Naturally, we're very excited to have a neighbor, even temporarily. Come by Friday and check it out!

Last night we had another Songwriter's Showcase, it was a phenomenal success. The next one will be on December 16th at 7 pm. Photos from last night can be found here, though you may have to join the Songwriter's Showcase group to see them. I'm not sure.

If I should need to name, O Western World, your powerfulest scene and show,
'Twould not be you, Niagara--nor you, ye limitless prairies--nor your huge rifts of canyons, Colorado,
Nor you, Yosemite--nor Yellowstone, with all its spasmic geyser-loops ascending to the skies, appearing and disappearing,
Nor Oregon's white cones--nor Huron's belt of mighty lakes--nor
Mississippi's stream: --This seething hemisphere's humanity, as now, I'd name--the still small voice vibrating--
America's choosing day.

For quite awhile, Adam Mackintosh and Anna Sacks have been hosting a very popular Songwriter's Showcase in Sturgeon Bay. This past Summer he proposed that we extend the franchise, so to speak, to Green Bay. We thought that that would be a great idea so we're happy to announce that the inaugural Songwriter's Showcase will be held at Kavarna starting at 7 pm.

What is a Songwriter's Showcase? It's an open mic for songwriters. The rules are simple, you can only play music that you have written yourself, OR that was written by someone that you know personally. It's a celebration of originality. In Sturgeon Bay, the Showcase has led to some really interesting collaborations and part of our hope is the the Showcase will help bring the musical community together in new and interesting ways. We'll have a PA and some microphones set up, Adam and Anna will be hosting, and the rest is up to you!

Each discussion is held at the Baylake Bank City Center, 301 N. Adams St., Suite 110, in downtown Green Bay. The discussions are free and open to the public.

The Downtown Third Thursdays lecture series is sponsored by the UW-Green Bay Office of the Chancellor, the UW-Green Bay Alumni Association, Downtown Green Bay, Inc., Olde Main Street, Inc., and On Broadway, Inc.

Advance registration is required. Registration is available online at http://www.uwgb.edu/downtown/. Details of the events are also listed on the Web site.

The Animal in Contemporary Visual Art
Thursday, October 16, 2008 12:00-12:45 p.m.
This is a special presentation, hosted in coordination with the Neville Public Museum’s citywide Art and Animal project, which features a world premiere art exhibit that “demonstrates the importance of animals in our world.” In the past, this might have meant depicting animals as food, companions, or as symbols of the purity of nature. This session will look at contemporary artists who use animals in their work, and the implications—sometimes controversial—of their practices. Prof. Carol Emmons will lead the discussion.

The Impact of the 2008 Elections
Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:00-12:45 p.m.
The 2008 national and state elections will make history. Dan Spielmann, UW-Green Bay director of government relations, leads a discussion of the impact of the November 2008 elections on the University, the region, and the state of Wisconsin.

Best Toys for Toddler Development: A Holiday Guide for Parents & Grandparents
Thursday, December 18, 2008 12:00-12:45 p.m.
How do you decide which toy will provide the most fun while also providing valuable experiences that will help foster a child’s development? Prof. Jennifer Zapf will answer this question by briefly reviewing literature on the developing child (ages 0 - 12 years) and then reviewing toys that are best suited to enhance children’s social, physical, and cognitive development.

The Way We Eat: Getting Healthier at All Ages
Thursday, February 19, 2009 12:00-12:45 p.m.
Recent research advances highlight how certain foods, nutrients and physical activity dramatically influence our physical and mental vitality as we age. Prof. Debra Pearson will explore this research and how it can help add years to your life.

To Sleep Perchance To Sleep
Thursday, March 19, 2009 12:00-12:45 p.m.
Sleep, the tranquil retreat into benevolent oblivion, may be harmful, even dangerous, if you are not getting the type of sleep you need. Join Prof. Dennis Lorenz in a presentation on the dynamic process of sleep. He will cover a number of sleep topics including: what happens during healthy sleep and the consequences for sleep loss; the seductive vicious cycle of everyday stimulants and sedatives; and treatments for sleep ailments that range from altering everyday activities, to pressurized air masks and surgery.

Work Humor Works! Right?
Thursday, April 16, 2009 12:00-12:45 p.m.
Can organizations tap into the power of humor to enhance creativity, productivity, and satisfaction? Prof. Lucy Arendt will discuss the outcomes of humor—good, bad, or neutral—in the workplace. The lecture will leave participants with a solid understanding of whether work humor works, and how.

UPDATE: Evidently, publicity is a good thing. Many people were introduced to Kavarna for the first time last week. It kept us on our toes! Thanks for checking us out everyone!

ps. This blog has been a little empty this Summer, we've been in baby-town for the most part. I think I'm ready to resume authorship now.

We are also pleased to announce that the readers of the Green Bay Press Gazette voted us the third best coffee shop in the region, behind Starbucks and Jo to Go. We think that this is probably more a measure of brand recognition more than anything else, so we're very pleased with the result. Thanks Green Bay!

It's been well over a month since I touched this website, and there's only one good excuse for that... a second child. That's Frida there above doing her characteristic Frida salute. She's nearly a month old now, and we're finally reaching a new state of normality. We're terribly pleased with ourselves, so forgive us if we bore you about it.

We have long felt that billionaire media tycoons should not run countries directly (or indirectly). Though we don't expect to have any impact whatsoever in the Italian general election, we endorse Walter Veltroni.

Here is the schedule:

• April 17th, 6 pm - 10 pm, Green Bay Green Drinks: Though not technically part of Earth Week, Green Drinks is one of the best ways to get involved in environmental activities in the region. It's an informal gathering of the local green community held at Kavarna on the third Thursday of every month. Kavarna Coffeehouse, 112 S. Broadway, Green Bay.
• April 19th, 9 am - noon, Fox River Clean-Up: St. Francis Park, Green Bay.
• April 19th, 1 - 4 pm, Great Lakes Compact Forum: A discussion of the crucial Great Lakes Compact featuring Peter Annin, author of The Great Lakes Water Wars. UWGB, Rose Hall Room 250.
• April 20th, 9 am - 11 pm, Take Back the Pavement: See Green Bay's streets transformed into artistic greenery displays, North Broadway Street, Green Bay.
• April 21st, 6 - 8 pm, What's the Woof About Wolves?: Featuring naturalist Cindy Mueller, Brown County Library, 515 Pine Street, Green Bay.
• April 22nd, 10:30 - 11 am, Earth Day Storytime: Brown County Library, 515 Pine Street, Green Bay.
• April 22nd, 5:30 - 7:30 pm, Earth Day Recycled Craft Projects: Brown County Library, 515 Pine Street, Green Bay.
• April 24th, Leave Your Car at Home Day Challenge: A citywide challenge to leave your car at home.
• April 24th, 7 - 8 pm, Storytime at Barnes & Nobles: Storytime with ecological themes, Barnes & Nobles, 2498 S. Oneida St. Ashwaubenon (should be a challenge to get there without a car!)
• April 25th, 6 - 9 pm, The 11th Hour: Free screening of the documentary featuring actor Leonardo DiCaprio, Brown County Library, 515 Pine Street, Green Bay.
• April 26th, 9 am - noon, Baird Creek and Willow Creek Clean-Ups: Pick a creek to clean up! The Baird Creek Clean-Up will start at Triangle Hill Pavilion, Beverly Rd. in Green Bay (we'll be providing some coffee & cookies to help get you started). The Willow Creek Clean-Up will begin at NEW Lutheran cul-de-sac at 1311 S. Robinson Avenue, Green Bay.
• April 26th, 1 - 3 pm, Hikes, Rain Barrel and Composting Demos: After the clean-up in Baird Creek there will be demonstrations of rain barrels and composting at the Triangle Hill Pavilion on Beverly Road in Green Bay. Rain Gardens will be demonstrated at Christa McAuliffe Park around this time.
• April 26th, 5:30 pm - midnight, EcoJam!: Featuring Burnt Toast & Jam and Kojo at the Holiday Inn City Center, 200 Main Street, Green Bay. $5.00 per person ($4.00 with the donation of a used cell phone).
• April 27th, noon - 4 pm, Izaak Walton League's Teddy Bear Hunt in Bellevue: Featuring food, fishing, and more, a family 'hunting license' costs $10. Osprey Point, HWY GV, 1 mile S. of 172.