A $3 orange mocha with an extra shot of espresso and a dollop of friendly service is all part of Travonna’s Monday Mocha Madness.
Travonna Coffee House at 1195 N. High St., offers this plus other specials each day of the week. They range from drink specials to benefit events that bring the Short North community together, and just like the rest of the Short North establishments, Travonna tries to be inviting to all.
“Anybody of any age or any walk of life or culture feels comfortable here,” said Russ Hagemeyer, Travonna manager. “We decided we were going to be very open, and we wanted everyone to feel welcome who walked through the doors.”
Just like the Parisian coffee shops of old that served as the centers of cultural debate, Travonna attempts to create a social scene conducive to the ecclectic minds of Ohio State students. And it doesn’t hurt that they have free wireless internet.
Travonna is close to campus yet offers something different from campus coffee houses: extended hours. The house stays open until 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
“We close early on Fridays and Saturdays,” Hagemeyer said. “There is a method to our madness — we just cannot compete with the bars.”
Artists can compete for recognition at Travonna, however, whether it’s by promoting their musical talents on open mic night, sharing original poetry on Wednesdays or displaying their art creations on the walls of the coffee shop.
Artists looking for an inviting place to perform can schedule time on the Travonna Web site, travonnacoffee.com.
Various local artists use Travonna as an exhibit space and gallery. Almost all of the artwork on the walls is for sale.
“By the way we open our walls to the local artists, we promote a lot of local art in the community as far as print art or music and poetry with our different [theme] nights,” Hagemeyer said.
Kristen Brown is one of the artists who displays paintings at Travonna.
“I met a couple of the artists [at Travonna] and I really enjoy meeting artists,” she said. “The atmosphere is great and there’s a lot of diversity too.”
She said she tries to “stay upbeat and be happy … by painting with bright colors and using collage. It just keeps me happy and inspires other people.”
People have been inspired to give back to the community as well.
Travonna held a benefit for Haiti and successfully raised more than $1,100 for the American Red Cross Association and an orphanage in Haiti called Destiny Village.
“We had music and poetry and a silent art auction, and everyone really pulled together and came through,” Hagemeyer said. “It was really kind of choking me up a couple times … seeing how people were just emptying their pockets to give. It was a good feeling, just incredible.”
Their next event “Lattes and Love Songs” is Sunday at 7 p.m.
