Coffee Planet, Ballston Spa, New York
I almost always stop here on my way coming and going between Montreal and my father's house in central New York. It's just about halfway, and is a throwback to the coffee shops I loved in the 1960s, in a town that is the hippie answer to its sister's (Saratoga Spring's) money and high style. In addition to Coffee Planet, with its great coffee, sandwiches, soup and home-baked bread and desserts (plus free wifi, and often live music - on Sunday there was a good solo acoustic guitarist) there's a nice tea and health-food/natural products store, a friendly post office for mailing US-stamped letters and packages that I've saved up, a new bead store that I didn't have time to visit, a fine handmade jewelry shop, a good-looking clothing thrift shop, and a pottery studio/crafts boutique (Strolling Village Artisans) that I do almost always visit. All our mugs have come from there, and I bought two new ones this time and was only sorry that the owner/potter, Madeline, wasn't around for our usual chat. Ballston Spa is a warm little oasis of familiarity by now.
Love the ceiling!
Posted by: Hannah Stephenson | October 26, 2010 at 09:24 PM
Isn't it great! The whole town is that vintage; it's the hippie-next-door-neighbor of Saratoga Springs, NY.
Posted by: Beth | October 27, 2010 at 09:49 AM
i know it's crazy when you're on a big road trip, but if you ever want to give me the heads up when you're passing through, i could meet you there! i live less than 30 minutes from ballston spa. :)
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