DAYS OF SUMMER * CRICKETS COMING * FACEBOOK PAGES * BILL'S COFFEE SHOP NEWSLETTER * Vol. 11 * July 30, 2010

MIDSUMMER OUTSIDE THE
COFFEESHOP WINDOWS

OUR Ojibwe calendar says July is the month of the "Halfway through the summer moon (aabita-niibino-giizis)." It's easy to sense this looking through the windows of
 the original Wild Bill's Coffeeshop on the university campus. On the one hand, the days are certainly a lot warmer than last month. But on the other, the days are are not quite
as long as they were last month. In the mornings, the sunlight comes in a few minutes later than last month, In the evenings, it leaves a little earlier, too.
 
Outside the north windows of the coffeeshop our little woods is now fully grown. So one has to look very carefully among the trees to get even a glimpse of the Iowa River in midsummer. 
This is quite different from winter when the trees are bare and the river is easily visible below us.
 
To get a good view of the river now one must walk down the hill behind North Hall. At this time of year, the Iowa River usually rolls lazily along through the
campus. But this year, with the continuing rains, the current continues running strong. During the afternoons, people are out sunning on the stretch of lawn between North Hall and the river.
  In the evenings, joggers and bicyclists go up and down the riverside path. One thinks of the river adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn and Nat King
Cole singing about "those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer."
 

HERE AND THERE
CRICKET CHIRPS
Cicadas are still the loudest sounds on summer evenings here in Iowa City. But here and there, one can hear (or see) a cricket.
It is a sign that the summer is slowly slipping away. It won't be long now until the cicadas are gone and the sounds of crickets fill our evenings.

Some birds have already packed up and left for their winter homes. I saw flocks heading south last week over the Mississippi River. That river is one of the major freeways for birds in North America. It seems way too early for this, but it is a cycle which occurs every year. Of course, the major bird migrations are still three months away. But these early ones are a reminder that we are now on the long, slow descent into fall.

Perhaps you have noticed that the days are shorter now, too. By 9 pm now it is dark. Each day is two or three minutes shorter. This process began in June, but it was hardly noticeable for the first few weeks. But those minutes have piled up and more than an hour of daylight has gone.

SUMMERTIME IN
IOWA CITY...
...Outdoor concerts continue Friday evenings on the Ped Mall in downtown Iowa City. Music from 6:30 to 9:30 pm
  
...Outdoor movies are being presented each Saturday night on the Pentacrest. Movies are free and start about 8:30 pm.Entertainment before. Blankets and
picnics are welcome. 

...Have you checked out the Farmers Market yet this year? It's open Wednesday evenings, 6:30 to 7:30 pm and Saturday mornings, 7:30 to 11:30 am. You'll find
  the market on the ground floor of the parking garage across from city hall on Washington Sreet. Live music is part of the Wednesday evening market.
 

LOOKING FOR A
SUMMER READ?
Uptown Bill's has hundreds and hundreds of books for sale. Hardcover and paperback. Check out the selection at the new Uptown Bill's, 730 S. Dubuque. Open every day from 8 am starting next week.

QUOTES AT UPTOWN ON
ABILITIES AWARENESS
Have you noticed the quotations on the Uptown Bill's Facebook page? Every few days there's a new quote designed to raise our abilities awareness. Do you have one to contribute. You can post it on the Facebook page or send it via the Newsletter for us to post.

SUMMER BRINGS
MANY CHANGES
Wild Bill's Coffeeshop in North Hall is taking its summer vacation. The coffeeshop will reopen on Friday, July 20 at 8 am.
Uptown Bill's is moving to 730 S. Dubuque. The move is expected to be complete by Monday, Aug. 2. The coffeeshop and other businesses will reopen at that time.

CREATIVE WRITING
FOR SOCIAL WORK
A summer workshop on "Creative writing for social work" last week included visits to both Uptown Bill's and the original Wild Bill's Coffeeshop. For more details, look for a link to a newspaper story on the Facebook page for Friends of Bill's Coffeeshop.

RESPECT, DIGNITY,
CALMING PEACE
The unitive social focal point of Friday nights is not the music, although good entertainment ( 'Experience community and inspiration,' Newsletter, July 25 issue). It's the respect, dignity, calming peace and justice that the evening brings to the attendees.  Keep up the great work.
     -- James McAuley

I feel the same way since our neighborhood was able to support an every-Sunday Farmers' Market along 29th Street in Minneapolis (one block N. of Lake Street) from Lyndale through Dupont.  A great mix of artisans, farmers, bakers, food vendors, growers, shoppers; all along one street for one glorious day a week.  Gives me hope and inspiration.
     -- Diana Boegemann

EXECUTIVE ORDER TO
STRENGTHEN HIRING
A new executive order from President Barack Obama is designed to strengthen the federal government's commitment to hiring individuals with disabilities. Look for a link with details on the Facebook page for Uptown Bill's.

SPREADING THE WORD
ABOUT NEWSLETTER
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DRINKING TOO
MUCH COFFEE?

You know you're drinking too much coffee when:

+ You think CPR stands for "coffee provides resuscitation."

+ You name your cats cream and sugar

+ You're offended when people use the word brew to refer to beer

LOOKING BACK IN THE
BILL'S NEWSLETTER

Seven years ago (2003): Another Mother for Peace has come back to life. Donna Reed
and other mothers originally founded this group to oppose the Vietnam War.

Eight years ago (2002): Here and there a song of fall can be heard around campus

Nine years ago (2001): Barry Morrow, Bill Sackter's friend and screenwriter
for the Bill movies, returns to Bill's Coffeeshop this week.

Ten years ago (2000): Hull House had a coffeeshop, too.
_______________________________________________________________

Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter is a virtual extension of Wild Bill's Coffeeshop, Uptown Bill's and other projects created in the spirit of Bill Sackter. Now in its 11th year, the Newsletter is written by Tom Gilsenan, director of Uptown Bill's and a former manager of the original coffeeshop. A selection of back issues cane be found at the Coffee and Community Weblog: http://coffeeandcommunity,blogspot.com.

Wild Bill's Coffeeshop is a project of the School of Social Work at the University of Iowa. Located in North Hall, it has been a part of campus lfie in Iowa City for more than 35 years. The coffeeshop is currently closed for summer vacation. It will reopen Friday, Aug. 20 at 8 am.

Uptown Bill's has moved to 730 S. Dubuque. Besides a coffeeshop, it also includes a bookstore and other businesses. Stop in and see the new place. Call (319) 339-0401 for more information.