Clogtown: Provision Community Restaurant - Revive. Repurpose. Restore.

During my time in Minneapolis, I've been trying to search out the very cool things that I think could (and SHOULD!) be emulated all over. One such place is the wonderful Provision Community Restaurant, where I finally got to visit last night to dine and learn about all of the great things they're doing as the area's only "Give what you can" restaurant.

In a major effort to combat food insecurity, waste, and isolation, owner Anna Wienke opened Provision last October in a cozy little house at 29th Street and Harriet Avenue (the former Salty Tart bakery space). 90% of the food used is donated (mostly from Co-Op Partners Warehouse) and the restaurant is staffed by volunteers, which cuts down on overhead. There is a set menu (that changes every day based on what is donated), that is served family style at community tables, so you'll never have the same meal - or the same dining mates - keeping it interesting!

There are two dinner seatings, Wednesday-Friday, at both 5 and 7 pm, and one Brunch seating on Saturdays at noon. You enter the little house, check in and fill out a little survey to let them know who you are and what you're about. Then you give a "Pay it forward" donation of any amount (or nothing if you don't have it) by either a card on the Ipad or cash in a little barrel. They don't know who pays what, so there is no shame in not having much money (and a big part of the Provision organization is stressing that ALL are welcome, and all are deserving of having a healthy and delicious meal out on the town!). You then take a seat, read the literature if you like, and wait to be seated in the charming dining room in the back of the house (where all of the furniture, dishes, and decor were also donated).

It was a chilly night and there were only three of us for the 7 pm seating, which is everyone else's loss, because we sat down to a wonderful feast, prepared by Chef Manny Winston (Shear Taste Catering/ formerly at Young Joni). All of Provision's breads and pastries are donated by the excellent Rustica Bakery, so we kicked our meal off with a basket of warm olive bread (which are also donated to the Crisis Nursery on Wednesdays). The meals tend to be vegetarian, mainly because most of the food donated is produce, with meat being donated more once in a blue moon (One regular has a hack for that, and brings her own meat to donate when she wants to eat meat!).

As our party was so small, we got to have nice chats with Wienke and Winston about the whole operation, over our next course of the salad that I'm still thinking about today ... mixed greens with blueberries and avocado with a delish vinaigrette dressing. Yum!

Next up was a creative fruit salad consisting of black "moon" grapes and oranges with lime juice and oregano! I'd never seen grapes like this, and the mix of the ingredients was a perfect mix of sweet and savory. The oranges also showed up in a super refreshing orange/ginger juice that I kept getting refills of as I could not get enough.

The main course was Hempeh (a tempeh made from hemp) fried rice with grilled vegetables, super healthy, savory, and full of protein. This is not something I'd probably ever order from a regular menu, but I loved it and thank Chef Manny for helping to mature my palate. I honestly felt healthier as I was eating it.

Provision is part of the "One World, Everybody Eats" organization of Community Cafés, and they truly want whomever can be at their table to help build community, which ultimately helps everyone. A single older woman joined my friend Tonya and I for dinner, and seemed to be a bit of a regular. She lived in the area and likes to walk over and eat at Provision so she's not eating alone - but also because the food is great, and the price is whatever you want it to be and are able to pay that day (diners can also pay in time by volunteering).

Over a dessert of warm citrus sugar cookies (with the dough made by adults with disabilities through Partnership Resources) and coffee (beans supplied by Wildflyer Cofee - a company that employs homeless youth!), we learned that Provision hosts monthly Sustainer dinners that help keep the lights on and the people fed. They are a set price and prepared by visiting Chefs, the last one being Tyge Nelson of Pajarito STP. Wow! There are also Spring and Fall Gala Fundraisers, with the next one being held in April at the Lumber Exchange Event Center (tickets available here for only $50!). This is an accessible event to help Provision, but also to inspire people to their own philanthropy ... good people attracting more good people to do more good.

"I look at it like every night we have a dinner party, and it's always exciting to see who shows up," the darling and energetic Wienke told us, which is exactly what I love about it. You never know what you're going to be eating or who you're going to be sitting with, and that's exciting! It might not be everyone's cup of tea (see: picky people or snobs), but I think this is exactly the kind of place the world needs a whole lot more of in these times. Sitting down with strangers and breaking bread ... learning from and about one another is actually a small step toward world peace every time.

I really hope that Provision (and many more places like it!) will catch on like wildfire and take over as the model for modern dining. Less waste, more compassion, a world made a little bit smaller by more random people knowing and enjoying each other at a place where ALL are welcome to come as you are and give as you can ... I really love it. And I hope you will too! You can still go to all of your other spots, of course, but please try to put Provision into your regular rotation, because you'll be both wowed and helpful to keeping this special place open. And if you can't make it to Minneapolis, start your own just like it wherever you are - it's working!

Thank you, Provision and Anna Weinke. It's people like you that inspire us all to do and be better. See you soon for Brunch!


Provision Community Restaurant
2940 Harriet Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 208-0461
www. provisioncommunity.org

Help The Helpers!

So ... yesterday, like a mere hour after I posted my Help Yourself story about the lovely person putting food out for our people living on the streets, I randomly met the lovely woman walking down Lincoln. "Momma Eileen", a Venice elder and longtime resident, stopped me on the street as she recognized me from social media postings. She had no idea I had just posted about her humanitarian efforts, and when we got to talking (after she hugged me close knowing what I've been dealing with in regards to my Mom's hospitalization), I figured out that she was the benevolent party telling people to "Help yourself!" She was upset. Neighbors had complained, and asked her to put away her food. WHAT?!

In the food's place, there is now a new chalk message, apologizing to our homeless, and urging them to seek help at St. Joseph's. Her jerk neighbors (Developers, of course) complained that the food would attract rats - which to them I assume means human beings that need food. All of the food was in sealed packages, aside from fruit that grows in nearly every Venice yard - that rodents already know about. If it's in a tree or on a fence makes no difference. The only difference here is in the size of the hearts in the parties we're talking about.

I'm seething mad about this, and in that kind of mood where no one should get in your way because you can't take much more. What is WRONG with people, that they would complain about someone helping others? Momma Eileen was even concerned with backlash, and that these heartless wretches would target her in some way if she didn't comply with their complaints to take the food away. Let them try. Not on my watch. The good news is that she gets to keep being her wonderful self, while those fools have to live with their rotten souls, not to mention their karma.

It's time to vote out any and all parties from the Developer/Nimby camps in the upcoming Venice Neighborhood Council elections. It's time to take a moment to examine your own biases and agendas, and come to the realization that we're all in this together, and cruelty gets no one anywhere. It's time to look out for each other, and reclaim our beautiful - and strong - Community for the creative, humanitarian, artistic vortex bubble we've always been proud to be a part of. It's time to join people like Momma Eileen in sharing what we have, no matter what some dickhead neighbor says. If EVERYONE joins in on efforts like hers, the few remaining selfish parties' complaints will cease to matter, because they will be look like the petty, lost souls that they are.

Help the Helpers ... before it's too late (and by that I mean a brewing class war that no one wants, and that no one can win). Thank you, THANK YOU to people like Momma Eileen for trying to make the world a better place every day. I have your backs, and celebrate your very existence.

Help Yourself!

I was on a walk this morning, all the way in my own head, when I was very touched to see that a lovely home on Couer D'Alene had set out a little buffet of to-go food on their fence for anyone who might need it, and wrote in chalk, "Help Yourself!"

That is how we need to be in our community, with shorter fences and longer tables. I thought about what it means to help yourself ... yes, take some food and that meaning, but also we all have to really help ourselves. You can't rely on anyone else to know what help you need, so you either need to ask for it or figure it out on your own. My Mom never complains, and it took me begging to get her to go to the hospital, where she is now, being helped because she finally asked for it. I worked on a heavy show for Viceland last year, Dopesick Nation, where there were so many addicts that simply weren't ready (or didn't know how) to get help - which I suspect is the case for many of the people we see living on our streets - the ones that this food spread is for. Yet we're all in this together, and the residents of this home get that.

It's hard to ask for help, and I find myself always trying to help myself on my own, but when you are lacking strength, and feeling sad, I can't tell you much help means. Even just near strangers telling you on Facebook that they're thinking of you and your Mom in a comment ... I NEEDED that, and SO appreciate it, and hope everyone knows that. My heart swells every time I see that someone cares.

I remember Mr. Rogers saying that in times of crisis, "Look for the Helpers." Walking by this home today, it lifted my spirits and encouraged me to go on in strength - because there are people like this among us still. They had also written, "Happy Mother's Day, Mother Earth!" on their sidewalk in chalk, so I know I love them. And thank them. And plan to emulate them. As we all could do.

Help yourself!

Thankfulness Weekend

Well, we're all back at it after a long, beautiful, relaxing and fun Thanksgiving weekend, and that's always hard. This Monday was a little harder than most because I started it off by dropping my phone in water. With all the gorgeous Thanksgiving weekend photos on it - that weren't backed up. Ugh. So, I'm starting fresh to kick off the holiday season ... again.

We had one of the hands-down best Thanksgiving meals together with friends at Hatchet Hall. The restaurant was closed for the holiday, so we had free reign of the place.

Every counter surface was taken up by the pot luck dishes all our friends brought, and as you looked around, all you could think was ABUNDANCE. And THANK YOU.

From Lacey's Mom's unreal corn dish and perfect mashed potatoes to David's foie gras gravy (yes, FOIE GRAS GRAVY!) to Brian's perfect turkey, and Vavine's roasted apples ...

 ... one morsel was more delicious than the next. It was truly an embarrassment of riches.

I threw down on the pies, as usual, and even managed to get myself a slice this year! Not a whole lot of meals can beat Thanksgiving if you're an American, but even with all of the ridiculous piles of mouth watering food, the story of the day was still all about gratitude, and being thankful for all that we have. Like, we talked about it. And meant it.

That gratefulness carried over all weekend, as most of the people I know chose to opt out of the Black Friday disgusting mayhem, and opt OUTSIDE. R.E.I. kind of kicked off that sentiment by being closed that day for their employees to have a day to get outside, and we fully took that to heart.

Last year we got out of dodge on Black Friday, and headed for Yosemite, which was glorious. We didn't have the same luxury of time this year, so settled for Saddle Peak in Malibu, which isn't really settling. Our hike to the summit was rewarded by majestic 360 views, but even better was the surprise deer couple that bounded right by us (and of course that awesome photo is now gone forever). A stunning O.P. looking sunset was the icing on top, and the perfect location and visual for mindful gratitude.

The rest of the weekend was almost all outside, except movies, and for watching our Vikings take over first place in our division yesterday (!), capping off a wonderful, idyllic weekend of family, friendship, and fun.

I hope yours was all of that good stuff too - sans the phone casualties. And now, here we go! Off to the races toward the end of the year, all set with a new phone and tons of room for new photos, videos, stories and excellent messages ... let's get going!

HAPPY Holiday Season to us all!

*Photos kindly donated by Paul Gronner and Steve Taschler.

Community Healing Gardens All Over Venice

I was on an afternoon stroll today when it seemed that down every block I turned, I saw all these wonderful little planter boxes, all with signs saying "Community Healing Garden".

The signs said that all produce raised in these boxes was intended to be donated to those in need of food. The idea is to build community and unity in our neighborhoods while also growing food to feed those less fortunate.

I checked out the website (link above) and it's so very Venice, I just love it. Create food, create community, have unity concerts, make art ... it's really everything we're about here in this neck of the woods.

Community Healing Garden's goal is to have 400 garden boxes and 999 fruit trees planted in Venice by the end of 2015, with an eye to expanding their area in the years to come. Kind of like Little Free Libraries but FOOD that people can EAT vs. food for the soul. Both extra important, and both now growing in abundance all over town, and from the looks of it, well on the way to CHG's goal.

Planting seeds of food also plants seeds of good, inside the individual who grows it and gets to feel all good (as I can attest, with even just new garden boxes on my balcony, the joy of growth - and saving money by just zipping outside for basil!), and also for the uniting of our community, who all get to sow AND reap the benefits.

Well done, Community Healing Gardens! And many thanks.

To get involved yourself, please visit the www.communityhealinggardens.org site and DO IT.

A Winter Wonderland Everywhere

I'm back from my winter break, it's a new year ... and I'm wondering how all of that happened so fast? We just had the Glögg party, I flew off to Minnesota, and now I'm already back in Venice working away on a new year? Whoa. Thank goodness there are so many great memories crammed in there, to know that it really happened.

Christmas was in the air all over Minnesota, even if the snow was not. It looked more like Easter when we got off the plane, brown and dead and ugly. We consoled ourselves that it's all really more about seeing loved ones and having fun, not cavorting about in a sparkling winter wonderland. But still.

Right out of the gate (after a quick polish at The Brow Studio. Thanks, Brook!) we headed off to meet Tonja at the Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, where the halls were all decked in each Scandinavian country's traditional manner. It was all just beautiful, and educational too.

We did not say no to more glögg, and it was even nice enough out that you could enjoy it on a hay bale outside next to the fire and the Sami style teepee.

Zooming off from there to a lovely round of pre-game drinks at the St. Paul Hotel, we warmed up before the stroll across the all lit up Rice Park to the Excel Center for the Minnesota Wild game.

The Wild were not to be victorious this night, but I saw old friends, made new ones, cheered for the home team, and generally just felt thrilled to be home.

Last minute shopping meant that we had to brave the insane Mall of America on Christmas Eve day, but that complete mayhem was soon forgotten, in the peace of a candle lit Mindekirken for "Silent Night" at the Christmas Eve service. All was calm. All was bright.

As was Christmas Day, when we did not wake up to a blanket of fresh snow, like we'd hoped. Instead, we had sunshine and no real need for jackets as headed out for Christmas Day church at Nokomis Heights.

No Lutheran Christmas is really complete without the trip to the church basement to indulge in all the beautiful baking the congregants prepare for the Christmas coffee. They take it very seriously.

The big event for Christmas Day is the annual gathering of the Hendricksons and friends. It is looked forward to all year long, with friends, family, food and fun all day long. It's always good to see how the kids have grown bigger, and how we've all grown in our own ways.

This year Santa was played by Danny Hendrickson, and the kids got all riled up, wondering both what he brought them, and who he really was.

His daughter Grace pulled off the beard, and the jig was up, but the kids were delighted anyway.

All day long we laughed, drank, ate and had great conversations with great people. We had the annual speech that I beg for by Larry Hendrickson, reminding us all what it's all about.

Even the kids sit and listen quietly (or may have been on devices, but it was quiet). Between Jane, Marilyn and Christine ... we could all learn a lot. So much wisdom, kindness and generosity exudes from them, it's nice to just sit and hope some rubs off on you.

It was extra-special to have my brother, Paul back in Minnesota with us this year, and Mom was pretty much beaming the whole time at having her kids all back home with her again. VERY special.

We checked out the new Co-op in Richfield, where Paul found the very best hat ever. He was a huge hit with the ladies at Ingebretsen's, our pilgrimage stop for more lefse and stuff the day after Christmas.

 Paul and the wooden Viking inside shared a moment, all to the delight of the staff.

We finally made it to Matt's Bar for Jucy Lucys, where my Dad used to go back in the day to get burgers for him and my Mom. People still love it, as evidenced by the fact that we had to stand outside and wait in line for almost an hour. Worth it? Yes. Mostly for the time with mom and brother, but the burger was swell too.

Then it was back to Richfield for the 40th birthday blowout of Danny Hendrickson (Santa) at Fireside Pizza. It was jam-packed with Spartans young and old, all ready to toast their friend and celebrate with the people we all grew up with. It was a riot.

As the reveling carried on, someone in the crowd told me to look outside. It was practically a blizzard outside, a day late, but all the more welcome! I'd spent the whole previous day lamenting the lack of a White Christmas, so Darby knew how happy I was.

Even though everyone made a big deal that I got to have my snow, I could tell they were all happy about it too, as much as they do protest. It's so pretty with fresh snow, you have to love it. (OK, at first).

After an entire night of snowfall, the next morning was so bright and beautiful, you really did need to wear shades. And go directly to Wood Lake.

The grounds of nature preserve were pristine, untouched, sparkling white diamonds everywhere. As we walked deeper into the woods, we'd pass by cross country skiers with rosy cheeks and wide grins. This was the kind of day that they live for.

This was probably my most Richfield trip back in a long time ... locations, people, activities ... all of them mostly centered around my hometown ... "The Urban Hometown," as the new sign reads. One night we went out to the new gastropub in Richfield (a gastropub in Richfield!), Lyn 65, and had a great time catching up with Richfield classmates.

Then my friend Boyd had his birthday pub crawl, and I went to more places in town I'd never been, the American Legion and Frenchman's! Never. Been. The Legion was classic, old couples all dressed up to go dancing on a Saturday night, still the feel of a holiday party in the air. And Frenchman's was  ... Frenchman's. A classic dive. Paul and I walked home under the bright stars, declining a ride, as Paul said, "No thanks, Carol and I are Adventurers." Perfect.

More meals, more visits, more drinks, more reunions ... so many I didn't always get photos. Beautiful times were spent with the Meyer Family, my high school girls, the Barachs, Tonja, and we were so happy to see the family we lived next door to all my childhood, the Kusunokis. We exchanged stories and I was happy to bring cherry chip cookies to Pearl, who is the original maker of the now-classic cookie.

Then it was time for more hockey, with a Richfield Spartan game, under new head coach, our friend Shuter (Dave Shute)! Alas, they didn't win either, but not for lack of alumni yelling.

Post-game, it was nice to have a little more cozying up by the fire time with friends ...

 ... cozy until it became family jam time, that is. Then it was all metal.

In years past, it's been all about running around and seeing as many people as possible. This time it was really all about Mom, and spending as much time with her as possible. The solution then, is to bring Mom along for all the running around and seeing as many people as WE can. We did pretty good, huh, Mom?

There was a very rare and special gathering of the Gronner Bowling League. I'm happy to report I almost beat both of my brothers. I didn't, but still. They've got skills.

It was time to leave just as the thermometers dipped below zero - and that was not planned.

The last morning we went to Minnehaha Falls to see if it had frozen, and though it was still running, that princess Elsa would've been right at home.

BRRRRR! It was bracing. And exhilarating. And I loved every second of it.

After a farewell spin around the city lakes, and another happy hour laughing and making plans for the new year, it was time to head back to Venice.

 With so much going on, and lives and places changing all the time, it's kind of hard to say goodbye when you won't see many of the faces until next year, or even longer. That's when you have to just be happy that you got to see them at all, and implore them all to visit when it really gets - and stays - cold.

But when I got back to Venice, we had our own Winter Wonderland!

It was pretty lame when compared to the Great White North, but it's nice that they do something for the kids in winter if they can't get out to the mountains for the real deal. And you can't be mad at this kind of winter at all once Christmas is over.

The kind of winter that lets you walk barefoot in the sand on the last day of the year. That lets you toast the new year on the first day on your balcony. In your t-shirt.

But the best part of the winter is really gathering with loved ones and having a break, no matter what it's doing outside. To recharge your batteries, touch your roots, count your many blessings, and plan for a new year of adventuring!



Thank you, thank you to everyone who made me smile over the holidays, in both homes. You are the wonder.

Happiest New Year to All!