Missouri progressives unite!

Here's one thing about Missouri: they haven't discovered the all-pervasive endless benefits of good, strong coffee (and their associated coffee shops).
Supporting statement #1: when i entered Missouri from Kansas City, it was earlyish in the morning and i was in sort of a desperate condition to get some coffee. The following TWO HUNDRED miles yielded ZERO (believe me, i was paying attention) coffeeshops of the sort that might be advertised on the interstate (read: starbucks). Now i'm not in favor of supporting Starbucks on principle (although there have been compelling cases made to me, such as their community and environmental support programs) - but when you're in need, you're in need and Starbucks, lets face it, at least has a consistent product that i know will taste good and isn't the same ilk of evil as, say, Wal-Mart. Back to the point here: i was jonesing for some coffee. There was none to be found (even when i did make it to St Louis!).
Supporting statement #2: i tell you its been a trial finding myself to a "coffeeshop" in the cultural sense that i am used to - this means a comfortable place with good coffee and maybe some baked goods, a place to sit for a long time, free wireless internet, a community board and some semblance of progressive minded people. Needless to say, i have found one and this is precisely the location i'm blogging from now. Thank goodness. (Note: i finally saw a Starbucks yesterday, in on of the mini-mall-big-name-store shopping corner clusters that have come to dominate every city in America.) But the real revelation here is that it seems that Saint Louis does NOT have so-called Coffee Culture! Imagine my shock and dismay (what will i do? how will i meet people? where will i find my organic, fair trade, shade grown coffee friends?) and imagine the countless other things that will probably be difficult to find - indie rock, Savage Love, low-consumption lifestyle groups.

The upshot is that there are probably other jewels of experience that are integral to Saint Louis life. I'm just trying to get myself excited about the possibilities. So far, i've got the thrill from driving around at top speeds, not knowing where i am and trying really hard not to be lost or drive into the "wrong" neighborhood. That IS actually pretty exciting, and keeps me on my toes. Also, i DID find a weekly news rag that seems pretty cool (passes the Savage Love test!) and i did find this outstanding specimen of a cafe which meets all the touchy-feely criteria listed above. I have resigned myself to the fact that its a long, tough road, but in the meantime i'm going to go nap since i've got a headache from not having enough coffee.