Sunday, February 27, 2011

Why not streetcars on Dubuque * Lots this week * Chris Bell returns * BILL'S COFFEESHOP NEWSLETTER * Vol. 12 * February 25, 2011

IMAGINE STREETCAR
ALONG DUBUQUE
Bring back streetcars. That's the most significant step Iowa City could take if it wishes to turn River Crossings into a showcase of urban development. 

This city, like so many others, has based most of its planning on auto-mobility -- making it easy for cars to get around. But that's not the only way people get around (or want to get around). A streetcar line along Dubuque would be a major step to reduce reliance on cars and make urban life more pleasant. 

Streetcars, now called light rail, are making a comeback all over the US. Minneapolis now has a line from downtown to the airport and is considering another to downtown St. Paul. San Diego has a line from its downtown to the Mexican border. And San Jose has several lines which crisscross the Santa Clara Valley.

Ten years ago I wrote a column for the Gazette proposing a light rail line along Interstate 380 between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. That line could continue along I-80 to Dubuque Street and then all the way down to the River Crossings district where Uptown Bill's is located. 

Streetcar service once did run between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. The Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway and Light Co. started "interurban service" in 1904. It was part of a remarkable network of streetcar lines all over the United States. Most of these lines disappeared as automobiles took over the streets, Passenger service ended on the Cedar Rapids to Iowa City line -- or CRANDIC -- in 1953. But CRANDIC has survived as a short-line freight railroad.

Opponents of light rail argue that it won't work here because of the low-density urban sprawl which has been the dominant pattern of development for more than 50 years. Yet many of the California cities long associated with urban sprawl have invested in light rail.

San Jose is a good example. It now has light rail service on several lines  which run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. we could do that right here in eastern Iowa, too.

We could start with a line along Dubuque Street through the River Crossings district. It could run along Dubuque from downtown to the train station where trains to Chicago will be stopping again in a few years and then on to Kirkwood Avenue. Later, the line could be extended from downtown to I-80. (The section could take a jog onto Clinton Street for a few blocks to avoid the Ped Mall and the Sheraton hotel lobby.) 

What a great way to enhance the proposed River Crossings development. In fact, nothing else would have the positive impact of a streetcar line. And it could be the start of a new regional transit system. 

COMING THIS WEEK
AT UPTOWN BILL'S
Here's a look at some of the events this week at Uptown Bill's: 

Wednesday, March 2
2 pm. Social Justice Film: Standing Silent Nation. For more information, check www.standingsilentnation.com

Thursday, March 3
6 pm. Art & Music Night. This week's project: Mardi Gras masks

Friday, March 4
7 pm. Open Mic Night. Check Uptown Bill's on Facebook for more information. 

Saturday, March 5
1 pm. Iowa City Go Club
7 pm. Saturday Night Music: Dave Moore

AA MEETINGS AT 
COFFEE HOUSE
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held every weekday at noon at Uptown Bill's. These are open meetings. On Saturdays, an open AA meeting is held at the original Wild Bill's Coffeeshop in North Hall on the university campus. 

AFRICAN-AMERICAN
HISTORY IN IOWA
February is Black History Month. Check the Facebook page for Friends of Bill's Coffeeshop for links to websites with information about the history of African-American families and communities in Iowa. 

WE THOUGHT YOU'D BE
INTERESTED IN...

...Individuals with disabilities are being exploited as slave labor in China, according to the Los Angeles Times. For a link to the story, visit the Facebook page for Uptown Bill's. 

...Do you know about The Vintage Shoppe, another of the businesses which is a part of Uptown Bill's. Find out more at the new Facebook page for the Vintage Shoppe.

...Looking for good used books? Check out the books at Uptown Bill's. Great selections at great prices. Paperbacks are $1.50; hard cover books are $3.

...Like to perform on the stage at Uptown Bill's? Call Tom G. at (319) 339-0491. Right now, we're looking for individuals and groups who would like to be a part of Art & Music Night on Thursdays. We're also booking now for summer concerts.

...Have you seen "A Friend Indeed," the new documentary about Bill Sackter's life and legacy? Copies are available for $20 at Uptown Bill's.

...Books by and about individuals with disabilities are the focus of Sackter House Media, another of the projects which is a part of Uptown Bill's. Check out the display at the coffee house.

...Remember Chris Bell? The musician who played the cello like a guitar? He played at both Uptown Bill's and Wild Bill's last summer. He'll be back in Iowa City on Sunday, March 20 for a concert at Uptown Bill's. 7 pm. 

...A Bill Sackter Birthday party is being planned for Sunday, April 10, 2-7 pm. Music, food and a showing of the Bill movie. Barry Morrow, Bill's friend and screenwriter for the Bill movie, will join the celebration by phone from his home in California. 
___________________________________________

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.



Friday, February 18, 2011

WHAT A SATURDAY! * SNACKERS 2 IS LIKE US * SUMMER TOUR PLANNED * BILL'S COFFEESHOP NEWSLETTER * VOL. 12 * February 18, 2011

THREE CONCERTS ON
SATURDAY NIGHT
You won't find this anyplace else in Iowa City: Three concerts in one day. Come and see all these fine musicians this Saturday, Feb. 19:

3 pm: Awful Purdies. Wonderful local band. "Sassy" my roommate calls them. Five dollar cover
Check out this video of "Mountain Man" from the Friday Evening Concert Series last summer:

7 pm: Almost Circle. Second concert at Uptown Bill's. Definitely worth a listen. We'll pass the hat for him.

9:30 pm: David Berkeley. Singer/songwriter from California. "Sings in a lustrous melancholy voice with shades of Tim Buckley and Nick Drake" ~ New York Times. Here he is singing "Fire Sign" www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JA6W5NnrVs.  $8 cover for students, $10 general. Earlier in the day, Berkeley will be on KRUI (Two pm) and reading from his new book at Prairie Lights (Five pm)

LIVE TV BROADCAST
FROM COFFEE HOUSE
Another live TV broadcast of Tom's Guitar Show is planned Tuesday, Feb. 22 at Uptown Bill's.  This is a monthly one hour potpourri of guitar music. Here's a look at last month's show: patv.tv/blog/2011/01/31/uptown-bills-2/

OPEN MIC ON 
FRIDAY NIGHT
Fifteen performers were part of Open Mic on Friday, Feb. 11. Who will be on hand this time? Come Friday evening and find out. 7 to 9 pm. 

'BILL FRIENDLY' TOUR
COMING IN SUMMER
A summer tour of 'Bill Friendly' Coffeeshops is now being planned. The idea is to take the story of Bill Sackter, along with a film and live music, on the road around the Midwest. We'll stop at coffeeshops with similar spirits and connect them with each other in a 'Bill Friendly Network." Is there a coffeeshop in your town which we should visit? Let us know. Can you help us with arrangements? Great. Contact Tom G. at tomgilsenan@gmail.com for more information.  Thank you. 
.
WE THOUGHT YOU'D
BE INTERESTED IN...

...DO you know Post Secret, the website filled with postcards from people who want to share a secret  but anonymously? Co College in Cedar Rapids will host a Post Secret presentation by the website's founder on Saturday, March 19. For more information, check the website at www.postsecret.com. For tickets, call (319) 399~8600. 

...HAVE you heard of Snackers 2? It's a cafe in downtown Muscatine which is quite similar to the Bill's Coffeeshops. Staffed by individuals with disabilities, the cafe is open weekdays from 7:30 am to 3 pm.
Goodwill sponsors Snackers 2. (We'd love to hear about other projects like this. Send us the information and we'll pass it along to our readers.)

...KNOW of any coffeeshops similar to Bill's in or around Chicago? We'd love to have more information. Thank you. 

...WOULD you like to organize a screening of "A Friend Indeed," the Bill Sackter documentary? We'll be happy to help. Call Tom G. for details at (319) 339~0401.

... ARTISTS with disabilities are invited to show their work at Uptown Bill's. For information on art shows at the coffee house, call (319) 339~0401. 

...Would you like to perform at Uptown Bill's. Our stage is open to all ages and abilities. Call Tom G. for more information: (319) 339~0401.

...Had a good malt lately? Malts and shakes are a specialty of Uptown Bill's. Stop in soon for one of these. 

...Several special events are planned for Bill Sackter's Birthday in April. A benefit concert, plus a birthday party and potluck supper are planned at Uptown Bill's on Sunday, April 10., 2 to 7 pm. A reception and film are planned at the original Wild Bill's Coffeeshop on Wednesday, April 13. More details soon. 

...Sackter House Media recognizes books on topics related to disabilities  and books written by authors with a disability. Look for a selection at Uptown Bill's or online at: www.sackterhousemedia.org.

...Check "Friends of Bill's Coffeeshop" on Facebook for a virtual tour of the original Wild Bill's Coffeeshop. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.


Saturday, February 12, 2011

CALIFORNIA SINGER/SONGWRITER *THREE CONCERTS ON FEB. 19 * LIVE TV BROADCAST * BILL'S COFFEESHOP NEWSLETTER * Vol. 12 * February 12, 2011

LOOK WHO'S PLAYING FOR
SATURDAY  NIGHT MUSIC
Saturday, Feb. 12, 7 pm: Slewgrass. Great local music. Check out this video of the classic "Wagon Wheel" www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkQl5WdVdfc

THREE CONCERTS ON
SATURDAY, FEB. 19
You won't find this anyplace else in Iowa City: Three concerts in one day. Come and see all these fine musicians on Saturday, Feb. 19:

3 pm: Awful Purdies. Wonderful local band. "Sassy" my roommate calls them.
Check out this video of "Mountain Man" from the Friday Evening Concert Series last summer:

7 pm: Almost Circle. Second concert at Uptown Bill's. Definitely worth a listen.

9:30 pm: David Berkeley. Singer/songwriter from California. "Sings in a lustrous melancholy voice with shades of Tim Buckley and Nick Drake" ~ New York Times. Here he is singing "Fire Sign" www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JA6W5NnrVs.  $10 cover.

LIVE TV BROADCAST
FROM COFFEE HOUSE
Another live TV broadcast of Tom's Guitar Show is planned Tuesday, Feb. 22 at Uptown Bill's.  This is a monthly one hour potpourri of guitar music. Here's a look at last month's show: patv.tv/blog/2011/01/31/uptown-bills-2/

OPEN MIC EVERY
FRIDAY NIGHT
Fifteen performers were part of Open Mic on Friday, Feb. 11. Who will be on hand next time? Come Friday, Feb. 18 and find out. 7 to 9 pm. 

HEY CNN! IOWA
IS RIGHT HERE
Last week's Newsletter noted a recent visit to the CNN website which produced a pop~up suggesting the viewer was from outside US. That prompted a number of responses from our readers:

Kelly Dobson is quite sure where Iowa is. Growing up across the Missouri River in Nebraska, he remembers that you could see Council Bluffs from the rivers. So take that CNN.

Susan Rebedeau, who lives on the edge of Mason City, writes: "I know where Iowa is." She didn't say this, but one can almost hear her saying: "You know, it's not really very hard to find."

Holly Hart believes there may be confusion between IA, the abbreviation for Iowa, and IO, the "biggest, baddest" moon of the planet Jupiter. This is understandable, she writes, because the first galactic caucuses are held on IO and the first earthly caucuses in IA. 

Further thoughts are welcome on why CNN thinks Iowa is outside the US.

GREAT BIRTHDAY PARTY
PLANNED FOR APRIL 10
A group of UI grad students are planning a day of music and films to celebrate the birthday of Bill Sackter. Their event is planned for Sunday, April 10, 2 to 7 pm. Barry Morrow, Bill's friend and screenwriter for the Bill movies, will join the party by phone from California. Plan now to attend this special event. 

WE THOUGHT YOU'D BE
INTERESTED IN THESE...

...Salsa Night Fundraiser is planned Friday, Feb. 18 for Life Skills, a local organization which promotes independent living for individuals with disabilities. 7 pm to 1 am. Hosted by UI chapter of American Rehabilitation Counseling Association. For details, contact Ruth Mercado Cruz via UI email. 

...CSPS is one of the finest music venues in our area. Located at 1103 Third St. SE in Cedar Rapids, it has been undergoing a yearlong renovation. Reopening is set for June. You can follow the remodeling at the CSPS website: www.legionarts.org.

...If you're in the Twin Cities this weekend, try to make time for a performance of "Laramie Project" at Hastings High School. Janelle Ranek, a terrific director who has worked with young actors for more than 20 years, is the director for this moving show which tells the story of a community's reaction to the murder of Matthew Shepard. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 also 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 also 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.



Friday, February 04, 2011

So much music! * Where is Iowa? * Follow us on Twitter * BILL'S COFFEESHOP NEWSLETTER * Vol. 11 * Feb. 4, 2011

OH, WHAT A LOT
OF LIVE MUSIC
There's plenty of live music at Uptown Bill's, probably more than at any other coffee house between here and Des Moines. Here's a look at the next few weeks:

Saturday, Feb. 12, 7 pm: Slewgrass. Great local music. Check out this video of the classic "Wagon Wheel" www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkQl5WdVdfc

Saturday, Feb. 19, 3 pm: Awful Purdies. Wonderful local band. "Sassy" my roommate calls them.
Check out this video of "Mountain Man" from the Friday Evening Concert Series last summer:

Saturday, Feb. 19, 9:30 pm: David Berkeley. Singer/songwriter from California. "Sings in a lustrous melancholy voice with shades of Tim Buckley and Nick Drake" ~ New York Times. Here he is singing "Fire Sign" www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JA6W5NnrVs

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 6 pm: Live TV broadcast of Tom's Guitar Show.  A monthly one hour potpourri of guitar music. Here's a look at last month's show: patv.tv/blog/2011/01/31/uptown-bills-2/

Plus, lots of wonderful music at Open Mic every Friday from 7 to 9 pm.  And live music from time to time at Art & Music Nights on Thursdays. 

MAYBE THAT
WAS A ROBIN
Ralph Siddall writes to suggest the bird I heard (Newsletter, Jan. 28, 2011 issue) may have been a robin. 
"You know, that bird singing could have been a robin after all. Did you see this piece in the Des Moines Register (link is below)? The startling figure? Last year 44 robin sightings over winter; this year 2042!"


WE THOUGHT YOU BE
INTERESTED IN...

...Uptown Bill's is not only a coffee house, but also a bookstore and a performance venue. There are other businesses, too, all under the umbrella of the Extend the Dream Foundation.

...Donations of books are welcome for the bookstore at Uptown Bill's. Call Janet for details: (319) 339~0401.

...Would you like to perform at Uptown Bill's. Our stage is open to all ages and abilities. Call Tom G. for more information: (319) 339~0401.

...Had a good malt lately? Malts and shakes are a specialty of Uptown Bill's. Stop in soon for one of these. 

...Several special events are planned for Bill Sackter's Birthday in April. A benefit concert, plus a birthday party and potluck supper are planned at Uptown Bill's on Sunday, April 10. A reception and film are planned at the original Wild Bill's Coffeeshop on Wednesday, April 13. More details soon. 

...Sackter House Media recognizes books on topics related to disabilities  and books written by authors with a disability. Look for a selection at Uptown Bill's or online at: www.sackterhousemedia.org.

...Check "Friends of Bill's Coffeeshop" on Facebook this week for a virtual tour of the original Wild Bill's Coffeeshop. 

...Have you seen "A Friend Indeed" the documentary film about the life and legacy of Bill Sackter? Check out the trailer at the Uptown Bill's page on Facebook. It's available for purchase at Uptown Bill's.

...Have some thoughts on a new Cupid for the 21st century? Read a note about this and respond on the Facebook page of Uptown Bill's.

...Are you following us on Uptown Bill's on Twitter. Over 1,800 people do. We'll keep you posted on concerts and other events, plus special offers. Example: On the day after the blizzard, we offered free coffee to anyone who came in on snowshoes or skiis. (Dubuque Street was ready for either). 

SO WHERE 
IS IOWA?
While working on this issue of the Newsletter, I was looking for some information at the CNN website. This message popped up at the top of the page: "It looks like you are from outside the US. Would you like to make CNN International your default edition?" Hmm. Just where does CNN think Iowa is located? Will they find us in time for the 2012 caucuses? 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.