Coeur d'Alene, ID

I am always looking for a place to get something hot to drink and just be able to sit and relax with a book, or bring my computer and get some work done. Well, I have finally found the perfect place for all of that and more.

At the urging of my husband we stopped in at Calypso Coffee Company at 116 E. Lakeside Ave. on a Saturday night. The place was packed and the music, by Josh Hedlund was wonderful. When we got home I even looked him up on the Internet to find out where else he might be playing. Calypsos is a family friendly coffee house that also features a roaster on site. Coffee is roasted several times a week and is offered for sale by the pound as well as the cup.

Calypso has a great breakfast and lunch menu to go with your drink purchase. I recommend turkey and provolone in a tomato basil wrap along with one of the wonderful pastries that are on display. As far as drinks go, you don’t just have to drink coffee. Calypsos features several non-coffee drinks such as milk steamers and Italian sodas. For customers like myself who may be diabetic or just watching their calories, the coffee house has about eight different sugar-free syrup flavors.

The coffee house opened in November of 2007 and is already a daily hot spot in town. Owners Michelle Remley and David Ivy wanted to have a place where college kids and others could hang out and express themselves. The coffee house hosts an open mic night every Tuesday where budding musicians can come and try out their own brand of music on a full house. Every Friday and Saturday night Calypsos also features a local musician. Musicians aren’t paid, but they do put out a tip jar and are also starting to sell their CDs on-site. The live music draws a diverse crowd ranging from high school students to families with small children.

One of the things I really love about Calypsos is how family friendly they are. They even have a small play area for children with games, toys and books. The absolute best part of Calypsos though has to be their “Smart Room.” This windowed-in room has several places to plug in your computer as well as tables and chairs where customer can sit and play chess, board games, and even hold meetings. The rest of the coffee house is filled with inviting furniture that really makes you want to stay all day. The staff is really friendly and there is always great music playing.

Finding parking in downtown Coeur d’Alene is almost always a chore, but the best spot to park when going to Calypsos in the evening is on the street one block over- Coeur d’Alene Ave. It is a short walk from the coffee house, there is plenty of parking, and a lot of street lights for after dark. The coffee house also shares a parking lot with a nearby restaurant, but spaces for Calypsos are limited to the ones that actually butt up against the building.

I highly recommend going into Calypso Coffee Company not only for a drink but to enjoy the music, the free wi-fi and the atmosphere. Don’t be afraid to bring your children, and make it a family evening. For more information on the coffee house and to see their schedule of musicians you can visit their myspace.com page.