Help Us Launch L-Ink!

The Urban Studio Cafe is developing a screen-printing class for neighborhood youth, in partnership with artist Stan Chisolm. We made a video about this project-in-development as a tool to share our vision and raise funds.

After you watch the video, if you would like to make a donation to help us get this project off-the-ground, visit our Facebook Causes page by clicking here.

Special thanks to volunteer Phil Betts for committing his time and expertise to produce this great video!




Would you like to donate to The Urban Studio Cafe? It's simple and easy through our Facebook Causes webpage. OR, you can send us a check payable to "Grace Hill Settlement House" with "Urban Studio" in the memo line. Please mail your donation to the Cafe:

The Urban Studio Cafe
2815 N 14th Street
St. Louis, MO 63107

We Love Our Customers!

In fact, we love our customers so much that we've decided to name re-name several of our menu items in honor of our most loyal and devoted.

Check out our newly named menu items to see if you or someone you know made the list!

The Jane

Sweet iced green tea (available mid-afternoon).................$1. 50

The Bruce Special

Hot tea and a breakfast sandwich .....................$4.50

The Kal

Bottomless cup of coffee................ $1.75

The Crown Girls Special

Strawberry smoothie with yogurt (substitute pineapple coconut smoothie if desired)...................$3.95

The Amy Corey

Large Iced Mocha and a goldfish cracker cup.....................$4.95

The Veronica

Veggie Sandwich with hummus and bistro sauce...................$4.99

The Courtney M

Veggie Sandwich no hummus, with mustard..............$4.99

The Bob

Veggie Sandwich no tomatoes and a large coffee (available only on Saturday)...............$6.49

The Grace

Java Chip frappe............................$3.00

The Bank of America

Red beans and rice...................$3.00

The Sean

Turkey Sandwich with the works....................$4.99

The Timmy Special

A Chocolate muffin and 2 Cokes.................$2.97

The Douglas Eller

Large latte (available early am)..............$3.65

The V and Graham Special

Large iced chai and a fruit cooler.................... $6.15

The Barbara Special

Large coffee and a croissant.........................$2.50

The Courtney H

Star shaped brownie........................$1.00

The Beauty Shop Special

Fresh green salad with Hidden Valley Ranch dressing................$4.99

The Stephen n’ Sarah

Decaf Americano..................$1.50

The Preethi

Kid’s size veggie sandwich.................. $3.99

The Christina

Lemon cake.................. $1.00

The John

Animal crackers (with hopes that there are plenty of rhinos!)............. $1.00

The Ms. Theresa

Vegan oatmeal bar.......................... $1.00

The Norah Special

Small Skim Latte and a brownie.................$3.55

We love ALL of our customers! If you would like to nominate one of your neighbors or friends, please see Claire.

The Urban Studio Cafe's Birthday Party!

We're having a party...it's a birthday party...it's your birthday party, Urban Studio Cafe...we all love you very very much!

The Urban Studio Cafe is turning 1 year old this week!
Please help us celebrate by eating cake, drinking wine, and checking out new art by Juan Chavez. Suggested birthday present: $6 donation!

WHEN
Friday, September 17
7pm - 11pm

WHERE
The Urban Studio Cafe
2815 N 14th Street, St. Louis, 63106

And over at the Old North Gallery, just 1 block up the street....

Local Brew for Local Food! Join us for local beer and music to benefit the 13th Street Garden with a suggested donation of $10. The 13th Street Chicken coop is also auctioning off the names of the chickens!

Attend both events for just $12. Buy your ticket at The Urban Studio Cafe this week or at the door of either event on Friday night!

It's going to be a fun night out in Old North! One night, two great events!

Help Us Start Screenprinting!

We are currently trying to start a screenprinting program called L-Ink. at The Urban Studio. Our goal is to help youth in Old North St. Louis develop job and communication skills though the creative process--but we still need some supplies!
In addition to making their own work, students will also be creating t-shirts and tote bags for the café and participating in teaching artist Stan Chisolm’s Moneybags project. L-Ink. will also feature field trips to local artists’ studios. The program will culminate in an art opening featuring the work of the youth. Youth will receive the proceeds from the sale of their artwork, as well as a stipend for successful completion of the program.

We need your help in order to make this program work! Please contact Grace (gracewoodard@gmail.com) if you would like to make a cash donation, or can help us with screenprinting supplies, t-shirts, or tote bags.

Cafe Cited as a "Best Practice"

The Urban Studio Cafe was recently cited as a "Best Practice" by Partners for Livable Communities, a Washington D.C.-based non-profit leadership organization that works to improve the quality of life, economic development and social equity of communities.

Partners for Livable Communities defines Best Practices as "efforts of communities across the nation to improve the livability of their communities." Best Practices are listed in hopes of inspiring other communities who are striving to improve their own quality of life.

To read the full article, click here!

Urban Studio Cafe VIDEO

Photo Caption: Cafe youth volunteer Ahmad chatting with the Post-Dispatch

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch stopped by The Urban Studio Cafe the other day to capture our story on video. The day they visited, The Cafe hosted a youth mural project led by artist Kristen Doecke. The video is a wonderful snapshot into our world and our community. Take a few minutes to watch it by visiting the Post-Dispatch website below. Thanks to reporter Elie Gardner for putting together such a nice profile of The Urban Studio Cafe:
http://videos.stltoday.com/p/video?id=15268031

Here are a few additional screen shots from the video:

Photo Caption: Cafe Assistant Manager Louise Chatman talks about social entrepreneurship


Photo Caption: Resident and regular Bruce Smith waves goodbye as he heads home


Photo Caption: Cafe Assistant Director Claire Wolff talking about the roots of The Cafe

Andy Berkhout Performs at The Cafe Friday, June 11!

Local singer-songwriter Andy Berkhout will be debuting new material from his Song Per Week Project tomorrow night at The Urban Studio Cafe at 7:30 p.m. Berkhout has undertaken an impressive project for the year of 2010: recording and releasing a new song for free download every week! We're very excited to have him perform some of his new material here at The Cafe.
Check out some of his music!


There is no cover, but purchases are encouraged!

The Urban Studio Cafe is located at 2815 N. 14th, in the heart of Old North St. Louis!

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!

The Urban Studio Cafe: A Perfect Place for a Practicum

One of the primary goals of The Urban Studio Cafe is to be a gathering place for the Old North St. Louis community. However, during my first week as a practicum student from the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis, it became evident to me that The Cafe means much more than that to residents of Old North and beyond.

People value The Urban Studio Cafe. They want to be a part of it. One neighbor donated an incredible chocolate tart for us to do with as we pleased. An area taxi driver offered to make all of our deliveries for free. One young lady dropped off extra art supplies. Kids from the neighborhood showed up to help sweep and clean The Cafe at closing.

The sense of community here is overwhelming--but as an outsider, I still feel welcomed by staff and patrons alike. It's only my third day here, and I already feel like part of the community. I look forward to getting to know the faces and the stories of The Urban Studio Cafe this summer--and eating lots of yummy sandwiches!

-- Grace Woodard, MSW Candidate 2011

Cafe Extends Hours!

Scrumptious sandwiches with a personal touch. Can't beat it for $5!

The Urban Studio Cafe is now open daily 7:30am - 6:00pm!

That's right folks: you asked, we're delivering. The Cafe will now be open an additional 4 hours every day. Come visit us in the afternoon for a late lunch, dinner, or afternoon pick-me-up.

Our community calendar is now flying high (on the wall) with lots of great upcoming events, including live music, a jobs/economy round table, financial literacy classes, art openings, and more.

Credit Building at The Urban Studio Cafe!

Come to a CREDIT BUILDER WORKSHOP at The Urban Studio Cafe!

Do you want a higher credit score? Are you interested in "building credit?" Credit Building is simple and easy!
In partnership with Justine Petersen Housing and Reinvestment Corp, The Urban Studio Cafe is offering a FREE Credit Builder Workshop.

Topics covered:
*Credit is an asset
*How to save money with your credit score
*Taking Care of debt
*AND MORE!


Where: Urban Studio Cafe
2815 N. 14th Street
St. Louis, MO 63107

When: January 7, 2010 from 6pm to 7pm

Questions? Contact Claire Wolff at The Urban Studio Cafe at 314-601-3699 or claireawolff@gmail.com