Rules of the free WiFi life:

Nothing is free. Somebody, somewhere is paying for that internet access. Most likely, it's the small business owner and he's offering it in hopes of selling more coffee and donuts. If people are just leeches, simply plopping their arses in chairs and not buying his offerings he'll eventually have to start charging or limiting or just shut his doors. If you visit, buy something (and not just a bottle of water you nurse for the next 5 hours). One bum casts us all in a bad light.
Be aware of those around you. Just because you can access "bigboobs.com" while sunk into the leather sofa in the middle of the cafe doesn't mean you should. Usually, there's plenty of other people around and most of them are snoops. Oh, they don't mean to be, it's human nature to sneak a peek. No matter how involved they may be in a conversation, people's eyes do wander and usually they wander your way just as that popup ad for "asscandy.com" appears.
Hogs should stay in the barnyard. If you show up during off hours and can commandeer a nice table to set up your laptop, cell phone, ipod and whatever portable electrical device you can lug around then more power to ya! However, as the day moves on and the cafe becomes busier, pack up and move to a single table, stool at the window bar or corner easy chair. One person at table for four when it's getting busy isn't making the cafe owner any money.



Click on a location under "Where I Want To Go:" to find connections in a specific area.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Blackhawk Cafe

Alas, The Blackhawk has closed.  In it's place is The Courtyard Cafe.  I have not stopped there but in walking past, it appears to be what you expect to find at this outdoor mall.  Coffees, teas, desserts and sandwiches not that different from The Blackhawk menu.  However, now it is for the ladies to take a break after a bit of shopping at Saks 5th Ave.

13499 S Cleveland Ave # 137
Fort Myers, FL 33907-3855
(239) 433-7770

 This coffee shop/cafe is located in the Bell Tower Shoppes and is currently undergoing changes.
When I first encountered it, it was a nice coffee house along the types I used to frequent in New York. A lot of big, leather sofas and chairs, a good mix of music from Sirius that changed with whoever was working that day and a little bit of food. The WiFi was free and they didn't care how long you camped out.
New owners have taken over and the first change was the free WiFi from the cafe was gone and is provided by the mall now. Not a big deal but just a sign of changes at what was once one of my favorite hangouts. The decor is slowly disappearing and a sign says "The Courtyard Cafe" is coming soon. I fear that finger sandwiches are marching on the horizon. As of last visit (my writing group meets there every other week) the comfy sofas are still there but overheard intelligence suggests that they may not be for long.
Perhaps this was too be expected. With Saks 5th Avenue as an anchor store, the original Blackhawk really didn't fit the image.
Posted by Sam at 4:20 PM
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