86 - The Daily Iowan - UNIVERSITY EDITION - Iowa City, Iowa - Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Finding the perfect cup of Joe One of the joys of living in a college town is the myriad coffeehouses, designed for studying, friendly conversation, and early morning fueling. The coffeehouses in Iowa City are perfect ways to support local businesses, while grabbing something to get you through a long day of classes. The downtown Java House, 211 1/2 E. Washington St., is one of the most popular places for students, boasting a narrow but deep-set space, ambient lighting, couches, and a door to the neighboring Heritage restaurant. A locally owned business advertising itself as an “Iowa City ritual,” Java House frequently hosts readings and live performances, making it both a cafe and cultural center. The High Ground Café, 301 E. Market St., is one of Iowa City’s youngest small businesses. Floor to ceiling windows let in natural light, a patio to sit on for nice days, and a fireplace inside for winter. Along with the typical cafe beverages, High Ground sells beer, wine, sandwiches, and paninis. Inside the Old Capital Town Center is T.Spoons, many students’ goto place to kill time between classes and grab doughnuts and coffee. T.Spoons has ample seating and is located near the mall’s Washington Street entrance and bus stop. It’s a great place to grab some coffee, especially if students are coming from the Pentacrest. Other Iowa City coffee sellers include
Uptown Bill’s Coffee House is shown on Sept. 1, 2014. (The Daily Iowan/McCall Radavich) a Starbucks franchise, 228 S. Clinton St.; Bruegger’s, 245 Iowa Ave., which specializes in bagels and Caribou cof-
fee; the small but historic Wild Bill’s inside of North Hall; Uptown Bill’s, 730 S. Dubuque St., which hosts a open-mike
night on Thursdays and shows on Saturdays, as well as a regular Irish music session and ukelele club; and more.
Booking it in Iowa City The University of Iowa is renowned for its writer’s workshop, and Iowa City is an UNESCO city of literature. Whether you’re here for English or Engineering, the city’s bookstores are vital. While textbooks are vital part of a college student’s personal library, Iowa City offers shops to cater to students wishing for a change of literary pace. Prairie Lights opened in 1978 and in downtown Iowa City. Since then, the independent bookstore has garnered national acknowledgement. The establishment invites authors local and abroad to read on their second floor nearly every week. Their
building is located at 15 Dubuque and stocks novels, memories, plays, and more that students of the University require for classes. The store also offers a cafe upstairs. Prarie Lights regularly receives national attention. In 2013, Forbes named Prairie Lights one of the top independent bookstores in the country. The bookstore, opened in 1978, and its series, “Live From Prairie Lights,” was broadcasted on a local radio station. Since its inception, Prairie Lights has been a staple in the Iowa City community, even with the rise of technologies like the Kin-
dle and Nook. Iowa City’s used bookstore, The Haunted Bookshop, has been open just as long. As of 2013 the store is located at 219 S. Gilbert in a building dating back to 1847. Inside the shop keeps its approximately 50,000 titles stored in 10 rooms. The store will often have some of the literature needed for classes and has plenty of books to occupy free time reading. And to satisfy curiosity — the bookshop isn’t haunted. It is named after The Haunted Bookshop, written by Christopher Morley. The store is humorously known for its “ghosts,”
or two cats that roam free throughout the shop. They don’t bite. Iowa Book is located just across from the Pentacrest on 8 Clinton. The store focuses heavily on providing students with anything they might need for classes. As well as textbooks and the like located in their basement, they stock notebooks, calculators, planners, and a number of items students might require for the school year. While this store mostly caters to students in the beginning of each semester as they stock up on textbooks, there are other, popular choices available.