South Whidbey Commons

GREAT Opportunity!

2011-04-27T12:00:00.001-07:00

Spring Persists

2011-04-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

April!!!

2011-04-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

To get the upclose view of all that's going on, click once on the image, then click again...

Do You Know About Our Backroom?

2011-03-04T09:07:00.000-08:00

If you take a look at all that's going on at The Commons this month, you might wonder how a staff of two + two AmeriCorps can make it all happen. Well, it doesn't happen because of "us - the staff," it happens because of "us - the community!" Especially in our Backroom, we look to our knowledgeable and talented community members to put on programming!

Of course, there are a few guidelines, but they are pretty easy to follow. So if you, or someone you know, is interested in offering a class, discussion group, workshop, or activity, check out this overview and contact us via e-mail at communications@swcommons.com . To enlarge the document, double click on it, then click on it again.

What's Up?

2011-03-02T08:28:00.000-08:00

Here's what's going on at The Commons in March. To enlarge the image, double click on it and then click on it again.

Talk of Snow and Poetry

2011-02-22T12:06:00.000-08:00

It's the end of February, and we're all so excited about the approach of spring...but it looks like it might be delayed a bit! The snow is falling in stop-start fashion here today, and we're hearing talk of more to come tonight and tomorrow. We'll see.

In the meantime, mark your calendar for Friday. Jim Freeman will be in the front room, hosting a poetry slam! It will be so much fun!!!! 7-9pm, February 25.

As for this snow? We'll see what happens. If you are ever concerned about whether or not an event is cancelled because of weather...check here :)

Must Be Friday

2011-02-18T20:37:00.000-08:00

Entertainment in the front room, coffee behind the counter, happy folks laughing and talking...must be Friday night at The Commons! Tonight it's Erik Christensen and Friends with great folk, rock, and blues. Next week it will be a poetry slam, hosted by Jim Freeman. You've just gotta experience one of our Friday Night Live events... you'll become a regular :)

Life is WonderFULL!

2011-02-09T07:49:00.000-08:00

Learning, Planning, Running Behind

2011-01-28T08:15:00.000-08:00

January has been PACKED! Looking back at 2010 to evaluate what worked well and what could work better, planning the calendar for 2011, pulling together our first newsletter of the year (watch for it on Monday!), and preparing for some menu and pricing changes – WOW!

No wonder I’m running behind!

The beauty of working with a community organization that honors thoughtful reflection is that you never doubt that you are participating in the creation of a values-driven system (rather than a market-driven one).

The curse is that such thoughtful reflection, across many individual fronts, takes time and a lot of meetings :)

I think it’s a good trade off, myself.

Watch for more details in our upcoming newsletter. In the meantime, it’s off to Playscape, and then getting ready for tonight’s Friday Night Live – Eleanor Fye, 7-9pm in the front room.

See you soon?

We Need Your Help To Make It Happen In Between

2011-01-07T07:49:00.000-08:00

It’s true, there’s a LOT of caffeine around here, but The Commons is about so much more than coffee! We also are about connecting people, prompting conversations, engaging individuals across generations in support and appreciation of each other, and drawing out the many talents of the community for all to see.

AND…we are about books!

In other words, the work of The Commons is vibrant and complex, and it happens in the space between the coffee and the books here on Second Street in Langley.

This brings me to the actual point of this post.

The Commons needs YOU.

The Commons needs you as a customer. You not only contribute to those connections, conversations, and talents, you also help keep our space open for those things every time you buy an espresso, scone, cup of soup, salad, or a book.

And The Commons needs your gently used books. As you’re doing your January de-cluttering, consider passing along those books you loved but no longer need. Over the past year, income from book sales has become a significant part of what keeps The Commons open and available to the community. And those books come from people like you – and in a powerful form of re-cycling, end up with people like you.

You see, it’s a circle of sorts. The community donates books to us. We sell them to the community. The community gets a good deal, resources are shared, and the proceeds go to support The Commons.

One of our board members and star volunteers, Sue Haworth, spends about 20 hours each week with her team of volunteer “bookies” sorting through book donations to insure that what hits our shelves is both contemporary (less than 5 years old is our goal) and of good quality.

In 2010, we sold over 3250 titles, thanks to the team’s careful culling, artful displaying, and general enthusiasm for getting books in the hands of the community.

So again, you can help keep The Commons open, available, and strengthening the community – just by dropping by to get your caffeine, or by donating or purchasing books.

What you do on the ends, makes it all happen in between.

Early is OK

2010-12-31T10:04:00.000-08:00

It’s quiet here in the early mornings. Gena is on holiday, and while she’s gone, I’m on morning baking duty.

Other than the “having to get up at 5am” part, it’s actually nice to be in so early and alone. It gives me a chance to see everything it really takes to get this place operational each day.

It is at once overwhelming, amazing and inspiring. Yesterday, for instance, by 7:30, while scones and cookies were baking in the oven. I took the chairs off the tops of the tables out front, brought in the paper, set the soup out, and checked the sugar, cream, and spoons at the self-serve coffee station.

By 8am, a wonderful team of volunteers, 5 to be exact, and Darcy (one of our AmeriCorps team) arrived on the scene. Each set about putting the rest of the Coffeehouse Bookstore together.

Two volunteers checked in a delivery and put everything away in its proper place. One set up the espresso machine, checked to make sure the shots were pulling correctly, and stocked the fridge with fresh milk and cream. Another put out the baked goods as they were ready, while yet another set up the back for dishwashing. And the other set up the cash register and started the prep work for our quesadillas and salads.

Within 30 minutes, everything was up and ready for business and the volunteer team was asking, “what can we do next?”

By mid morning, as customers were served, all of the baseboards and cabinet faces were scrubbed, the books in the front were straightened, storage shelves in the back were cleaned and organized, and new signs were designed, printed and put out to highlight various programs and opportunities.

It’s easy to miss all of this if you’re not here at 7am…this unfolding of the day.

It takes 250 volunteer hours each week to make all of this happen…to keep the Commons Coffeehouse Bookstore working in service with our community. And the fact that people are willing to come in for several hours a week, work hard, and have fun while they are doing it is testament to the mission of the Commons. We (that includes YOU, otherwise there is no WE!) strengthen our community by creating opportunities to gather, learn and grow.

While we do this, volunteers learn how to engage with people they might not know yet. They learn how to more seamlessly interact with people of all ages. They learn how to make great espresso and provide good customer service. And they learn what it takes to run a business.

What I’ve seen this week, by coming in to participate in the unfolding of the day, is that our volunteers not only make The Commons possible, but they also become better customers who understand the challenges of our local businesses, and they become more solid candidates for jobs with those local businesses. But until the time is right and those jobs become available, they are happy to be here, learning in concert with the people who support The Commons by purchasing espresso, scones, tea, salads and more.

Don’t quote me, but I think I’m going to miss this early morning shift.

Judy
Communications & Programs Coordinator
South Whidbey Commons

It's The Little Things

2010-12-15T13:23:00.000-08:00

What is it about our American culture that puts such a value on "the big things?" You know, the newest car, the house with 4 bathrooms, the investment account that allows you to live more extravagantly after you retire than you did while you were working?

I don't have an answer for this question.

But I was just reminded that no matter what we put on our lifetime wish lists, for most of us "success" comes down to the surprising meaningfulness of "the little things."

This morning, I went out to the front to take some photos for our Facebook page, and was greeted by one of our newest volunteers - his genuine excitement about working here literally pushed his shoulders back and escaped through the biggest smile I've seen in a long time. It was the kind of smile that made me not only smile back, but stop and feel the shared happiness. Hours later, the corners of my mouth still turn up.

Not too long after that, I went to the counter to get a coffee, and was met by one of our gregarious adult volunteers who, without skipping a beat, said "Hey Toots!" Why that made me feel so good, I can't explain, but it did and both of us knew it.

Next, one of our regulars asked if he could hand me a donation envelope. "It's not much," he said. I tried sharing how important each and every contribution is to the Commons. And truly that is the case. His envelope will help us keep programs going just a little longer, and that's enough when you live in the moment.

The volunteer that just brought a sample of his famous roast beef recipe, the community partner that just sent us some grant funds we were hoping for, the person who shared that "it's not often you find the ideal concepts you think will strengthen a community actually put into action...but I felt it when I walked in this morning." It's these "little things" that have such great meaning here at The Commons.

This holiday season, we wish you the eyes to see such "little things" as they show up in your life. Come share the stories with us. The buzz is even better than the coffee!

Judy
Communications and Programs Coordinator
South Whidbey Commons

Tonight! Please Join Us!

2010-12-10T12:22:00.000-08:00

Two, autobiographical one-acts featuring

Ed Cornachio and Shelley Hartle

on Friday, December 10.

Join Ed and Shelley (players from WICA’s On Golden Pond) for

a laugh-filled evening at the Commons Coffeehouse.

The two will be reading from their memoirs about growing up

in two different immigrant worlds on the East Coast, one Italian and one German. Going Home runs approximately 90 minutes with one

10-minute intermission.

“Washington Slept Here,” is Hartle’s hymn to village life, with all the attendant problems of living in a fishbowl--where everyone knows everything about you and isn’t afraid to use it.

From dodging the tactics of Benedictine nuns to deconstructing her first kiss, Hartle tells all in this joyride of a chronicle--a celebration of life, love, and retribution on the bumpy road toward adolescence.

“The Passing of Two-Sewer Charlie,” is Cornachio’s fond look at simpler times, days of tears and laughter growing up in a boisterous,

extended Italian family in the New York City of 1944. While all of America is fighting the Germans in Europe and the Japanese in the Pacific, Cornachio is fighting the onset of puberty on Bay 40th Street

in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Welcoming December

2010-11-30T19:09:00.000-08:00

As the last day of November comes to a close, I started pulling together the details of our December events.

Amazing. (Click on the image above to make it bigger...click again to make it full size.)

Once more, I'm so impressed by the community in which we live and the gifts that are given to share here at The Commons.

Take a look, then check your calendar. I bet you find at least a couple of things you'd like to add to your "fun ways to celebrate the holidays at The Commons."

Judy
Communications and Programs Coordinator

Only One Day to Say Thank You?

2010-11-25T09:47:00.000-08:00

No, of course not. But it is one day to make sure we take the time, make the time, to consider all of the things that make life wonderful.

Just in case there was any doubt, YOU are on the list of things to be grateful for this Thanksgiving! YOU create the energy at The South Whidbey Commons and every day, that energy is making a difference in our community.

Sometime today, when you have a bit of time (and maybe a cup of eggnog), take a look.

And until then, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Plug In To The Energy!

2010-11-17T10:31:00.000-08:00

Living on an island, power outages happen. But that doesn't have to affect our energy! Combine an abundance of available caffeine with the creative juices and supportive spirit of our community, and you have a good idea of what The South Whidbey Commons is all about.

This week alone, here's what's going on at The Commons:
Wednesday, 3-5pm - Capturing the Holidays on Video - basic video skills to help you document your family & friend experiences.
Wednesday, 7-9pm - Artists' Forum - A multi-media artists gathering...meet, share, and encourage!
Thursday, 3-5pm - Commons' Crafts - An opportunity to get crafty with others as the holidays approach.
Thursday, 5-7pm - Cafe Español - Improve your conversational Spanish in this fun and informal gathering in The Backroom.
Friday, 7-9pm - Jessica Owen, Olympia acoustic singer-songwriter, in the Front Room for Friday Night Live!
Saturday, 2-4 pm - Brave New Words workshop for teens, designed to inspire and create poetry, spoken word and performance art events - with Swil Kanim, Native American Violinnist, Storyteller & poet, in The Backroom.
Sunday, 2-4pm - Lego Club, an informal opportunity for families to snag a Coffeehouse beverage and head to The Backroom to PLAY with a mondo pile of Lego pieces.
Sunday 7-9pm - Jim Page, playing The Front Room, for a special performance!

ALL of these incredible activities and performances are offered at no direct charge to you, and are open to people of ALL ages.

We do hope that while you're here, you'll support The Commons by purchasing gently used, quality books, an espresso or tea, and a freshly baked scone...but more than anything, we simply hope you plug in to all of this energy.

When we say "our programs," we are not claiming ownership as staff and volunteers here. Not at all! We're saying that everything that goes on here at The Commons belongs to "us" as in "our community."

So please, venture out, through wind, rain, snow (?!), and join US. Plug in. Recharge.

Busy Week

2010-11-09T08:38:00.000-08:00

It is not common for the Commons to not be busy...OK, that's a double negative.

It is common for the Commons to be busy. There. That's better.

And this week provides no exceptions! Our AmeriCorps team is out in eastern Washington at the SERVES conference, so we're a little short staffed (volunteers, anyone?).

We're celebrating Veterans' Day on Thursday with a 20% discount on all food and beverages for anyone who has served in our military (watch for the coupon to show up today or tomorrow here and in our e-mail updates).

And Cafe Espanol returns to The Backroom on Thursdays from 5-7pm! Youth and adults alike will have fun learning together! The format is informal and conversational, but with a great local resource in your midst – Spanish speaker, Sonja Bricker *. Not only will you improve your Spanish language skills, but you’ll learn more about being a local AND global citizen as you rotate watching movies, playing games, and ordering food (all in Spanish, of course!).

The great thing about "busy" though, is that it offers you more ways to find your place at the Commons!

So please, drop by this week. Yes, the coffee's on...and so are the eggnog chai lattes :)

See you soon!

* At 17 Sonja traveled to Mexico as an exchange student. Then she majored in Spanish language and literature. This was followed by numerous bicycle and backpacking trips through Spain, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Chile, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Cuba. She received her Master's in Teaching in 2006 and currently teaches 2nd, 3rd and 4th year Spanish at the high school level.

Sitting In The Living Room

2010-11-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

It's cold this morning. Not the kind of cold that leaves everything covered in frost, but the kind of cold that can easily creep into your bones if you don't find a sunny corner to sit in.

So, to write this post, I've moved out of the office where it is quiet but cold -- and into the "living room" of the Commons where sunshine is streaming in through the windows and lively conversations are being built all around.

It's fascinating, how the hum of thoughts being shared can be at once peaceful and invigorating.

The mission of the South Whidbey Commons is to strengthen community by offering opportunities and places for people to gather, learn and grow. Sitting here, I see all of that happening, without experts on hand to facilitate or teach, without students sitting in rows, without a sound system to establish the one voice everyone should be listening to.

Sitting here, I see it happening as one of our adult barista volunteers visits with someone from out of town about Kichili's Bakery, where we get our bagels. I see it happening as an AmeriCorps team member creates a beautiful sign to highlight the soup of the day. I see it happen as someone reads a book, and another writes one of their own. I see it happen as one coffee drinker leans over to suggest a recipe they just found in the paper to a tea drinker sitting nearby. I hear it happen as conversations (I'm only lightly eavesdropping, I promise) dance around the importance of the arts in our daily life, the best experiences they had in Morocco last year, and the nearness of the holidays. I laugh as it happens when three individuals from three different groups recognize each other around the room and jump up to share greetings and hugs. And I participate in it as I schedule a group of elementary students to come sit in The Backroom to talk about their visit to the library and the books they will choose next week.

I'm glad it's cold this morning and that the sun in the Living Room pulled me out of the office space for a while.

Maybe it's pulling you this way too? Coffee's on!

For The Birds!

2010-11-02T09:58:00.000-07:00

Don't miss this show! Friday, November 5, from 7-9pm here at the Commons Coffeehouse Bookstore...another great show by talented locals (to include a couple of our Common's Volunteer Baristas)! Make your plans now to be here.

Important Announcement!

2010-10-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

Dear Friday Night Live Faithfuls...

This Friday, October 29th, because of a variety of complex scheduling issues, there will be NO Friday Night Live. The SW Commons Coffeehouse Bookstore will be open though from 8:30am - 6pm.

FNL will resume with exuberance in November, so stay tuned for an updated list of performers! (yes, there have been changes to the line up too, so...)

Our Friday Night Live program is vibrant and growing, with a great assortment of local talent asking how they can get involved. Watch for more information as we get things firmed up.

A Moment in Time

2010-10-25T20:42:00.000-07:00

Most of us lead busy lives. We fill our days with either school, sports, band and homework -- or getting the kids ready for school, making lunches, picking them up, and dealing with after-school issues – and/or working to make ends meet, maintaining the house, planning for retirement – or dealing with chronic or crisis health care issues, adjusting to a fixed income, taking care of a “bucket list,” and just making the most of life at a slower pace.

Regardless of our spot in the timeline of life, we are constantly moving, and it can be hard to pay attention to individual moments.

But then there are special moments, when time seems to stop for a bit and we are able to really, deeply see what is happening all around us.

I had such a moment yesterday.

It was the Open House for the South Whidbey Commons. For days, the Board, Staff, AmeriCorps Team, and VOLUNTEERS had worked to set the stage. And on Sunday morning, they turned on the lights!

Volunteers from 12 – 45 walked into the Commons and set about their work alongside the others. Middle school students, high school students, adult professionals, all stepped up to clean the house, prepare food, brew coffee, greet guests, refill platters, and tell the story of the Commons.

What skills did this take? And understanding of food safety, an eye toward minimizing waste, an ability to work with a large team in a small space, a willingness to do the same thing over and over again for 3 hours, a voice to represent the story they had lived as a trained volunteer, a sense of comfort in guiding peers of different ages through the motions of a complex event, and a desire to have fun through it all.

Too many words? Let’s cut to the chase. Yesterday, I saw the volunteers at the South Whidbey Commons ROCK!!!!! They gave forward to their community, knowing that it was a good investment. They practiced food handling, cash handling, customer service, and community building with every interaction they engaged in.

And they did it in celebration of a small space in Langley that has been shaped into a home for Community. They did it in partnership with a Board that has been driven by passion and a hunger for connectedness between the glorious individuals who live on south Whidbey. They did it because they had a sense of ownership in the Commons.

Turns out, the guests had this same sense of ownership too! During the Open House, the volunteers overheard them bragging. That’s right, bragging.

“This is where I offer SAT prep classes.” “This is where I host financial planning classes.” “I put in THAT window.” “I painted THAT room.” “I played music in this room.” “My writing group meets here.” “ I worked in that garden.” “I sit here to work on my book.” “I donated three bags of books for the bookstore.” “I come in three times a week for coffee and a scone.”

It was a very good moment. For a lot of people. It was a celebration of community, in every sense of the word.

We hope you were a part of it. If not, don’t worry. Come by anytime. The moment is always there to be enjoyed. You just have to slow down long enough to see it.

We’ll be waiting for you!

OPEN HOUSE!

2010-10-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, October 24, from 2-5pm, something special will be happening in Langley...the South Whidbey Commons is having an OPEN HOUSE! While it's not uncommon to find lots of activity going on at the Commons Coffeehouse Bookstore, the event will definitely crank up the energy level.

First of all, there will be FOOD! Open House refreshments will highlight our new menu items, like the featured quesadillas, hummus, bagel chips, and Tree Top baked goods straight from our oven.

And of course, there will be coffee, hot chocolate, and tea.

But to make the event super special, we'll have a sampling of the kinds of community-based activities that the South Whidbey Commons supports throughout the year...music, poetry, crafts, legos, art, and more.

Why do an Open House now? Even though there is still work to do before we can say the remodel is completely finished, The Commons is so proud of how the community has come together to reinvigorate the building. We want to show off the progress, and encourage you to see it as YOUR place...one belonging to the community as a whole.

So, just to be clear, YOU are invited. And so are your friends and neighbors. Make sure they know by passing along this info :)

See you on the 24th! 2-5pm. 124 Second Street, Langley.

What a Week!

2010-10-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

It's been hoppin' around here! We've introduced some new menu items, stepped up our volunteer training program, kicked off our advertising for the upcoming Open House (mark your calendars for Oct. 24, 2-5pm!), made some extremely cool nametags (check out the photos in the photo album!), and got in some more fabulous used books for our customers. And it's only Thursday!

Life here at the South Whidbey Commons is always fun, but for some reason it feels especially exciting right now. My guess is it's the people who are spending time with us. Gena is always phenomenal, and Tracie and Darcy are making AmeriCorps proud with their genuinely happy attitudes and sharp wit...but it's the volunteers and customers who seem even more engaged and energized this week.

I wish I could say that better. As I type, Gena and I are sitting here with our coffee, wishing there were more words in the English language, especially more words that add meaning to "happy." Maybe "jovial," "joyful," "exuberant," "deeply moved," "ecstatic," but we worry that people wouldn't take such words seriously.

The point is, people ARE HAPPY around here this week! And we see no reason that's going to change anytime in the near future. So please, come join the fun. Coffee's on :)

Friday Night Live

2010-10-07T07:01:00.000-07:00

The fun continues! Friday Night Live serves a couple of purposes. It furthers the Commons’ mission of providing a “community living room,” it offers a couple of extra business hours each week which is always helpful for a non-profit, and it attracts a wide variety of personalities and talents to the Commons that introduces more and more people to our programs over time.

Here’s what’s on the calendar right now…please come join us! There is no charge to get in the door, but we gently encourage you to arrive early enough to grab some coffee or tea and a goodie, and performers always welcome tips :)

October 8 - Jack deYonge, reading from his book Boomtown Boy
October 15 - Don Bille & Bill Haglund - music
October 22 - To Be Announced- music
October 29 - Story Circle - storytelling
November 5 - Nicole Ledgerwood - music
November 12 - Wake Up Laughing - Improv (note change...Kurt Hoelting had to move to a later date, so stay tuned!)
November 19 - Uncommon Characters - comedy
November 26 - Wake Up Laughing - Improv
Shows start around 7pm.

Middle School Apprenticeship Program

2010-09-16T14:18:00.000-07:00

Did you know that South Whidbey Commons offers apprenticeship opportunities to middle schoolers? Lucy, Kendra, and Jazmine just joined us this week, and they'll be learning about all the different moving parts of a coffeehouse, a bookstore, and a non-profit. We also offer for-credit opportunities for high schoolers who want to go through our barista training program and work in service with us throughout a semester. Interested in learning more? Contact us!

Blogging Once Again!

2010-09-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

May was a looooooong time ago! So much has been going on since then and we want to tell you all about it! But it's going to take us a while to catch up, so we're asking for your patience. Over the next couple of weeks, you'll see our website updated, a Facebook page created, regular blog posts returning, and our latest newsletter out with a full report of what we've been up to.

Until then, please mark your calendars for this Friday, September 17th. Our Friday Night Live fun will begin at 7pm, with Russell Clepper & Ro Purser (and their special guest Sarah Primrose).

Russell writes poetic lyrics in the folk/country/Americana vein of music in a style reminiscent of John Prine or Townes Van Zandt. Russell's soulful singing is supported by Ro Purser, who specializes in bluegrass, rock and blues on dobro and lap steel guitar, and Sarah Primrose who expertly employs her beautiful voice to create richly textured harmonies.

Please join us for an evening of great music, coffee, and friendship....it will do wonders for your sense of community :)

Timothy Hull, Dane Ueland, First Shifts Back, etc.

2010-05-23T14:48:00.000-07:00

Before I talk about this past (incredible) week, I want to announce that Dane Ueland, a Seattle singer-songwriter, will be playing at the Coffeehouse Bookstore as part of the Friday Night Live series. We are very lucky to have Dane play here, because he is an amazing musician with a gift - and I am not exaggerating. He has a bright future in music and you will want to be able to say, "I saw Dane when he was just getting started." I promise. Okay, on to the main blog post.

After working with Jim and Glenn and everyone else on the build site for a few months, I was called away to SEA for every Monday - Friday of the month of May, which means that I left one Monday with the coffeehouse an empty room and returned to find the books on the wall and the espresso machine up and running. The place looks amazing and validates all of the stress and dramas and hard work. It is unbelievable.

And who better to kick off Friday Night Live at the new Coffeehouse Bookstore than Whidbey native Timothy Hull? I talked to him a few hours before the show and he expressed trepidation that people might not show up. That was not a problem.

The place quickly filled up, with about forty people buying coffee and finding seats as Timothy sound checked with ambient, reverb- and delay-laden acoustic guitar. Then, he sang, and the voices stopped as torsos were magnetically drawn forward to immerse in Tim's lyrics about love and loss and a changing world where a new chaos of shouting and destruction reigns. He played my personal favorite, "Sorrow," during the first set and closed the show with a rambling, but poignant, meditation on the meaning of community.

Another highlight of the night was the unexpected help from Patty, Bill, Sue, Diane, and Gena, who gamely chipped in to mop the floor, do the mountain of dishes, and close down the coffeehouse. It was one of my favorite coffeehouse nights I've had. Thanks to everyone involved.

Success: Open and Running

2010-05-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

We are finally there! The doors are open and the people are streaming in. I should know because I was behind the bar during the afterschool rush on my first day, and the first day open. Everyone who walks through the door says “wow, this has really changed, it’s so nice” or something to that extent. I think that everyone who worked on the project deserves a hearty pat on the back.

There will be more later, but for now I’m off to make coffee.

AmeriCorps Week

2010-05-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday began the national AmeriCorps week. The idea is to celebrate the volunteers who are currently in service, past volunteers, and also spread the word to future volunteers. The Commons and Coffeehouse have a long line of AmeriCorps volunteers helping to hold down the fort, including the marvelous Gena, and many others who I don’t know, but have heard mentioned. Molly, Caitlin, Justin, and I are planning on setting up an AmeriCorps table to explain to people about AmeriCorps, once the Coffeehouse Bookstore is open.

Alright, so you know it’s AmeriCorps week, now what does AmeriCorps really mean? It’s often described as a domestic Peace Corps. Having also done Peace Corps, I sometimes compare the two. I think many Returned Peace Corps Volunteers might tell you that it’s nothing like Peace Corps (in an offended tone); and I agree to some degree given that Peace Corps is a much more intense two years living in another country, working in a different language and culture, with some of the most impoverished areas in the world.

At the same time, I think there are tons similarities. The main ideas are the same: to strengthen underserved populations, while building community (whether it be U.S. community, or a world community). Another huge part of Peace Corps and AmeriCorps is being adaptable and versatile. Your job is to work on what the community needs and wants. I had no idea that I was going to be working in construction, blogging, starting a Spanish club, and helping to start community gardens as volunteer in Langley.

It may sound cliché, but whether in Peace Corps or AmeriCorps, these skills in adaption to a wide variety of task, situations, diverse groups of people (in age or ethnicity), are invaluable life skills that you might not get from a “normal” job. So pat your AmeriCorps workers on the back this week and tell them “good work, you are building community…and in many ways, being just as cool as those snobby Peace Corps Volunteers”!

The End is in Sight

2010-04-30T18:17:00.000-07:00

I realize that Justin and I talk about food a lot. Just to warn you, this post is no exception. But before I get into the food, I want to talk about how the remodel is coming along. I work all day Monday, half of Wednesday, and Friday with Jim, Don, Justin, and whatever other wonderful community member decides to donate their time to the project. It’s great because I get to start all the projects at the beginning of the week, and then finish ‘em at the end of the week. The best part of all is how the place is coming together. You can really get a feel for how things are going to look. All the trim and painting are done, the stainless steel sinks are coming tomorrow, the counter and cabinets are in, the shelves are all built, and today, Patty, Diane and I, stained the majority of the shelves.

Now comes the food part…for lunch, Patty and Diane took me to the Swiss Bakery and it was really good: delicious bread, real Swiss cheese, pasta salad, and of course, delicious desserts. Since Justin, Molly, and I just finished the Master Cleanse (drinking only lemon juice, Cheyenne pepper, and maple syrup for 10 days), it doesn’t get must better than that. To top it off, last night we enjoyed Mexican food and Mariachis with the Café Español group at La Casita Mexican Restaurant. Sounds like a great way to spend time until we open on May 15^th, right?

Taking shape

2010-04-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the hiatus, but there were a few days last week that were a sort of elite "professionals only" work day, so I just came in after hours along with Board, AmeriCorps members, and Jerry and Kay Millhon, to sand down the trim and other scrub work like that. Then, I left on Sunday for a big SEA adventure. We took 15 sixth graders out on our 65-foot power boat, the Indigo, and camped on Blake Island. I taught them how to tie some knots and that jumping in after their buddy was not the best way to handle a person overboard, and Susie and Chris led nature hikes, service learning projects, and fun stuff like that.

But now I'm back, and I'm going to do what everyone seems to like best and just show what's been going on through pictures.

Cheers!

Insulation and a painting party

2010-04-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

Before getting into this blog, I need to say that our fearless leader Jo is in the hospital. Please keep her and Jim in your thoughts and prayers.

The Board turned out en force for the painting party and kept up intimidating banter throughout. I, along with the other males, certainly kept my head down and did what I was told. It was a big process, with primer and texturing and multiple coats of plant, but everyone kept their spirits high throughout. Jim and Jo, as usual, directed, with Diane, Carol, Cynthia, Patty, Clyde, Gena, and Glenn in particular - though others helped as well - really wearing their shoulders out. Also, YES has continued to push forward, working on their mission statement and a proposal form to present to the Board.

YES, clockwise from left: Maelcolm, Margaret, Walker, Nathan, Megan, Jo, Cygne, Sara, Glenn, and Justin.

The Shelvers' dog, Duke, surveying his hard work on the insulation.

Gena getting paint on her face.

Clyde didn't believe that Gena had more paint on her than he did.

Patty providing a model of fierce determination and focus.

Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.

Carol is intense.

I'm always happy to listen to Jo talk, even if she's reading a random page out of an old Western Literature textbook.

Our matron and Supreme Commander.

Sue cheerfully applying a second layer of red paint in the main coffeehouse room, doubtless thinking in Spanish after a month of Cafe Espanol.

The Board holding an impromptu meeting to discuss important, secret matters.

Everybody's favorite room, the Garden Room.

Painting is about to begin

2010-04-05T10:53:00.000-07:00

All of you who have been excitedly waiting the opportunity to burn out those shoulders and get those latissimus dorsi lean for beach season, well, your time has come. Last week, Glenn, Jim, and I, among others, put all the insulation in while Nathan put in the wiring and whatnot for the sound system and internet. Then, the professionals came in and put up all the dry wall. Right now, as I type, they're mudding the walls and about to sand and seal.

That means that this week we will begin painting. It all starts tomorrow and begins in earnest on Thursday. Drop in if you're interested.

Electrical, Newsletter, and another work party

2010-03-25T11:20:00.000-07:00

It looks like the electrical is about finished, which is great news. We're trying to get everything up and painted before my man Scotty has to head out to Michigan for work. He's a professional painter, and we are very fortunate to have him here to help. I'm especially pleased he's still here even though his team Kansas suffered that ignominious defeat in the tourney. Stellar guy, Scotty. And he shares my love of coffee.

In other news, I am done with the first five pages of the newsletter, which is a relief to me. It's going a lot smoother this time than last, so hopefully the next one will be even easier. Look for a hot-off-the-press copy in early April.

Finally, we will be hosting another work party on Sunday at 10 am. Cathy estimates that we can get all the work done in about two hours. The more people that show, the less time it'll take. It was a good time last week.

Work Party

2010-03-22T15:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we had our first open work day since the coffeehouse bookstore closed down for renovation. Glenn and I are at the site almost every day, and the Board is frequently there individually, but it was great to see everyone there together. Led by Cathy Waymire-Rooks, Board member and landscape architect, Glenn, the Board, a few youth volunteers (Sara, SamE, and Julie), and I sawed down the old apple tree, shoveled manure, dug up dead plants, and ate four pizzas and two huge trays of apples and cookies. It was a beautiful day, with the storm clouds seeming to cover the sky everywhere except for Langley. It did rain briefly at about 1:45, but it was warm, the raindrops fell fast and departed quickly. It felt like the first Spring rain.

Sara chopping up them branches.

Sam E.

Sawin'.

Diane.

Sue, Patty (in the back in blue), Cynthia, and Diane (back right).

I feel bad for the tree, but it made some terrible apples.

Surveyin'.

I'm going to miss the old classic sign.

Beautiful.

Successful Café Español!

2010-03-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

As Justin Mentioned, Café Español was a huge success with an impressive turnout of over 20 people. We kept going upstairs to get more and more chairs. I’m not sure how everyone fit in the Backroom, but we did.

The best part of the evening was the diversity of the group. One of our main goals was to “Bring together diverse members of the community to connect over a fun and common interest.” We had about every age group represented, and a lot of distinct experiences with as well. Half the group even got there early; and the other half, keeping with the tradition of many Latin American countries, arrived fashionably late. I’m sure they were trying for total immersion in the language, and culture.

Our second goal, “Encourage members of the community to practice conversational Spanish, share good food and worldly perspectives,” was successful as well. A rousing game of charades helped to keep everyone lively, while pushing their Spanish vocabulary. Margaret and I made a point of discussing the group’s ideas and goals for Café Español. There were some excellent suggestions that we will incorporate into the weekly plan. You can’t forget the delicious food either. A key part of Café Español is a potluck style food sharing.

Thanks to all those that came! Good work planning, Margaret and Justin.

So come join us every Thursday at 5:30 in the Backroom. Be ready for Spanish games, movie night, country themes, one-on-one conversation practice, vocabulary, and Latino music, and tons more.

Cafe Espanol...

2010-03-19T09:15:00.000-07:00

...is awesome. At least 20 people showed up, and I think maybe up to 25 or 30. We had guacamole, quesadillas, pico de gallo (and discussed how strange it is that fresh salsa is called "beak of the rooster"), gallo pinto (black beans and rice tico-style, "painted rooster" for its speckled appearance, and - sorry, it's breakfast time, but I suppose y'all aren't as interested in the food aspect as I am.

Margaret and Glenn did an awesome job of leading the group through conversation (translating as they spoke so that those in the crowd with very little Spanish experience could follow), games, and introductions. There were people with no Spanish background and people who had lived in Spanish speaking countries for years. And, most exciting, there were people from age 12 to age 80. It was a beautiful thing.

So come to next week's Cafe Espanol at 5:30 in the Back Room!

Roofing

2010-03-15T09:39:00.000-07:00

We had to delay the roofing a couple of days because of rain, but I think the clouds dumped it all during the night, so we should be good to go today. Glenn and I will be the grunts hauling things from the ground to the roof.

Also, went upstairs to take some pictures of the new look in the attic, and I looked around at the stuff piled in the middle and said, "Dang Glenn, somebody's gonna have a helluva job cleaning this stuff up." We walked downstairs and Jim asked us to clean out the attic. Classic. I can't wait to see it all fixed up, though, because it is already a completely different place than it used to be - it's well lit, the walls are painted white, there is a friendly glow to the place, the spiders have been routed and sent into the cracks, and I can already see it transformed into a nice office space. Come by and check it out.

New Program: Café Español

2010-03-11T15:19:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has talked to me, or read my resume, quickly finds out that I love Latin American Culture and Spanish. My gmail account, cell phone and about anything else I can change, are set in Spanish. I have a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, have traveled to Spain, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and lived for 27 months in Costa Rica. So yeah, I am obsessed. It’s not only the language, but the rich culture that comes with it as well.

When Margaret, a High School Student and member of YES, contacted me about forming a Spanish Culture Club, I had already written a small proposal of the idea myself. I was excited that other people were interested in Spanish. We basically had the same goals in mind. It certainly didn’t hurt that Margaret has a wonderful attitude and a great eye for designing really cool flyers (be on the look out for them around town).

The idea has two main goals:

1. Encourage members of the community to practice conversational Spanish, share good food and worldly perspectives.

2. Bring together diverse members of the community to connect over a fun and common interest.

We plan on having weekly get-togethers on Thursdays at 5:30pm. Each week we’ll have a theme, such as games in Spanish, or talk about a specific country in Latin America. After the discussion, there will be time for free conversation or asking questions of the more advanced speakers. This is the main idea, but we will always be open for input from those who show up.

The first meeting will take place on Thursday, March 18^th at 5:30pm in the Backroom of the South Whidbey Commons. Snacks will be provided. It should be a good time and we hope to see you all there. Vamos a disfrutarnos mucho.

Pictures of Progress

2010-03-10T12:56:00.000-08:00

The framing up and the lumber ready. You can tell the inside is taking shape.

Equipment research.

It's hard to believe there's any renovation going at all, looking at the front.

The view through the new Garden Room.

That, of course, is meant to say "Grand Opening" but I ran out of space. Y'all know what I mean.

Progress

2010-03-09T15:37:00.000-08:00

The marching drum continues to beat. It's amazing how it seemed like we pushed sand around for days, making no visible progress (to my layman's eyes), and then suddenly - bam! - all of the framing is done. It went from a porte corchere to an actual structure. Now, when you walk in the door, you can see the coffeehouse taking shape. There is masking tape on the ground outlining the new counters, showing where the refrigerators and espresso machine and saloon doors will go. You can practically smell the espresso.

We've had some good breaks in the last week. Scotty, basketball fanatic and unresting worker, is back from his illness and hard at work once again. The inspection process is going smoothly. We had a stretch of good weather. Best of all, Jim actually fell from the rafters - and still showed up to work the next day! Tomorrow, I will post some new pictures as we work on the roofing.

Also, spread the word that Margaret Diehl of South Whidbey HS and the Youth Engagement Squad is teaming with our new AmeriCorps, Glenn, to launch Cafe Espanol, a Spanish club for all ages and levels. Glenn will be posting more information soon.

Videos from Songwriters in the Round

2010-03-01T18:30:00.000-08:00

Scroll down and look to the left for links to youtube videos from our Friday Night Live at Whidbey Children's Theater on January 19.

Or - I'll make it easy on you - just click here:

Benton Street by Timothy Hull
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nAYltsLe_w

The Fiddle and the Bow by Russell Clepper
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LobuVwb_Xog

In the Morning by Nick Tenuta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfKEjtVDilw

Coffee and Blues by Justin Bailey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TERPkW3GtYc

Renovation in pictures

2010-03-01T14:28:00.000-08:00

First, check out the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGh6YLTffe0

Introducing...The Glenn

2010-02-19T11:50:00.000-08:00

Ever since I started applying for the AmeriCorps position with the South Whidbey Commons and the Island Coffeehouse and Books, everyone has been incredibly welcoming. After my interview and acceptance, all six people I would work with sent me emails welcoming me to the team.

I finally arrived to the island on Sunday and was impressed by the Sound, with a backdrop of snowy mountaintops. In the evening, I had a chance to get to know the other AmeriCorps volunteers, who are awesome, and of course the wild panther living with us, Samson.

On Tuesday, I started meeting the staff, volunteers, and board members at the Commons and Coffeehouse. Everyone was so positive. The atmosphere was impressively upbeat for having the entire center of the coffeehouse ripped to pieces. Who would not feel at home after a hug from Jo, a talk with Jim, or the positive vibe from Rosie and Gena?

As part of the Coffeehouse and Commons team, I look forward to using experience as a Community Organizer in Peace Corps Costa Rica to help the organization. I’m also excited to start new programs and get new people involved as I get to know the community better.

As well as working with the Coffeehouse and Commons, I’ll be working part time with the City of Langley as a volunteer coordinator for the Neighbor to Neighbor program. This will include disaster preparedness and resource conservation.

Thanks to all of those who have been so welcoming and I’m excited to work with all of you for the next six and a half months.

The walking drum (of construction)

2010-02-18T11:47:00.000-08:00

Growing up, I loved to read. All kinds of books really: first Lord of the Rings, then Star Wars books (I can't believe I'm publicly admitting this), then Louis L'Amour, Clive Cussler, and finally, in high school, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Faulkner. Through college, my favorites were Cormac McCarthy, Leo Tolstoy, Thomas Wolf. There are some big names in there, but there was one book that ruled them all: The Walking Drum by Louis L'Amour. I read it as early as middle school and as late as senior year of college.

Louis L'Amour wasn't lyrical like Fitzgerald or Wolf, and his books didn't have the profound world-weary wisdom of Hemingway or McCarthy, and the worlds he described weren't complete like those of Tolkien or Tolstoy, but he could tell one helluva story.

The Walking Drum is an epic story set centuries ago, but it is the motif of the walking drum in the novel that continues to intrigue me. In a caravan of merchants, the walking drum was the constant beat of the march forward. From place to place, from fortune to misfortune and birth to death, the walking drum was the heartbeat that gave the travelers courage and reminded them always that what would be would be and all they could do was look forward to the horizon and put foot in front of foot.

Here is a quote from the book: "We often sang as we marched, and there was always the sound of the marching drum, a sound I shall hear all my life, so deeply is it imbedded in the fibers of my being..."

Here at the Commons, on the build site at ICB, I can hear the walking drum. I see us all looking ahead and marching forward. I see the progress as the floor is ripped free, walls torn down, and as if by magic (but really by muscle), sand comes to fill in the holes and cover the gathered rainwater; the sand rises and is leveled by a humming machine (The Whacker), gravel covers it. Flat, ready for the new floor.

Soon - I can see it already, just ahead - I can see the new floor gleaming warm in the sunlight, polished and strong, its foundations deep in this Langley earth. We are getting closer, and I would like to invite all of you in the community to come to the site and see our progress. To join the caravan and march forward with us.

Red cowboy hats, tapas, and the Western Heroes

2010-02-18T11:14:00.000-08:00

By all accounts, the night was a success. People from all parts of the community came to Mukilteo Cafe to eat tapas, drink wine, listen to the Western Heroes, and, above all, show their support for the South Whidbey Commons. The support was not limited to simply showing up, either. Boosted by one heck of an auction hosted by Jim Freeman, we raised $8,403 on the night - and that's net income, not revenue. It was perfect, and we had all hands on deck to get it there.

When I arrived at 3 to start setting up, most of the work was already done. The board members were all there, Gena and Rosie, Caitlin and Molly, Mukilteo staff, an ICB volunteer, Sam E, and others who had graciously offered their time and energy to help in any way they could. Rosie and Gena, among others, had done a beautiful job with the decorations.

Also, Jo's idea of using Mardi Gras beads as auction items to sell, for example, $25 of nails or $250 of lights, was executed to perfection by Caitlin and Rosie, with other hands helping too, I'm sure (on the decorating side), and Jim Freeman (on the bullying and selling side). To be honest, I was skeptical. No offense Jo. Maybe it's because of my recent economics and business studies, but I just couldn't understand why people would buy a string of beads with a picture of a golden toilet on it. Where is the incentive, I wondered. Thankfully, I was wrong. They sold like Beanie Babies in 1995.

Also, the music was fantastic. The Western Heroes know their stuff, and several times I had to blindly feel around on the floor for my face after it melted during a guitar solo. As good as the music itself was, though, its result was the true peak. For me and I believe at least Caitlin and Molly, the highlight had to have been seeing Jo and other Board members rush the dance floor and crank the energy up a notch. It really set the tone for the event.

Thank you to every single one of you who support us either financially or with your willingness to volunteer or patronage of the coffeehouse and other programs or simply through your neighborly positive energy. We couldn't do it without each and every one of you.

Bobcats, house cats, and tall trees

2010-02-11T11:34:00.001-08:00

I knew it was going to be a good day when I walked in the door and Gena had just finished brewing a pot of Mukilteo Peruvian blend coffee—one of my favorites. The guys were already hard at work picking up where we left off yesterday.

Since I didn’t post yesterday, I’ll quickly sum the day up: we removed the siding (got a little too ferocious on the ripping and was rewarded with a knot on my head where I got drilled by a stray bullet of a siding chunk), the big dogs tore down basically the entire inside of the coffeehouse, and probably a lot of stuff that I just don’t know how to describe. Basically, a lot of stuff happened.

Today, they’ve got a bobcat digging dirt out to create enough of a hole to pour the foundation for the Rosie-dubbed glass room that, despite the connotation of that name, does not have “any more windows than ordinary,” to quote Gena. I’ll try to track down Jim and get more of an insider scoop when I can. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, let me tell you a story about our cat Samson. Great cat, Samson, but apparently he inherited my dad’s fear of heights. He seems to be able to climb just fine—he flies up tree trunks like they’re laid flat across the ground. However, as we discovered last night, he can’t seem to get back down. In fact, he becomes too terrified to even attempt to climb down. I first discovered him up there around 4 and decided to leave him up there as I cleaned my car, hoping he’d finally just quit crying and man up.

He didn’t. At that point, he was pretty low down, maybe 10 feet off the ground. So, I borrowed a painter’s ladder from Jim and Jo, thinking that would be enough. By the time I got back, that little moron had climbed up to about 25 feet—probably crying the whole way up. We were at a loss for a couple of minutes, but then Caitlin remembered we had a slightly taller ladder in the shed, so we leaned it up against the trunk (it topped out at about 8 feet off the ground), and I climbed up the tree in the night rain with my headlamp on. When I got to him and tried to pick him up, he clutched the branch with his claws like I was trying to toss him off a cliff. Anyways, we got him down at last, and that was our excitement for the week.

And the demolition begins...

2010-02-11T00:07:00.001-08:00

(This was actually about Tuesday, just got it posted a day late. More on today and, I suppose, tomorrow soon.)

This week we finally got started with the real work, and let me tell you, we had one heck of a start. Last week set the precedent for smooth, quick work – despite the gargantuan task –, and it looks like that trend will be continued. Yesterday, I was around for much of the day, poking my head in intermittently, hoping to be of some use and quickly finding that unless I knew how to operate a jackhammer or was an experienced construction man (neither), I would probably just get in the way.

So at around 12, I headed to the house and met Jo to look at the dimensions of sinks so we could have the info ready for the plumber. Apparently, all the pipes have to be laid completely, with the ends aligned with where the faucet heads will be, before the concrete can be poured and the floor put in. She walked down at around 12:30 with her constant companion Duke. Duke met Samson the cat, Samson arched his back and hissed, Duke wandered off to find a cat food snack, Samson followed discreetly on the counter, and Joe and I got a helpful quote from Seattle Restaurant Supply Store.

All this is to say that the sight that greeted me this morning was a shock. The interior walls of the coffeehouse were gone, a new door had been cut into the back, a humongous dumpster had been deposited, the side patio concrete had all been removed, and, at 7:55am, the crew was already hard at work again.

Yes sir, that is one heck of a start.

Sometimes you have to cut trees down

2010-01-28T15:00:00.000-08:00

I prefer my trees leafy and fragrant, but I have to say there's a rush in chopping one down. Or chainsawing one down, to be more exact. I'd never used a chainsaw before, but it turns out we need a fourth parking spot, and the only place we could possibly squeeze one in was occupied by one of our friends of the deciduous variety.

I knew Jim had plans for cutting down the tree, but I wasn't sure when he was planning on doing it. I was working behind the counter and the door was slightly ajar because it was one of those nice days we had earlier in the week; Jim didn't come in or say hello or anything, but I quickly realized he was around. You see, when Jim is around, things start moving. Ceilings get patched. Windows spontaneously wash themselves and hammers spring up and drive nails in perfectly ordered lines - and Jim doesn't even take a cup of coffee before getting started.

So anyways, I knew Jim was around because, after the windows and hammers and all that did their thing, Duke, his pug, ran in the door just as this huge engine roar came from the back lot. I came outside and Jim - who looks and acts like he's about 27 but is really a touch over 80 (I still want to see a birth certificate) - was about 6 feet up a ladder, sawing at a precise downward angle into the tree. Gena was standing below with a slightly terrified look while maintaining her omnipresent smile.

Anyways, we chopped that baby down and Jim even let me use a chainsaw for the first time. As a side note, I'd never truly understood the magnetic attraction between men and machinery until that day. At one point, I looked up and there were three or four men just standing in the parking lot watching me cut the trunk into firewood. One had apparently stopped mid stride, his right foot just an inch off the ground.

But moving on, Gena and Clyde helped me load the branches into a truck, and that brings me to my real point. We've got a huge project on our hands here, but as the Haitian proverb says, "Many hands lighten the load." Jim, Clyde, and Gena, among others, each have about ten hands themselves, so I think we're going to be okay. But, any of you out there that might read this and be in possession of a pair of hands yourselves (or legs, or even just a truck or check book) could have a huge impact with just a little effort. And if you're short of inspiration just come talk to Jim or Jo or plop down a lawn chair in our yard and watch them go to work.

Community Connections

2010-01-27T09:58:00.000-08:00

I've been feeling a need to stretch myself creatively lately. What better way then to add my voice to the blog? Why let Rosie and Justin have all the fun? For those of you who don't know me, my name is Caitlin Goldbaum and I am the AmeriCorps volunteer coordinator. As many of you know, beginning February 1st, the Island Coffeehouse and Books will be closing for a remodel. This upcoming close has prompted me to consider why the Island Coffeehouse and Books and the South Whidbey Commons are so important to our community.

In my short six months here as an AmeriCorps member, I have been consistently impressed by the way this community cares for its own. There are several incredible non-profit organizations in the community that work tirelessly to ensure that basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter are available to everyone. However, there is a fourth fundamental need that often gets overlooked: the need to build relationships with other people. The South Whidbey Commons is a non-profit that is dedicated to providing a safe, comfortable place where members of the community of all ages can build connections.

We offer a wide variety of programs that serve as opportunities for interaction with the community. Our free PlayScape program allows children age birth through kindergarten to play together, while caregivers can visit and share experiences. The Island Coffeehouse and Books is a welcoming communal space and also serves as a training facility for volunteer youth baristas who go out in the community with outstanding customer service and business skills. Every Friday night at 7pm, the coffeehouse offers free music performances where local and national musicians can connect with an audience in an intimate setting.

Having a free space where people of all ages can engage in conversation and build relationships is vital to a healthy community. Unfortunately, our organization cannot continue to provide this service without your help. Beginning February 1st, the Island Coffeehouse and Books will be closed for two months as we undergo an extensive remodel to make our building safe. The timing of this remodel comes not out of choice, but necessity. Our floor is rotting and if we do not take immediate action, we face the collapse of our floor. We are moving forward with this remodel, but we do not currently have the funds to pay for it. Over the next two months, we are calling on you to help us revitalize our community space.

On February 13th, Mukilteo Coffee will be hosting our "Fix the Floor" Fundraiser event. The event, which costs $20 per person, will feature incredible food by Chef Jess and music by Western Heroes. Tickets can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com (under Fix the Floor). We are also selling $5 raffle tickets for artwork by Callahan McVay, Georgia Gerber, and Rie Munoz and garden design by Cathy Waymire-Rooks. We invite you to come take part in this opportunity to help keep a community space open. Help us continue our mission to provide spaces for the community to gather, learn and grow together!

Hands On

2010-01-20T11:32:00.000-08:00

The weeks have been flying by lately at the Coffeehouse and Books. We are preparing for the upcoming renovation and there is excitement in the air. Oh, to have a floor that is not sinking!

I've been thinking about hands and how everyone has been very hands on at the Coffeehouse these days. We've had lively, productive meetings, great work days, planning parties...And then we had an awesome partnership event with Good Cheer on Martin Luther King Jr. Day! The goal was to raise a ton (as in 2000 pounds!) of food and books combined. We also had many hands helping over in the Good Cheer Garden and the day was a celebration of service. Many volunteers were on hand to help sort through the books. We raised over 1200 pounds of books and food and decided to keep going!

All this week, our tips will go towards relief in Haiti. Our intrepid Youth Engagement Squad or Y.E.S. have organized this and are planning many more exciting programs.

This Saturday I am proud to announce a evening musical event: Passing of the Peace organized by the South Whidbey High School Peace Club. The proceeds will benefit "Change For Tibet" as well as the Good Cheer Food Bank. A multitude of performers will enchant and delight you with an open mike evening.

In such a hands on community, it is no small surprise that all of us at the Coffeehouse are joining hands as we move enthusiastically into 2010.

Youth Action Team, Holidays, etc.

2009-12-16T14:35:00.000-08:00

Rosie's last blog post really captured a lot of what I and others feel about the coffeehouse. It really is a third place - although in my case, it's pretty much my first, second and third place. I wouldn't have it any other way. I went home to Nashville, TN for Thanksgiving, and it was amazing to be home again. I got to see my family, my girlfriend, Sparky and Rocket, some old high school friends I hadn't seen in a while; I got to roam my childhood neighborhood and see the trees - overwhelmingly deciduous - bare and sprawling, unlike the towering evergreens I've grown accustomed to; I spent time in the local coffeehouse. I mean, I was sad. I got up at 4 in the morning Nashville time (2 o'clock here) and traveled all morning and into the early afternoon, jostled in and out of sleep on the plane - the malaise had me.

I know you know there's a "but" coming. Okay, here it is: when I turned down Second and saw that mustard and cranberry colored building, the malaise melted off my shoulders and disappeared in the dirt. I love this place.

Currently, I am in the process of bringing the Youth Action Team back, which we have been sorely missing. This could be a huge opportunity for the youth to get experience on a board or committee and to establish their own voice within the Commons. Please encourage every volunteer you know to consider joining the Y.A.T. Here is the description I have drawn up:

Youth Action Team
A group of dedicated volunteers eager to help define both the internal culture of the South Whidbey Commons and its role in the greater community.

I. Goals

a. Establish an organized youth voice in the South Whidbey Commons
b. Develop a core group of youth leaders within Island Coffeehouse and Books, which will set a good example for fellow volunteers and provide input in regard to the direction and function of the coffeehouse, including, but not limited to:

i. allocation of "youth incentive program" funds (ex. team-building activities and trips, movie nights, etc.)
ii. marketing (ex. commercials, posters, etc.)
iii. community outreach (ex. newsletter, education)
iv. and recruitment of new volunteers.

c. Provide youth volunteers with working experience in the functioning of boards and committees. There will be agendas and minutes, titles, and responsibilities; and each member will have the opportunity to attend a South Whidbey Commons Board of Directors meeting.
d. Allow the most motivated volunteers to use their creative energy to positively impact the coffeehouse and greater community.

II. Requirements

a. At least one standing shift for a total of at least two hours of service at the coffeehouse per week. The member will be expected to maintain this standard for the entire duration of their membership on the Team.
b. Each member will commit to monthly, or, at times, bimonthly meetings.

The Third Place (Rosie)

2009-12-03T11:49:00.000-08:00

I've heard it said that we all have three places. Our home, our work and a third place we gather for community, friendly discourse and nourishment of all kinds. It's tricky for me, since this is where I work, but it is often where I find myself, even when I am not working. I am comfortable here. I am nourished here, literally and figuratively. In a world fraught with so many unhappy, isolating things, it is a comfort to find a place where one feels safe. Where there is a sense of belonging.

I have loved bookstores since I was old enough to toddle around. The smell, the treasures found within the pages, all of it. Island Coffeehouse and Books is also a bookstore! It seriously doesn't get any better. At least for me. I am unabashedly finding all my holiday gifts here for prices not to be believed. I hesitate to even mention this here as this is the best kept secret in Langley. Seriously. Other used bookstore owners come here from everywhere and buy books for themselves!

This morning it was in the 30s. Winter is upon us, Langley has lit her lights and the sparkle of frost and holiday is everywhere. I arrived at the Coffeehouse Bookstore, chilled, and the fire was on, it was toasty warm, there were a fair number of friendly faces who called out a cheery greeting while enjoying their hot drinks or baked goods and reading or working on their laptops. I just felt my chest expand as I breathed it all in, thinking, This is where I belong.

Great music on the docket for this Friday! One Horse Band! Which is also a benefit for Good Cheer. Come early. This will be standing room only. And next Friday we have Russell Clepper and Ro Purser. If you missed their last show here, you will not want to miss it again. And if you were here, then you already know. The Coffeehouse will be full to the brim. Plus we are starting up our 2nd Sunday on 2nd Street Poetry night on Sunday, December 13. Local poets will read as well as a few surprises. Rob Harrison is the host for this monthly event.

There's more to come, but even on a regular day, it's a pretty special place to come and hang out, chat with old and new friends, catch up on your reading or email, get a bowl of soup or just look out the window with a cuppa joe.

Renovation, Funding, etc. (Justin)

2009-11-07T18:32:00.000-08:00

This is a copy of an open letter I posted on the Langley Community Forum:

Hello all,

I heard about Langley Community Forum and thought it would be the perfect place for me to introduce myself. I know the length of this message is daunting, but there’s a lot of good information here (and a desperate plea for community support, which you can find by skipping forward to paragraphs three and four, if you’re under a time crunch), so I hope you’ll give me a little time. My name is Justin Bailey and I am one of the four AmeriCorps volunteers working with South Whidbey Commons here in Langley. We all work as baristas at Island Coffeehouse and Books, which is a non-profit, volunteer run coffeehouse and used bookstore that also serves as a youth training facility on 2nd Street in Langley. In addition, I am in charge of marketing for ICB. (To that end, check out my blog:www.islandcoffeehouseandbooks.blogspot.com ).

I have to say that this is no easy task. I have tried fliers, mass emails, handouts—all with no noticeable success. It’s a shame, too, because this is a very exciting time for the Commons and the Coffeehouse in particular. We have an amazing new manager, Rosie, who has and continues to be a screenwriter, actress, chef, poet, creative writing teacher, among other things, and brings an incredible energy, a wealth of experience, and a vision of local, organic, sustainability to the table. She has completely redone the way we do food. Now, we use only Chef Jess of Mukilteo (she supplies a variety of soups and gluten free baked goods), Kichlii’s Bagels, and Tree Top Bakers (the best cookies, scones, pecan sticky buns, cinnamon rolls, and pumpkin bread I’ve ever had). Also, we have, as always, a wide selection of “like new” used books for sell at lower prices than I’ve ever seen, and I’m a big used bookstore guy. We have free wireless Internet. We have egg, cheese, pesto, and olive tapenade breakfast bagels. We have friendly baristas of all ages who have generously donated their time to serving the community.

We also have a great mission statement, and, perhaps most relevantly right now, a great need. Our youth volunteers who run the coffeehouse are getting great jobs as a result of their experience here, we’re providing a safe, nourishing place for high schoolers to hang out, but—and this is a weighty but, a but that I hope you will feel sympathy for, empathy even—we need your help. Our kitchen floor is sinking, our roof is leaking, our electrical wiring is ancient and any day this place is likely to fall through the core of the earth and into China or open a window in the roof to the rain or spontaneously combust (of course, don’t let that deter you from coming in; we’ll gladly give you a free coffee card if you are unfortunate enough to be present when such an event occurs). We have a fantastic renovation plan but we need funding, badly, in order to get it done. All of us at ICB are convinced that there is huge potential for our expansion as a community service once we get the renovations done, but right now its completion is no certainty.

So, for those of you charitably minded folks, please consider patronizing our fine establishment or contributing funds to our renovation project. For those of you who are not in the financial position to give but do want a good book or well-brewed cup of coffee, an expertly pulled shot or gourmet soup, please come check us out and see what you think. I am certain that people of all ages and interests can find common ground at Island Coffeehouse and Books.

Also, feel free to respond with thoughts about the South Whidbey Commons and ICB, suggestions, ideas, well wishes, or anything at all. Thanks for your time!

Sincerely,
Justin Bailey

Unforgettable Evening of Music (Rosie)

2009-10-31T09:18:00.000-07:00

Yes, Jim Page performed at the Coffeehouse last night. It was an incredible night. Having read the reviews, I was eager to hear him, but nothing compared to the actual man with his guitar. He is a consummate story-teller and his singing is evocative and moving. You hear and feel every song. He is also a warm and lovely person who would stop now and again and encourage people to come to the coffeehouse and support "this fine establishment". Before the show, he asked questions about our youth programs and volunteer opportunities and then mentioned it between songs. I have to say he had an incredible amount of "get it" and to his credit, the coffeehouse was full to the brim. And then some. On a blustery night when there were other events going on around town, it was a testament to him that we had standing room only. There were a few songs that brought tears to my eyes. I will never forget it.

I also want to take a moment and talk about Piper Reva from last week. She was wonderful. An eclectic blend of music, artistry, story-telling. Unique and intense. Piper is a completely engaging performer. I felt like I was in a bluesy club in New Orleans. If you have a chance to see her around town or in Seattle, don't miss it.

It is Halloween and it looks to be another blustery day. We will be prepared with treats for the wee trick or treaters with hot apple cider and hot cocoa for parents as well. Chef Jess has made a splendid Mushroom Miso Soup and we have special treats from our Tree Top Bakers. Coffeecake, sticky buns, pumpkin bread as well as the usual yummy scones and cookies. If you haven't tried a cookie from then, hurry up! They sell out every time.

New Winter Hours! We are changing to our Winter Hours beginning today.Monday through Friday - 9:00AM to 6:00PM and Saturday and Sunday - 10:00AM to 6:00PM with the Friday and Saturday evening hours for events as usual. See you at the Coffeehouse!

Jim Page tomorrow night!

2009-10-29T19:32:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that tomorrow night's Friday Night Live will feature Jim Page, a singer-songwriter from Seattle, who is amazing. I'm not exagerrating either. I haven't seen him live, but I have listened to his music (you can do so as well, here: www.jimpage.net). Word on the street is that last time he came to Whidbey Island, 500 hundred people showed up and they had to hold it at the Middle School. This time, however, we are very pleased that Jim has decided to play at Island Coffeehouse and Books. The show will begin at 7pm. Here is his bio from the website:

Began playing guitar at 15. Went to New York in 1970, Seattle in '71. Changed street singing laws in '74. Went to Europe in '77, began touring and living abroad. Returned to Seattle in 1983 where he still lives.

After seeing him perform at the High Sierra Music Festival in the summer of ‘97, Rob Bleetstein of Gavin wrote:
“Jim Page is a lyrical genius with a guitar. This man personifies the word ‘free-flow.’ Page takes to the mic and the song invents itself on the spot; his talent is a natural wonder.”

And in any of the many countries, from the countless tours and stages he has played people say the same. “A truly amazing man...one of the great originals. Ignore him at your peril.” - Hot Press, Dublin

Jim has been on the scene for more than twenty years and his reputation continues to grow. He has shared the stage with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Dan Bern, Michelle Shocked, Leftover Salmon, Mickey Hart, J.J. Cale, Robert Hunter, Chuck Brodsky, and John Hammond. His songs have been performed by Christy Moore, Michael Hedges, John Trudell, The Doobie Brothers, Joanne Rand, Casey Neill, and (yes) David Soul.

Often cited for his biting political pieces he is in constant demand by the social movements of the day.
“More reminiscent of the Woody Guthrie I heard as a boy than anyone I’ve listened to in the intervening years” - Philip Elwood, San Francisco Examiner

“A master of the craft of song writing, a wicked guitar player and the most relevant topical musician of his day.” - Casey Neill, Earth First! Journal

Jim easily fits into the concert hall or the class room. Brian Tokar, Goddard College: “Even the most skeptical students were convinced by the end of class that, in your able hands, the rich tradition of topical song writing is alive and well in the late 1990s. Your songs bring a phenomenal mix of humor, irony and lyrical brilliance to exposing the outrages and absurdities of our times.”

Or in the house concert. Peter Sussman, Duncan, British Columbia: “Jim is truly one of the best song writers of our day....the range of his creations is extremely broad and runs the gamut from biting satire to beautiful, sensitive love songs. He must be heard.”

And of course, at the festivals sitting in with his electric friends:
“The best had to be when that wonderful folksinger Jim Page joined the mainstage outdoor closer Leftover Salmon. He strums a few chords to get them started and then they build the melody up. Jim starts to improvise lyrics... And all of Leftover Salmon is grinning ear-to-ear. I’ve seen 1500-plus concerts and that moment was as wonderful a band/audience connection as I’ve ever witnessed.” - Dupree’s Diamond News

New Tables and Chairs, Piper Reva, and Exclusive Discounts (Justin)

2009-10-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

Howdy folks,

I hope you have all been in to see the new layout because it is good, real good. Rosie, Gena, and Patty (I believe it was those three that made the decision) have a fine eye for spacing and style because the new look has it all. It sleek and cozy and fine-looking like a guitar made in Alhambra and sings, too, when the place is crowded, seemingly overflowing with people now that the capacity is doubled, and the fresh scent of espresso and scones (have you tried the pumpkin cranberry scones?!) and soup (creamy tomato in particular...) and egg and cheese bagels and pumpkin loaf and...sorry, I need to control myself. But it is a beautiful thing.

There is something, though, that we need to work on, and all of you out there can help. We have the capacity, we have boom hours certainly, and we have the Mukilteo coffee and scones and soup and the cheapest used books I've ever seen and all the makings for the coolest place around, but people don't know that. Even some of the high school volunteers don't know that we have egg and cheese bagels and adults in the community are constantly shocked when I tell them that we sell Mukilteo coffee or that we have FREE WIFI. Should I say that again, just to emphasize the point? Okay, I will: At Island Coffeehouse and Books, on 2nd Street in Langley, WA, on the Island of Whidbey in the Sound of Puget, we have FREE WIFI.

That means that you can come in, buy yourself a drip coffee, peruse the books, open up your laptop, wander through the endless sources of stupefying diversion now available with just a click here and a tap there, and then purchase an egg and cheese bagel with pesto on, for example, a jalapeno cheddar bagel, check the score of the Seahawks or Huskies game (in my case, the UNC or Titans), see for yourself that President Obama has declared the H1N1 swine flu a national emergency, check out the upcoming Friday Night Live events at southwhidbeycommons.com, and then finish it off with a moist slice of pumpkin loaf. Doesn't sound too bad, does it? That's what I do every single off day, actually, except today, because I went in yesterday to study for the LSAT and got sucked into conversations with people (I blame you, friendly people at ICB and distracted by the display of goodies at the counter and the exciting sight of four--that's right, FOUR--high school volunteers on shift, and accomplished exactly nothing (aside from learning that Obama declared H1N1 a national emergency). So please, pretty please, spread the word. Tell people about our new food, our soups from Chef Jess at Mukilteo, the new seating arrangements, about your amazing experiences at ICB. Even post a comment right here on the blog about it.

Speaking of Friday Night Live, I unfortunately could not attend Piper Reva's show at ICB this weekend, something that really bothers me because I had spoken with her on the phone and she was really friendly and introduced herself and I had wanted to see her just for that reason and because by all accounts it was a spectacular show, a true spectacle. I am listening to her music as we speak actually (www.myspace.com/piperreva) and can confirm that her voice really is an incredible husky, mercurial thing. She just sang, "every morn I curse myself because I am so damn beautiful" and I'm hanging on every word and thinking, "that's how I feel about missing your show!" She even brought her own lights in and hung art as a backdrop and wore a top hat. I am keeping my fingers crossed that she will decide to play again. From what I hear, there are about fifty other people who came to the show and doubtless feel the same way.

Finally, the exclusive discounts. So here is how that works. From now on, Rosie or I will post a Question of the Week on the blog. If you come in with the answer, then you get 20% off one item of your choice. This week's question: Who is the best quarterback in the NFL? Now, you might argue that this is a subjective question but I disagree. Just as it was 12 years ago during the Heisman Trophy debacle, it is objectively true that this certain quarterback is the G.O.A.T.

Giddy (Rosie)

2009-10-15T22:09:00.000-07:00

So, after a long day which started before we opened with Chef Jess delivering our new soup and gluten free muffins and granola and two kinds of cookies (all organic, by the way) at the coffeehouse and then traipsing in Seattle looking at and consequently buying new tables and chairs, though not at our first restaurant supply house, mind you, I am that interesting combination of queasy and giddy. Money was spent. Bought some great things for the coffeehouse and looked at new equipment for down the road. It was a fun day seeing downtown Seattle with our intrepid Program Director, Gena and our stellar President of the Board, Patty. Patty knows everything about everything in Seattle. It was so cool downtown, I almost thought about moving there, but realized how much I love life on the island and our ever changing coffeehouse. And decided to stay put.

The food today was soo good. I had some cold soup (it wasn't ready when I left for Seattle), with more on the near horizon. For those granola lovers out there (and honestly, who isn't a granola lover?) we now have a signature granola and will have options from cow, soy, rice milks to yogurt and fresh seasonal fruit. Starting tomorrow.

Some super cool things on the horizon. Besides the food, new tables and chairs, I mean. There's some amazing musical offerings and a poetry event that will benefit Good Cheer. And it just keeps getting better. Stay tuned for more info.

Justin, get yourself to the Olympic Peninsula. You won't be disappointed. Everybody else, get yourselves into the Island Coffeehouse and Books. You won't be disappointed either.

I got my tent, my stove, my backpack, and my optimistically empty journal. The question is: should I stay or should I go now? (Justin)

2009-10-15T14:20:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted, as has been pointed out by our dedicated following (meaning my mom, dad, aunt, and fellow blog contributor, Rosie). It has been a great week for the coffeehouse and for me. I'll start with developments at the coffeehouse, specifically with food at the coffeehouse, since that's my primary interest.

We recently worked out an arrangement with Mukilteo Caffe's Chef Jess and will now be carrying their fresh-baked cookies and stews. Today marked our first day with Spanish rice soup, oatmeal cranberry cookies, chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon coffee cake, and pumpkin muffins, which are made with some sort of black bean flour, interestingly enough. One of our duties as ICB managers is to be familiar with all of our new products so that we can recommend them to customers. Needless to say, I enjoyed being in the coffeehouse today. The soup was so good I forked out the money for a big bowl and seriously considered getting another; but, alas, I am working on the salary of an AmeriCorps volunteer, which is only nominally different from that of, say, an unemployed college student with a modest salary from daddy (sub in government for daddy and probably make the modest salary even more modest) or even a homeless person with a knack for raising funds through forced windshield washing. The point is the soup is incredible. Two types of beans that I could make it, chunks of fresh tomatoe and large slices of onion. Good stuff. Finish it off with a cranberry oatmeal cookie and that is the proverbial stuff.

Another reason I've been riding a good mood for some time now is I got to see some fantastic at least semi-local music this weekend. Lake and Karl Blau played Saturday night at the Children's Theatre and our very own Rosie played a leading role as merchandise saleswoman--a job she performed extraordinarily well, if I may say so. Molly, Caitlin, and I were all impressed by all of the musicians' abilities to exchange instruments without a change in displayed competence, and the syncopated rhythms and creative lyrics (Karl Blau's song that feature a chorus that went something like, "One: November, Two:December, Three: January, and so on, stuck out in particular, and his mustachioed North Wind's (a member of Lake and Blau's backing band) sound effects heightened the playful energy and amusement. I know that Eli, a member of Lake, at least spends some time in the coffeehouse, so it was cool to watch them perform.

Also, despite my aforementioned financial strain, I went on an online shopping spree at REI.com and got myself a tent, Jetboil stove and French Press converter (YES!). I'd been needing those things for a while so I could get out in the wild. After I ripped open the packaging like a six-year-old on Christmas morning (or myself on Christmas morning at any age), I got on the internet and planned out my trip. Here is the agenda: Friday night, ferry over to Port Townsend; Saturday morning, wake up at dawn to ride up Hurricane Ridge to the observatory then ride back down and drive to an undetermined trailhead to hike in and camp out "under the stars" (quotations marks are there for a reason, you'll see), then hike out the next morning and catch the ferry back. I told everyone about this, even my cat Samson, who only speaks Spanish and Hebrew and didn't understand a word I was saying. Then, I checked the forecast. And bkoughk! (explosion sound effect)! Rain, my friend. Rain, rain, and more rain. I think I might go for it anyways, though, and if I don't, at least I can chill in the coffeehouse, listening to our new Lake CD and eating Spanish rice soup. And that, I think, is never a terrible thing.

Monday Morning and Breakfast Bagels (Rosie)

2009-10-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

So, while Justin is adjusting to this fine, crisp Autumnal weather (Caitlin's right, Justin, no pity) the Coffeehouse is busy with their new Breakfast Bagels. As I expected, people are already creating variations on the theme...Clyde wanted his on The Tree Top Bakery's German Rolls and Carol and Cynthia asked about making one sans the bagel... So, it seems that folks are craving something for breakfast, with or without the bagel. In any case, each week we'll have a new flavor and see what happens. Should be interesting.

Oktoberfest made for another superb Saturday. Not simply busy, we also had spiced cookies, an amazing pumpkin spice bread that sold out in about 2 minutes and Oktoberfesty drinks. Not to mention that watching grown men wander the streets holding beer steins in lederhosen with very rakish caps with feathers was something everyone should witness at least once in their lives. Toward the end of the festivities, the caps and feathers began to slip a bit and we were busy with all the usual locals as well as any number of rosy-cheeked festival goers getting hot cocoa and spiced cider.

The evening was wonderful as Bainbridge Island writer, Suzanne Selfors read from her new teen novel, "Coffeehouse Angel". It was a fun and lively evening and we heard that her first novel, "Saving Juliet" is being made into a film! She signed and sold books and everyone left happy. It was our first collaboration with the Langley Library. One of many, I imagine. Thank goodness for Caitlin who worked a split shift and helped me close!

Just another day in Langley.

This week we hope to add in even more items to our growing menu. Stay tuned!

Oh, and I'm thinking of starting a fund for long underwear for Justin so he makes it through the winter.

First experience with non-southern falls, pumpkin loaf, Oktoberfest, and other things (Justin)

2009-10-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

One time, I dressed up for a Halloween party in flip flops, jeans, and a lion costume (it was a furry vest with a maned hood attached) that had been made to fit the three-year-old version of me, as opposed to the then 17 version of me. I don't need to tell you that it no longer velcroed across my front or hung down to my waist. You can probably imagine the ludicrous spectacle, though it might be harder to understand the appeal to a 17-year-old of intentionally becoming that spectacle. The point is, it was the 31st of October and I was actually warm, exposed chest and all (Actually, I was positively sweating at one point in the night, after my impulsive petty crime of hurling a gummy bear at a passing car--something any adult should excuse on the grounds of, "Oh he's just a kid, no harm no foul," right?--left me facing a testosterone-fueled tirade from the 30-somethings driver, whose decision to slam on the brakes and confront my friends and I so caught us off guard that we neglected to run, prepare an explanation, or do anything at all aside from gawk and nod in agreement to his fiery assault on the irresponsibility of today's youth, a memory I still rewrite from time to time to have me heroically defending myself with an overwhelming torrent of words or intimidating display of raw animal vigor.)

I bring this up because right now, at 2 PM on October 3, it is 54 degrees. My plans for today had been 1) wake up 2) play with Samson, our kitten 3) make breakfast--probably 2 cage free eggs and 2 Morningstar Farms vegetarian "breakfast patties", which is my staple 4) ride my bike for 20-50 miles 5) come to Island Coffeehouse and Books to read outside on the patio, write a blog entry, and then make my way around Langley to see what our version of Oktoberfest was like. Well, I did items 1 through 3 just fine, skipped number 4--the one I was most looking forward to--, and am now shivering on the lawn of ICB, too stubborn to go inside or crawl back to my bed (we're too poor to use the heat, so it's the only warm spot in the house) and dream of warmer days in the south.

Fortunately, though I'm too cold to read, today is a fantastic day to people watch in Langley. TGFO (Thank God For Oktoberfest). As I typed that, a man wearing white tights, green velvet bloomers, a white shirt and gray vest, and a feathered cap actually walked by. There he is again! And now one of his fellows is strolling by with some sort of sweet decoration on his cap. It looks sort of like a conical dusting feather turned upward and attached to the cap at the base. Interesting.

All this brings me to the positives about the cold weather, Oktoberfest, and living in Langley: seasonal specials at ICB and the joy of walking into a warm, welcoming coffeehouse from the cold. Today, we had incredibly soft, hefty slices of pumpkin bread for only 2 dollars. Needless to say, I polished off a slice prior to beginning this blog entry and would go back for a second if I didn't want to save them for patrons of ICB. I heartily recommend them, though, and all of you should immediately come claim one of the remaining slices. Also, we will have pumpkin spice lattes available very soon. Yum.

As a final note, I want to say that just thinking about our incredible board of directors warms me up inside despite the cold weather--Caitlin has just informed me that I will receive no sympathy because this is not cold and prime biking weather in fact. I cannot imagine a more energetic, supportive, effective group of people, and it is a pleasure for all us AmeriCorps to work with you. That's all.

Post Django-Fest-Children's-Day Syndrome (Rosie)

2009-09-30T14:20:00.000-07:00

It was a stellar weekend to be sure! Incredible weather, happy people and on Sunday, while about 30 musicians jammed in the front of the coffeehouse, approximately 10,000 motorcyclists were passing through the island for their annual Oyster Run. This is not to be confused with the Tour de Whidbey our own intrepid Justin rode the day before, but another thing altogether. So in addition to the gypsy music filling the town, we had about a gabillion (yes, it's a number, I just decided) leather clad cyclists enjoying the fine day. By the end of Sunday, we'd run out of just about everything and I couldn't form a sentence or remember my name. Mercifully, I was rescued by a kitten who might be the cutest thing I've ever seen and is now living with Justin, Molly and Caitlin.

Now a few days (daze?) later, we are all recovering and the weather has turned the corner into Autumn. Rain and gray skies. But lest you think we are resting on our laurels, think again! We've been busy with ordering new items, working on our menu and plenty of folks are coming in to find a cozy place to sit and read or write, sip a favorite coffee drink and enjoy the ambiance.

Oktoberfest is on the docket for this coming Saturday and it's sure to be another busy weekend. We plan to have some seasonal fare (pumpkin spice bread, spiced cookies, very berry scones, pumpkin lattes, hot apple cider, a rose and cardamom flavored hot milk...just to name a few) Lot's of new things on the horizon! We also have author, Suzanne Selfors, coming to read from her newest book "Coffeehouse Angel" (great title, don't you think?) this Saturday evening. I expect another crazy, mad, happy weekend. It just keeps getting better.

Djangofest, Tour de Whidbey, etc. (Justin)

2009-09-29T17:57:00.000-07:00

This weekend was epic. So epic, in fact, that the paper found it important enough to write about it. This was my first Djangofest but it certainly won't be my last. Business was great at the coffeehouse, there was consistent live music due to spontaneous and informal django jam sessions on the front lawn, and we actually stayed open late one night because Molly was having too good a time to shut it down. The energy was intoxicating, so much so that I almost grabbed a guitar and jumped in. Fortunately, I realized that trying to play with those guys would have been like trying to jump onto the Dean Dome court to scrimmage with the UNC basketball team (for the uninformed among you, UNC won the 2008-2009 NCAA basketball tournament and is widely considered the greatest program in the history of the NCAA (I also happen to be an alumnus but would like to assure you that this metaphor and the underlying analysis is the product of completely objective journalism)). The musicians who were kind enough to play at our coffeehouse were extremely talented, and you can catch a short clip of them under the "Video"s section on the left of the page.

For those of you who don't know, Django Fest is a celebration of Gypsy Jazz and the music of Django Reinhardt. Here is a short summary of Gypsy Jazz taken from the WICA (Whidbey Island Center for the Arts):

GYPSY JAZZ (also known as "Gypsy Swing") is an
idiom sometimes said to have been started by the Ferre
brothers in the late 1920s, which later became popular
due to the work of guitarist Django Reinhardt in the 1930s.
Because its origins are largely in France , it is often called
by the French name, "Jazz manouche," or alternatively,
"manouche jazz," even in English language sources. Django
was foremost among a group of guitarists working in and
around Paris in the late 1920s and 30s.

Many of the musicians in this style worked in Paris in
various popular Musette ensembles. The Musette style
waltz remains an important component in the Gypsy jazz
repertoire. Reinhardt was noted for combining a dark,
chromatic Gypsy flavor with the swing articulation of the
period. This combination is critical to this style of jazz.
In addition to this, his approach continues to form
the basis for contemporary Gypsy jazz guitar.
Reinhardt's most famous group, the Quintette du Hot Club
du France, also brought fame to jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli.

Gypsy jazz, along with traditional Gypsy music, is learned
by the passing down of knowledge from older generations.
Many Gypsy musicians do not read notated music. It is
more common for beginners to spend hours learning
and memorizing songs from recordings and
gleaning techniques from more experienced players.

In Gypsy jazz, guitar and violin are the main solo
instruments, although clarinet and accordian are also
common. The rhythm guitar is played using a distinct
percussive technique, "la pompe”, which essentially
replaces the drums. An upright bass fills out the ensembles.
Although many instrumental lineups exist, a group
including one lead guitar, violin, two rhythm guitars,
and bass is often the norm.

I actually tried to write a blog post while drinking a cup of Mukilteo French roast (our current drip) and listening to the music on the lawn, but the chugga-chugga-chugga of the rhythm and the playful interplay of the soloists made it impossible. I'd reach for a word and boppa-bah-dy! would come out instead; I'd hope for a lofty phrase of high art criticism and something like, "The lead guitarists fingers--bah-dah-bing!--dance up the neck--shick!--and seem to laugh at the persistent shuffle of the rhythm, the jokester musician laughing at the seriousness of life with a jazz flourish." Actually, I just made that up on the spot to try to recreate my ridiculous attempts to transform the carnival into a Harold Bloom piece. To be perfectly honest, my only attempt at writing a blog was in my own head; my hands were too busy tapping the table and the coffee buzz wouldn't let me do anything but appreciate the music. I think many people felt the same way. It was, as they say, an experience.

That's not all we did this weekend, though. The Commons put on Children's Day, which was a huge success, with about 600 hundred kids passing through the maze. I, unfortunately, could not help with Children's Day because I had masochistically undertaken the 100 mile Tour de Whidbey, which was spectacular.

What will doubtless be most interesting to those of you that think with your stomachs, Molly and I experimented with egg and cheese bagels today and came up with some excellent combinations. Hopefully, we will begin selling them this coming Monday. Imagine the scent of pesto wafting toward your nostrils as your teeth sink through the everything bagel and into the egg, your teeth meet and pull back and a string of melted cheddar cheese stretches across the void like the Golden Gate Bridge. Or, imagine the startling presence of chili powder and nutmeg cooked within a savory mozzarella egg, a crunchy hint of sweetness from the cinnamon raisin bagel. What do you think? Comment and let us know.

Testing, Testing...Testing 1, 2, 3 (Justin)

2009-09-25T12:14:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, there are four AmeriCorps volunteers working at Island Coffeehouse and Books: Lissa, Molly, Caitlin, and myself. We all have specialized coffeehouse jobs in addition to general barista duties; my area is the vaguely defined task of "marketing."

Now, in school I wasn't a marketing major or any practical major at all, in fact. Instead, I studied English literature and Economics. Neither is exactly known for keeping its students grounded, for learning and acting in the job market, for developing projects and implementing them. You can go to Paul Krugman's blog for an authoritative (biased? politically motivated? accurate?) pontification on the extent to which economics has deviated from real world study and application.

I suppose it sounds like I'm explaining every reason why I'm not qualified for this position, but that's not it exactly. What I really mean to communicate is my excitement to get away from theorizing and reading and do some actual, honest, measurable work. In school, I noticed a strong and puzzling relationship between study hours and spontaneous sleepiness. Now, I find myself waking up when it comes time to work (is that because I work at a coffeehouse and thus drink about 7 shots of espresso a day?...nah) and thinking about ideas even when I'm off-duty, and one of those ideas was this very blog you are looking at.

Why a blog, you might wonder? Because everyone likes a good blog. Everyone also dislikes a bad blog, so I'll try to avoid the mindset that every thought I have is worthy of being communicated to the world; I know I find that annoying, and I imagine you do, too. Here is the purpose for this blog, as I see it: first and foremost, to entertain. I'm thinking an "overheard at the coffeehouse" section, videos/commercials that the kids will work up, maybe a series of videos on drink innovations, and a list of what I and other AmeriCorps and community volunteers are reading, listening to, and watching. Also, I see it as an excellent means of communicating to the public some of the plans ICB and the South Whidbey Commons (Susie and Rosie in particular, the Board of Directors, and AmeriCorps volunteers as well) have for the coming months. Because comments will be enabled and welcomed, it will be a great way for community members to discuss some of these things and share their own stories and ideas. So there you have it. Enjoy.