Interval

1600 N. Jackson St., Milwaukee

I like how they painted the place, white with giant black letters: COFFEE. It’s to the point, and you’re not likely to confuse it with Car Wash, or Fish Sticks. Though, I can never remember the name: “Interval.” It’s one of those words… I know it has a specific meaning… not sure what it means to them… but it makes sense… somehow. Though, it does remind me of when I ran in cross country in high school—the worst (best) workouts were the ones called “Intervals”—which meant repeat runs of similar distance, such as multiple quarter mile runs at so and so speed. The worst (best) ever was twenty quarter miles, with very little rest in between. “Workout From Hell” would be a cool coffee shop name. Maybe not. Anyway, I first remember this spot as the Dentice Bros Italian Sausage shop—I lived a block away in a house that used to be the sausage place, I think. I’d pay my rent to Tony Dentice at the shop, and sometimes get some sausage. The best I’ve ever had. It always smelled like fennel from half a block away. I was sad when it closed, but someone did a great remodel, and now it’s been cafes, including this current one, kind of a split-level space. You can sit downstairs, where the café is, or upstairs—there’s a booth and a few tables, very intimate. Outside, when it’s warm, is good, too. Excellent lighting, good windows, quiet music. Fine espresso, which came with a little hexagon of chocolate (which I’ve sworn off—but made an exception). At first, I thought it was a little, brown, hexagon ceramic tile. That would be funny, too—to serve that with coffee. An idea I’ll throw out there.

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