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Panera's a good choice but between about 11AM and 2PM they're really packed with people standing around holding food waiting for tables to open up. If you're taking up a table just to use your computer I suspect you'll make enemies of the employees pretty fast. Outside the lunch rush it would work, though.
They don't seem to mind...at least in my experience. I have also worked from pubs and ordered a pint or two while doing so. Not sure what your field of work is or what hours you plan to work until but may be a good late afternoon option. Compass Rose in N Raleigh is a great place to do that as well as LBC. Ponysaurus in Durham can also work. I used all of those a lot in my previous job as a change of scenery when I knew I'd be working late.
Libraries are good bets. Also parks can be nice if the weather is.Truth be told though my favorite place to work from is my couch with a tv show on in the background.
Library is your best bet, if you know when you need to make a conference call book one of the small rooms. I used one last year when studying for a test, it was no problem to walk in and ask for one at West Regional.
I cannot stand when I am at Panera and some schmo is taking up a table that they've been nursing a re-fillable soda at for hours while people who actually paid for several meals are waiting for a table. McDonald's is a much better choice since there are rarely people waiting around for a table. It makes me crazy that Panera lets this happen.
The various libraries do have rooms for rent, but according to the Meeting/Study Room policy they frown upon using them for "commercial" use. Also, the small study rooms are limited to an hour at a time.
Maybe I'm weird, but when I was able to work remotely, one of the joys was being able to stay at home and work in my jammies. I don't get the whole thing of leaving the house to work alone in some public place.
Maybe I'm weird, but when I was able to work remotely, one of the joys was being able to stay at home and work in my jammies. I don't get the whole thing of leaving the house to work alone in some public place.
I'd prefer to be home - but I have young kids. They're home every so often and it is pure and utter chaos. That's putting it nicely.
I've worked from home for years. Usually, I'm perfectly happy and productive from my home office, but it can be isolating especially when you live alone. Sometimes it's just nice to get out in the world...even if it's to work.
Sometimes, I even have co-workers/friends who also work remotely come over to work or I go to their home. It's just enough to be "social" but not distracting.
I also like the locally owned coffee shops like Sola in N Raleigh (lots of options besides coffee) and the public libraries.
I cannot stand when I am at Panera and some schmo is taking up a table that they've been nursing a re-fillable soda at for hours while people who actually paid for several meals are waiting for a table.
I was trying to be a bit more subtle about it... but yeah what Twingles said. Especially when someone is taking up a whole 4 person table while I'm corralling my kids and balancing my food on a tray. Makes me want to dump my soup on their laptop.
After about 1:30 in the afternoon it's a great place to work, but during the lunch rush don't be "that guy."
I've also thrown around the idea of starting some sort of office "co-op", where you rent a small office (or sublease), get a bunch of people together to pay a monthly fee to cover rent, utilities, internet, etc, and the days get divvied up among the members.
Sort of like co-working, but without so many people, and without the social and networking aspect. Rent an office for $500/mo, get five people to contribute $150/mo, and everyone gets one day a week or something like that. Less expensive than co-working, and you get your own space.
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