Write Around Tampa

Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.
11301 N 56th St
Temple Terrace

This little gem is located in a quaint little strip of stores owned and operated by and for people of the Middle Eastern culture. It is a culture I know little about and had a wonderful experience becoming more acquainted with it.

Quality and pricing of food and drink:
Completely reasonable. I got a small hot chocolate for $4, which was fairly large and in a real mug. It tasted delicious. Plenty of sweets, some savory options, but don’t come expecting a large meal. This is totally coffee and writing country. (NOTE: I don’t know what kind of magical whipped cream they use, but it never melted into the hot chocolate. It was still firm at the bottom of the mug after the last drop)

Are there enough outlets?
Yes, and lots of tables. There’s a section along the wall that’s just darling, with an intricate-patterned fabric on the bench seats. (FUN FACT: the arms are movable rectangles you can slide along the couch to accommodate the number of people in your party. Genius!) No plugs over there, but comfy enough to come fully charged. If you end up staying long, just move across the room for a while and sit by a window, it’s still inviting.

How’s the wifi?
Password protected, then fast and easy.

Will my muse come out?
Yes. And the Middle Eastern music may make her feel like an exotic traveler or a spy in a James Bond film. Don’t be surprised if you end up writing most of your sauciest scenes ever.

How long can I park it?
Until 2am, so if you do some of your best writing after dark, they’ve got you covered.

Final rating: 5 out of 5 laptops

Rachel Remick’s fiction and non-fiction stories have appeared in various magazines, among them Rosebud, Bluestem and ellipsis . . . literature and art. A frequent contributor to women’s magazine Sasee, her writing has also been published in several volumes of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series of books. She lives in Tampa, Florida.