A visit to Acro Coffee
- Sherise Halloway
- Apr 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 17
The journey to collect my mom's birthday cake.
What began as a simple errand, evolved to a mini unplanned video session. A theme won’t be created from this, but I wanted to take the time to note the experience.
The ask…
A day after my mom’s birthday, she called to request -expect- a cake pick up near 14th Street in the city. I’m currently in Canarsie part of Brooklyn, the train is actually a hassle to walk to. I never want to do that walk, but I go anyway. Decided to hurry there and back so I could catch up on work, but will carry my cameras just incase I have a spark.
Lovely February day, blue skies, slight wind, and a week after the blizzard luckily. Streets were clear enough.
Now I’m riding the train. The first portion of travel is above ground—unbeknownst to me, it’s the best light I’ll have all day—so I snap a few frames. I don’t think I pull my camera out again this trip.
Exiting the station, I’m met with near clear walk paths and minimal foot traffic. It’s before noon, so there aren’t many kids on the streets. I thought I’d walk straight to the cake shop, but my path was blocked by some work occurring on the sidewalk. There’s a new merchant finishing construction, and vendors were attempting to wheel in a large industrial stove.
Since I’m no longer rushing, I watch them for a few moments and had the realization of a café I’ve saved over the summer. It’s located around here somewhere. Funny enough, that somewhere was the block I just walked, so I pay them a visit.
I’ve watched this café appear recommended on my Instagram feed for months! It is rather small inside, but only one other person is ordering. I find a seat near a bar area while deciding what to order. There were many treats displayed—mainly mousse varieties and pastries. Noticed there isn’t an espresso machine, just drip coffee and teas on the menu. I chose a raspberry mousse cake and a small earl grey tea.
The first bite—this cake is way too sweet. It’s also my first “meal” of the day, so I know i’ll feel sick if I continue eating. Sipping on the tea settled my stomach though. The tea is mellow, unsweetened, calmed my nausea. It’s odd, I want to enjoy the cake—I just don’t. I thought to myself… let me just finish this tea and get out of here.
I jot some notes in my book, so I don’t forget the memory. This café is somewhere I’d visit again if I were in the area. The other pastries are appealing and I’d try another, however I wouldn’t make a trip again on purpose.
These guys are still trying to move that heavy oven?!
Since my path is again blocked -my tastebuds crying- I look around for a shop to grab a coffee. I wondered why I haven’t seen this place here before? Geez, how long have I not visited the area?
This café is a working shop. There are many with their laptops out, typing away as I walk toward the baristas. I order a Café Au Lait and fiddle with cleaning the lens of my film camera while I wait. Thanks to this, I had a wonderful conversation with both baristas about photography, the cameras they owned, and film we all enjoyed using.
Walked to the rear of the shop and sat for a few moments to take a break. The air here feels good—mellow and easy. I’d make the train ride to visit again. My mom’s cake! Gotta blast!
An hour since I’ve arrived to the area, I finally reached the cake shop. This place is much older, my mom has ordered cakes here throughout her career at a school in the area. Raves about them, I’ll try it later this evening for sure. Veniero’s Pasticceria & Caffe has a lovely scent of pastries you can smell from the corner. At first I walked in the main entrance to wait on line, but was quickly directed to next door for pickups.
Why did this woman order such a huge cake?! I’m supposed to lug this on the train and walk a mile home?
I let the associate know I had quite the distance to travel, he made some heavy duty wraps for me and ohhh was I grateful!
Happy Birthday Mom! Don’t order this again. LOL.
The cake was devine!
Thanks for reading!
Comments