The Coffee House - Acoustic Music and Spoken Word

In memory of Dick "Nitelinger" Golembiewski

We are very sad to report the passing of longtime Coffee House volunteer Dick "Nitelinger" Golembiewski on March 29, 2009. Dick was a great friend to the folk & acoustic music in Milwaukee since the early 1980's. He hosted a radio show, "Folk City" on WMSE 91.7 FM on Sunday evenings from 1984-1992. Dick was an active supporter of local acoustic and folk musicians, frequently bringing them into the studio for live performances on the show. He also became active on The Coffee House board and as a volunteer in the early 1980's. His calm, well-reasoned presence was a welcome addition to the board. He helped out with our very 1st Mid-Winter Talent Contest in 1987. In recent years he was a regular door volunteer, wrote a history of The Coffee House in honor of our 40th anniversary (see the "History" page of our website) and emceed this year's Talent Contest. He also volunteered for events such as the Central City Church's picnic. Dick was a leading expert on the early history of Milwaukee television. His book, "Milwaukee Television History: The Analog Years" , won the Milwaukee County Historical Society's Gambrinus Prize for 2008 and he was enjoying many interviews and speaking engagements related to the book. Dick touched many people's lives and will be deeply missed.

The Coffee House Picnic - July 19th

Bring your musical instruments, voices and food to share. Join us for our annual summer picnic on Sunday, July 19th, from noon until 6pm, in Picnic Area #5 at Lake Park on Milwaukee's East Side. Come to play music or just to enjoy an afternoon in the park with Coffee House friends. We'll have grills & charcoal available. Fun for everyone, and it's absolutely free!

Coffee House Snail mail / Email List Updates

If you move or change email addresses over the summer be sure to change your address with us so you'll continue to receive our calendar of events in the fall. You can make address updates on the "Contact" page at www.the-coffee-house.com

BOOKING
There are no dates left for this season, which ends Memorial Day weekend. We close for the summer and reopen after Labor Day. Booking requests for the fall will be accepted after May 1st.

Congratulations to the 2009 Mid-Winter Talent Contest Winners:

2009 Winner: Chris Drobka

1st Runner up: Rick Fitzgerald

2nd Runner up: Cheryl Banks

See them perform in our Talent Contest Winner's Showcase concert on Saturday, May 9, 09 at 8pm.

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.