This week was one of those weeks that reminded me exactly why we opened the café.
On Tuesdays, we always enjoy welcoming the Men’s Club before their program. It’s become a regular part of their routine, and we love seeing them gather, visit, and spend time together around the table.
Wednesday brought a different kind of energy as schools wrapped up for the year. Throughout the day we saw parents and children celebrating the start of summer, grandparents treating grandchildren to lunch, friends gathering together, and even several Nicolet students studying for finals. We also welcomed some of the Gan Ami teachers during a break in their staff training.
Then on Thursday, we were delighted to host a group from Ovation. As always, I especially enjoyed visiting with the residents and hearing about what is happening in their lives.
One of my favorite things about the café is seeing all the different ways people use the space. Some come for a quick meal, while others stay to visit for hours. We see work teams holding meetings, families gathering for lunch, old friends reconnecting, students studying, and community groups meeting before programs and events.
When we made the decision to remain open with our full hours all summer long, this is exactly what we hoped for. We wanted the café to be a place where people could gather, connect, and enjoy time together, even when many regular programs slow down for the season.
Summer is now in full swing, and we’re excited about all the ways we’ll continue connecting with the community. You’ll find us at two farmers markets this summer:
- Tuesdays in Mequon-Thiensville
- Wednesdays in Brown Deer
We’ve also started selling challah at the Rainbow Day Camp bus stop and are excited to continue finding new ways to connect with both familiar and new faces.
We’re also making one final push for our monthly Israeli Brunch this Sunday, June 14th. These brunches have quickly become one of our favorite ways to bring the community together around great food and conversation. If you haven’t joined us yet, we’d love to see you there.
And if you can’t make it this month, save the date for our next brunch on July 19th. We’re especially excited because we’ll be partnering with a JCC Shel Silverstein Family Program, creating an opportunity for families to enjoy both the program and brunch together. Come for both, or just come for the food—we promise you’ll leave happy either way!
At the end of the day, food is important, but what really makes this work meaningful is the people. Watching conversations happen, friendships grow, families gather, and community form around a table is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.
If you have a group looking for a place to meet, gather, study, visit, or connect this summer, we’d love to welcome you.
We hope to see many of you in the café, at brunch, at the farmers markets, and around the community this summer.
Warmly,
Hannah
