Years ago in Santa Cruz, I worked nights and my wife worked days. We home-schooled, so I got to spend lots of time with the girls when they were young.

One of our favorite things to do was to head downtown to a funky old coffee joint called the Jahva House. It was in a turn-of-the-century machine shop with huge bay doors that opened onto the street and had a rear maze of gardens with planters made from old bathtubs, toilets and other porcelain objects. Local artists displayed their works.

It made a great classroom for Dad’s favorite subjects: history, English and art. Sometimes we’d spend all morning there, reading and talking and people watching. We’d get coffee and tea and a pastry or two. And the management didn’t mind if the kids ran off some energy in the garden.

On the walk downtown we’d sing songs. We’d bring storybooks and chapter books and read to our hearts’ content. And when we tired of reading, I’d tell stories, mostly family anecdotes.

Even today, though the girls are older and we no longer home-schooled, we sometimes head out to a coffee shop. Only now it’s a lesson in negotiation: Emma loves Starbucks for the scones, while Leah still likes the ambience of an independent cafe.

But the point is spending time together for the sheer joy of hanging out. Try an afternoon out with the kids here:

• Village Books (top-floor cafe), 1200 11th St.
• Book Fair, above Village Books at 1200 11th St.
• Starbucks in Sehome Village.