My Place in a New City (Nae Reid)

Throughout the course of the semester, we are encouraged to explore the city of York. Our professors have assigned each student to find their place in York. For this assignment, we must visit one place weekly and write a reflective journal. York is full of so many wonderful choices, ranging from the Shambles Market to the Museum Gardens. Choosing one place to visit repeatedly for the next ten weeks is a very daunting task for me, because I tend to be very indecisive. However, being a huge foodie and caffeine addict, I chose a place where I could have the best of both worlds. My place in York is a coffee shop called Brew and Brownie.

This establishment is located across the street from the public library. It is a very quaint shop with a slightly rustic vibe. In America, whenever I went to do homework in a coffee shop, I felt very uncomfortable and rushed to leave, but here I do not feel that way. The environment was very welcoming, and not only did I feel comfortable conversing with friends for a long time, but I felt that this would be a great location to be productive and get schoolwork done. This also feels like a good place to just relax and enjoy the environment. With all of these things combined, I felt a sense of belonging in this new city. I have also taken the time to learn about the history of this establishment.

Brew and Brownie has two locations in York, and they are separated only by two other store fronts. The owner of this establishment, Gina Stancer, draws her inspiration from a variety of sources, which range from the seasons to urban adulthood and even childhood foods. She has taken great care to purchase the food products from within the city. Some of the meat products come from Wilson’s Butchers, which is based in Huntington, a village on the outskirts of York, and the bread comes from Haxby’s Bakehouse. I love that Brew and Brownie supports local businesses by using locally sourced products. Some of their furniture was purchased at an antiques fair. This explains why the furniture in each store looks different. It also gives a more modern rustic feel to the overall environment. The floor is reclaimed wood from a Victorian school. The pillows, cushions, and other soft furnishings were hand-made by the owner. This demonstrates how much time and care went into the creation of these store fronts. Stancer states, “We built Brew and Brownie on the image of somewhere we’d like to go in York. We hope that people enjoy coming here for a comfortable and contemporary environment to eat good food and drink great brews.” I think her mission has been accomplished. Learning about the history of this place and my continual visits contributes to the growing appreciation that I have for this establishment.

On my most recent visit, I went around brunch time. I wanted to order some of their breakfast foods, but the place was extremely busy, so I ordered a mocha instead. It was the perfect drink to order on a windy day. I took a window seat to people-watch, and it was interesting to see how many people stop by to look at the treats displayed in the window. I also loved seeing the workers bring out freshly baked products to put on display. The place smelled like a bakery, and I was tempted to buy everything. While this place offers amazing baked goods and coffee, they also offer healthier options like parfaits and smoothies. With each visit, I am determined to order something different, and hopefully this will allow me to taste almost the entire menu by the end of the semester. I always look forward to visiting my place in York!