From the Blog

August 11 StepTwo Event at St. Clouds in Seattle

Written on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 by Karl Bischoff | No comments

This from an email from Owner/Chef John Platt at St. Clouds Restaurant in Madrona neighborhood of Seattle

"We'll have two topics for this salon running at separate tables, so you can go to whichever you like:  Topic One = Healthcare.  What could be more topical right now?  Topic Two:  Local Elections - you will receive your mail-in ballot any day now and will likely be weighing your options.  Here's a chance to talk with your fellow community members about issues and candidates.
 
These simple reminders:
*we'll have our full menu and full bar menu ready to satisfy your hunger and thirst while you engage in rich conversation
*the goal of the Salon is to encourage discussion as befits a democracy; this is a fantastic chance not only to speak your mind, but also to learn what others think about the subject.  It may have become an American trait over the last many years to assume we understand "the other side," or to assume "the other side" is not understandable!  We hope the Salon helps break down assumptions and increases understanding.  Seems like we can aim for much better solutions if we are understanding each other on an issue.
*the format is perfect for single diners as well as for small groups, couples, and even families
*there is no test at the end, just the pleasure of knowing you have engaged for an evening in the act of democracy.
 
The bulk of the conversation happens from 6:30 to 8:30.  Reservations welcome. 
 
Yours in democracy, John and Pablo"

StepTwo will be there. We hope you will be, too!

July StepTwo Event at St. Clouds

Written on Tue, 7 Jul 2009 by Karl Bischoff | No comments

Hey! Don't get lazy with the summer weather. Here's the notice for July's Event:

StepTwo presents St. Clouds Salon on Tuesday, July 7 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. This month's topic is about our country, on the occasion of our celebration of our birth and independence. What do you love about our country? What do you not love about our country? How do you think we have diverged from our origins, how have we stayed on track with the origins? And from a more global perspective, what do you think about other countries that are wrestling with their identity (from Irag and Iran to Honduras and their recent coup)?

Come join the spirited conversation over food and drink on Tuesday night. Put a little muscle into our democracy by spending some time talking with and listening to fellow countrymen as we revel in our freedom to speak our minds openly, to share in the bounty of spirited discussion. A glass of wine or a cocktail and a nice plate of dinner has an alchemical effect on conversation. Note that since we push tables together this is a perfect night to come as a single diner, or a perfect night to include your whole family in conversation. We’ve been inspired by President Obama and by the nation’s hunger for finding our way forward through our rich diversity, rather than spending our time stalemated by our differences. Here’s a chance to talk with your family and neighbors about the issues that effect us all, while keeping in mind the power of a good meal and fine drink to keep us all happily connected.

Hope to see you Tuesday night.

June Step Two Event at St. Clouds Restaurant

Written on Wed, 27 May 2009 by Karl Bischoff

From John and Pablo at St. Clouds Restaurant:

We hope you can join us for our monthly Salon on the first Tuesday of the month, June 2, from 6:30 to 8:30 at St. Clouds. This month’s topic is a "futures" or "visioning" exercise:

Your personal hopes for what will be accomplished or will change in our country and world in the next five years. This conversation can stay very local or go very international, as you wish.

Join us as we put a bit of effort into our democracy. With “placemats” designed by our friends at Phinney-Bischoff Design House to help promote discussion, and food and drink to help forge community bonds, we push tables together to encourage conversation. In the best American tradition, the dinner table ought to be a place where we share not only food and drink but rich conversation. We’ve been inspired by President Obama and by the nation’s hunger for finding our way forward through our rich diversity, rather than spending our time stalemated by our differences. Here’s a chance to talk with your family and neighbors about the issues that effect us all, while keeping in mind the power of a good meal and fine drink to keep us all happily connected. Check out www.steptwo.org for more information on this event and others like it. Let’s shoot for a 6:30 start time, easy to join the discussion if you need to come a bit later. Reservations welcome.

1131 34th Ave.
Seattle, WA  98122
206-726-1522

Comments from April StepTwo/Seattle Salon at St. Clouds

Written on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 by Karl Bischoff | No comments

St. Clouds Restaurant in Madrona area of Seattle hosted another Step Two event. The subject this month was: What should be the United States' role in our global society? Here are some comments from the event:

Thanks so much for the salon invitation to think globally and eat locally!  It is a great concept and I hope you decide to continue them.  Perhaps this will spread to other restaurants and venues and we will start getting the masses to reengage in meaningful conversation.

Our table mostly agreed that it is no longer United States’ role to police the world, but we do have a responsibility as one of the world leaders to encourage dialogue and diplomacy (such as Obama is doing with Iran, just like he said he’d do in his campaign!).  We agreed that war should never be the first resort (as done by Bush’s preemptive strikes in Iraq), but the absolute last resort.  My personal opinion is that war should NEVER be an option – war is an artifact of our human lizard brains and religious intolerance and we need to evolve away from war if we are to survive as a species.

Our table mostly agreed that the United States should not try to impose our values and culture on other countries.  Promoting diversity and accepting/enjoying differences makes the world more interesting.  We starting talking about how to draw the line in basic human rights possibly with a World Bill of Rights – a clear minimum standard without preaching individual values or morals.  Enforcement could be through economic sanctions, although there was not agreement at our table that sanctions work – this could be an interesting follow-up topic for a future salon.

Our table agreed that the food was tasty, the drink merry, the conversation rich, and we look forward to future salons!