Get Out (of the kitchen)

Posted on October 3, 2016 by wheatgrassaloon

These are photos of my very sweet Grandmother, Lillian. Like many first generation Italian women she was defined by the work she did in the kitchen. She more than lived up to the measure as her hands and heart created the most delicious sauces, gnocchi, scrippelle, biscotti and pizzelles. The reason that I love these photos of her is that she is very definitely not in the kitchen. She is in Yellowstone Park and having a ball. She shone that day, filled with the delight of nature and the freedom of being far away from the creation of food for loved ones.

With that goal in mind, you can take a break from some of your busier weeknights and get out of your own kitchen by grabbing some soup-to-go at Wheatgrass Saloon this fall and winter. We began making soups a couple of weeks ago and are enjoying having a different one each day of the week. Each soup is made with health and energy in mind, loaded with local and regional vegetables and beans and served on a gluten free grain. Soup is available from 11am – 3 pm and after 3, from the grab ‘n’ go case.

Get out to discover the new items are arriving weekly at Wheatgrass Saloon to fill the Boutique for the holiday season. Aquiesse candles, Michel Design soaps, colored pencils by Sprout that you can use for the Re-Mark coloring cards and bookmarks, jewelry and more.

If you missed Matt Phillips’ September art walk reception, get out and take the chance to run upstairs to the Gallery space and see his really beautiful show before it comes down October 17^th.

Matt Phillips with pieces from his show Monotypes and Magic.

There are a few upcoming events in the Gallery and store as a whole. On Thursday, October 20^th from 6-8pm there will be a reception for the show Madness and the Macabre curated by Angelina Froke and including works by Edd Enders, Aaron Fowlie, Angie Froke, Autumn Hudson and Willie Ramirez. Get out, come down and enjoy a celebration of the macabre.

Marc Beaudin, co-owner of Elk River Books, looking rather Macabre in his makeup for the upcoming Shane Center’s production of Macbeth. The show opens October 21st and is directed by Kory Gunderson.

Another reception will take place on Friday, November 4th when Betsy Hall and Bob Datilla share with us their personal collection of works by Everett C. Hoffman. Both framed and unframed pieces will be available for purchase. The show will remain up through the holidays. Find your way out through the probable cold and wind for refreshments and an introduction to these fabulous pieces.

The Holiday Stroll falls on December 2^nd this year. We’ll have fun and celebration in the Saloon in honor of our 4 year birthday. So, you know, get out!

In the meantime, stay well, enjoy the change of season and brace yourself for the winds to come.

Mid-Summer Happenings

Posted on June 29, 2016 by wheatgrassaloon

The sidewalks are heating up in downtown Livingston, Montana as folk roll into town to celebrate the three-day party for the 4th.

The art walks this year will fall on the 3rd Friday of each month. June 17th kicked off the first walk of the season. At Wheatgrass Saloon Gallery the art work of Angelina Froke and Carol Liljedahl still can be seen. Their earthy and folkloric show, Norwegian Woods and Other Tales, incorporates Norse, Scandinavian and Germanic legends and myths as well as original works of fantasy through paintings and soft sculpture art dolls. Raised by Wolves Studios is a mother – daughter collaboration between Carol and Angelina. They bring together a shared love of faerie tales, primitive art, dolls, antiques and oddities in a way that is distinctive and unique and create original hand-made soft sculpture art dolls and fine art pieces. The show will remain up until the second week of July.

You also will be able to find the works of Angelina and Carol at the Festival of the Arts July 2, 3, 4. The Festival is held in the Depot Rotary Park that runs along the railroad tracks and is adjacent to the Livingston Depot.

Also in June, Wheatgrass Saloon was delighted to host a reading by author Jasmin Singer from her book Always Too Much and Never Enough. Jasmin is an exceptionally fun and engaging speaker. If you missed her dynamic talk about having “been betrayed by a food industry that relied on (her) willful ignorance and by a society that relied on (her) undiscerning willingness to buy into its arbitrary notions of self-worth and beauty,” come get your signed copy here at Wheatgrass Saloon. And, once my tech-savvy kicks in, I will post the video of her talk as well.

Throughout the week preceding the 4th of July celebrations, Wheatgrass Saloon Eco-Boutique will have a blowout summer sale with new categories of items on sale each day:

Monday, June 27th – all T-shirts 50% off

Tuesday, June 28th- all skirts 50% off

Wednesday, June 29th – all body care items 50% off

Thursday, June 30th – all incense 50% off

Friday, July 1st – all non-consignment scarves 50% off

Saturday, July 2nd – all non-consignment jewelry 50% off

Throughout the summer, raffle tickets will be available for purchase at Wheatgrass Saloon to benefit Livingston’s Sister Cities Program.

On July 2nd, during Livingston’s Roundup Rodeo Parade, the kick-off to 72 hours of Independence Day celebratory shenanigans, the horses in the parade will determine the winner(s) of the Roundup Road Apples raffle.

Wheatgrass Saloon will close at 2pm on the day of the Parade. Otherwise, our summer hours are 10am -5pm Monday through Saturday, with the exception of Wednesdays when we close at 4pm in order to get to the Farmers Market.

The July Art Walk is just around the bend. On July 15th, we will have the pleasure of hosting a reception from 5pm – 8pm for John Zumpano. With “Colors of Crow Fair,” John returns with a follow-up to last year’s popular art walk exhibit, “Pow Wow” with a show of new work.

“Colors of Crow Fair” celebrates the vibrancy of Native American regalia, the power of dance and the richness of Native traditions. It’s no coincidence that color can mean hue, tint, tone but also vitality, excitement and zest. The multi-tribal gatherings at a pow wow exemplify both of these ideas. John’s large, gallery-wrapped canvases capture the resplendent patterns, eye-popping color and passion of the dancers.
Come and experience the power of pow wow and the spirit and pride of Native American culture.

We have recently updated our menu. Check it out, and then come try the new, raw vegan Thai Noodle Bowl to nourish your way through the parties of summertime and the Paint it Black to detox from the beer floats on the river. Both have been a big hit.

Upcoming 4th Thursdays are July 28th and August 25th. In July, 10% of net sales will be donated to Livingston’s Sister Cities Program.

In August 10% will go to the Park County Environmental Council, (PCEC).

PCEC works tirelessly to serve its mission “to protect and enrich the quality of life in Park County by preserving and restoring our rivers, wildlife and landscapes.”

The big issues currently being addressed jeopardize our lifestyle and economy in Park County and include:

Two industrial-scale gold mines in the Paradise Valley
- Lucky Mineral’s exploratory drilling in Emigrant Gulch
- Crevice Mining Group’s proposals for road permits and mining operations near Gardiner
Supporting efforts to designate the Yellowstone River as Wild and Scenic
Grizzly bear protection
A gravel pit and asphalt plant on Hwy 89
BNSF rail yard cleanup

Please come support PCEC’s efforts on August 25th from 10am – 5pm and learn more about the issues.

In the Boutique, we are pleased to introduce, Think Body works by local designer, Deborah Amlincoln Monaghan. Silk scarves and cotton bandanas inspired by the anatomy of the head of the horse are a beautiful addition to our shelves.

Enjoy the sunshine, light breeze and stay hydrated through these fleeting, dog days of summer.

Introducing…

Posted on March 10, 2016 by wheatgrassaloon

When I bought Wheatgrass Saloon, previously known as the Drawing Room, September 1, 2012, I never planned on nor imagined having the need for 9-10 employees to help run the Saloon. As it turns out, there is a high demand for nutritious food and drink in Livingston, Montana and beyond. And, so, there is a need for employees. At long last, I am pleased to introduce to you the stunning souls without whom Wheatgrass Saloon would not exist. I would have given up long ago without the hard work, good ideas, dedication, humor, kindness, energy, inspiration and creativity of the following people.

: Cindy

Cindy was born in Minnesota and came to Livingston as a child. She has two grown children and a grandchild, Daniel, who lives in Germany with his parents. She has been at Wheatgrass since the Saloon doors opened on December 1, 2012. She is invaluable to the business and to me and holds a very special place in my heart.

Tasha Enjoying Life Beyond the Saloon Doors

Tasha moved to Livingston in 2013 and is in the process of obtaining her master’s degree in social work, with the goal of becoming an LCSW. When she is not studying she enjoys hiking with her partner, David, and their dog Liam. Tasha loves cooking from scratch, gardening, running, reading, and watching movies. Her favorite items at Wheatgrass Saloon are the Little Red Corvette, Kale Caesar Salad, and We Got the Beet. I cannot imagine what I would do without the presence of Tasha in my business life. She has the wisdom and maturity of a sage and her energy is a joy to experience.

Artwork by Alyssa

Alyssa was born and raised in Livingston. One of her favorite things to do in her spare time is sketch and paint. She loves working at Wheatgrass Saloon and learning new recipes that inspire her to be creative with healthy food choices at home.

Angie Says Cheers

Angie is an artist, crafter, horror movie junkie, animal lover and co-owner of Raised by Wolves Studios. She finds inspiration in all things vintage and macabre.

Two of our staff members will leave Livingston at the end of the summer in order to go on to college:

Michelle

Michelle has grown up in Livingston, MT. She will head south to attend university in Prescott, Arizona to study art and psychology. She is passionate about holistic health and nutrition, and is looking forward to see what the future brings.

Siobhan with Lily & Rosie

Siobhàn was born and raised in Paradise Valley. She will attend Amherst College in Massachusetts in the fall where she plans to study biology with a focus on genetics. She loves skiing, hiking and her weiner dogs.

Wheatgrass Saloon is fortunate to have three very awesome high school students who have been training this winter by closing the juice bar after school and by working some Saturday shifts in preparation for the summer. I very much look forward to having their enthusiasm and good work help us out in big ways during the upcoming months. They are Nacoya, Peter and Zoe:

Nacoya on the Ice

Nacoya is also Livingston born and raised and loves the Montana outdoors. She enjoys playing ice hockey and traveling and looks forward to seeing you at Wheatgrass Saloon.

Peter Upside Down

Peter is a sophomore at Park High. You might run into him on the soccer field or see him doing back flips on skis as he races down the mountain.

Zoe Looking Crafty

Zoe is a student at Park High School. She loves to play tennis. She also enjoys making jewelry and being crafty.

When I look at the calendar for the months ahead, I am overwhelmed by all the events. Let me introduce you to some of them now:

Fourth Thursdays at Wheatgrass Saloon will fall on Thursday, March 24th this month. Ten percent of net sales will go to McNair Skate Park .
Breathing Room Yoga will host its Spring Equinox 108 Sun Salutation Celebration Friday, March 18th 6-8pm. After finishing your 108 sun salutations you can enjoy a shot of Greentini juice from Wheatgrass Saloon to celebrate the return of the sun and get a coupon for $5.00 off the Juice Cleanse at Wheatgrass Saloon.
Tap into Montana takes place April 4th – 9th. Wheatgrass Saloon will once again host Art on Tap . This year Parks Reece will teach a finger painting class and Craft Beer and Brats will be served. Sign up at Wheatgrass Saloon or by calling 333-2330.
One April 29th, Wheatgrass Saloon will serve vegan ice cream at this year’s Taste of Livingston which benefits Montessori Island School.
Summer hours will begin May 2nd. Wheatgrass Saloon will be open Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm.
Wheatgrass Saloon Upstairs Gallery is currently taking submissions for two art shows for the Livingston Summer Art Walks: Icons and YNP Hot Pots.
This year, the Art Walks will take place on the 3rd Fridays of the month June – September.
The first art walk of the season will take place June 17th and will feature the work of Angelina Froke and Carol Liljedahl of Raised by Wolves Studios.

That’s enough introductions for now. Get outside. Things are blooming!

Winter Days at Wheatgrass Saloon

Posted on January 23, 2016 by wheatgrassaloon

After a beautiful holiday get-away with my family of four children and one husband in Belize, we are up and running again at 120 North Main. In the Boutique there are a few new items that traveled home with me from Belize. The items were handmade by a Mayan Women’s Coop in Dangriga, Belize. There are children’s dresses and bibs, table runners, pillow covers, handbags, potholders and coin purses. Come take a look. They are colorful pieces and help to support a group of women who are keeping alive their traditions and creating a living for their families.

Here is local model, Neko Ensing, age 2 wearing one of her favorite Mayan dresses.

Neko Ensing modeling her Mayan Women’s Coop dress.

In the Saloon we are now offering a different soup each day of the week. Something to help warm you until the days get longer. On Saturdays, in addition to our regular lunch items, we will have raw vegan berry crepes and vegetarian (not vegan) pesto quinoa bowls with a sous-vide local egg from Julie Serafin’s hens. Julie grows our wheatgrass and her hens are free range and fed, among other vegetables, the trays of clipped wheatgrass from the Saloon.

Raw Vegan Breakfast Crepes with Organic Berries and Chantilly Cream

This month’s 4th Thursday will take place on January 28th. Ten percent of all non-consignment sales will go to the Park County Senior Center. Bring a friend for lunch! Thursdays are our miso soup day. It is “country miso” – – hearty and filling.

In case you are in search of good chocolates next month. We have two options available. One, Righteously Raw, is raw vegan and comes in bite-size pieces and in bars. The other, Burnt Fork Bend Chocolate, is made in Stevensville, Montana. Both are year-round customer favorites. Burnt Fork Bend chocolate is handcrafted in Stevensville, Montana using fair trade, minimally processed ingredients. The process begins with raw cocoa beans coming from various countries such as Ecuador, Ghana, Trinidad and Belize. Each bag of beans has a distinct flavor and aroma giving each batch of chocolate its own unique taste. It is handcrafted in small batches, allowing a full range of flavors to develop in each and every batch of chocolate.

Burnt Fork Bend and Righteously Raw Chocolates at Wheatgrass Saloon

See you soon!

10, 9, 8, 7…

Posted on October 22, 2015 by wheatgrassaloon

In the Eco-Boutique:

Apparently we are on the “10 Fridays Until December 25” countdown. Although, since I became aware of this last week, we might now be down to just 9 or 8, maybe.

Oh, the retail world. Stuff. So much stuff. Keeping that in mind and as the owner of a business that sells plenty of stuff, I have put some energy into what is on the shelves. The goal being individuals and villages that in turn support the planet and the people on it. Small business rather than enormous planet- polluting corporations that resort to slave labor conditions to make things en masse.

At Wheatgrass Saloon we have local and regional hand-crafted jewelry by Patricia Buckley and by Sarah Homan and, of course, Beth Gregory‘s awesome pieces!

There is an array of jewelry, clothing, soaps, totes, scarves etc. from co-ops in India and Bolivia whose products sustain jobs for people who have been handcrafting artisan goods for generations. These co-ops partner with women’s groups, minorities, people with special needs, urban slums and isolated rural communities to empower artisans through dignified, sustainable employment. They value safe work conditions, education, the well-being of their partners and the safety of children.

From Montana we have recycled items, like the CAN-dles made in Polson and the earrings, belts, rings and necklaces made in Whitefish using recycled skateboards as well as body care items made in Whitefish, 406 t-shirts printed in Missoula, key fobs hand-crafted in Bonner, locally roasted coffee, and more.

Patricia’s Silver Rose Chalcedony Earrings

In addition to all of the other downtown Livingston shops available to you, keep Wheatgrass Saloon in mind if you are out and about shopping for friends and family in the next 9 Fridays before December 25th. There is also an excellent used bookstore, Elk River Books, here at 120 North Main. One-stop shopping, lunch included.

4th Thursdays

This month’s 4th Thursday is October 22nd and Meals on Wheels, Paradise Valley will be the recipient of 10% of non-consignment sales. Please feel free to come and make a direct donation to them. We will have a tin on the counter at the Juice Bar for direct donations.

Because Thanksgiving falls on November’s 4th Thursday, we will be donating 10% on Small Business Saturday instead. Montana Roots will be the recipient for 10% of sales on Saturday, November 28th.

Montana Roots is a non-profit based in Livingston, and has designed and contructed a 6000 gallon recirculating aquaponic system where they grow food year-round for the community. Wheatgrass Saloon is happy to be able to get our weekly supply of nutrient dense and very beautiful microgreens from Montana Roots. If you have had a Dragon Bowl, you have experienced Montana Roots. Additionally, Montana Roots partners with Montana Awareness Education and Equine Rehab Association (MAERA) to offer a year-round, free program to middle school and high school students that focuses on sustainable agricultural and nature awareness. Students learn how to plant, care, harvest and cook their own food in soil and aquaponically as well as sell their produce at the farmers market.

In the Juice Bar:

As fall turns to winter, we are adding miso soup to the menu. It is made fresh daily and filling enough to be called a meal. Miso Soup is a traditional Japanese soup consisting of a stock called “dashi” that is made with the sea vegetable kombu, pictured below. Into the stock, fermented soy bean paste, called miso, is whisked to create a richer soup base. Many ingredients are added depending on regional and seasonal recipes, and personal preference. At Wheatgrass Saloon, we have a variety of add-ins such as brown rice, adzuki beans, wakame, daikon, bok choy, carrot, shitake mushrooms and beech mushrooms, many of which are sourced locally. It is delicious, easy to digest and warming. The health benefits of miso soup are many and wide-ranging.

Miso soup on the menu!

and eat more kombu

On Saturday, November 14th, Wheatgrass Saloon will be serving juice samples at the Fall Health Festival from 7-11 am. Get your blood drawn for the health screen and then come enjoy a flight of our juices: Greentini, Ginger ‘n’ Juice, We Got the Beet and Al Green.

In the Gallery:

Wheatgrass Saloon Gallery Upstairs will host a reception for Ledger Artist, Alaina Buffalo Spirit on Friday, November 6th at 6pm. Alaina is a Cheyenne woman who draws & paints on antique ledger paper just as her ancestors did in the 1860s. Through her art, she becomes a story teller, sharing the images of women and horses.

“Alaina Buffalo Spirit is a self-taught artist from the So’taa’ee band of the Northern Cheyenne Nation, whose work honors the women that made a difference in her life. Alaina Buffalo Spirit’s artwork is based on the traditional ledger art, originated by Indian warriors who were incarcerated in the 1800s. Using the materials that were available to them, these warrior artists recorded their powerful stories through images made on the ledger paper issued by the government for tallying and record-keeping. Inspired by these early images which depicted life on the Plains, both before and during times of conflict, Ms. Buffalo Spirit uses ledger paper made during this period in much of her work.

Ms. Buffalo Spirit began her artistic career in 2004 and has participated in the Northern Plains Indian Art Show in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the Summer Art Market at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls, Montana and at Kentucky Crafted, in Louisville, Kentucky. Her work has been featured at the Ancient Traders Gallery in Minneapolis, Minnesota as well as throughout Montana. In 2008, her work was on display at the Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning, Montana and in June of that year was chosen as the cover art for the University of Washington Medical School’s Pediatrics Archives Journal. Most recently, Alaina’s work has been showcased in Kalispell, Montana at the Montana Arts Council Art Showcase.”
-Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, 2013

The show runs from October 28th through November 20th. For questions, call Lisa 224-3895.

Dishing Up Soup, Hot Diggity Dogs and Kombucha with a Kick

Posted on September 18, 2015 by wheatgrassaloon

I had the pleasure of hearing many writers recently in Missoula at the Festival of the Book. One of my favorites (aside from my darling, Marc Beaudin) was Liz Carlisle who spoke of and read from her book, Lentil Underground which chronicles the story of a group of renegade Montana farmers who were early leaders in the organic food movement. I can’t say enough good things about what a phenomenal woman Liz is. And I’m glad to say that we now have signed copies of her book here at Wheatgrass Saloon.

The Timeless Seeds lentils celebrated in Liz’s book, the Lentil Underground, will be the star ingredient in many of the soups coming your way as our “warm” offering here in the juice bar at Wheatgrass Saloon this fall and winter. The soups will rotate weekly, and we plan to begin serving them in October.

On the way to Missoula, I stopped in Bonner to meet Mike Hangas and pick up some super cute and beautifully designed keychains handmade at Ruana Knives. They will make a very affordable gift for anyone on your list in the coming season.

In Missoula, I met Mallory Ottariano owner of Kind Apparel. I love her clothing designs and I really love that all of her materials are sourced from local charity thrift stores whose missions support autism research, the fight against domestic violence, food banks, and provide food and jobs for disadvantaged members of the community. I brought back a few of her pieces for us to check out. One of my favorites are her booty shorts. Perfect for a class at Breathing Room Yoga.

The last art walk takes place September 25th, and I am delighted that Betsy Hall will be showing her “Dog Days of Livingston” new works upstairs in the Wheatgrass Saloon Gallery.

Betsy Hall has spent the past month painting one painting per day. For the show, she will have portraits of 27 dogs, two cats and three birds. She will also have available notecards sold individually or in sets of ten in “doggy bags”. If you are sad that your pet was not painted for the show, you’ll be happy to know that Betsy will be taking new commissions at the opening.

Dog Days of Livingston opens on Friday, September 25th for the Art Walk upstairs at Wheatgrass Saloon on Main St. and will be up for one month. In addition to a variety of human food treats, there will be peanut butter banana dog treats to take home to your puppies and Mark Rehder’s Geyser Farm Kombucha with of course the option to give it a kick.

4th Thursdays at Wheatgrass

Posted on September 5, 2015 by wheatgrassaloon

wheatgrass toast A few months before opening Wheatgrass Saloon, I took a trip to Denver with my teenage daughter. Thanks to an Expedia package deal, we splurged, staying at the Brown Palace Hotel. To balance out the indulgence of a fancy hotel stay, we spent most of a day enjoying the search for thrift store treasures on Broadway. ( I have some great up-cycled sweaters from that day.) We tried to catch a cab to get back in time for our late afternoon spa appointments. There are no cabs in Denver. So, we ran down the road, working our way through the protestors who represented the 99% for the Occupy Movement in a park near the hotel and into the spa, where I was handed a glass of Prosecco and one of those warm soft things to put around your neck.

As I sat in a dimly lit lounge area, waiting for my turn on the massage table, I thought about what I wanted the as-yet-unnamed Wheatgrass Saloon to be and to offer. After the day’s experience, I wished this: that all women had the chance to not only spend a whole day with someone they loved as I had loved spending time with my daughter, I also wanted to think that all women could have access to these ridiculous treats of bubbly afternoon decadence. I wanted Wheatgrass to be a place for a woman who was having a tough time to go to get a healthy drink, a massage, a foot rub. I thought I’d team up with Tri-County Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, the Sue Wicklund Fund, etc. As usual, my ideas are a bit ridiculous, but as usual they don’t entirely disappear.

So, my tiny offering in pursuit of this idea will take place monthly at Wheatgrass Saloon beginning this month.

On the fourth Thursday of each month 10% of purchases made will go to a pre-appointed local non-profit. All purchases made in the juice bar and for non-consignment items in the boutique will qualify for the 10% donation. We will begin September 24^th and continue with each 4^th Thursday of the month. If you have a non-profit in mind that you would like to receive recognition and a donation please pick up an application at the Wheatgrass Saloon juice bar counter.

I am going to pick the first non-profit, and then it will be up to you, so do, please, come in and make some recommendations.

On September 24th 10% will go to ASPEN, formerly known as Tri-County Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, was incorporated in 2001 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to serving victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence. ASPEN has continued to expand over the years to offer more programs and services to the community. ASPEN serves the residents of Park, Sweet Grass, and Meagher Counties of Montana, but also extends services to anyone in a situation of domestic or sexual violence who are fleeing an abusive situation and need assistance. These services include an emergency shelter, a 24-hour crisis line, crisis counseling, support groups, legal advocacy, information and referrals, safety planning, emergency 911 phones, assistance with Orders of Protection and/or law enforcement reporting, forensic medical exam support, and community outreach and educational programs.