We’re Not Black Sheep, We’re Black Cats
Why lactose free & gluten free?
Simply put: I've got celiac disease and I'm also lactose intolerant. You could say I understand how hard it is to find a reliable place to enjoy food. Generally what happens is I find a restaurant offering gluten free options, but they aren't designated gluten free. AKA cross-contamination central, a celiac's nightmare. Lactose free? Same issue. Folks with food allergies constantly have to carefully dissect menus, ask the waitstaff a million questions, and then pray the folks in the kitchen take you seriously and don't think you're just following a fad diet. I want to provide a place for people like myself to eat without having to worry about things like cross-contamination. No one likes accidentally being glutened. At Black Cat you can dine and relax knowing that your dietary restrictions are being taken seriously.
why the name black cat?
The simple answer is that I was inspired by my adorable black cat, Xena. There is, of course, a deeper meaning as well.
Black cats are often treated differently simply for being who they are, due to superstitions or old tales. I feel like a lot of us can relate to that. That’s why I want to honor all of the amazing black cats in the world. Whether it’s an actual black cat, a queer artist, an eco-warrior, or the thing that makes you uniquely you, ALL black cats are loved and appreciated here.
Where are the cats?
If I had a nickel for every time someone asked… While our cafe does have the word ‘cat’ in its name, we unfortunately do not have live cats at our location. While technically possible, bringing live cats into the space would create issues with allergens, plus health and food safety issues that would be very difficult to work around. Just because we don’t have cats doesn’t mean Black Cat isn’t fun as hell. We have cat themed board games, a plethora of cat themed artwork, and cats painted all over the establishment. Let me know if you find all of them!
Curiosity Killed the Cat But
Satisfaction Brought It Back
Hi, I’m Ali & this is Xena
Artsy Fartsy Baker at Your Service
Two things I have always wanted in life were to be an artist, and to have my own cafe/gallery. Sporting a Bachelor’s in graphic design/media arts and a love for animals, I founded my art business, Alexandra Art+Design, in 2018. I love all things animals! I bring them to life in my own unique way using pencils, pens, and sometimes markers. Each whimsical piece shows my view of an assortment of animals (mostly cats) or my views of people as if they were animals themselves.
After practicing illustration for 20+ years, I was finally at the point where I could start thinking about making my cafe/gallery dream a reality. In August of 2022, I stumbled on the perfect location and I subsequently opened up Black Cat Gallery on October 29th, 2022. While the cafe is still a work in progress, I am so excited about what I've accomplished so far and my plans for the future of Black Cat. Join us as we continue to build the cafe and gallery of my dreams!
FEED YOUR BELLY & YOUR EYES
Maybe you have celiac disease. Maybe you’re lactose intolerant. Maybe you just enjoy living a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle. Whatever your situation, I’m sure we can fill your belly with some delicious food!
You know what's almost as important as feeding your body? Feeding our eyes and nourishing your soul! With good art that is. We carry a variety of works and styles at Black Cat so I can say with near certainty that something at the gallery will please your eyeholes.