I am a serious coffee drinker. It kept me awake through high school, and has kept me awake through all of my morning classes in college. I am willing to try any kind of coffee, as long as it is not from the grocery store. This is why I was so excited to try th new coffee house on the corner of Colley Avenue and Baldwin Avenue in the Ghent section of Norfolk called Elliot’s Fairgrounds (News and Coffee). The coffee house is located on the second floor of a house, across the street from Starbucks. Inside, it is a very “Ghenty” (artsy), yet comfortable atmosphere with pictures hanging on the walls, couches, tables, chairs, games, and hundreds of magazines and recent newspapers. My girlfriend Melissa and I had just eaten dinner at one of the restaurants on Colley Avenue, and I had to have a cappuccino. I found that the only bad thing about Elliot’s Fairgrounds was choosing what to get. Along with having normal coffee, cappuccino, caf‚ latte, espresso, and hot chocolate, they also have an array of uncommon coffee drinks like toffee coffee, coconut mocha, white chocolate frost, dreamsicle freeze, and frosted latte. They also offer foods like hummus or baba ganouj with pita bread, lox, bagels, soups, and an impressive assortment of mouth-watering desserts.

I ordered a caf‚ latte with soy milk (espresso and steamed soy milk) and Melissa ordered a hot chocolate, which came topped with whipped cream. I was extremely impressed because their espresso drinks come with one more shot of espresso than Starbucks and they are still a little cheaper. It was definitely one of the best cafe lattes I had ever had, second only to the ones that I make at home. Melissa also said that she had never tasted a hot chocolate so rich and wonderful. The coffee house was crowded, but had plenty of places to sit. There were also more seats outside on the deck. We sat on an extremely comfortable couch and played connect four until we were ready to leave. We have returned to Elliot’s Fairgrounds several times, receiving the same wonderful drinks and experienced the same comfortable atmosphere every time. Director of Residence Life Keith Moore also has been to Elliot’s Fairgrounds on a few occasions because it was “very relaxing.” “I had gone to Starbucks to do schoolwork, but it seemed too sterile,” said Moore. “It was too commercial and wasn’t comfortable. I went to Fairgrounds and it was very comfortable.” Moore described Elliot’s Fairgrounds as being like the coffee houses where he grew up in Western Massachusetts, after not finding many coffee houses like that in this area.

“When you think of a coffee house, you can sit and talk and feel welcomed, like a bar would be,” said Moore. “You can stay and enjoy your coffee, not just get a cup and go.” Moore is not the only person who goes to Fairgrounds to do work. Throughout the day, several businessmen and students use it for its quiet atmosphere and relaxing overall feeling. According to owner Elliot Juren, Fairgrounds’ atmosphere is not what makes it truly unique. “All of my coffees are either fair-trade or organic,” said Juren. “Fair-trade is more socially responsible because you pay more to growers, who are small farmers who grow coffee on their own land. Organic coffee is environmentally friendly, pesticide free, shade grown, and not harmful to animals.”

Juren, who is somewhat a legend around the Ghent area, started and owned the restaurant that was arguably responsible for beginning the extremely popular group of restaurants on Colley Avenue called Elliot’s. After 20 years in the restaurant business, he was ready for something new. His wife already owned the store that lies on the first floor of the house called Texture. He opened Fairgrounds in late 2001. Elliot’s Fairgrounds is a pleasant place to go for any occasion, whether you want a place to take a date after dinner, to do work, or just to get a cup of coffee. Prices are very reasonable, mostly between a little over $1 to around $5, if you want extra shots of espresso. If you have questions, the phone number is (757)-640-BUZZ (2899).

They are trying to call her a Britney wanna-be. Many compare her to a Latin Alanis Morrisette. Most dismiss the idea of more Latin crossover artists. I say “Finally!” Shakira’s latest release is the first that most people, in America at least, have heard of. Her new album “Laundry Service” is her fourth release, the first with songs written in English. Her previous albums have earned a Grammy and two Latin Grammys. But don’t assume Shakira is like the rest of our fading Latin crossover artists. She is nothing like her Latin predecessors. As a matter of fact, most of her new album doesn’t even sound much like Latin music. It’s a mix of blues, tango, rock-n-roll, Latin and disco electronics with plenty of guitars. Her new album is refreshingly different from today’s ‘they all sound alike’ pop songs. Her vocal ability is incredible as she ranges from soft to loud and sensual to angry in her expressions. She’s whiny yet strong at the same time, and it works for her.

Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, this newly crowned Latin diva started writing her own songs and music when she was only 8 years- old. At age 23, her idols include Ricky Martin, Led Zeppelin, and Lenny Kravitz. She calls herself a perfectionist, which explains the long periods of time between each album’s release. She has just recently mastered the English language and decided to expand her musical horizons. Shakira received help with Laundry Service from Latin record producer Emilio Estefan and his award winning wife Gloria Estefan. On her website, www.shakira.com, Shakira talks of friend Gloria Estefan encouraging her to do an English album. She had reservations about being compared with the trend. This is the first album by Shakira in which she allowed someone else help her write the songs and music, as she usually prefers for her music to be an independent endeavor.

The collaboration created an upbeat and sometimes emotional listen. The first single “Whenever, Wherever” has been on MTV’s Total Request Live for months now. Her sensual voice and hypnotizing hips have quickly captivated viewers. Her lyrics are also grabbing people’s attention. She has a way of using the English language like no artist before her, as she is very literate. “Whenever, Wherever” sings “lucky that my lips not only mumble/They spill kisses like a fountain/.” She offers her lover all she has. The album offers an array of musical styles. A hit from a previous album, “Ojos asi” has been translated into English and titled “Eyes like yours.” The first song, a tango-influenced “objection” is also recorded in Spanish as the last song “Tango.” There are also three other new Spanish songs including “Suerte,” the Spanish version of “Whenever, Wherever” for prior Spanish listeners of Shakira. As for the English songs, I hate to label music but it must be called alternative pop. Her style copies no one else's. The dance songs are very rhythmic and guitar-influenced while the ballads include instruments varying from Middle Eastern flutes to precussions from around the world, which is what gives her the distinctive sound she has.

In the track “Fool,” she begs the man she loves to do something to make her hate him, so she can stop loving him, admitting that only a fool would put up with his ways. And in the empowering “Underneath your clothes” she professes her profound love for a man, saying, “Underneath your clothes/there’s an endless story/There’s the man I chose/ There’s my territory/And all the things I deserve..” The only track I can do without on this album would be “Ready for the good times.” It’s a little to reminiscent of the disco era for me. My favorites are “Suerte” and “Underneath your Clothes.” Shakira’s “Laundry Service” is comprised of a variety of musical styles, and I think a lot of people will be surprised to find that they like it. I will agree that her vocal capabilities do resemble those of Alanis Morrisette, but that is the only comparison I will make. Just as with Alanis, some of her lyrics are hard to understand the first time listening, but the music grows on you. The songs are infectious, her voice is powerful, and her dance moves are hypnotizing. Bienvenidos, and enjoy a stimulating new experience.

Pink’s rise to fame was marked by R&B influenced dance-pop hits, including the famous remake of “Lady Marmalade.” Pink comes from the MTV “Total Request Live” school of young, urban-flavored commercial dance-pop (like Britney, Christina Aguilera, Mya and Destiny’s Child), but she’s left that sound behind on her second album, “M!ssundaztood.” According to a Rolling Stone interview with Pink in Oct. 2001 she said, “I am trying to make something as a follow-up to my previous album and show the world that Pink has more to offer than what you see in my videos.” Her fist album, “Can’t Take Me Home” which was released in 1999, showed Pink’s tough girl side with songs such as “There You Go,” “Most Girls,” and her first #1 hit “You Make Me Sick.” Since her 1999 debut, Pink has tried to steer clear of most of the pop personas such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. She has been true to her roots and has not let their overpowering pop culture influences stop her making her R&B soulful hits.

On her new album, we get raw dance-driven alternative rock tracks and blues-ey heartfelt songs. And despite the noticeable shift in sound, it comes off more as a mixture of styles than a sudden switch. There’s still some R&B/dance-pop influence for sure, but the tracks have a more matured, classic sound, not for a flashy sugarcoating. It was quite a bold move to make her new album without the aid of hit-masters Babyface and L.A. Reid (who produced her previous album “Can’t Take Me Home,” as well as TLC’s “Fanmail”), but Pink pulls it off with flying colors. She co-wrote most of the album with produced Dallas Austin (whose credits include working with Boyz II Men, Paula Abdul, and Madonna) and songwriter Linda Perry of the 4 Non Blondes. The album also features rockers Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi. There are plenty of upbeat guitar-driven dance-pop tracks, but my favorites are actually the ballads. “Family Portrait,” “Eventually,” and “Gone to California” reveals Pink’s rawest and most honest emotions, while her voice is better sounding than ever: powerful and sultry yet over-sung. Pink’s heart is truly in the music here, and her honest determination to express herself shines a welcoming new light on her talents as a songwriter.

It seems Pink has learned to play a little Alicia Keys and had a bit of Fiona Apple to eat, because she’s clearly no Destiny’s Child. Pink has proven herself to be a diva with no limits. With her new album, she uses her rocky family life as a guideline for most of the songs she wrote. According to Pink’s latest MTV interview, she said, “I have no regrets for anything I have written. I am just trying to open my life to my fans and have them share my world and everything I have to offer.” This album is a must-have in your own music library. If you question me, watch Pink’s video, “Get This Party Started” on MTV and see how right I am. The video shows her artistic ability which is seen on this album. On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate Pink’s “M!ssundaztood” a 9 because she not only breaks the barrier by altering her sound, but she also proves herself to be a woman with a lot of heart and soul to survive today’s music.