News from Hi Point Coffee and Cafe 12/10/10

Hello, all! We have some fun stuff going on right now at Hi Point. The biggest thing is the Christmas Candy Shoppe. We have partnered with a local candy maker who has been making ridiculously yummy goodies for the past twenty years. She's made for us a wonderful array of hand-dipped, handmade pretzels and they are delicious. We're selling these gems by individual pretzels, as well as gift packs. We also have hot cocoa mix and homemade marshmallows and caramel sauce, all ready for the holiday gift season. We have samples, so come check 'em out! And as always, we have gift certificates available for the little something. Some more big news!! Coming up in January, we'll be starting a new music series on Saturday nights! Our first concert will be January 8th, featuring Tim Snider of Sol Jibe fame. Tim has a new solo album and is truly a wonderful musician. I'm so honored to host his talent, so you'll be hearing a lot more about this in the next few weeks. For this weekend, we have a special music treat. Lenny and Roger are back on Saturday and Roger's informed me that he's expecting a special guest to come visit him as he shares some favorite Christmas carols. Don't know who the mysterious stranger is, but I'm excited to see. ;) Well, there's always more to say, but I'll let this note end. Who has time to read it all anyway during this busy season. I hope y'all are finding the time to relax and enjoy the holiday season and I look forward to seeing you soon! Sarah Sunday Brunch Special  9am to 1pm Cantal cheese tart with glazed ham, two poached eggs and holiday-inspired greens Plus, special breakfast libations! Open Mic Night Friday night 5:30 sign-ups and performances from 6-8:30pm! Lenny and Roger Play Saturday 1:30pm! Come listen to some great music with Lenny and Roger. Everything from folk to blues, Spanish guitar and Christmas carols. It'll be a fun afternoon for all! And Roger's told me he's expecting a mysterious stranger to come visit during the carols. Whoever could he mean?! Come listen and enjoy the afternoon! New Book Club Selection! We've chosen to read something light, holiday and coffee-related for the Christmas season. No reason to be too serious in December, right? We'll save that for 2011. So, please join us in reading The Holiday Grind by Cleo Coyle. It's a murder mystery, it's holiday and it involves a coffee house. How perfect! I love a good mystery. :) We'll be meeting 12/19 at 2pm to chit-chat about this one. Discuss, I'm sure, is too heavy a word for this one. Please read and come enjoy the afternoon! I'm including the Kirkus review of this one below... Kirkus Reviews Amateur sleuth Clare Cosi investigates the murder of a Santa who gave her a tip on how to rev up coffee sales. The cops write off the shooting of charity Santa Alfred Glockner on the chilly streets of lower Manhattan as a mugging gone wrong. His daughter, claiming he owed big bucks to their tough next-door neighbor, begs Clare to investigate. Since the Village Blend manager and barista profited from Alf's advice about creating holiday lattes, she feels obligated. Clare's boyfriend, NYPD detective Mike Quinn, has no time to help; he's immersed in his own case and may be hiding other problems. The cop on Alf's case, who has an odd reputation, ignores Clare until she turns up some possible suspects, one of whom pushes her off the Staten Island ferry. Emerging from the waters, she assesses divorce, double dealing and drugs as potential motives in this complicated case. Though her former husband is afraid she'll be killed, stubborn Clare soldiers on until she and daughter Joy, home for the holidays, become the killer's next target. Coyle's coffeehouse mysteries (Espresso Shot, 2008, etc.) are packed with believable characters and topped with serious coffee lore and holiday recipes. This one will keep your cup piping hot. Drive for warm stuff! We've also taken down our first load of warm stuff from our warm stuff drive for the homeless. But, let's keep it going! We're gathering people's extra blankets, coats, hats, mittens, sleeping bags, sweaters, wool socks, etc. You bring it in and we'll bag it and take it down to the family shelter at Record St.