I love stuff like this.

Up until a few months ago, Dunn Bros was at the bottom of the coffee rung for me. Like any other good citizen who cares even a little about sustainability, I tried to hit local when I could, and Starbucks when I was weak (I can't help it! I am a sucker for lifestyle marketing. And I want that green mermaid logo to define my fancy life). And Dunn Bros coffee was always too dark and strong for my delicate palate and sweet-like-a-rose mouth.

But now that I live in a place where chains are plentiful and local is hard to find (I moved here for love!), I found myself checking out the local Dunn Bros one day while on a quest for a change of environment and strong wi-fi. And while this particular Dunn Bros was located in a strip mall (why does that seem to hurt my soul so much? Even when Quixotic Coffee, the local of local, was in a strip mall in Highland Park, I had a hard time with it. And I'm not even that precious about malls and suburbs and stuff - I prefer to be urban, but suburbs definitely have their charms, too) I was really surprised by the drive to make it feel like the neighborhood coffee shop. They had live music and book readings and the baristas were nice and seemed to remember people. And I found a coffee drink I liked, and their membership program is great. Caribou, you could take a page from their book. Starbucks, go fuck yourselves and your "We reward loyal customers! Wait, we decided to stop doing that now."

And then Dunn Bros does something like this, where not only do you get to score a FREE CANDY BAR (which I can't even eat, but still - FREE CANDY BAR!), but you're helping to support PACER'S, which is just so awesome. Anything that involves coffee and charity is a-okay in my book, and I'll be first in line to give my dollars and a "what's up" to it. And then if it also involves free chocolate-covered candy stuffs? Holy shit, everybody.

So yeah. I'm not getting paid to tell you this (although...Dunn Bros...if you want to pay me to say it...I mean...I'm open to talk about it with you, if you want...), but I think y'alls should try to hit your local Dunn Bros tomorrow, grab a beverage, stuff your face with your free Nut Goodie, and then feel real, real good about the good you're doin'.

I could try to bully you into it, but that would defeat the purpose a little bit this time, right?