Monthly Archives: September 2008

Caffe Vita + Public Access Media = Girl Talk

| September 30, 2008

Back in early June a young gentlemen named Michael Yuasa came and visited us here at Caffe Vita wondering if we might be interested in supporting a new contemporary arts and media video publishing project his company Antarctic Records would be producing called Public Access Media. Michael is very involved with the music community within the city in addition to his monthly smash and roll dance night Club Pop he also promotes various other popular artists with our neighbors at Neumos. Michael was a former barista at the Capitol Hill Caffe Vita, given the mix of coffee, culture and music Caffe Vita was happy to join on and become a sponsoring partner of Public Access Media.

Thus far Public Access has hosted/interviewed some to todays most admired artists such as Chromeo, Tiny Vipers, Daniel Johnston, Girl Talk, Mika Miko, M83, Dan Deacon and Past Lives. Some of which took place in Caffe Vita during the Capitol Hill Block Party. Below are a few of our favorite videos but be sure to check out the full breadth of their work at www.publicaccessmedia.tv

Here is a small taste of what they have been up to – a spirited interview with the controversial house party mash-up artist sensation Girl Talk – in the Vita green bean warehouse.

Jerry Traunfelds much anticipated Poppy opens and serves up VITA

| September 26, 2008


Jerry Traunfeld’s bustling Capitol Hill eatery Poppy marks the return of the most celebrated chef in the northwest – during Jerry’s tenure at The Herbfarm he received international acclaim for his seasonal cuisine – since he left that kitchen a year ago we have all been waiting anxiously for the new opening.

The place is stunning and the food is. as expected, remarkable… go.

Coffee Superstar Gives Demo.

| September 23, 2008

siphon coffee demo @ coffeefest from hebberoy on Vimeo.

Jay Egami made international news when the NY Times inked a feature about the $20,000 siphon bar he installed in San Francisco at Blue Bottle’s newest cafe – we have been lucky enough to know Jay for years – and he has consistently been charming us with his eccentric imports from the East (not to mention his tales of lifting iron with Barry Bonds) – this year he joined Vita at Coffee Fest and Jay and Heather showed thousands of coffee fanatics how the vacuum siphon technology makes some of the best, cleanest flavored, and most nuanced coffee around…

In the coming week we will begin selling home versions of the famous siphon machine online at the Vita store… stay tuned.

CCC = Come Cup Coffee.

| September 18, 2008

The charming and dreamy Heather Ruiz is hosting a series of Coffee Tastings – next week – at each Caffe Vita location. Come down and see how we select and taste coffee before we purchase the pretty beans. Coffee cupping is the coffee equivalent of wine tasting – but without the pomp and cheese.

All Cuppings Begin At 2pm.

Monday, September 22nd @ Seward Park
Tuesday, September 23rd @ Queen Anne
Wednesday, September 24th @ Fremont
Thursday, September 25th @ Olympia
Friday, September 26th @ Capitol Hill

KEXP LIVE CD – AVAILABLE AT ALL VITA LOCATIONS

| September 17, 2008


There’s No Take Two

KEXP, Seattle’s listener-supported radio station, announces the release of Live at KEXP Vol. 4, a collection of 20 stand-out sessions chosen from more than 400 exclusive in-studio performances recently recorded at KEXP.

Available in select stores (including all Caffe Vita locations) Tuesday, Sept. 16, the record reflects KEXP’s commitment to bringing music into people’s lives. One hundred percent of proceeds from sales will directly support KEXP, a Seattle-based nonprofit that enriches the lives of its listeners by championing music and discovery.

“When it’s time to go live, no one knows quite what to expect,” said Kevin Cole, KEXP program director and Afternoon Show host. “As listeners, we don’t wantperfection. We want energy and raw emotion. That creative tension and vulnerability is what makes a great live performance magical.” KEXP is internationally known for its live in-studio performances, airing as many as four in a single day. The tracks included on Live at KEXP Vol. 4 capture highlights from a year of live sessions, showcasing a range of known and unknown artists and a variety of genres.

Previously unreleased tracks from: Vampire Weekend, The National, Fleet Foxes, Rufus Wainwright and many more.

(what they didn’t say in the press release is that “this CD kicks ass…”)

Throw Me The Statue + Midnight Supper

| September 16, 2008

the pictures tell it best. but quickly: a midnight performance by seattle stars Throw Me The Statue, a candlelight romp with Chromeo, some bluesy shout outs by Ty Willman, a 1000 degree brick oven in which we cooked baby turnips, sweet carrots, plump sausages, dreamy squash, delicate beet greens, bloody lamb ribs, all served alongside bowl after bowl of vibrant aioli – bags and bags of farm direct coffee making us feel like we were in a secret bunker, and cups overflowing with fragrant coffee – and maybe some wine… it went till 3:30 am – it was a brilliant end to a phenomenal weekend of music…