The day I visited Bauhaus Books and Coffee was a day of sun breaks, those glaringly bright phenomena that fortunately aren't very common in Seattle in the winter. That's why I chose to go exploring in the late afternoon, when the shadows are diffuse and the colors sharpen. It's a great time for photography, romance, striking dramatic poses, and drinking cappuccino. For being on a southeast corner -- i.e. with north- and west-facing windows -- Bauhaus is certainly a bright place in the late afternoon. But what a wonderfully congenial place it is. When I first walked in there was a mere scattering of patrons; after another half hour the place had fleshed out to a moderate crowd, the vintage Bowie on the sound system setting the mood; I felt almost as if I were at a party. | ![]() |