In an endless sea of Caribous and Starbucks, it can be difficult to find an independently owned gem of a coffee shop to get your caffeine fix. It's harder yet to find a place that invites guests in for a broader, community-minded experience. A few favorite places throughout the Twin Cities come to mind for this kind of experience, and new to the list is Lily's on 33rd and Central in northeast Minneapolis.

"I love the feel of neighborhood places," says owner Brigitte (pronounced French-style with a soft "g" and perky upswing at the end) Biraud. "I wanted something personal, not a place where people just come once a week and you don't know them. Well, maybe not just once a week ... but [I wanted] to have regulars and to know them by name -- like an extension of home in some ways."

Personal to its core, Lily's was named after Biraud's mother, because it was her mother's birthday the day she signed the lease. Although the space was formerly a coffee shop (Columbia Grounds), Biraud made the space her own by redecorating, then opened the doors in January 2009.

The menu is small and features many homemade items. "I am limited because I do not have a full kitchen, just one small oven," says Biraud. "I have to find ways to be creative with my cooking. It's a challenge at times, but we make it."

Getting creative means that desserts, salads and soups are made in-house using locally sourced ingredients, such as Holy Land hummus and New French Bakery bread, when possible. Other items, like pastries, are purchased elsewhere but baked onsite.

The daily breakfast menu consists of oatmeal, waffles, pastries and a breakfast sandwich. Lunch offerings include salads, two daily soups and a small selection of sandwiches. Additional homemade brunch items, a breakfast burrito and quiche, are offered on weekends. New to the menu are crepes (in sweet and savory varieties), which are offered once per month on the second Sunday. Beverages range from organic sodas to organic, fair-trade coffee from local small-batch roaster Flamenco Organic Coffee Co.

But perhaps more than just the food and drink, people are drawn to Lily's for its comforting ambience. The two rooms that make up the small space are inviting yet distinct in their function and purpose. Coming into the shop, guests enter a traditional-looking cafe space with small two- and four-top tables and an L-shaped service area. Moving through the cafe, you enter the back room, which is a more casual, lounging environment.

"I like knick-knacks, so I did a lot of rummaging," Biraud says, describing the collection of antique tables, chairs and couches pieced together to create the furnishings in the back room. The result is a warm space with several seating areas that beg for a gab session with a good friend over a cup of coffee.

Extending the communal feel is the artwork displayed throughout the space. Biraud is always looking for local talent to feature; the current work features two Twin Cities photographers.

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The Churn

If you're interested in getting a behind-the-scenes look at a local craft brewer, grab your ID and stop by the Flat Earth Brewery (2035 Benson Av., St. Paul) at 4 p.m. Saturday. The brewery is offering a free tour.