Chai Latte

Well, I remember my first Thanksgiving break home from my freshman year of college. That would have been two years ago. I was in a complicated thing with this guy from home - my ex-boyfriend - but it was before we were back to dating again. My grandparents were in town and I don’t have a great relationship with them and I really needed to get away, so he came and picked me up.

We basically drove down Beltline (the street that we’re on now), eventually hitting Preston and going to Alpha and finding the Half-Priced Books that’s there and going in and we just wandered around there, talking about books, skirting the fact that we still were still in love with each other, but didn’t want to admit it. Then we drove in circles around the center and then up and down Beltline, getting caught at all the lights (because there are so many lights on Beltline!)

It was ridiculous, trying to find out what we were gonna do and I asked him just to try. I really wanted him at that time to just take me away. The Toll Way was right there, and you could just drive. Preston goes to Oklahoma! You can just go to Oklahoma! There are so many options! We didn’t. He was, like, “I need to get you home. Your parents want you home. Your grandparents are here and you need to go see them even though I know that you’re out here avoiding them.” 

I dunno, now that my grandmother is actually really sick, I’m glad for things like that. That other people would make me realize that, however upset I would get at them, they’re not going to be alive much longer. I should spend more time with them. But, I’m also glad I didn’t run away with him. That never would have actually happened. In retrospect, there are a lot of things I didn’t realize at the time, but it’s weird how roads, like Beltline, can conjure up random things like that.

-Erin, Dunn Bros. Coffee

Almond Latte

Based on where we are (we are in the Oak Lawn/Cedar Springs area), I definitely remember the first time that I came here. It was years ago now and it was really exciting. I was a senior in high school and I’d heard of the area. I mean, like, this is Dallas, Texas; I didn’t know there was a “gay” area in Dallas, but I’d heard of the area.

So, my first date was with this guy, and we decided to come to this area. I think, actually, we came to this place, because we came to eat. I don’t remember how that went, but I remember we left and just started walking around. I mean, I’m looking at the sidewalks right now where we walked and like, it was one of our first dates and we weren’t holding and but I actually felt like, “Oh my gosh, I could hold somebody’s hand here.” It was really cool.

     There’s a neighboring business building, next to the area. So, for some reason, we leave this magical place of rainbow flags and pride and go to this business building. They have a pretty courtyard.

He was really shy. He wasn’t really talkative or responsive. I was doing most of the talking. I started jumping around on the fountains and trying to splash him and being playful. Getting this cute guy out of his shell. So, that was a very fond memory. I think we took several photos and did a little photo shoot.

So literally every time I come here I think about just walking the sidewalks and how much fun it is just to be in the area. Despite being in Texas, a very red state, I have found a blue, liberal city. And I have found the most liberal street of them all. It serves coffee and pancakes and happiness.

-Trent, Cafe Brazil