“Why don’t you cover ____?”

“You’re just a mouthpiece for the mayor.”

“Grobaty can’t be serious, can he?”

“What’s the point of this article?”

We want to answer these comments, truly we do. And sometimes we do, but most of the time we don’t, because let’s be honest: Facebook comments are a real crappy way to have a conversation.

But we still want to have a conversation with you. Yes you, reading this right now, you. We want to talk to you and see your face and hear your thoughts and answer your questions and hear your ideas. Like back before the internet… and yes, we get the irony that we are strictly an online publication.

Reporters get out of the office often because that’s our job after all, but we’re usually busy reporting stories, so we need to get back to the office to write.

The point is, we don’t always get a chance to talk to you in a meaningful way. So we’re coming to you—and we’re calling it Office Hours.

Approximately once each week, a reporter, columnist or editor will work remotely from a coffee shop, cafe, brewery (yes, with beer), a library or other cool joints with WiFi—Hi-lo editor Steve Lowery has already called dibs on the pool at the Renaissance Hotel.

We’re going to vary the days and times to try to be available when you are.

Once there, we’ll answer your questions to the best of our ability—”This is why we don’t cover X,” or, “We do cover X, here’s a story on it, what else do you want to see on X?” “We’re completely unaffiliated with the mayor,” “This is the point of that article,” “Who knows what the hell Grobaty is thinking?”

You can tell us story ideas, learn about how we do our jobs, see our faces, ask us questions about any story or just, you know, talk.

Like before the internet.

Here’s the schedule for the next four weeks (subject to change, like, for breaking news):

Post person	Date/Time	Location
Valerie Osier – Breaking News and Crime reporter + assorted Post people	July 18 from Noon to 4 p.m.	Beachwood BBQ & Brewing – 210 E. Third St.
Tim Grobaty and Melissa Evans – Opinions Editor and Managing Editor	July 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.	Cha for Tea – 5720 E. Seventh St.
Stephanie Rivera – Diversity and Immigration reporter	July 31 from 2 to 6 p.m.	Aguas Way – 5248 Long Beach Blvd.
Kelly Puente and Brian Addison – Senior Reporter and Columnist/Longbeachize	Aug. 6 from 2 to 6 p.m.	Bamboo Club – 3522 E. Anaheim St.
Steve Lowery and Asia Morris – Hi-lo Editor and Reporter	Aug. 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.	Downtown Rose Park Roasters – 800 Pine Ave.