The Blazer’s Edge Best Things Ever Bracket rolls on today as the Sweet Sixteen gets narrowed down even further. For those new to the process, over the last couple of weeks we’ve been discussing the merits and general coolness of 64 generally-interesting items, chosen fairly randomly and seeded into a March Madness-like tournament. Each day we post two articles, each with a choice between two of the entrants. You vote for one and explain your reasoning in the comments section. The winners advance
until we’ve crowned a Best Thing Ever for 2026. It’s our way of passing time during the slow NBA offseason.
This post gives you a choice between Coffee Shops and Toast.
Whether it’s multinational corporations or your mom-and-pop corner hangout, coffee shops have become a staple of American communities. You get a jolt of caffeine, maybe some sweetness alongside, and you can do some meet cutes or work on that long-dormant screenplay besides! You can’t drive three blocks in most American cities without finding a coffee shop nowadays, testament to their popularity.
On the other hand, toast is a go-to snack, with butter, jelly, honey, avocado, egg, or almost anything else you want. Take a slice of bread, heat it for a minute, and you’re crunching your way to satisfaction. It doesn’t need much more explanation than that: simple, reliable, good.
What will your vote be? The Elite Eight waits for either Coffee Shops or Toast. Share your nominee and explanations in the comments section below!
