Next stop ... Starbucks

No offense to the three existing Downtown cafes (Circa, HOPES and Red Onion), but the loss of the Groundskeeper and now Dunn Bros is a serious bummer for anyone looking for an afternoon caffeine fix. It's the first time in my 10 years in Racine that Downtown lacks a cafe with evening hours. Having seen so many come and go it's hard to ask anyone to open another, but it'd be nice (and I can guarantee at least one customer).

And, before I get in trouble, Ben at Circa Celeste is open until 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. He's closed Sundays and Mondays.

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Afternoon chords in Downtown Racine

Judd Greenstein plays guitar Thursday afternoon at Circa Celeste cafe, 619 Wisconsin Ave. in Racine. Greenstein, who has played guitar for 18 years and instruments his whole life, splits time between Chicago and Racine. 

He's played nationally in Chicago, St. Louis and San Diego with a variety of bands. Locally, you can hear him on Sixth Street at the B4S Gallery at the April 2 First Friday, and at Henry & Wanda's on Thursday nights for the open blues jam.

Greenstein is also looking to put together a rock/blues band. If you're interested, you can reach him at: juddglp@hotmail.com 

Biz News: Circa Celeste Cafe opens in the mornings

Circa Celeste Cafe now has morning hours.

Starting this week, the cafe at 619 Wisconsin Ave. is opening at 7 a.m. To offset the new hours, the one-man shop run by owner Ben Lehner is closing earlier at 7 p.m.

Lehner said the crowd wasn't there to support the late-night hours, at least during the week. He'll stay open until midnight on Saturdays.

"We're really looking forward to the summer," said Lehner, who opened Cafe Celeste last September.

Circa Celeste offers homemade bakery, soups, salads, hummus, a full array of coffee and tea, and a fruit and veggie juice bar.

(Photo-Right: Ben Lehner, owner of Circa Celeste, chops parsley for one of the cafe's daily soups. A homemade pumpkin pie sits on the counter.)

Free Tonight! Henna tattoos at Circa Celeste Cafe

Henna tattoo artist Mila Dechant is offering free tattoos tonight at Circa Celeste Cafe, 619 Wisconsin Ave., Racine. Dechant will be there at 7:30 p.m.

Mila Dechant grew up in Singapore where its customary to celebrate weddings, baby showers and festivals with temporary tattoos painted with a mixture made from Henna leaves.

When Dechant moved to Racine in 2004, she brought this beloved custom with her. She would mix Henna leaves with water, tea tree oil and sugar to create the reddish paste used to paint designs on hands, arms, backs, legs and feet. Predominantly women receive Henna tattoos, which last between two and four weeks, depending on the person.

After honing her craft in the U.S., Dechant realized late last year people will hire her to paint Henna tattoos at events. In November she started a Henna Design business and she's out promoting her services in the public.

She'll be at Circa Celeste Cafe, 619 Wisconsin Ave., tonight at 7:30 p.m. offering free Henna tattoos to anyone who comes in. Henna can stain clothing - particularly white fabric - so dress accordingly.

Dechant said her tattoos are traditional designs that can be done anywhere on the body. People at tonight's showcase can receive as many tattoos as they'd like, Dechant said.

When not painting, Dechant is a choreographer and dancer, including a bellydancer. She is also interested in natural healing, particularly how raw and natural foods can promote healing in your body.

To contact Dechant about hiring her for a party or event, you can reach her at: miladechant@gmail.com

Stylish Circa Celeste cafe focuses on community

Racine's newest coffee shop is all about recycling, but don't think blue bins and aluminum (though no doubt owners Ben and Dan Lehner are environmentally conscious).

Their recycling concerns the local economy. The Lehners are building their "Circa Celeste" cafe at 619 Wisconsin Ave. around supporting area farmers and businesses. Their hope is to start a movement where local businesses buy from local businesses and keep money circulating in the city.

"If we can capture money and keep it in the city, we can help a lot of people," Ben explained.

The Lehners hope to contribute to the local economy with a European-style cafe that emphasizes healthy, handcrafted food in an open, social environment. The first thing you'll notice walking into Circa Celeste is the gorgeous, inviting interior design.

The Lehners worked with designer Kathryn Bencriscutto to create a 19th Century Parisian feel using vintage elements found at Habitat for Humanity's ReStore and local antique shops. The tone is set by the painted tin ceiling - done by Dan - in metallic pastels.

The menu is a mix of healthy bakery, coffee, teas and a juicer, all at reasonable prices (muffins and cookies are $1) For lunch the cafe offers a homemade soup (it was pumpkin the day we were there), seasonal salads and lunch specials. On weekends they serve pancakes, waffles and crepes.

There's a full coffee bar serving Alterra. A large coffee goes for $2 and a large latte is $3.65. The juices, squeezed fresh on site, have a carrot-apple base with additional flavors, such as blueberries or raspberries. They also offer shots of wheatgrass.

As many products as possible that are sold at Circa Celeste are bought within driving distance of Racine, Ben said. They shop at local farmer's markets and and buy additional produce from Milwaukee's Growing Power. (They're looking for someone locally who grinds flour. If you know someone, stop by the cafe.)

Lehner said economists have shown that money that circulates within a community has a "multiplier" effect that supports several businesses. The alternative is sending money out of a community, which loses the local multiplier effect.

"We're really trying to promote community," Lehner said.

Circa Celeste is located next door to Shilling's Pub in the home of the former "Daily Grind."

The cafe is open Tuesday through Sunday at 8 a.m. It's open until 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednedsay and until midnight Thursday through Sunday. For performers out there, Thursday night is a Poetry/Open Mike Night at the cafe.

Free wi-fi access is also available.

Here are photos inside Racine's newest cafe:

Ben Lehner serves a customer at Cafe Celeste.

This antique bell is one of many flourishes throughout the cafe.

The backroom