Coffee Cartel   

The Scoop: Whether you're craving Edy's ice cream, something high calorie from the dessert and pastry case, or one of the numerous coffee, mocha, latte or cappuccino drinks on offer, addicts of sugar, caffeine and/or nicotine are sure to find peace here. The Coffee Cartel also offers a wide variety of herbal and green teas and a case of fruit juice smoothies for the more health conscious. If you want to take a bit of the Cartel home with you, it's possible to buy fresh beans by the pound or canisters of The Republic of Tea brand tea. The Scene: Location, location... and caffeine. This popular coffeehouse has the key ingredients to get a legal buzz on, while catching up on the latest fashion do's and don'ts in the heart of the Central West End. With more than 20 tables outdoors, a customer can watch and/or stop traffic while they read or study, as hordes of Wash U. Students often do. Inside, there are plenty of tables and couches, including a separate room that is home to smokers and video games. Best of all, the Coffee Cartel is open 24 hours. Insider Tips: Besides the hip location and crowd, the music is also "in." Listen up if you want to know what to buy next time you visit Vintage Vinyl or surf for music on the Web. -- Hillary Wicai