Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Warm weather, for whatever reason, has the tendency to encourage me to go check out things in town that have been around for a while but that I haven't made it into. In the past week, that's meant visits to three Routt County businesses that aren't exactly new - one has been open for 1 1/2 years, the second has been serving food for about a year, the third opened its doors at the beginning of April - but that offer new experiences to anyone who hasn't stopped in:

¤ GGs Coffee Shop, Hayden: The perfect place to drink a $1 cup of medium roast coffee and use free wireless Internet access to get some writing done, GGs was relatively quiet when I was there Thursday. With a collection of comfortable furniture, tables roomy enough to use as a temporary desk and the smell of ham-and-cheese paninis in the air, the place is welcoming to regulars and to anyone passing through.

¤ Geeks Garage, above Cellar Liquors in downtown Steamboat Springs: After hearing a few recommendations from co-workers and talking about the business's new menu with Geeks Garage and Cellar Liquors co-owner Lori Bourgeois last week, I went to the upstairs Lincoln Avenue computer cafe and lunch spot Wednesday. The short menu features about half a dozen sandwiches - on Wednesday, that list included a french dip, grilled roast beef and turkey with avocado and chipotle bacon mayonnaise - and a couple of salads. The Monte Cristo sandwich I ordered melted deli ham, Swiss cheese and chunky jam together on grilled bread; for $7, it came with a choice of carrots, grapes or chips. Tag on a Coke, and the total bill was less than $10. That kind of price tag is a rarity in Steamboat, and the one-woman restaurant operation reminded me of a sandwich shop I managed in college. Definitely worth a return trip.

¤ The Deep Steep, downstairs in Old Town Square, Steamboat: This seller of high-end dry teas opened April 6 on the bottom level of Old Town Square. The ladies of the Artists' Gallery of Steamboat encouraged a visit as they talked up a pre-Mother's Day high tea the gallery is planning for 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Inside the store, a wall of shelves holds tins of flavored black, green and other types of tea. You can buy in bulk to brew at home or get a to-go cup brewed in-store. I tried the peaches and cream green tea; it had a light flavor and likely would be delicious on ice.