The Talking Stick

Parking: Free Lot
Laid Back Casual Moderately noisy Wifi

A homey, bright and colorful coffee shop patronized by everyone from local parents and their toddlers to Santa Monica College kids soaking up free wi-fi along with the caffeinated drinks, the Talking Stick is a virtual community center. There's live music just about every evening, an open mic night on Wednesdays and showcases at least every month, but the artsy medium-sized venue enjoys a recreational crowd regularly: From the "Stitch N' Bitch" knitting circle, which gathers here every Tuesday from 7 to 10 p.m. to neighborhood children who enjoy playing with the communal toys in the "pillow room." Of course, there's coffee and tea drinks from the $1.50 12 oz. cup of drip coffee to the $4 20 oz. ice blended mocha, vanilla, chai or caramel; an impressive array of egg-centric breakfast food from the $1.25 bagel to the $4.25 Atkins Scramble; and a selection of sandwiches and salads, all for under $7. The Talking Stick is living on borrowed time at its current location—the landlords plan to launch their own cafe there in mid-July, 2008—but the proprietor will move to 1411 Lincoln Blvd. at California in Venice with little or no interruption in service.

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