were 37 birthday wishes on her facebook wall. if you see mary today, you know what to say, "happy birthday mary!"

A Good Pour

2012-01-23T08:15:00.001-08:00

usually i don't make drinks that would win in a barista competition, but last week was an exception. if i keep making mesmerizing latté art like this, i could hypnotize some judges.

Happy Birthday Glenn!

2012-01-20T09:14:00.001-08:00

hey if we can wish jack london a happy birthday, we can do the same thing for glenn. just in case you don't know glenn and vanessa manage homer's. they schedule, stock, pay bills, run faster than steaming locomotives, and leap tall buildings in a single bound. if you see glenn wish him a happy birthday. don't forget everyone who tells a barista what they read on the blog gets double punches toward a free drink!

The Blind Drawing The Blind

2012-01-19T08:29:00.001-08:00

sometimes i forget that homer's is a place that inspires creativity. one morning kelly and i did blind contour drawings of each other. i hadn't done this type of exercise since college. speaking of inspired creativity, danny williams showed me some cool stuff he can play on his ipad last tuesday. remember to tell a barista that you read the blog and get double punches toward a free drink! it's that easy.

Carol's Hats

2012-01-17T03:46:00.000-08:00

carol is a regular customer at homer's. we must be doing something right because she crocheted a bunch of hats for the baristas as a christmas gift-- and then she made more! thanks carol!

I'll Have the Sinatra

2012-01-13T18:25:00.000-08:00

this was up for a couple of hours before customers started asking "i'll have a small cup of the sinatra, what's in that anyway?" and i answered "i have to be frank, but i'll tell you." it kinda reminded me of the tiny elvis skit on SNL.

Happy Birthday Jack London

2012-01-12T05:05:00.000-08:00

jack london is probably the only writer who could make me trade the comforts of central air and electricity for sled dogs and campfire coffee... that's how i felt after reading call of the wild. don't forget: double punches toward a free drink just for reading the blog!

Groceries and Tetris

2012-01-10T03:28:00.000-08:00

it's no secret that alot of homer's shopping is done at sam's. when i was filling up my jeep full of groceries yesterday, it reminded me of playing the old video game tetris. there's a certain satisfaction gained when everything fits just right.

Kyle Heads East

2012-01-09T04:47:00.000-08:00

last friday was my last shift with kyle patnode. he's going to school in indiana. one of the things he's taking with him is this necklace he made from a bead shop up the street, and one of the things he left behind was a coffee ground man (with finishing touches by laura clark)...

...and after our shift was over we went to first fridays to make random electronic noises on 18th street a couple of doors down from YJ's snack bar. remember to tell a homer's barista what you read here and you can get double punches toward a free drink!

Two Girls & One Big Coffee Mug

2012-01-07T11:23:00.000-08:00

mallory and lizzie made a bet with glenn (the manager) about how many ounces of coffee could fill the BIG coffee mug. i can't remember the specifics or how many hundreds of ounces glenn was able to get in the thing, i just remember that he gave them a cookie and i took their picture. remember to tell a barista that you read the blog, and you can get double punches toward a free drink.

Make Yourself at Homers 4

2012-01-06T04:45:00.000-08:00

last october we started make yourself at homer's, a simple photo series of regular customers. when they walk in the door and say "i'll have the usual," we know what it is. today features jon starcke. jon is a fan of the homer's house blend. he loves it so much he wrote a crazy review about it on my other blog. now don't forget all you good people get double punches toward a free drink just for reading this... this is how you do it.

Last Shift With Lois

2012-01-05T06:02:00.000-08:00

i get to work with lois one more time today before she goes back to school. she really helped homer's out during her christmas break. just in case you're wondering, she's immortalizing an awesome latté in the pic above. yep, we'll miss her.

A Robot and a Flower

2012-01-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

kelly & i opened at homer's like usual on tuesdays, and found a note from kristen taped to the cold press coffee. we had just been discussing pixel art, and what subjects we should attempt. now we know it's supposed to be a robot and a flower. thanks kristen!

Evolution of Coffee

2012-01-02T08:36:00.000-08:00

i know more coffee drinkers than non coffee drinkers, and almost all of them require it as soon as they wake up. i imagine the first coffee drinkers were making java hieroglyphics on a cave wall somewhere, and the art form that evolved from following generations has taken on more shapes than i can recall. as we start a new year, i can't resist the urge to go back in time... even on my other blog. cheers.

New Year's Eve Pixels

2011-12-31T15:01:00.000-08:00

there's something refreshing about making things simple: like making shadow puppets or playing halo on an atari... so let's get back to basics on this new year's eve. if you think it's easy to make pixel art go here and try it yourself. my first "pixelating" attempt is on davidcedillo.com. oh by the way, happy new year.

Our Little World

2011-12-27T14:23:00.000-08:00

we had a cool christmas surprise this year that i wrote about on my personal blog: i ran into a relative while getting gas in a town that neither of us live in. as i was telling some people at homer's about it, one of them said "i think i know your cousin, he's my dance instructor!" all three of us are facebook friends now. the world is shrinking as we speak.

One

2011-12-24T05:42:00.000-08:00

Two

2011-12-23T03:58:00.000-08:00

don't forget about double punches toward a free drink just for mentioning the blog, and free circuit bent ringtones on davidcedillo.com

Three

2011-12-22T04:08:00.001-08:00

Just in Case You Don't Know

2011-12-21T08:52:00.000-08:00

if you're still trying to find that special christmas present, there are a couple of suggestions on the handwritten note that someone found near a school. also a quick reminder that homer's HAS chocolate & other goodies for your christmas shopping needs, and i'm personally giving away circuit bent ringtones on my blog.

All I Want For Christmas

2011-12-20T03:43:00.000-08:00

john ainsworth, a regular customer at homer's, played me the ringtone i made for him a couple of days ago. it all started when he asked where he could get some cool space sounds, and it just so happened that i was already making them at home via circuit bending. ask and ye shall receive.

Got Up Early

2011-12-17T10:02:00.001-08:00

i usually don't work at homer's on saturdays, and this morning was no different... but i still woke up early. kind of a bummer, but music like this helps. oh yeah, moon city big band starts playing at 7:30 @ homer's tonight!

Soup's On

2011-12-15T07:14:00.001-08:00

yesterday the soup at homer's was chicken & wild rice, earlier this week it was turkey chili... what will it be today??? remember, everyone who reads the blog gets double punches on their drink card when they tell a barista, and there are free audio downloads on davidcedillo.com. you're welcome.

Rainy Afternoon

2011-12-14T11:38:00.001-08:00

as i get ready to walk to homer's, i realize there will ALWAYS be songs about the rain... and i'm more than OK with that.

More Christmas Signs

2011-12-12T04:34:00.001-08:00

jenny & i watched christmas story with christy, josh, mike, and connie last night. as we walked past the frierdich's apartment we saw the infamous leg lamp poster in the window. after the movie, the conversation wandered toward blood, child birth, and other subjects that made me grimace, so josh and i tinkered with a circuit bent speak and math to drown out the noise. on a slightly more conventional note, the christmas tree is up at homer's with donations going to the city union mission.

Christmas Anticipation

2011-12-08T08:34:00.000-08:00

you can tell christmas is coming just by the desserts on display at homer's. thanks to the good people who make them, and the good customers who eat them.

First Snow

2011-12-07T15:36:00.000-08:00

nobody expected the little bit of snow that came through old overland park yesterday... none of the customers anyway. if we can all be a little more patient and be careful out there, everything will be alright.

Lost Art

2011-12-01T08:19:00.001-08:00

found this on the counter a couple of days ago. is it yours? apparently it won first place in the doodler's competition. oh yeah, we still haven't identified who's in the black and white photo.

Cold Temps, Hot Drinks

2011-11-29T03:33:00.000-08:00

it's cold outside. i know because i walked home last night, and i plan to walk to homer's in a few minutes. thankfully there doesn't appear to be any wind. when it gets cold like this, i know more people will congregate at homer's for warmth and hot drinks. hopefully you will be one of them. cheers.

Black Friday With Brent Lee

2011-11-25T05:07:00.000-08:00

i realize that no one is reading this because everyone is shopping at the moment, but when you all come back with those awesome gift purchases, hopefully you'll stop by homer's for live entertainment. tonight it's brent lee. tomorrow night, wailin' wall. the music starts at 7:30.

Coffee & Rain

2011-11-22T03:50:00.000-08:00

lennon & mccartney, martin & lewis, lieber and stoller, coffee & rain. see you at homers.

Position and Composition

2011-11-21T08:36:00.000-08:00

when danny stacked these cups last week, i realized it would be a disservice to him (and you) NOT to post a pic on the blog... so here it is. if you want to see a picture of danny taking a picture of this, you can go to my blog.

Sky Blue For You

2011-11-19T12:27:00.001-08:00

jim, wes, bob, and theresa are playing at homer's tonight. if you haven't heard sky blue before, make tonight count. come early if you like good music, come earlier if you want a good seat.

Danny Lark Lemon

2011-11-15T16:44:00.000-08:00

danny williams can spin anything on one finger: trays, basketballs, tennis balls, coffee tables... the man has talent. and now we have it on video for future generations who will probably ask "is that what people did for fun back in the old days grandpa?"

Make Yourself at Homers 3

2011-11-14T04:42:00.000-08:00

"i'll meet you at homer's" must be something that is said ALOT between friends, because it happens all the time. one of those times it was kinda cold outside, so i was surprised to see two opposite types of footwear. one of the women had just come from getting a pedicure, and the other one (paige) was dressed for the weather. they could have been felix and oscar.

Songbirds in the Round

2011-11-12T07:17:00.000-08:00

the music flier taped to the door at homers features songbirds. nadia thomas and elsa rae will play guitar backed "folk rock tales" and sing about the "joy and heartbreak that for better or worse, are reality." they start at 7:30 tonight, don't miss it!

Music by Ronni Ward Tonight

2011-11-11T05:37:00.000-08:00

never heard ronni ward before? where have you been? ronni has kept hands clapping and toes tapping at homer's over the years, and tonight she's doing it again starting at 7:30. so show up early, and show up thirsty.

Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

2011-11-10T08:37:00.000-08:00

the ss edmund fitzgerald was a freighter that became the stuff of legend after it sank on this day in 1975. if it hadn't been for gordon lightfoot's song, and the radio stations that played it, i wouldn't know its story. gordon lightfoot wrote other songs i never heard because they were eclipsed by his hits. i had to dig to find this.

Rorshach

2011-11-08T04:45:00.000-08:00

today is hermann rorschach's birthday. he was a swiss freudian psychiatrist best known for creating the inkblot test aka the rorshach test to examine personality characteristics. kinda makes me wonder what diagnosis he would make for baristas who create this stuff on a daily basis.

James Thomas Live

2011-11-04T04:35:00.000-07:00

friday night at homer's means LIVE MUSIC! and tonight it's coming from james thomas. if you're wondering what kind of music he plays, check out the mp3's on his website. he also lists Butch Walker, Starfield, Leeland, Feeder, Switchfoot, Guster, and Elliott Smith for a few influences.

Who Is This Guy?

2011-11-02T05:39:00.000-07:00

this pic was found recently at homer's. the only thing on the back is the number 43. this guy looks familiar but no one knows who it is. do you? is it you? any information that unlocks this mystery will result in a free drink, or at least extra punches on a free drink card. we now pass the burden of identification on to you, dear reader.

Toad

2011-11-01T03:33:00.000-07:00

one of our regular patrons (and his wife) brought a trick or treater during the midday shift yesterday. i recognized the costume from a video game: toad from mario bros. apparently toad is a citizen of the mushroom kingdom, and a loyal attendant to princess peach. i forgot to ask the dog's name.

Halloween Memories

2011-10-31T04:33:00.000-07:00

ahhh halloween... my earliest costume went from ghost to mummy. as the sheets took on forlorn edges over the years it seemed like a natural progression. for all i know this is how movie execs did it back in the 1930's. these days i have a poncho, hat, and cigars. i can be a pale imitation of clint eastwood in any of his spaghetti westerns. if you are still reading this you could be closer to a free drink at homer's. happy halloween.

Chalkboard Hieroglyphics

2011-10-28T06:41:00.000-07:00

what do indian caves, egyptian pyramids, and ancient ruins have in common with homer's? indecipherable hieroglyphics. an unknown artist sketched the pic on the chalkboard by the register, and i don't know if it is a person jumping into leaves, spaghetti, or electrical wire. it was erased by wednesday so unless the artist speaks up this will be an unsolved mystery of sorts.

Make Yourself at Homers 2

2011-10-27T05:13:00.000-07:00

our second pic in the make yourself at homer's series features tesfa. tesfa is a regular customer at homer's. when he walks up to the counter i will ask "are you having the usual?" and he is. tesfa's usual is one small coffee while he works on his laptop. he prefers ethiopian coffee, but will drink whatever is on tap, and that's why we like him.

National Pumpkin Day!

2011-10-26T06:04:00.000-07:00

thanks to connie for reminding me that today is national pumpkin day! here's a chance to show off your pumpkin knowledge. the following facts will impress your friends, mystify your casual acquaintances, and silence anyone else who just thinks he knows alot about pumpkins!
fact #1: a pumpkin is really a squash
fact #2: pumpkins are 90 percent water
fact #3: the largest pumpkin ever grown weighed over half a ton
fact #4: pumpkin lattés taste even better in october

Make Yourself at Homer's

2011-10-25T05:32:00.000-07:00

see what happens when folks pull up a chair & let down their hair? big thanks to jennie dunn for her crazy cool modeling skills! this could be the start of a new photo series where a random pic of a relaxed customer is presented.

The Big Bopper

2011-10-24T08:34:00.000-07:00

the man known as the big bopper (real name: j.p. richardson) would have been 81 years old today if he hadn't been in a plane crash with buddy holly and richie valens waaaay back in 1959. most oldies aficionados know that the big bopper had a hit with chantilly lace, but did you know that he also wrote the country hit white lightning before that? well we don't serve white lightning at homer's but we CAN pour you a shot in the dark if you need a jolt of good stuff.

The Hallelujah Cowboys

2011-10-22T07:01:00.000-07:00

the hallelujah cowboys have been playing gospel music together close to 20 years. they have also been a regular band staple at homer's for half of that time. they don't rope steer or brand livestock onstage, but they WILL play awesome music tonight starting at 7:30. ride 'em cowboys.

2 People 2 Drinks 4 Punches

2011-10-21T17:31:00.000-07:00

today was awesome because adam and sara (not nick's brother) read the blog, ordered two drinks, and got an extra punch for each one... now they have a free drink coupon! it was THAT easy, and now we have something to talk about the next time they come to homer's. on a similar note, if you like freebies you can go to davidcedillo.com and download cool weird synthesizer sounds to play for trick or treaters on halloween. go ahead... i dare you.

Tonight: Charles David Smart

2011-10-21T04:46:00.000-07:00

if you're looking for a warm cozy spot (besides your own living room) to enjoy some live music tonight, homer's is the place to be. charles david smart plays his blend of blues, instrumentals, and songs that you know starting at 7:30pm.

Troll Quoting Again

2011-10-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

if you're clueless about troll quotes check out this link, then come back and see if you can figure out the pic above... who knows, maybe you'll get an extra punch on your free drink card. i'm not sure when deliberate misinformation started being used as a tool to sharpen wits... probably before the age of dinosaurs.

Nathan Beck Rules

2011-10-19T09:23:00.001-07:00

and the winner is... NATHAN BECK! nathan correctly identified yesterday's music sample from fish heads by barnes and barnes. if you're wondering what this song has to do with coffee, skip to 3:53 on the video. was there some special search engine that nathan used that hasn't hit the market yet? does he have super powers? was it the result from listening to hours of dr. demento? the world may never know. get more punches on your free drink card just by mentioning what you read on the blog.

Name That Tune

2011-10-18T03:39:00.000-07:00

can anyone name the tune that is sampled below??? if you're wondering what the connection is between the mystery song and coffee... listen to it again. and if you're wondering why you're spending time doing this, go here.

roly poly what? by ???

Bob Jenkins Returns

2011-10-14T07:31:00.000-07:00

bob jenkins is a busy man, so busy that he had to stop by homer's last week and ask "am i playing this friday or next friday?" it's THIS friday, and you don't want to miss it! bob delivers acoustic singer songwriter fare with ease.

How It's Done

2011-10-13T04:27:00.000-07:00

customer: how do i get extra punches on my free drink card?
barista: read the blog.
customer: then what?
barista: tell me what's on it, and ask for your extra punch.
customer: that's it?
barista: that's it.
customer: alright!

Celebrating a Round World

2011-10-10T08:19:00.000-07:00

it's columbus day, the day the world stopped being flat. when christopher columbus didn't go over the edge of the world, and discovered the west indies instead, it opened up a bigger exchange of imports and exports including... COFFEE! his discovery of a non-flat world also motivated ferdinand magellan to sail around it, and magellan's name is currently being used for an experimental band/project that danny williams and i are currently cultivating. what goes around comes around (pardon the pun).

The Final Approach

2011-10-08T13:20:00.000-07:00

if you are coming to homer's tonight for the music, just know that you should enter at your own risk, wear protective headgear, and fasten your seatbelts... it's going to be a bumpy ride. the first leg of the journey will be co-captained by the magellans making their first appearance, and then wailin' wall will scootch across the bench seat to take over the wheel for the second half of the show. flight attendants will serve snacks and beverages as soon as the turbulence stops.

Tonight: David George

2011-10-07T04:35:00.000-07:00

david george is playing at homer's tonight starting at 7:30. if you haven't heard him before check out his myspace page. according to the posters, it's going to be an acoustic show. hope to see you there!

A Familiar Vibe

2011-10-05T05:07:00.000-07:00

Get More: Dawes, Top 20 Countdown, Time Spent in Los Angeles, Free Music Videos

i heard this song awhile back, and when i found the video this morning it reminded me of a coffeehouse atmosphere: a band playing, people digging it, and eventually everyone is singing.

Lindsey Buckingham is 62

2011-10-03T04:50:00.000-07:00

happy 62nd birthday to you lindsey buckingham! the guitarist for fleetwood mac shows no signs of slowing down. he's currently touring the US from atlanta to anaheim in october alone. so what is lindsey buckingham's connection to homer's or coffee? his dad owned a coffee plant, and his uncle's middle name was homer (okay that second part is made up, but his dad really DID own a coffee plant near palo alto, CA in the 40's).

Fall Drinks to Fall For

2011-10-02T17:07:00.000-07:00

it is NOW technically autumn! along with cooler temps and changing leaves get ready for fall drinks at homer's. very soon we'll be serving hot apple cider... and before you know it, egg nog! anything with cinnamon, pumpkin, or hazelnut will even taste better when you combine it with autumn. bottom's up!

Who Reads the Blog?

2011-09-29T18:27:00.001-07:00

phil and i were brainstorming about the homer's blog and how to attract readers when we came up with the song below. it reminded me of another time that i tapped into the weirdness of oz.

no one reads the blog by david cedillo jr. and phil hall

Ready For Autumn

2011-09-29T05:24:00.000-07:00

one of these images currently resides at homer's, another one can be seen here, and another one is forever tattooed on most of our brains. who else is ready for cooler temps, falling leaves, and free candy?

Fleming to Fudge Brownies

2011-09-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

if you've ever played six degrees of kevin bacon, you'll have a firm grasp of this blog entry. we'll start with something significant... oh say... something that happened on this date, and connect the dots to homer's coffeehouse (or just coffee). did you know that on THIS day in 1928, alexander fleming discovered penicillin? coincidentally, alexander fleming has the same surname as ian fleming, and when ian fleming wasn't writing james bond books, he wrote a children's story called chitty chitty bang bang. apparently there is a secret recipe for "famous french fudge" in the last chapter of that book (which i can't find). homer's doesn't have that secret recipe, but we DO have espress fudge brownies.

Spreading the Word

2011-09-27T18:01:00.000-07:00

as i close in on the one year mark of being blogmaster general here at homer's (my first blog entry was october 9, 2010), i'll debut a flier that should draw people's attention. honk if you love coffee.

Happy Birthday

2011-09-27T03:45:00.000-07:00

homer's turned ten yesterday. the actual celebration will take place october 15 with a host of bands that have played at homer's in the last 10 years.

The Kids Are Alright

2011-09-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

i started working at homer's 7 years ago, and now i have an extended family as a result. the first generation of "homer's kids" i adopted (some say they adopted me) have grown up, but yesterday two of them came back to visit. mike and shandi sayre met at homer's, married, and had kids of their own. if you play the song above, you'll know how jenny and i feel about our "kids." on a somewhat similar note, tom waits will release a new collection of songs in a few weeks. you can see/hear a sneak preview here.

Another Mystery Band

2011-09-20T03:43:00.000-07:00

who could it be?

coffee light and sweet by ???

Return of the Fog

2011-09-19T05:37:00.000-07:00

it was good to see the fog transform houses on my street to european cottages this morning. i know this magical haze will probably be gone by the time both of you read this (you know who you are), that's why i wanted to preserve the moment. oh yeah, i've blogged about the fog before.

Back to the Chalkboard

2011-09-17T10:56:00.001-07:00

here's another fine piece of work by phil hall. it was inspired by the lion king in 3D that opened in theaters nationwide last night. phil's artwork will remain up until somebody erases it. the lion may sleep tonight, but the coffee king will sleep when he's dead.

Mexico's Independence Day

2011-09-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

today is independence day in mexico! and the good news is you don't have to cross the rio grande to be a part of the festivities. homer's is celebrating with double drink card punches to everyone who orders a mexican mocha today! olé!

Winkler, Party of Four

2011-09-15T05:11:00.000-07:00

congratulations to the winklers on the arrival of little roseanne abigail (just 2 days old)! the boy/girl ratio is evenly balanced now.

Chalk It Up to Phil

2011-09-12T17:20:00.000-07:00

this pic was drawn by phil hall. when i asked him about it during our shift on monday, he took full responsibility. you can listen the soundcloud clip below to hear his explanation.
chalkboard art by phil hall

The Blank Out Fix

2011-09-12T05:25:00.000-07:00

man... sometimes i draw a serious blank when i try to make a "coffee" related entry on this blog. and then i realize... I NEED MORE COFFEE! scientific studies show that drinking coffee stimulates synaptic connections in the brain. also want to remind everyone that homer's is celebrating 10 years by having a BIG music shindig october 15!

Dig Coffee Grounds

2011-09-09T05:39:00.000-07:00

i play music with chris mull at homer's from time to time. we call ourselves the subs. we have a list of songs on reverbnation.com. occasionally someone will stumble upon our list, and say something nice. yesterday i got an email from ryan lovato in sedona, arizona that read, "Hey just want to say great music man." of course i was curious to hear ryan's music (reverbnation fans are usually other musicians). the clip below is from a song on ryan's page.

coffee grounds by ryan lovato

Weird and Wonderful Things

2011-09-08T17:55:00.000-07:00

darkroastedblend.com is a website i found last march when i was looking for retro future space images to put on my other blog. i didn't realize it the first time i was there, but on their about page it says, "all espresso-lovers & coffee shop dwellers unite!" how cool is that?

Cool Enough

2011-09-06T03:37:00.000-07:00

it was finally cool enough to light a fire inside the chimenea last night. come to think of it, i wore a jacket to work yesterday morning! summer's stifling heat and humidity is receding like a middle aged hairline! roll down the windows everybody!

Labor Day Workers

2011-09-05T08:38:00.000-07:00

phil and kelly opened homer's this morning, ashley and i will take over at 1pm and close the shop early at 6pm. clocking in 2 hours later than normal is a labor day perk. how did you celebrate labor day weekend? back in 1882 american workers celebrated the first labor day by taking the day off and having a picnic.

The Perfect Blend

2011-09-02T05:41:00.000-07:00

dan vogler and matt hawkins will be playing americoustic tunes at homer's tonight! the perfect blend of americana and acoustic music begins at 7:30. don't miss it!

From Berry to Berry

2011-09-01T05:15:00.000-07:00

still wondering who that guy was on yesterday's post? fred berry starred as "rerun" on the 70's tv sitcom, what's happening!! fred berry was born in st. louis, which is also home for rock n' roll pioneer chuck berry. i know what you're thinking now... "what do these berries (or any other berries) have in common with homer's or coffee?" don't worry, you're not alone.

Everything Old is New Again

2011-08-31T10:42:00.000-07:00

this is just a litmus test to see how many laptop potatoes (formerly couch potatoes) are out there. get ready to pull out your pH test strips... can you name 3 celebrities in previous blog posts? not sure if i can, but this isn't about me... it's about YOU! bonus points if you know the significance of the actor above.

House vs. Shop

2011-08-29T05:21:00.000-07:00

does anyone know the differences between a coffeehouse and a coffee shop? in america the line gets blurred alot. webster's defines one as a "small restaurant" and the other as "an informal club for regular customers."

Rob Foster and Chris Lewis Tonight!

2011-08-27T14:36:00.000-07:00

these guys are playing at homer's tonight... don't miss it!

Give it Up For Bob Jenkins!

2011-08-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

bob jenkins has played regularly at homer's coffeehouse for almost 10 years. tonight he is returning with his singer/songwriter living room sound at 7:30... will you be there?

Yesterday's Answer...

2011-08-24T05:17:00.000-07:00

the answer to yesterday's question: johann sebastian bach. apparently the famous composer suffered from an illness that would turn him into a goat if he didn't have enough caffeine in his system. this condition still plagues society today-- i've seen it in the customers who go too long between visits to homer's. would i lie to you?

Another Tuesday, Another Quote

2011-08-23T03:34:00.000-07:00

"bring me a bowl of coffee before i turn into a goat," was uttered by, who?

Nostalgic Monday

2011-08-22T05:26:00.000-07:00

the days are getting a little shorter as we get closer to labor day and the (unofficial) end of summer. up until last year i could see the neon lit white haven sign at the end of my shift after the sun went down. the photographer that took this pic must have had the same warm feelings about the old motor lodge as i did. if you look close enough, you can see the homer's sign in the background.

The Old Neighbor

2011-08-19T05:37:00.000-07:00

i've heard alot of stories about this place that used to be where mi ranchito is now (next to homer's). countless customers that are longtime overland park residents ask me if i remember john francis, but they never mention "chicken in the rough." does anyone know what that was supposed to mean, besides a chicken who can't golf?

Brain Candy

2011-08-18T08:24:00.000-07:00

i heard a cool story about coffee stains on NPR yesterday. hmmm, coffee stains... seems like there should be a band with that name; it would have to have a front man (or a front woman). maybe something like carol and the coffee stains! anyway, back to the NPR story, if you like it you can stream it or download it from the website. you're welcome.

Misguided Facts

2011-08-17T06:01:00.000-07:00

i just discovered trollquotes. it's one of those things you find when you're surfing or talking to a friend who doesn't get out much. when you put 3 facts together that don't quite line up, it makes you think harder to figure out the truth. i found the pic above on a zazzle coffee mug. can you work out the misconceptions?

Closing Shift

2011-08-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

the closing shift at homer's is usually covered by somebody that's not me... but last night i helped out. i have a huge amount of respect for the staff that closes regularly at homer's. there are alot of things that need to happen before all the lights go out and the doors are locked. and they do it every night.

Huh?

2011-08-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

i used to watch too much tv according to my parents. sometimes they say that the tv was my babysitter when they weren't around. so it goes to figure that i have a LOT of old tv trivia bouncing around in my head. barney miller was a show about cops in the '70s. jack soo (pictured above) was a regular cast member. do you know the link between coffee and nick yemana (his character on the show)?

Clara, Bob, and Michael

2011-08-11T04:16:00.000-07:00

clara rockmore, robert moog, and michael una are three names synonymous with an instrument called the theremin. rockmore played it, moog built it, and una did both. why am i even mentioning the subject on this blog you might ask? i bought one from michael una on monday and i found an old video where rockmore's family and robert moog are discussing the theremin over... what else? coffee.

Coffee Art

2011-08-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

probably will make more espresso drinks today since the sun isn't blazing as i write this. when it comes to coffee art though, i tend to be conceptual and ask questions like "what do YOU think it looks like?"

Broken English

2011-08-05T08:44:00.000-07:00

recently i bought a book. it is full of messed up english translations. a japanese coffee label states: "black coffee has great features which other coffees have never had: non-sugar." the truth is in there somewhere. by the way, can you find the connection between the picture above and today's blog entry?

Budding Young Artist

2011-08-02T18:11:00.000-07:00

a really cool thing happened today. a regular customer (jamie) brought his 10-year-old niece to homer's. after jamie and jordan ordered their drinks, jordan drew a picture for kelly and me. i told her (jordan) that i would post it on the blog... then she drew 6 more! the pic above is the first one that she drew, i'll post more later. thanks again jordan!