Early vegetarians were faced with the challenge of lassoing an apple off a tree or coaxing a corncob into a bear trap. Hunt a healthy harvest the easy way with today's Groupon: for $6, you get $12 worth of organic fare and drinks at Café Solstice, located inside Dancing Cranes Imports.
Café Solstice whips up wholesome, organic victuals for lunch-nibblers alongside a revolving selection of local roasts for java-junkies. Vegetarians sate their earthy cravings with Solstice tacos, loaded with miso, sunflower seeds, and cheddar cheese under a leafy toupee of greens and cilantro dressing ($7.25) or a hearty Luna burger, made from walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and mushrooms ($7.50). The green terra grilled sandwich layers a mushrooms-cilantro spread, provolone cheese, and cucumbers under a thai peanut sauce made exclusively with fair-trade Mr. Peanut tears ($7.50). Kitchen wizards conjure fresh baked goods daily, ranging from Kashi krispie bars to double-chocolate butterscotch cookies, and dazzle palates with aromatic soup specials, such as tibetan lentil, butternut squash, and spicy carrot ($5 a bowl).
Caffeine-packed beverages lift lagging spirits with sips of Lavazza Tierra espresso, organic loose-leaf tea, and drip coffee made with beans from nearby roasting companies. Slip into a meditative trance analyzing tree-like creases on palms or imagining dolphins diving into an amoeba-shaped nebula while relaxing in the café's colorful hodge-podge of tables, sofas, and chairs. Once full and content, patrons can venture out into the leafy expanse of Dancing Cranes Imports to explore the bazaar-like collection of unique gifts, though today's Groupon is not valid for Dancing Cranes purchases.
Café Solstice
Live trees grow inside Café Solstice, stretching their branches toward the sunlight that streams in through the high ceiling's skylights. The trees aren't the only things that are leafy and fresh, though; so is the spot's menu of vegetarian and vegan cuisine. Kitchen wizards fashion organic produce into dishes such as corn tacos with miso, sunflower seeds, and cheddar cheese beneath greens and cilantro dressing, or veggie burgers made from walnuts, mushrooms, and pumpkins seeds topped with tomato chutney and provolone. Visitors can also snack on fresh-baked goods that range from Kashi krispie bars to double-chocolate butterscotch cookies, and sip organic loose-leaf tea or drip coffee made with locally roasted beans.