Coffee Talk -- CC's on Metairie Road

Ihave very mixed emotions about this particular coffee shop. It's a large place, with a big bar area and a lot of tables. The strip mall where it's located (Old Metairie Village) has ample parking, and there are a number of excellent restaurants, sandwich places, and groceries nearby. My family's first home was in Old Metairie, and the first Radio Shack I worked at was located across the street.

The interior is franchise CC's, which is not a bad thing. The dark wood fixtures, tables, and chairs make for a relaxing environment. The pastries and the usual selection of stuff from Chef John Folse's bakery and the coffee is Community. All good things.

In terms of computer access, this shop was one of the first where the chain experimented with offering Internet access to customers. There are a number of RJ45 jacks by the tables along the wall that still work if you want better speeds than wireless. The wireless works well, and there are ample power outlets for the tables along the wall, but not for the ones along the front windows.

The biggest downside to this shop is the number of studying students. It's a cultural thing that people don't share tables anymore, so when a medical or nursing student plops down at a table for four, the remaining three seats go vacant until that person leaves. What the baristas should do is to pull the individual tables apart a bit, clearly indicating that it's two tables-for-two. If a larger group comes in, they can push the tables together, and whoever buses them when they leave can inch them apart again. That would make it easier for others to sit down, and would also bring in more customers -- I've seen a lot of folks who walk in, look at the "occupied" seating, and walk out without buying anything.

Another issue with this shop is the noise factor. The blended drinks are very popular here, so bring your MP3 player and headphones to drown them out. This is a place where larger groups congregate as well, so if you're looking for peace and quiet, this ain't the place for you.

I don't want to hit this final downside too hard, but there's an additional issue that gives me the shivers. The regular crowd here is a bit older than in many places, and this is Old Metairie. David Duke's political career began in this neighborhood and the sentiments that put him into office still exist. It's common to hear the word "nigger" come from a group of older men in the morning, which puts me off in a big way.

I tend to listen to streaming audio while working in coffee shops, however, so this last one is easy for me to tune out. Because of that and because of this shop's proximity to other places I go regularly, it works for me.