CESAR CHAVEZ * TEN FOR SOCIAL WORK * COFFEE QUOTES * Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter * Vol. 13 * March 25, 2012

SPIRIT AND LEGACY OF CESAR CHAVEZ
Cesar Chavez died 19 years ago. But his spirit and vision live on in the

United Farm Workers union he founded and in the Cesar Chavez holiday

celebrated on March 31 each year.

I was thinking about Chavez recently while watching the movie Food

Inc. The message from the filmmakers is a simple one: The way food is being grown

and manufactured in the US is not healthy. But we can change that.

Chavez would have loved the film. He lived its message for most of his

life, and he encouraged the rest of us to do the same.  

Chavez was the visionary leader behind the United Farm Workers (UFW) union.

He's also a good candidate for a social work hero. 

I first heard about Cesar Chavez in 1968, when members of the UFW

came to Minneapolis seeking support for a boycott of head lettuce. Later,

there was a boycott of table grapes.

The UFW didn't send just the farmworkers – two entire families came to

spread the labor union's message. My first assignment was to find winter

clothing for the families. I went on to picketing, asking churches and

schools not to serve grapes, and urging grocers to carry only lettuce with

the UFW Black Eagle on the box.

Despite all this, I still was not prepared for the man I found when I first

met Cesar Chavez. I met him several times while I was editor of the

East San Jose Sun, a weekly newspaper serving the city where Chavez had

grown up and gotten his start as an activist.

For an activist, he was quite reserved, almost shy. And for a union leader, he seemed 

uncomfortable in the spotlight. Yet he was very inspiring. I remember

thinking one time when I was listening to him: If there are saints in our

time, Chavez surely must be one.

Over the years, he and others told me about his life and his organizer.

Chavez moved to San Jose, California in 1952 to organize a local chapter of

the Community Service Organization (CSO). The group was born in Los Angeles,

growing out of a city council campaign there. Fred Ross, an organizer from

Saul Alinsky's organization in Chicago, played a key role in getting the

group started. (Saul Alinsky got his start with Back of the Yards, a

community group near Hull House.)

From Los Angeles, Ross went to work organizing other CSO chapters around the

state. He hired Cesar Chavez to help. Chavez moved to San Jose and organized

a CSO chapter there. At one time, the San Jose chapter was the biggest of a

string of CSOs around California. The chapter offered immigration

assistance, citizenship class and related projects.

Chavez left San Jose in 1962, intent on starting a labor union for

farmworkers. He had been concerned about the plight of farmworkers, many

from Mexico or of Mexican descent, for a number of years. But he had been

unable to persuade CSO to become an advocate on behalf of "campesinos."

So he quit his CSO job and headed to the Salinas Valley to start

organizing. He organized nationwide boycotts of grapes, Gallo wine and head

lettuce to draw attention to the poor wages and working conditions of

farmworkers – and to pressure growers to sign contracts with the union. The

boycotts were successful and the UFW signed contracts covering thousands of

workers.

By the mid-1970s, it appeared that the struggle for better wages and working

conditions for farmworkers had been won. But a series of setbacks during the

1980s slowed the UFW momentum and even erased some of its earlier gains. By

1990, it was clear that some new strategy was needed. So Chavez and other

union leaders decided to return to San Jose where he had begun 30 years

before.

The last time I saw Chavez was in 1992, less than a year before he died. The

scene was a familiar one – in front of a grocery store in San Jose. It was a

sort of homecoming for Chavez; his appearance brought out many activist

friends. In his talk, he linked the dreams of rural farmworkers to the sense

of justice in urban consumers. He urged us to act on our shared hopes for a

better community. Once again I had that feeling: I am in the presence of an

extraordinary person.

Chavez died in 1993. But his legacy continues, both in the UFW and in the

day set aside each March to remember his life and work. 

(You can find out more by visiting these websites: www.ufw.org and

www.cesarchavezfoundation.org.)

His legacy lies in each of us, too. We can follow his example, using justice,

fairness and concern for the environment as measures for where we shop

for our food and what we buy. For more ideas on how to do this, 

visit: www.takepart.com.

MUSIC, POETRY, LIVE TV & MORE...

Wednesday, March 28. 1:30 pm. Film: Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. (See the film now; see the band live in May at the Englert.) 7 pm. Spoken Word

Thursday, March 29. 6 pm. Artvaark (Art activities).

7-9 pm. Big Open Mic hosted by Arts Enterprise (Five minute performances)

Friday, March 30, 1-4 pm. Chess, Scrabble and other games.. 5 pm. Music with Almost Circle

Saturday, March 31. 7 pm. Saturday Night Music: Pennies on the Rail.

Wednesday, April 4. 1:30 pm: Film: Al Otro Lado (To the Other Side). 7 pm Spoken Word

Thursday, April 5. 6 pm Artvaark. 7 pm. Open Mic. 8 pm Music with Statue of Liberty

Friday, April 6. 1-4 pm. Chess, Scrabble and other games. Passover begins at sundown

Saturday, April 7. 4:30 pm. Irish Sessions. 7 pm. Saturday Night Music: Avery Mossman/Projectors

Wednesday, April 11. 1:30 pm. Film: Bill On His Own. 6 pm: Abilities Awareness Art Night.

7 pm. Spoken Word.

Thursday, April 12. 6 pm Artvaark (art activities). 7 pm. Open Mic.

Friday, April 13. 1-4 pm. Chess, Scrabble and other games. 6:30 pm. Benefit Concert featuring the band No Coast. Hosted by I-Envision.

Saturday, April 14. 10 am to 6 pm: Bill Sackter Birthday Party. 7 pm. Saturday Night Music; Half Fast.

Tuesday, April 17. 7 pm. Music with Musical Charis (acoustic Americana), Orion Walsh (folk rock) and Zuh G. (reggae)

ADDING A TENTH TO A LIST OF

'TEN IDEAS FOR SOCIAL WORK'

From time to time, the Coffeeshop Newsletter has offered a list of 'Ten ideas for social work ' 

There are nine ideas on the list; readers are invited to suggest a tenth.  It's been awhile, so we'd

like to try this again.

Here is the original list of nine:

1. Be tolerant

2. Widen your circle

3. Have high expectations

4. Stay young

5. Find people you can trust

6. Take time to be alone

7. Read a daily paper

8. Support a public library

9. Have hope

Here's a sampling  of suggestions from readers for a tenth. Take a look at

these:

***Be non-judgemental  ***Open yourself up to new ideas  ***Understand and

celebrate differences  ***Write a letter instead of an e-mail

***Be a good listener ***Be passionated about your work ***Invest in the

future (youth, community, share, recycling) ***Have a sense of humor

***Let things affect you, move you  ***Listen  ***Play with children

***Be open to challenges ***Love the people you work for  ***Trust yourself

***Talk to people  ***Always stand up for what you believe in ***Never stop

learning   ***Dissolve your judgments  ***Let out your creativity

***Connect yourself and the environment

Now, it's time to add yours. We'll print additional ideas in coming issue of the Newsletter. 

FOR YOUR COFFEE BREAK:

QUOTES ABOUT COFFEE

Coffee makes us severe, and grave, and philosophical ~ Jonathan Swift,

author of Gulliver's Travels

***Behind every successful woman...is a substantial amount of coffee ~

Stephanie Piro, cartoonist and author of "Caffeinated Cartoons: Cartoons

about coffee and tea."

***A morning without coffee is like...sleep  ~Author unknown.

Have a favorite quote about coffee? Or a caffeinated joke? Send it to us.

Just click reply and start writing.

LOOKING BACK IN THE

BILL'S NEWSLETTER

Nine year ago (2003): Bill Sackter, Jane Addams, Ida B. Wells and other

figures from social work history will come to life in "Good Evening from

Bill's Coffeeshop," a radio drama opening soon at Wild Bill's and Uptown Bill's.

Ten years ago (2002): Thursday evening potlucks have become a regular

feature at Wild Bill's offeeshop.

Eleven years ago (2001): Stop by Wild Bill's and make a poster to honor

the important women in your life. It's a project for Women's History Month.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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 its 11th 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 Monday through Saturday from 10 am. For more information, check the Uptown Bill's website or Facebook page. You can call Uptown Bill's at (319) 339-0804. 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.

--

In the spirit of Bill Sackter, Uptown Bill's strives to nurture and encourage a gathering place where people of all abilities are welcome. Find us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Watch us on You Tube: www.youtube.com/playlist?p=PLEE41220297F8D82C

Visit our web page: www.uptownbills.org

STREET CARS & TRAINS * POETRY READING * NEW MUSLIM COOL * Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter * Vol. 13 * March 18, 2012

STREET CARS & TRAINS:

KEYS TO A SHOWCASE

Bring back streetcars. Restart the trains to Chicago and Omaha. Those are the two most significant steps 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 on Dubuque would be a major step to reduce reliance on cars and make urban life more pleasant.  So would a train to Chicago.

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 building 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 follow the CRANDIC tracks all the way 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 street car line beginning near the historic train station on Dubuque Street. That's the station where passenger trains to Chicago used to stop -- and could again if the plan for revived passenger rail service gets enough support. The street cars could use the CRANDIC tracks which cross Dubuque Street just a few feet south of Uptown Bill's. The new passenger trains would run on the tracks just a half a block north of Bill's  

These are not difficult steps to take. And they would be great ways to enhance the proposed River Crossings development. In fact, nothing else would have the positive impact of a streetcar line and revived passenger train service. And these could be an inspiration for other cities, including Des Moines, Council Bluffs and Sioux City.

*     *     *     *     *

The biggest objections to reviving street car and passenger train service revolve around the cost. It will cost several million dollars to get passenger train service restarted to Chicago. And there will have to be public funds to support service for at least several years after that. The same is true for street car service. That would require electrification of the CRANDIC line (or building a new one) which is expensive.

But highways are expensive, too. At least as expensive as street cars or trains. And those are paid for with public funds, too, both to build and to maintain. Yet somehow, we think of those expenditures differently.

Terry Branstad, Iowa's governor, is a good example of this kind of thinking. He says he opposes any public funds for operating expenses for the new passenger trains. Yet, he doesn't object to taking public funds for his own transportation. For nearly half of his adult life, taxpayers have provided free public transportation for Branstad. This includes cars, drivers, planes and more. 

So instead of thinking of trains as something special or extraordinary, why don't we think of them as part of a balanced transportation system. Cars, streetcars and trains can all be part of this plan and all get public support. 

THIS WEEK'S WEDNESDAY
FILM: 'NEW MUSLIM COOL'
See this excellent film on Wednesday, March 21 at the coffee house. Presented by Uptown Bill's and Bill's Bookmart in collaboration with POV, the award-winning nonfiction film series from PBS:
http://www.pbs.org/pov/newmuslimcool/trailer.php
Puerto Rican-American rapper Hamza Pérez pulled himself out of drug dealing and street life 12 years ago and became a Muslim. Now he's moved to Pittsburgh's tough North Side to start a new religious community, rebuild his shattered family and take his message of faith to other young people through hard-hitting hip-hop music. But when the FBI raids his mosque, Hamza must confront the realities of the post-9/11 world, and himself. New Muslim Cool takes viewers on Hamza's ride through streets, slums and jail cells — following his spiritual journey to some surprising places in an America that never stops changing.

COMING UP AT THE

COFFEE HOUSE...

Tuesday, March 20. 7 pm. Reading and book signing with Paul Van Nieuwenhuise.

Paul will read from "Wishing After Dawn," his collection of poems.

Wednesday, March 21.
1:30 pm. Film: New Muslim Cool.
6 pm. Craft Night hosted by Arts Enterprise.
7 pm. Spoken Word. 10 minute readings.
8 pm. Live broadcast of 'The Smartest Iowan.'

Thursday, March 22. 6 pm. Artvaark (Art activities). 7 pm. Open Mic.
Friday, March 23. 1-4 pm Chess Group.
Saturday, March 24. 7 pm. Saturday Night Music: Bree Nettie with Marty Letz

Wednesday, March 28. 1:30 pm. Film. 7 pm. Spoken Word

Thursday, March 29. 6 pm. Artvaark (Art activities).
7-9 pm. Big Open Mic hosted by Arts Enterprise (Five minute performances)

Friday, March 30, 1-4 pm. Chess Group. 5 pm. Music with Almost Circle
Saturday, March 31. 7 pm. Saturday Night Music: Pennies on the Rail.

RIVER RUN COMING
SUNDAY, APRIL 29
You can register now for the annual River Run. This year's event -- a benefit for Uptown Bill's -- is set for Sunday, April 29.Check this website for details: www.riverrun.uiowa.edu

HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE
VINTAGE SHOPPE?
Looking for collectibles or antiques? Check out the Vintage Shoppe. Located at 2203 F. St. (near the First Avenue HyVee, it started inside Uptown Bill's and is now in its own location. Open daily from 10 am. Closed Mondays.

LIVE BROADCAST OF
'SMARTEST IOWAN'
A live broadcast of the "Smartest Iowan" quiz show is planned Wednesday, March 21 at Uptown Bill's. You're invited to come down and be a part of the studio audience for this lively quiz show. It starts at 8 pm (following Spoken Word). For more information, check the PATV website: www.patv.tv.

WE THOUGHT YOU'D
BE INTERESTED IN...

...Self-help books are on sale this month. $1 each. Hardcover and paperback. Most other books: $2 for paperbacks; $3 for hardcovers.

...Looking for about a dozen more coffee mugs. If you have one you'd like to part with, we'll give it a good home.

...Have you seen our fireplace? It's on the wall right behind our stage. Actually it's a sketch of a fireplace made for us by a friend of the coffee house.

...Plant an extra row of vegetables for the food bank at theCrisis Center. That's the message from Dylan and Sage, two of our young friends. Check out their display in the coffee house for details.

...Draw on the sidewalk. And the parking lot. We'll provide the chalk. Just ask at the counter for the bucket of sidewalk chalk.

...What about the tree? It will be staying up for Easter and Passover. If you have decorations which fit these holidays, feel free to bring them in and put them on the tree.

...Stay in touch: Find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, watch us on You Tube.
~~~~~~~~~~~
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 its 11th 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 Monday through Saturday from 10 am. For more information, check the Uptown Bill's website or Facebook page. You can call Uptown Bill's at (319) 339-0804. 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.

NEW IRISH BLESSING * WHERE TO FIND US * SMARTEST IOWAN * Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter * Vol. 13 * March 12, 2012

FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY:

A NEW IRISH BLESSING

May there be spring enough in your life to outlast the winters.

May there be guitars ( and drums) enough to lift your spirits whenever you need it.

May you be gentle enough to comfort those who are hurting,

But revolutionary enough to bring heaven to those who need it now.

May there always be a leprechaun near you to bring out laughter and dance and the child in you.

And may God always have room enough for you in the palm of her hand.

COMING EVENTS AT
UPTOWN BILL'S
Wednesday, March 14. 1:30 pm. Film: Johnny Cash: The man, his world, his music.
7 pm. Spoken Word: Ten minute readings.
Thursday, March 15. 6 pm Artvaark (Art activities). 7 pm. Open Mic.
8 pm. Music with Jacob Green
Friday, March 16. 1-4 pm. Chess Group.
7 pm. Music with Insomniac Folklore.
Saturday, March 17. 7 pm. Saturday Night Music: Joe Brisben & Friends

Tuesday, March 20. 7 pm. Reading and book signing with Paul Van Nieuwenhuise
Wednesday, March 21.
1:30 pm. Film: New Muslim Cool.
6 pm. Craft Night hosted by Arts Enterprise.
7 pm. Spoken Word. 10 minute readings.
8 pm. Live broadcast of 'The Smartest Iowan.'
Thursday, March 22. 6 pm. Artvaark (Art activities). 7 pm. Open Mic.
Friday, March 23. 1-4 pm Chess Group.
Saturday, March 24. Special Events during the day. Details soon. 7 pm. Saturday Night Music

Wednesday, March 28. 1:30 pm. Film. 7 pm. Spoken Word
Thursday, March 29. 6 pm. Artvaark (Art activities).
7-9 pm. Big Open Mic hosted by Arts Enterprise (Five minute performances)
Friday, March 30, 1-4 pm. Chess Group. 5 pm. Music with Almost Circle
Saturday, March 31. 7 pm. Saturday Night Music: Pennies on the Rail.

RIVER RUN COMING
SUNDAY, APRIL 29
You can register now for the annual River Run. This year's event -- a benefit for Uptown Bill's -- is set for Sunday, April 29.Check this website for details: www.riverrun.uiowa.edu

HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE
VINTAGE SHOPPE?
Looking for collectibles or antiques? Check out the Vintage Shoppe. Located at 2203 F. St. (near the First Avenue HyVee, it started inside Uptown Bill's and is now in its own location. Open daily from 10 am. Closed Mondays.

LIVE BROADCAST OF
'SMARTEST IOWAN'
A live broadcast of the "Smartest Iowan" quiz show is planned Wednesday, March 21 at Uptown Bill's. You're invited to come down and be a part of the studio audience for this lively quiz show. It starts at 8 pm. For more information, check the PATV website: www.patv.tv.

A FEW THINGS ON
OUR WISH LIST
Donations help strengthen Uptown Bill's and related enterprises. Here are a few of the things on our current wish list:

+ Coffee cups. We're always looking for 12 oz. ceramic mugs to replace those which have cracked or broken
+ Baking mixes. Muffin mixes (Krusteaz/Betty Crocker) and cookie mixes (Betty Crocker/HyVee) help strech our baking budget.
+ Microwave ovens. We're looking for two small ovens, one to replace an aging oven, the other to put out for customer use.

WHERE TO

FIND US...

Find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, watch us on You Tube, check in on Foursquare. And don't forget our website: www.uptownbills.org

WE THOUGHT YOU'D BE
INTERESTED IN THESE..

...1 to 4 pm is the new time for the chess club at Uptown Bill's.

...Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held at noon each weekday at the coffee house. 

...Like puzzles? Stop in and work on the 1,000 piece puzzle at the coffee house. You'll find it in our community meeting room.

...Our community room is available for your club or group. Check with Tom G. to reserve a time.

...Yes, we have wireless Internet. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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 its 11th 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 Monday through Saturday from 10 am. For more information, check the Uptown Bill's website or Facebook page. You can call Uptown Bill's at (319) 339-0804. 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.

WISH LIST * RIVER RUN * SATURDAY MUSIC * Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter * Vol. 13 * March 2, 2012

YES, WE'RE GOING
TO KEEP THE TREE
Thanks to our friends who have offered to help us take down our tree. But we've decided to keep it up for a few months. Last month it was a Valentine tree. This month a St. Patrick's Day tree. In April: Easter and Passover. You're welcome to add decorations. Or come on Thursday evenings for Artvaark (6 pm) and join us in making decorations for each holiday.

RIVER RUN COMING
SUNDAY, APRIL 29
You can register now for the annual River Run. This year's event -- a benefit for Uptown Bill's -- is set for Sunday, April 29.Check this website for details: www.riverrun.uiowa.edu

HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE
VINTAGE SHOPPE?
Looking for collectibles or antiques? Check out the Vintage Shoppe. Located at 2203 F. St. (near the First Avenue HyVee, it started inside Uptown Bill's and is now in its own location. Open daily from 10 am. Closed Mondays.

LIVE BROADCAST OF
'SMARTEST IOWAN'
A live broadcast of the "Smartest Iowan" quiz show is planned Wednesday, March 21 at Uptown Bill's. You're invited to come down and be a part of the studio audience for this lively quiz show. It starts at 8 pm. For more information, check the PATV website: www.patv.tv.

A FEW THINGS ON
OUR WISH LIST
Donations help strengthen Uptown Bill's and related enterprises. Here are a few of the things on our current wish list:

+ Coffee cups. We're always looking for 12 oz. ceramic mugs to replace those which have cracked or broken
+ Baking mixes. Muffin mixes (Krusteaz/Betty Crocker) and cookie mixes (Betty Crocker/HyVee) help strech our baking budget.
+ Microwave ovens. We're looking for two small ovens, one to replace an aging oven, the other to put out for customer use.

COMING UP: OPEN MIC,
SPOKEN WORD & MORE
Wednesday, March 7. 1:30 pm. Film. 'A Friend Indeed: The Bill Sackter Story'                                6:30 pm (Early start!) Spoken Word

Thursday, March 8. 6 pm. Artvaark (St. Patrick's Day art activities). 7 pm Open Mic.

Saturday, March 10. 7 pm. Saturday Night Music.

Wednesday, March 14. 1:30 pm. Film: Johnny Cash: The man, his world, his music. 7 pm. Spoken Word: Ten minute readings.

Thursday, March 15. 6 pm Artvaark (Art activities). 7 pm. Open Mic.

8 pm. Music with Jacob Greer

Friday, March 16. 1-4 pm. Chess Group.

7 pm. Music with Insomniac Folklore.

Saturday, March 17. 7 pm. Saturday Night Music: Joe Brisben & Friends.

Tuesday, March 20. 7 pm. Reading and book signing with Paul Van Nieuwenhuise

Wednesday, March 21. 1:30 pm. Film: New Muslim Cool. 6 pm. Craft Night hosted by Arts Enterprise. 7 pm. Spoken Word. 10 minute readings. 8 pm. Live broadcast of 'The Smartest Iowan.'

Thursday, March 22. 6 pm. Artvaark (Art activities). 7 pm. Open Mic.

Friday, March 23. 1-4 pm Chess Group.

Saturday, March 24. Special Events during the day. Details soon. 7 pm. Saturday Night Music

Wednesday, March 28. 1:30 pm. Film. 7 pm. Spoken Word

Thursday, March 29. 6 pm. Artvaark (Art activities). 7-9 pm. Big Open Mic hosted by Arts Enterprise (Five minute performances)

Friday, March 30, 1-4 pm. Chess Group. 5 pm. Music with Almost Circle

Saturday, March 31. 7 pm. Saturday Night Music: Pennies on the Rail.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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 its 12th 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 Monday through Saturday from 10 am. For more information, check the Uptown Bill's website or Facebook page. You can call Uptown Bill's at (319) 339-0804. 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.