Atlanta
is jam-packed with college campuses and its students make up a large portion of
the city’s population. The population of students diversifies Atlanta, and
although many come from various backgrounds, there is one thing most students
have in common; they love coffee almost as much as they love entertainment.
Lucky for us, in the ATL students can have the best of both worlds. The city is
home to some of the best Spoken Word cafes around. Right outside of GA Tech’s
campus (one of the largest colleges in Georgia) is the popular Urban Grind
Café. Every week you can drop in and get your coffee fix and listen to some of
the best talent in the A. The café boasts many talented artists from all over
the metropolitan area.
As
a college student who loves coffee and poetry, Urban Grind Café is my go to
spot for entertainment. My very first experience at the café happened by
chance. After leaving my friend’s dorm, a student/resident at GA-tech, I began
to walk the crowded streets of Atlanta taking in the city’s scene when I
noticed a crowd of college age individuals standing outside of a packed coffee
shop. I walked up to the group and inquired about what was happening inside.
“It’s a poetry jam,” one of the individuals responded. This intrigued me, so I
squeezed into the already full café, and after ordering a caramel macchiato, I
sat back to enjoy the show.
The
aesthetic of Urban Grind gives off a cool without trying vibe that makes it
easily identifiable as a place for young people. The coffee was decent tasting,
and delivered a caffeine dose that any college student would appreciate.
However, it was the talent of the evening that brought the crowd. The café was
filled with the sounds of snaps as each poet took the stage with their powerful
and often inspiring pieces. The artists were made up of a mixture of novice and
seasoned poets, some taking the stage for the very first time. The crowd gave
off an easy atmosphere that encouraged even the shyest poet to step up during
the open-mic section of the night. This café is definitely a shining spot in
the city.
Although
Urban Grind is one of my favorite spoken words spots, other cafes in the city
can also be found boasting talented artists. Kats, Apache, and Copper are just
a few that give off the similar vibe you would find at Urban Grind. These
trendy cafes are important to the nightlife in the city and also give
individuals a forum or stage in which they can express themselves. In a city
inundated by Starbucks shops and other large franchises, these fresh, private
owned coffee shops offer that charm the city is lacking due to gentrification.
Urban Grind Café and other shops like it are mainstays in ATL that everyone
should visit and experience at least once when they visit the city.
