Sneak Peak of Art Gallery/Auction

Here's a sneak peak of the Art Gallery and Silent Auction taking place tomorrow (Saturday, March 31) starting at 1pm.  Stop by to check out the local art!  You might just find something you want to bid on.  :)

Money raised from the auction is split between the artist and paying off Overflow's debt.  We've got some BIG plans for our 2nd year that the money will go to fund. More details coming soon (or hear them by purchasing a ticket to Coffee Tasting & Speed Networking)!

 

 

Menu for Coffee Tasting

To entice you to attend this Saturday's Coffee Tasting and Speed Networking, we thought we'd share the menu with you.  Happy salivating over this delicious food and drink.

Asian Chicken Wings from Burger Point paired with Panama Honey Coffee or Japanese Green Tea

Grilled Salmon from Weather Mark Tavern paired with Rwandan Coffee or China Breakfast Tea

Veggie Quiches from Delightful Pastries paired with Natural Process Panama Coffee or Tangerine Ginger Tea

Garlic Potato Salad from Tapas Valencia paired with Brazilian Coffee or Tanzanian Decaffeinated Coffee

Chocolate Brownies from Faretta Bakery paired with Guatemalan Coffee or Bergamot Sage Tea

Italian and Flavored Soda

Water (for cleansing your palette and staying hydrated)

We'll also give you a sneak peak behind-the-scenes at Overflow, the premier of our new video and plenty of time to get to know your South Loop neighbors.

Purchase a ticket to attend at http://overflowcoffeebar.eventbrite.com/.

Thoughts on Celebrating 1 Year

We made it through our first year!  This is reason to celebrate but not to get comfortable. 

I checked and found that the National Federation of Independent Businesses estimates that over the lifetime of a business, 39% are profitable, 30% break even, and 30% lose money, with 1% falling in the "unable to determine" category.  If we closed up shop today (which we would NOT do!), we'd be in the 30% that lose money. 

This is cause for continuing to light a fire under our butts every morning, work hard, serve our customers well and continue to strive toward making a positive difference in the world.  If anything our 1 year mark is a call to continued action and to improvement - there's always room for improvement.

If you'd like to hear more about our first year, where we currently are and our plans for the coming year, I invite you to attend our Coffee Tasting and Speed Networking Event on March 31.  We'll share more.  You'll get to network and share about your business or world-changing endeavors.  Everyone will enjoy great coffee and food!  We hope you can make it.

Good Fortune Film Screening

Overflow Coffee Bar and Vineyard South Loop invite you to a documentary film screening of Good Fortune on March 22, 2012.  Reserve your ticket at overflowcoffeebar.eventbrite.com.

Good Fortune explores how massive, international efforts to alleviate poverty in Africa may be undermining the very communities they aim to benefit. Through intimate portraits of two Kenyans battling to save their homes from large-scale development organizations, the film presents a unique opportunity to experience foreign aid through the eyes of the people it is intended to benefit.

On the outskirts of Nairobi, Silva’s home and business in Africa’s largest squatter community are being demolished as part of a United Nations slum-upgrading project. In the rural countryside, Jackson’s farm is being flooded by an American investor who hopes to alleviate poverty by creating a multi-million dollar rice farm.

Interweaving meditative portraits of its characters, Good Fortune examines the real-world impact of international aid. With a broad scope and intimate style, the film portrays gripping stories of human perseverance and suggests that the answers for Africa lie in the resilience of its people.

Watch the trailer.

7:00 - Pre-screening Networking.  Bring business cards and get to know the other people who'll be watching the film.
7:30 - Welcome and Introduction .
7:40 - Film begins.
8:53 - Film concludes. Bathroom and coffee break .
9:05 - Discussion.

While we encourage the use of public transit (Red Line, #29, #62 and other buses are close), limited parking is available in the rear of the building on a first come first served basis.  Bring $3 for your spot.  No one will be in the lot to take it.  You can pay at the ticket check-in table.
 

Suggested Donation is $10 but give what you can. Once we pay for the costs of showing the film, we're going to use any extra money to fund a microloan to an entrepreneur in a coffee growing country. We aren't looking to make a profit ourselves but to make a difference in the fight against extreme poverty. We'll also give a portion of food and drink sales before and after the screening toward the microloan.

The film will be shown in the auditorium in the rear of Overflow Coffee Bar at 1550 S. State Street. The auditorium includes a big screen and professional sound system for a high-quality film screening.

Food Pantry Drop Off

A food pantry operated at South Loop Community Church (1347 S. State Street) has just been adopted into the Chicago Food Depository.  With the adoption they must go from monthly to weekly operation.  They need more resources to meet more demand.  Thus, we are now a drop-off location for donations of dry and canned foods.  Clean out your pantry, fill our bin and feed the hungry!

Coffee Tasting and Speed Networking

Want to taste some extra special coffee you can't get every day at Overflow?  Want to taste it along with favorite foods from local restaurants?

Want to share your business, your art, or your world changing idea?  Want to hear what others do for potential partnership opportunities?

Want to hear what Overflow has planned for the coming year?

Join us as we celebrate our 1 Year Anniversary with a Coffee Tasting and Speed Networking on March 31.  See the timeline and reserve your seat at http://overflowcoffeetasting1.eventbrite.com/.