Big Bear Cafe is a lovely coffee shop which has warmed up Bloomingdale residents since 2007. It's a favorite of many in the neighborhood and, for better or worse, people in other neighborhoods (this Portlandia clip is very àpropos). It's Friday afternoon and we're on the cusp of a chilly, rainy weekend. So, let me say that there's no better place to go for a nice hot chocolate, chai or cup of joe than Big Bear. Get there early if you plan on relaxing with the paper (or iPad), because half the neighborhood will probably have the same idea. Since I'm always in a coffee mood and want to hit up a different part of the city, my next "If Walls Could Talk" will be about the neighborhood hang out at 1700 1st St. NW. Thanks to Flickr user quinnums for this great photo. Check out the other awesome Bloomingdale photos she has on Flickr. This is awesome and so is this. Oh, and this one. I don't know Quinn, but she takes some nice pictures. Maybe I can do the history on some of those houses.