Cup of Common Wealth opens retail shop; Ale 8 One creates cocktail

A Cup of Common Wealth, the popular but tiny downtown coffee spot on Eastern Avenue, is expanding. Owner Salvador Sanchez is opening Common Wealth Mercantile at 383 East Main, on the corner of Eastern. The coffee shop will have a separate entrance, but there will be overflow seating for the shop.

The Mercantile will sell packaged and bulk coffee, packaged and bulk tea, specialty chocolate, housewares, apparel and spices. Coffees will include Magic Beans Coffee and Water Street Coffee Joint, and national, regional and local coffee vendors. Customers will be able to buy green coffee beans, too, and there will be coffee classes and demos. A grand opening is planned for May.

▪  Table 310, 310 West Short Street, has been sold. New chef Chris Smith said the new owners are Daniel and Flo Marlowe, who recently moved to Lexington from Denver. Smith said the menu will have a local and seasonal focus. He is working on a menu with Blue Moon Farms, Elmwood Stock Farm, and others from the Lexington Farmers Market.

The restaurant will reopen later this week, with a grand re-opening planned for Friday. Call 859-309-3901 for reservations.

▪  The yoga studio Centered, 309 North Ashland Avenue, is opening Centered Café in the space formerly occupied by Caldo, which has moved to the Proof on Main gym. The new food and beverage concept will open in mid-April with local organic grab-and-go foods and beverages, and nutritional workshops and demos. Grand opening will be April 20. Call 859-721-1841.

▪  Ale 8 One, celebrating its 90th anniversary in July, is working with Molly Brooke’s Irish Bar, 109 North Limestone, to create cocktails with the popular soft drink. The Jubil8 has 2 teaspoons of Ale 8 One simple syrup, muddled mint, 1 1/2 ounces of bourbon, Ale 8 One and ice.

▪  Alfalfa, 141 East Main Street, will feature Indonesian food for International Night on April 6. From 5:30 to 9 p.m., the restaurant will serve local chicken or pork satay, fish sambal (seared mahi mahi finished with spicy chili paste, lemon, garlic and spices), gado-gado (fried tofu with potatoes, green beans, carrot and mung bean sprouts with coconut peanut sauce), nasi goreng (stir-fried shrimp, chicken or tofu with garlic, ginger, chilies, egg, mushroom, onion and red peppers in tangy brown sauce), or mie goreng (shrimp, chicken or tofu on egg noodles with garlic, chilies, bok choy and onion in sweet and tangy brown sauce.)

▪  JDI Grille & Tavern will have a Spirits and Suds Dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. April 12 featuring Town Branch Bourbon and Rye, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale and Kentucky Peach Barrel Wheat Ale, as well as a dinner “flight” of smoked meats. Tickets are $40; reservations required. Call 859-246-0202.

JDI also has free dessert (cheesecake, funnel cake fries or chocolate torte) with purchase of two regular priced entrees every Monday night; 10 percent off on food (except during happy hour) for anyone who comes to JDI with a ticket for any event at Rupp Arena (and free parking after 6:30 p.m.) On Sundays, bring in your dated church program and get 10 percent off food (excludes happy hour items.)

▪  Good Foods Co-op, 455 Southland Drive, will have Breakfast for Dinner on the hot buffet April 13, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

▪  Grimes Mill Winery, 6707 Grimes Mill Road, is having a free movie night at the winery 7 p.m. April 7, showing Bottleshock in the tasting room. And from 2 to 5 p.m. April 10, the winery will host a pizza and sauce cooking class, also free. Make pizza dough and three sauces, then cook the pizzas on the grill. Call 859-543-9691.

▪  Kroger is kicking the two-week Savor World Flavor: Taste of Spain on April 6. The event features Spanish food including seasoned chorizo, smoked paprika garlicky shrimp, freshly harvested extra virgin olive oil, saffron-flavored paella, and smooth, fruity Chardonnay from Navarro.

▪  Creative Table Kitchen & Catering, 185 Pasadena Drive, is hosting grilling chef Staci Graves-Jett in a pop-up event April 10. Seatings at 6 and 7:30 p.m. are $40 a person; a four-course meal features Cooper Brothers meats. Reservations: 859-494-8046.

This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 11:26 AM with the headline "Cup of Common Wealth opens retail shop; Ale 8 One creates cocktail."