Cup of Literary Joe

Reading, like coffee, is an activity that I love. It is tied in with my daily routine and many of my other normal activities. I enjoy reading at coffee shops and at home. I always try to learn new things, to expand my horizons. My new learning serves as a tool to connect with interesting and fun new people, including many of you.

Coffee shops are great for reading due to a "thinking atmosphere," a caffeine high and the social opportunities of said "third spaces." The caffeine buzz always makes a chapter or article seem like the most interesting thing I've ever read, like esoteric wisdom from a divine source! Also, many of the coffee shops I patronize have a number of good books, magazines and newspapers. For example, The Wise Bean in Bethlehem is notable for its collection of newspapers and magazines, while Coffee House Without Limits in Allentown houses a great collection of books that are provocative and avant-garde, as well as thoughtful.

At home, I like to read in the basement, where I can sit in my pajamas and really focus on some great material. I love to read at night, before bed, because that is the most productive time of the day for me. It's when I am best at writing blog posts and when I best ingest new information.

Right now, I am reading two books at the same time. This sounds odd, but I do this because I got a lot of fantasy novels for Christmas, and a history paperback from my friend's father. The history book, "Young Stalin" is better suited for the coffee shop, while "The Fellowship of the Ring" is best enjoyed at home, late at night.

"Young Stalin" covers the first half of Joseph Stalin's life, from birth through his late-thirties, coinciding with the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. It is a fascinating look at how a violent sociopath learned to dominate in Tsarist Georgia and connect with prominent Russian revolutionaries who were struggling against the tsars' faltering empire. The Fellowship of the Ring, of course, speaks for itself. It's a childlike fantasy for adults that treats the imagination right before bed.

Besides history and fantasy books, I also like mystery novels, sociology books and biographies, among other genres. I usually get my books from either bookstores or the Bethlehem Library. My two favorite bookstores in the area are the Barnes & Noble on Freemansburg Avenue in Bethlehem Township and The Quadrant in Easton. The Barnes & Noble books are usually either Christmas or birthday presents.

In addition to my love of books, magazines and newspapers, I also enjoy a great deal of online reading and learning. I do indulge in Wikipedia, much to the chagrin of my more serious-minded friends. I find it to be a primer on a large variety and number of subjects, a primer that is connected to a number of more reputable sources. This is how I apply technology to my life in a positive way. In the coming year, I will refer to a few more books on my blog, thus completing the circle!

Onion Spring 2017

We all recently experienced a very warm couple of days in much of the U.S. Here in Pennsylvania we had three days of highs in the 70s. It was unlike anything that I've ever seen for the month of February. I am dubbing this "Onion Spring 2017," based upon the term "onion snow," which is quite irrelevant this year.

To me and others, this February warmth feels most unnatural. It is not common for this time of the year and it may end up damaging growing things; plants and trees rely upon the four seasons. The unusually early growth may damage fruit trees, as well as perennial flowers and plants. Early budding is harmed by damaging frosts that inevitably arrive at some point.

On a more positive note, it was a chance to enjoy some nice weather and get outside. Enjoying the odd weather has been a guilty pleasure for me. For many it was an opportunity to feel alive after a few chilly, gray months. This feeling of exuberance created a social renaissance of sorts. From Thursday to Saturday, there were more people at local coffee shops. I even got to meet two new Facebook friends in person!

Everyone was chipper and excited, so there were better conversations and more meaningful social interactions. Bar rooms were also packed to the gills for some wonderful day-drinking. Such activity was a major draw for local bars and pubs that were advertising on social media. When the first warm days of spring arrive, all the bikers and service industry people rush out to get "day-drunk."

This past week there was a flurry of outdoor activities that included walking, skateboarding, running and biking. Local nature trails were packed, including by people walking their dogs. I was even able to do some urban exploring this past week. On Thursday, I got to walk around College Hill in Easton, while on Friday I got to explore South Bethlehem.

Easton's College Hill was fun because I got to walk by the street of my good friend Marybeth and her husband. Lafayette's campus is beautiful and the nearby homes are equally quaint and historic. South Bethlehem was cool because I used to live there in 2011 and 2012. I had also done pub crawls there over the years and greatly enjoyed seeing the buildings and scenery that brought back old memories. There were locals and Lehigh students who were soaking up the sun, just as they did near my rental room in the spring of 2011!

In 2017, as a major goal, I want to get more into journaling my experiences of urban exploring. I plan to continue taking street photography from different local cities and municipalities. I want to write about my new experiences in those locales, and to reminisce about any relevant old memories! With new income, I will include art exhibits and restaurants into my public reviews. I will be able to get a taste of each new town, both literally and figuratively!

LANTA and Life

Over the past 10 years I have relied on LANTA for my transportation needs. I haven't wanted to spend all my meager earnings on owning a car, so I have taken the bus to save money. Bus travel takes up a sizeable chunk of my time. I am used to waiting for the bus on the side of the road, walking to the Bethlehem Transfer Center at Broad & Guetter and walking home from the bus stop.

I have had interesting experiences over the years while taking the bus. I've met people from all walks of life, including great friends, as well as some sinister characters. The new friends from the bus have been critical, as I've had many meaningful conversations on my bus rides to Bethlehem and Easton. These two cities are interwoven socially so there are plenty of LANTA customers to interact with.

Unfortunately, the sinister characters do make LANTA buses scary or depressing at time. These unsavory individuals include convicts on work release, homeless individuals, drunks and local toughs who look for a fight at every opportunity. I don't blame all of these individuals for all of their problems, but I am sometimes annoyed or put off by their antics. Convicts on work release, for example, often curse profusely and brag about all their legal problems. They also talk loudly on their cell phones about their messed up lives.

Needless to say, I've taken in some interesting sights over the years. I've seen people do strange things and have seen crazy driving. I've seen people drink on the bus, just get done having sex in that public space, etc. Some people have no shame and no concern for their fellow riders.

With some of the odd characters that take the bus, I've encountered some interesting smells. I've smelled numerous bodily fluids, as well as various types of foods. Many people eat and drink on the bus, while some have hygiene or body-control issues. The homeless are especially bad when it comes to smelling up the bus.

Despite a few complaints, I have to admit that LANTA does serve my needs and is cost-effective; I wouldn't want to be driving these days. With all the crazy drivers I am glad to leave the driving to the professionals. The bus gets me where I want to go and in a timely manner. It's also fun listening to the radio on my smart phone (with ear buds, of course) and looking out the window at the world. It gives me perspective on life.

Java Joe and His Coffee Hangouts

I think that it is fair that I should start out mentioning my greatest interests. My chief interest/recreational activity at this time in my life is spending time in coffee shops. These venues are great for consuming great coffee, reading, using free wi-fi and socializing with awesome people. I have several different places that I frequent, in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton.

My chief coffee haunt is The Wise Bean in Bethlehem, while I also visit the Joint from time to time when I am in town. I also visit Cosmic Cup in Easton and Coffee House Without Limits in Allentown. I have friends and acquaintances at all of these locations and have things I like that are specific to each coffee shop. I live closest to Bethlehem, so I spend the most time there. I like The Wise Bean due to the personal warmth of the Young family who owns it, the wonderful reading materials, the comfortable seating and the devoted following of regulars.

Also in Bethlehem, at the Sun Inn Courtyard, I also like to visit the Joint. The Joint from a cursory view may not seem like much, yet it is a hidden gem, due to its clean-looking interior, cool decor and reclusive back section. It is great for people-watching as service industry employees fly in and out. Some interesting local characters remain for some intriguing conversations. It is a great place for an afternoon jolt, chasing away the 2:30 feeling.

Once a week, I visit my friend Marybeth from high school, in Easton. She is a barista at Cosmic Cup in the College Hill neighborhood, near Lafayette College. The other baristas and the owner are friendly and helpful as well. I always love visiting my friends Tia and Erica. The coffee bar in the front of the shop is the best place to sit and is often populated by Lafayette students and engaging locals of that neighborhood. The view of the neighborhood is beautiful, with a large number of Victorian buildings. It is a fun neighborhood.

Allentown is also home to a burgeoning arts scene, so it make sense that there would be a good independent coffee shop there as well. There is and it is named "Coffee House Without Limits," founded and owned by my friend Billy Mack. Besides having great coffee and a fine location, it is connected to the Alternative Gallery with its awesome collection of pop art. The crowd is vibrant and diverse, and there are always events going on in the evenings, including the heavily-attended Non-Mic Open Mic Night. During slower times, there is a cool collection of intriguing books stored in the two bookcases near the coffee bar. It has, in a short period of time, become the hub of the up-and-coming 10th Ward, near the intersection of 4th and Tilghman Streets.

I will write more about experiences at these coffee shops and about the coffee shop social scene in general. The people-watching that goes in these places gives one a lot of material with which to write about the philosophy of human nature.

More About Me

Okay, I'll now give you some more information about me. I am a friendly, outgoing 33 year-old guy who lives in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania. I regularly visit local coffee shops, read magazines, books and newspapers. I also use social media extensively and follow the news online. I have a variety of interests and like to discuss them with my friends and acquaintances. I enjoy meeting individuals from all walks of life.

I was born and raised in West Bethlehem, where I developed an interest in history and the weather. I graduated from Notre Dame High School in 2002 and got an Associate's in Liberal Arts from Northampton Community College in 2007, after taking a few breaks in my formal education. I have worked numerous dead-end, low-wage jobs but am an astute observer of human nature who loves to think philosophically about human life.

I am a people person who maintains an active social life. I was sheltered and quiet until around the time I turned 24. Then I tried to interact with other people more. I started hanging out at local bars and clubs and did the party scene for a while. I especially loved local dive bars, where I made numerous friends and acquaintances, many of which I still have to this day. I also got to meet some of Bethlehem's oddball citizens and was able to learn a great deal about the darker side of humanity.

Around this time, I also started frequenting local coffee shops, starting with Wired Cafe. There I got more into reading periodicals and newspapers and became very interested in Bohemian culture. I was exposed to the local punk scene and to progressive politics, which I later ended up adopting. Now, politics is a unifying factor within my interconnected circles of friends, and I consider myself fairly versed in the subject.

I am Joe!

Greetings, everyone. I am Joe Burke and I live in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania, preferring to spend much of my time in the urban areas of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. I am a long-time Lehigh Valley resident with a number of interests and experiences common to nearly everyone. I want to focus on my everyday life and develop the more interesting stories out of the mundane. I want to write about ordinary life as an ordinary man in the Bethlehem area. I also have a presence on both Facebook and Twitter, so I want to integrate those two platforms with this brand new Blogspot account. Enjoy!