A note from our President…..

I can get used to these great warm temps!  A girl can hope that spring’s really coming soon. Whatever the weather, please come enjoy some time at several of the area’s new venues with Edina Newcomers this month.

Coffee Break—satisfy your sweet tooth at the new Franklin Street Bakery

Ladies Night Out—meets at  Galleria’s new Peoples Organic and Wine Cafe

Lunch Bunch—checks out Bloomington’s new Purple Sandpiper

International—indulges in a gourmet lunch at Le Cordon Blue

See you there!    Sally                  Sally@EdinaNewcomers.org

ACTIVITIES

TEA &  BOOK TALK:  Thursday, April  7^th, 3:00PM—-

The Latehomecomer Kao Kalia Yang

NOTE CHANGE IN USUAL TIME! at the home of a member

In search of a home, thousands of Hmong families journeyed from the war-torn Laos to refugee camps of Thailand and onward to America. Lacking a written language, the Hmong experience has been primarily recorded by others. Driven to tell her family’s story after her grandmother’s death, The Latehomecomer is Kao Kalia Yang’s tribute to the remarkable woman whose spirit held them all together. It is also an eloquent, firsthand account of a people who have worked hard to make their voices heard. Beginning in the 1970s, as the Hmong were being massacred for their collaboration with the United States during the Vietnam War, Yang recounts the harrowing story of her family’s captivity, the daring rescue undertaken by her father and uncles, and their narrow escape into Thailand where Yang was born in the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp. When she was six years old, Yang’s family immigrated to America, and she evocatively captures the challenges of adapting to a new place and a new language. There are lots of available copies available at HCLib.org

RSVP by Sunday, April 3rd  to Sally@EdinaNewcomers.org

COFFEE BREAK: Wednesday, April, 13^th,  10:00AM—

Franklin Street Bakery

3904 Sunnyside Road, Edina       952-929-2253

This wonderful Minneapolis bakery has just opened an Edina outpost.  The reviews have been outstanding.  Maybe we’ll even be able to enjoy the outdoor seating along Sunnyside and France.

RSVP by Saturday, April 9^th to Sally@EdinaNewcomers.org

LADIES’ NIGHT OUT: Monday, April 18th, 6:30PM—-

Dinner at Peoples Organic & Wine Cafe

The Galleria    3510 West 70th Street, Edina, MN 55435 (952)426-1856

This affordable new cafe (by the owner of the French Meadow) has gotten positive press. It is located near Crave. You can look over their menu at www.peoplesorganic.com. Nothing over $10.95

RSVP by Saturday, March 16th to Sally@EdinaNewcomers.org

LUNCH BUNCH: Thursday, April 21, 11:00AM Departure—

Purple Sandpiper Bakehouse & Pub

8405 Lyndale Ave. S., Bloomington        952-888-1429

Featured recently in the MN Monthly and Strib – both gave high praise to the restaurant’s efforts to feature fresh organic food delivered daily from small farms with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture. Reviewers stated the food is excellent— near gourmet at reasonable prices.

RSVP by Monday, Tuesday, April 19^th to Sally@EdinaNewcomers.org

A carpool will leave Edina at 11:00AM, or meet us there at 11:30AM.

Directions: I-494 east, exit onto Lyndale, go south – restaurant is located in strip mall on the east side.

INTERNATIONAL: Thursday, April 28^th, 11:00AM Departure— Technique Restaurant, at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts

1315 Mendota Heights Blvd., Mendota Heights, MN 55120

Indulge in a delicious gourmet meal by Le Cordon Bleu students under the guidance of an on-site chef instructor. Cost for a 3-course lunch is $10.00. Beverage and a generous tip for good food and student chefs and servers extra.  Please RSVP ASAP to ensure a place at our table for eight. You won’t want to miss this.

RSVP ASAP to Sally@EdinaNewcomers.org

A carpool will leave Edina at 11:00AM .  Or, meet us there at 11:30AM

Directions: 494E to Hwy. 5E  to Hwy. 55E.  Turn Right on Mendota Heights Blvd.  to school.

A note from our President…..

Wow—what great weather this week! In this winter full of surprises, who knows what March will bring—let’s hope it’s spring (as promised by the groundhog!) While you’re waiting—come out and join us for some fun this month.

Do-Gooders Day—packs food for Feed My Starving Children

Coffee Break—start the day of right at the Good Day Café

Craft Corner—eat a little, knit a little, talk a lot at Betty’s

Lunch Bunch—samples soups and sandwiches at Eddington’s

International Night—checks out the new Rice Paper at 50^th and France

Tea & Book Talk—will discuss the Hmong experience in The LateHomecomer

Ladies Night Out—savors authentic Indian cuisine at Tandoor 

See you there!

Sally                                      Sally@EdinaNewcomers.org

ACTIVITIES

To RSVP, simply click on the blue email addresses

DO-GOODERS DAY: Tuesday, March 8^th, 10:00AM-Noon—

Feed My Starving Children

Christ Presbyterian Church (Hwy. 100/70^th Street)

Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit Christian organization committed to feeding starving children hungry in body and spirit. The approach is simple: children and adults hand-pack meals formulated specially for starving children, and we ship the meals to nearly 70 countries around the world. Learn more at FMSC.org

Be prepared to stand for 1 to 1 ½ hours.  If anyone’s interested we can meet for lunch nearby.

RSVP by Friday, March 4^th to Sally@EdinaNewcomers.org

COFFEE BREAK: Wednesday, March 9th^th, 9:30AM Departure—

Good Day Café

5410 Wayzata Blvd., Golden Valley

This sister restaurant to the Original Pancake House, serves many of the same wonderful items.

A carpool will leave at 9:30AM from Edina, or meet us at the restaurant at 10:00AM.

RSVP by Saturday, March 5th to Sally@EdinaNewcomers.org

Directions: Hwy. 100 North to 394 West to Xenia/Park Place exit.  Turn Right on Xenia, Right on Golden Hills Dr./Turners Crossroad and Left of Wayzata.  Restaurant faces freeway.

CRAFT CORNER: Friday, March 11th, 7:00 PM—

“More Knitting for Dummies” Etc.

At the Home of a Member

Despite our recent Spring-like weather, winter’s not over, and you’ll still need a warm scarf in March. Here’s another chance to learn the basics, or practice what you learned last time.  Not into knitting?  Bring along any project of interest—or just get out of the house and enjoy a Friday night with the girls. Refreshments will be provided along with practice knitting needles and yarn.

RSVP by Wednesday, March 9th to Sally@EdinaNewcomers.org

INTERNATIONAL NIGHT: Thursday, March 17^th,  6:00PM—

Dinner at Rice Paper

3948 W. 50^th, Edina  (behind D’Amico)

Rice Paper serves the delicious, casual and carefully-sourced dishes of Vietnam’s countryside that owner An Nguyen enjoyed in her homeland as a child. In her restaurant’s modern kitchen, these enticing favorites have been refined and lightened to render them supremely healthy and appealing to American clientele, served stylishly in a serene, relaxing atmosphere reminiscent of a shadowed bamboo grove.

RSVP by Monday, March 14^th to Sally@EdinaNewcomers.org

LADIES’ NIGHT OUT: Monday, March 21st, 6:30PM—-

Dinner at Tandoor Indian Restaurant

8062 Morgan Circle, Bloomington, MN 55431 (952) 885-9060 (Behind Southtown)

Using an ancient family recipe, their curry is made fresh, with the best in quality ingredients—different from any other restaurant. They bring the true taste of Indian cuisine complete with bread baked in a traditional clay oven. You can look over their large menu at www.tandoormn.com .

RSVP by Saturday, March 19th to Sally@EdinaNewcomers.org

LUNCH BUNCH: Wednesday, March 23^rd,  11:30AM—

Eddington’s Soup and Salad House

5125 Edina Industrial Blvd, Edina, 896-1148

What could be more convenient for Edina residents? Eddington’s offers an extensive array of great soups (up to 10 choices daily), salads and sandwiches – the soup sampler is especially fun. It’s all served cafeteria style so you can check it out before making your choices. Frugal prices.

RSVP by Monday, March 21^st to Sally@EdinaNewcomers.org

Directions: Hwy 100 to 78^th St./Edina Industrial (first exit south of 70^th Street.) Restaurant is 1 block West

TEA &  BOOK TALK:  Thursday, April  7^th, 3:00PM—-

The Latehomecomer  by Kao Kalia Yang

at the home of a member

In search of a home, thousands of Hmong families journeyed from the war-torn Laos to refugee camps of Thailand and onward to America. Lacking a written language, the Hmong experience has been primarily recorded by others. Driven to tell her family’s story after her grandmother’s death, The Latehomecomer is Kao Kalia Yang’s tribute to the remarkable woman whose spirit held them all together. It is also an eloquent, firsthand account of a people who have worked hard to make their voices heard. Beginning in the 1970s, as the Hmong were being massacred for their collaboration with the United States during the Vietnam War, Yang recounts the harrowing story of her family’s captivity, the daring rescue undertaken by her father and uncles, and their narrow escape into Thailand where Yang was born in the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp. When she was six years old, Yang’s family immigrated to America, and she evocatively captures the challenges of adapting to a new place and a new language. There are lots of available copies available at HCLib.org

RSVP by Sunday, April 3rd  to Sally@EdinaNewcomers.org