I don’t normally write reviews at the place I’m reviewing, but I’m glad I decided to write in Daisy Chain Coffee today. Owner Daniel Bosman greets customers as they pop in, showing them his new coffee grinder. The fig tree behind me rustles as a breeze comes through the open door, and I hear the light tink tink tink of a long metal spoon hitting the sides of a glass as Bosman mixes another drink.
I was just here on Sunday for a vintage flea market co-hosted by Daisy Chain, its neighbor Raygun and DSM Flea. It turned out to be the second-busiest day of business ever for the shop, which opened in late 2020. Sitting here on a much calmer Tuesday morning, I get to listen to Bosman chat with customers as they browse the menu, jars of Daniel Bee’s Raw Iowa Honey (which just took home a blue ribbon at the Iowa State Fair) and shelves of sculpted beeswax candles (also blue ribbon winners). I overhear one person say they’re visiting from Michigan, and butt in to say that’s where I’m from, too.
The walls are filled with art from a local artist called Payton. It’s probably my favorite art installation I’ve seen here yet. The black and white canvases are filled with trees, mountains, moonlight and the silhouettes of wild animals, soft white brush strokes bringing them to life. There’s an octopus morphing out of its own black ink spill, titled Oops, you made me ink. Much to my chagrin, it’s already sold. Finding Nemo is my favorite film.
The paintings seem to breathe, and they perfectly mimic the taxidermy hanging from the walls. A bison mounted from the shoulders looms over the espresso machine. An elk adorned with a macrame plant hanger keeps watch from the west wall. Coyote and fox pelts drape down from a wood arch. (If you read my Bar Nico write-up in last month’s Bread & Butter issue, you’ll know I’m a sucker for taxidermy.)…