Attached to Half Price Books’ hip, Black Forest Coffee is my official happy place. It’s owned by the same family that runs the delicious and time-tested Henk’s Deli, located behind the bookstore on Blackwell, but has the added benefit of being surrounded by books, glorious gobs of books. And the food is good—really good.

A Black Forest breakfast—a hot turkey and gouda cheese served inside a buttery croissant with a steaming cinnamon latte—has become one of my guilty pleasures. And sometimes, after I pick my daughter up from school, we head over there, seek out a couple half-priced paperbacks, grab a soup, sandwich and a slice of sinfully rich Black Forest cake or an almond sheet covered in honey and dipped in chocolate, and sit on one of the comfy couches, or outside on the makeshift patio, enjoying the ambient music and one-another’s company. Happy. Happy. (Well, she probably thinks it’s totally nerdy, but it makes me happy.)

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