A few weeks ago I wrote about the Onyx Cafe, a sanctuary for losers, lovers, and liberators that existed just a few feet from Skylight Books until The Onyx closed in 1998. I have always loved the tradition of the cafe and cafe culture. I can remember riding my skateboard (no pops or grinds, just transportation) as a young teen to the House of Fiction used book store a few miles from my house. Amongst the cat hair and dust I found myself drawn to paperbacks that had words like "jazz", "beat", "existential", and "mayonnaise" on the back cover. After dropping my scraped together income into the hands of the bearded proprietor I would skate over to the park and submerge myself in the musty yellow pages until the streetlights came on - time to head home. When I found the Espresso Bar in Pasadena it was just like the places I had been reading about, the places I imagined these books had been written in. The front door was in an alley off an alley. Wood floors, mismatched chairs, Chinese lanterns, and surly coffee pullers. From that day forth you could find me in that cafe most anytime...getting geeked on coffee, reading, writing, laughing, flirting. Many an idea for a story or practical joke germinated in that space, fertilized by caffeine and Camel Lights. This weekend I drove out to Lancaster to visit my friend's brand new oasis - The Sagebrush Cafe. The owners, June and Eric, have created a place for all creatures to come in for coffee and hang time. Once a gas station, the building has been totally renovated into a welcoming dream. The outdoor eating area will be the perfect place to sit and sip during the warm desert nights. The coffeehouse is also and art gallery and the opening show was full of beautiful and fluid paintings from Adrienne Pike-Adelphia. Poppy season is almost upon us and a trip out to Lancaster to see the poppies in bloom is a Southern California tradition and I look forward to getting my jolt while watching the stars come out at the Sagebrush. The only thing that is better than owning a cafe is having a friend who does. Congratulations June and Eric! And thank you for carrying on the tradition!
Sagebrush Cafe42104 50th Street West
Quartz Hill, CA 93536
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