P + S Drake Surfing in Nicaragua, foto by Wilz.

My young surfer dude friends Philip and Stephan Drake just returned from a long board safari in Nicaragua.   Here, in a photo by their pal Andrew Wilz,  Stephan walks away from the Pacific Ocean, and a glorious sunset, up to the casita for a cold one.  Waiting to hang out, swap tall tales and plan for tomorrow is brother Philip and Mom Lenir.  I'm hoping to post some angry-wave pics, with the guys hanging ten and catching some heavies.  Go, boys!

PS:  http://portfolio.frontlineimage.com/index.php#mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=0&a=0&at=0  is Wilz portfolio and website.

Great Day to Wash Windows in Minneapolis.

It's winter in Minnie but the sun shines bright this afternoon, and the mercury is pushing 40-degrees. My new BFF the professional window washer, seen at the tippy-top of his ladder, could barely ask for better conditions.  As carefully as he squeegees the glass panes, one cannot help but hold her breath as our man scales the rungs of his work place.  So far, so good.

Not a Turkey in the Bunch (Flock?)

We had some fine fun last night celebrating Thanksgiving here in Long Lake.  In this pic, turkey, stuffing, gravy and 'taters have been polished off, and the gang is working on dessert.  The smiles, yucks and good times continued far into the evening.  Guests remarked it was the best Thanksgiving they could remember.  We DO have much to be thankful for.  

Making Tracks up Deer Hill Road

We received three inches of fresh powder snow last night, while temps dropped to the single digits. What a glorious Thanksgiving we're having here in Long Lake, MN.    Bundled up for a brisk and bracing walk up Lisa's Deer Hill Road.  Hope you enjoy the tread tracks.

Chalk up Another Great Saying to St. Francis !!

“Wear the world as a loose garment, which touches us in a few places and there lightly” - St. Francis of Assisi

God is Too Big to Fit into One Religion.

If you have doubts about the ways of the world, religion included, don't forget the lyrics of Simon and Garfunkel -- the words of the prophets are written on the subway wall.

S + G were New York City boys so they didn't drive much.  That meant they didn't see many bumper stickers.  Dirty as that Ford Focus is, and as many stickers as the owner has slapped on the vehicle, one message comes through louder, clearer than others:

"GOD is too BIG to fit into one religion."

Amen.

Does Coffee Really Make You Black?

In the photo to your left you meet talented letterpress artist Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. He's in the middle of signing a poster I purchased from him at the annual Book Arts Fest at MCBA in Minneapolis.

A resident of Detroit, Kennedy prefers recycled materials, sticks to wooden type he sets by hand, then prints on letter press. He signs every poster with a Sharpie, and will not budge on the asking price for his work.

Amos also favors edgy, poignant work that invites conversation, breaks down barriers to understanding, and certainly makes you smile.

For instance my purchase:  "Coffee Makes You Black." 

C'mon. That's absurd. I mean, how can drinking coffee -- even strong, black coffee -- turn a white man black?  It can't, of course. But the absurdity of the idea is an effective way to make us look at our prejudices, and reconsider the evidence.

I wish I could have hung out longer with Amos.  I plan to go on-line before Christmas and stock up on gifts.  If you want to connect with Kennedy, you can do so here:

No telephone. You can write us at

P.O. Box 7489
Detroit, MI 48207
EARTH
or email. We really do prefer a letter, and we will reply to you. Keep paper correspondence alive!

Kennedy Prints! posters are printed for clients and generally available through the organization that ordered them; but we retain a limited number of posters for sale. If you would like to purchase individual posters ($25 each, shipping and handling are free), you can email us and see if the ones you want are still available. Organizations that sell Kennedy Prints! posters retail include:

• Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, AL
• Las Manos Gallery, Chicago
• L'Affiche Gallery, Milan, Italy
• La Stamperia del Tevere, Rome, Italy
• Point Jaune Museum, St. Gallen, Switzerland
• Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, MN
• Collected Thread, Oklahoma City, OK
• Mercury Posters, Rochester, NY
• Kentuck Museum, Northport, AL
• Rural Heritage Center, Thomaston, AL
• Redline Gallery, Milwaukee, WI

Check Amos's work at   www.kennedyprints.com

IOCP - Inter Faith Outreach + Community Partners - Celebates Give to the Max Day at Lunds + Byerly's Kitchen in Wayzata, MN.

"Give to the Max Day" is history now. By all accounts Minnesotans  contributed record $$ to a record number of worthy causes.  The generosity was unparallelled.

A deserving and popular destination for more than a half-million dollars in donations was Inter Faith Outreach and Community Partners.

This Plymouth-based organization been going strong for well over a quarter-century, serving multiple needs of a still-growing client base.

IOCP Executive Director LaDonna Hoy is legendary.  Her quiet, confident, positive leadership of IOCP continues to set the bar for "service."   But all work and no play is not LaDonna's style.  And so IOCP hosted a thanks-for-your-contribution party once the giving was done.

Venue was the new "Kitchen" of Lunds + Byerly's in Wayzata. Music was playing, speeches being given. Toasts and tears of gratitude abounded.  Thin-crust pizza .  Friends reconnecting.  All there at the Kitchen, and then some.  What a show;  the only requirement for attendance was a gift to the most deserving organization one can imagine.

From Mpls Conference Center Skyway this Morning.

Don't let the cold, snow, gloom and doom fool you.  It's always comfortable in the Skyway.  And any day is a good day to have your camera along for the ride.

I was on my way into the Mpls Conference Center, traveling down the Skyway, and couldn't help
noticing the Timberwolves kiosk.  That's the reaction the 'Wolves hope for.  I was running late so I didn't make the effort to set up a nice time exposure.  Instead (and thank goodness for a handrail on which to rest the SONY) I set 'er on auto and fired away.

The seminar I attended on "Turning Heads with Urban Public Art" was boffo -- fascinating and inspiring.  I was one of 50-60 in the audience.  Most attendees were architects practicing in Minnesota.  Speaker and leader was Jack Becker, Executive Director of Forecast Public Art.

Forecast publishes Public Art Review twice a year.  I help Jack and his staff sell ads into the magazine. We're having a good year, and a helluva lot of fun.

Let me know if you'd like to see a copy -- glad to send it along.

Sue Knaup's New Book Aids Struggling Nonprofits.

New Book Aids Struggling Nonprofits

Prescott, Arizona – November 12, 2014 – Published this week through One Street Press, Cures for Ailing Organizations guides struggling nonprofits out of common problems that hinder their work. Unlike other books that avoid unpleasant group digressions, this book takes them head-on. Readers will not find quick fixes or isolated exercises. Instead, they will gain skills to reconnect warring factions and attract many types of people to engage in their work. By learning these proven processes, readers will realize that restoring health to important organizations is worth the effort.

“I wrote Cures for Ailing Organizations because I have seen far too many nonprofits and social enterprises crippled by the same problems—infighting, communication breakdowns, self-serving individuals, and vague policies,” said author and One Street executive director Sue Knaup. “All are easily remedied through simple, consecutive steps that reverse harm and prevent reoccurrence. I tapped my more than 40 years working with organizations as well as my emergency medical training to show how anyone can revive an organization and return it to its important work.”

The book’s 210 pages are laid out much like a first aid manual, starting with diagnosis to discover the causes of organization ailments. Readers are then guided through the first aid and remedy section to find solutions to their unique troubles. The last section demonstrates how to regain health and prevent troubles in the future. In August, the book’s publication costs were funded through a Kickstarter campaign.

Cures for Ailing Organizations is now available worldwide and can be purchased through One Street’s online store, most local bookstores, and major online book vendors. For the United States, Barnes and Noble offers the best online availability. Online vendors in other countries also offer it for sale.

One Street Press is the publishing program of One Street, an international bicycle advocacy organization. The press publishes books that inspire people to improve our world, preferably through bicycles. Find out more at www.onestreet.org .

For more information, please contact Sue Knaup, Executive Director: +1- 928-541-9841, sue{at}onestreet.org

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Cabinet Makers Check Out Tools Here.

My cousin Richard is a skilled cabinetmaker. Actually he's a table maker, cupboard maker, counter maker -- Richard is an old-fashioned craftsman in the most patient, admirable sense.

Richard did all the design and work on a neighbor's kitchen.  I've never seen such attention to detail, such use of wood.  And then my nephew is studying to be a ship wright, and you just know he's going to build some awesome wooden boats.

Any wood-working pro, cousin,nephew, anyone; he trust his tools, and treats them w/care and respect.  And when I saw these on display in the 3100 California Co-op I recognized many of the implements, and couldn't resist taking a photo.

Little out of sharp focus, and I apologize for that.  Know now what I might have done differently.  Live and learn. And learn and learn and learn.  Just like the cabinet maker. 

Kari + Dave ready to take ArtOrg on the Road.

Dave and Kari are a movable art feast. The heart of ArtOrg beats strong in Northfield, MN.  And these guys can take it all on the road.  We'll fill in the post later, but wanted to acknowledge these remarkably creative friends and colleagues in the meantime.

Dan Cramer at 3100 California Woodworker Co-op.

Chair-maker, designer, mentor, entrepreneur and visionary Dan Cramer pays things forward at this impressive work-shop-studio in Northeast Minneapolis. 

The 6000-square foot space plays host to architects, carpenters, furniture makers, jewelery designers: working artists all who share equipment, ideas and inspiration.

Rent is reasonable, by design. Anything left over after expenses pays forward into an "equipment fund," so that the Guild continues to meet the needs of its artists.

After all the oohhhing and aaahhing Dan and I headed off to his  favorite java joint in NE Minnie for about the most scrumptious lemon-raspberry-banana bread a guy could ever hope to find.

Tony Jaros Welcomes you to Marshall Terrace 'Hood.

Just before you cross the River in NE Minneapolis, you run into the Marshall Terrace Neighborhood.

Denizens of the Twin Cities know this catechism by heart.

Newbies like me continue to rejoice in discovery. And on this chilly Fall morning I came face to face with the Marshall Terrace Ferris Wheel.  

Lucky me. Found a parking spot in he River Garden lot. Tony Jaros didn't seem to mind.  I included his bar + grill for context.

Looks like there will be plenty of velo venturing awaiting me next Spring.  The Mississippi River is so close you can touch it!    

The Statuesque Dom Perignon - Since 1638.

And you thought YOU discovered "Dom."

Shoot, man, he's been around since the mid-1600's.

Bubbly, statuesque and so very French, as always.

Pedaling the Dordogne, Missing only the Baguettes.

Classic French cycling bi-way. You've likely seen B + W shots of the original for years. Only things different in this recent foto are the cyclist (no longer anonymous: it's my nephew Christian, aka, Kermit).  

Plus, the panniers are missing a baguette or two.

Country road, take me home indeed!  What fun this ride must have been.

Anthony Bourdain Can't Hold Candle to Alan Nakagawa.

My friend Alan Nakagawa is an LA-based food blogger/velo enthusiast. He has pedaled through most of LA County sampling the ever-changing food and drink fare.  Alan's taste buds are finely honed from experience and passion, and I think he does a better job spreading the news than CNN's Anthony Bourdain (my opinion).  Turns out Alan's folks were in the restaurant biz themselves, so our roving reporter comes by his bona fides organically.

In the post below our intrepid cyclists visit a neighborhood watering hole, two blocks from Alan's house. Nakagawa hadn't been through the door in 30 years.  Imagine his surprise when he ......   well, read below for details. 

"I asked some friends and my daughter to accompany me to a restaurant I have not visited for over 30 years. Well, more specifically, this Korean restaurant was once a Japanese restaurant called Beni Basha. This was my parents restaurant, which they ran for 15 years. It was the restaurant my brother and I grew up in, worked in and eventually said goodbye to. Although it is located only two blocks away from my house, I haven't had the emotional will to enter till recently. The interior is somewhat different now, so it essentially did not feel like the old restaurant. Noel Korten, Sheila Schoonhoven, Kyungmi Shin and my daughter ordered a pork belly dish and Korean BBQ. The bancha was spectacular. My friends Koh and Sojung (Document Coffee Bar) frequent this place often, i found out later, and know the owner, Sue. Kyungmi explained my connection with their restaurant and they allowed me to view the kitchen. i was shocked to see the dish washing sinks and the main stove top/oven (by Wolf) were the same units my Father purchased decades ago. it was like seeing old friends or maybe even ghosts from the past.

Femme Fatale - Public Art Rocks a Belgian Bridge.

My nephew Kermit was on a bike trip in France and Belgium not long ago.  En route to a bucolic campsite outside the Belgian capital, sharp-eyed veloster that he is, Kermie snapped this public art foto. Uncle Seth understood I'd attempt to secure permission from the artist before posting his handiwork on the Poppy Blog.  Well, at least I tried

St. Paul's Chatterbox Cafe Knows Halloween.

Lunch yesterday with Coxie and Jean the Queen at Chatterbox Cafe on Cleveland Ave. in St. Paul.  Our server only LOOKS like a spooky cat-eyed feline. It was Halloween after all.  The eyes? Check out the eyes.  Ewwwwhhhhh.