reality tv

I'll admit it, I indulge in reality tv.  It's the only thing that literally shuts my mind off for awhile in the wee hours of the night when my head isn't ready to hit the pillow-like right now.  It's a guilty pleasure I guess, but unfortunately its becoming a little to trendy and where does the "reality" actually fit in to what they call reality tv? I often wonder if the good 'ol days of television will ever come back, like TGIF.  Remember TGIFridays?  I lived for Friday nights, after a long week of middle school. Heck, there wasn't anything better in 6th grade than staying over night at your best friends house waiting for the run of Boy Meets World, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Family Matters to come on.  Ahh, just some good, clean television. 

Anyway, here is what I would define as real reality tv, it's yours truly doing a video interview for a project  filmed by Peter Shea. I was one of a few interviews Mr. Shea did in Southwestern Minnesota.  In Peter Shea's words to define the purpose of the interviews, he says, "these [interviews] have been telecast in the metro area on the "Bat of Minerva," prepared for local telecast on community cable stations in Southwest Minnesota under the title “Meet the Neighbors,” and posted on the Institute for Advanced Study website at the Univeristy of Minnesota-Twin Cities, as part of a cluster of interviews on rural communities and food issues."
It was an awesome experience to sit down with someone and really think and openly talk about the path of my life, the birth of River City Eatery, and the reality of my ultimate dream coming true (which is River City Eatery).  Thank you, Peter Shea, for taking the time and for finding me, for lack of a better word, interesting enough to "document," which I'm still trying to figure out to this day...

Pop some popcorn and enjoy, it's the new TGIFriday!


http://ias.umn.edu/2012/07/11/harries-mari/

pigs are still flying...

This past weekend was a special one...it was the celebration of River City Eatery's 1st Birthday.  I like to consider it a birthday instead of an anniversary because I feel this place was inside me for so long, just waiting to come out.  Much like life before my dear son, I don't remember what my life was like before River City Eatery.  It is a part of me, running through each vein, pumping to and from my heart and buried in my soul.   I know, that is pretty deep, but oh so true. 

A year has passed since the doors have been open, some days have been a struggle of steep learning curves and exhaustion, some days I've wanted to jump out of my skin in happiness and excitement, some days my feet have hurt beyond a ten, some days the people I meet here are incredibly inspiring, and some days I've wondered how this has all come together.  And every day, and I mean everyday, I think of how blessed I am that this consistent perserverence has had to come from some outer source beyond my own passion and craziness.  Yup, the pigs are still flying, my friends, I did it, and I'm still smiling, still cooking and baking, and still so excited to come to River City Eatery! 

Thank you to everyone who has made the 1st year of River City Eatery in beautiful downtown Windom incredible for not only me, but the hundreds of people who have walked in the door with a smile bigger than mine.  Thank you to my family, my friends, my regulars and my wonderful staff for helping me stay sane through the crazy ride of running my own business. Thank you for the memories, past and present of River City Eatery and here is to so many more to come.

Happy times are always at River City Eatery,

woohoo!

If I could bottle and sell the energy that my 2 year old had, I'd be rich.  He gets quite excited about things, and I'd have to say, I think he gets that from me.  I live for excitement too, but what I love most about him is that he gets excited about the little things.  Oh I pray that he may always get excited about the little things.  In fact, when he does get excited, he's not afraid to raise his little fist as far up as he can reach it, sometimes both fists even, and lets out a big "woohoo!"  And I pray I never forget these moments when his excitement is so big he lets it out for everyone to hear. 

So this is what I learned from you, my dear little baby boy, Henrik, I'm letting out a giant "woohoo!" with both my fists in the air because Finding Windom's Vice President, Damon Weinandt, has started his new postion as Windom Area Chamber of Commerce President today! 

"WOOHOO!"  I couldn't be happier for Windom right now.

We just keep making finding Windom a little easier every day...congrats Damon, we are lucky to have your energy in the Chamber office and in our community.  Go get 'em!

Happy times,

River City Eatery + World Wide Web = LOVE.

Back in the spring, I had the pleasure of being interviewed for this article by someone who is as passionate about saving "downtown" as I am.  It was a pleasure speaking with her about her work and mine.  I can't tell you how exciting it is to continue making these connections with people, and I am so blessed with River City Eatery and Finding Windom. 

Oh, and local business owners, trust me, the beauty of the world wide web is working for River City Eatery and it can work for you!!!

Please check out the link below to read the article written by Errin Welty,:

http://www.preservationnation.org/main-street/main-street-news/story-of-the-week/2012/120821retailtips/key-trends-for-retail-success.html

P.S. Thank you, Errin!

A little bit about Errin taken from the article:

Errin Welty is a market analyst at Vierbicher. She works with public and private sector clients to create market-based solutions to solve economic and planning issues. Errin has significant downtown experience, having been on the staff of downtown organizations in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Denver, Colorado, and a founding member of Wheat Ridge 2020. She has a lifelong passion for enhancing and preserving downtown’s place in the community. She relocated to Madison, Wisconsin, from Denver, Colorado, where she managed Grubb & Ellis’s research and marketing department.

reflections.

It's not often I get to sit and stare at this mocking cursor, but I just had to make a little time to write a long-over-due post.  The past few weeks have been absolutely nuts at River City Eatery.  I'm so thankful for the success of the business, but it sure does take a toll on one's body and mind. 

Anyway, Sunday was one of those days where I actually got a little time to reflect and what a beautiful day to do it.  Andy, Henrik and I started the afternoon with a walk to the park and the rest of the day was spent finishing a few half done home projects.  As evening started to settle in, so did I.  The windows were open, the inspiring evening summer breeze made the curtains dance, and I was in sweet surrender reflecting at the last two years of Finding Windom.  There have been so many great things that have happened for Windom in the last two years.  Just in the last year, many storefronts around town have received much needed facelifts.  McDonald's did an amazing transformation, as well as Bank Midwest.  The old Lewis Family Drug building on Highway 60 has finally been sold, as well as the old HyVee building.  The new HyVee store did a wonderful job updating the grocery store. Pamida is closing its doors and remodeling to become a Hometown Shopko and the old Bolin Lumber property is now becoming River Valley Fitness.  This stretch of highway has needed some TLC for quite sometime now, and it has finally happened!  The City is putting up some very attractive and much needed "Welcome to Windom" signs, and I see the Chamber of Commerce put up a new awning, the Schramel Law Office put up a beautiful new sign and so did Lampert's Lumber.  The business community is also starting to have an online presence on the world wide web.  And last, but certainly not least, The Windom State Theatre is up and running once again thanks to the hard work and dedication of many determined community members. 

With all these wonderful things happening, it made the beautiful day even more beautiful knowing the community of Windom is seeing some wonderful progress.  I'm hoping this progress continues for many years to come...

Happy times,