Dorian McNall

205 East Ponce de Leon Avenue: my home away from home. Java Monkey is a coffee shop situated on the edge of central Decatur's social hub, "The Square"; a courtyard surrounded by small shops and restaurants where the people of the town congregate. At any time of the day, any day of the week I could could show up and find a familiar face. The atmosphere draws all types of people from the surrounding area. It has been the gathering place for my own group of friends since I was fifteen years old. That's over three years now of drinking copious amounts of coffee, eating numerous bagels and smoking too many cigarettes.

Within that time, so many things have changed in my life. Friends and lovers have come and gone and come back and changed and grown up. It amazes me that Java has been the place to witness to all of it. Even during the times when I didn't speak to anyone in that town, there was always one thing to keep me coming back. Every Monday at eight o clock sharp, Open Mic began. It never failed to be an awe inspiring, emotional night of musicians gathering together and spilling their souls into each of their three song sets.

The stage was a ten square foot platform in the corner of the patio covered in old green carpet. That little space held so much fear for me when I first began playing there. Although I had been performing at a BBQ joint for a few years before that, the ambiance at Java was so different. I found myself worried about people's opinions of me and my most personal past time. From the very first week that I got on the stage, the response from my peers was overwhelmingly supportive. My confidence and comfortability improved more and more each week that I went back.

Those other musicians not only made me feel welcome, they provided opportunities to exceed further in my own musical career. I've had the chance to work in studios, book gigs and collaborate so regularly thanks to all of them. My guitar is always in tow when I visit, now, because there is always someone who is willing to sing along. Over time I've been able to meet other younger musicians who I have, in turn, been able to share my own experiences with. In all, Java Monkey has been such a great community with loving people. I'll forever be a Java Junkie.