Ink & Ivy Cafe

The Ink & Ivy Cafe by Katelyn Nguyen, YWA member 2026

Upon entering, the aroma of the Ink & Ivy Cafe’s pastries floods through every student’s nose. Freshly baked and kneaded with intent and imagination, the scent is a warm welcome for all students, new and old. In exchange for quills, they can purchase a multitude of pastries and drinks. Though each has its own unique, flavorful taste, no smell or taste is overpowering, allowing students to focus on their conversations and imagination without distraction.

Beneath the fairy lights, the Description Machine rests on its own counter. From afar, it looks like any regular coffee machine. However, the Description Machine does more than just dispense coffee, for free of charge, once per student, it aids them in their attention to detail. When it comes time to get their drink, students must describe their order, and real or not, it’ll magically print out the exact specifications of the student’s drink. With better description comes a better taste. Given consistent practice, students grow their imagery skills and taste buds, allowing for more flowering storytelling in the future.

Growing from every wall, magical plants sprout beautiful pink wisteria and ivy. Instead of water and sunlight, these flowers feed off the creativity and bursting friendships in the cafe. From sounds of joy to the intense quiet of thinking, like stories, the more time invested into each word and thought, the more the plants grow into unique, never-before-seen flowers. 

In order to feed themselves well, a constant supply of teamwork and imagination must go inside the cafe. Luckily, the IK2W Academy features numerous collaborative projects, allowing for friendships to be made seamlessly. From collaboration stories and screenplays, to simple group-bonding activities, there is an endless supply of community and peace that enters the cafe. Through a warm community and a bit of imagination, the Ink & Ivy Cafe can help travelers and students feel inspired and at home.