It’s a Natura question to ask: Coffee, tea or hookah?

Hippies sucking on hookahs like they were Mother Earth’s teat is what greeted my friend and me on a recent trip to Natura Coffee & Tea by UCF.

What’s a hookah, you ask? It’s a tobacco pipe, but it looks like an octopus. Important thing is, lots of people can smoke from it at once. Which reminds me of, oh, never mind. Anyway, this is a much smoother, cooler smoke because it is filtered through water. And it’s flavored to boot: Natura has around 25 flavors including coconut, apple and melon. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to snag a swat — all the hookahs in the joint were accounted for.

And, it was movie night, better known as The Organization Presents at Natura. Every Monday from 8 to 10 p.m. The Organization shows “politically minded” movies “to provoke thought and inspire change.”

Patchouli and hemp were well-represented at this coffee joint, which has an impressive coffee and tea selection. But what stood out — and what I jumped on immediately — was the beer selection, which beats most bars, with everything from Sea Dog Blueberry Wheat Ale to Blackthorn Cider to Belzebuth. (On that last one, with 15 percent alcohol, no wonder it’s French for Beelzebub — after a couple, you’ll be committing acts that would make Linda Blair blush, so order responsibly.)

The responsible ordering will be a plus too when you look at the prices — not astronomical considering the quality of beer you’ll be getting, but at $3 to $7 a pop, Joe College’s wallet might take a hit if he doesn’t pay attention.

Which of course I wasn’t; I was paying attention to my friend Mike pointing out a funny part in Michael Moore’s comedy Canadian Bacon, which was playing on the screen in the front of the coffee shop. I looked around and was surprised that not everyone was enjoying the late John Candy’s “politically charged” comedic stylings, but it didn’t take me long to find out why.

It seems you can smoke the hookah inside, but access is denied to any tobacco prerolled by Philip Morris. So a majority of the crowd was hanging at the tables outside, enjoying a cigarette with their beverage of choice. In fact some of the hookahs were brought out as well for those who dig both, I guess.

Sara, a server at Natura, later cleared up for me why hookahs got preferential treatment inside. According to her, the hookah is only heating tobacco, not burning it, so that makes it OK. I’ll just take her word for it.

At 10 p.m., when the movie wraps up, DJ Andy comes in for Digital Story Telling, where he spins mainly techno and hip-hop, accompanied by video. He also invites the public to stop by and bring their choice of media as well. But that’s secondhand info from Mike — the movie was over and, after a couple of Blueberry Ales, this hippie high-tailed it home.

Natura Coffee & Tea is at 12078 Collegiate Way in Orlando. There’s another location at the Downtown Media Arts Center, 39 S. Magnolia Ave., in Orlando. For more information on the movie night or the cafe call 407-482-5000.

And if the hookah caught your attention, there are a couple of other places around town that have caught on to this trend.

Next week I’ll tell you guys how posh I really think the new Orlando nightclub Posh is, but in the meantime, hookah enthusiasts can check out the Zanza Bar, a lounge inside the club at 7552 Universal Blvd. For more information, call 407-248-1977.

Call it a hunch, but I’m willing to bet this hookah lounge on Orange Avenue is a bit more posh than Posh’s. Za Bella Ristorante at 1234 Orange Ave. in Winter Park offers 12 different flavors of tobacco and a hookah to smoke it out of from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily. One catch: All smoking is outside. Call 407-628-2333.

Indian Delights Restaurant on 851 E. State Road 434 has sectioned off part of its restaurant for that wacky water pipe. Patrons can enjoy 25 different flavored tobaccos in the restaurant’s hookah lounge every Friday and Saturday from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 407-830-5678.

ORLANDOCITYBEAT.com

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Have you ever been burdened by the question, “what is skate art?” Well, the Social in downtown Orlando is here for you. “Sk8art” will feature art (of course) and live music from The Worst, The Delusionaires and others. Skater videos will play throughout the night at this Saturday event; 18 and up, starts at 8 p.m.; $10 advance, $12 day of show. The Social is at 54 N. Orange Ave.; call 407-246-1419.

Every Tuesday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. DJ Sexy Saucer will be serving up a night of Brit-pop and indie dance at the new Records N’ Stuff night at BackBooth in downtown Orlando. And the best part, there’s no cover for this 18-and-up night. BackBooth is at 37 W. Pine St.; call 407-999-2570.

Kelly Fitzpatrick can be reached at 407-420-5710.
kfitzpatrick@orlandocitybeat.com