I'd only been in Atlanta a few months the first time I went to the Apache Cafe.  My newly minted friends invited me to join them.  I was unfamiliar with the city, so it seemed as though one minute we were winding our way through the streets of downtown Atlanta and the next minute we were walking into an intimate venue decked in weathered brick walls and concrete floors. 

I felt like I was in one of those indie movies where the cool kids gathered to watch local musicians and comedians hone their crafts.  I was instantly enamored with the vibe. The bar was at the front, the stage was to the right and the walls were adorned with original work from local artists.  Smells of Caribbean, Latin and Southwestern food were wafting from the kitchen. Here I was, little 'ole me part of the underground, in a place that could have easily been featured in an episode of 'Girlfriends'.

The building is small so the acts and the audience are very close to each other making it feel more like a living room than a formal venue. I guess you could call it cozy.  Apache Cafe is like that guy you know, the one who isn't much to look at on the outside, but who's wit, charm and intelligence make him unforgettable. He's the one who sneaks up on you.

Apache certainly isn't shiny and new, it's well worn and doesn't look like much in the daylight. None of this matters because you don't go to Apache for its posh surroundings. You go to Apache for the music. You go there for the art and the comedians. You go there for the vibe. 

In between watching the acts, I watched the people.  The crowd was a mix of couples on dates, groups of girls and guys, groups of ladies out for a girl's night and groups of guys just hanging out.  Some were dressed to impress, while some were just dressed.  I could tell that many were regulars, while others were newbies like me. We were all just a bunch of unpretentious people having a nice time, easily making friendly conversation with the tables surrounding us. 

I don't even remember who was performing that night, I just remember what I felt.  I felt like I was living the life I'd always wanted to. A single girl in the city, dressed to kill, hanging out with her girlfriends at a cool place. What could be better?