Coffee House As Community Commons, Music & Art Space, Funky Cafe
Thursday, November 9, 2006
Last night we had a free concert at the coffee house. "The 4 voices" performed in a singer/songwriter circle, and it was a stellar show, to say the least. Amazing vibe. Incredible music. Good times.
As I sat there sipping a delicious tea and sharing the experience with about 40 or 50 others, I realized again how special what we have is. It's a dream come true, really. Here are some of the things that really made it an incredible night... and make the coffee house an incredible place to be.
The Music
There is just no getting around it, really good live music does something to you. It takes you somewhere. It lifts you beyond life-as-usual and inspires you. One line from a song last night has been churning in my brain ever since the show: "now the pain is gone". Beautiful. That's how I felt.
The 4 Voices are incredibly talented musicians in their own right, but when they combined and performed in each other's songs it was diverse, rich and magical.
We have the opportunity at the coffee house week in and week out to meet, listen to, encourage, and be inspired by amazing musicians and artists. Some have become our friends. Others play as they are passing through. The moments of musical greatness, giving the stage to an emerging performer, and the friendships with many of these folks elevate us to a new plane. They change us.
The Community & Diversity
Last night there were old friends and "first timers" all together in one place. There were older people, teenagers, and everyone in between. There were other musicians and artists, people with physical disabilities, mental health issues, the poor, the rich, the lonely, suburbanites, urbanites, professionals, students, etc. There were people of Asian descent, African descent, Indian descent, Australian descent, etc. people from all over and from right here. Everyone was smiling. Everyone had a place.
We have the opportunity at the coffee house week in and week out to serve a very diverse community. On any given day, at any given time, there is no telling who may make The Freeway "home", if only for a few minutes. It's amazing.
The Ambiance
The coffee house is a beautiful place. Gorgeous furniture, amazing art on the walls, dim lights, warm colours. At this time of year with the big windows, from inside you can see the lights of the city [and Christmas lights in the trees in the park across the street], the action, the hustle and bustle; from outside you see a warm and inviting place to be. We fit perfectly at the corner of King & Wellington - the entrance to downtown Hamilton.
I was online [free wifi rocks], I perused some magazines, I chatted with friends, I met some new people, I enjoyed fair trade yummy beverages [that alone can change your day], and I sank into the leather couch I was sitting in and just plain relaxed.
We have created an amazing place to be at the coffee house. What once was a cold, institutional bank, is now a funky, comfortable non-profit community commons. And we did most of the work ourselves, which feels very rewarding. It's still such a great feeling... even a year later.
New Lifestyle Choices
It may seem small and insignificant, but we took donations for the local food bank as the cover charge to get in to the concert last night. We encourage very diverse people [particularly those who are vulnerable people] to have a space and journey with others. We recycle... and we have taken measures to cut down on waste. We welcome everyone. We always promote fair trade products, organic choices and friendships, healthy food, ecologically wise decisions, etc. whenever we can.
The combination of deep community, music, art, and social justice is a powerful one. We will continue to strive as a community to live differently. To treat people better. To subvert systems that oppress and hold back. To become wiser consumers of goods and services... and to not consume relationships. Basically, to live out the gospel.
Conclusion
For us, this is church.
As I sat there sipping a delicious tea and sharing the experience with about 40 or 50 others, I realized again how special what we have is. It's a dream come true, really. Here are some of the things that really made it an incredible night... and make the coffee house an incredible place to be.
The Music
There is just no getting around it, really good live music does something to you. It takes you somewhere. It lifts you beyond life-as-usual and inspires you. One line from a song last night has been churning in my brain ever since the show: "now the pain is gone". Beautiful. That's how I felt.
The 4 Voices are incredibly talented musicians in their own right, but when they combined and performed in each other's songs it was diverse, rich and magical.
We have the opportunity at the coffee house week in and week out to meet, listen to, encourage, and be inspired by amazing musicians and artists. Some have become our friends. Others play as they are passing through. The moments of musical greatness, giving the stage to an emerging performer, and the friendships with many of these folks elevate us to a new plane. They change us.
The Community & Diversity
Last night there were old friends and "first timers" all together in one place. There were older people, teenagers, and everyone in between. There were other musicians and artists, people with physical disabilities, mental health issues, the poor, the rich, the lonely, suburbanites, urbanites, professionals, students, etc. There were people of Asian descent, African descent, Indian descent, Australian descent, etc. people from all over and from right here. Everyone was smiling. Everyone had a place.
We have the opportunity at the coffee house week in and week out to serve a very diverse community. On any given day, at any given time, there is no telling who may make The Freeway "home", if only for a few minutes. It's amazing.
The Ambiance
The coffee house is a beautiful place. Gorgeous furniture, amazing art on the walls, dim lights, warm colours. At this time of year with the big windows, from inside you can see the lights of the city [and Christmas lights in the trees in the park across the street], the action, the hustle and bustle; from outside you see a warm and inviting place to be. We fit perfectly at the corner of King & Wellington - the entrance to downtown Hamilton.
I was online [free wifi rocks], I perused some magazines, I chatted with friends, I met some new people, I enjoyed fair trade yummy beverages [that alone can change your day], and I sank into the leather couch I was sitting in and just plain relaxed.
We have created an amazing place to be at the coffee house. What once was a cold, institutional bank, is now a funky, comfortable non-profit community commons. And we did most of the work ourselves, which feels very rewarding. It's still such a great feeling... even a year later.
New Lifestyle Choices
It may seem small and insignificant, but we took donations for the local food bank as the cover charge to get in to the concert last night. We encourage very diverse people [particularly those who are vulnerable people] to have a space and journey with others. We recycle... and we have taken measures to cut down on waste. We welcome everyone. We always promote fair trade products, organic choices and friendships, healthy food, ecologically wise decisions, etc. whenever we can.
The combination of deep community, music, art, and social justice is a powerful one. We will continue to strive as a community to live differently. To treat people better. To subvert systems that oppress and hold back. To become wiser consumers of goods and services... and to not consume relationships. Basically, to live out the gospel.
Conclusion
For us, this is church.
Labels: community, justice, the freeway, writing
4:22 PM
You paint a great and vivid picture.