Valentine coffee.
Founder, Robb Kashevarof.
What do you find when you go to your city's Farmer's Market? Little, big treasures.
There were many goodies and I was glad to find them with my friend R after taking our prayer walk this morning in the Tosa Village. This post is not really about the city of Wauwatosa, but felt I needed to mention it since I found a special Milwaukee venue at the market this morning.
Valentine Coffee. I feel like I've discovered something. Okay, wait, wait though, I'm not saying that me and Starbucks have had a falling out or anything. Calm down.
Though it was great to see the owner and watch the baristas make individual cups of coffee and chat up the crowds, speaking in almost a bit of a foreign language. I felt uncertain about speaking up and asking for a cup of "medium coffee". I walked away with a bag of $10 coffee (Bering Sea Blend - perfect match for the Sea of Gigi, no?) and a free cup. "You buy the bag,we buy the cup." My lack of knowledge about the coffee made me consider learning more of the behind the scenes information that would be required for knowing good coffee. A possible monthly challenge?
A simple operation, the founder, Robb Kashevarof, was present and made my cup. Him being on site pouring each individual cup made me want to root for his little engine and be supportive of them as they continue to grow in their endeavors to bring great coffee to the city of Milwaukee (and beyond). I look forward to being more of a connoisseur of this coffee and to learning more in general about what makes good coffee.
There were many goodies and I was glad to find them with my friend R after taking our prayer walk this morning in the Tosa Village. This post is not really about the city of Wauwatosa, but felt I needed to mention it since I found a special Milwaukee venue at the market this morning.
Valentine Coffee. I feel like I've discovered something. Okay, wait, wait though, I'm not saying that me and Starbucks have had a falling out or anything. Calm down.
Though it was great to see the owner and watch the baristas make individual cups of coffee and chat up the crowds, speaking in almost a bit of a foreign language. I felt uncertain about speaking up and asking for a cup of "medium coffee". I walked away with a bag of $10 coffee (Bering Sea Blend - perfect match for the Sea of Gigi, no?) and a free cup. "You buy the bag,we buy the cup." My lack of knowledge about the coffee made me consider learning more of the behind the scenes information that would be required for knowing good coffee. A possible monthly challenge?
A simple operation, the founder, Robb Kashevarof, was present and made my cup. Him being on site pouring each individual cup made me want to root for his little engine and be supportive of them as they continue to grow in their endeavors to bring great coffee to the city of Milwaukee (and beyond). I look forward to being more of a connoisseur of this coffee and to learning more in general about what makes good coffee.
Wisconsin Historical Black Society.
Less than 4 miles from our own home in a suburb of Milwaukee is the home of the Wisconsin Historical Black Society.
I had so many preconceived notions and expectations and quite honestly left with mixed feelings about it. The building is run down and the displays that are present are not well kept and seem to lack a lot of information. I was disappointed to find the place in such disarray, the carpets, the ceilings and the size. Where is the history?
I didn't want to lay too much blame, I've lived in Wisconsin for 30 years this month and this was the first time that I'd even been to the WHBS, never had any compulsion. It was rough. Why is our history preserved like this? Why isn't it as nice or at least nicer? Where is the funding for something like this? Have black owned businesses pulled together to even discuss it? My heart was beating out of my chest. I think I was angry that what I saw and what I expected were so far apart from one another. And then I was feeling guilty that I did not know most of what he was talking about or asking us questions about. The Constitution. The Emancipation Proclamation. The Bonga Family. The Dred Scott Decision. Underground Railroad in Wisconsin. Sandwich, Canada and the role it played in the Underground Railroad that went through Wisconsin. Waukesha and the "free soilers". The 13th, 14th & 15th Amendments to the Constitution - I mean, come on! - even when I thought I knew and sometimes was right, I wasn't confident enough to speak up and out loud in front of the group. Father James Groppi? Lloyd Barbee? I wanted to know more.
So many people in the room and we didn't really know and own the history. Well, it actually got much more lively when our instructor got to the 60s and you could tell that some of the people in the room were in Milwaukee at that time, that they had lived through some of the things he was talking about. Then it got like black church up in there.
I felt some shame in not knowing and that I hadn't really been able to or taken the time to learn and share it with my children.
Though I did make the decision not to give money to the WHBS and become a member, I am so glad that I went there today. This trip has stirred something in me; personal responsibility, curiosity, desire to act, and now, I am looking at Milwaukee as a big treasure map with a lot of rich history that I get to delve into and discover.
The WHBS is certainly worth a one time visit, but I would want to see it cleaned up, the displays put together well and more professionally presented before I would go back again.
I had so many preconceived notions and expectations and quite honestly left with mixed feelings about it. The building is run down and the displays that are present are not well kept and seem to lack a lot of information. I was disappointed to find the place in such disarray, the carpets, the ceilings and the size. Where is the history?
I didn't want to lay too much blame, I've lived in Wisconsin for 30 years this month and this was the first time that I'd even been to the WHBS, never had any compulsion. It was rough. Why is our history preserved like this? Why isn't it as nice or at least nicer? Where is the funding for something like this? Have black owned businesses pulled together to even discuss it? My heart was beating out of my chest. I think I was angry that what I saw and what I expected were so far apart from one another. And then I was feeling guilty that I did not know most of what he was talking about or asking us questions about. The Constitution. The Emancipation Proclamation. The Bonga Family. The Dred Scott Decision. Underground Railroad in Wisconsin. Sandwich, Canada and the role it played in the Underground Railroad that went through Wisconsin. Waukesha and the "free soilers". The 13th, 14th & 15th Amendments to the Constitution - I mean, come on! - even when I thought I knew and sometimes was right, I wasn't confident enough to speak up and out loud in front of the group. Father James Groppi? Lloyd Barbee? I wanted to know more.
So many people in the room and we didn't really know and own the history. Well, it actually got much more lively when our instructor got to the 60s and you could tell that some of the people in the room were in Milwaukee at that time, that they had lived through some of the things he was talking about. Then it got like black church up in there.
I felt some shame in not knowing and that I hadn't really been able to or taken the time to learn and share it with my children.
Though I did make the decision not to give money to the WHBS and become a member, I am so glad that I went there today. This trip has stirred something in me; personal responsibility, curiosity, desire to act, and now, I am looking at Milwaukee as a big treasure map with a lot of rich history that I get to delve into and discover.
The WHBS is certainly worth a one time visit, but I would want to see it cleaned up, the displays put together well and more professionally presented before I would go back again.
WHBS' home.
2620 West Center Street, Milwaukee, WI 53206
We walked into the building to African drumming and children dancing. The room to the 'museum' was so inconspicuous that it reminded me of the movies where spies have to knock once or twice in order to be let into the secret room. When we entered, late, a class of about 40 was already in session. By the way, nowhere on the website does it say that the open hours on Saturday would require we sit through an hour plus long class.
2620 West Center Street, Milwaukee, WI 53206
We walked into the building to African drumming and children dancing. The room to the 'museum' was so inconspicuous that it reminded me of the movies where spies have to knock once or twice in order to be let into the secret room. When we entered, late, a class of about 40 was already in session. By the way, nowhere on the website does it say that the open hours on Saturday would require we sit through an hour plus long class.
Class.
Here is number two sitting behind me and reading along in the packet that was distributed. There was a lesson on Kwanzaa and about the history of our state in its founding years, the role Wisconsin played during slavery and the impact on education and housing stemming from the civil rights activism in Milwaukee.
Here is number two sitting behind me and reading along in the packet that was distributed. There was a lesson on Kwanzaa and about the history of our state in its founding years, the role Wisconsin played during slavery and the impact on education and housing stemming from the civil rights activism in Milwaukee.
Instructor.
I don't know his name, but after the class and time to walk around, I walked up to him, looking to pay for our session - looking for the cash register, the gift shop to buy a t-shirt or something...
He pulled out his wallet and made change for a $20 and, well, then, we left...
Though gracious and enthusiastic about his topic, he was not the right teacher for me. He inspired me to want to unlock black history in Milwaukee and Wisconsin, for myself, but not necessarily from him. Right after we left the WHBS, we went across the street to the Center Street Milwaukee Public Library and checked out a few of the books he recommended.
I don't know his name, but after the class and time to walk around, I walked up to him, looking to pay for our session - looking for the cash register, the gift shop to buy a t-shirt or something...
He pulled out his wallet and made change for a $20 and, well, then, we left...
Though gracious and enthusiastic about his topic, he was not the right teacher for me. He inspired me to want to unlock black history in Milwaukee and Wisconsin, for myself, but not necessarily from him. Right after we left the WHBS, we went across the street to the Center Street Milwaukee Public Library and checked out a few of the books he recommended.