Freedom of Espresso — Restaurant in Town of Manlius

First Act, Started at 6:31 AM, Posted 6:59 AM

My plan to vote seemed to depend on a rideshare.

I planned to show up at the polls before opening at 6 AM, vote fast and haul a@#$% to the bus stop.

If I missed the 6:30 AM Express, I could anyways call a rideshare.

Uber and Lyft made some noise about helping people reach the polls for a greatly reduced price.

I wanted a free ride from the polls to work, but the app showed no offers or price breaks.

I found two men at the door at 5:57 AM, and I addressed the two.

"Good morning, looks like we know who the patriots are".

One guy shot back, "It's a lot like my lottery club.

We buy a ticket together every week.

Can't hurt".

We heard the bells of a church tolling the hour and we walked right in the big room for community events.

I went to the wrong precinct desk and could have been voter number one in my precinct had I gone first to the right desk.

Marking my ballot took no time at all, I even made a point to split my ticket, voting for female candidates when I crossed over from my party line.

I left the polls at 6:07 AM and made it to Freedom of Expresso by 6:14 AM, enough time for a cuppa and a leisurely seven minutes taking in the local color.

A man in glasses sporting a Howie Mandel hair cut gave me a glance as he looked up from his paper.

He wore green scrubs and sat at a tall two top.

A woman waltzed in and love slapped him on the head.

"Good morning, you".

Slap.

Obviously friends who shared a cuppa in the wee hours before today.

No one asked me about the election until I got on the bus and the driver asked.

I had kept my "I voted" sticker in my pocket to put on my shirt at work.

He didn't sound too happy about the current regime in power.

"Fire them all.

No more incumbents".

I always admire political emotion, bravely expressed.

We are slowing down, exiting the expressway at the ramp by Upstate Hospital.

We are six riders, all drinking coffee, all but myself listening to headphones.

Really.

I like ambient sound.

We actually have a passenger to stop off at the hospital station, named after a pioneering doctor, Sarah Loguen Fraser, daughter of a leading abolitionist.

I'm going to shoot for two or three bagels baked in a wood fire between buses, great American bread for a guy who got up early to exercise an...

Have absolutely no idea how this place gets as many stars as it does. Walked in and immediately smells super musty. Was going to turn around but decided to give it a shot. Walk in, no introduction from barista, had no idea where the menu was. Then realized it was in two pieces of paper, all while the barista was just starting at us not saying a word. Then we had to engage and start the conversation. Barista was so quiet super hard to hear. Decided to just keep ordering. Then I get my decaf coffee and wasn't the best. But I drank it anyways and get near the bottom and it's loaded with grounds. My son's smoothie has two giant chunks of ice not even blended. Was just a horrible experience. Would not recommend. The only positive about the place is that it might be the only coffee spot around without rainbow flags plastered...

Nicely decorated cafe with a cozy vibe. Unfortunately our visit for two drinks had numerous mishaps… my half sweet peppermint latte was given to me in a small cup when I asked and paid for a medium. It was fixed when I brought it up to the barista The latte was way too sweet and I had to ask for extra brewed coffee to be poured in. The latte also costed $7.38 which I found overpriced. My fiancés double Americano had no coffee flavour whatsoever and was essentially browned tinged hot water I was charged for a mini chocolate square that I never asked for (I brought it up to staff and they did apologize. I ended up also taking a chocolate because I had paid for it but it still wasnt something I ordered…

All in all, I would not visit here again due to the...