Single Women Directory - Internet

The Answer to What Makes a City Romantic - It's the Cafes

5/31/2004

SAN FRANCISCO - A rare area in which writers, poets, travelers, businesses, and civic leaders have long agreed is that for a city to be branded "romantic" is a very desirable trait indeed. The label "romantic" implies that not only are the residents happier than in other cities, but visitors are as well. The question of what exactly makes a city romantic has been asked for centuries, but TCB-Cafe Publishing believes that it has found the answer. Says TCB-Cafe Publishing founder A.K. Crump, "It's the cafes. Cities with a high density and long-term usage of cafes by the population tend to be seen as those which are the most romantic."

This theory seems to hold true for several 'romantic' cities such as Paris, Rome, Venice, Barcelona and San Francisco. In fact, the cafes of San Francisco form a unique and integral part of the cultural life of this exciting city, and their romantic contribution is a major reason why TCB-Cafe Publishing's recent release, "THE CAFES OF SAN FRANCISCO: A Guide to the Sights, Sounds & Tastes of America's Original Cafe Society," has become a bestseller.

Even Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, and Frida Kahlo have found the pull of San Francisco's romantic side irresistible. Critics seem to agree, both on the romance of San Francisco and the guide to cafes:

"Do I visit San Francisco to see the sights? the views? the restaurants? the Golden Gate? No, I come to visit the cafes, drink the coffee and wander the neighborhoods "
- Sara Perry, author, "The New Complete Coffee Book," Chronicle Books

"As a travel writer I am frequently called by visiting journalists to sum up San Francisco in one sentence. Sometimes I'll start with the sun setting behind the Golden Gate Bridge ... and then somewhere comes a phrase about the cafe society."
- Peter Robinson, Commuter Times

"THE CAFES OF SAN FRANCISCO celebrates these treasures in living color ... and enlisted the aid of some big names in putting together this pretty book. Mayor Willie Brown, Francis Ford Coppola, Will Durst and Michael Smuin are among the unlikely luminaries given kudos for the collective effort."
- Debby Morse, San Francisco Examiner

"Indispensible when you need that Paris 'fix'. Lists toutes! If you seek a sanctuary, the interior an old zinc counter and worn leather banquettes rescued from a Les Halles cafe, you need this guide. Only the smoke from Gauloise is missing."
- Cara Black, author of "Murder in the Sentier"

"FOUR AND A HALF STARS!" "I was immediately drawn by photos of some of my favorite cafes...the book makes me want to go out and explore San Francisco's cafes."
- Martha Bakerjian, About.com / Sanfrancisco.about.com

"Enjoy the intimate culture of San Francisco ... captures the heart of each cafe."
- Nicole Roales, Kokomo Tribune

"Both the photography and general layout of this book are catchy"
- Cory O'Malley, Metro.Pop Magazine

Summarizes A.K. Crump about this theory on what determines the lovelife of a city, "Life, romance, and cafes, they all fit together quite well."

MORE ABOUT TCB-CAFE PUBLISHING
TCB-Cafe Publishing focuses on issues and works in photography, culture, art, design, humor, romance, business, travel, and social criticism. TCB-Cafe's recent releases include the award winning photo-essay, "Green Eyes, the Greenest Fields," and the hilarious how-to relationship guide, "Everything I Know about Dating I Learned in Business School," profiled on National Public Radio. TCB-Caf? Publishing's newest releases are "The Cafes of San Francisco" and "Play Around the Bay."

THE CAFES OF SAN FRANCISCO is a guide to the cosmopolitan San Francisco Bay Area through its unique cafes. It includes over 300 full-color photographs, 48 in-depth profiles, a directory of more than 340 cafes, plus cafe stories, thoughts, and recipes from cafe lovers including: Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr., Francis Ford Coppola, Chef Joey Altman/BAY CAFE TV, Barbara Graves/THE REPUBLIC OF TEA, Colman Andrews/SAVEUR, John Mariani/ESQUIRE, Chris Rubin/TRAVEL + LEISURE, Comedian Will Durst, Chef Gary Rulli, Beat poet ruth weiss, Spencer Christian/ABC-TV, John Marks/SFCVB, Michel Richard/ALLIANCE FRANCAISE, Michael Kraus & Dan Storper/PUTUMAYO WORLD MUSIC, Michael Smuin/SMUIN BALLET, Joan Osburn/CAFE SOCIETY, Cartoonist Phil Frank/SF CHRONICLE, Jaime Cortez/GALERIA DE LA RAZA, Merla Zellerbach/NOB HILL GAZETTE, Kristi DeCaminada/SAN FRANCISCO BALLET, Deborah Berman/SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, David Latimer/CUPS & REZ MAGAZINE, and Consul General of Italy Francesco Sciortino.