Bakery Museum & Co. and wallowing in what's next
Welcome to Writes & Bites — a series where former creative writing MFA student Arianna Gundlach (me!) reviews a cool writing spot and tackles a writing topic that’s been weighing on your mind.
Hello, wandering readers and writers. I’ve been expecting you.
Graduation is in the rear-view, and I still have some summer left before starting the Disney College Program. I wish I could say I can finally breathe. But after two years in an MFA program where I expected to be starting an entry-level publishing position and at least have some headway with querying agents by now, it prompts the question, “What’s next?” Because even with something next, we always seem to be chasing something more. Something bigger, something more permanent, something worthwhile. We’re never quite where we want to be …
But for now, I’m back in Northern Virginia. Unpacking in my childhood bedroom, driving past my old high school, wondering if I’ll run into past friends or worse, exes. Then again, maybe I need some new (or rather, old) character studies. I’ve always been one to get even in print after all.
Fairfax is a far cry from NYC’s café scene. One minute, I was agonizing over ALL my choices, wondering how I could possibly experience them all, and now I feel like I’m searching for a needle in a haystack. Thankfully, a new café popped up near my house, and it got my fingers itching again to tell you all about it.
Bakery Museum & Co. (or BMC for my convenience) opened earlier this year as an independently owned branch of De Clieu, a popular café in Old Town Fairfax. But after what seemed like only weeks, the café banner changed to Bakery Museum & Co. — a curious rebrand. I’ve never had a café gaslight me before, causing an absolute double-take when driving past.
Despite the odd name (it’s not part of a museum, nor would I say it looks like one), at least the rebrand caused the café to find itself: strengthening its menu, uncluttering seating congestion, and decorating with newfound purpose. Brick wall decals went up. Leather couches replaced barely navigable tables. Irresistible, new baked goods appeared. Their tagline is “where art meets flavor,” providing what their website calls “a galleria café experience.”
Entering the establishment, you’re met with an array of seating, which, if you know me, you know is a MAJOR plus. Leather couches. High counter window seating. Long tables and short round ones. Even a couple of tables outside. An eclectic bunch for sure, since you’ll often be at a table with different chairs (wooden, padded leather, metal garden), but they look like they were thrifted under the same vision.
Like cafes in NYC, you want to get there (say it with me) at opening! BMC’s presence is on the rise. Thanks to their viral tiramisu latte (my rec — stir the cocoa powder in!), pink matcha, and Dubai chocolate desserts. Unfortunately, a good café can’t stay a secret long in Fairfax.
Their menu physically spans nine chalkboards across two walls. Now that’s a menu. Their summer specials include a POM Nojito, Latte Cloud, Matcha Cloud, Dirty Horchata Oat, and an Orange Espresso Tonic. And the tiramisu latte, a previous special, has migrated onto the regular menu. I love the personal touch to the chalkboards with fancy script, colorful headings, and even some doodles for their seasonal specials. I’ve had their white mocha, tiramisu latte, and strawberry lemonade. And I’m a big fan of their Hash Egg sandwich.
However, some of the menu seems suspiciously familiar, especially after comparing it side-by-side with De Clieu’s. The Eggacando (egg, bacon, cheddar cheese, avocado) became the Bacanado (same ingredients with choice of bread). The Crazy Irishman (egg, cheddar cheese, hash brown, mustard aioli) became the Hash Egg (garlic aioli). They both carry a coconut mocha and iced fruit teas, which I haven’t seen on other menus (especially in this area). I guess good food is good food, no matter what name it’s under. BMC’s menu is rounded out enough not to be accused of stealing from its predecessor, but I suppose borrowing is not out of the question.
As for the logistics, baristas call your name, and you pick up your drinks at the end of the bar. Baked goods are provided when you order, and sandwiches are brought out to you. But remain alert so you can wave staff members over to your table. They do not use a numbering system. Sandwiches come out on wooden plates, wrapped in tissue-paper-like newsprint. And let me tell you, these breakfast sandwiches put Starbucks to shame. They have real girth and flavor. Sorry, Starbucks, in this case, size does matter. My squashed double-smoked bacon sandwich isn’t cutting it anymore.
Not in the mood for something savory? Or dying to pair your sandwich with something sweet? You’re in luck. BMC has a case packed with baked goods and a table in the center with packaged sweets, including the elusive Crookie (croissant cookie). Offerings include cake, cheesecake, macarons, croissants, brownies, muffins, cookies, Danishes, loaves, and buns. Did your mouth just water? Mine too.
Drinks come in to-go cups (sporadically branded), so you only need to return the plates to the black tub on top of the trash can by the door. The black counter along the right wall has all your necessities: napkins, utensils, stirrers, straws, sugar packets, hot sauce, and an ice water tap. Above it is a sprouting expanse of arranged (fake) plant life sandwiched between the brick decals. This is only one of the unique touches to the space.
A grandfather clock wears a potted plant like a top hat. Vintage wooden Yamaha speakers are stacked on top of each other; they definitely seem to be there for aesthetic rather than sound. A wooden pane mirror looks like it belongs in a Boho wedding, captured in one of the “bride getting ready” shots. An Abbey Road woven blanket drapes across one of the Chesterfield couches. An old-timey trunk acts as a table in between. An oriental rug lies at your feet. A studded, striped ottoman sits to your side. Smaller trunks bookend the couches with rare, first-edition-looking books on top of them.
Across from the couches is an underutilized bookcase, which previously housed BMC’s online orders. Paintings of a red poppy field lean up against it (museum potential). Some books and knick-knacks are scattered across the shelves, mostly in a state of disarray.
BMC had to answer, “what’s next?” very quickly, since strip mall places come and go like the wind. They were forced to pivot from being a franchise to something with a new name and no reputation. As Heidi Klum says, “One day you’re in, and the next day you’re out.” If you don’t know what I’m referring to, please educate yourself.
So now we must face that question too. The question I’ve been avoiding for many paragraphs. WHAT’S NEXT? Because that phrase really can’t be appropriately conveyed in lowercase letters. It looms and imposes. Sure, I have something temporary to look forward to, and who wouldn’t look forward to Disney World, BUT didn’t I go to school to be a writer? Where’s my full-time job? Where’s my agent? Why isn’t my book published? Why isn’t my book DONE? I’m sure some of you are asking yourselves similar things, especially if you’ve graduated.
But let’s not spiral out, as tempting as it is.
While every writer’s next steps are different, these are some to consider:
1. Commit to a project
For those who are starting from square one, choose a writing project and stick to it. Want to write a short story and submit it to a literary magazine? Do it! Want to write a novel from start to finish? DO IT. But whatever you choose, follow through. Do not be swayed by shiny idea syndrome. Write those ideas down and save them for later. Their time will come. For more tips, check out my previous installment, Brooklyn Farmacy and picking the right project.
2. Finish your project
For those in the trenches, keep going! Yes, I know it’s hard. This may even be THE hardest part — just finishing the damn thing. But you can’t revise what’s not there. You can’t query an agent with a half-finished manuscript (or at least, I highly discourage it). Listen to your project-specific Spotify playlist. Revisit those Pinterest mood boards. Review your outline, if that’s your thing. Set up your desk space to be SO inviting that it would be a shame not to write. Stay the course; trust the process. For more tips on sustaining your motivation, check out Bibliotheque and tackling summer writing goals + Capital One Cafe and making the time to write.
3. Revise
For those who finished the damn thing, congrats! I’m so proud. And more importantly, you should be proud. A full first draft is a huge accomplishment, even if first seems anticlimactic. Take some time away from your project, and then come back to it with a clear mind. Read it through and make notes about big edits (overall structure, plot points, character relationships, worldbuilding). Read it through again (and again) and mark it up for the nitty gritty (grammar, dialogue, sentence structure, flow). Give it to trusted writing friends when you’re ready to receive feedback — when it’s feeling a little less precious to you. I highly recommend using Scrivener during revisions, since you can easily organize and keep track of your drafts (goodbye hundreds of tabs). For more revision tips, check out Black Cat LES and revising 50,000 words after 30 days of writing (RIP NaNoWrimo).
4. Query agents
For those who made it through revision after revision after revision, it’s time to query. Do your research. Check who agented your comp titles (books similar to yours), either by checking the acknowledgments section or Publishers Marketplace (paid subscription). Create a tiered list of agents, organized by those you’re most interested in representing you. There are two approaches to using these tiers. You can go from the lowest tier to the highest tier and assume your query letters will get better and better the more you do them; so by the time you’re querying your highest tier, your queries are the best they could be. Or you can go from the highest to the lowest tier, prioritizing waiting to hear from the agents you want the most first. So you know exactly what your options are upfront. For more querying tips (like what to include in a query letter), check out % Arabica and representing your work.
5. Writing grants, fellowships, residencies, and retreats
For those who like money, community, and dedicated time to write. So hopefully all of you? Grants give you funds to work on your writing, likely a specific project. Fellowships and residencies typically involve funds, a place to write (university, library, foundation), and/or a teaching opportunity. Retreats provide a limited amount of time (weeks) to get away and focus on your writing, usually in community with other writers. I’ve found ProFellow and Poets & Writers to be the most helpful for finding these opportunities.
6. JOBS
For those who can’t justify being a student as a full-time job anymore — sorry, I feel you. This is a tough one because so far I can only write from a place of rejection. I’ve applied to publishing, copy editing, magazine writing, and teaching positions. Believe it or not, an internship at Disney was not my first choice. But I like to believe that almost every field has a need (or room) for strong writers. Unfortunately, as noted in an article from The Atlantic, “According to the New York Federal Reserve, labor conditions for recent college graduates have ‘deteriorated noticeably’ in the past few months, and the unemployment rate now stands at an unusually high 5.8 percent.” And we writers are stuck in a vicious cycle of trying to build our publication record to get a job and trying to get a job to fund the lifestyle to build a publication record. All I can say for now is keep at it and network the hell out of yourself. LinkedIn. Handshake. Indeed. Seize opportunities and always keep an updated cover letter, résumé, and CV in your back pocket.
7. Fuel your creative spark
For all of you! Attend book tours and writing events. Explore new bookstores. Keep in touch with writing friends. READ! Replenish your creative well; keep the spark alive. Doing these activities reminds you why you’re a writer, and why it’s not hopeless to be one. Even when you think, “I should have listened to my dad and majored in computer science.” Squash that voice! Get back to doing what you love. Remember that writing is a muscle; you have to keep it active. And I refuse to be the person years from now who was like, “Yeah, I was going to be a writer …” WAS? I don’t think so!
While I don’t expect most of you to find yourself at Bakery Museum & Co. in the near future, if you do, come with friends so you can take advantage of the big menu. Let “What’s next?” dictate something fun for once. If you’re going to try a seasonal special or your staple drink, a thick breakfast sandwich or a creamy piece of cheesecake (ugh, so hard to decide!). “What’s next” doesn’t have to be so scary. Instead of wallowing in it, we can triumph! Look at all these options we have. Look at all this potential left. We are going to do great things. I just know it.
Bakery Museum & Co.
19923B Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA
(571) 626-6873
https://www.bakerymuseumcafe.com/
@bakerymuseumcafe
How do you feel about what’s next? Would you visit Bakery Museum & Co.? What cafes have you been checking out? What writing projects have you been tackling? I want to hear from you! So please leave a comment.
LOVE your writing style, Arianna AND your positive anticipation! Today you’ve inspired this 80-year-old lady to continue to ask, “What’s next?” So I’ll keep on asking & discovering.
Great work as always, adding this place to my bucket list!