MacKenziesaurus Knows the Places to Be

A. Primavera
4133 White Oak Dr. Birmingham, AL
Let's be honest: If you can buy it at Walmart, it's not good coffee. Hidden behind the Summit is a coffee shop that is in a perpetual Zelda-like quest for the best coffee in the world, buying directly from bean farmers around the world and roasting the beans in store.

B. Java and Jams
321 20th Street N
Whip out the thesaurus and you'd learn that Java and Jams serves up coffee and music. The coffee is Higher Grounds, a roaster out of Leeds buying certified fair-trade coffee. Plus, what's more college than live music in a coffee shop? Nothing.

C. Urban Standard
2320 2nd Ave N
A coffee shop that is almost as quirky and hipstery as I am. Serving the most perfectly crafted lattes in Birmingham, their baristas are raised from birth with a steam wand at their fingertips. When you finish your coffee, have a red velvet cupcake. Or, have two.

D. Brannon's: A Public House
1931 3rd Avenue North
An Irish restaurant serving Breakfast and Lunch, with a different menu every day, and each dish as Irish as red hair. I won't mention the Guinness cupcakes or sticky toffee pudding, because it wouldn't be fair.

E. Rogue Tavern
2314 2nd ave N
A new addition to the Birmingham palate. Think of it like P.F. Changs as a tavern, minus ten dollars on the final tab. Yes, that includes lettuce wraps.

F. Miss Rosemarie's Special Tea Salon and Shoppe
5299 Valleydale Rd.
I would be a liar if I said I haven't had tea at Miss Rosemarie's around 5 times. Serving lunch, teatime featuring scones of the day and tea sandwiches, and dinner. You pay one big price for an assortment of finger-tasties and tea: Pinky out, y'all.

G. Pho Que Huong Vietnamese
430 Green Springs Hwy, Suite 15
The family restaurant of BSC's own Elvis Le. If you love tasty food that you can't pronounce, hop on Green Springs and you'll be catapulted into a world of noodles and smiles.

H. Sekisui Pacific Rim
1025 20th St. S
Without a doubt the greatest sushi I've ever eaten. Anywhere. Offering an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet for $12 every day for lunch, and serving the normal sushi menu weeknights until 12 and weekends until one, it doesn't get better.

I. Wine'd Down
180 Main St
Are you wine stupid? Here's a beautiful wine tasting establishment. You're welcome.

J. Golden Temple
1901 11th Ave S
Married to an organic grill and juice bar, and owned by a fellow by the name of Jack, if you want organic or fair-trade delicacies then this is your place.

K. BottleTree
3719 3rd Avenue S
Live music venue, restaurant, bar, spaceship. BottleTree is a magical land where the drinks are cheap and the punk music will incapacitate your ability to reason effectively. I mean, there's a taxidermed deer on the wall covered in sequence like a disco ball; It doesn't get more punk rock than that.

L. J. Clyde
1312 Cobb Ln.
Beer on tap that highlights, nay, only consists of American micro or import brews, well priced. A pub atmosphere serving restaurant quality food, including sweet potato fries that regularly decimate my palate. J. Clyde enjoys significant portions of my paycheck every month.

M. WorkPlay
500 23rd St S
Live music venue and recording studio, see the article on the opposite page for impending concerts.

N. Reeds Books/The Museum of Fond Memories
2021 3rd Ave N
Perhaps the most wonderful establishment on the list, Reeds looks like an old and rare book-seller. It's so much more than that, and I can't describe it except comparing it to the attic of your great-great-grandfather turned wonder emporium.

O. What's on Second?
2303 2nd Ave N.
If Reeds has too many books for your taste, what's on second is like the attic of your great-great-grandfather if he were a crazy kleptomaniac.

P. Crepe Myrtal's Cafe/Little Professor's Bookstore
2721 18th St S
One's a cafe, one's a bookstore. It's like Will and Grace that you can visit.