Special guests this Friday

This Friday night (July 11) at 8:00 Stumpjack has the pleasure of hosting musicians/poets/artists Steph and Matt Davies during their current summer tour of the country.

My 13-year old daughter, Jesse, made this cool poster for the show.

Here's the press release:

Steph Davies and her husband Matt will be performing in Two Rivers at Stumpjack Coffee Friday evening as part of their two-month nationwide, coast-to-coast tour. Loosely calling Chicago home, the couple has earned numerous fans and kudos on their current summer tour. Steph, an Art School of Chicago alumni, found her musical voice in 2003 after a friend’s passing, when she picked up her grandfather’s old acoustic guitar and began singing. She began writing and performing her own compositions, which she says both influence and are influenced by her graphic art. She recently recorded and released her first full length CD, “After the Fall” with her husband, guitarist and engineer Matt Davies. Matthew Davies is also a poet and artist who has recorded a seven-song CD titled “Road Song.” He lists as among his musical influences Tom Waits, Bob Marley, Big Bill Broonzy, Sam Cooke, Miles Davis, Leonard Cohen, Woody Guthrie, Mississippi John Hurt and Hank Williams.

Chris Darby, of ThemDamnKids wrote of Davies’ “After the Fall”:

"Steph Davies’ newest effort is far and away her finest and most thoughtful to date. Steph has a way of taking the most ordinary experiences in life, and turning them into wonderfully magical things...etched into a beautiful paradox of temporal permanence. It’s a quality not found in many writers, but is fast becoming evident in Mrs. Davies work, and is really quite remarkable. To call this simply a collection of love songs would somehow cheapen the detailed arrangement of words within. This is a collection of life, those living in it, and the songs that go with that. These are songs to listen to on lonely nights in old cabins- a true representation of beauty in the living world."

Steph Davies’ music can be heard online at http://www.myspace.com/versionsoftruth.

Matthew Davies’ music can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/matthewdavies.

The Hebrew Hammer visits Stumpjack?

I'm looking for some confirmation here folks, one way or the other. I was out of town for much of last week and through the weekend, and upon my return was informed that Milwaukee Brewers' outfielder Ryan Braun made a visit to Stumpjack Coffee. My lovely wife, while possessing enviable knowledge on numerous other subjects, is neither a hardcore baseball fan nor is she informed on the current Brewers line-up (and I'm afraid I'm in the same boat as her). So, she could neither positively confirm nor deny the alleged visit (shewt, with as chaotic and distracted as our lives are these days, we'd be lucky to correctly ID Brett Favre should he walk in). So, I'm looking for a comment from someone who may have been in the Stump last week during The Hebrew Hammer's alleged visit (man, is that an awesome nickname or what!?)...a reply either here or via our regular email or next time you're in the shop.

In any event, Ryan, if you did pop in for a double espresso or latte I'm sorry I missed you and I hope you enjoyed your drink. Congrats on making the starting line-up of the National League All Stars, and best of luck the rest of the season.

Awesome blues and pre-vacay loose ends

I'm going to be out of town for a few days this week, so I'm trying to get several things in with this one post. Kim and the girls will be running the Stump without me, which some of you are likely grateful for as I am being "forced" to take a brief sabbatical by the boss (Kim) to mellow me out (she sounds like Struther Martin, "Ya gotta git yer mind right, boy"). I've been putting in almost 24/7 weeks for a few weeks now and I guess it's starting to show as I'm getting a little owly, impatient and irritable (GET YER OWN DAMN COFFEE!)...at least more than normal anyway.

If you weren't here last Saturday night you missed one of the best live music performance that Stumpjack has had to date. Brian Sanchez and Nick Weiland of Whiskey Jars & Scandals put on one of the smoothest, tightest, free-feelin' improv, groovenest and bluesenest shows ever. I'm kicking myself that we didn't get this down on tape...it would have made one of the coolest small venue live blues recordings ever. We didn't have a big crowd...only around 15 people not counting us, but the applause and vocal appreciation from those who were here made it sound like a full house. We're picking a date to have Brian and Nick back in September and will have the wires set to record. You gotta come down to see these guys and be a part of the recording...if they put it out like they did Saturday night you will be very glad you did, guaranteed. Check out Brian Powell's comment about the evening in the post below this one...thanks Brian.

Click here for the Flickr set of pics.

This coming Saturday at 8pm the always angelic acoustic sounds of one Becky Markvart will again grace the carpet at Stumpjack. Becky's new CD (3 or 4 weeks old now I think), "Shine Down On Me," has been selling like Leinie's in the Moccasin Bar on a Friday night (you musky fishermen will get that reference). Come on down for a gelato, good music and conversation.

The results have been officially published now, and we can announce that Stumpjack Coffee won "Best of Manitowoc County" in the following categories:

• Best Coffee Shop
• Best Atmosphere
• Best Lunch

So thank you everyone who voted for us. We are grateful, gratified and groovin' on the high that comes from having good people appreciate what's happening at Stumpjack Coffee. Thanks so very, very much. While they didn't announce 2nd or 3rd place finishes in the voting categories I heard that David Smith received an unofficial 3rd place finish in the "Best OB/GYN" category...congratulations to him.

Wednesdays, July 2 and 16 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. the Urban Gardening Gang (UGG) will meet at Stumpjack. Come one, come all. Help spread the word about urban gardening. Here's there website link: http://www.urbangardengathering.blogspot.com/.

Finally, we just got an Indian Monsooned Blend in, around an hour ago as I write this. People have been asking for it since last week's "Spill the Beans" coffee column came out in the Herald Times Reporter. This is not pure Indian Monsooned but is a blend of Indian, Sumatra Mandheling and Mexican. Not quite as pungent or spicy as pure Indian Monsooned, but definitely carries the monsooned fingerprint and very fine nonetheless.

You all have a beautiful and joyous week...I promise I won't be thinking of any of you.

Tonight's Live Music via Milwaukee

Tonight (Saturday) at 8:00pm

Blues Rock with Whiskey Jars & Scandals

Come on over after the Cool City Car Show in downtown TR.

Chamber of Commerce After Hours

Kim and her friend Karen Szyman from the Chamber of Commerce
Karen got named Executive Director of the Chamber, the day after this event. Congrats to her!

Wednesday evening Stumpjack Coffee hosted the Manitowoc County Chamber of Commerce "Business After Hours" soirée. It was a fun and lively event with lots of chitchat and the chance to meet some new faces. Click here to view the Flickr set of pics I took. Kim did a fabulous job in getting everything organized and ready for the party...all the food and drink prep, getting everyone assigned their respective duties, running everything smoothly. The only gripe I have is that I didn't get a chance to sample any of the mojitos that she made (and she made a lot, but it was all gone by the time I got around to it), but that's my own darn fault I suppose.

I like this picture of HoneyPot owner Cindy Thayer...she's funny (that would be funny humorous, not funny weird...although come to think of it...).