Loaded Joe's Coffeehouse & Lounge

Loaded Joe's seems to be in a perpetual identity crisis. The term coffeehouse and lounge is somewhat misleading; walking into Loaded Joe's feels distinctly like walking into a bar. It's dimly lit with loud music, serves it's clientèle much more alcohol than it does coffee, and speaking of clientèle, Joe's is most likely patronized by considerable runoff of the attached Irish pub "Finnegan's Wake", a much more unabashed watering hole. There's a pool table in the back, and the last time I went there, a thrown trash can shattered the front window in what I doubt was a couple of beat poets expressing themselves.

On the other hand, it's hard to miss the collection of couches, artwork, and, if you show up on one of their many event nights, artists that pepper Loaded Joe's eclectic atmosphere. Home to friendly regular bartenders and customers, you can't help but feel that theres a certain community to Joe's. It's even open during the day , which gives points towards it's coffeehouse image, although they'd probably get you soused if you ask them nicely.

As far as coffeehouses in the valley go, Loaded Joe's is certainly your best bet. Hell, I may even go so far as to say it's the best bar I've been to in the valley (assuming Phil Long isn't playing at the Red Lion that night). Where it falls short is that it doesn't deliver either of it's two personalities with the gusto you may want. If you're looking for a fun bar for you and your friends to throw sobriety to the wind, Joe's may be a tad too mellow. If you're dying to brush up on that Nietzsche you've been putting off, Joe's may be a little to hectic. The best bet is to take Loaded Joe's up on it's many open mic, trivia, and movie nights with a couple of friends, and not expect too much table dancing.

Then again, if you're reading Nietzsche, you may be in the wrong valley entirely.