Though the name Bikes Beans & Bordeaux Neighborhood Cafe might only tempt people who are into biking and drinking coffee and wine, once you step inside this quaint cafe, you’ll be coming back for the fine food, relaxing atmosphere and gracious service that is quickly creating a dining destination for those who enjoy healthy food and healthy living.

Bikes, Beans & Bordeaux (B3)  is located on Corrine Drive in Orlando, close to Leu Gardens and Baldwin Park . B3 is owned by Jenn and Darrell Cunningham, a young husband and wife team who brought their love of cycling into the restaurant world.  Not to worry, though.  If you’re not into cycling, you’ll still feel at home when dining at B3.

The inside of the neighborhood cafe is upscale and welcoming, offering plush leather couches by a sun-filled window, or small tables throughout the cafe.  You can choose to watch continuous feeds of cycling events on their flat screen television mounted high on the wall, or just revel in the local artwork created by area artists that continuously changes throughout the year.  If cycling isn’t your thing, visit on one of B3’s Cartoon Saturdays when vintage cartoons are shown, instead.

The food is simple and healthy, with organic, vegetarian and low-fat options. There’s an array of salads, sandwiches, flatbreads and kid’s items. A nice touch is the choice between SunChips or carrot sticks as a side item with the sandwiches and kid’s meals.  Breakfast is even served, too, so you can pick up some organic yogurt or some oatmeal topped with honey, banana, walnuts and granola as a quick meal before starting the day. The desserts are quite tempting, with choices ranging from Banana Gelato Split to a J-Nutella Panini.  In addition to a standard menu, there’s always a seasonal, rotating menu offering menu choices inspired by customer requests.

With a name like Bikes, Beans & Bordeaux, you’d be expecting coffee and wine, and you won’t be disappointed.  In addition to coffee drinks and bottled beers and wines, B3 celebrates Mimosa Weekends with inexpensive champagne cocktails, Wednesday Happy Hours and special events such as wine and cheese pairings.

Bikes Beans and Bordeaux is located at 3022 Corrine Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.  Phone (407) 427-1440 or visit www.B3Cafe.com for more information.

Kimberly Button is a green living consultant with greenWell, an eco-wellness company helping families and businesses create healthier, greener living and working environments.

I went down to get my produce and noticed the sale this weekend:

Last day of Evolve Store = Savings for you!
This Saturday – 11 am – 6 pm – One Day Only
622 N Thornton Ave, Orlando
407-595-3731

In light of the merger of the Evolve Store and the Homegrown Co-op, we will be leaving our building at 604 N Thornton Avenue.

We are happy to announce a ONE-DAY-ONLY clearance sale on SATURDAY JUNE 27 from 11 am – 6 pm. Select items will be discounted at a greatly reduced price.

I just got this year’s flier for the members only “4th of July” activities at the Orlando Science Center. It is from 6 PM to 10 PM for members. If you bring a friend, they get 10% of their OSC membership.

We’d done this with our daughter several times because the sound of fireworks would freak her out when she was a baby.  Over at the Sun Terrace, you get to see many displays all over the city, but the sound is very low or non-existant. Perfect for little ones their first time out for fireworks!

For more info about this or other events, check out the Orlando Science Center.

Saturday mornings in historic downtown Winter Garden offer visitors the opportunity to exercise, explore and relax.  The West Orange Trail runs right through the middle of downtown on the center median of Plant Street.  The West Orange Trail is 19 miles long starting in Oakland at the County Line station going up to Apopka.  The Winter Garden station is at mile 5.  On Saturday mornings bikers and runners go zipping by safely in the center median.

If you don’t have a bike but would like to explore the West Orange Trail downtown Winter Garden has two bike shops and a running shop.  Winter Garden Wheel Works offers bike rental at reasonable rates (starting at $6 per hour with a two hour minimum).  You can rent a bike for each member of your family and if needed a trailer to pull your younger child.  They even offer rentals of tagalong bikes, a half-size kid’s bike that attaches to an adult bike.  Tri & Run of West Orange offers triathlon and marathon training programs and running shoes and clothing.  Both are located right on Plant Street  in the heart of downtown Winter Garden. 

Winter Garden also hosts a Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings.  It is located at the corner of Plant Street and Lakeview Avenue.  You can find fresh produce and plants and an array of other food and unique items.  I shop there each weekend and often save almost 50% on my produce purchase over buying in a grocery store.  I have always found the items to be fresh, colorful and tasty.  Bring your own shopping bags and green bags for things like small potatoes or tomatoes.  These are priced by weight and it helps to have green bags for each item.

Once you have gotten your exercise and produce shopping out of the way, it is time to relax.  There are many stores to explore and restaurants offering good food and outdoor dining.  Sweet Traditions is a French bakery and cafe offering a long display case of pastries and yummy breakfast and lunch items.  You will often see groups clad in biking gear dining outside the cafe.

Heading off Plant Street down Main Street be sure to check out Daisy’s Children’s Boutique.  Daisy offers many toys crafted from environmentally friendly and organic materials.  Along the way you will also discover Winter Garden Fencing Academy, Garden Music School and Winter Garden Feed & Seed.  Winter Garden Feed & Seed offers items to feed and care for horses and livestock.  They also have great deals on items for smaller family friends like dogs.  If you have not been in a feed store, definitely stop in and check it out.  They often have small animals like goats and chicks for sale and they have their huge pet pig in the back. 

Following Main Street will also take you to Boyd Street and the Central Florida Railroad Museum.  The Railroad Museum is free and offers a fine collection of Florida railroadiana.  It is operated by the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation and they also operate the Heritage Museum, History Center and The Garden Theater.  All of these wonderful resources are located right in downtown Winter Garden.  Be sure to click through the Hertiage Foundation link for information on locations and hours.

Kristy has one son and since his birth she’s been researching to find healthier ways to do things and live a life of less impact. In a city that is less than “crunchy” it has been an adventure and she hopes to share some of what she’s learned both here and at her store Wee Willie Winks where she offers cloth diapers and other earth/child friendly parenting solutions. She also hosts Cloth Diaper News.