Events

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Events, Our Books, Poetry, What are we up to?

Between the Grinds wants to be your valentine.

“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.” 

― Pablo Neruda

Pablo Neruda was a Nobel-prize winning poet from Chile. He was the child of a railroad worker and a school teacher. Although his real name was Ricardo Eliezer Neftali Reyes y Basoalto, he adopted the pseudonym in honor of the Czech poet Jan Neruda. Also, Pablo was an outspoken supporter of communist leaders such as Stalin, Castro, and Batista. He was very much involved in the Chilean communist party because of the difficulties he faced in the Spanish Civil War. Despite his passion for Communism, he is mostly known for his beautiful love poetry. Check out Pablo Neruda’s love poems at Between the Grinds today. We have a copy waiting for you and your valentine.

Want to dig deeper into the life of Pablo Neruda? Check out our resource at Biography.com.

Love poetry?

We’ll be having a poetry readings all day. Join us at Between the Grinds and share your favorite poems.

Need gift ideas for your valentine?

Between the Grinds offers Valentine’s Day themed gift cards.

Unsure of how to win the heart of your beloved bibliophile? Ask any of our team members for book suggestions or bits of poetry that will warm the heart of your significant other.

Share the love of literacy

Buy any one of our handmade Valentine’s Day cards and all of the proceeds will go directly to supporting Reading Between the Grinds literacy program.

Donations

 For every purchase made on Valentine’s Day we will donate $2 of that purchase to our nonprofit literacy programs. We’re always accepting donations. Help us support literacy in your community today.

What do you love? Comment below and tell us about the things you love the most.

The Soapbox

Events, Literacy, What are we up to?

Yes, we actually have a soap box for you to stand on.

 Between the Grinds wants to provide a safe place for people in our community to express their opinions and have educated conversations about their topics. Every hour we invite anyone, big or small, to stand on our soap box and talk about what makes them tick. These topics range from the controversial to the creative. We ask that everyone be respectful and attentive to anyone willing to take the stand.

Why a soap box?

Throughout history, shipping containers were used for speeches. Some of these wooden crates just so happened to be for the shipment of soap to retail businesses. These discarded containers were free and easily accessible in the alleyways of businesses. If someone wanted a little attention, they would use these makeshift oratory platforms to gain some height over a crowd so their voices could be heard. Need a little history lesson? Check out this article on soapbox speeches.

Fear not

The soap box is our way of helping you conquer your fears of public speaking. Everyone has one voice that deserves to be heard. Do not let fear silence you.

Tips

For some people, picturing everyone in their underwear isn’t enough. When all eyes are on you, how do you cope?

Find your passion.

It’s easy to speak about a topic that interests you. Do you like Harry Potter? Tell us why. Let everyone know why you think J.K. Rolling is the bees knees. Are you a fierce feminist? That’s great. Tell us why Feminism is important to you and why it should be important to everyone else. Find your passion and the words will come easily to you.

Practice makes perfect.

Practice your speech in front of a mirror. This will allow you to develop confidence and see how you appear to your audience. Also, practice in your comfort zones with friends and family. Let them know about your concerns and ask for suggestions.

Need more speech tips. Visit anxietycoach.com for more help on overcoming your fear of public speaking.

Your speech doesn’t have to be a rant.

Between the Grinds wants everyone to embrace the freedom of speech but we do not want your topics to be offensive. We ask that you do not verbally attack any religious, political, or social groups. The soap box is for educated speeches and discussions. Between the Grinds is a home for people from all backgrounds and any disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.

Are you afraid of public speaking? Do you have tips on surviving the spotlight? Please share your speech experiences with us.

Reading Between the Grinds

Beverages, Events, What are we up to?

We all know that a story isn’t just a cluster of words and a person isn’t just flesh and bone. Stories are ideas, opinions, and expressions. People are so much more. Here at Between the Grinds, we never make the mistake of judging a book by its cover.

This month belongs to the Brits

Our featured British author of the week

Did you know that Disney turned down Huxley’s draft of a screenplay for Alice in Wonderland? It’s important to understand that many great writers have been rejected at some point in their careers. We must follow their example and persevere when facing opposition. Never give up!

Help yourself to other interesting facts about

Aldous Huxley.

Rent your copy of Brave New World today! Our book club meeting dedicated to British writers takes place on February 27th at 6pm.

The Grinds

Get your morning cuppa at Between the Grinds. Our monthly theme demands an appropriate drink so try our London Fog today. This delicious full-leaf black tea is infused with bergamot and lavender. Add a splash of cream and you’ve got a foggy London day in a cup. If you strike up a conversation about our British author of the week, refills are on the house.

Do you want to make this drink at home? Try this recipe from Bare Feet in the Kitchen. Knowledge is a beautiful thing.

Our Services

We’re not just some coffee shop full of old books. We offer an array of free services to the community.

Are you dying to have a conversation about your favorite book? You can start your own book club at Between the Grinds. We’ll even help you out with a theme.

Need some help with that pesky midterm paper? We have certified tutors on site to help with your grammatical needs. We’ll even work around your schedule. Walk-ins are welcome but you can always make an appointment.

Are your reading skills lacking? Fear not. Between the Grinds has a weekly literacy workshop. This program is powered by teachers who are passionate about enhancing your reading abilities. These services are free to anyone who walks through our doors from open to close.

Not sure what to read next? Our staff would love nothing more than to direct you to a new reading experience. We have oodles of articles, newspapers, novels, comic books, and magazines on our shelves. If we don’t have it, we’ll find it for you.

Discussion

We want to know what you’re reading? Comment below and let us know about the books that have moved you throughout the years.

Everyone is welcome at Between the Grinds.

Want more daily grinds? Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Discussions are taking place every day and we want you involved in our community.

Have an idea on improving our business? We’d love to hear it. Talk to one of our staff members and let us know how we’re doing.