Archive for October, 2006

FAB Coffee Shop
Wilde Roast Café

Wilde Roast Café (named for 19th-Century playwright Oscar Wilde) has much to boast about. Aside from being featured on the cover of Bon Appetit Magazine (for its flourless cake La Bete Noire), the café has garnered praise in Spin Magazine, as well as, locally, the St. Paul Pioneer Press and KARE 11 TV’s “Minnesota Showcase.” Wilde was a flamboyantly gay self-described genius, and his popular plays featured characters that typified his perception of the gay personality: smart, sophisticated, stylish—just like Wilde Roast Café. Wilde once remarked that the only way to be happy is to obsess over matters of style and taste, not “important” things. So, it’s a safe bet that Wilde would have considered his namesake café to be of paramount importance.

Be sure to check out the current Lavender, we won for FAB Coffee Shop for the second year in a row.  Thanks readers!

Check out the rest of the winners:  http://lavendermagazine.com/artman/publish/article_3360.php

Stop in the Cafe or email us at oscar@wilderoastcafe.com to enter a drawing to win a pair of tickets to John Trones’s next concert Christmas in the City, with Special Guest Jim Brickman at the Pantages Theatre, Sunday, December 3rd, 2006 at 7:00PM.

“John Trones is thrilled to announce an all-star line-up for his annual holiday concert at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis. Special guest artists include platinum-selling, Grammy nominated artist and piano sensation; Jim Brickman, “Ivories” icon and celebrated Twin Cities pianist Jimmy Martin, Church Basement Ladies composer and lyricist, Drew Jansen, and chanteuse, voice over artist and Debbie Does Dallas, the Musical star, and The Dollys band member Joanna Jahn. Christmas in the City is back for its second smash year at the Pantages Theatre. This cool, stylish and witty take on the holidays is a great tonic, or rather gin and tonic, to the usual sugary-sweet seasonal fare.”

In 1975 my mom took me to the movie Funny Lady. Now, I don’t know if she knew I was gay or was trying to make me gay, either way she picked me rather than my dad or seven siblings. I was only 11 years old. Mom and I loved the musical!

We would go to all of Ms. Streisand’s movies, and even bought the soundtrack to The Main Event. Both of us felt she should have gotten the Oscar for Yentl!

My mom would have loved last night. Dean and I were given main floor tickets to see Barbara’s concert (she was in perfect voice, and talked a lot with the audience). Not only was mom a big fan of her work she supported her DFL views. Got to love women with guts!

Thanks for the tickets Stephen!

Still miss ya mom.

I looked up the reviews/comments of the La Bete Noir on the Bon Appetit web site and found 42 happy people!  Check it out yourself.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/235831

Dear Friends:

Thirty-seven years after the Stonewall riots, is there still a reason for GLBT bookstores? With the ability to shop on the internet from home and the big chain stores in multiple locations, is a local GLBT bookstore still a desired destination? After a rough year and a half of declining sales (for whatever reasons: cost of gasoline?) and without additional financial backing, I’ll be forced to close.

 I opened Query Booksellers in March 2004 with funds from two individual investors as well as my own. A Brother’s Touch closed the previous year and I thought why should the Twin Cities GLBT populace have to travel to another city to find a quality bookstore that catered to their interests. I was fortunate to find a location adjoining the Wilde Roast Cafe. My goal has been to provide a congenial welcoming space stocked with books, gifts and merchandise as diverse as our community.

Though I have been a bookseller since 1987, I am a first-time business owner with my own share of  mistakes made while learning how best to make Query work. After the first four months, the bookstore became a one-man operation and the hours were adjusted to make that possible as well as take advantage of the busiest periods at the Cafe. Query is open 52 hours per week: Tuesday thru Friday (Noon-9PM), Saturday (11AM-9PM), Sunday (11AM-5PM) and closed on Mondays.

 I’ve come to realize Query is made up of stories and not just the ones in books. I’m referring to the life-stories of its customers. The mother from out-of-town bringing her teenage son who is questioning his sexuality. The couple looking for a book to help them navigate a temporary long-distance relationship. The woman looking for a book to help a friend who just found out her husband is gay. The married men who want to come out to their wives and children. Customers seeking books about dating, inter-racial relationships, nurturing relationships and ending relaionships. The list goes on covering every aspect of our lives from birth to death.

Of course, I believe in Query’s value and viability ; but my hope is that among all your contacts and networking within the GLBT community, you may have some ideas about whom would be interested in aiding Query’s survival. Thank you for your time in taking this matter under consideration.

Best Regards,
Lyle Starkloff

Query Booksellers

Check out the November Minnesota Monthly. They did a nice write up on the cafe with some great photos. This will be on our wall SOON!

It’s the birthday of Irish writer Oscar Wilde, (books by this author) born in Dublin (1854). Wilde was an unpromising student until he discovered ancient Greek literature, and fell completely in love with it. He won a scholarship to Oxford University and would have gone on to an academic career in classical literature if there had been any fellowships available. Instead, he moved to an apartment in London, and he became the leader of the aesthetic movement, which held the philosophy that that secret of life is art. Wilde said, “Even a colour-sense is more important, in the development of the individual, than a sense of right and wrong.”

He was struggling to break into the drama scene when a friend suggested that he go on a lecture tour in the United States to spread his ideas. Wilde sailed to New York City on Christmas Eve 1881. When he arrived, a customs official asked him if he had anything to declare, and Wilde reportedly said, “I have nothing to declare but my genius.” He went on a sweeping lecture tour in the United States, stopping everywhere from Des Moines to Denver, from St. Paul to Houston.

When he got back from the United States, Wilde fell into a love affair with the young aristocrat Lord Alfred Douglas. It was during that affair that Wilde wrote his most successful plays, including his masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest (1895).

Tangletown Gardens is the place for your, and our, fall colors. Scott finished the urns at the cafe on Friday, you will have to come by the cafe and check them out. Then you can head to South Minneapolis to Tangletown Gardens to pick up your own fall color. Thanks Scott and Dean!

And for the inside of your home check out our new florals from Wisteria Design. Our friends from Fiori (Jimmy and Kim) are taking their business to Europe for 3 years, so we have a new florist. Wisteria Design in International Market Square. They do cut flowers and silk, and of course they deliver.

Wisteria Design Studio . International Market Square . 612-332-0633 . www.wisteriadesign.com

Come by the Wilde Roast Cafe and pick up your FREE movie passes to the Special Early Screenings of 2 NEW major movies. Sponsored by Lavender Magazine

Infamous The new movie about the life of Truman Capote. Many big stars in this movie (movie is now showing, the passes are good anytime).

Running with Scissors Based on the personal memoirs of Augusten Burroughs. (Only Oct. 24th)

Out at the Movies is back, on November 9th at the Heights Theater come see the NEW movie Poster Boy. This is a fundraiser for OutFront. http://lavendermagazine.com/outatthemovies/

Wondering why we didn’t open Wilde Roast Cafe Downtown or St. Paul?  I had a offer I could not turn down, it was the Education Director of Valley Branch ELC in Afton.  To find out more about my new job check out this video clip from KARE 11: Cool in School.

http://kare11.com/video/life/community/schools/player.aspx?aid=35517&bw=hi