CB1100 Monthly Photo Challenge

[emptysea]

Little moto-themed coffee shop that opened a few miles from my house.   Grind N Gears is the name if you’re ever in the neighborhood.

35 degrees when I left the house. The bright sun and no wind kept it warm enough for me to enjoy my cigar and coffee al fresco.  

 

[Nachodaddy]

It is disappointing to me that I cannot find pumpkin pie or egg-nog after Christmas. On the other hand, if it were around all the time, I'd probably weigh 600 pounds, so it is probably a good thing.  :biker:

 

[Cormanus]

Great shots EmptySea. Love the CB550.

 

[the Ferret]

Don't go out for breakfast much, but when I do it's to one of these 2 places

Wholy Beans Coffee House in downtown New Richmond, Ohio (as a bonus they display and sell my wife's pottery there)

and Rise and Dine in Bethel, Ohio

 

[rdprdp01]

Although I tend to favor privately owned, funky, coffee houses in historic buildings, I must admit that in California my favorite Coffee House is the Peets in downtown Pleasanton. Although the building is newer than the 100+-year-old buildings that surround it, the architects managed to blend a new building amongst the rustic. It fits.

The building and lot are very spacious by California standards. Peets has outside seating that can be used regardless of the season. But perhaps more importantly, the planners recognized that pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and auto enthusiast would all frequent the city corner as a launch point for a trip downtown. I think they must have mixed a little magic and common decency into the mortor.

But what makes this place truly special, as is most often the case, are the people. All the tribes manage to get along and show mutual respect. Various cyclist clubs meet there following a ride into the hills, families stop by on the way to the Farmer's Market, motorcyclist own the North side of the building where the motorcycle parking is both marked and respected, and people gladly make accommodations so that everyone can be comfortable and enjoy the moment. The Baristas are genuine and truly want everyone to feel welcomed.

I am boringly predictable. I arrive at the same time on a Saturday, order a double espresso in a ceramic espresso cup, and take my seat outside. Nice, friendly people who have never ridden a motorcycle notice the CB1100EX and want to learn more, the cyclists ask how my rehab is going, and the motorcyclists talk shop.

Today, an owner of a Triumph Tripple RS shared his Goodilock's story about how he selected his motorcyle: The Speed Tripple 1200 was too heavy, the Trident 600 too wimpy, but the Triump 765RS was just right. It was a nice morning. Wish you where there. Enjoy your weekend. David

 

[the Ferret]

Dang that bike is clean and shiny

 

[pdedse]

rdprdp01, surely there's a mc show there in CA where you can enter your bike for some type of award. It looks spectactular.

 

[Gone in 60]

I used to grab a coffee in downtown Orange at the Starbucks regularly. It’s convenient, near home, and had a motorcycle parking area right outside.

Unfortunately, this location and one I frequented in Newport Beach on bicycle rides were among the 700 that recently shut down. However, the Urth Cafe next door makes a good cup of coffee and is also a great bathroom stop.
[attachment=903]

If friends are in town and a full breakfast is in order, Kimmie’s Coffee Cup is our go-to choice.

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Talking about other types of liquid refreshment, for years I’d swing through Rod’s Liquor’s pull-through driveway and grab a Coke and bag of Doritos on the way home from work. Rod’s was a neighborhood fixture, and it was a sad day when it closed to make way for a somewhat fancy restaurant called Bosscat. 

Bosscat paid tribute to Rod’s by keeping the “Liquor Parking” sign on the street corner where the drive-through was, and that area is an open-air dining area. They also mounted the front of Rods’ old, rusty outdoor ice cooler in the wall of the dining room.

Here you can see Bosscat’s neon sign in the foreground with the liquor parking red sign in the distance at the corner.
[attachment=905]

Those who wax nostalgic can still buy  a Rod’s Liquor t-shirt at a nearby shop.

The local train station is also a good source of libations and live music. While waiting for a morning train, I’ll grab a coffee at the Streamliner Cafe, and Mrs. and I enjoy an occasional cocktail there in the evenings.
[attachment=906]

 

[Lunchbag]

I bundled up this morning and rode to Linda's for my monthly "breakfast with the old guys."  I use quotes because the words are important.  When my wife refers to it as "old guys breakfast" I remind her it is actually "breakfast with the old guys."

It was a chilly ride, but that just made the coffee even better.

[attachment=910]

 

[emptysea]

I believe it's my turn to pick a challenge.

Your CB1100 in front of a decorated Christmas tree -- The type of tree matters not and it can be artificial, but it must be at least 5' tall and decorated with Christmas ornaments.

 

[Gone in 60]

Challenge Accepted! I can't get my bike anywhere near it, but last weekend I visited the Citadel Outlet Mall in L.A. I heard a promo that they have the tallest Christmas tree in America. Had to check that out. It was huge, and so was the crowd to get to the mall. They had a chart showing the comparison of their tree to others like Rockefeller Center in New York. There was a DJ on a store rooftop near the tree, playing very harsh rap music. Didn't jive with the Christmas theme, and I got the heck out of there after admiring the tree.

 

[dino2000]

I used to grab a coffee in downtown Orange at the Starbucks regularly. It’s convenient, near home, and had a motorcycle parking area right outside.

Unfortunately, this location and one I frequented in Newport Beach on bicycle rides were among the 700 that recently shut down. However, the Urth Cafe next door makes a good cup of coffee and is also a great bathroom stop.


If friends are in town and a full breakfast is in order, Kimmie’s Coffee Cup is our go-to choice.



Talking about other types of liquid refreshment, for years I’d swing through Rod’s Liquor’s pull-through driveway and grab a Coke and bag of Doritos on the way home from work. Rod’s was a neighborhood fixture, and it was a sad day when it closed to make way for a somewhat fancy restaurant called Bosscat. 

Bosscat paid tribute to Rod’s by keeping the “Liquor Parking” sign on the street corner where the drive-through was, and that area is an open-air dining area. They also mounted the front of Rods’ old, rusty outdoor ice cooler in the wall of the dining room.

Here you can see Bosscat’s neon sign in the foreground with the liquor parking red sign in the distance at the corner.


Those who wax nostalgic can still buy  a Rod’s Liquor t-shirt at a nearby shop.

The local train station is also a good source of libations and live music. While waiting for a morning train, I’ll grab a coffee at the Streamliner Cafe, and Mrs. and I enjoy an occasional cocktail there in the evenings.

which luggage rack is that? Thanks in advance, Dino

 

[Gone in 60]

I stopped at the town plaza on the way to the museum this morning. There are a few decorated trees, like this one. 

The big, empty looking pine is actually the City of Orange’s official Christmas tree. Looks empty now, but tomorrow night will be the official lighting ceremony and workers had the area closed off to get the decorations and lights up. They’d better hurry!

 

[the Ferret]

Good job Gone

 

[pdedse]

So we have the City of Orange’s official Christmas tree plus CB1100 before photo, we'll need to see an after shot plus CB1100 soon.

 

[emptysea]

I stopped at the town plaza on the way to the museum this morning. There are a few decorated trees, like this one. 

The big, empty looking pine is actually the City of Orange’s official Christmas tree. Looks empty now, but tomorrow night will be the official lighting ceremony and workers had the area closed off to get the decorations and lights up. They’d better hurry!

Exactly what I was looking for.  I included the requirements of decoration and size because I didn't want someone submitting a pic of just their bike with a pine tree in the background or using a tiny Christmas tree they have as decoration in their bathroom for the photo.

 

[Gone in 60]

So this is interesting. That big pine tree I mentioned? Looked a little too trimmed. They usually let it grow out quite a bit to hold the lights and decorations. Plus, I thought it was weird that they hadn’t done any decorating a day before the tree lighting ceremony.
Finally, they’ve never put a tree in the central plaza like that - the decorated tree my bike is pictured with.

I went to the lighting ceremony yesterday, and that new tree is the city’s new “official” Christmas tree. They’re not using the big pine anymore. So, that picture should qualify ?

The area under the big pine was still blocked off for setting up grandstands for a big choir that sings during the ceremony, and a big podium with a giant switch that the mayor uses to ceremonially turn on the lights.

They still did the choir and lighting, but it was weird seeing it light up a tree on the other side of the plaza, and not the big pine directly over the actual ceremony.

Seems like a smallish tree to be a city’s official Christmas tree, but the city is broke. They have cancelled most ceremonies and functions but ya can’t cancel Christmas!

The new tree is in a precarious place, however. There have been a recent rash of drivers crashing through the town’s central plaza, and someone barreling north on Glassell Street can probably take out the tree. 

If you have a minute Google “Orange CA Plaza Fountain Crash” for some of the most spectacular examples.

 

[pdedse]

So this is interesting. That big pine tree I mentioned? Looked a little too trimmed. They usually let it grow out quite a bit to hold the lights and decorations. Plus, I thought it was weird that they hadn’t done any decorating a day before the tree lighting ceremony.
Finally, they’ve never put a tree in the central plaza like that - the decorated tree my bike is pictured with.

I went to the lighting ceremony yesterday, and that new tree is the city’s new “official” Christmas tree. They’re not using the big pine anymore. So, that picture should qualify ?

The area under the big pine was still blocked off for setting up grandstands for a big choir that sings during the ceremony, and a big podium with a giant switch that the mayor uses to ceremonially turn on the lights.

They still did the choir and lighting, but it was weird seeing it light up a tree on the other side of the plaza, and not the big pine directly over the actual ceremony.

Seems like a smallish tree to be a city’s official Christmas tree, but the city is broke. They have cancelled most ceremonies and functions but ya can’t cancel Christmas!

The new tree is in a precarious place, however. There have been a recent rash of drivers crashing through the town’s central plaza, and someone barreling north on Glassell Street can probably take out the tree. 

If you have a minute Google “Orange CA Plaza Fountain Crash” for some of the most spectacular examples.

Didn't we walk through this area when I visited fall of '24?  Seems I remember you talking about the plaza crashes.

 

[Gone in 60]

So this is interesting. That big pine tree I mentioned? Looked a little too trimmed. They usually let it grow out quite a bit to hold the lights and decorations. Plus, I thought it was weird that they hadn’t done any decorating a day before the tree lighting ceremony.
Finally, they’ve never put a tree in the central plaza like that - the decorated tree my bike is pictured with.

I went to the lighting ceremony yesterday, and that new tree is the city’s new “official” Christmas tree. They’re not using the big pine anymore. So, that picture should qualify ?

The area under the big pine was still blocked off for setting up grandstands for a big choir that sings during the ceremony, and a big podium with a giant switch that the mayor uses to ceremonially turn on the lights.

They still did the choir and lighting, but it was weird seeing it light up a tree on the other side of the plaza, and not the big pine directly over the actual ceremony.

Seems like a smallish tree to be a city’s official Christmas tree, but the city is broke. They have cancelled most ceremonies and functions but ya can’t cancel Christmas!

The new tree is in a precarious place, however. There have been a recent rash of drivers crashing through the town’s central plaza, and someone barreling north on Glassell Street can probably take out the tree. 

If you have a minute Google “Orange CA Plaza Fountain Crash” for some of the most spectacular examples.

Didn't we walk through this area when I visited fall of '24?  Seems I remember you talking about the plaza crashes.

Yes we did! There was another one two weeks ago. Did t hit the fountain but got past the bollards and made it half way into the plaza, hitting a bench.

 

[emptysea]

So this is interesting. That big pine tree I mentioned? Looked a little too trimmed. They usually let it grow out quite a bit to hold the lights and decorations. Plus, I thought it was weird that they hadn’t done any decorating a day before the tree lighting ceremony.
Finally, they’ve never put a tree in the central plaza like that - the decorated tree my bike is pictured with.

I went to the lighting ceremony yesterday, and that new tree is the city’s new “official” Christmas tree. They’re not using the big pine anymore. So, that picture should qualify ?

The area under the big pine was still blocked off for setting up grandstands for a big choir that sings during the ceremony, and a big podium with a giant switch that the mayor uses to ceremonially turn on the lights.

They still did the choir and lighting, but it was weird seeing it light up a tree on the other side of the plaza, and not the big pine directly over the actual ceremony.

Seems like a smallish tree to be a city’s official Christmas tree, but the city is broke. They have cancelled most ceremonies and functions but ya can’t cancel Christmas!

The new tree is in a precarious place, however. There have been a recent rash of drivers crashing through the town’s central plaza, and someone barreling north on Glassell Street can probably take out the tree. 

If you have a minute Google “Orange CA Plaza Fountain Crash” for some of the most spectacular examples.

I don't think I asked that it be some sort of official Christmas tree, just that it had to have ornaments (if it didn't, it would just be a tree).   As long as that first pic was taken after the challenge was offered, then it counts as the first response and, as of now, the only response.