Ye Olde Watering Hole...A Round Robin Promotion

"Why doe man kill? He kills for food. And not only food, frequently there much be a beverage as well."

-Woody Allen

We have a nifty new Round Robin Challenge to ponder. Our friend Maryanne, author of the journal, "Inside The Gilded Cage," has chosen, "Ye Olde Watering Hole," as our new photo challenge to meet. I love this idea. :) I do have a specific place in Berkeley where I like to go for a little relax and refresh, Caffe Strada, at the corner of College avenue and Bancroft. It sits right across the street from the University of California Berkeley. It's a fun place where one can go to read a book, do a little work on a laptop computer, or just sit an people watch. That's what I enjoy doing the most, the people watching. The cafe itself is is a lovely place with gorgeous trees all around it to keep it cool in the summer, and outdoor heaters to keep it warm, on the cold rainy days of winter. They have lots of coffee and tea choices, but the hot chocolate will curl your toes, especially with a dash of Torani raspberry syrup. If you ever go there never, ever, miss the Chocolate Mocha cake they have...OMG...yep, that's the stuff!

In the summer, I enjoy buying the Italian sodas. Usually I will order a Watermelon soda, but the Melon and Pink Grapefruit is pretty tasty also. The melon flavored sodas taste just like biting into a chilled Honeydew melon. It can be a nice treat on these hot summer days we have been having. :) No matter when you go there, you will always have something interesting to see or experience. I enjoy sitting at my favorite watering hole in autumn. The kids are back to school at the university, some for the first time, and there is a youthful enthusiasm in the air. An energy.

That feeling of passion for the future, that you can see on the faces of the young students who go their to grab a refreshment, is addictive. Sometimes you might overhear a good natured debate between them, sometimes in several languages. It all goes so well together. A lot of the time I can hear laughter among the patrons, and doesn't the sound of laughter just sound good in any language? Also, it doesn't hurt that the cafe sits less then half a block from the,Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive. :)

It's not always about the beverage being served. Sometimes we visit our favorite watering holes to enjoy the ambiance, sometimes because we need human contact, sometimes we have a craving for a soda, or coffee, or even something a little stronger. It's all good in moderation. Sometimes one needs to try new things. If I had never ventured into that lovely little cafe, I would have never discovered Italian sodas. Now sometimes, I make them at home, when I am not feeling well enough to visit Caffe Strada. I love inventing new recipes, and I want to share this one with you from the watering hole I visited today..."Ye-Old- Backyard-Of-My-House-Watering-Hole." LOL. I call this drink, "Apricot Autumn."

Apricot Autumn

8 oz Sparkling Soda
1/2 oz. (I Tbs.) Torani Apricot Syrup
1/4 oz. (1 1/2 tsp.) Torani Cinnamon Syrup
1 Apricot quartered

Fill the glass with ice...and go for it! :) When the drink is done, the apricot quarters will have a lovely, light cinnamon taste. MMMMMMMYUMMMMM.

Your turn, join the Round Robin Challenge, and share with us about your favorite ,"Ye Olde Watering Hole." It could be your favorite Tea House, neighborhood Bar & Grill, Coffee House, Juice bar, Smoothie Joint, Soda Shop, or maybe even the best little Lemonade Stand in your town. So, grab your cameras,venture forth and snap away. Show us where you like to go to wet your whistle. If you prefer to make your own libations, that's cool too. Show us that favorite drink that you make yourself, and then share with us how, why,when and where you most enjoy it. The date of this challenge will be, Wednesday, July 26th. You can post your entry anytime between the midnights of that day. You can find out all the information at the official Round Robin Blog. Hope to see you on July 26th. :)

-OndineMonet
"Apricot Autumn Soda"
Berkeley, July 13, 2006
Afternoon

NOTE! There have been some additions to the Rules of Play. Please go and read the new rules posted in the ***Welcome Entry & Rules of Play***, BEFORE, you sign up to play. Please everyone, lets try to stick to the rules, they are there to make things fair for everyone! Your cooperation is needed to keep things flowing smoothly!