Claire has been a loyal guest at O'Henry's in Homewood for the past nine years, ever since she and her husband Ryan moved to Birmingham.  They are both New Orleans natives and moved here once they were married to pursue job opportunities.  Claire wanted to find a local coffee shop to support that was similar to that local vibe she got from the New Orleans shops.  A coffee shop that had great iced coffee was a must.  She loves the Toddy cold-brew system we use that creates a uniquely smooth iced coffee.

Claire has one daughter, Marcelle, who will be two in February and a son, Otto, who was born December 17.  Our staff has enjoyed seeing Claire and Marcelle come in almost every day for an iced coffee and a cup of ice for Marcelle's "coffee".  They would sit and have their coffee and enjoy talking with other regular guests, another one of the reasons Claire says she enjoys coming so much - the other guests are so welcoming and genuinely sweet to her and her daughter.

Mid-November Claire and Marcelle did not come in for their daily scheduled iced coffee break; our staff began to wonder what had happened as day after day they did not come in.  They all knew Claire was expecting again, but not for another couple months.

The first week of January Claire walked in to order her iced coffee.  She told us she had the baby...45 days early and had been in the hospital.  The baby was completely healthy and able to come home that day. almost a month sooner than had been expected. She was on her way to pick him up from the hospital and said she had to stop in and get the iced coffee (in 15 degree weather) because she thought she was going to have withdrawals if she went any longer without it. Baby Otto was our youngest guest to come in and enjoy O'Henry's a week later.

Congratulations Claire & Ryan on the arrival of baby Otto!

Once again O'Henry's at Brookwood will have live entertainment. Join us Saturday, January 30th at 7:30 p.m. to hear Birmingham native Alyssa Crisswell and her band sue scrofa.

   Artist Bio:

Birmingham, Alabama native Alyssa Crisswell started recording under the name Sue Scrofa in 2007. Crisswell's pseudonym, a play on the Latin term for swine, came from her long time affection for pigs. Her music is a mix of indie-pop, folk and country featuring Crisswell on vocals, piano and ukelele. She began writing songs while attending Emerson College in Boston and recorded them at her house in rural Alabama during breaks from school. Using her dad's old recording equipment and her parents and friend John Paul Foster as accompanying musicians, Crisswell wrote, arranged and  produced her first album, Alabamulance, which she self-released in June 2008.

Crisswell came up with the title Alabamulance when she misread a sign that said "ambulance" on her way home from the subway in Boston one night. The album is inspired by the contrast of living in both urban New England and rural Alabama, and in it Crisswell explores the bittersweet feeling of changing homes. Her arrangements are textured with folksy ukelele and banjo, weeping guitars and ethereal flute, all wrapped in the warm nostalgia of singing on the porch in late summer. Crisswell's voice is the signature instrument with its sweet but salty soulfulness, seasoned with elements of folk, jazz, country and a 60s girl group vibe.

In her live set she sings and plays ukelele and keyboard accompanied by guitar, upright bass, banjo and drums. She couples her own compositions with some of the classic jazz and folk songs she grew up on. With her charming stage persona and evocative voice, Sue Scrofa live is a special blend of vintage folk, indie-pop and country flair that is truly one-of-a-kind.

Currently, Crisswell is back in Alabama recording the second Sue Scrofa album, White Cat, which is scheduled for release in early 2010.

Highlights:  

-Semi-finalist for Prairie Home Companion's "Talented 20s" Competition 2008

-Music Video for "5 Seashells" by director Ethan Feldbau named official selection in the 2008 Boston Underground Film Festival

-Recorded songs for the soundtrack to the feature film Everything A Monster Is Not by director Daniel Scheinert 2009

For more on Sue Scrofa please visit www.myspcace.com/suescrofa

Thanks to all of you who came out to listen! Below are some pictures from Allison's performance.

Allison King was raised in Florence, AL just acros the Tennessee River from the famous Muscle Shoals music sound. Although the Swampers were before her time, there must have been something left over in the water because she took to music like it was her native tongue. Deeply rooted in bluegrass and folk, Allison sings old traditionals and originals that are unaffected and simple in their beauty. Her love of singing and sound are apparent in her thoughtful conveyance of each song. You'll feel renewed and hopeful after hearing this voice.

  Country Spotlight: Ethiopia

This past summer we started roasting a great single origin cofffee from Ethiopia: Ethiopian Yirgacheffe.  Single origin means one bean from one place.  A blend is two or more beans from different origins.  Make sense?  It has subtle hints of mango and a honey-like sweetness.  Floral overtones and a citrus acidity finish off this lighter roast.  It is very distinctive.

The country of Ethiopia has three major growing regions: Harrar, Sidamo and Yirgacheffe.  All three regions come from the Ethiopian Highlands where the coffee is grown at altitudes between four and seven thousand feet.

The Sidamo and Yirgacheffe regions are known for producing coffees that have hints of floral and berries.  The Harrar region is known for producing coffees with big body and a distinct fruity finish.

About the Country

Population: 80 million

Capital: Addis Adaba

Language: Amharic

Growing Altitude: 550-2750 m.

Fun Fact: Ethiopia is generally accepted as the birthplace of coffee in about 600 AD.