It’s 8:15 A.M., and I’m enjoying my morning coffee while typing to my favorite friends. I’m siting in To Bean or Not to Bean (2Bean), an internet café in Bethany Beach, Delaware. 2Bean is the only café in town offering both wired and wireless internet access, and it’s a comfortable respite from the morning humidity and the afternoon heat that comes with being near the ocean.
Couches and wing armchairs, arranged in small groups, encourage conversation and relaxation. Bookshelves present a selection of reading materials, including a book swap. I’ve picked up John Barry’s The Great Influenza, but I haven’t decided which of my books I’ll leave in return (they are all so dear!).
Light fare is served from 7:30 A.M. until 4:30 P.M. (6:00 P.M. on Fridays and Saturdays). A good selection of coffee flavors, both high-test and decaf is always on tap.
Private internet kiosks rent for $5.00 per half hour. If you bring your own wireless notebook or PDA, wi-fi access is $5.00 per three-hour session*. I signed up for a full-week’s wi-fi access for $28.50, so I can access the net 24/7, even from my car or the benches on the building’s front porch. Last week, I relied on dial-up access, and the low-bandwidth was more than annoying while I was teaching online courses.
I’m glad that I wandered into 2Bean yesterday and noticed a small note on the counter indicating that wi-fi access was available…I think that I’ll suggest to the owners that they post an advertising notice in the café’s front window.
*2Bean’s wi-fi is 802.11g, 54Mbps bandwidth
