Lust List 2015: Charles: Barista, Dancing Goats at PCM

? ?Eric Cash?

Age: 28

Relationship Status: Single

Charles emanates immediate warmth with his big, bona fide smile. He moves with ease both behind the counter at Ponce City Market’s Dancing Goats Coffee Bar and on the dance floor. Despite his impressive to-do list, which includes law school, he knows the positive power of spending a day in bed with Netflix, snacks, and potentially a buddy. Sounds good, right, ladies? He’s currently unattached. Suuup, Charles?

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HIS DATING GAME

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Some guys — and this is true for me — some guys can’t help themselves approaching women. Like, this girl is gorgeous. There’s this connection and you’re so chickenshit, you can’t talk to her. I just beat myself up so much. Like, “You’re going to go home and think about it.” So I do — I go talk to her. It’s a fight or flight situation and I always choose to fight. If I see a girl I’m really really attracted to, I will make a move. Mostly because if I don’t make a move, I’m going to kick my ass so hard when I go home. It’s just not worth it. Gotta make a move and see what happens. I definitely understand women saying they have to do a lot more work.

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Where did you move from?

Originally, Nigeria. After I went to University of Chicago, I moved back home to Nigeria. Then I went to law school for a year in Florida but it didn’t work out. I was an actor before, and I really missed it. I was in a crisis and didn’t really know what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I thought about what I really enjoyed doing in college, and it was theater. So I figured I’d try it again. Laughs That’s a really long answer for a simple question.

How do you like working at Dancing Goats?

I love it. It’s the best job I’ve ever had.

What do you like best about your job?

I’m a super extrovert, so it’s really excellent to just interact with people. It gives me energy. Great coworkers, great customers.

What’s your preferred cocktail?

Old-fashioned.

What band were you obsessed with when you were 14?

Fourteen? So I guess what still, like, grunge phase — so, Pearl Jam? I really like Eddie Vedder’s voice.

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Who do you listen to now?

Kendrick Lamar. I like him a lot. I still like indie rock like, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Florence and the Machine.

Who was your first crush? A real person as well as a famous person.

My first crush I think was Jessica Rabbit. There was a girl I guess we were family friends with and she was my first real crush. We hung out a lot and eventually I got what I’d call a crush on her.

Was she your first girlfriend?

I guess. Very chaste. Laughs

What would be your last meal if you were on death row?

I’d like to think that I’m a little more sophisticated than this, but to be REAL-real, it’s gonna be pizza.

What kind of pizza?

Definitely something with a good mix of veggies and meats. Like artichokes have to be there. Sausages have to be there. I love good olives. A supreme, I guess. But a good supreme. None of that fake olives shit.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

Every once in a while, I make the decision not to leave my bed. Like, I have my Netflix, I set up my food and that’s it. That’s it.

What’s your record for staying in bed?

I never go past just a day. The next day I feel so terrible about it, I make sure I do something.

By yourself?

Totally by myself. Well, mostly by myself. Though I have stayed in bed all day as a couple. It’s fun as a couple.

Like the beginning of a relationship: The Bed Days.

The Bed Days are the best days, actually.

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What’s your relationship like with your mom?

Great. She lives in Augusta. Two-hour trip. I try to pop in once a month.

How often do y’all talk?

If she had it her way, it’d be every day. But my way is a few times a week.

Do you ever still do any acting stuff?

No, I haven’t done any since I started working at the Goat in May. ...I’ve had some emails about a project I thought sounds interesting... I’m going full-circle and actually going to law school again. Right now I’m sending applications out. Once that’s done, I might play around and pick acting back up again.

What kind of law?

Possibly entertainment law, since that’s my background.

What keeps you in Atlanta?

The city took sort of a long time to unravel for me. It’s a friendly-ish city but it’s not really welcoming — there’s a difference there. ... Also a lot of great, progressive things happen in this city. It’s getting exciting ... It’s interesting to see the different bars and concepts pop up. Clever people with clever ideas.

What’s your favorite bar in Atlanta?

I keep looking for new ones. For the longest time, it was a bunch of places on Edgewood that I like. I like Joystick, I still like Ammazza. But now — I like Ladybird. This is what I like in a bar: casual but elegant. You know?

Super chill.

A bar has to be chill. I don’t want a bar with a thousand people ...

What’s the most romantic spot in Atlanta?

Anywhere with good lighting that’s intimate. But it’s all about the energy you bring into it. Maybe outside Carroll Street Cafe. That’s a pretty romantic spot. I was there a couple nights ago with a date. It was a little rainy, and the way the lights fell. I was like, “Yeah, this is beautiful.”

What’s your favorite curse word?

Probably “fuck,” ‘cuz I say it the most.

What’s your least favorite household chore?

Cleaning my bathroom.

How do you stoke yourself up for it?

Honestly, I smoke a little bit. It’s how I get all my housework done ... then everything gets more interesting.

Where’s the craziest place you’ve ever had sex?

Just outside a church once. There was a little courtyard area. I was dating a girl when I was 16. Her parents were home, my parents were home. Kinda hard to find places to have sex.

Were you ... in a car?

No, no. We were outside. Laughs It gets really hot in a car.

When was the last time you cried and why?

It’s weird that I can’t recall this. I’m not a hard-ass, I cry all the time, I just can’t think ...

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What’s hanging behind your sofa?

I need to hang some things ...

What’s your best move on the dance floor slash do you even like dancing?

I love dancing. Cannot stop dancing. I don’t really have a move, it’s like you hear the beat, coordinate your shoulder, get that going and there you go.

What happens when you die?

Hopefully — if what I believe is true — you go to some sort of Heaven.

If you were convicted of a crime, what would it be?

Embezzlement? Laughs

What’s the sexiest part of the female anatomy?

Depends on the girl. Every woman has a thing about her. Some girls have insane bodies. Some girls have insane eyes. It’s probably eyes. Women say a lot with their eyes.

What’s your porn name?

I never had a pet and I don’t remember the name of the street I grew up on.

What’s the best album to make out to?

TLC’s CrazySexyCool. Sexiest album I’ve ever encountered.

What’s the lamest pickup line someone’s tried to use on you?

“I dreamt about you last night.”

People actually say that to you?

This girl said that to me.

Did it work?

No! It freaked me out!

Do women hit on you a lot? I feel like there’s been a shift in who’s hitting on whom.

Yeah. I see what you’re saying. Men are afraid of rejection. Even I’m afraid of rejection.

What’s the best way for a customer to hit on you?

I work at a coffee place so it’s sorta hard to chat ‘em up. I have a very short window. You mean if you wanna get results? Just talk to me. Laugh at my terrible jokes. If you find me a little funny, you’re halfway there.