Just read on Twitter via
@GigcityYEG (you can read their article
here) that Naked Cyber Cafe and Expresso Bar lost their lease (too many "unwelcome clientele", apparently), and will now have to move (hopefully, they just move and don't close. Also, fingers crossed they find some other cool spot downtown). This makes me pretty sad as not only was it a great spot for artists to hang out and play, but it was the location of mine and Emma's first REAL date (sans friends to act as buffers). And it was a GREAT date. We spent 3 hours there! Maybe even longer, and we were never told to leave or hurry up. We just sat there drinking tea, I think I had a puffed wheat square as well, and chatted all night! That was also the night that I locked my keys in my car and had to ask someone at Wee Book Inn for a coat hanger to try and force it open. Unfortunately, that plan didn't work so Emma got to meet my dad when he dropped off a spare key for me. Add to that the -30 temperature and throw in a couple games of Connect 4 and Guess Who, and all in all it made for a slightly embarrassing but amazing night. I swear it was that night that made me realize that this person was incredibly special and I'd be a fool to pass this by. And I ain't no fool (right, Mr. T)!
this is truly a sad event but i hope you are right and that it keeps its old spirit alive in a new location!
ReplyDeleteHopefully, a new location that's even closer to our new place! Heh. I always hope for that, though. I like everything within a 3 block radius!
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I posted that I just realized there's a fair number of spots on or near Rice Howard Way that would be awesome! But the rent is probably ridiculously priced.
ReplyDeleteThere are a ton of empty storefronts downtown, so hopefully Naked will find a new place. I rarely visit Naked, and I'm not a huge fan of the owner (he's friendly, but kind of nuts), but I appreciate what they offer to the community.
ReplyDeleteAlso: that first date sounds awesome (aside from the embarrassment with the car). The "we were just talking a lost track of the past several hours" thing is always a good sign...as you obviously realized.
You mean CRAZY Bob Ligertwood? He really ramped it up for the municipal election, eh? But even though he's a bit wacky he is generally a nice 'fella. Just don't mention the public library. Heheheh.
ReplyDeleteI'd hope for maybe a slightly larger space and have more artists play and sell their work there. But I'm always still hoping on some new venue to open up and fill the void left by the Sidetrack. *sigh
Oh, great, now I'm going to be pining for the Sidetrack for a week...
ReplyDelete