Curia On The Drag

I moved to Gainesville in 2018. As soon I got here, I knew I had to get a job in order to sustain my time here in college. Having in mind how much I love coffee, it just made sense for me to apply to coffee shops. Even though I thought liking to have a daily cup of coffee would be enough, I lacked of  the proper knowledge to work as a barista.. yet.  I remember that my search started with the typical "coffee shops near me", and I found one very close to home. I called to apply, and they said to bring the application in person. When I arrived, I was astonished by the place. We do not get places like this in Weston, FL. My little town is so small that it only has space for two or three Starbucks, and another two or three small cafes. Local coffee shops are not necessarily a thing over there, so I was mesmerized by everything: the people, the culture, the open space. I did not get the job, but I certainly found my favorite spot in town. 

What I like the most about Curia On The Drag is the ambiance. The place is separated into tree section: the coffee shop, the playground and the food truck space. Due to COVID, they have implemented great safety guidelines; they only allow for outdoors seating (and there is a lot of space for social distancing,) the coffee shop allow for one-direction traffic, so customers can only go through one door and exit through the other. After you order inside, you are asked to wait outside, and the barista will place your order at the window. 

Last time I went there, I was in need of some inspiration to write. Normally, whenever I am in a writer's block, I like to go somewhere outdoors or drink a cup of coffee that will transport me somewhere else. I went to Curia in order to experience both and I was not disappointed

The playground is filled with graffiti walls that colorfully add life to the place. There is a if bus, painted inside as decoration and additional seating. Also, there is a small vegetable plot that if you catch the nice lady who grows them, you can buy fresh local vegetables! I was already caught by what my eyes were seeing, but I complemented it with my taste buds. The coffee was incredible, and reminded me of the ones I drank back home. I am not going to lie, I did not make the best decision by ordering a hot drink. To refresh myself, I ordered  the "White Peony" iced white tea. What I like the most about Curia is all the information where their products come from. Next to all of the drinks, it tells you where it is produced; mine came from Fujian, China! 

Overall, going back to Curia is always a pleasant experience that I look forward to every week. 

Did I mention everything is vegan?!