Dear Diary Coffee
By Amalia Litsa
Dear Diary CoffeeJan 16, 2024
Women's Cycling in Austin – A System that Works
If you didn't know, hundreds of women ride bikes in Austin, TX. This population, though large, is filled with infectious camaraderie. Many, many women cyclist in Austin are proud of the impact of these good vibes. In this 10 minute essay, I describe the system that has evolved and WHY it works. I speak from the lens of someone who interacts in the WTF space the most. I have no doubt that the phenomena I describe is larger than women's cycling. Anyway, I hope this perspective is helpful. - - - - - - Written version: https://www.deardiary.coffee/bikes/wo... - - - - - - DEAR DIARY COFFEE is a community coffee shop in Austin, TX. Litsa, the owner, loves riding bikes, and she supports cycling groups personally and via her small business. You can visit Dear Diary Coffee at 1212 Chicon St. in Austin, TX.
Newsletter: August 2023
Subscribe to our newsletter here
https://mailchi.mp/d72eb53def9c/deardiarycoffeehouse
Dear Diary Stands with Gender Queer Texans
www.deardiary.coffee/coffeeshop-news/dear-diary-stands-with-gender-queer-texans
Newsletter – February 2023
Litsa talks about Dear Diary events in March, creative opportunities, cycling, catering, and kids stuff.
https://www.deardiary.coffee/coffeeshop-news/february-newsletter
https://youtu.be/15bNuJchD0s
Newsletter January 18, 2023
Newsletter – 12/18/2022
- New Winter & Holiday Hours starting Monday 12/19
- We're expanding our Vegan + Gluten Free menu
- Get a free $5 gift card with every $50 you spend
- We're doing Free Food Thursdays now
- Make $100 + commission by vending at markets for us
- We give Club Discounts to running and cycling groups
- No more Bricco Blends for now
Newsletter – 11/2022
Read at:
https://www.deardiary.coffee/coffeeshop-news/newsletter-november-2022
TLDListen:
- This weekend & next: Austin Studio Tour
- Shelf saga continued
- Ride bikes with us
- Secrets
- Halloween is over, but Sightseer remains
- Guess and win!
- Colleen made shirts
- We make our own oat milk now
- Bradley moved to Portland
- Secret Show was a hit
- Pitch your event ideas
Story Time – Atlantis 1989 by Amalia Litsa
This short story was written by Amalia Litsa for Secret Show 2022. It has music and sound effects.
Bikes – What is Lend Your Legs?
Kimberly Jarboe talks about the Lend Your Legs ride, plus other rides from Social Cycling Austin.
https://www.deardiary.coffee/austin-bike-bulletin/mza4419moe188p24heh15r641795hf
Bikes – Melissa's Commute
Team Snacks organized a ride so Melissa could practice her commute across town with company!
https://www.deardiary.coffee/austin-bike-bulletin/jhzm0izfrmz8z4cdgkvuggbj2mbdms
Bikes – Raising Money for Diabetes Research
Todd and Buddy met each other doing charity rides around the country to raise money for diabetes research. The Lion's Club in Liberty Hill had a charity ride that kind of lost steam, and Todd and Buddy decided to revive it. Now they have over 200 riders every year, and have raised thousands of dollars for a great cause.
Story Time – Betrayed Biking by Andrew Hairston
Read this short story at https://www.deardiary.coffee/blogcast/betrayed-biking-1st-place-short-story-contest-winner
Newsletter – 10/03/2022
Litsa reads the newsletter sent to folks who visited Dear Diary's booth at Austin Coffee Festival
https://www.deardiary.coffee/coffeeshop-news/austin-coffee-festival-2022
Newsletter – 09/2022
Litsa "reads" the newsletter.
https://www.deardiary.coffee/coffeeshop-news/september-newsletter
SUMMARY
- 24 Hour Comics Day
- X Y Zine Art Closing Party
- Drip N Draw
- Austin Coffee Crawl
- Austin Coffee Festival
- New Fall specials
- Secret Show 2022
- Upcoming artists market & Austin Studio Tour
- Love seat 4 sale
Bikes – Ann Talks about Knee Pain
Litsa made a new friend named Ann at the Team Snacks Early Bird Special Thursday morning. They bonded over knee pain.
https://bikebulletin.com
Bikes – Ride Report Rapha Womens 100K
The best part of this annual ride (to me) is getting to see so many cyclists that I don't get to ride with often. The ride attracts everyone from beginner to pro, and as a squarely intermediate rider, it's so cool to be able to mix and mingle over the 62 miles.
https://bikebulletin.com
Bikes – Bike Vacation in Portland, Oregon
We recently visited Portland Oregon and rode at Forest Park, Powell Butte, and on the Thursday Night Social Ride. https://austin.bikebulletin.com https://www.portland.gov/parks/powell... https://www.portland.gov/parks/powell... https://www.portland.gov/parks/powell... https://www.fattirefarm.com/ https://www.pdxbikerentals.com/
Bikes – Ride Report: Slaughter Creek
Recorded Sept 6 2022 on my Go Pro Hero 9 with chest mount, riding my 2022 Specialized Rockhopper Expert at Slaughter Creek in Austin Texas. One lap is about 5 miles. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/7005...Edited with Wondershare Filmora 11 on my Macbook Air. https://austin.bikebulletin.com
Bikes – How do you Bikepack?
Ariel Marlowe is the Community Director at Cycleast, a well known and much loved bike shop in East Austin. In this episode, Ariel walks us through not just bikepacking, but all the bike camping events Cycleast has scheduled this Fall. https://austin.bikebulletin.com
Bikes – Where to ride in Portland, Oregon?
Hey, y'all! We're in Portland! We decided to do a special episode where we ask a friend what all rides we should try, and then we do them! In Episode 4, we talk to @little_whiskey_badtouch from @cycleast because she just got back from a bike tour in Oregon. Then we run through the list of upcoming rides (in Austin) that we're excited about. We won't be here for most of them, so you'll have to have fun for us!
- September 1 – The Driveway race series is back!
http://drivewayseries.com/ - September 3 – Gravel Collective & Cycleast bikecamp out to Bastrop State Park
https://www.instagram.com/p/ChfVxycl1Ez/ - September 9 – Dear Diary & Team Snacks invite you to ride to McKinney Falls for storytelling around a campfire (or flashlights)
https://www.deardiary.coffee/blogcast/storytime-campers - September 11 – Join Dear Diary & Team Snacks for a special edition of Slow Your Roll. We’re riding all the way from Meteor to the Domain!
Email Litsa for deets: litsa@dd.coffee - September 11 (at 2am! So it will feel more like Saturday night) – 40th annual full moon cruise
http://cycling.frenzied.us/full-moon-rides - September 18 – Rapha 100 Women’s Ride
https://www.rapha.cc/us/en_US/stories/womens100
ABB Episode 3: What makes a good bike leader?
This week on Austin Bike Bulletin we asked our guests the question, "What makes for a good ride leader?" Such a great discussion ensued!
Guests
- Calais Morgan, Team Snacks
- Abi Robins, Queer Gravel
- Liz Wolenski-Gaeda, Violet Crown
- With contributions from
Kim Jarboe, Social Cycling Austin
https://austin.bikebulletin.com
ABB Episode 2: How do you break into the Austin cycling scene?
In Episode 2 Kat lists upcoming rides in Austin. Then we answer the question, "How do you break into the Austin cycling scene" with our guests, Calais Morgan (Team Snacks), Valerie Ruiz (Bike Story Night), and Kim Jarboe (Social Cycling Austin)
ABB Episode 1: Weekly bike rides in Austin, TX
Plan your rides for this week with Kat, Litsa, and Calais. Welcome to our very first episode! We've listed all the rides we're aware of, but we know there are lot more. Tune in each week for ride ideas, and help spread the word! You can download media from this episode to share in your channels at https://www.deardiary.coffee/cycling/acb-2022-08-08
Newsletter: July 2022 Dear Diary Coffee
- Short story contest #2 is bike themed, and the submission window is open
Win two Austin Film Festival passes - Dear Diary tacos and Hunnybunny reduce food waste
This is how... what do you think? - X Y Zine is still going strong
RSVP for Storytime Campers and 24 Hour Comics - Austin Studio Tour plans
Creative Cuties are back! - Meetup hosts wanted
Got ideas? - Congratulations, Colleen and team for an amazing quarter!
Our baristas are the best ♥ - We've got more merch in the works
Plus, the cutest collab with Team Snacks Cycling - Bricco Blends is still on its way
So... close...
Story Time: My Cows, Four Queens Series
Gemma thought the hardest part about a 62 mile gravel ride would be muscle fatigue. She didn’t know that she’d be saving a group of advanced cyclists from destructive sky hole created by Texas fire ants.
This short story was written by Amalia Litsa on April 28, 2022. All rights reserved.
Story Time: Four Fangs by William Falo, Four Queens Series
The vampire protagonist in William Falo's short story isn't too happy about their condition; making friends is really hard when you're the walking dead! This quick little ready is melancholy and sweet.
Story Time: The Mustache by Amalia Litsa
"The Mustache" is a fictional story about a small girl with the unexpected power to make hair grow on any upper lip.
Story Time: ROKA Why Not Now by Amalia Litsa, Four Queens Series
Four dragons suddenly emerge from Lady Bird Lake and start laying eggs all over the Austin city limits. Steve Adler immediately joins forces with a gang of unlikely leaders to deal with the dragon problem.
Newsletter: Kristina's Farewell & More Eco-Friendliness at DD
Hi there, Litsa here! I only have three thingies to talk to you about today, but they are all pretty heavy hitters.
1. Kristina's last day is Friday April 15nd 😭
2. We have new artist-inspired coffee blends
3. Earth Day efforts: We've switched to eco-friendly coffee packaging and we are part of the Trashless reusable cup program — give it a try!
Plus, we've got free community yoga, a free coffee cupping workshop, and other events on the calendar.