Spring Barnickle promised herself that by her 50th birthday, she would have started her own business. And with April fast approaching, she’ll make her goal just in time. Her coffee shop and community space, Playground Art + Coffee, will have its grand opening in North Park on March 26.
Playground is meant to be a space where adults can come get an espresso, enjoy a pastry, take an art class, and meet a friend, but above all else, it’s meant to help people “feel more like a kid again,” Barnickle says.
The 1,500-square-foot space is designed to feel very retro ‘70s, with no straight lines anywhere and huge pops of bright yellow, terracotta, and pistachio, for a space that’s energizing, but not juvenile. Even the menu items made in-house harken back to Gen X and elder millennial childhoods.
Case in point: a twist on Hot Pockets, but with flavors like prosciutto goat cheese and curry veggie. (Yes, pepperoni pizza will also be available.) A version of adult Lunchables will have names like Eat Your Veggies and Hit Your Macros. Plus, guests can try a “galactic” brownie that calls back to the classic Cosmic Brownies of old. Other pastries will range from sweet to savory, with chewy croissants specifically tested to minimize crumbs—with almond, pistachio, and chocolate versions—as well as a selection of packaged treats to accommodate dietary needs like gluten or nut allergies.
The drinks menu is split between “Grown Up” and “Playtime,” with the former focusing on classic coffee shop offerings like lattes, flat whites, cappuccinos, and matchas. Its coffee beans are sourced by Torque Coffee. Barnickle designed the latter for whimsy, with options like a hazelnut sesame latte, pandan mint mocha, creamsicle cold brew, mix-and-match cold foams, espresso tonic, and orange yuzu coffee soda.
“If there’s a fruit, it’s organic,” she says. “We’re doing everything we can to source ingredients that are as delicious, but also healthy and nurturing as possible for people.”
Barnickle plans to start offering pairing events as soon as April and art workshops in May, along with mocktail-making classes, coffee cuppings, chocolate tastings, and more. The whole idea of launching a space for people to create and commune with one another is one she’s nurtured her entire life, and even helped other people achieve in their own businesses. But it’s finally her time.
“This is the culmination of everything I’ve ever done,” she says. “The world is challenging right now, to say the least, so my goal is just to try to bring a space to North Park that lets people kind of put that aside for a minute… just take a break from being a grown up and have some fun.”
Playground Art + Coffee opens March 26 at 3043 University Avenue in North Park. Opening hours will be Monday through Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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- Artsy vibes must be in the air, because Ballast Point also got the memo. On March 14, Ballast Point Little Italy will host the inaugural “The Art of Beer,” a beer and art celebration showcasing the talents of 10 different local breweries and the label art behind the brew. Tickets to the +21 event get you tastings, access to a panel discussion, and a chance to vote on your favorite brew (the winner will be announced at 4 p.m.) Afterwards, Ballast Point is taking the show on the road (literally), bringing The Art of Beer to its locations in Anaheim, Long Beach, and San Francisco.
- Baseball is (almost) back and East Village is kicking off Padres season with the 14th Annual East Village Block Party. Starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, J Street is going to be rockin’ with live music, plenty of food, family-friendly fun, a classic car show, and other celebratory demos to get you in the baseball mood. Best of all, it’s free to drop by, so heed the siren’s call and gird your loins for a new (winning?) season.
- I love any neighborhood “Taste Of” event, and the next one to mark on your calendar is Chula Vista’s epic foodie festival on March 19. Taste of Third starts at 4 p.m., and tickets will get you access to over 20 restaurants and other local businesses like La Bella Pizza, Thr3e Punk Ales, Farmer’s Table, and more. South Bay is definitely coming up in the San Diego culinary scene, so this is a great event to give a bunch of tasty eateries a go in one delicious night.
- If the fastest way to most people’s hearts is through food, mine is through cider, and New Motion Beverages just took one step closer to me falling in love. The local beverage company just released its first limited-release dry cider, a 5.5 percent ABV cider called Dry Run they say is “brewed by popular demand.” Well, whoever is demanding breweries make cider, keep up the good work!
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