Published In Oshawa This Week
March 5, 2007
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Together, these words may conjure up a variety of interesting images. But a velvet Elvis is not the king of rock and roll wrapped tightly in plush fabric. A velvet Elvis is a painting of Elvis Presley on velvet.
To many of us The Velvet Elvis is none of the above, but a coffee lounge and bar in Oshawa.
The cozy blue house at 221 King St. E. is filled with couches, pictures, and a laid-back vibe. Customers who visit The Velvet Elvis on quieter evenings might spot a friendly cat roaming around. But don't let the relaxed atmosphere fool you, while staff is warm, friendly, and fun, they still remain professional. They pass around containers of potato chips for customers and ask if you need a refill.
It seems for The Velvet Elvis, newcomers are greeted like regulars, and regulars like friends. In both cases, owner Liisa Whalley asks sincerely how it goes, but she knows what the regulars are drinking -- even if it's a Molson Canadian with a splash of ginger ale.
"It's more of a community than a bar," Whalley said. "We don't have big problems like other bars do."
Whalley says the lack of trouble comes from the people who continue to fill the place and the tolerance they have for each other.
"It's a nice group," she said. "Mainly artists and musicians tend to gather here."
Since The Velvet Elvis caters to such a creative crowd, the varieties of events are no surprise.
"We've had art shows, poetry readings, and we just had a clothes show recently." Whalley said.
Monday's can be spent with Poor Pelly of the punk country band The Kent Boys, at open mic night. Or if live music is what you're looking for, The Elvis regularly has bands on weekends.
In January, Jonas Bonnetta was on the stage, with his folk acoustic sound. And in February, indie rock band The Postage Stamps appeared.
On nights without live entertainment, customers can expect a wide range of tunes, from Fiona Apple to The Clash and New Order.
The Velvet Elvis Coffee Lounge and Bar was born four years ago when Whalley bought the location.
"This was my third business," Whalley said. "First, there was a vintage clothing store, and then a restaurant, which pretty much became The Velvet Elvis, I just moved it here."
And just so you know, there is a velvet Elvis at The Velvet Elvis.
Cafe sweetens the downtown with chocolate, coffee and music
Published March 12, 2007
The sign is simple, elegant yet cool -- like the owner.
Giacomo Bruno is much younger than I would have guessed, considering he owns one of the most beautiful coffee shops. When walking around downtown Oshawa, especially during these winter months, it's a place to warm up, drink some organic free trade coffee and listen to some Billie Holiday.
Isabella's is what Mr. Bruno calls a complete change from other coffee houses in Oshawa and Durham Region.
"It's more of an urban-style cafe," he said. "Like something you would find in Toronto, or maybe Montreal."
Mr. Bruno also thinks another big difference is the product. Isabella's offers a variety of teas, coffee, and pastry while making their own chocolate and gelato.
While the response to the cafe has been very good, success doesn't come without its difficulties.
"At the same time, people don't really understand why my coffee might cost ten cents more than the other guy's," he said.
Isabella's also offers a little something for music lovers on Friday nights.
"Music usually starts at nine, it's been full, but also empty." He said.
"Normally it's kind of a mixed bag as far as who plays. We've had acoustic guitar, folk, bluegrass, we've had jazz bands and blues bands."
In addition to the music on Fridays, there are bigger events that happen every few weeks.
In early January, Isabella's featured an all women's music night called Winter Spice with local musician Heather Luckhart as the organizer. The place was packed.
In February, the men took to the stage, with several performers including local guitarist Glenn Bensley.
What Mr. Bruno is trying to create is an alternative to the bar scene and is currently looking into getting a liquor license.
"We won't become a bar," he said. "Just something to have with coffee or dessert."
The idea of starting his own cafe began while working in Toronto with chocolate, but none of the ideas felt different from all the other cafe's out there, he said. Not until the combination of coffee, chocolate and entertainment lounge came to mind.
So now the big question, why Oshawa?
Mr. Bruno says he wanted to open Isabella's in Oshawa because, to him, it's home.
"I'm hoping the revitalization of the downtown area evolves into what they say it will," he said. "And I think it will."
