OVER THE RHINE: IRIS BOOKCAFE

Iris BookCafe & Gallery

Mon-Thurs 8a-9p; Fri 8a-7p; Sat 10a-7p; Sun 11a-9p

Books. Photography. Art. Secret garden. Welcome to Iris BookCafe in the heart of Cincinnati's OTR [map]. Here, the food is local & the books are global. Can you imagine a better combination? Oh wait! Coffee. There is coffee. & it's Coffee Emporium coffee (another Magical Simplicity coffee crush!) (which you can read about here). Now can you imagine anything better? Didn't think so.

I first read about Iris BookCafe in City Beat's 2014 Eats Staff Picks. They dubbed this oasis as the Best Winter Warm-Up. The way they described it made me imagine a secret, warm, cozy, awesome, vegetarian haven. AKA: My dream. 

Oh guys, it seriously is all of that & more! Tucked away in the middle of our bustling city (just across from Park + Vine) (which is ironically on Main Street) is a true gem. & outside through the back, shielded from all the bustle by its neighbors' walls, is an ivy clad solace. They've crowned it: The Courtyard.

My sisters & I spent a wonderful morning at Iris & I think it will be the first of many. My only complaint is, how have I not ever stumbled upon this magic little slice of a Cincinnati fairy tale before?

Stop by Iris Bookcafe. It's what dreams (well at least my dreams) are made of.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY'S VELOCITY BIKE & BEAN

Velocity Bike & Bean

Tues-Fri 8a-5p; Sat 9a-4p

Welcome to Velocity Bike & Bean! You may remember when I (read: my sister) discovered this life changing find HERE. & if you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you know I'm here a lot.  Velocity happens to be less than a mile away from my office. Located on Burlington Pike in Florence, KY [map], it's actually just one half mile away.

In the back of the building, Velocity is a full service bicycle shop. In front, it's serious coffee. There is a really relaxed air at Velocity. Chill music & tinkerings of bicycle fixing all about. Every table is adorned with a coffee decoration: Teapot Lamps, French Press Terrariums, Burlap Bean Chairs, the list goes on. 

What I love about Velocity is how it brings together two things that, at least here in the Midwest, don't usually come as a pair: cycling & artisan coffee. It's a place where cyclists & coffee drinkers are both welcome. 

Best of all, it's a total family affair. Velocity was started by Mark & Lisa Ball. It's their family who still staffs the front & back of the bike & bean. & guess who they just so happen to be friends with? The Carabello's!! Remember them?!? (If not, read more HERE.) In fact, when the Carabello's first started roasting, it was in an empty room at Velocity. 

Makes it no surprise that Velocity still serves the delicious beans today.

It's a really neat place, Velocity. & lucky for me, they don't mind when I come with my work computer to knock out a few hours of a script off site. God bless everyone who introduced me to this Northern Kentucky Gem. 

COFFEE ICECUBES

I live + breath coffee. But sometimes even I have a little extra french press in the morning. Pouring the life source down my kitchen sink was torture (torture I tell ya!), so I took to refrigerating the extra liquid gold to later add ice + serve cold.

BUT. THEN... 

I saw this unbelievable idea from Offbeat + Inspired: Coffee Ice Cubes. Seriously?! How have I never thought of that?! I hopped on board immediately + have been decorating my Almond Milk (both vanilla + chocolate) (though I love the chocolate more, obviously). It takes a little while to infuse, but it's sooo good. 

Cheers! To never wasting the end of another good french press! + to every new way I can consume coffee on this Monday :)  

[GREATER] CINCINNATI'S CARABELLO COFFEE

Carabello Coffee

Tues-Fri 7a-8p; Sat 8a-8p

I heard a lot about Carabello Coffee before actually visiting for the first time. I heard the establishment started roasting beans in Florence, KY (ironically at another one of my favorite coffee joints, Velocity Bike + Bean). (Who still serves Carabello's coffee.) I heard that growth moved Carabello to historic Newport, Kentucky on the corner of Monmouth + Ninth [map]. I heard they showcase a selection of pastries from local bakers at checkout - including my favorite, Brown Bear Bakery! + I also heard, from several sources, that I would absolutely love it.

Well, I finally visited the popular independent coffee bar this past weekend (+ I also learned that in exactly one week [9-17-14] Carabello is celebrating their first Newport birthday!) + guys, the rumors are true. I do love Carabello. What, precisely? Well, for one, they use mason jars + piping in almost all their decorations. The wood is light + the space is cheery. + oh holy heavens is the coffee delicious. They roast the beans right here in town mere days before it's in your mug. 

But above the wonderful taste + decor + tremendously welcome demeanor is the Carabello story. Justin + Emily Carabello started Carabello Coffee three years ago with two prerogatives: 1) Bring Greater Cincinnati really delicious coffee 2) Use the money raised through that really delicious coffee to build sustainable lives for the people in the Third World Nations where it came from. Or, in a less wordy explanation: Coffee + compassion in tandem. 

You can read all about the philanthropic works here. (+ all about the amazing meaning behind the tandem bike HERE.) (Spoiler: When Justin asked Emily to start looking at engagement rings, she declared: I don't want a ring, I want a tandem bike." To which Justin replied: (laughing) You need a ring... but I'll try to get you the bike too.")

Oh Carabello, how I love you so! I love your direct, simple, yet multi-layered mission. Thank you to all my friends who planted the Carabello bean in my mind. +, Carabello, happy birthday! I am so glad to be your neighbor (The Studio is just a wee 2 miles away!). You guys are changing lives, one hot cup of joe at a time. + that is something pretty spectacular.

P.S. Follow along with Carabello's adventures via Twitter + Facebook + Instagram.

CINCINNATI'S COFFEE EMPORIUM [OTR]

Coffee Emporium. Really Good Coffee.

Mon-Fri 6:30a-8p / Sat-Sun 7a-8p

This post is o.v.e.r.d.u.e. I have been meaning to write these Coffee Emporium posts since I rebranded the blog. In fact, a lot of the rebranding for Magical Simplicity was inspired at Coffee Emporium. I. love. Coffee Emporium. So much. There are multiple CE locations, so I want to spread these posts out. Each one has a unique personality. We shall start in OTR.

Coffee Emporium OTR is located on Central Parkway [map]. Conveniently one block away from my old office. I used to rack up major points on My Coffee Emporium Tab (you get a free drink every 12 drinks you purchase) (I have three waiting in my queue) because I stopped in every morning on the way to work & came back for a decaf refill (& a Donna's Gourmet Cookie) at lunch. 

I consider Coffee Emporium the gateway to the rest of OTR. &, as such, it shines with OTR qualities. The baristas are awesome & hipsters. There are plug outlets in the ceilings. All of the furniture is perfectly mismatched. Local art colors all the walls. But it's not just local art -- Coffee Emporium is 100% local. I guess I can't say that - because the beans come from South America (see above). But as soon as they arrive, they're roasted at the OTR location & served on site. (& distributed to other CE locations across the city).

Because of the full kitchen in back, OTR has a delicious menu [here] & you better  believe that the ingredients are as local as they get. + every weekend they make waffles. Danggg guys, are they good! (Might they even give Taste of Belgium a run for their money?)

Coffee Emporium has a nice industrial feel. If you stay for a while you're going to see friends catching up, business meetings happening, people reading & working, this girl blogging. Its always a buzz of activity. & it's all fueled by some REALLY GOOD COFFEE. 

CINCINNATI'S BOW TIE CAFE

Bow Tie Cafe: Coffee. Conversations. Cocktails.

Mon-Thurs 7a-9p / Fri 7a-10p / Sat 8a-10p / Sun 8a-8p

When I was looking for a new apartment I had one requirement: walking distance to an independent coffee shop. & I am very happy to tell you that I kept to my rule. Today I am going to show you around my new neighborhood joint, a Cincinnati original: Bow Tie Cafe.

Bow Tie Cafe is on the corner of St. Gregory & Pavillion. & just like everything in Mt. Adams, it was built on a hill. You literally step down into the cafe, which lends to a real "insiders' feel". Almost like a secret clubhouse, where you have to know it's there or you might miss it. But don't get the wrong idea! Because "exclusive club house" is furthest from how Bow Tie Cafe feels when you are actually there! The baristas are happy & warm & kind. The coffee is delicious. & they have other beverages too.. of the alcoholic variety. So Bow Tie is perfect, both if you'd like to take an offsite for work during the day (coffee!) (& because work is so much better at a coffee shop, don't you agree?) (Which also reminds me - do any of you use Coffitivity?) & for after (cheers!)

There is definitely a working environment: huge tables, a terrific white board, lots of plugs and outlets (even on the terraced patio outside). You can feel the creativity brewing (pun intended) the moment you walk through the door. They describe their food menu as "casual bistro fare." Let me tell you right now - it is G.O.O.D. Evidence: my breakfast.

"If you wanna be somebody, you gotta rock a bow tie." - Kunta Littlejohn
But aside from all those amazing things, the best part about Bow Tie Cafe is the back story. Basically, it all began when owner Dhani Jones heard the above quote. The originator of that quote was Jones' good friend, Kunta Littlejohn, who was later diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Jones started Bow Tie Cafe & Bow Tie Cause in 2010 to spread Littlejohn's message. Straight from the website: "Essentially Bow Tie Cafe is based on the idea that if you rock the bow tie, then you are choosing to support something that is greater than you."

I've always prefered a man in a bow tie & now, with such a phenomenal story to quote, I surely will even more. Bow Tie Cafe, thanks for being such a welcoming neighbor :)

I'll be seeing you!

SMALL SPACE LIVING: BUILDING A CORNER COFFEE BAR

Wait! We've moved!!!

But you can find this exact post by clicking HERE.

CINCY STYLE: ANNABEL'S & LOOKOUT JOE

Welcome to Mt. Lookout Square! Est 1870. While it's brimming with fun restaurants & bars, I'll admit to a favorite duo. I told y'all that CincinNatalie & I are trying to host monthly brunches. Well, we were a little late for May because of Derby. So last weekend we hopped over to Annabel's on Delta Ave for Saturday Brunch.

This was my first visit to Annabel's, but, I've already heard a lot about it. Word on the street is Annabel's is a hot commodity. So, I dropped in early to put our name in for a three top - expecting much more than the 25 minute wait they assigned. They took down my phone number (love it!), so I was free to roam the Square in the Seattle-like drizzle that's been plaguing our city.

Naturally, I gravitated across the Square for a cup o joe. Lookout Joe is the coolest. First of all - they have the best hours. 6:30a until 10p. I'm pretttty addicted to caffeine (greet me with a cup of coffee in the morning & I'll probably kiss you straight on the lips). 10p is appreciated.

The smell of espresso hits like a wall the moment you walk through that adorable blue door. Partially because Lookout Joe roasts their coffee beans right at the window. I'm told it happens every week day. So... if anyone is up to play hooky & learn about roasting... you know where to reach me.

Serve yourself & then head up to checkout. (DO buy a Donna's cookie on the way. You'll regret it if you don't.) The vibe is pretty chill & artsy too. There are some couches & some tables & an outdoor patio. The baristas use words like "darling."

We stayed until my phone started buzzing & then crossed the street again, to the cutest little brunch spot in all the land.

Annabel's is tiny. So tiny, in fact, that they don't have a website. Everything is local (including the coffee - turns out they get it at Lookout Joe!), & every menu item has a twist. (Think pancakes made with corn flour... it kind of tastes like corn bread. Delicious pancake corn bread.) I'm also a huge fan of the tunes. Felt like I was listening to my Bon Iver pandora station.

If you're a girl like me, you'll make any excuse to go out to breakfast. I hope you happen upon this post between Thursday & Sunday from 9a & 1p. Then you can head over to Mt. Lookout for my power duo . & let me know what you think J