Signs of Life

Signs of Life is one of my favorite go-​to spots for studying and getting any work done. Not only is their seating area always well lit with bright flourescent lighting (conducive to studying and not falling asleep like at other coffee shops), there is also ample seating for larger groups that seat four or even smaller tables for just one or two persons.
The place also has an additional upstairs seating area along with an art gallery and lovely view of Mass Street. Deep into the bookstore area, you’ll also find a modest meeting place complete with conference table and chairs, free to reserve for the public.
As far as the food and drink, the coffee isn’t anything to write home about as they stick with the Kansas go-​to, PT’s Coffee. However, I do appreciate their bottomless coffee mug option for those days when I just need some extra caffeine pumped into me. They have a super secret club known as the Donkey Club (not sure why it was named this), where you give them your name and every time you order, you get credit towards your tenth purchase. I do enjoy their blueberry scones, and their biscotti dips great with the coffee – definitely try the mint chocolate! Though not advertised, if you’re in the mood for some, they also serve a bowl of hot oatmeal, just gotta ask!
On a final note, the baristas are all friendly, the place is kept clean (no bugs or flies roaming around the windows), and for all you night owls, the place is also one of the few places open late downtown to get some deep productivity in (it closes at 11pm Monday through Saturday).

Signs of life is what would normally be a great coffee shop is spoiled by sour attitudes and a pretentious atmosphere.
You have to love any coffee shop that serves PT’s coffee. Other reviews pointed towards terrible expresso drinks, and I cannot say one way or another as I got brewed. Normally PT’s has very high standards for any place serving their coffee. This is very surprising for me to hear. I may have to come back later to see one way or another. That being said the place is very clean, brightly lit and the place in very good order.
The turn off here is the attitude of the staff, specifically the bookstore side.
Unbeknownst to me, I had offended the book store clerk my stating «Pardon me, is there a restroom on this side?»
OH THE HUMANITY! The judgmental looks and the condescending response makes perfect sense right? She looked down her nose at the offensive creation that is ME and shooed me to the other side. My soul shall FOREVER torment in a pit of fire for my offensive behavior.
Couple this with the piano with a sign that basically said «Your talents are too weak to play this» and it’s easy to imagine how the world sees Christian businesses as offensive.

Goofy Christian crap of a bookstore. Limited and biased selection of books. They should just remove the minuscule science section and replace it with a prayer matt.

I really like this place. Prime real-​estate for people watching in downtown Lawrence and enjoying a wonderful cup of PT’s coffee. The only thing keeping this place from being a five-​star coffee joint is the seating. I wish it were more comfortable and spacious.

Most of my old review still stands. There are really good things about this coffee shop. I just can’t handle the terribleness of the lattes made by some but not all of the staff. They aren’t hot when they come out, and they have an overwhelming bad milk flavor. Can’t taste any other flavor but bad milk. A five dollar drink, and it tastes like bad warm milk.
Some staff retraining is really really needed on espresso drinks. Please!

Signs of Life is clean and there is plenty of space to sit. The baked goods are good and the coffee is good… when it’s brewed. Having to wait 25 minutes for a cup of coffee is unacceptable.

This is a really excellent place. It’s bright and clean and the décor is nice. It’s spacious, quiet and comfortable. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful. They host events from time to time and not just church groups.
The coffee could easily have been an afterthought but it’s actually one of the nicer shops in town.
They also have things you just aren’t going to find elsewhere, like at least three books on Lego. That’s awesome in itself.
Signs is a good example of what an independent bookstore can be.

The barista was helpful in helping me choose which ice coffee to choose. They had 3 different ways to make it. I was impressed.

Four Stars for the simple fact they serve PT’s coffee. Period, end of statement!!!
Anyhow, the coffee shop side of their business was a brilliant move. I’ve seen many people stop in and buy books, dvd’s, music, coffee, etc when their original purpose was to either frequent the coffee side or the book store side. Even though it’s labeled as a «Christian» bookstore, it’s far from that. You can find all types of books, dvd’s, etc in the store. The live piano performances add a nice touch on occasion.
Coffee is always top notch. Their baked goods are not bad nor are the other drink offerings. Be sure to sign up for their frequent coffee buyer program. They will keep track on their computer so there is no need for any type of card. You have two options on the drip coffee: Bottomless or single cup purchase. I think refills are 50 or 75 cents. Not sure. If you go with bottomless, it’s as many free refills as you like. You end paying around $ 2.80 for this option which is a great deal if you drinks lots of coffee in one sitting.
OK, here are the complaints: Please please please, add more seating upstairs and downstairs. Get rid of the sofa downstairs and upstairs and add more tables and seats. Place is cramped with very little seating. Upstairs, there is a ton of space!!! Only 4 small tables and a sofa with two love seats. The upstairs has the potential to sit this place apart from all others in Lawrence, Kansas. Yes, they have some art work and country knick-​knacks upstairs that nobody purchases or cares about. The concept of helping local artist is wonderful. But, do you want to be a coffee shop-​bookstore or a bookstore-​art gallery– coffee shop– country store? Gawd, I wish I owned the upstairs area. Potential for revenue just sitting there untapped. But who am I to suggest how a business owner utilize his/​her establishment? Just a suggestion.
The upstairs has huge windows that let in a ton of bright light that makes it virtually impossible to see a computer screen without repositioning the tables. Plus, all the track lighting and it sometimes feels like a sauna up there. Please Signs of Life, I beg you to put up some shades and turn the upstairs into a dimly lit study, gathering area and pump some music up there. You are sitting on a cash cow and I’m so jealous not to have it.
Anyhow, a really good coffee place in Lawrence and hope they stick around.

I really love to work at the Signs of Life very much. It is quiet and has a great working environment. I usually order Americano and it is okay. The chocolate banana frappé (if I remember correctly) is good.

I love Signs of Life. During the days it’s a great place for anyone to hang out, read, have conversation, and enjoy the many drinks and baked goods! During the evenings it does it pretty busy with students, but it has soo many different areas that you can usually find a good place to sit and enjoy yourself.
I usually get the bottomless coffees and like that they track your purchases through their computer system so that you get a credit after purchasing so many drinks. It’s convenient that they keep track of this because I often forget my wallet and always have a credit or two saved up!
Atmosphere is great, tables come in a variety of sizes, but none of them are too small like many of the other local coffee shops.
Although it does have a Christian bookstore in the adjacent room, I have plenty of non-​Christian friends who love to come here because the atmosphere and coffee!

Signs of life is a great local coffee shop in the heart of downtown lawrence, KS. Great coffee roasted by PT’s on in Topeka and great friendly help. They have great books, a great feel to the place and some great art upstairs. The best thing you can get there is probably the bottomless cup or the Jumping Monkey, which is a blended coffee drink with chocolate, hazelnut, and a whole banana. Its also a great place to bring a date.

my new favorite place to study!
beautiful art gallery, perfect lighting, cushy arms chairs, endless outlets!
Not only is this a great place to study, if you want to kick back and enjoy the tunes someone is playing off the antique Steinway grand piano, you can too!
Plus, they serve some delicious local coffee AND they’re a bookstore.
I feel my seasonal affective disorder melting away :)
Um I’m going to be spending a lot of my winter here…

When you are looking for a inspirational place to have a cup of coffee or get a little work done, Signs of Life is a great destination. They use PT’s Coffee which is made right in Topeka, Kansas. They have an excellent selection of seasonal and traditional beverages such as lattes and mochas. Bottomless cups of coffee are always appreciated and this is one of the few places you can get decaf at night. I always find that funny ’cause you want a non-​caffeine option at night, not during the day, but that’s just me.
The place can get busy and most seating is small tables so it’s hard if you are looking to accommodate a large study group. During peak times the Internet can be spotty. A small «cozy’ area has a few large chairs and a couch.
Along with your coffee and other drinks, they have a variety of backed goods made locally or regionally and in particular povitica bread, the yummy Eastern European ethnic treat. They are one of the only places I’ve seen it at in Lawrence and it’s a treat not to be missed.
Staff is friendly and helpful and they don’t make you carry around a punch card: they track it all on their computer. Nice! Oh and they are a Lawrence Giveback member as well.
I’ve been upstairs to the art gallery and it’s a wonderful space and a key part of the Lawrence Art Scene. The bookstore aspect of it has a Christian focus, but they have a variety of secular books. Although it is a religious bookstore, if that’s not your thing, don’t let it get in the way. Nobody is going to preach to you there or try to convert you. Everyone is welcome here!
For obvious reasons, they are closed on Sundays.

Stopped here for just a cup of coffee but ended up staying and talking for ten minutes with the wonderful staff. Also got a muffin that was beyond delicious. Atmosphere was just okay, but overall I recommend.

If you need some extra Christian in your coffee, then this is the place for you.
I have a funny story from 2005 when I was in Lawrence for a scientific conference and I needed a place with free internet to finish writing my talk. This was the first coffee shop that I ran across with free internet so I settled in.
I began working on an EVOLUTION talk for 2+ hours before I realized I was sitting in a christian fundamentalist coffee shop as I finally heard the chorus of the song being played by the staff. It kept repeating…“Praise him, praise Jesus.”
I was then aware of the frequent looks that I was getting from the one of the other patrons… yes, I had an evolutionary biology text book in hand along with other papers spread out in the open. Oh well, deal with it my unintelligent design friend.
Coffee was good and the brewing process was not stuck in the 19^th century (unlike the beliefs of the ownership/​patrons). Plenty of tables and free internet. It also has a couple of outdoor seats too.
I’m sure you can get your «left behind» books in the other half of the store.

Signs of Life has it all! Coffee? Check! Art? Check! Books? Check! Piano? Check!
What more could you want all together in one cool little place? I like best how this store is laid out – super comfy feel, like an old fashioned library. Their book selection is a bit heavy on the religion side, along with education, and self help (it’s interesting to see what they focus on here…) Not calling themselves Christian per se, this place has the hintings of it…
They also have an ever-​changing art gallery, switching it up every couple of months or so featuring local artists. They say they want their art to be something worth talking about, something that will make you think (over coffee perhaps…) The events calendar is quite full as well, having authors drop in for book readings or free live music at night.
Haven’t had the mocha that Shannon mentioned, but will have to try it based on the awesome review!

Nice lighting; large windows. Well air-​conditioned. Good coffee (I like the Iced Café Mocha). Decent sized tables for laptops with power outlets by certain tables. Quiet clientele (at least during the day; haven’t been here in the evening yet). Music is soft and relaxing.
Good place to study or research.

I am craving their fantastic iced mochas from 1500 miles away. I used to blog about them all the time, and tell strangers in the street about what I was drinking. I miss those things.