The coffee is good, the bagels great, and the people most welcoming. It is what makes Jake's so special. Old friends, neighbors sharing tables, and the possibility of new friends are what draws people to Jake's. It’s also an ideal place for artists to meet and share ideas and experiences. Jake's is where George and I shaped our friendship. It is a great place to sketch people on the sly, and also where I developed my skills of sneakiness…
Meeting there three times a week, we discussed art and the business of art. It wasn't long before Joe, the owner, invited us to hang our art at Jake's. From there it became a meeting place for local artists. At first, one or two artists would join us. I think our gray hair led other artists to believe we had the answer to questions they might have.
Before long we had a scheduled day for artists to meet and share thoughts on each other's works. Though George and I were supposed to be the masters with the answers, we found we were learning as much as those coming with the questions. Other patrons were soon pausing to listen to what our group of artists had to say. I remember one girl, about seven, joining our tables to see and hear better. Seven to ten artists came every Saturday to have their work critiqued. Once, 21 artists showed up for advice. There were times those who came blew us away with their art. There were times we were lectured too, once by an artist from Iraq who had done a painting of her homeland being bombed. What she had to say had nothing to do with the art but rather politics. Art can express so much .
