The Story of the Arts

(Being a true and faithful account of the origin and founding of the justly celebrated "Here's To The Arts" cyber café in Maplewood, New Jersey).

You just can't have too much of the Arts … especially here at "Here's To The Arts," the owners is named Art. For those who may be interested, and for those bored enough to read this, we proudly present this brief history of "Here's To The Arts" to fill up what would otherwise be a blank screen. We don't know about you, but we feel mildly silly whenever we're caught staring at a blank screen.

As everyone knows, the ancient Romans broke learning into two parts, the aptly named trivium, and the somewhat less well remembered quadrivium. These were collectively known as "The Seven Arts." While the Romans had arts, however, they didn't have coffee, so they lacked cafés. (All authorities agree that the first café opened in Constantinople in 1475, or 1550, or maybe 1554, or in London in 1652, or perhaps Paris in 1672).

In 1957, Gilbert Seldes, a noted critic, wrote The Seven Lively Arts. Art noticed this, and, being a pretty lively Art himself, resolved to take advantage of such a swell name. Certainly café called "The Seven Lively Art" sounded weird. So Art felt that a tribute to the arts was quite important hence "Here's To the Arts."

Art felt that in a town such as Maplewood, the one thing that was missing was a place where Art could meet and cater to the vast array of performing and visual ARTists that are local; so Art decided to open a performers' café, if only to take advantage of his name (besides that "Here's to the Willies" just doesn't have the right "ring". This café would be a convivial sort of place, brimming with good cheer and internet access … although where the thought of internet access in 1967 is something of a mystery. But more importantly, Art also wanted a place where patrons of the ARTs could get together, enjoy each other's company and some swell entertainment, and spend a few bucks in the process … thus confirming their status as "patrons of the Arts."

It was a sure thing; an idea whose time had arrived. Unfortunately, nothing was done about it for thirty-nine years.

So, effective around January 1, 2006 Art will take great delight in welcoming you to "Here's To The Arts." We plan on providing eclectic cuisine delights subsequent to our "Grand Opening", however, until our official Grand Opening we will continue to provide gourmet meals catered by a variety of local restaurants.

Art would like to thank his lovely wife, Willie, for her remarkable forbearance and unwavering support. She is so supportive, that she even wrote the previous sentence.   In case you were wondering Willie is married to Art and Art is, naturally, married to Willie.