A Day at 'The Office'

For more and more Prospect Heights residents, getting to work no longer involves trudging out of the house and jamming onto a packed subway train headed for Downtown Brooklyn or Manhattan. Nowadays, plenty of people roll out of bed, flip on the coffee maker and head just a few feet away to their home office.

Working remotely is an increasingly common practice. But if you work from home, it's nice to get out of the house every so often and setup shop at one of the many coffee shops and restaurants in Prospect Heights that offers free internet access.

Here's a list of some of the Prospect Heights Patch staff's favorite places to stay caffeinated and hard at work throughout the day.

You can often find me at on Underhill Avenue during the day. It has great coffee and a very friendly staff. However, the food options are limited to bagels and croissants, cookies and, of course, ice cream. There's also a children's play space in the back of the shop. Depending on how hard you need to work, the children can be either a pleasant distraction or the reason you need to head somewhere else in order to be productive.

on Vanderbilt Avenue is another great place to settle in and work. It's especially enticing if you're the kind of person who likes to indulge and have a snack during the day. Their baked goods are the best in the neighborhood.

If you're just swinging by for a quick cup of coffee, it's not my favorite place to stop. The lines can be long and move a tad slowly. But if you're looking for a place to relax and get work done at your own pace, Joyce can be ideal.

Another favorite of the Prospect Heights Patch staff is Sit and Wonder, located on Washington Avenue near the corner of St. Marks Avenue. Its eclectic mix of countertops, couches and chairs gives the shop a distinctly bohemian vibe. The Internet connection can be a bit slow, but that can be a blessing in disguise. With no boss looking over your shoulder, sometimes the best way to stay productive is to get disconnected from the Web's many distractions.

If you're the kind of person who prefers to work right through lunch, on Underhill Avenue can be a great place to stay busy while you eat. Cheryl's has some of the neighborhood's best sandwiches, and although it gets busier than the average Prospect Heights eatery during lunch, they don't mind if you bring your computer and take advantage of the free wireless.

It's not the best place for caffeine addicts – they charge for coffee refills – but if one cup of Joe is all you need, Cheryl's can be a great place to get some work done.

on Vanderbilt Avenue is another place that's perfect for those looking to work while . The Mexican restaurant is often quiet during lunch, and the staff doesn't mind if you hang out after you've finished your meal. However, if you're the easily tempted type, some times it's better to head their closer to the end of the workday: Their two-for-one beer special can be hard to resist.