Closing the first weeks of 2010

Stumpjack will be closing for the months of January and February. After three years of 70- to 90-hour workweeks, with a few days off here and there, we've decided to take an extended time to regroup and recharge, during the slowest time of the year.

We may open the shop once in a while, most likely on a weekend morning if we do. How will you know when we open on those odd days, if we do? The answer is: pay attention to Facebook, because if we do decide to open any particular day we'll likely announce it on there. If you are one of the few folks in the world who doesn't have a Facebook account, get one. It's super easy to set one up and it's fun. You can connect to Stumpjack Facebook via this address: http://www.facebook.com/stumpjack or do a Facebook search for Stumpjack Coffee. Just add us as a "friend" and you should receive any of our posts and updates.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

Mon & Tue Christmas Days special

Today and tomorrow's (Mon & Tue) special: Our famous Stumpjumpers Blend for only $9.25 lb, while supplies last. Email your order and pick it up on Wednesday (stumpjack@gmail.com). And a wonderful coffee it is...the overwhelming majority favorite.

Last music of 2009

Tonight, the FINAL music event of the year for Stumpjack. Help us close out 2009s musical cornucopia tonight at 7pm, when Sara Moilanen & Tim Suchoki of WEST of EAST bring their flawless talent to the Stump. These two are really quite excellent...well worth your time and a great way to move into Christmas week.

Check them out here.

Koz performing tonight

Tonight at Stumpjack: The Eclectic Musical Stylings of KOZ. Clarinet, Saxophone, Guitar, Banjo, and a songbook covering jazz, pop, folk, country, big band, polka and who knows what else. 7:00pm.

Drinks Specials:
Irish Winter: Irish Cream Whiskey Latte
or
Winter Warmer: Kahlua Whipped Cream Latte
for only $5

Day 7 & 8 of the Stumpjack 12 Days of Christmas

Running this special today and tomorrow:Our Stump Hollow Blend. A slightly darker roast combination than usual for us. Smooth and rich. Makes a great morning cup, especially at this time of year.

regularly $12.50-$13.00/lb
Today and tomorrow only $9.25/lb, while supplies last.

Day 6 of the Stumpjack 12 Days of Christmas

Tonight's 12 Days special:Join us tonight for a very special performance by
Lea Holz and Lillie Lemon, 7:00pm.
To celebrate Lea's return visit from Colorado we're offering this 12 Days of Christmas drink special tonight from 6-9pm:

Irish Winter: Irish Cream Whiskey Latte
or
Winter Warmer: Kahlua Whipped Cream Latte

for only $4.50

Day 5 of the Stumpjack 12 Days of Christmas

Today's 12 Days of Christmas special is an in-house special. Lunch today is from 11:00-3:00 and if you come in for an artisan pizza or panini sandwich your latte or cappuccino is free. That's a $3.75 drink on us.

Just FYI, today's menu includes -
Artisan Pizzas:

• Margherita
• Quattro Formaggio
• Spinacj Artichoke
• Pepperoni & Herbs

Paninis:

• Capresé
• Pizza Panini
• Veggie Melt
• Turkey Pepperjack

We also have home-made chili this week.

Day 4 of the Stumpjack 12 Days of Christmas

The Stump is closed today (and tomorrow) so today's 12 Days special requires you to contact us if you want to take advantage of it (comment here, send an email, leave a voice message at the shop - 553-5282). Today we are offering several of our loose leaf teas and herbal teas for a skimpy $1.25 an ounce. That's more than 50% off in some cases.

Here's what you get to choose from:

• Black Tea
• Green Tea
• Peach Black
• Organic Chai
• Ambrosia

Limit of 4 ounces of each tea. Only while supplies last...once we're out we're out, so you snooze you lose. Tell us what you want us to set aside for you in your message and we'll have it ready for you by Thursday of this week (you'll have to pick it up no later than Thursday).

Day 3 of the Stumpjack 12 Days of Christmas

Thinking of something a little different for this Day of Christmas special. Tonight we have live music with the kind-hearted Becky Markvart and guitar-man Kent Aubry. So, today's, or rather tonight's special is...your first beer and coffee drink is on us. That's right, a free beer AND a free coffee drink! from 6:30-9:00 tonight.

Becky and Kent perform at 7pm tonight.

The caveat to that is that I get to choose your beer (you can pick your own latté or cappuccino). So, if I know you and like you, you may get one thing, if I know you and don't like you...well, we do have some skunky beer we need to clear out...

Live Music Tonight!

Don't be a wimp who's afraid of the cold!

Tonight at 7:00pm: Adam Morantez, talented & passionate local singer/songwriter.

Day 2 of the Stumpjack 12 Days of Christmas

The Day 2 special for the 12 Days of Christmas are these little gift baskets that we made for St. Nick's Day earlier this week. They went over pretty well and we have a few left that make a cool little gift for your friend, co-worker or family member who loves good coffee. Include a Stumpjack Coffee Mug, Free Latte Gift Certificate, Ghirardelli Chocolate and a Candy Cane in a colorful little gift box. All for a cheap 12 bucks.

Day 1 of the Stumpjack 12 Days of the Christmas

It's that time of year again...and today is the first day of Stumpjack The 12 Days of Christmas!

Each day for the next 12 days we will have a one-day-only special in which you will have until midnight of that particular day to take advantage of if you so desire. You will, of course, have to email us after closing time (use the contact form on the right), or stop into the shop that day to make your purchase. These are pretty much all "while supplies last" sort of deals too, unless stated otherwise.

Here we go...!

On the first day of Christmas Stumpjack gave to meeeeee...

Stump Hollow Blend
This is fast becoming the favorite coffee blend of many of our friends,
and so we're kicking off the 12 Days of Christmas with this one.
It's a fabulous darker roasted coffee, full bodied and smooth.

Regularly $12.50 lb.

Today until midnight only $8 lb.
That's $4.50 off!

While supplies last. We keep a limited supply on hand and
once we reach the end that'll be the end of this particular special offer.

In order to take advantage of this offer you must contact us via email with the contact form on the right, before midnight tonight, or stop in at the café today before we close. You can email us and we'll set aside your stuff for you until the next day, when we ask that you please come in to pay for and pick up your order.

Live Music Tonight!

Afraid of the cold, sissy-boy? How about you, wussie-girl? Well, don't be pansies! Come on out to Stumpjack tonight for live music with John Lambert at 7pm! Check him out at his myspace (click here).

Facebook diary of a pumpkin killing

Headline: Stumpjack doorway pumpkin meets a violent end. Early this morning the brutalized body of the Stumpjack pumpkin was found on Washington Street in Two Rivers, mere feet from his usual resting spot in the doorway of the shop. The evidence at the crime scene suggests a pumpkin homicide. Police state that any tips that lead to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator will be eligible for a latté reward.

Pumpkin Crime Scene - case # 12-04-09

I like it when conversations grow legs and wander off into fun directions.

Busy Stumpnight

Lots going on tonight. Holiday Xmas Parade at 5:30 downtown. Then at 7:00 Kurt Gunn will be performing with Andy Holzem at Stumpjack. It is also our friend Kris Zastrow's birthday party here at the Stump tonight. A full and fun weekend!

Listen to Kurt's music here.

John Statz tonight...listen!

Tonight at 7:00, via Madison, Wisconsin: John Statz will be performing at Stumpjack. Check out John's sound at his myspace site here. This will be John's first gig at the Stump and we are really glad and anxious to see him tonight. Listen to some of his music at the link above and you'll see why...he has something special, a sound that hints at Ben Harper, Tom Petty, John Prine, Phil Ochs, a little country, a little rock, a little folk. He's got a great voice, and a sincerity to his music that is warming to the heart.

Sharking Hour Tonight

Go here to read the very fine article in yesterday's paper about The Sharking Hour performing tonight at the Stump. Listen to them at their myspace site here.
We are closing shop from 3:00 to around 5:30 or 6:00 this afternoon. Sharking Hour tonight at 7pm. Be here or have horrible nightmares tonight...it's a voodoo hex sort of thing.

Tonight's Cheap Date Special

See Kim's Wednesday Night Special here.

Memmelization tonight

Tonight at Stumpjack: Tony Memmel.

For those of you who don't know, Tony is a wonderful musician who has only a partial left arm - his lower arm is not there. And yet he plays guitar quite proficiently...just listening to Tony play you'd never know that it's even a challenge for him. That's how amazing he is. He's a passionate and exuberant artist, a darn nice guy, and puts on a show that is not to be missed. 7:00pm tonight.

Working man rock...tonight

Tonight at the Stump: Michael "Doc" Retzinger and Mark "The Machine" Kimmes will be bringing the deep cut vibe. These guys put out an exceptionally sweet sound. 7pm.

A very nice compliment

General Patton directs a subordinate to fetch him a bowl of Stumpjack Butternut Sage & Stout soup. Patton then slaps the returning soldier for forgetting the accompanying chunk of bread.

From the email inbox:

Dear Sir,
My wife and I were in your fine establishment yesterday while passing through Two Rivers on our way to Door County. We usually visit Door County at least once or twice each year and often pass through Two Rivers on our way. We had noticed your coffee shop when passing through this past July but did not stop at that time, although we made a mental note to do so on our next trip, which we did yesterday. I must tell you that we are both very glad we did.

We had intended to simply pick up a couple cups of coffee for the drive, but after looking at your menu board decided to try lunch at your place rather than in Sturgeon Bay as we often do on this trip. Are we ever glad we did. I had a bowl of your butternut and beer soup and we shared one of your artisan pizzas, the vegetable and parmesan I believe it was.

I must tell you that both the soup and the pizza were the best that either of us had ever had. Both were memorably flavorful and exceptionally fresh. I do not know what, if any, culinary training the cook may have, but he or she clearly knows how to create a high quality dish.

We live in Chicago, where there are more outstanding places to eat than anywhere else in the Midwest. We are also travelers and have spent time in every major city in the U.S. As you might imagine, we have eaten at many excellent restaurants. The small pizza we had at your restaurant was better than any pizza we've had, bearing in mind that we come from Chicago, where they take their pizza seriously. The soup was also head and shoulders above any creamed soup I personally have ever had in any of the finest restaurants we've enjoyed. The service was just as excellent. The woman who waited on us - your wife as I recall? - was friendly and most attentive, and your good humor during our brief conversation was a welcome addition.

Hope you don't mind the lengthy message. We are on one of our little vacations and we try to make a point to give praise where praise is due when traveling. It is part of the experience, after all. We wish you success and longevity in your business and will be sure to tell our friends to visit Stumpjack on their way through Two Rivers from now on.

See you next summer,

Robert and Dianne

Winston Churchill upon walking into Stumpjack immediately orders two artisan pizzas.

Nov. 11th Wed Night Special

Tonight's Cheap Date Special at Kim's Food & Wine All You Want blog (click the link).

New Art & Live Music Tonight

Tonight: Opening reception for The Portrait Show, watercolor and gouache paintings by Carson & Tina Kugler. A fun exhibition of whimsical and beautifully imaginative portraits. All works are for sale, so get your Christmas shopping done early!

Also tonight, live music courtesy of Jeremiah Jams. 7:00 tonight.

Gift Baskets for Xmas

Stumpjack Gift Baskets

We're now taking orders for Stumpjack Gift Baskets. A Stumpjack Gift Basket is the perfect gift for your favorite Stumpjumper or coffee lover (although there are lots of things in addition to coffee that you can include in a gift basket).

It's entirely up to you what goes in it, or you can leave it to us. We can custom tailor a basket to your specifications or price, or you can just tell us how much you want to spend and leave it to us.

Some of the things that you could choose from for your basket include coffee, tea, beer, wine, mugs, biscotti, chocolate, T-shirts, hoodies, gift certificates, our homemade soups, candles, pastries... It's up to you.

We can also personalize Gift Certificates for you, with the name and even image of your friend or family member on them (you, of course, would email us an image).

Get your Christmas shopping done early...at Stumpjack. I can tell you confidently that just about everyone who has received a Stumpjack gift basket has absolutely loved it.

We can ship them too.

Tonight's Special

Check out Kim's Food and Wine All You Want blog to see tonight's special. Something different for Wednesday night tonight.

Folk tunes tonight; Robots party tomorrow

Tonight at 7:00: Live Music with folk songster extraordinaire, Matt Davies. You know by now that Matt is The Man around here when it comes to folk music. He's authentic, passionate and uber-talented. Come on out to Stumpjack tonight, pour a big glass of Fat Tire Ale and enjoy the vibe with us.

Here's my latest little robot flick, about tomorrow's Anniversary/Halloween party.

A warning from the future.

Stumpjack Anniversary Party Saturday

Click the image to enlarge. Drop us a line right away to let us know if you're coming so we can get a head count. Email at stumpjack@gmail.com.

Cheap Date Special Tonight

Click here to see what yummy trio Kim has in store for tonight.

almost On the Porch tonight

Tonight at 7pm, Scott Hanson from On the Porch will be at the Stump.

Here's what Steph Davies sent me on Scott:

Invoking the images of easy summer evenings, Scott Hanson’s music invites one to step up, sit down, kick back, dance around, and simply enjoy. He props his feet upon influences that emerge in the Dylan-esque “Old American Face” to the gritty “So Far to Roam” to the radio-friendly rock of “So Many Places” to the Nashvillian crowd favorite “Saturday.” The tunes, melodies, and good time vibes get in your head and don’t go away. At times romantic, at times political, Hanson blends insightful singer/songwriter vocals, catchy acoustic guitar, and harmonica with a beat you can groove to. What comes out is different, but somehow familiar. Fan quotes after shows have included: “It just feels good.” “It seems you’re having a lot of fun up there!” “These are songs you’d hear on the radio.” “I really liked the variety of styles.” Hanson’s band, On the Porch, recently released their first CD, “So Many Places” in the fall of 2008. It will be available at the show. Catch a preview at www.myspace.com/ontheporchmusic.

BENEFIT CONCERT for Whiskers!

Unretouched photo of Becky's kitty, Whiskers.

Tonite: Becky Markvart will be playing the entire Ted Nugent song catalog. Either that or she'll be playing her own great songs. 7pm.

Some of the proceeds from tonight's Stumpjack musical performance by Becky will go toward the welfare of Becky's ailing cat, Whiskers. This is dire stuff folks, so your attendance tonight is paramount to the life of little Muffin...I mean Whiskers.

Unretouched photo of Becky's kitty, Muffin, I mean Whiskers.

Fuzzy...er, Whiskers, was so sick yesterday that Becky actually canceled a gig here last night in order to drive sick little Snookums, I mean Muffin, to Port Washington. Yes, you read that correctly, Becky put her foot to the pedal and sped her cat to a hospital in Port Washington. I just spoke with Becky and she said FooFoo, I mean Whiskers, is feeling a little better now that she/he is on the pain medication the doctor gave her/him. Yes, you read that correctly too, Becky's cat is on pain meds.

Unretouched photo of Becky's kitty, Boots...er, Whiskers.

So, I hope I've impressed upon you the seriousness of this situation and how important tonight's performance...shoot, let's just call it a Benefit Concert...is for little Boots, I mean Muffin. Please come prepared to hold your lighters up in the air and join in what will surely be a very emotional and dramatic rendition of "Cat Scratch Fever" by Becky Markvart.

Unretouched photo of Becky with reggae superstar Pato Banton sending out well wishes to Whiskers.

NO COVER and free use of our beer recycling portal!

THIRSTY THURSDAY MUSIC & BEER

Tonight's THIRSTY THURSDAY Special: New Glarus Staghorn Octoberfest only 2.50 bottle.

Double Duty Live Music tonight with Becky Markvart and Kent Aubrey. Be here for beer and cheer. 6-9pm.

Tonight's Cheap Date Special

Tonight from 5:30-8:30.

Tapas, Artisan Pizza, Drinks
All for just $20.
Tapas: Slow roasted tomatoes stuffed with feta cheese, olives & pine nuts. A delicious start to the main dish.

Artisan Pizza: Leek, Sausage & Parmesan...sauteed leeks, ground Italian sausage, Parmesan cheese and fresh cherry tomatoes. A body-warming blend of ingredients, perfect for a chilly night like tonight.

Drinks: a couple of microbrews, glasses of wine, smoothies, lattes or cappuccinos.

Reservations requested for larger parties.

Lemonheads Unite Tonight!

Tonight: Lillie Lemon with special guest Lea Holz. 7pm.
The perfect evening compliment to an AppleFest day in Two Rivers.
Cool poster by Tina Kugler.

A free poster autographed by Lillie Lemon for everyone tonight.

Cell Phone places call for good coffee

Today was the ribbon cutting and "official" downtown welcome for Camera Case Wireless, a few-month-old business across the street from Stumpjack. This cell phone dude was walking around aimlessly, waving at seagulls and inanimate objects. I went over to the shop, which is manned by our pals Mike Zimmer and Nic Borneman, to say howdy and get my picture taken with Cell Phone Guy (who I'd swear whispered to me during the photo that he really could use a good cup of coffee...).

Mike and Nic...I mean Mike and Cell Phone Guy.

Friday Night Fun & Musica!

Tonight we have a special guest, Andrew Thiele. Special because this is Andy's first gig at Stumpjack and because he's a talented guy. Check out his myspace site to listen to his music. 7:00pm...this is the place to be.

And don't forget, tomorrow is Saturday and Saturday is AppleFest in downtown Two Rivers! It's also Lillie Lemon Fest at Stumpjack, and that's even more fun. 7pm for any LemonHeads out there. We will have lemonade, lemons for beer, and free lemonheads candy for everyone. Be here or go suck a lemon!

Dig the cool poster by Tina Kugler.

Outstanding video of Pato by Mark Matthews

Awesome video of Pato Banton at Stumpjack last month. This video, this song and his spoken word, really give you an excellent picture of the spirit of Pato, of what he's all about. I love how the video captures the crowd response, to what Pato is saying and then in singing the chorus with him near the end of the clip. Please go to this video on youtube and give this video a rating and leave a comment, if you are so inclined.


Video by Mark Matthews, a cat who is developing a rep as someone who is the go-to guy in these parts for consistently high quality video. Check out Mark's handful of youtube videos. I was going to mention a couple of Mark's videos specifically by title, but I just watched them all and honestly, they are all excellent. His ability to find the right piece of music for each video is also quite noteworthy.

It's cool how Pato glances over to the counter when he mentions his granddaughter's name, Cheyenne. He's looking over to my daughter, who's name is also Cheyenne. Nice.

THIRSTY THURSDAY REPORT

THIRSTY THURSDAY REPORT

Kerry Michaels serenades tonight while Negra Modelo Dark Ale goes for a measly 2.50 a bottle. 6:00-9:00 tonight.