Where 2 WiFi

By Kate Hanley

IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, commune with your neighbors, and get some work done, (or read the full issue of The Hill!), there's no shortage of places in the neighborhood to enjoy wireless access to the Internet. At these cafés, diners, and restaurants, you'll find freelancers working furiously, moms checking email while babies nap in their strollers, entrepreneurs holding meetings, and friends gabbing over lattes and laptops. With so many options to choose from (and there are likely more: if your favorite spot isn't listed here, write us a letter and we'll add it to the version on our website), you could hit a new spot every day for more than two weeks with no repeats. So go forth and Facebook.

Tillie's
248 Dekalb Ave (between Clermont Ave & Vanderbilt Ave), (718) 783-6140
Highlights: Neighborhood institution, high social factor, open until 10pm (you won't be able to plug in, however)
Downside: Strict no-plug-in policy
Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat, Sun: 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Smooch
264 Carlton Ave (between Dekalb Ave & Willoughby Ave), (718) 624-4075
Highlights: Unbelievable veggie burger, homey vibe, health- and environment-conscious menu
Downside: Internet access costs $1
Hours: Wed-Sun: 7:30 a.m. -11 p.m. Mon-Tues: 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

Catherine's Caffe
184 Dekalb Ave (between Cumberland St & Washington Park), (718) 858-3712
Highlights: Tasty Czech food, great service, somewhat undiscovered
Downside: Only a couple tables have access to a plug
Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. every day.

General Greene
229 Dekalb Ave (between Adelphi St & Clermont Ave), (718) 222-1510
Highlights: Chocolate chip cookies, smoked trout melt, open at 7 am
Downside: Once dinnertime approaches, you're encouraged to move along
Hours: Weekdays 7 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Bittersweet
180 Dekalb Ave (between Carlton Ave & Cumberland St), (718) 852-2556
Highlights: Balthazar pastries, ice cream, strong coffee
Downside: Tiny space fills up quickly
Hours: Weekdays 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; weekends 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

Madiba Restaurant
195 Dekalb Ave (between Adelphi St & Carlton Ave), (718) 855-9190
Highlights: Free coffee and wifi with any order during the day on Monday-Friday
Downside: Service can be slow
Hours: Mon-Thu 10 a.m.-12 a.m.; Fri 10 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sat 10:30 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m.-12 a.m.

Bidonville Coffee & Tea
47 Willoughby Ave (between Adelphi St & Clermont Ave), (718) 855-4515
Highlights: Quiet, off the beaten path, Fair Trade coffee
Downsides: Cozy space = limited seating
Hours: Mon-Fri 7a.m. -7 p.m.; Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Connecticut Muffin
423 Myrtle Ave (between Clinton Ave & Waverly Ave), (718) 935-0087, and
59 Lafayette Avenue, (718) 254-9530
Highlights: Unpretentious, good iced coffee, reasonable prices
Downsides: Little ambiance
Hours: Mon-Sat: 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun: 6 a.m.-9 p.m.

Clinton Hill Public Library
380 Washington Ave (between Lafayette Ave and Greene Ave), (718) 398-8713
Highlights: Big tables, plenty of research materials on hand, staff is extremely helpful
Downsides: Can feel like computing on a crowded subway car
Hours: Mon 1-8 p.m.; Tue-Wed 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thur 1-6 p.m.; Fri 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Sunday.

Walt Whitman Public Library
93 St. Edwards Street (between Myrtle and Park), (718) 935-0244
Highlights: Beautiful, historic building on strangely grand street in the middle of the Walt Whitman houses. Nice staff
Downsides: Can get pretty noisy when the school next door lets out
Hours: Mon-Tue 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Wed 1-8 p.m.; Thur 1-6 p.m.; Fri 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Sunday

Rustik Tavern
471 Dekalb Avenue (between Kent Ave and Franklin Ave), (347) 406-9700
Highlights: Big patio area and wood-burning fireplace
Downside: Although I haven't computed there, it is a bar (with pub food), could be tough to concentrate
Hours: Sat. 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-12 a.m.; Mon-Wed 4 p.m.-12 a.m.; Thur 4 p.m.-1 a.m.; Friday 4 p.m.-2 a.m.

Olea
171 Lafayette Avenue (between Adelphi and Clermont), (718) 643-7003
Highlights: Big windows and large plants almost make it feel like you're working outside (without the bugs)
Downside: Only one power outlet in the dining room, you might have to fight off other computer users
Hours: Sun-Thu 10 a.m.-11 p.m.;
Fri-Sat 10 a.m.-12 a.m.

Outpost Café
1014 Fulton St (between Downing St & Grand Ave), (718) 636-1260
Highlights: Attractive baristas; lots of power outlets; back garden
Downside: Can get crowded, thus loud
Hours: Weekdays 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; weekends 9 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

Desserts by Michael Allen
1015 Fulton Street (between Downing St & Grand Ave), (718) 230-3360
Highlights: Friendly staff, the financiers, the macaroons, the paninis--OK, all the food is phenomenal
Downside: Only three tables, two of them tall bar tables with stools, not comfortable for the long haul
Hours: Tues-Fri 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Mondays.

Square Root Café
584 Myrtle Ave (at Classon Ave)
(718) 230-7077
Highlights: Tons of natural light, a couch and toys available to keep all ages and temperaments happy while you compute
Downside: Somewhat of a shlep, depending of course on where you're coming from.
Hours: 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. every day.

Zaytoons
472 Myrtle Ave (between Hall St & Washington Ave), (718) 623-5522
Highlights: The $5 falafel and 50¢ pita
Downside: Feels a little weird to Wifi in a falafel joint
Hours: Mon-Thu 12 p.m.-10:30 p.m.; Fri-Sat 12 p.m.-11:30 p.m.; Sun 12 p.m.-10 p.m.

Pillow Café
505 Myrtle Ave (between Grand Ave & Ryerson St), (718) 246-2711
Highlights: Great sandwiches, plenty of beverages besides coffee (including hot chocolate, hot ginger tea, and smoothies) lots of seating options
Downside: Plug-in policy is unclear and subject to change
Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sat, Sun: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Maggie Brown
455 Myrtle Avenue (between Washington Ave & Waverly Ave), (718) 643-7001
Highlights: Funky ambience, hearty food (for fueling major computing projects), and, if you're lucky‚ booths
Downside: Hearty food promotes sleepiness
Hours: Sun-Thur: 10 a.m.-midnight. Fri-Sat: 10 a.m.-1 a.m.

Anima
458 Myrtle Ave (between Washington Ave & Waverly Ave), (718) 422-1122
Highlights: Lots of sunlight, attentive service, great soundtrack
Downside: Somewhat uncomfortable chairs
Hours: Mon-Wed 11:30 a.m.–12 a.m.; Thu-Fri 11:30 a.m.–2 a.m.; Sat 10:30 a.m.–2 a.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

--Kate Hanley lives and works at the Graham Home for Old Ladies, except when she's at Smooch.