Cinema Cafe Wrapup

I expect that this will be the last time I mention the Cinema Cafe renovation project that has been a major recipient of my creative energy since April. I've been talking about it for months with nothing to show so I'm pleased to have pictures from the grand opening.

I have finally left my position of being the designer/manager. I quit awhile ago but lurked around until now. This renovation project was really a dream job but the whole experience turned out to be a roller coaster with major disappointments that required me to have obscene amounts of optimism and endurance. I have taken a deep breath and swallowed a fairly large lump of indignant negativity and I can finally truly be happy for the success of the cafe. Even though I will not be a part of the cafe, I still want it to be a great and successful place. I love the people and everyone has worked very very hard to try and make it work.

It was refreshing to see the realization of months and months of work. I'm proud of the job I did and will return as a customer. I will have to try really hard not to rearrange things every time I go in though.

I made a big set of images on Flickr of the cafe before and after so head there to see what I've done. I apologize for the grainy images!

So close!

The Cinema Cafe renovations are in full swing now (finally!) and I've been spending every spare moment painting, sanding and cleaning. I think it could be ready in two weeks! I'll be so happy when it's over. Yesterday, my job was removing and painting old drop ceiling tiles.

It was truly a miserable time except for a few presents I found along the way. I think someone had been using the ceiling as a time capsule and when the tiles were taken down I found two shoes, two hats, a tennis ball, a name tag, a rubber glove filled with blue powder (?!) and a red bow tie. That was entertaining and also a bit scary since I never knew what was going to be falling on my head next.

I'm headed back now and I'll get some more pictures to share. Today's job is varnishing the counters and painting our menu on the wall. I'm amazed by how long each task has taken but I feel like the end is in sight.

I promised a Cinema Cafe update...

..but I never said it would be pretty!

The cafe renovation I'm working on is going "slower than molasses running uphill in January"(Mom quote). Things are shaping up a little bit but everything takes three times longer than expected and I'm getting sick of waiting for plumbing, electric and carpentry stuff. I want to decorate!

Still, I'm happy to report that I've picked out a good amount of art for the cafe walls. I'm hoping to get film-themed prints from Elloh, lakeillustration and almostfamous. I also had a nice time this afternoon taste testing fancy chocolates and granola mixes we hope to sell. I gave myself a stomach ache from working so hard!

I hope to be able to have a grand opening in a month but we'll see.