My sister and I stopped by Crave Bakery in downtown Norfolk and had a really good experience overall! Parking is street parking, but we were able to find a spot pretty close, which was convenient. The bakery itself is very clean and super cute inside, with a nice little area that would be perfect for a quick photo op. I also really liked the self-order kiosk. I love being able to look through the menu and take my time deciding what I want without feeling like I'm holding up the line. There were also a lot of drink options, including hot coffee, iced coffee, frozen coffee, and frozen drinks. I tried the Banana Pudding Iced Latte. It was good and honestly better than most banana-flavored drinks I've had, but I personally wanted more banana flavor to come through. It wasn't bad at all--I still drank the entire thing but I would've loved a stronger banana pudding flavor. The Strawberry Cheesecake Muffin was SO good. Soft, huge, and delicious. Definitely one of the highlights for us. No notes on that one! But let's talk about the SHRIMP & GRITS. I have another restaurant in Virginia Beach that has held my #1 spot for grits for a VERY long time. I've tried shrimp and grits all over Hampton Roads and even in other states, and nobody had really come close. Crave Bakery is officially neck and neck with them now. The flavor is completely different from my Virginia Beach favorite, which is why I can't necessarily say one is better than the other. They're just two very different takes on shrimp and grits and both are now at the top for me. The portion was pretty generous, too. We split one bowl and were still super full afterward. The shrimp and grits were hot and flavorful, and flavor-wise, I have no notes. My only personal preference was the consistency. I like my grits a little thicker, while these were more on the loose/creamy side. My sister actually thought the consistency was perfect, so that's definitely just a personal preference and not really a criticism. We also tried a couple of cookies. We had the lemon cookie and a ginger molasses cookie. The lemon cookie itself was good, but we weren't crazy about the icing on top. It was very sweet and, to us, felt unnecessary because the cookie was already sweet enough. We would've preferred the cookie without the icing. The ginger molasses cookie was the biggest miss for us. And this one is interesting because I actually like ginger molasses cookies! I've had one from another bakery before and really enjoyed it, and I also like ginger snaps. This particular cookie was just molasses, and neither of us liked it. So I'm not sure if it's simply that this particular cookie wasn't for us, or if the ginger molasses cookies I've had in the past were more ginger which is why I liked them. Either way, this one wasn't our favorite. Customer service was nice, and we didn't have any issues during our visit. Overall, the shrimp & grits and strawberry cheesecake muffin were definitely the standouts for me. The bakery is cute, clean, has a good variety of food and drinks, and I absolutely loved the self-order kiosk. I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu and honestly, I need those shrimp and grits again. read more

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First, Iced crème brûlée latte was spot on, I now know why they recommended their popular drink! Shrimp and Grits price was not updated on menu - it's now $29 instead of $22! Staff is friendly, patient with me as I browsed their extensive menu offering beverages, sandwiches, breakfast items (bowl,burrito,bagels, etc) They have various choices of individual pies (apple, peach, etc.), cookies, cakes, muffins etc. Ambiance is casual but slightly upscale. Very IG'able. Seating for about 20 people with various standard, high top, settee options. Music slightly loud for such ambiance.... The kale chix bowl didn't even have kale. There was way too much sour cream, wish they serve it on the side, made to make serving look more. They didn't even care to wipe the bowl side clean (see photo), it didn't look appetizing as if they just plopped everything. For $15 it was not on par with sausage egg cheese grits bowl from Waffle House. I'd come back for the coffee selections. read more

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This was my first visit to Crave, but it won't be my last. I had good service and the wait time wasn't bad at all for my latte, breakfast sandwich, and goodies to go. I wanted to try the southern maple pecan latte, but they were out of maple. I went with the brown sugar oatmilk latte, and it did not disappoint. The breakfast sandwich is huge! I got mine with turkey sausage and on gluten-free bread. The egg and sausage were seasoned perfectly - yum! The gluten-free muffins I purchased to go were pumpkin, blueberry, and banana. The pumpkin and blueberry were a little dry. But that banana one was not dry at all. They have a good amount of seating and I love the sunflowers on the table. read more

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In this photo, you can see one biscoff banana pudding and one original banana pudding. From the presentation, it looks appetizing, but upon tasting it, it was flavorless and bitter. It also lacked the pudding taste. It was so thick that you would think it was a billizard from Darry Queen, where the staff flips the cup to show how thick the blizzard is. The shop was a very surreal type of silence--the kind that makes you have chills. You would think you were on the set of the movie "A Quiet Place." The staff looked terrified when I approached the owner, whom I would like to call Miss Trechbull, the principal from Matilda. For those who don't get the reference, upon observation, I called upon a staff member and asked if she treated them well. The staff member then whispered, "How can you tell?" I then proceeded to say, "It's true. She runs the shop like a dictator." Personally, I believe that if it weren't for the bad economy, she would have quit on the spot. To sum up my visit, I would not recommend it unless you like the feel of a cold environment, like a morgue. Lastly, you would think with the name being "Crave," you would crave to come back, but unfortunately, the crave should be called the "Brave" for those who dare it to enter. read more

Crave Bakery + Coffee Bar - Banana pudding original and biscoff banana pudding - Bakeries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I felt compelled to visit after seeing an uptick of posts on tiktok of the cafe/bakery, it looked like an experience I'd like to add to my itinerary but what first started of as excitement quickly turned sour. Upon arriving it didn't strike me as any different than any other food spots, nice decor and comfortable seating. We were greeted by staff, but shortly thereafter what should've been a very simple and straightforward interaction of ordering from the menu, rapidly turned into hostility when the owner was left dissatisfied when staff explained what a companion that accompanied me to the store wanted to order. My friend was denied the choice of ordering what she wanted on the whim of the store owner. I have never experienced a store denying a customer the right to order what is available to all on the menu. I must say, the staff was friendly and very helpful but it was very apparent they were subject to the same emotional volatility from the owner as we were. They appeared miserable and if not for needing to make a living I doubt they would want to work in such a toxic environment created by the owner. The mistreatment of staff made us feel uncomfortable and pity the staff. When we finally received some drinks and puddings (minus the food my friend was declined) it was dissatisfactory, fell short of the glowing reviews on tiktok. I wish I could say the food was able to compensate for the poor customer service but that was an overall failure too. Outrageous prices for poor product in return. Finally, I would like to say If you are to run an establishment what comes first and what truly leaves a lasting impression is curating a friendly atmosphere, being courteous with customers and treating those of us that are wanting to spend our hard earned money with respect! Without customers you are nothing! read more

I felt compelled to visit after seeing an uptick of posts on tiktok of the cafe/bakery, it looked like an experience I'd like to add to my itinerary but what first started of as excitement quickly turned sour. Upon arriving it didn't strike me as any different than any other food spots, nice decor and comfortable seating. We were greeted by staff, but shortly thereafter what should've been a very simple and straightforward interaction of ordering from the menu, rapidly turned into hostility when the owner was left dissatisfied when staff explained what a companion that accompanied me to the store wanted to order. My friend was denied the choice of ordering what she wanted on the whim of the store owner. I have never experienced a store denying a customer the right to order what is available to all on the menu. I must say, the staff was friendly and very helpful but it was very apparent they were subject to the same emotional volatility from the owner as we were. They appeared miserable and if not for needing to make a living I doubt they would want to work in such a toxic environment created by the owner. The mistreatment of staff made us feel uncomfortable and pity the staff. When we finally received some drinks and puddings (minus the food my friend was declined) it was dissatisfactory, fell short of the glowing reviews on tiktok. I wish I could say the food was able to compensate for the poor customer service but that was an overall failure too. Outrageous prices for poor product in return. Finally, I would like to say If you are to run an establishment what comes first and what truly leaves a lasting impression is curating a friendly atmosphere, being courteous with customers and treating those of us that are wanting to spend our hard earned money with respect! Without customers you are nothing! read more

A warm, inviting spot with beautiful artwork and a genuinely relaxing vibe. The seating feels cozy, the atmosphere is welcoming, and it's an easy place to unwind with a drink or snack. The only downside during my visit was the bathroom, which needed attention -- the toilet seat wasn't clean. A quick refresh there would make the whole experience even better. read more

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Delicious sun-dried tomato quiche. Freshly brewed drip coffee. Friendly service. My one complaint about this place is that they don't have their menu items with a clear price displayed. More than once have I had sticker shock when the bill arrives. My 6" piece of quiche and large drip coffee came to $28 which seems excessive for Norfolk. DC pricing in Tidewater read more

Crave Bakery + Coffee Bar - Sun dried tomato quiche. 6" pie. - Bakeries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Im addicted to this place. The desserts are amazing. I love the discounted section for previous day desserts.

Cray is a Black-owned coffee shop and bakery tucked right in the heart of downtown Norfolk and let me tell you, this place goes crazy. I stumbled across it while walking my dog, and after doing a little research, I knew I had to check it out. From the moment I stepped inside, I was greeted with the smell of fresh-baked goods sweet, warm, and comforting, like walking straight into a hug. The coffee menu is stacked with multiple options, and as a true coffee lover, I was in heaven. The bakery section is just as impressive as the drinks. Everything looked tempting, and the scent alone could convince you to order one of everything. I also love that they have outdoor seating, which makes it perfect for people-watching & sipping. I already know I'm going to be back multiple times, and it won't be long before I'm one of their familiar regulars. read more

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Cute corner coffee shop in Norfolk by the water. Bakery items and coffee were both good. I wouldn't get the sandwich again. It was salty (maybe the type of meat?) and just not something I enjoyed. Also, it took a long time for the sandwich to be made so definitely recommend ordering ahead if possible. The cookies were yummy and fresh. The coffee was just the right amount of sweet. read more

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Another amazing place here in Norfolk, my breakfast croissant was amazing. I had egg and cheese with turkey sausage. The blueberry muffin was delicious as well and the fresh squeeze, orange juice, and chai latte top things off. The service was great. The host of the restaurant was amazing and her staff. The place was very clean and easy to get to. I highly recommend trying this place out if you want good dessert with good hospitality. read more

Crave Bakery + Coffee Bar - Bakeries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

This cafe shop has been on my list for a hot minute, and today I finally had the chance to try it out. Food: I ordered a Dubai matcha latte and a red velvet muffin. The drink was alright; there wasn't anything special about it. Standard matcha with chocolate milk. Now the red velvet muffin was so dry, that it had a consistency of rubber. It was lackluster in flavor and barely had any cream cheese in it OR on it. Service: I was not greeted when I walked in but was greeted at the register. The barista taking my order didn't seem to know what drink I was ordering, so I had to point it out to her on the menu. The owner doesn't wasn't friendly either, she is a bit rude to her customers and workers. Ambiance: When I first walked in, I immediately noticed the display case of baked goods, everything in the case seemed super cute and I noticed a lot of glitter on them. They had some chairs and tables, nothing special. Overall, I had high hopes for this place, but for the quality of the food and service, I will not be back. read more

Crave Bakery + Coffee Bar - Red Velvet Muffin - Bakeries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

To die for shrimp and grits, at least when she was down here in Chesapeake. Maybe one day we'll get back up north to try again.

We are on the search for new Saturday morning coffee date location so my husband and I decided to try Crave after it was recommended to us. It was AMAZING! We both had breakfast sandwiches but I ordered mine on Gluten Free bread and it was delicious! The staff was friendly, the owner checked on us while we were there and I have zero complaints. We ended up sitting outside and enjoyed a lovely morning in Norfolk with great food. We will most definitely be back! read more

Crave Bakery + Coffee Bar - Bakeries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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This cafe is conveniently located in such a walkable area nearby Nauticus for a quick pitstop and snack! I ordered the Smores signature latte which had the perfect balance of all the highlighted flavors. As well as the Turkey , Avocado & Fig sandwich... this was AMAZING! The flavor notes were absolutely perfect all across the board and I will be back! read more

Crave Bakery + Coffee Bar - Turkey Avocado & Fig Sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Located near Waterside, the shop has the ideal location on Granby Street. I didn't receive a greeting when I entered the shop, but was greeted when I got to the register. Ordered the shrimp and grits and they were just okay. They were greasy and lacked the flavor that I'm use to. read more

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Crave really checks all of the boxes! The aesthetics are on point. The interior has an upscale and colorful feel to it! It's a great place to sit in. There were some comfy couches and several tables. The coffee and breakfast I had today were both excellent and the service was friendly. I was greeted on arrival and placed my order up at the counter but I did later realize they have touch screen ordering available as well. I received my coffee pretty quickly and breakfast within about 15 minutes. The quiche that I ordered was DELICIOUS. Way exceeded my expectations. I believe it was likely made it house and was very generously sized. I couldn't even finish it. Because I was so full, I ended up skipping out on the pastry that I had planned on taking for the road. But if they are half as good as the coffee and breakfast, I'd say they're killer! I'm definitely returning for that pastry soon! Props to the owner. She is awesome by the way! read more

Crave Bakery + Coffee Bar - Quiche w/ goat cheese, spinach, & sun dried tomatoes. - Bakeries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

When in ORF (Norfolk) definitely drop by this spot!!!! Holy cow - amazing treats! These ladies really knocked it out the park. Support this local business and not to say your everyday coffee spot isn't good it's just that this place is a fantastical whimsical and uniquely designed spot. Oh and it's all freshly made! People you have to stop here at least 1 time when your visiting or living here! Oh and try their home made pies! Peace out folks!!! read more

Wonderful environment and food was terrific. Wanted to try the coffee but got a smoothie instead. Muy bien. Pictured is breakfast burrito, egg croissant, and tomato soup. read more

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I was in town for the holidays and decided to try to place. All of the items that I ordered were really good! What I ordered: Breakfast Sandwich (on a croissant), Crème Brûlée latte, & Eggnog Scone read more

Food is good but expensive and service takes forever. Took 45 minutes to get two sandwiches.

I saw this come up on local places to eat on my yelp page so I was out and about this morning. Figured I would stop in and check out this new black owned coffee bakery Café. I was amazed and blown away from the entrance in the door, the artwork and the vibe in this place is amazing. The staff was very helpful very kind and very sweet. The owner is the cook so she was in the back, but she did come out to assist and answer any questions. Everyone was greeted when they walked in the door Very home feeling the aesthetics of this place is amazing and then I ordered a lunch item for breakfast because I love a good BLT so I ordered the B. A. L. T. Sandwich and added a fried egg to it on sourdough. The sandwich is amazing healthy portions because it's a lunch item. It came with chips and two pickles then I ordered the salted caramel Banana pudding cup, and a strawberry banana pudding cup so the salted caramel is infused in the cream in between or the pudding I guess in the banana pudding as well as strawberries are purée is infused in the strawberry banana pudding purée it was amazing pictures don't do it justice. It's a must stop. It's not that far from my job so I plan on bringing one of my coworkers would be here for lunch to try out the actual lunch menu because I was told they have shrimp and grits and I'm a shrimp and grits girly and I must check it out. This is definitely chef's kiss Yum Yum in my tum tum to say the least read more

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Super good desserts and coffee. I got the cookie butter latte and a cupcake, and both were fantastic. The place is really spacious with plenty of room to sit. I just wish they had more comfortable seating and made the overall vibe feel a bit more put together. read more

Crave Bakery + Coffee Bar - Bakeries Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I love the crave bakery, it's one of the few places you can find some keto desserts. The keto desserts are very tasty, I wish we had more keto options though. The service is great, they will call you for the keto options if you order on doordash or uber and they're out and make it work for you (Keto orders need to have a courtesy amount of time for the staff to prep them sometimes so be sure to give them a notice first.) read more

Crave used to be located in the Edinburgh area of Chesapeake but moved to Norfolk, in the old Chocollage space. Crave repainted the space and put their won flair. When you walk in, they kept the window looking into the kitchen. I love that they kept that. I'm a very curious gal and love behind-the-scenes type stuff, so I appreciate this a lot! The baked goods case and service counter line the entire back wall and there are beautiful velvet chairs and classy tables by the windows. - Parking - Google Maps is finicky and the pin is not located properly. It sends you to the other corner. Go to College and Boush. Like I mentioned previously, it's the old Chocollage space! - Noms - For goodies, I got the double chocolate chip cookie and chocolate chip cookies. They seem to be made with edible glitter because they are very sparkly! They are a good size and very tasty. I also got an old fashioned cupcake and chocolate chip cupcakes. They are consistent to the ones I've tasted in Chesapeake. I feel a tad bit dry for my liking, but I loved the icing, not over the top and just enough. Love that they are located in this part of Norfolk. Feels more of a homey, neighborhood spot! Can't wait to go back and try more goodies. They informed me that they will be doing afternoon teas in the near future! Enjoy, Friends, and never stop exploring! read more

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Went here Wednesday morning for some coffee. The lady who I believe is actually the owner took and made my order. She was very sweet and nice! I loved how the cafe looked inside with its decor. I didn't know this was a black owned business prior to visiting and finding their instagram after I left, so I'm def adding this spot to my go to list now! I did have to circle the block a couple of times until asking someone walking down the street where the cafe was. I realized that there is a different restaurant name on the outside of the building. I assume this cafe must be new to the downtown area and just haven't gotten the outside signage changed. I ordered a large iced coffee with vanilla and caramel (10/10) and an everything bagel with scallion cream cheese (10/10). I'll definitely be going back to try their lunch/dinner options, baked goods, and latte flavors next. Such a cute place and hidden gem! Total spent : $12.80 including tip. My overall rate of experience : 10/10 read more

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Can you say GIANT AMAZING cinnamon rolls? I am not exaggerating these are huge! Three of us shared one and we ordered 6! They are not too sweet and much better than the commercial ones you order! I ordered a croissant with eggs and bacon too! I would love to tell you how great I thought it was but my pooch jumped up and ate it before I could sit the bag with cinnamon rolls on the counter! Bandit seemed to love it too! You must try this place! I door dashed it friends say it's super cute too! read more

I went to crave bakery and coffee bar over the weekend while visiting Norfolk. The staff was amazing. They are very friendly and they are helpful. They will give you great recommendations. I had the shrimp and grits, mac & cheese, and blackberry mocha latte. My friend had a burrito and the brown sugar latte. We also got a few desserts. I got a red velvet cheesecake and an assortment of cookies. Everything that we had was amazing. the place is on the smaller side. They display their desserts very well. It's the first thing you see when you come into the building. It's very clean. This is a place I would recommend over and over. read more

WASTE OF MONEY! Extremely slow service...it took me 35 minutes to receive my coffee. A SINGLE drink. Which wasn't even good. And then it took another 30 minutes to receive 2 sandwiches. All that just to have paid $68!!! Don't recommend unless you plan on sitting there all day and you're okay with sub-par food. read more

Service was not great, black woman in there was not friendly at ALL. The whole cafe smelled like fake plastic and just gross. Food isn't good either. Prices are insane for what they give you. I also picked up a doordash from here before and she tried to accuse me of stealing. 0/10 I would never go again. read more

I was excited to try this place after seeing the pictures online. We went around 10 am and got two coffees and one breakfast item. Coffee took well over 10 minutes, which was okay as another couple had placed an order right before us so I figured it may be a little bit. After over 30 minutes I decided I was no longer interested in waiting and asked for a refund so we could leave. All of a sudden our food was being boxed up and was ready to go. There was a child (not a patron, just hanging out while her family worked in the shop) blaring games and music from a phone over the music already playing in the shop. After paying an astronomical price for mediocre coffee and $5 for a Tropicana orange juice I would think atmosphere would be a little better. Food is fine, but won't willing to go back and try other items after today's experience unfortunately read more

Great place for a quick pick-me-up or afternoon tea. The staff are great and it's a laid back cafe with style!

I frequented this shop when it was in Chesapeake. I've had it on my radar since I heard they moved to Norfolk. The space is much bigger and modern. It's in downtown Norfolk so unfortunately no parking lots, just street parking if you're lucky to find one. They had a good selection of pies, cakes, quiches, cupcakes and muffins. We came in on a Friday afternoon fortunately we were the only ones there since we had a lot of questions and the owner couple were able to chit chat for a while. We bought several cookies and several cupcakes. I ate the pistachio raspberry cupcake and it was delicious. The others (strawberry cheesecake, carrot,) are sitting in the fridge for later this evening. The baked goods were delicious. Everything I remembered about their baked goods and sandwiches are still on point. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for their coffees. We were very disappointed about their iced lattes. My mother ordered a decaf iced white mocha latte with truffle and oat milk. The first red flag was that she asked if we could wait a little bit because she had to brew the decaf. Um...real lattes and coffee drinks are made with espresso. This drink was absolutely horrible. I am so sorry to say this because the owners are so nice, and their food is good, but this coffee was not. You couldn't even taste the white mocha, and again, it was made with decaf coffee. This had me questioning all the drinks I've purchased from them over the years when they were in Chesapeake. I ordered a hot chocolate for my son and I swear it took almost another 15 minutes to get this. I ordered an iced pistachio dream with almond and this was pretty good. My thoughts are all over the place with Crave. Their baked goods and sandwiches are still delicious. Customer service is still great. Prices are still pretty expensive. Their coffees in my opinion are not made correctly. I still can't believe they used brewed coffee instead of espresso for their signature drinks. I really wanted to give them the 5 stars but I just can't this time. I really wish them well considering all the legal hassles they are dealing with though. read more

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This restaurant is so cute! Inside they have a few different places to sit. There is outdoor seating as well, but it was a little too cold to sit outside when we went. The owner is the one who waited on us. She was very attentive and checked in with us to see how we enjoyed our food and drinks. I ordered a hot almond joy latte. It was so tasty and tasted exactly like an almond joy. My friend let me try her crème brûlée latte. I loved the flavor of hers (I'll have to order that one next time). My breakfast sandwich was so full of flavor. Normally my issue with breakfast sandwiches is the bread overpowers the rest of the sandwich, that was not the case with this sandwich. The bread nicely complimented the flavors of the bacon, eggs, and cheese. It was a great experience overall. I can't wait to go again and try their other dishes, maybe even their lunch next time. I also want to try some of the available pastries. The orange cranberry scone called to me the most. read more

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My European wife says this the best Cappuccino in America! I would tend to agree! We were in Norfolk for 5 days and we went there almost every day! Great food and outstanding café!! read more

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First visit impressions. - Food was very good. - Drinks (mocha latte and smoothy) were ok, but not to our taste. Wouldn't come back for them. - Prices were very high. - Wait time was terrible. 20 minutes to get two drinks, 45 minutes to get two sandwiches. And it didn't appear that busy. I'm afraid it's a one-and-done for us. read more

Very nice people but the service was terribly disorganized and very slow. They don't seem to know the difference between a latte and a cappuccino and the scone I ordered was tough and dry. A small latte and a mediocre scone came in at over $13!! I was very disappointed. read more

crave bakery and coffee bar is a must stop spot for breakfast and coffee in Norfolk. I was in town for the weekend and they popped up on nearby coffee shops and I couldn't be happier I went. The food was phenomenal, the baked goods were to die for and the staff and owner were extremely friendly. This place is an absolute must read more

If you're looking for a spot where everything you eat is very good and moist. Not too sweet, just right. I also ordered a cake for my daughter quinceanera and cookies. I can't wait for that day. read more

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