I take my car to a mechanic six miles away in West Edgewater. Why? He was once able to cut a $900 bill from the dealer down to $45. I would trust no one else with blanket instructions to “Give it a complete overhaul. Replace anything that needs replacing.” (His answer: “It all looked fine. Stop worrying.” The bill: $61. That included a change of oil.)

No I will not tell you where/who he is. It’s my secret. Okay, email me if you must know.

The only downside to this, and the reason for me writing this post, is that taking my car to him involves a couple hours in Edgewater with no car. Taking the bus back home is worthless, because by the time I get home, he’ll call and say the car is ready, and I just end up getting back on the bus. I walked up and down 5500-6000 N. Lincoln Avenue looking for somewhere to hang around while I wait, to no avail. I eventually ended up in a Dunkin Donuts, where I had the second worst latte of my life. Why, oh why did I order the large? I’m sure I’d get a better one at Starbucks, which my mechanic told me is two blocks further north, but anyone who knows me knows I’d never set foot in one of those. Plus, it’d only be marginally better.

This was a rather long-winded means to ask this question to all our readers (that’s you): Where’s a good place in that area to hang out or get a decent coffee drink that is NOT Starbuck’s? Also, are there any free wi-fi spots in the area? A cursory search on metrofreefi turns up very few options.