Archive for July, 2004

All social change starts with a conversation.– Meg Wheatley
Thirteen years ago, Utne (a locally printed magazine)  incited their readers to start a revolution in their living rooms. In a special cover story on salons, they put out a call for people to get together and talk — about politics, culture, education, the arts, whatever they were thinking and obsessing about. That call struck a chord. Over 8,000 readers responded and asked to be matched up with other Utne readers in their community. The neighborhood salons movement was born.
At its peak in 1995, their Neighborhood Salon Association had 25,000 members in some 600 groups meeting monthly across the continent and in several foreign countries. They eventually decided that the movement had become a force all its own and let go of our role in overseeing salons.   Several Wilde Roast Cafe customers have expressed an interest in starting a SALON NIGHT this fall.  Email me if you would like to be a member or lead the group. http://utne.com/

Seeing that we are new to the business I don’t know the ebb and flow of the week/year/day yet. It is odd to predict how busy we are going to be….slow with the jazz last night but packed tonight. Plus, we are getting tons of box lunch business during the week….THANKS Media Loft!

We had our FIRST ANNUAL  Staff appreciation Party last Sunday night at our home.  At first I thought Dean was crazy for closing the cafe for 5 hours but, after the party, I realized how important our staff is for our business.  They are a great group of people and deserve to have time off to create community…..plus, nobody broke anything.  The only people hurt were the ones who tried to touch Stan (our cat).  She hates people and loves to bite!  Thanks to our staff for helping make this place great.

OK!  We are going to try this again.  BUNKO Night is this Monday.  Last time we had about 16 people show up…..most of whom were related to me…or dragged in by my sisters.  Now, this is really a fun, low skill, game and a great way to meet new people.  You have to be here at 7:30pm!  Win prizes and have fun.

“Tonight I am the most current version of man, the one who sprints past the dawn and the dusk, ahead to future nights, so that he might help ink their very architecture.”So begins The Tequila Chronicles: Spontaneous Moments Preserved in Alcohol, an experimental collection of writing from Wilde Roast regular Michael K. Gause.

Recorded while drunk in 2001, and virtually unedited for release in 2004, the Chronicles is a monthly collection of observation reflection, and reverie in an attempt to journey to the center of it all for the sake of the sober.

“There is truly much to marvel at on these pages: there is the inner clarity of knowing, an imposing architecture set forth by a romantically-centered ruminating mind.” says Ric Carfagna, reviewer for the poetry website Poetic Inhalation (www.poeticinhalation.com).

The Tequila Chronicles is available at Query Books, next door to The Wilde Roast Cafe,
for a mere $5.

Congratulations to Little Voices! What a HUGE success. Emma and Audrey took the stage and everyone’s attention for a solid hour of songs that ranged from Broadway to Motown! It was fun when they sang together and solo. We were very excited that Andrew joined them with the piano to tie the whole show together. We are looking at a fall date to re-book this event…if they aren’t too big of stars by then!

Thanks to Ellen Hart; she is the author of many books and met with the Wilde Roast Cafe/Query Book Club last night. She had so much information on gay Hollywood….fun gossip! She is writing her 22 book right now. We hope to have her back when it is done.

Our next book is by Jonathan Odell. He is a local author who is getting much praise for his first novel, “The View From Delphi.” We will be meeting him and talking about the book on Tuesday, August 17th. So, get into Query and pick up this book today!

Hey…check out this article in the City Pages! Click by the picture of Dean and Tom.

citypages.com

One quick announcement and a change of Event:

Greg Dagoumas, an accordion player, and Wilde Roast Cafe customer will be playing at the caf� this Thursday from 8 � 9 p.m. He has chosen a variety of music that will blend nicely with the swanky atmosphere at the Wilde Roast. No polkas, unless requested.

Little Voices will start at 7:30pm on Saturday night (not 6pm).

Many people are asking “How are you doing?”….Meaning the Wilde Roast Cafe. The neighborhood, GLBT, and local business traffic has been MUCH bigger than we predicted. It is so nice to know that others were looking for a non-smoking place like us where they could get good food or just a treat to go. The number of box lunch orders is steadily increasing each week (see menu page). So, THANKS for the support!

This week will be busy with Showtunes, Jazz, and the Book Club. I am also very excited to see my 4th graders sing and dance on Saturday night at 7:30pm….the event I am billing as Little Voices.