Had a fun lunch today with a friend who introduced me to Appleton's outstanding Copper Rock Coffee Shop, a pleasant, warm, and exciting little coffee shop that came to town two years ago. It's at 210 W. College Ave., not far from the Copperleaf Hotel. Copper Rock's young owner, Bill Heiges, explains that the two are unrelated, and that the Copper Rock was here first. Bill is from Colorado, bringing the copper rock theme from the Rockies.

I had a great minestrone soup and cinnamon scone for lunch. They have a good selection of sandwiches, soups, salads, and desserts. I like the mix of people there and really enjoyed the setting (warm brick, interesting architecture, pleasant copper touches). They are open at night as well. I expect to be back.