Cupcakes beat the coffee at Sweet Revenge

Happy hour 4-8 p.m. $10 for a cupcake and a glass of wine. I haven’t exactly found a coffee haven this week, but a haven nonetheless.

In the spirit of Halloween and avoiding the 50 essays I have to write by next week, I traveled south to Sweet Revenge, a West Village cupcake (and coffee, I promise) purveyor that puts a creative twist on this classic dessert that has taken over New York City. Just two blocks away from the 1 train stop at Houston Street, this place is wonderfully accessible. The trip didn’t even feel that long today, but that’s probably because I spent the whole time writing in my journal and listening to the GaGa playlist on my iPhone.

I am sitting here now, on a small wooden table, across from a friend I met up with a few blocks away. I called her when I first got off the train, but given her surprisingly horrendous sense of direction, she had headed east instead of west at Washington Square Park and ended up ironically at Think Coffee, the site of my last caffeine-and-nicotine-addled adventure. Silly girl.

But back to Sweet Revenge—I’ve let my mind wander too much. Time to refocus over a cigarette, I think. Marlboro Light 100s this week. I got a new pack today. I’ve switched back to Lights in anticipation of midterm studying, since I know I’m going to want to be chain-smoking up a storm this weekend, and doing that with 27s is just way too intense for me.

Back inside. The seating area here is small but not cramped—about the same size as the fourth floor Hamilton classroom in which I have CC twice a week. The walls are bare and white except for a ceiling tattoo of a bluebird in flight. It’s a very comfortable space with a smattering of two-person tables, and only one other table is occupied. I’m the only one with a laptop out, but the employees seem happy to accommodate a couple of stressed college students. The place is open until 11 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and even though there’s no wireless, this seems like a wonderful place to do work—especially now with a rich and delicious Sweet Revenge cupcake in front of me. The frosting is similar in consistency to that of Magnolia, but the cake has a density that feels like a mix of scone and pound cake.

“But in the most delicious way possible,” my friend added.

The coffee here is nothing to sing about, but it’s not horrible either. It almost reminds me of the coffee in Blue Java (based on that, I can totally tell it’s getting to be midterm time). It’s not as strong as my usual morning Americano from Oren’s, but also not as truly repulsive as the junk they try to pass off as coffee at Cafe 212.

A great mix of music is playing in the background, soothing, but in an interesting way. The oh-so-fabulous Robyn is singing now. And before that, it was “Monkey Man,” an awesome blues song I originally knew via Amy Winehouse’s jazzy cover of it.

I think we’re about to have ourselves another cupcake. Not only are the cupcakes themselves sensational, but so is the menu. There are four signature flavors (Pure, Crimson & Cream, Dirty, and Sweet Revenge) and a variety of other daily specials. They are all presented on a laminated menu, which suggests beers and wines to accompany each. I guess that’s why this place is open until 1 a.m. on the weekends—booze and cupcakes seem like an absolutely fabulous way to spend any Friday night. As long as it’s after midterms. Less than two weeks, less than two weeks.

So, with my sweet tooth satisfied and another cupcake on the way, I will bid you all goodbye, good luck, happy studying, and happy Halloween. Good night and happy travels, my fellow addicts.