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:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIlxNjIX_6c

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!"

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011101200338 

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? 

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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.