Community coffeehouses, like the best stories, tend to grow in the telling. For example, one of the newest coffeehouses in the 'burbs is in Quincy. It's called the Stone Temple, in honor of the gorgeous old stone Church of the Presidents where it is held. But the church didn't get that name by accident: the basement houses the crypts of John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and their wives.

So it may say Stone Temple Coffeehouse on the fliers, but folks are already dubbing it Concerts on the Crypts.

"When we were picking a name," says founder Eileen Baker, "one suggestion actually was Concerts on the Crypts, but it didn't get voted in. I am starting to use that as a byline beneath the Stone Temple logo, though, because you've got to go with however you're becoming known. At first, I worried what we could do to get ourselves known, you know, what set us apart from other coffeehouses. For example, I love to go to Circle of Friends for those incredible desserts, and the Homegrown is known for their carrot cake. You get a sense of what's special about each coffeehouse, and it turned out to be a no-brainer for us. It just developed a life of its own."

Nearly every performer has made some little joke about what it feels like to sing in such historic environs, and booking agents say to Baker, "Oh, you're the coffeehouse with the presidents." As so often happens in this friendly, community-oriented music scene, the artists and fans are deciding what sets this coffeehouse apart.

The musical fare tends toward contemporary singer-songwriters, with smatterings of traditional folk. As at all BACHA coffeehouses, dress is casual, and all ages are welcome. There is free parking on-street, and in a garage behind Quincy College. Coffee and soft drinks are available, along with a mix of home-baked and store-bought pastries.

"We offer tours during intermissions now," says Baker. "Right away, it was evident we should do that. At intermission, the room just empties out, and everybody goes looking for the crypts. It's very cool. Everybody remembers the coffeehouse because of that."

Asked why she wanted to start a coffeehouse, Baker talks at first about the fun of introducing her favorite songwriters to audiences. Then, with a sigh, she says her ex-husband used to write about rock music for the Patriot-Ledger, and that she came to dislike hanging around back stage at even the most star-studded concerts.

It got real old after the novelty wore off, in that you can't really have a conversation with those people. Their egos are just so big. It's very different in the folk world; the performers are so friendly and down-to-earth. After our concerts, the artists are usually so busy signing CDs and visiting with their fans, I have to remind them we need to lock up the church and go home."

After all, the Adamses are accustomed to having their evenings to themselves.