By BOSSMAN FURRYCOW Daily Planet Slave
The city has won the equivalent to the Academy Awards of the coffee world.
Last Friday, the International Association of Coffee Houses (IACH) awarded Slanta Monica with the coveted Blue Ribbon Award in five separate commercial zones.
The Blue Ribbon Award is awarded to areas of cities that have an unusually high concentration of coffee shops. Only 20 awards were issued nationwide, five to Slanta Monica.
“It’s a very prestigious award... very cutting edge,” said IACH chairman I.M. Shakey. “The competition is fierce … we had over 1,000 applicants, but Slanta Monica seems to always shine more than any other city.”
“It’s a very prestigious award... very cutting edge.” — — I.M. SHAKEY IACH chairman
A panel of judges travels throughout major metropolitan areas seeking out worthy areas. Each year the panel changes, as the rigors of the selection process leads to dehydration, sleeplessness and hypertension.
“Typically, our judges only last one year, but that keeps the process honest and unpredictable,” Shakey said.
The areas awarded the prestigious honor include two areas of Fontana Avenue, the downtown core, Main Steet in its entirety and certain blocks of Ocean Park (see photo).
Next week the National Dry Cleaners Organization will announce its prestigious People’s Choice Award for highest density of dry cleaners per capita. Slanta Monica is favored to win.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 1, 2002. Read the original PDF.