Uptown Bill's Coffee House

Uptown Bill's Coffee House Coffee. Community. Conversation. Abilities Awareness.

How to care for your monster...'Share your activities with your monster.After all, he is almost like one of the family.I...
09/24/2026

How to care for your monster...
'Share your activities with your monster.
After all, he is almost like one of the family.
In fact, he's probably better than some of the family.
'He will like to watch horrible, mean, nasty shows on television
Let him watch the news.'

~ A popular read back in the day at Uptown Bill's (Iowa City) Open Mic. I recall Maia, Emily and I all reading excerpts from this book.

+ Author Norman Bridwell (1928-2014) is probably best known as the auhor of Clifford the Big Red Dog. Published by Scholastic.

Missing Ed Gaines this week. These would be perfect days for us to sit outside Uptown Bill's in the afternoons and enjoy...
09/24/2026

Missing Ed Gaines this week.
These would be perfect days for us to sit outside Uptown Bill's in the afternoons and enjoy early autumn.

Ed (1948-2021) had been a part of the coffee house since its founding in 2001. Before that Ed was a part of Wild Bill's, (for more than 15 years!).

He also managed a coffeeshop for a time in the International Center on the west side of the U of Iowa campus. And he managed a poster and graphics business both at Wild Bill's and later at Uptown Bill's.

Ed grew up in Burlington and originally came to Iowa City to attend the university hospital school. He was one of the people who stepped in to manage the coffeeshop at Wild Bill's right after Bill Sackter died in 1983.

Photo: Ed Gaines had a desk and computer at the back of Uptown Bill's. This photo is from 2015.

Today is the birthday of Mickey Rooney (1920-2014), the actor who played Iowan Bill Sackter in two movies, "Bill" and "B...
09/23/2026

Today is the birthday of Mickey Rooney (1920-2014), the actor who played Iowan Bill Sackter in two movies, "Bill" and "Bill On His Own." This photo was taken on the set of the second film in 1983.

Bill was the founder of Wild Bill's in Iowa City and the inspiration for Uptown Bill's Coffee House. His life and spirit helped inspire a number of other projects for individuals with disabilities in Iowa and beyond.

Included: Plain Talk Books & Coffee in Des Moines.

FROM OUR FRIENDS AT CENTRAL IOWA CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING 'September 14th-18th is Disabled Voting Rights Week. Ever...
09/16/2026

FROM OUR FRIENDS AT CENTRAL IOWA CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
'September 14th-18th is Disabled Voting Rights Week.
Every vote matters. Every voice matters. People with disabilities have the right to participate fully in our democracy.

'This week we are celebrating Disabled Voting Rights Week by raising awareness about accessible voting, voter registration, and the importance of making sure everyone has the opportunity to cast their ballot.'

Looking back: Ten years ago at the coffeehouse.Sweet Cacophony played at Uptown Bill's on this day in 2016.
08/27/2026

Looking back: Ten years ago at the coffeehouse.
Sweet Cacophony played at Uptown Bill's on this day in 2016.

Live on coffee and flowers. Try not to worry what the weather will be ~ Conversation 16/The National.
08/05/2026

Live on coffee and flowers. Try not to worry what the weather will be ~ Conversation 16/The National.

National Watermelon Day (Aug. 3). + Good day to try out all those melon jokes: 'Why are you so melon-choly' and 'You're ...
08/03/2026

National Watermelon Day (Aug. 3).
+ Good day to try out all those melon jokes: 'Why are you so melon-choly' and 'You're one in a melon.'

Photo: Coffee mug from TeeCentury See less

Coffee panda is back. He had iced coffee today.
07/31/2026

Coffee panda is back. He had iced coffee today.

Coffee mug found on Etsy.
07/30/2026

Coffee mug found on Etsy.

Have a good day.
07/26/2026

Have a good day.

Address

730 S Dubuque Street
Iowa City, IA
52240

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