Cafe Mundi Closing March 21st!

[errantember]

Cafe Mundi, the coolest coffee house and chill space in Austin, has lost their bid to keep their space of 11 years in one of the last remaining legitimate parts of the East Side. This is perhaps the most depressing news I've ever heard.

My identity as a Burner started at Cafe Mundi in 2002, when a shy me arrived, after three failed attempts, at a hidden coffee house on the East Side to the fantabulous scene of freaks spinning fire. Six months later, well-armored in denim and a cotton hoodie, I was initiated in the informal order of firedancers. Shortly thereafter, at my first Flipside, I firedanced naked in a complete stranger's wedding, and the transformation to the Not side of Normal was forever committed.

We continued to have fire practice at Cafe Mundi for many years before we were forced to find a new location, and of all the many, many fantastic coffee houses in Austin, it is still my favorite. Hearing that it is closing is like losing a close friend. The only location I feel more passionately about in Austin is Elysium. Not even my own home is as important to me.

Despite the fact that firedancing is explicitly forbidden in their most recent lease, I feel it's *necessary* to have a final fire jam there. I'm going to approach the owner about doing it at the very end of the lease, but if she feels that's too much risk, I'm considering setting it up rave-style the day *after* Mundi leaves, so she can't be held responsible for what happens. It's not enough, but it's the only thing I can think of that shows a tiny bit of how I feel about the space.

There seem to be plans to find a new location for Cafe Mundi. While it's hard to believe it could be as fabulous as their current spot, I'd love to see what's next for Our Heros. In support of that, as much as possible, Mundi will be my default hang-out location between now and the Final Bell. If you haven't experienced the magic, now would be the time. It won't be with us for much longer.

Comments

[gailmom.livejournal.com]

~hugs you~ I'm sad to hear that. :(

[errantember.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[xocolatl.livejournal.com]

Shame. Mundi has that je ne sais quoi that is singular to Austin treasures. It is one of those magical places that make people fall in love with this city. Oddly enough, I was in the area last night, hardly recognizing that I was in East Austin and I thought "At least we have Mundi". Funny,eh?
*hugs*

[knighthorse.livejournal.com]

Damn that sucks! The Poly dinners, the belly dancing, the music, the parrots across the street in the spring and summer, sitting within the trees, the fire and OMG the food! I can only hope they will find a better spot that can accommodate the vibe (and maybe a few extra people).

[bramblekite.livejournal.com]

I like your plan. I have also felt the need to spend time there every chance I get between now and closing.

*hugs*