Congratulations to those brave souls who completed the Chicago Marathon, I hope your toes have healed by now! I’m impressed by your achievement and envious of your dedication. I’m still committed to my personal fitness goal.

I have no intentions of running a marathon! I just want to lose a few inches in some very specific places! I asked my Trainer yesterday if he could “fix my face” pull up a few sagging parts, since he has exercises to pull everything else up! LOL I have yet to re-capture my 18 year-old body but I’m still keeping the faith that I can get pretty damn close!

Lately I have been very busy preparing for my big Halloween Party. I’m known for my off the wall parties. Last year I was so busy with the Café, that I didn’t have time to plan a Halloween Party My friends let me know just how disappointed they were, in no uncertain terms! I don’t normally have a theme but this year it’s a Zombie party! I wonder if that has some subconscious meaning…lol 

Right now I’m beat because I’ve put so much into planning and decorating for the party. I want my guest to have a visual experience. From the time they step onto the front porch, I want them to believe that they are in another place. I have borrowed tips from one of my customers, Jason, who is an extremely talented Theater Designer, to create a dramatic Zombie Graveyard right in the middle of Englewood! I’ll be the innocent (OK, maybe not so innocent ) girl wearing a poodle skirt from the 50’s complete with musical notes, ankle socks and a big surprise which I can’t reveal now.

My regular morning coffee customers, I call them my family, asked me if I enjoy having these outrageous parties since it puts so much stress on me? My answer was a definite yes. I want my guest to have the same experience that my customers experience at the Café.

That experience is:

• Make it Memorable – create an emotional experience for your customer or your guest. Make them feel the environment was created specifically for them and them only. For example, for the Halloween Party, I created a plan for every room in the house, consulted with an expert to execute the plan and have scenery in every room that will stimulate their five senses. At the Café, I have staged a lounge where you can sit, relax and enjoy the sweet sound of Jazz playing in the background.

• Create a Happy Environment – make it a place where people feel comfortable and protected, to step outside their normal life and do things that they would be afraid to do otherwise. They will be grateful for the chance to stretch, to grow and explore in a safe place.

• Keep Happy People Around You – they help you to live longer!

Have a safe, happy and entertaining Happy Halloween to all!

They created so much energy that one of my regular customers went on Facebook to post “Donna’s was buzzing this morning”. I directed them to the must see places in Chicago and they shared with me what it’s like to be a young student in Mississippi. These students supported and respected each other and I was impressed. They acted as one cohesive unit.

A Community Solves Problems Together

Before opening Donna’s Café, I was a Chicago Police Officer patrolling the Englewood community. For most of my 25 years on the force, my beat was 735.The people in the community knew when they saw that car they were protected. To the Gangbangers, 735 meant it was time to move on. For the homeowners, who worked so hard to live in that community, 735 meant their investment was safe.

I approached my job with a sense of ownership; these were my streets, my blocks and my people. I share this perspective not to stroke my ego (although I needed to have a strong one to survive the daily battle of the streets) but to highlight my mutual responsibility to the community.

One of my proudest moments on the force was; when I was recognized for having the highest attendance in Chicago for Community Beat Meetings. The meetings provided a forum for the community and the local Police Officer’s to interact. This exchange of information helped me make the community safer. I had the intelligence I needed to solve problems for the community.

A Community Builds on the Strengths of its Members

I am going to refer back to my favorite children’s author, Chris Raschka. In his book “John Coltrane’s Giant Steps” he illustrates how tempo builds on the foundation (the base) to support the harmony and melody of Coltrane’s music. This interplay gives Jazz its depth and richness. Just like Jazz, which builds upon the strengths of others to create its unique music, my experience has taught me a healthy community has these four pillars:

• Each one bring one, each one help one, means that each person in a community has an interdependence to help someone in their community.

• A community can’t survive or grow without offering or giving support to other members in the community.

• Members in a community are altruistic.

• They uplift people in the community.

Come join our community: Everyone is invited!

Once a month, we have a “Real Talk in Jeans” meeting. We meet to have honest discussions about relationships. The meetings are filled with (men, women, gay and lesbian) frank and hard conversations about truthfulness in relationships. Additionally, a networking meeting is held quarterly. The goal is to connect entrepreneurs and employers with talented people to meet their hiring needs. On Fridays, we have live Jazz or Rhythm and Blues to enjoy.

Come on in, everyone is welcomed!

Charlie Parker Played No Trombone
This line appears in the book. I take this line to heart because it reminds me to be who I am. When I was researching to open Donna’s Café, all the business plans, advised me to find my competitive advantage. Moreover, they said that this competitive advantage had to be sustainable. Well, I have concluded that I am not Starbucks and I have no desire to be anything like them other than to be profitable. When I walk in Starbuck’s I see all the customers working on their computers, screaming out private information in a public setting on their cell phones and very little conversation being exchanged amongst the patrons. That’s upsetting to me. I think it’s a lost opportunity if people don’t make a connection. My competitive advantage is: a safe place to connect, to nourish the soul and that respects your wallet.
My vision was to create a sanctuary where people dropping off their kids at daycare can rest before starting the rest of the busy day, a place where professionals can network , and information be can exchanged with nutritious food that warms the soul at an reasonable price.
My vision is in its second year. Every day I’m presented with a challenge that will test my courage and conviction. I rejoice in the knowledge that I’m one day closer to fully realizing my vision of creating something unique that I can leave behind for my family. Please, come into the Café and have some fun with me. Collaborate with me to help me improve. Remember, Charlie Parker played Be-bop, be yourself and follow your own vision and have some fun doing it.

Last week I was reminded by a customer about the origins of the Coffee House throughout history. The Coffee House has always been a place to participate in the exchange of thoughtful ideas, debates, commerce, and revolutionary action. It’s not surprising to learn that countries have tried to outlaw Coffee Houses in the past as a way to control its people. Well, Miss Donna cannot be controlled. I’m not shy or timid. I can be described as bold, loud and bighearted. I am comfortable in my own skin and with these descriptions, and it’s good for business.

So let me tell you why.

If democracy is to work than it needs an informed public. Step into Donna’s Café – or check my blog frequently – you will be informed. At the café, our customers are invited to respectfully share their opinions. I’m here to make sure that this exchange is done in a respectful manner. The greatest gift that we can give to each other is the ability to listen for understanding. So, sharing my bold thoughts and inviting you to share yours is good for our democracy and good for business.

Here’s a thought….we could teach Congress a few things about listening and enjoying good debate.

Foods That Fight Fatigue | Yahoo! Health.

Being the trained investigator that I am I spent 20 minuets trying to figure it out. I had not checked the box that would allow comments. Mystery solved.

Although it really wasn’t a mystery it was a testament to my technological skill set. I mean I really did own an abacus when I was a kid! For those of you wondering, what the hell is an abacus? Goggle it…lol   I am forever in a state of growth on so many levels today is going pretty damn well on the learning thing!

I’ll be creating a Group,” REAL TALK IN JEANS — IT AIN’T FANCY BUT IT’S REAL!”, on Facebook for what started out as a casual conversation revolving around relationships, in the cafe then evolved to an event. The first event happens 1 March. More info on that coming soon.

Off to go start something new, post away! LOL

I was chatting with a friend of mine and he said I should just post what’s on my mind.

But being a business owner requires that I not post everything that goes through my mind without censoring it first…lol

So I will be taking a stab at posting what runs through my mind, I’m pretty sure there will be lots of backspacing. I’ll read it and decide that it’s too controversial to post. But get through this I will, so come along on this ride, let’s see where the tracks take us!

I drove a lot in my former job, I either drove very slow or very fast there really was very little in between unless I was transporting a prisoner in for processing. Now I drive more or less with the rest of  Chicago’s drivers and I gotta tell ya a lot of those drivers are very unsafe,  careless and dangerous!

Turn signals, used to indicate your intent, not using them is a traffic violation. This means when you enter and exit a parking space you need to use your signal. When changing lanes, you must use your signal. Exiting your vehicle into traffic is a no-no, you do not have the right of way, you must yield to oncoming traffic. I’ve seen it, getting slammed by a car while you’re getting out of your car is not pretty!

If this sounds preachy then you’ve totally missed the point I and more than a few others will continue to loudly cast aspersions upon you and your continued existence!

This has been a Health tip delivered in an alternative manner!

Friday night Jazz has improved tremendously, my Family night continues to be awesome and now I’m waiting to see how Karaoke goes.

The Randy Ford Trio was in rare form on the 27th of Jan. here are the videos I took.

I received this email with some great information about an interesting man.

You’re Invited:

On Sunday, February 5, at 3pm, ICE teams up with Chicago legend George
Lewison the MCA Stage for a concert that you’ll never get over.

Trombonist, scholar, composer George Lewis straddles the worlds of jazz,
improvised and new music. His work explores the relationship between music
and machines, musicians and their instruments and improvisation.

His protégés -- flutist Nicole Mitchell, trombonist/percussionist Tyshawn
Sorey and saxophonist Steve Lehman -- obliterate the boundaries between
genres.

To join the fun, get your tickets today
online<http://mcachicago.org/performances/now/all/2012/737>or at the
MCA Box:
312.397.4010.

On the program for Sunday:

   - George Lewis’s Artificial Life 2007 (2007) for ensemble features
   groups of musicians improvising individually and together (15 min);
   - Steve Lehman’s Impossible Flow (2010) for ensemble (17 min);
   - Tyshawn Sorey’s Ode to Gust Burns (2012) for bassoon, piano,
   percussion, guitar and trombone (6 min);
   - Nicole Mitchell’s The Cave of Self-Inception (2012) for two flutes and
   percussion (7 min);
   - George Lewis’s Will to Adorn (2011) for ensemble (14 min).




About ICE
The International Contemporary Ensemble has established itself as one of
the leading musical groups of its generation as well as one of the most
innovative young arts organizations in the US. ICE has created a pioneering
performer/presenter model that sets a bold new standard for the future of
music in the 21st century. It’s ICELab programs is open to anyone working
in a creative discipline involving sound. For more information, go to
www.iceorg.org.

For Tickets: Go to http://mcachicago.org/performances/now/all/2012/737 or
call the Box Office at 312.397.4010.*

Check, it out! 

The topics that were listed were Reviews, Food and Jazz.

I just had to click on Jazz.

That click led me all over the place, to Oakland California, New York, Texas and all for free! I was exposed to people who love jazz as much if not more than I do! Actually I’m sure they know more than I do, I just know what I like. These folks write blogs about jazz, have radio shows featuring jazz…

Take James Knox, he says he’s a Jazz Blogger, Photographer and Dreamer, http://www.j-notes.com/ guess where he grew up and developed his love for jazz, Chicago’s southside! Check him out he offers so much!

Curtis Davenport, I’m very happy I found him! His blog  http://curtjazz.wordpress.com/ is one I will be following and learning from. While most were wishing John Coltrane happy birthday on Sept. 23, me included, it was also Ray Charles birthday, he was born four years after Trane he would have been 81!

I often lament that the younger folk don’t “get” jazz and then I find Elli Fordyce, she’s doing a grand job of developing a younger generation of jazz lovers! Here’s a link to that forward movement, http://www.americanjazzvenues.org/

That’s just a small portion of what I stumbled upon while checking my Klout Score. With these resources I have lots to explore. I do have a question, why or where are the jazz sources in Chicago? There was a time when Chicago was THE place to be for jazz!

Guess I’ll see what I can run across in and about jazz in the Windy City.

In the mean time

Stay Jazzy!