Music, art and even live TV * Cupid for 21st century * Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter * Vol. 11 * January 21, 2011

LOTS GOING ON THIS WEEK 

-- EVEN A LIVE TV SHOW 

There's something for everyone this week at Uptown Bill's. We've got music, art, a movie and a live TV broadcast. Here's the lineup:

Tuesday, Jan. 25, 6 pm

Live broadcast of Tom's Guitar Show. Come down and be a part of the audience. Show is produced by PATV (our downstairs neighbor) and broadcast on Cable Channel 18

Wednesday, Jan. 26, 6 pm

Our Wednesday Night Film series resumes with 'Farmingville,' a look at the effects of immigration on one small town. Presented by Uptown Bill's in collaboration with Wild Bill's Coffeeshop, the UI School of Social Work and POV, the award-winning nonfiction film series from PBS. The film will also be shown at Wild Bill's on Thursday, Jan. 27, 6 pm. For more details, check the Facebook page for Uptown Bill's or the Friends of Bill's Coffeeshop.

Thursday, Jan. 27, 6 pm

Art & Music Night. Come down for coffee, art and music (often live music)

Friday, Jan. 28, 7 pm

Open Mic Night. Read a poem, share a story or sing a song. Sign up anytime during the week at Uptown Bill's Sign-up sheet on the side of the pop cooler.

Saturday, Jan. 29, 7 pm

Saturday Night Music with Ben Schmidt and Larry Mossman. 

MORE THAN A

COFFEESHOP

All those books around Uptown Bill's? Yes, they are for sale. Paperbacks are $1.50; hard cover books are $3. There are CDs for sale, too. 

LOOKING FOR

A NEW CUPID

Let's face it: Cupid needs a makeover. And what better time to work on this than Valentine's Day.

Cupid, of course, is that little guy who spreads love wherever he goes. He's usually pictured wearing a, well, diaper. He often has wings and delivers his messages of love with a bow and arrow.

Now that just isn't going to work in 2011. Could you imagine running into this guy on the Ped Mall in Iowa City some evening? Or at a rest stop on I-80? I don't think so. So we need a refashioned Cupid for today. 

Longtime readers of this Newsletter may remember that we had a discussion about this several years ago. But it wouldn't hurt to bring it up again. 

One thought is to take away the bow and arrow and have Cupid use a laser pointer instead.  

Another idea is to give Cupid a car instead of wings. How about a red convertible? Or a PT cruiser?

And Cupid needs a new outfit, too. Or at least more of one.

Those are just a few of the possibilities. Now it's your turn. What would a modern Cupid look like? And how would he (or she) spread love around Iowa and beyond.

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Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter is a virtual extension of Wild Bill's Coffeeshop and Uptown Bill's Coffee House. Published since 2000, the Newsletter is written by Tom Gilsenan, a former manager of Wild Bill's and now director of Uptown Bill's. You can write to him at tomgilsenan@gmail.com

Wild Bill's Coffeeshop is a project of the School of Social Work at the University of Iowa. It has been a part of campus life in Iowa City for more than 35 years. Located in North Hall, the coffeeshop is open weekdays from 8 am. For more information, check the Friends of Bill's Coffeeshop page on Facebook. You can call the coffeeshop at (319) 335-1281. Donations to support the work of the coffeeshop may be sent to: Bill's Coffeeshop Fund, University of Iowa Foundation, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52244. Contributions are tax deductible.

Uptown Bill's is the crosstown cousin of Wild Bill's. Now in it 10th year, it includes a bookstore, performance venue and other businesses in addition to a coffeeshop. Located at 730 S. Dubuque, Uptown Bill's is open every day from 8 am. For more information, check the Uptown Bill's page on Facebook. You can call Uptown Bill's at (319) 339-0401. Donations to support the work of Uptown Bill's may be sent to: Extend the Dream Foundation, Uptown Bill's, 730 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, IA 52240. Contributions are tax deductible.