Thanks to a good friend, I’ve enjoyed about $120 worth of free lattes and sandwiches from Starbucks. His left over Christmas gift cards have found a much more needed home with me – a poor college student – than with his wealthy clients. But as much as I like walking into Starbucks and seeing Lane’s display as I order free drinks, my taste buds need new coffee and I need new noise. Luckily, I’ve found the answer to both: Café Grumpy.

I’ve been meaning to visit Greenpoint ever since I saw On the Waterfront and when I stumbled across Café Grumpy’s website, it was the extra push I needed. I gathered a couple friends and made the journey to the outer (outer) borough. The train ride wasn’t too bad: the L to the G and a few blocks from the Nassau train station. It’s an interesting walk through the Polish neighborhood and a rewarding surprise at the end of an unlikely street.

As I entered the charming café, I noticed a large mirror and cool paintings on the wall. I like the décor. It felt like hanging out at a friend’s apartment, but with a Synesso Cyncra espresso machine. We ordered our drinks and settled into a comfy corner, where we talked until closing time.

Before we left, I used the restroom where I found another hidden treasure: an amazing jet-powered hand dryer. I thought the skin was going to come off my hands. I want one. It made new noise.

Connected to Café Grumpy is the 193c Gallery and Event Space which features local art, Argentinean Tango lessons, and an experimental music series called the FreeZone. This Saturday, Ty Cumbie’s The Color Now will be performing – which (according to this website) includes Lukas Ligeti, Daniel Carter, and Adam Lan. It’s guaranteed to be an interesting night.