Donkey

For this inaugural blog post, I decided (like many others, I’m sure) to go to the Donkey Café and soak up the environment.  I went there in the evening time, and the first thing I noticed was the lighting.  It wasn’t incredibly bright inside the place; there was dim lighting, so you could see where you were and what you were doing, but not a tremendous amount more.  However, I also noticed that much of what you could see in the light was very brightly colored, thus adding a sense of warmth to the ambiance.  There are also several distinctive rooms.  The main sitting area as you walk in boasts a number of comfortable chairs and small tables on which to put your food and beverage of choice.  Moving deeper into the café, you come upon a large room separated from the shop with many more tables and chairs and a small stage.  This is what I call the open-mic night room.  The Donkey is known for having local musical groups, comedians, poets, and others perform on-stage for a smaller crowd.  There is also an upstairs where there is more seating and a cabinet full of games and such if you do not happen to be working during a given visit.  I think Donkey was designed like this so that any customer had the option of sitting and working comfortable, taking in a show, or just relaxing with some friends.

            The crowd at Donkey seems to be, predominantly, students who need a peaceful place to work away from their personal home environment.  The softly lit rooms appeal to a sense of calm for these students.  Everyone seems to be relaxed and focused.  Even the employees keep a certain chilled out demeanor as they take your orders and make your beverages.  Everything about Donkey, from the cozy chairs to the light music over the sound system lends itself to an air of tranquil study.

            In relation to the community, as I mentioned briefly, Donkey brings in an assorted array of musical, comic, and artistic performers on occasion.  This brings not only the community of performers in Athens together, but it also brings together the collective community of the audience.  It also makes a good meeting spot for student groups.  Any group can pick out a table and set to work without much interruption, if any.  What the existence of this place says about Athens is thought we may be known for such a grand party school, we know how to tone it down, study, and appreciate the finer things of our own area, be it music, poetry, comedy, or just quality food and drink.   

~ Kevin Snider

For this inaugural blog post, I decided (like many others, I’m sure) to go to the Donkey Café and soak up the environment.  I went there in the evening time, and the first thing I noticed was the lighting.  It wasn’t incredibly bright inside the place; there was dim lighting, so you could see where you were and what you were doing, but not a tremendous amount more.  However, I also noticed that much of what you could see in the light was very brightly colored, thus adding a sense of warmth to the ambiance.  There are also several distinctive rooms.  The main sitting area as you walk in boasts a number of comfortable chairs and small tables on which to put your food and beverage of choice.  Moving deeper into the café, you come upon a large room separated from the shop with many more tables and chairs and a small stage.  This is what I call the open-mic night room.  The Donkey is known for having local musical groups, comedians, poets, and others perform on-stage for a smaller crowd.  There is also an upstairs where there is more seating and a cabinet full of games and such if you do not happen to be working during a given visit.  I think Donkey was designed like this so that any customer had the option of sitting and working comfortable, taking in a show, or just relaxing with some friends.

            The crowd at Donkey seems to be, predominantly, students who need a peaceful place to work away from their personal home environment.  The softly lit rooms appeal to a sense of calm for these students.  Everyone seems to be relaxed and focused.  Even the employees keep a certain chilled out demeanor as they take your orders and make your beverages.  Everything about Donkey, from the cozy chairs to the light music over the sound system lends itself to an air of tranquil study.

            In relation to the community, as I mentioned briefly, Donkey brings in an assorted array of musical, comic, and artistic performers on occasion.  This brings not only the community of performers in Athens together, but it also brings together the collective community of the audience.  It also makes a good meeting spot for student groups.  Any group can pick out a table and set to work without much interruption, if any.  What the existence of this place says about Athens is thought we may be known for such a grand party school, we know how to tone it down, study, and appreciate the finer things of our own area, be it music, poetry, comedy, or just quality food and drink.   

~ Kevin Snider