Le Cavalier Bleu, Paris

Paris, France
143 Rue Saint Martin

Perhaps after the Eifle Tower and Le Louvre, cafes are one of the top stops for anyone visiting Paris. They are also a starting place for nearly every Parisian.  But unlike some other Parisian cafes, they are patient with those with limited French speaking skills.

That being said, the Cavalier Bleu certainly had a more local Parisian feel. It had l lovely, heated outdoor patio and is free of the swarms of tourist groups. A double espresso is a standard drink and is a perfect way to start your day or get over jetlag.

Red Buffalo Coffee & Tea, Silverthorne

Owners: Erin Young and Louisa Morrissey
Years in Business: 3

358 Blue River Pkwy.
Silverthorne, Colorado
970-468-4959

The Red Buffalo is a newer coffee shop in Silverthorne, but has quickly become a community staple. You will very often see people meeting for business, for pleasure, and to get a little personal work done on their wireless internet. The atmosphere has a clean, homely, rustic feel with the comfort of rocking chairs. Best of all, since they're a major through-way to Colorado's ski resorts, they have a clean bathroom (make sure you take a look at the bathroom's photographs).

Even better than a clean bathroom though is the attention to customer service and better yet the views! Not 20 feet out of their back door is the Blue River (a Gold Medal fishing spot) and wonderful seating. Your view out the front window is the amazing Gore Range with their name sakes, Red Peak and Buffalo Mountain towering into the skyline.

Red Buffalo Cafe is a family owned and operated establishment and you will often see daughter Erin or mother Louisa making your drinks. Father and other daughter and niece/granddaughter can also often be found to strike up a conversation with.

Oh, and did we mention that there are over 30 varieties of loose leaf teas?

The Urbanistic Tea and Bike, Denver

Owner: Michelle and Ethan Bontrager
Years in Business: 13

Address:3215 Lowell, Denver, Colorado
Phone:303-561-3025

I make semi-regular trips to Denver and am constantly trying to find new neighboorhood coffee and tea shops that bring something unique to their community. The Urbanistic Tea and Bike shop is exactly that. In Highlands Square, a small, narrow shop is the perfect, and rarely combined, combination of a specialty bike shop and loose leaf tea vendor.

Michelle and her brother Ethan began the business 13 years ago primarily as a loose leaf tea supplier. As times progressed, they have now also fitted the needed Denver nitch of cruiser and touring bikes along with all the pretty accessories. Brooks Saddles, Basil Paniers, and bamboo fenders adorn the walls and new and vintage cruisers wait outside. In addition to their wealth of knowledge on tuning bikes, Michelle and her brother are major tea affectionados and carry over 100 different varieties of tea.

I recommend this stop any time you're in Denver to pick up some delicious tea and perhaps indulge your bike habit with a new Surley cruiser.