Not For Tourists Praises Mugshots!

It s not very often that we ll wax poetic about a sandwich, but this one is worth it. Smoked turkey, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, onions, and barbeque sauce on ciabatta bread—we don t know who came up with that combo, but we re darn grateful to whoever it was. Okay, as far as we can tell, none of those ingredients have a thing to do with the sandwich s namesake, George "Machine Gun" Kelley, but it definitely packs an impressive punch for only seven bucks. Plus, throw in an extra dollar and you get a side of greens (pacify that healthy conscience of yours). But, if this particular gangster-in-sandwich-form isn t quite your style, don t worry—Mugshots offers plenty of other jailbird-themed munchables, fitting for a coffeehouse that sits across the street from Eastern State Penitentiary. Bonnie & Clyde are on hand for turkey and ham lovers, and for you vegetarians out there, try the tomato and cheese Three Thieves. We re still sticking to our guns about the MGK as the top of the heap, though. With apologies for the horrid pun.

Ok, it's not really called "mocha and a movie," but that's how we think of it. Mugshots' "Movies on the BIG SHEET" events are exactly what they sound like: every Monday evening at 7 pm, the coffeeshop staff hangs a giant bedsheet in the corner and uses it as a projection screen. The Ritz it ain't, but a tasty coffee and a muffin is a better (and cheaper) snack than that $3 diet soda and $6 popcorn. Flicks vary with the season, the political mood, and the suggestions of customers; titles range from documentaries to Bond films. Often the films serve as a backdrop to low-key conversation—quiet enough so that you can enjoy the movie if you want to, engaging enough to provide alternative entertainment if you find a scene particularly boring. Best of all, you can skip the sticky floors and irritating teenagers yakking on their cell phones that seem to come with the price of admission at the big movie theaters. Obviously, previews are also not on the table. But neither are commercials!

These days it’s hard to get a good cup of coffee without a healthy serving of philosophy, but at Mugshots it’s easy to get behind their ideals of fair trade and commitment to the community. The fair-trade coffee is delicious and food made with locally grown ingredients wholesome, with a menu ranging from pastries to bagel sandwiches and wraps. My favorite is the Capone, with turkey, fresh avocado and bacon, and named after the famous mobster who did a brief stint at the Eastern State Penitentiary across the street. If you’re not a coffee fan, try one of the fresh fruit smoothies. Come out every Monday for Movies on the BIG Screen (on the 13th, “A Pyromaniac’s Love Story”) and every 1st and 3rd Tuesday for a musical Open Mic night. The rotating art is generally strong, and the atmosphere is congenial. Watch out for the one-hour limit on tables during busy times.