Chatterbox

In going over the Crawl archives a few weeks ago I noticed that we hadn't been to a coffee shop in Newton Park since July.  Later that day, almost as though she'd read my mind, I received a text message from Crawler Heather Anderson telling me she noticed a new coffee shop.....where else but on 4th Ave in Newton Park!  So for the first time in three months the Crawlers headed to Newton Park for our Thursday morning coffee.

The new shop, Chatterbox, is located at 83 4th Ave in the small plaza on the corner of Hurd St. and 4th Ave.  If you want a spot in the parking lot you must enter from the Hurd St. side, otherwise there is some parking available on the grassy lawn in front of the shop.

Meet the Owner
Edward Conway

Chatterbox owner Edward Conway opened the coffee shop on Saturday, September 28 and has been open and busy every day since.  The hours may change but, for now, PE coffee lovers can get Miko coffee, whipped up by barista Stella, along with breakfast, lunch or cake, all prepared on-site by chef Jenny, at Chatterbox any day from 7:30-5:30.  The shop's menu also features daily specials Monday through Saturday.

Meet the Barista
Stella

Meet the Chef
Jenny

The menu highlight of the week is a Sunday lunch served from 12-2 which includes two meats, a starch, a veggie and a dessert.  As the shop's seating is limited to 30, booking for Sunday lunch is essential.  For reservations call Joan at 041 364 0111 or email her at:  chatterboxon4th@telkomsa.net
If the quality of the food we sampled on Thursday is any indication I imagine the Sunday lunch is quite delicious and a real bargain at R50.  Edward and his chatterbox wife, Joan, will be seeing much more of the Crawlers on upcoming Sundays!

Chatterbox is available for small group functions, tea parties and off-site catering.  Call the number above for details.

Yummy cupcakes!

As per usual on Thursday Crawlers, Gail Darne, Nomusa Nkomo, Vicki Minnaar, Margaret Zoetmulder, Beth Vieira, Stella and Beryl Dawson, Margaret and Arthur Marshall, Fran and Keith de Beer, Cayle Nash, Lee Rodwell, didn't have any problem finding things to chat about.  The funny thing is that at a venue called Chatterbox our topics seemed, unintentionally, to revolve around all things silent.  In what has become our weekly "book review" we discussed three books (2 non-fiction and 1 historical fiction), Left To Tell, Walden, and Silence.  In each book the main character experiences either externally forced silence or self-imposed solitude.

This Week's Gabby Group
Arthur, Margaret M., Vicki, Lee, Nomusa, Gail,
Margaret, Cayle, Fran, Keith, Stella, Beryl, Beth

Then, just as our book discussion was coming to a close, in walked Vicki who proceeded to tell us about a 10-day silent retreat she recently attended.  WHAT?!?  Vicki, you actually voluntarily spent 10 days in complete silence?  I'm totally impressed, as were all the other Crawlers!  I, for one, couldn't last one day let alone ten without talking (keep your comments to yourself, Keith!).  So, for quite a while we pummeled Vicki with questions regarding the retreat.  Given all the info, and having heard about how much Vicki got out of the experience, it would be nice to say that I would attempt it........nah, ain't gonna happen.  How about all you other Crawlers?........Any takers?.........Thought not.

Well, after three hours of non-stop chatter at Chatterbox another Crawl came to a close.  And, the Crawlers are unanimous......Chatterbox is an awesome place to have coffee and chat the day away!

~Thank you to Edward and Joan, Stella and Jenny
~Thank you to all the PE Coffee Crawl readers......Who would have thought that little coffee shop blog
  would get 50,000 hits?

Until next week,

Ellen