Angelina's

Angelina's has a fantastic laid-back vibe that you can feel the moment you walk in. It's a very large, airy place and despite the very decent array of tea pots, tea ware, steepers, and entire wraparound wall of fun used books to browse and buy, it manages not to feel the least bit stuffy.

The proprietor, Wayne, couldn't be friendlier if he tried, and was more than happy to answer questions and recommend his favorites from the seemingly hundreds of teas in glass jars lining the walls. Even a seasoned tea-hound like me got an informative lesson about puh-er (spelling?) tea by eavesdropping on a request from a fellow customer.

There's a small bar with a few stools to sit at, a table if you want to hang out and work on homework or writing, and an interesting 'living room' set... (more) off to the side with big comfy couches and armchairs to stash a mate that...er..might not be as enthused about tea as you are. Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything ;)

I ordered a lavender earl great made hot, which Wayne prepared excellently for me, caring enough to not only ask me how I liked mine steeped (most places I've gone have just done it 'right' - nevermind what the customer wants!) but to put in motion a rather interesting tricolor sand timer to watch while it did. When I added a bit of cream and sugar in the raw - major points for having an option other than white - it was the best cup I've had in a loooong while.

I'm told the owner's young daughter, for whom the business is named, is known to face off against abandoned boyfriends and husbands in the living room area via the wii hooked up to a large flat screen. I hope to have the pleasure of meeting the young miss on my next visit! :)