France, Europe, Grand Salon from the Hôtel de la Bouëxière, 1733–37, wood, paint, plaster, gilt, marble, iron, Gift of the Groves Foundation, 83.147

Steven Topik: Coffee, Tea & Chocolate and the Invention of Nightlife in Europe

Coffee shops first opened in Europe in the mid 1600s and early 1700s, just as a vibrant nightlife started to emerge in urban centers like Paris, London, and Vienna. Coincidence? Maybe not. When coffee arrived in Europe, it was seen not only as a wonder drug that boosted productivity, but also as a key ingredient to socializing, linked with Turkish culture and Middle Eastern courtly elegance.

In this talk, Steven Topik offers a view on the history of coffee—and other imported stimulants—in early-modern Europe. He will chart coffee’s travels from its origins in Yemen, through the Ottoman Empire, to Europe, focusing on France. This talk relates to “Up All Night in the 18th Century,” a “Living Rooms” installation in Mia’s Grand Salon that considers the emergence of nightlife in Europe during the 1700s.

The talk will be followed by a coffee and chocolate tasting in the Regis Fountain Court.

Steven C. Topik is professor of history at the University of California, Irvine, and a leading expert on the history of coffee. His current project is a publication exploring the world history of coffee from 1500 to the present.

Generous support provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and donors at the 2014 Mia Gala.

$10; $5 My Mia members, free for Decorative Arts, Textiles & Sculpture Affinity Group members

To register, call 612.870.6323 or reserve online.

_{France, Europe, Grand Salon from the Hôtel de la Bouëxière, 1733–37, wood, paint, plaster, gilt, marble, iron, Gift of the Groves Foundation, 83.147}