Kaladi Helps Weather Anchor Find His Way Home

Dave Price draws a crowd and helps a local charity
by Gina Romero

“Looking for breakfast and coffee -- will work for it...ideas? I need caffeine!”

These are words tweeted by Dave Price, who is a weather anchor for the CBS Early Show. It was a tweet that changed the course of action for many who were expecting a typical Saturday morning. Price was in Alaska as part of his second “No Way Home” journey which began on Friday, Nov. 12. His challenge is to make it back to New York from Alaska, with only $50 and a Windows Phone. That’s where Kaladi Brothers Coffee comes in.

Upon reading Price's desperate tweet for coffee, Dale Tran who is chief operating officer for Kaladi Brothers Coffee, responded with a job offer to work as a barista at New Sagaya’s Midtown Market café for a total payment of $50 and tips. Price accepted. Retweets and chatter among the local Anchorage Twitter community filled timelines causing a crowd of curious people to show up. Shanette Harper was one of those people. She learned about Price’s appearance while checking Twitter in bed.

“I actually put it in high gear getting up and dressed. I didn't want to miss a possible national story happening right here in my own home town. People always complain there's nothing going on here, I wasn't about to pass this up,” she said.

Harper said people were strategically camped out at New Sagaya waiting for Price’s arrival and some even cheered after he greeted the room. Price wasted no time working the friendly crowd. He got onto the overhead PA system and did the weather. He worked behind the counter for L’Aroma for a bit and jumped behind the bar at Kaladi Brothers Coffee. Maggie Sage has worked for Kaladi Brothers Coffee for nearly three years and said she has never experienced anything like it.

“He was shouting out drink orders instead of writing them down,” she said. “We had a bunch of blank cups.”

Still, Sage said customers had a good attitude, despite a little chaos and a line that stretched all the way to the magazine rack.

“Customers were shouting and clapping,” she said.

There was no doubt Price drew a crowd. But, people showed up for another reason. Tran made a spot decision to donate all proceeds made during Price’s appearance to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska, an organization providing adult mentors to children. Ann Hale, who is senior development officer for the local program had no plans to venture out right away Saturday morning. In fact, she was eating blueberry pancakes when the call came about Price’s appearance.

“We were thrilled to learn that Kaladi wanted to include us in this rare opportunity to be part of Dave's appearance in Anchorage and to benefit from his generosity,” she said. “I was happy to scarf down my breakfast in order to get to the cafe to meet Dave and say thanks to Dale Tran and everyone who showed up.”

Price worked a shift that lasted approximately two hours. He earned $50 plus tips for the "No Way Home" challenge and helped raise $835 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska.

“We are honored and will put the funds to matching more kids with Big Brothers and Big Sisters,” Hale said.

Price was able to get a lift from a medical air evacuation company to Washington State. Click here to follow his journey.

View a Facebook photo album of Dave Price working at Kaladi Brothers Coffee.

View video of Dave Price working the crowd at the Kaladi Brothers Coffee Midtown New Sagaya location.

kaladigina	Latest page update: made by kaladigina , Nov 15 2010, 1:45 PM EST (about this update About This Update Edited by kaladigina 1 word added view changes - complete history)
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