It has been a whirlwind of a summer. Jack and I are officially hitched in what we (and everyone who attended) thinks was the most magical and sweet ceremony ever. It was Rockbridge County's first and only vegan wedding (at least we like to think so). There were fireflies and a carousel. It was AWESOME!

Also, the City of Staunton gave us our best wedding present-- an approved set of plans for the Cafe. It only took two months longer than we had planned. Then, we had to get the stairs reapproved due to a glitch in the plans that we didn't notice. Now, things are well on the way.

So-- the new things that we will be doing at the Cafe--
1.) We have created our own blend of teas using teas from the around the world and herbs sourced from our wonderful friends at Harvest Thyme Herbs. The on-line store will be up within the next week so that you can get your tea fix until we reopen in September.

2.) We will have a wine list that will have 30 wines by the glass and about 35 beers. We will have an off premise license and will be the only wine shop in the area where you can taste before you buy. That's a lot of wines by the glass. Seriously.

3.) While we still have our fantastic lunch menu that everyone knows and loves, Kelly has come up with an amazing tapas menu for our evening fare. Our new evening menu will be entirely gluten free and have a LOT of vegetarian/ vegan options, but plenty of fantastic choices for all of our meat eating friends, almost all sourced locally. We are even looking at a cow from the Harris Ponderosa in Lexington.

4.) We have our musical line up set through the winter. As always, it is music that you cannot find anywhere in else town. Looking forward to new rock, metal, classical pianist, and funk bands throughout the winter. And, in addition to our Open Mic night, we are pulling together some really cool new events for Monday and Tuesday. There will be something going on every night of the week at the Bigger, Better, Cozier Darjeeling Cafe.

We miss you all and can't wait to see all of friends in September.

Going to the Chapel...

The Darjeeling Cafe has been very good to me. On top of providing me with food and an overabundance of caffeine, one day about a month after we opened this tall guy with pretty blue eyes came in and ordered a vegan wrap. He then proceeded to steal the crossword that my friend and I were working on. Later that night I ran into him as I was out with my girlfriends. We struck up a conversation and spent the entire night talking. Of course, the following day he left to go back to California and I never thought I would see or talk to him again. Well, the old boy kept calling me and texting me and emailing me and sending me packages filled with poetry books, little pictures, and wonderful letters written in beautiful script. And then he moved all the way across the country because I had just started a business and couldn't just up and leave.

And, now, we are getting married.

Jack Morgan has been integral to the success of the cafe. I would not be in the position that I am now if it were not for him. I couldn't be happier to have found a partner in life and business.

On that note, this spring will be one of transitions for the Cafe and for me. Please bear with us as we plan an awesome wedding and make some big changes to our business. And on that note, we are planning one heck of an engagement party to celebrate with all of our friends and loyal patrons! Be ready for it!

Making your way in the world takes everything you got... Sometimes you want to go where everyone knows your name...

Every time I write a blog post I promise to be more diligent about keeping it, but with everything else going on, it's hard to remember to post here as well as Facebook and Twitter and Tumblr and Darjeelingcafe.com.... So for the (not so) New Year I won't say that I will post regularly, but at least with more frequency than every 6 months.

We have had a spectacular winter (until February when Mother Nature's depth perception got screwed up and she mistook Staunton for Alaska). Not many businesses can say that they have doubled their sales repeatedly since the previous year, but we can!

This fall I hired Kelly Seymour to be our chef and that relationship has worked splendidly. Between Kelly, sweet Sarah Pool, and me we have run a tight ship and made this little shop a fun lunch spot, a teen hang out, a place for a multiple course dinner, and a friendly neighborhood bar. We're like a multi-purpose Cheers!

We are now hosting monthly Wine Tastings that involve a four course meal and multiple wines! I am very excited that those are so successful we have to take reservations!

Our role as a music venue is continuing to flourish. At this point, we are booked through mid-May. I have more people asking to book shows than I have available dates.

I think that the Darjeeling Cafe is continuing to solidify its' role in the community as an authentic European style cafe where you can enjoy a fine glass or wine, a good beer, a cheap beer, exotic tea, or a French Press of coffee, as well as a wrap, comfort food, or fine dinner. The direction that this place has taken is so much more than I ever expected. I couldn't be prouder of the little Cafe that could.