Remembering Our Heroes
Memorial Day is much more than an extended weekend and a chance to cookout with friends and family. It is a chance to honor our heroes, those who sacrificed their lives serving our country. Memorial Day came to be after more than 500,000 soldiers on both sides lost their lives during the Civil War. A time like no other in this nation. Many events are held on this special day to celebrate and honor the men and women who fought for our county.
There is an annual National Memorial Day Parade held in Washington, D.C. and it is an opportunity for people to honor those who devoted so much of themselves for our country. The event commemorates those who served in uniform from the American Revolution to Operation Iraqi Freedom. This spectacular event also serves to educate the public about the significance of the day. Events such as this one are held in communities across the nation.
Café Kili would like to time the time to honor the men and women who died for our county as well as those who have and still are fighting for our freedom. There will be celebrations across the county honoring our service members this weekend. Check your local newspaper to learn more about the ceremonies, parades and other events near you. Make this Memorial Day more than just a cookout and a day off from work.
Remember to reflect on the intended purpose of Memorial Day and take the time out this weekend to:
- Visit a memorial site
- Visit a memorial museum
- Honor a Veteran with a tribute book
- Call a veteran and just let them know how much you appreciate their sacrifices
Click here for a list of things you can do to honor our heroes on Memorial Day.
Open Mic Night
The arts are a huge part of what makes our Cafe what it is. We love to share with you art from our home like jewelry, carvings, and music every day. On Thursdays we invite you to share your art with us. Family friendly artists from all over Tampa Bay come out and share their art with the community. We have seen so many amazing soloists and groups ranging from blue grass to jazz and writers who share their poetry. We think Open Mic Night is one of the most fun nights in the Cafe! We provide the microphones and sound equipment and you bring the music. Join us this Thursday at 7pm and share your talent!
Jewelry Around the Kili
At Cafe Kili we do more then just coffee; have you ever noticed the jewelry and wood carvings in our Cafe? Each piece has a special story and we would like to share that with you!
Many tribes in Africa believe a tree is a spirit and that each piece taken from the tree contains part of the spirit and should be treated with respect. These carvings originate from a village called Machakos in Kenya. The Akamba tribesmen who produce these carvings make them with only a knife and bladed tools. A rough file and sandpaper is used to finish these pieces. Also, a group of disabled women in another village that create all of the jewelry we sell.
These carvings provide a livelihood for the tribes who often have no other source of income. When you buy a piece of jewelry or wood carving from us it allows us to purchase more from the tribes and create a market for them.
Next time you are around the Cafe come and look at these amazing pieces and support the women and men who create them!
