The Coffee House - Acoustic Music and Spoken Word

IN MEMORY OF AGNES ZEIDLER
We are saddened to report that Coffee House co-founder, Agnes Zeidler, passed away on September 23, 2009. Her efforts in helping to found The Coffee House back in 1967 have touched countless lives over the years. Her spirit will live on in every song we sing at The Coffee House.

FILL THE BIG BARREL CHALLENGE!
The Coffee House has supported the Central City Church's Food Pantry for many years with our monthly pantry benefits. In these tough economic times it is more important than ever to lend our support to the Food Pantry. Our challenge to you is to help us fill not the small barrel, but the BIG BARREL on Food Pantry benefit nights. And remember, you can also drop off donations of non-perishable items at any Coffee House show.

2010 MID-WINTER TALENT CONTEST
Entry blanks will be available for this year's talent contest at The Coffee House or on at www.the-coffee-house.com on Friday, Dec 4th and must be turned in by Dec 31, 09. Audition rounds are Fridays, January 22 & 29 with the Finals on Saturday, Feb. 20, 10. The first place winner will receive The Pastor Chuck Witt Award of $100. The first runner-up will receive The Deanna Morici Award of $50, and the second runner-up receives the Dick "Nitelinger" Golembiewski Award of $25. All three top finishers will perform in a winner's showcase concert in May 2010.

CENTRAL CITY CHURCH'S FOOD PANTRY
For many years The Coffee House has presented a Food Pantry Benefit on the first Friday of each month. The
performers donate their time for these events which benefit the Central City Church's Food Pantry. We have
learned that the pantry is currently really struggling. They may have to lay off staff and may run out of food in the
near future. The Coffee House board has decided to accept donations of food for the pantry on all show nights
instead of just Pantry Benefit nights. In these tough economic times, we need to help each other out. Please
consider bringing a donation for the pantry when you attend a Coffee House show.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR STUDENTS: Receive a free cup of coffee by showing your valid student ID. What a deal!

Reminder: kids 12 & under are always admitted free when accompanied by a responsible adult.

Pictures from our 40th Anniversary Show

We need YOU to keep The Coffee House going for another 40 years!

If you enjoy attending events at The Coffee House, or if you're a performer who appreciates having a great venue to perform at, consider joining our volunteer team. We always can use more volunteers to staff the door and set-up & tear-down the refreshments. Be creative! If you have a great idea, join our board and chair a new committee for your idea. For example, two years ago a volunteer got the idea for and organized our first Gallery Night event.

If you are interested in any of these volunteer jobs, please come to our next board meeting or contact us via email through www.the-coffee-house.com or our info line, 414-534-4612. All of these positions report to the board and The Coffee House Board will have the final decision in who to appoint to these jobs.

History

The Coffee House was founded in 1967 by the late Rev. Alan Davis of Lutheran Campus Ministry and Rev. Chuck Witt and Ms. Agnes Zeidler of Redeemer Lutheran Church as an outreach to the surrounding community including Marquette University. Over the years we have hosted a variety of programming including films, jazz, poetry, dances, a clown troupe and folk and acoustic music. We were the home of Theatre X until they acquired their own theater in 1972.

Open Hours

The Coffee House is open for performances from Labor Day through Memorial Day every Friday and Saturday night and two Sundays a month.

Open Mics

Many performers have had their first experience in front of an audience on our stage at our twice a month “open mic.” The supportive atmosphere nurtures new performers. Now well-known performers such as Paul Cebar, Bill Camplin and Pamela Means performed on our stage at the start of their careers.

Food Pantry Benefits

The first Friday of each month is reserved for a food pantry benefit. The entertainers donate their time for these events. Patrons are asked to bring two cans of food and $3.00 for admission. The food and half the money goes to the Central City Churches food pantry. The other half of the money goes to keep The Coffee House going.

“Living Activism” Program

In the late 1960s The Coffee House stressed its role as an open and friendly place for discussion on social issues. We saw a need for this again in today's world and in 2001 added a "Living Activism" night to our monthly schedule. Activist groups put on a program consisting of both a presentation about their organization or issues and entertainment. The second Sunday of the month has been reserved for "Living Activism.” A free-will donation is asked at the door with all the money going to the featured activist organization.

The mission of "Living Activism" is to aid groups in reaching a new audience and signing up new volunteers while raising awareness and money for their group. By taking care of the set-up needs of an event, we allow the groups to focus their energy on their issues. Featured groups have included Casa Maria, Hunger Task Force, Peace Action Center, Lutheran Volunteer Corp., Literacy Services, Urban Ecology Center, and W.A.V.E. (Wis. Anti-Violence Effort).

Staffing

The Coffee House has been run mainly by volunteers all these years. Volunteers do everything from greeting patrons at the door at each performance, making the coffee and tea, booking the entertainment, creating the printed calendar of events and preparing it for mailing, managing the mailing list, buying the supplies, sending out press releases to the media, creating posters and managing the treasury. Two paid managers have key-carry responsibility and set up and run the sound equipment.

Invitation

We are proud to be one of the longest running non-profit Coffee Houses in America. We hope you will stop in for an event. We would love to share The Coffee House with you!

Managers: Sandy Weisto & Joe Holland
Telephone during open hours: (414) 534-4612
The Coffee House Information Line: (414) 534-4612

We serve coffee, herbal teas, soda, and baked goods. Free parking is available in our lighted lot. The Coffee House is wheelchair-accessible.