January Newsletter
Hi there!
How have you been feeling lately? Personally, I've been spending too much time with a screen, and not enough time with you. I'm looking forward to all the community events we've got lined up!
TLDR
- Dear foodies,
- Dear artists,
- Dear cyclists,
(foodies)
Win Win Win Raffle
Allow me to begin with something that is both exciting and time sensitive! Dear Diary is celebrating Veganuary by raffling off $240 worth of gift cards to local vegan restaurants. The best part is, you can't lose. Let me explain...
Win $240.00
worth of gift cards to
twelve local vegan restaurants
Every $5.00 you spend on Dear Diary gift cards this January counts as an entry. Even if you don't win the grand prize, you can spend your "raffle tickets" on delicious coffee, food, or gifts at Dear Diary.
The grand prize is a stack of $20 gift cards to twelve veg* food businesses in town—places like Bistro Vonish, Beer Plant, Milky Way Shakes, Bouldin Creek Cafe, and many others!
We are giving away twelve gift cards, specifically, because a year of date nights is pretty much the cutest Valentine's Day gift ever. ♥
Good luck!
Behold, the power of real caramel!
Have you ever had REAL caramel syrup? Coffee shops use caramel flavored syrup, which is totally different.
Real caramel syrup is kind of bitter, and tastes strongly of toasted marshmallow. It's a beautiful dark crimson color, like garnet. And it makes lattes taste fantastic.
This month we're making real caramel on kitchen days so you can try new lattes such as
- Toasted Marshmallow
Real caramel and vanilla syrup in your latte - S'more
Real caramel in your mocha - S'mas
Real caramel and our house made Mexican spice in your mocha
Vegan Potluck benefitting Food Not Bombs
When's the last time you've been to a good ol' fashioned community potluck? Remember those ones on South 1st? I think we could use some wholesome community love, don't you?
We're hosting a Food Not Bombs potluck from 4pm – 7pm February 3rd. Please RSVP so we have a head count. You can either bring vegan food to share or a cash donation for Food Not Bombs. All are welcome.
Come to the Potluck!
Food Not Bombs is great because they turn surplus food from grocery stores and restaurants into delicious, cooked meals for people in need. Food pantries are great—don't get me wrong—but folks in need don't always have the means to turn that dry bag of beans or can of corn into a nice meal. Food Not Bombs addresses food insecurity in a loving way.
I think Bibliocyclist will make an appearance at the potluck at well. Kate Abel is a librarian at the Central Library, and the operator of a bicycle powered mobile library. I talked to her about bringing a selection of zines. Just seems fitting, you know?
Croissants are back!
Some of y'all were reminiscing about the good ol' days when Dear Diary had a lot more vendor food. We hear you!
Cake Thieves croissants are back!
We've also introduced apple cinnamon rolls from Mr Natural.
And! We're working on donuts...
Remember how we used to get breakfast sammies from Forking Vegan? Well, they aren't doing those anymore, but they did open a new concept called Knead. It's their mobile vegan donut shop.
This is great because we lost our source of donuts when Wheatsville stopped doing them. From what I can tell Knead is already killing it! We can't wait to serve them at our shop. 🍩
We'll try and do a better job of letting you know when we have new goodness. The best way to stay in informed is @deardiary_coffee on Instagram.
We're at the Sunset Valley farmer's market now
South Austin peeps, it's SO SUPER SWEEET when y'all come up to Central Austin to visit us. An aside: there's a group of young people that visit us from Brownsville every time they want to get piercings in Austin. So cute. Hope they don't run out of room for new holes!
Anyway, we recently got into the SFC Farmer's Market in Sunset Valley. It's awesome that you come to us, but we're happy we can finally come to you too. You can enjoy Dear Diary drip coffee and cold brew every Saturday from 9:00am – 1:00pm at 3200 Jones Rd, Austin, TX 78745.
We're also bringing loads of Hunnybunny bottles to these. Our vegan honey is extremely similar to bee honey, and the price point is pretty much the same. We use it at the shop to make Hunny lattes.
Our barista, Meg has been a helping too!
(artists)
🥞 Pancake Potluck
Artists, this one is very specifically for YOU.
The Museum of Human Achievement is having a Pancake Potluck Saturday, January 28th from 1pm - 5pm. MOHA is located behind Canopy, at the intersection of Springdale and Lyons here in East Austin.
Shannon, the director will have a sheet posted where you can advertise an event you are involved with to all the other attendees. If you don't have an event to hype, you can just hype yourself.
The goal of the pancake potluck is to bring the art community together and encourage new friendships and collaborations.
MOHA is supplying the pancakes, so you can bring whatever food you want.
I'm super bummed I'll be out of town for this, but I wanted you to know, at least. I gots the MOHA FOMO! 😢
Get in on the art supply group order
We can all save a lot o' money on art supplies by going in on a group order together. We can save 15% on EVERYTHING—even fancy brands that never go on sale. Maybe at Jerry's or Michael's you can find things here and there on sale, but it's pretty rare to get a discount on everything. Are you in?
Browse our distributor's catalog at SLS Arts. Whatever it is, they probably have it.
Get 15% off ALL art supplies
when you go in on our group order
The deadline to place an order is February 1st.
Make an illustrated bouquet for Valentine's Day
The super talented local illustrator, Kelsey Archbold is hosting a workshop from 6:00pm – 8:30pm at Dear Diary Coffee on February 7th. Your tickets include all the supplies you need to make a gorgeous bouquet of illustrated flowers. Your final product will be a mix of Kelsey Archbold illustrations and your own drawings arranged in a vase. It's the perfect gift or date night, and you'll get to have some fun with watercolors while you're at it. All levels welcome!
Make an illustrated bouquet
(cyclists)
Dear Diary's race schedule
We're signed up to vend at a bunch o' bike races this Spring. Have you ever been to a bike race? Imagine waking up outside on a dewy morning with half-naked people hiding behind bushes and open car doors, trying their best to pull tight, lycra shorts up over their sticky thighs. The sun has just risen. It's cold. Folks ride their bikes in circles to stay warm until the announcer tells them to line up. They just loopy-loop all over the wet field in weak morning light. The desire for coffee grips at their hearts, and they think to themselves, "If only Dear Diary were here!"
Okay, well that imagery is about 5% accurate. But hmm... how do I explain the electric excitement of an early morning race ground? I don't think I can, but I am pretty stoked to bring caffeine to the party. Cyclist LOVE coffee. It is known.
Here's our list so far:
- 01/21 – 01 22 Smithville Gravel Weekend
- 02/19 – Rocky Hill Roundup
- 02/20 – Come and Grind It
- 03/18 – The Onion Soup Relay 👈 Kat is directing this one
- 03/25 – The Wire Donkey
- 04/18 – The Gonzo Graveler
- 04/29 – Milano Cookie Crusher
- 05/13 – The Lit Whizzy
- 05/20 – 05/21 – The Warda Race
Feb 2nd – An interview with bike racer, Stephanie Hall
Dear Diary is open after hours on February 2nd for an evening interview with local cyclist and racer, Stephanie Hall. Some notable rides Stephanie finished are San Antonio to Austin (145 miles), Austin to Hico (150 miles), East Texas showdown (380 miles), and Arkansas High Country (530 miles). How does she do it? Are her knees made of titanium? Only one way to find out.
Learn about Endurance Cycling with Stephanie Hall
This is a free event, and a good excuse to meet like minded new friends.
P.S., We close at 4pm on week days now, but we're happy to open the shop for special events like this. Let me know if you have an idea you think will draw an audience.
In conclusion,
Thanks for having your morning coffee with us. We are proud to serve expertly roasted, delicious coffee from women-owned farms, and share retail space with dozens of super talented local artists. You make all this possible!
Cheers, Litsa and the team
Dear Diary Coffee
1212 Chicon St. #103
Austin, TX 78702
512-489-6757
deardiary.coffee • deardiary.market
• deardiary.bike
Apple cinnamon role and Cinnamon Roll latte at Dear Diary Coffee
