Hi Everyone!!
I'm not sure where to start here, but I wanted to say hello to the forum first. Hello!
My name is Nimbus Couzin (yes, my real name), and I'm the owner/roastmaster/chief janitor at Ray's Monkey House Coffeeshop and Roastery on Bardstown Rd. We're located between Cumberland Brews and Cafe 360, in the shop where Twice Told Books used to be (for all those who remember Harold's old place).
Our focus is on high quality coffee, by the cup or by the bag. And we offer it in a relaxed atmosphere, complete with more couches than you'd find at your average coffeeshop, along with a meeting space in the back open to community groups or whoever.
We are very progressive, and you'll immediately notice our compostable cups, straws, etc, WHICH WE ACTUALLY COMPOST (our trash area has three bins: compost, landfill and recycling). We show documentaries every monday night on various political, environmental and activist issues - movies you wouldn't find elsewhere. Activist photos adorn our walls. We've been showing the debates and speeches on big screen and it has been a blast with great turnouts! WHAS even stopped by Friday during the debate.
We're kid-friendly (two play areas including a wooden train set), so stay-at-home parents often come by during the day, and we're also adult-friendly (we recently added beer and wine, and have a great beer selection including local brews and five beers on tap). We also have live music more and more - we have a Bluegrass jam every Tuesday night from 8-midnight that has been going well (so come on down to watch or participate - all invited!)...
Etc, etc....we also bake our own vegan pastries (try our blueberry scones and chocolate chip cookies), make our own hummus, and have recently added sandwiches and wraps from Amazing Grace. Plus stuff like homemade granola, yogurt and bagels. We try to have vegan options for everything we offer.
OH! We ONLY use organic milk in all our drinks! So no chemmies in your drinks. No extra charge for soymilk either....
Blah blah blah...I could go on and on....
I think I'll post some more stuff in another thread - this one is going on too long. (I'll post our beer list at least).
A tiny bit more about myself. My name has been mentioned at least a couple times on this forum. I only have one PhD (not two, as someone posted, but thanks!). It is in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics. I taught Physics at IUS before starting up Ray's Monkey House. Prior to that, I founded and ran a microbrewery/brewpub in Tucson (named Nimbus Brewing Company). So I am a beer geek, which explains our extensive beer menu. (when I was at IUS, I'd hang out with people like Roger Baylor at Rich O's). I learned the art of roasting from various professional roasters around the country, and I still maintain a bunch of contacts with home-roasters around the world in order to seek out the best green coffee out there. I'm always in search of the "perfect cup of coffee." And as a roaster, the only way to be good is to never stop learning, and to continuously balance Art and Science. Our roaster is in the front window, and we're going to schedule open roasting nights when the weather gets cooler, so be on the lookout if you're interested in joining in on a roast. We are truly mom and pop, with my wife - Jody - and I doing the baking and roasting. We also work a few shifts behind the counter. My 5 year old (Leone Ray) will be a great helper too someday soon, and our baby - Rain - may not be far behind. We live 2 blocks from the shop - truly LOCAL.
So stop by, say hello, and enjoy a drink or bite to eat.....we're open early til late (7:30am-midnight on most nights).
Hope to see ya!!
-Nimbus