Local businesses are supporting federal workers. Dysfunctional elected representatives are still being paid. Think about that for a moment.

Photo credit.

I was the greeter at Pints&union on Thursday night, and it was a wonderful scene given the ridiculous circumstances. Thanks to Joe, our team and the volunteers for rocking it.

Save your Darwinian drivel for another time, and urge Senators Young and Braun, and Representative Hollingworth, to be accountable to their constituents.

And now for local chain newspaper guest columnist Amanda Beam's commentary on this matter, as picked up by CNN.

Congress and the President continue to weave a web of partisanship born out of pride. My husband and federal workers like him have gotten trapped in their sticky mess. They ask people deemed "essential" to execute their duties despite withholding funds but neglect their job of approving a workable budget.

Yet somehow the representatives who fail to pass legislation are still receiving their paycheck. A trip through Alice's looking glass couldn't produce a more mixed up world.

No matter your party loyalties, you must admit this is no way to run a household, much less a government.

Enough is enough. Not resolving this shutdown through courage and compromise is a dereliction of Congress's sworn duty. Generate bipartisan legislation. Bring it to a vote. And, if vetoed by the President, work among yourselves, override the veto and fund our nation.

To conclude, it's great to see an increasing number of local businesses picking up the pace.

Local businesses offer free services for federal workers, by Brooke McAfee (Bill Hanson's Tom May Content Reciprocator)

SOUTHERN INDIANA — As the weeks have passed, Floyds Knobs resident Robin Huntley has had to save her money while furloughed from the U.S. Census Bureau in Jeffersonville.

But a few local restaurants have made it easier for her family, along with many others, by offering free services for federal employees affected by the government shutdown. This week, she received free meals at businesses such as Pints & Union and Cox's Hot Chicken in New Albany.

Huntley said the businesses' support of federal workers defines community, and she plans to support the participating restaurants after the government shutdown is finished.

"Everyone is going through it together," she said. "When a new business opens, we come down and support them, and when they see that some of their clients are not able to come in, they pitch in and help. It really is a community relationship" ...

LIVE TO EAT: Downtown food and drink update: La Tiendita, Cafe 157, Gospel Bird, Double Barrel and Longboard's.

The following survey of downtown New Albany food and drink is not intended to be comprehensive, but merely an overview of past days' browsing.

La Tiendita (111 W. Market) recently expanded its menu. What I've tasted so far has been wonderful, and they're as grassroots/family/indie as it gets.

New hours have been announced at Cafe 157 (157 E. Main Street).

Eric Morris from Gospel Bird has news, and in response, my waistline preemptively expanded.

ANNOUNCEMENT EVERYONE:

For the past nearly 3 years we've made a lot of changes to different styles of cuisine and tried to push the boundaries of what good southern-influenced food can be.

We've listened to your feedback and we'd like to get Gospel Bird back to its southern roots. Next week we will start developing a menu that represents our goals in the beginning:

No frills southern comfort food cooked with love. Fried chicken, country ham, BBQ of all sorts, fried green tomatoes, grits, gravy, etc. with a smiling and comforting service staff!

All the wonderful things we brought you in the beginning will be coming back at prices that are honest and fair. Thank you for all for your continued support and we are truly blessed and thankful to be in such a great community.

Peace, love, and bacon grease- Eric and the gospel bird team.

Double Barrel Bourbon Bar (147 E. Main) will be down by the riverside during Harvest Homecoming.

Longboard's Taco & Tiki closes this update with new lunch hours ...

... and a brilliantly subtle sidestep.

Congratulations to Cafe 157 for emulating "Strawless in Seattle." Who's next?

Question: But what about when I'm driving?
Answer: You should be driving.

Kudos to Cafe 157 (157 E. Main, downtown New Albany).

This is something other establishments should get behind, although I'll never be able to forget the three criticisms that greeted NABC's million-dollar investment downtown at Bank Street Brewhouse in 2009:

Gasp -- no Diet Coke!
Gasp -- only crappy local wine!
Gasp -- NO SODA STRAWS!

Uh oh ... time for a rant.

It's like this whole notion of "resistance." Donald Trump is the by-product of a broken economic system, and as consumers, we buttress the system each and every day. To resist, we'll need to give something up -- to take something away from economic elites and capital accumulation.

Like plastic soda straws? Could be. It's an environmental issue, but also good practice in bringing principled weight to bear.

Tell you what. I'll be drinking adult beverages straight from the glass -- can you wake me when the "resistance" gets serious?

A Citywide Takeover by Lonely Whale

Leading Seattle businesses and cultural icons committed to incorporating marine degradable alternatives to single-use plastic straws resulting in the radical reduction of plastic straw consumption in Seattle. In September alone, 2.3 million single-use plastic straws were permanently removed from the city. On launch of Strawless In Seattle, the Mayor of Seattle announced that in July, 2018 Seattle will become the largest metropolitan city to ban the single-use plastic straw.

The first campaign of its kind, Strawless In Seattle supports Strawless Ocean's global initiative to remove 500 million plastic straws from the U.S. waste stream in 2017.

LIVE TO EAT: Hull & High Water's lunch hours debut on December 11, and other tidbits from the New Albany food and dining scene.

More on Hull's Monday oyster special here.

Hull & High Water has been playfully hinting at new lunchtime hours, and now it's official ... as of December 11. That's next Monday, folks.

Starting December 11th, we will officially be OPEN FOR LUNCH! As some of you may have guessed it! We are bringing back a convenient style of luncheon to New Albany, Indiana with counter style service.

Counter style service lunch allows you to come up to the counter, place your order, pay, and receive a number. One of our food runners will come out very shortly with your food hot and fresh. Get it to go or stay with us and enjoy the atmosphere. You asked for it and we are bringing it to you! Stay tuned for our lunch menu launch later this week!

Cafe 157 offers this helpful reminder about meals and theater.

TheatreWorks is in production, SO dinner this week Tues-Sat 5-8, 157 E Main. Beef Ramen, Banh Mi, Salmon with maple bourbon glaze, Roasted Chicken with mushroom cream sauce, shrimp n grits and more. Drink specials!

A few weeks ago, a few pieces more of Dragon King's Daughter's prospective shift to new digs came before the Board of Works.

Dragon King's Daughter in New Albany preparing new site, by Chris Morris (N and T)

A New Albany restaurant will be moving to a new home early next year. Dragon King’s Daughter will be leaving its current location at 202 E. Elm St. and move to 129 W. Market St.

Ryan Westphal said Tuesday after the New Albany Board of Public Works and Safety meeting that the move will come “in the first quarter” of 2018.

The board of works approved Dragon King’s Daughter for outdoor seating along the sidewalk facing West Market and First Street, improvements to the building’s facade which will include a canopy to the new restaurant, according to architect Ron Stiller.

Also in the local chain newspaper, some fine (and heartwarming) ink for Israel's.

Israel's Delicias de Mexico owner goes viral after son makes loving post, by Danielle Grady

Son makes loving post

All Christian Landin wanted for Christmas was for his dad to get some recognition. He ended up giving him internet fame — and some real life fans.

Christian’s father, Israel Landin, is the owner of Israel’s Delicias de Mexico restaurant on Market Street in New Albany, which opened in 2014. (Previously, Israel owned La Rosita, which closed in 2012) ...

... Christian decided to make a post about Israel on the website, Imgur, where users share pictures of anything and everything — from humorous memes to snapshots of their daily lives. On Imgur, other people can give the photo “points” or make a comment ...

... Christian made the post and went to bed, thinking it wouldn’t get any attention. When he woke up, he couldn’t open his phone at first because of all the notifications. As of press time, Christian’s post had been viewed 224,473 times and had received 8,211 points.

Three additional recent posts at NAC:

Renovation and restoration: From Love's Cafe to Good Times to ... well, a building both old and new.

THE BEER BEAT: One excellent afternoon spent pub crawling with beer on the periphery of the wine walk.

La Tiendita on Market evolves; more of a restaurant, less of a grocery, and with plans to stay put -- and that's good.

The next merchant meeting is July 19 at 8:30 a.m. at Cafe 157.

Cafe 157 at Fb.

Verbatim, as received from Develop New Albany.

Note that I've not reproduced the two handouts, but if you'd like to have them, let me know and I'll forward.

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Lots of information in this email:

Next meeting is at Cafe 157 on Main St on July 19th, 8:30 am.

Dream Boutique is planning on an event on September 9th, but would like to make sure nothing else is planned then. So if you know of anything going on that date, please let us know.

Yvonne is collecting attached form for Emergency contact info for the Police Dept. Please fill out and you can email to me, Yvonne dbldb54(at)aol(dot)com or bring filled out to the meeting on the 19th. If you have a neighbor that does not attend the meeting please share this with them. We want everyone to be invited so if you know someone that is not on our email list, please let me know.

Brad Needham, President of the Harvest Homecoming- They have been ask for a NO SMOKING ban at the Festival. Nothing has been decided and before they would make any decision they want to know your opinion. Please email brad_needham(at)att(dot)net

Do you know of something that would be a good topic for our meetings, please let Kim or I know.

Thanks

Teresa

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Merchant/Business Minutes June 21st, 2016

About 32 in Attendance

Thanks again to Stacie at Seeds and Greens for hosting in June.

Thanks also to Kari McGilvra from Southeast ISBDC for presenting Social Media Advertising, it was very informative and we have attached the handout from that day. The Southeast ISBDC has a lot of resources for all of our small business needs. Julie and Kari would be happy to assist you anyway they can.

We talked about Updates- If you look around a lot is going on Downtown with our buildings. We should start seeing some new faces very soon. Please be sure to reach out and Welcome them.

Seeds and greens has about 2,300 sq. ft in the front of the building for lease. They are looking for retail, if you know of anyone please have them contact Staci.

Courtney announced new date for the Street Dinner, September 12th, 2016. Amanda from Madhouse and Brittani from Dress and Dwell are working together on the street set up. Both of these ladies are so talented we can’t wait to see what they come up with. We will update you more as we have more information.

Concerts in Bicentennial Park (Courtney)- Concerts with continue each Friday night from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, the last concert will be on September 2nd. Some merchants have indicated they were staying open a little later on that evening.

Tourism updates (LuAnne) - They are updating the website which will help us as businesses to get more visibility, If you have good pictures of events they are please send to them for the website and Visitors Guide. She is also looking for big events that are Midwest Magazine worthy that she can pitch to them.

We have lots of out of town people coming who want to eat and shop so please train your employees what we have to offer, be community minded.

Parking reminder-
The top two levels of the parking garage are free, we have various other places that are also free parking, please educate your employees and tell your customers where these parking spaces are.

Conversation started about having maps on corners, possibility one near Farmers Market on the Large metal box. Update to be given at next meeting.

Yvonne has come up with a form to give to the Police department so they will have emergency contact information. We will be sending this out.

Bob Lane from the Housing Authority came they are looking for jobs for people who live in affordable housing.

Larry Ricke said A study was done of what was needed Downtown in the early 90”s and might be of interest for us to take a look at now. He thought it was in the redevelopment office (John Rosenburger’s office Larry also suggested we play off more on Louisville and the boat to draw people to our area.


Ribbon Cutting & Celebration on Saturday July 9th, Colokial on Pearl at Noon. Ali has been closed this week for renovation and will be re-opening on Saturday.

Next meeting is July 19th, 8:30 am at Café 157 on Main St.

Have some cake at Cafe 157's grand opening on Tuesday, May 17.

It's the new cafe/gallery/gift shop business located in the former Bread & Breakfast space at 157 E. Main.

Breakfast and lunch served daily 8-4 in a historic business district with local artwork featured and home style food.

The grand opening is slated for 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 17.

Come say hello and have some cake!

Cafe 157
Chestnuts and Pearls

Stay tuned for further information on this and other food 'n' drink happenings.