A Spot of Brew, A Dash of Magic, and a Whole Lot of Ogres
By The Mad Hatter, quill dipped in red and blue ink for What’s Up Duloc
My dear creatures of Duloc, gather round and lend me your ears. Unless of course you have already misplaced them in your tea, in which case you may borrow mine. They are detachable on Thursdays. I have just returned from that marvelous little den of delight known as Blackbird Comics & Coffeehouse in the nearby kingdom of Maitland, and I must tell you it is nothing short of a caffeinated wonderland.
Picture it. Ogres slurping Mud Mochas with a grin wider than a cauldron, fairies buzzing about with their frothy thimble lattes, and woodland sprites dunking biscotti with such precision that even a chess clock would applaud. And all of this in one shop, where beans are ground finer than Farquaad’s ego and the aroma dances through the air like enchanted mice in tap shoes.
The chairs are painted in a cheerful mix of Duloc blue and Duloc red, and the cups themselves seem to wear the colors proudly, as though every latte is a miniature flag waving for unity. Giants sip from barrels trimmed in scarlet, pixies from teaspoons with sapphire handles, and yours truly from three cups at once, one red, one blue, and one an utterly marvelous swirl of both.
And let us not forget the baristas. Those marvelous conjurers now don aprons of Duloc blue and Duloc red, stitched together like a banner of welcome. When they sprinkle cinnamon swirls atop a cappuccino, it is with the confidence of champions carrying the kingdom’s colors. They smile, they hum, they make every cup a potion of inclusion. Why, I nearly applauded mid latte.
What is more, this is not just a place of coffee. It is a place of community. A place where ogres and fairytale folk can sit shoulder to wing, hoof to horn, tail to chair leg, and discover that life is infinitely sweeter when shared over a steaming mug.
So I tip my hat, which is bottomless so do not fall in, to Blackbird. May its beans always be bold, its scones never stale, and its tables forever overflowing with creatures of every curious kind. After all, we are all a little mad here, and a little caffeine never hurt the madness.
500 E Horatio Ave STE 3, Maitland, FL 32751
