Something To Talk About

How many times have you had some variation of this conversation:

You: Where do you want to go tonight?

Your BFs: I don’t know, somewhere it isn’t too loud, the seats are comfy and the crowd is good. And not some super dress up scene-y nightclub. You know, a place we can chill and actually talk and have a drink.

You: Yeah. But where is that place?

Your BFs: I don’t know.

Seems like you have this little chat nearly every weekend, huh?

Well, not this weekend.

Local veteran bartender Brandon Reid’s new coffee shop/bar/art gallery called The Manifest has its grand opening tonight. Nestled along the popular bar hopping stretch of Hotel Street, it’s decorated with exposed brick walls, sleek leather chairs, a graffiti-adorned bar and artwork from up-and-coming local talent.

By day, it’s a bright, spacious alternative to chain coffee shops, with free wireless Internet until 6:30 p.m., when Reid hopes patrons will unplug their computers, order a drink from the bar and connect with one another. Even The Manifest’s lighting and music (a loungy mix of jazz and hip hop) levels will be set so that people can actually hear and see each other while kicking back and relaxing.

Sounds like a place that’s destined to be the talk of the town.

The Manifest, 32 North Hotel Street, Chinatown. Grand opening is tonight starting at 7 p.m. For more info, visit www.manifesthawaii.com