The Power of Blogging, Coffee Cake, and a Dream
Let’s be honest, how many aspiring bloggers wouldn’t love a chance to hang out with, and learn from John Chow? Even if you’re a pro, you know you would have a lot to learn from him, and you know he’d tell you an evil secret or two if you had the opportunity to sit down for a coffee.
Last night, I literally had a dream about this very subject. In the dream, I was visiting my buddy John in Vancouver, for what seemed like a blogging expo. A bunch of us were heading towards John’s car, and John asked if we would like to get some coffee after the expo.
“Sure” I said. “Do you know where we can get the best coffee cake in the land?” “No” he replied. “Ahhh, but I bet you can find out, I bet you can find out where to get the best coffee cake anywhere in the world” I said. John grinned sheepishly.
Herein Lies The Power of Blogging
You’re connected to a direct source of knowledge. Way better than any Google, you have at your disposal a collective of human brains from all over the world. Sure, maybe somebody has already put together a list of whatever is it you’re looking for, but maybe not.
Chance are, if you write about a topic that is geared towards intelligent people, such as this blog (making money online), you are dealing with an audience whose combined critical thinking power can assist you in whatever it is you’re looking for.
Today you might be looking for coffee cake, tomorrow it may be topics to write about for your blog, the next day you may be the one seeking advice, and you’re amazing readers will be there to help. Among whom there are educated people, mavens, and those with high levels of expertise.
You can ask a question, create a poll, or simply ask for opinions. You might even be so evil as to offer a prize in order to encourage reader participation. Just keep one thing in mind. Your blog isn’t just you, it’s a community.
Help Us Find That Coffee Cake
Will you help John and I find the best coffee cake in your city? Let us know if you know the best spot around you in the comments below. A random comment entry will be chosen to receive a $25 amazon gift card within 1 week of today (I’m not sure if you can buy coffee cake with that).
Written for John Chow by Alex Shalman (RSS). He is a graduate student who writes passionately and extensively about communication, relationships and personal development.
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Trackbacks
- Best Coffee Cake Contest Win $25 Amazon Gift Card | My Blog Contest - December 12, 2007 at 11:14 am
- Know Good Coffee Cake? Win a $25 Amazon Voucher - Blog Contests, Link Contests, Any Contests - December 14, 2007 at 1:41 am
- Alex Shalman . com » Blog Archive » Three Ways Dreaming Can Improve Your Blogging - December 21, 2007 at 8:41 am
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I’m gonna say True Confections on Denman.
Thanks for putting in the first entry!
Mmm… coffeecake!
… and beer!
Outside of me inviting y’all over to my kitchen for coffee cake, there is a really great place near by in Plano, TX that serves cupcakes called ‘Sprinkles’ it’s not coffee cake it’s better then coffee cake.
There is a place opening up soon you guys can try here in the US. I am literally looking at places to lease or buy over at the moment ^_~
That invite sounds irresistible. Heck with the $25 I want coffee cake from Debo
My neighbor’s home. She took a baking class at the Culinary Institute of America and now she makes the most delicious dessert.
One class and she’s a world class baker? Where do I sign my girlfriend up?
she took a baking class at a culinary school in new york
Do they need any judges?
My neighbor’s home. She took a baking class at a culinary school and now she makes the best desserts.
What?
What you learned from John is being evil and that is one of the way to make money. I did dream about money but it was with my lambo and girls.
Joshua, that was a big spam of 3 post at a go..
I wasn’t spamming! It was an experiment!
Dreams about JC? Creepy.
Lol… Believe me, I know.
Well, in the Philly area I know where you DON’T want to get coffee cake…Wegmans (http://www.nbc10.com/more/14801313/detail.html)
http://www.capecodcoffeecakes.com/
Best coffee cake around. The blueberry coffee cake is the best thing I’ve ever eaten. Definitely should be in contention!
Er…strange use of all of this collective mental power…
The Fine Art Cafe
702 14th Street East
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0P7
Okay I don’t live here anymore but they have the best mocha chinos in the world! They also serve beer, soups and other dishes. When I was in school in Saskatoon the I used to charge a mocha chino from here per math tutoring session from my fellow class mates.
If you are in Saskatoon you have to check this place out.
Ben
I was really confused after reading this post. But after reading the comments afterward, I now understand that you REALLY want to know the best coffee place around (or do you?). Anyway, I honestly do not know where the best coffee cake is since I haven’t really paid attention to where I’ve eaten some. It would be really nice though if I had some right now.
Nordstrom coffee shops. (It’s a chain of department stores here in the US)
Philadelphia is famous for coffee cakes due to Tastykake, a local $250 million a year business famous for their KoffeeKake among many other products. It is not unusual for Philadelphians who relocate to get Tastykake products shipped to them or brought to them by relatives when visiting. In fact, Marvin Harrison of the Indianapolis Colts, a Philadelphia native, has five boxes of Tastykakes shipped from Philadelphia to Indianapolis weekly.
More facts from Wikipedia:
Tastykake has been a long time sponsor of the Philadelphia Phillies broadcasts. Hall of Fame announcer Harry Kalas (2002 Ford C. Frick Award winner) always makes sure to announce that a box of fresh Tastykakes has been delivered to the booth during an inning break.
Tastykake was also a sponsor of the Philadelphia Flyers hockey broadcasts. During the Stanley Cup years of the mid-1970’s, the goal call of the late Hall of Fame announcer Gene Hart was, “He shoots, he scores – for a case of Tastykakes!” A case of Tastykakes was awarded to each Flyers player who scored a goal. In the early 2000s, a case of Tastykake was awarded to the first Flyers player to score a goal in each game.
I didn’t realize they were regional…everyone doesn’t know about Tastykake??
cake house down street in laguna beach,ca. tastes so damn good. you can CHOW that down .
Ah, now I know. Alex [and CAR] has provided a valuable service to me already!
My guess was going to be the local grocery store. Guess I’d better check it out!
Thanks for the tip.
Pam Hoffman
http://seminarlist.blogspot.com
This is an excellent concept. If I had to name a place in my hometown (Richmond, Va.) I would say that its a little place called “Crossroads” Its excellent. And anyone visiting RVA should go eat the best coffee cake in the world!
Ha – I don’t drink coffee
and I can hardly imagine anyone here will come in Iasi, Romania, to drink a coffee 
…
anyway, it’s quite strange to have a dream with/about john chow, isn’t it?
A passionate admirer i guess.
Wow.
What a ridiculously weird post.
very interesting article, i am much learn from you john.
Starbucks – Phuket, Thailand
And intelligent people on this blog? Whatever…
Maxims bakery!
http://myblogcontest.com/best-coffee-cake-contest-win-25-amazon-gift-card/
Best in Virginia? UKROP’S Market and Bakery, a local family-owned grocery. They make the best birthday cakes too!
Three Beans Coffee in Haddonfield, NJ.
The cake itself is wonderful, and the crumb topping has to be as thick as the slice of cake itself. It’s wonderful!
Deborah is the chosen winner for this contest. I will be contacting Deborah to give her a $25 Amazon certificate or paypal equivalent.
Thank you for playing everyone!
Wow, you can make John grin sheepishly. I would like to see a picture of that.
If you happen to drop by Singapore, try the cakes at Michelangelo’s. They are all very nice.
Of course you can buy coffee cake with that! Didn’t you hear of the guy who managed to parlay a paperclip into a house through repeated trading up?
Paperclip for a fish pen, fish pen for some other gadget, that gadget for a small generator, the generator for a skidoo and so on. Craigslist makes it simple. Bring on that gift card baby and I’ll get the ball rolling
Nice post Alex! Best coffeecake? I second the motion Deborah’s Three Beans Coffee in New Jersey
good suggestions.
In few years time, when I’ll have loads of money and I’ll travel around the world, I’ll certainly have a piece of cake in these places. [self-slap - now stop dreaming and get back to work]
my own house..
my mom is damn good at that??
so am I enrolled?
I could use that!
The nearest coffee shop to my house just serves muffins, and not very good ones at that. I make an excellent Cinnamon Streusel coffee cake, and I serve it with really good coffee, too. You’re welcome to stop by any time
What about me can i stop by some time because we don’t have a coffe shop near out house
Hi there
I blogged about your contest here – http://www.contestbeat.com/know-good-coffee-cake-win-a-25-amazon-voucher/
All we do is write about contests in the blogosphere so hopefully we can send you a few more entries too!
Regards, Matt.
Hmmm… small midwest town… I don’t know if coffeecake even exists here. We just got a starbucks tho’ so maybe there? lol. We’re a mess, I know.
Thanks for entering me in the contest tho’!
Happy Holidays!
Best Coffee Cake in Austin comes from Upper Crust Bakery!
I actually like Corner Bakery in Dallas
Chompies in Tempe Arizona
Best in MA is my mom’s.
My grandmas house!
For me, I would have to say at “The Coffee Connection” TCC for short
Boston Coffee Cake, of course.
Boston Coffee Cake, of course
Boston Coffee Cake, of course
http://bostoncoffeecake.com/
Coffe Cale and Dream hah thats a real secret of blogging i know it now
mine would have have to be ‘’santori’s coffee house” in florala,alabama.
merry christmas all..