Lex and Jazz of Char’latte Coffee Company Detroit (photo by Char’latte)
* The sisters will be located inside Eastern Market’s Shed 5 during Detroit Bookfest. Come check out their amazing coffee! Please bring small bills, especially $1’s and $5’s.
I love coffee. The aroma, flavor tones, nuances, trimethylxanthine, and accelerated association of ideas that results after gulping down a cup or pot of it. So, when I heard that Char’latte Coffee Company is bringing some liquid deliciousness to Detroit Bookfest, I was ecstatic.
Officially opened in February 2022, Char’latte Coffee Company is run by two Metro Detroit sisters and former baristas who saw a need in the market and decided to fill it.
Alexis Hallam (aka: Lex) and Jazzmyne Cansler (aka: Jazz) are very close siblings. Lex is four years older, likes photography, plays the drums, and started working at a coffeehouse. She got her sister, Jazz, who plays the strings, a job at the coffeehouse and they both “fell in love with the Art of Coffee,” says Jazz.
Alexis Hallam (aka: Lex) and Jazzmyne Cansler (aka: Jazz) of Char’latte Coffee Company Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
“After working in different coffeehouses, we decided to pool our talents, love of coffee, and entrepreneurial spirits,” says Lex. “We created our brand and started our own operation. The coffee is sourced from Stumptown Coffee Roasters and all flavored syrups are created in-house.”
Currently, the sisters offer specialty pop-ups, and their operation consists of an 8-foot-long mobile coffee cart.
“We offer drip, pour over, iced, cold brew, espresso, teas, hot chocolate, and lemonade,” says Lex. “We are hoping to add some pastries in the future.”
Some top sellers right now are:
Brown Sugar Lavender Oat Milk Latte
Hot chocolate with whipped cream
And the Madagascar vanilla bean
Char’latte Coffee Company Detroit
“We love the freedom of mobility,” says Jazz. “In the future, we’d like to add a large trailer and our ultimate goal is to eventually open a brick-and-mortar coffeehouse, most likely in the heart of Detroit.”
This is a true family operation. “Our Uncle Shane built the cart for us, outfitted it and he even helps transport it to events in his truck. His wife and kids all help contribute greatly to our success and we are very thankful for their love and support,” says Lex. “And the name Char’latte is in honor of my two-year-old daughter, Charlotte.”
The sister’s coffee cart can be booked for events. “We politely request a minimum of 50 people,” says Jazz. “There is no maximum. We do weddings, office parties, house parties, graduations, corporate events, community events, all sorts of different things.”
The sisters are trying to make this gig full-time. Help them out by booking them for your next event!
*Big thank you to Bookfest Committee member Louie Meizlish for sourcing and arranging this!*
Arts & Scraps Detroit Scrapmobile (photo by Arts & Scraps)
Arts & Scraps has been an interactive institution on the Eastside for over thirty years.
Founded in 1989 by Peg Upmeyer, Arts & Scraps was originally started to help cash-strapped teachers obtain affordable, creative resources for their students.
Arts & Scraps is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and recycling store which collects donated recycled goods and turns them into art.
They recycle over 28 tons (ie: 56,000 pounds) of industrial materials annually!
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Their East English Village location includes a 5,000-square foot combination store, offices, classroom, and donation intake. Located across Harper Avenue is their 13,000-square foot warehouse where the Scrapmobile is parked and where their creative ‘sticky kits’ are assembled.
Open to the general public, the store features a delightfully whimsical interior, which fondly reminds me of rummaging for treasures at Neisner’s and Jupiter’s on Vernor Hwy many moons ago.
Arts & Scraps community store manager, Stevie Baka, was kind enough to chat with me about their operation.
Arts & Scraps Detroit community store manager, Stevie Baka (photo by Ryan M. Place)
Let’s hear from Stevie directly:
“Arts & Scraps is thrilled to be coming to Detroit Bookfest! Our 26-foot-long bus, the Scrapmobile, will be there. The inside is filled with recycled creative materials, kids can get a bag and make something completely unique. Building their own book, for example.”
“Arts & Scraps is a creative re-use that focuses on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) education by reimagining teaching tools. Our programming is STEM, and the store is art-based.”
“Many businesses generate a ton of ‘waste’ which can easily be donated and used by someone else. You never know what somebody can use or re-use. We also encourage people to recycle what they can at home.”
“The store features things like fabric, yarn stock, rubber stamps, sewing materials, scrapbooking & collage-making materials, heritage crafts, old photos, postcards, magazines, bottles, paint, laces, etc.”
Arts & Scraps Detroit (photo by Ryan M. Place)
“Kids can make some amazing stuff! We encourage kids to focus on imagination, creativity, and open-ended experimentation. We’re experience-driven and encourage people to experiment with their innate creativity. We’re also a field trip program with a target age range of three to pre-teen.”
“If your company is looking for something unique to do, Arts & Scraps engages in corporate volunteering. Companies like Ford, Rocket, BCBS, Motown Mission, etc, have their employees volunteer here.”
“We often receive donations of the contents of entire houses when people’s relatives pass on. There is an energy transference when loved one’s pass away. People feel good knowing that their items are not going into the trash but being loved and re-used by the community.”
“In regard to book donations, we prefer anything kids, educational, old, weird, unusual, etc, because the books will be cup up and collaged, which we know is considered sacrilegious by many book collectors, but it’s still better than old books being pulped and completely destroyed.”
St. Albertus Rectory (4231 St. Aubin @ Canfield, Detroit) photo by Google
Interesting historical sidenote about Stevie:
They live inside the old St. Albertus Rectory (4231 St. Aubin @ Canfield, Detroit). Open from 1891-1990, the rectory is now in the care of Stevie’s family.
“My family immigrated from Poland and lived near the Rectory in Poletown. My Grandpa went to school there, got married there and my brothers were able to move in and rehab it under the guidance of the Polish American Historical Site Association (PAHSA) who owns the property. We are always looking for volunteers there, as well.”
Are you looking for a way to support children in Detroit? Bring your gently used children’s books to Bookfest 2024.
Birdie’s Bookmobile is a non-profit organization dedicated to making diverse books more accessible, increasing the number of books children have at home, and helping improve literacy outcomes.
They are partnered with over 40 Detroit Public and charter schools, after-school programs, and non-profit organizations, and have distributed more than 18,000 books to children and families in Detroit.
Your book donations will help build home libraries, encourage shared reading experiences, and improve literacy outcomes.
Book Needs:
Board Books
Picture Books
Early Readers
Chapter Books
Graphic Novels
Middle Grade
YA
Birdie’s Book Mobile (phot by Birdies)
Where will Birdie’s Bookmobile be located during Bookfest?
Birdie’s Bookmobile will be located outside Eastern Market’s Shed 5 in the DTE Plaza.
This is the main plaza on the west side of the building facing Russell Street at Alfred Street.
DTE Plaza outside Eastern Market’s Shed 5 (Detroit, Michigan) located at Russell Street and Alfred Street
Recent Comments