Historical February–March 2006 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
With each new storefront on Delmar, I like to play a round of the “What Is It?” game.
When the Happy Taco sign went down and the Lifestyles Cafe´ sign came up, with the accompanying newspapers taped to the windows to conceal the interior, I modified the game a bit to “What In The World Is It?” To all who witnessed the auspicious beginnings of the Lifestyles Cafe´, you understand.
The sign is the outline of a woman, in neon yellows and purples, performing a sort of ice skating spin, with her leg kicked out and twirling motions outlined at her feet. Above her head, she is holding with both hands a large purple heart, with smaller purple hearts spinning out from it into the air. Coupled with the text, “Lifestyles Cafe´,” it was anybody’s guess what it was going to be.
I started driving by the sign regularly, going the long way home with friends, out of my way with co-workers, and walking my dog by the Lifestyles Cafe´ every other day while I peered in the tiny cracks between the newsprint taped to the windows.
I began soliciting opinions as to what in the world it was.
The image said one thing – yoga center, massage parlor, ladies gym – and the text, the “Lifestyles Cafe´” said something completely different – a cafe´, coffee bar, GNC. Put together, the sign made no sense.
A yoga studio serving frittatas, free weights and a smoothie bar, a vitamin and supplement store with a cappuccino machine?
While idly obsessing over this one day, it hit me. Of course, the Lifestyles Cafe´ is not a literal cafe´ at all, but an internet cafe´.
Then just as easily as I had glommed onto the idea of an internet cafe´, it hit me again, an internet cafe´ for people of alternative lifestyles. That’s it, mystery solved.
I began saying things like, “I’ve heard it is going to be an internet cafe´ for folks of the alternative lifestyle,” and started touting the still unopened Lifestyles Cafe´ as a huge boon to the Loop. Imagine my surprise when I hear that the Lifestyles Cafe´ is not an alternative internet cafe´ at all, but a vegetarian soul food restaurant with a lemonade ice cream parlor attached, and live jazz on Saturdays. How did I miss that?
All the menu items at the Lifestyles Cafe´ are made with no trans fats, no beef, no pork, and no poultry.
I have been to the Lifestyles Cafe´ twice, once for the special lemonade ice cream and once for dinner.
The lemonade ice cream is especially good.
In fact, it is possibly the best ice cream I have eaten.
If I knew how it were made, I would be making a batch in my basement right now.
It is homemade and can be ordered in the original lemonade flavor or strawberry, banana, raspberry, peach, or several other flavors.
We ordered the original and the strawberry, and tasted the peach.
It is sweet, and really just melts in your mouth.
The Lifestyles Cafe´ also serves dinner and a special Soul Food Sunday brunch menu.
It also hosts live jazz on Saturday nights.
The menu is heavy on the fish, and includes favorites such as Salmon Croquette, Pecan Crusted Rainbow Trout, and Jerk Fish. Side dishes include fried corn, macaroni and cheese, Asian garlic spinach, and smothered potatoes. Lifestyles Cafe´ also serves beer, wine, and cocktails.
We enjoyed the food, especially the pan fried tilapia, but you have to be in the mood for vegetarian food. Because while you can order a veggie burger at Blueberry Hill, you cannot order a seven-ounce hamburger at Lifestyles Cafe´. Lifestyles Cafe´ is open every day except Mondays, and is located at 5917 Delmar, phone 863-5700. Menu available at www.lifestylescafe.org.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2006.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2006_02.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
