Check Out Iris Book Cafe Downtown

The guy who originally opened up Kaldi's (RIP), and later sold it, started a coffee shop/book store/art gallery, with wireless internet access (of course) and a beautiful courtyard.  It was mentioned in the New York Times recently, so you should probably check it out.  I went there today for the first time and liked it a lot, so much so that I ended up spending money that I shouldn't have.  They serve food and have a wide range of coffee, tea, etc.  The book selection is great; I actually found a hardcover book of Sufi poetry for only eight dollars.  Needless to say, I bought it.  There was  also a paperback containing Thoreau's Walden and Civil Disobedience that I grabbed for only a buck-fifty.  In addition to books, they have used CD's and vinyl for sale and DVD's to rent.  Their vinyl selection is pretty decent and includes some interesting spoken word (I purchased an LP of some guy reading Civil Disobedience for only five dollars).  Most of the records are around five dollars, although there are also some ridiculously rare (and very expensive) records, from an original copy of the Stooges' Fun House to a bunch of ancient Rolling Stone albums.  Those range anywhere from twenty to forty dollars, but I'm told that the owner is willing to negotiate on price...

If you miss Kaldi's (back when it was good...), want some Ugandan coffee, are looking for some good books and vinyl, or whatever, make sure to stop by.  The support of small businesses from our community is crucial to their survival and the more of them we have... the more things that there are to do here.  And yeah, this isn't Portland or Chicago (which your friends probably moved back from a few days ago...), but we have some cool stuff here that you aren't going to find elsewhere.  Plus it's centrally located (Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, Dayton, Louisville, Lexington, Indianapolis, Cleveland, etc are all within a one-to-four hour drive) and has strong, supportive art and music scenes rich with talent.  Not to mention one of the best minor league hockey times EVER, strong college basketball and football teams, a football team that's played well over the past couple of years after fifteen years of no winning seasons, people aren't always in a rush to get somewhere and a crime rate lower than the majority of major cities (don't believe the hype about Clifton and Over-the-Rhine...).  Anyhow, hopefully I'll run into you sometime at Iris.  I'll probably be wearing my Mets cap or yarmulke (or both ;-).

shalom,

tim

- INFORMATION -

Hours (I'm told that they are going to be open later in the near future):

Mon - Fri (8:00 am - 10:00 pm)

Sat: (11:00 am - 6:00 pm)

Sun: (11:00 am - 10:00 pm)

 

Address:

1331 Main Street (In between 13th and 14th streets)

Cincinnati, OH

45202

Phone:
(513) 381-BOOK (2665)

Website:
http://sites.google.com/site/irisbookcafe

Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cincinnati-OH/Iris-Book-Cafe/169729995076