10.23.07 Evolve Detroit!

October 23rd, 2007

"Humans have always unknowingly affected all the Universe by every act and thought they articulate or even consider. . . . Realistic, comprehensively responsible, omni-system-considerate, unselfish thinking on the part of humans does absolutely affect human destiny." Buckminster Fuller

HELLO DETROIT!

We have often written that we've had whirlwind weeks, but this last one puts all the others to shame! Thank you for your patience as we grace your inbox for a second time today. There are a number of exciting and important details about the "Lab" we'd like to share! So even though you've already figured out whether you're going to try the Raw "Steak" or the Vegan Stew first this week, give yourself a moment and take this in.



First, as always, we want to express our gratitude to each and every one of you. We have been truly blessed with the talents that we share with you through the "Lab" and doubly blessed by all the people that we have met and the support that you have shown. As you will read about below, we have witnessed some fairly important milestones in the last few weeks and this wouldn't be the case if it were not for your interest and your support of our vision for the "Lab." We are honored and grateful to be able to share our offerings with you.

One of the milestones mentioned above is the story on the "Lab" published in the new issue of Hour Detroit. The photos by Marvin Shaouni and the story by Terry Parris Jr. capture the energy and many of the major concepts that fuel our work. We were also pleased to find a detailed story on Handmade Detroit in this issue of Hour. We feel quite at home in the company of Detroit's vibrant urban d.i.y. craft movement. The issue should hit the racks sometime this week, until then you can download a .pdf of the story here.

It is our intention that the Hour Detroit story will expand awareness of our offerings and will assist us in growing the "Lab" to its next phase; an "off the grid" health and education center with a full service vegan and raw restaurant in the EASTERN MARKET area. If you're interested in hearing more about our vision and business plan we would love to share them with you. Please call or write.

Whew! So, the Great Lakes Bioneers Conference last weekend was a massive event that expanded upon many of our ideas and introduced us to local allies in our quest for an active, health conscious and sustainable Detroit. Though we were unable to attend for the full weekend we were blown away by what we saw. Though Bioneers 2008 is a must, in the meantime you can find impressive information, resources and calls to action on the main Bioneers site.

Before we close here, there are a few business items. Beginning this Thursday, October 25th, we will be observing Moon Days in our yoga schedule. On days when there is a full or a new moon we will be sharing a pranayama (breath and meditation) practice rather than a asana (physical pose) practice. In the yoga tradition that we aspire towards, physical practice is not pursued on Moon Days due to the intense pull of energy towards (new) or away from (full) the earth. Our yoga schedule will soon note this and list the Moon Days for the rest of the year. Pranayama practice will greatly enhance health, focus and ability with asana practice so this is a wonderful opportunity to expand your yoga experience. Both asana and moon day pranayama classes have the same fee schedule ($10 walk-in with multi-class passes available).

We have also decided to discontinue our Saturday morning 7 am class. Though we would love to see this class active it has been tough to get folks to the mat this early on Saturday. We look forward to seeing everyone at 9 and 11 am on Saturdays from this point forward. While expressing this we really want to hear about what class schedule would work best for you. We are here to share with the community and, as we are able, we will make changes to our yoga schedule to fit the community's needs.

Wow! We weren't kidding when we said we had a great deal to share this week. We have yet to cover this week's events, our November Vegan and Raw class schedule, or the fact that there are still two seats left in this Saturday's Vegan Holiday class!

We look forward to seeing you this week and thank you again for your support!

In Health, Joy and Liberation!

-Gregg and Angela

EVENTS:

Our dear friend, Deborah Bogle of Helping Hearts Heal is offering two classes on Animal Communication Development that we highly recommend. Through lecture, guided meditations, visualizations, group discussions, and Chinese Energetic Medicine you will learn how to communicate with animals, living or deceased. This is done on an intuitive level and everyone is capable. You can attend this class either Saturday, October 27th or November 17th. Both classes will be taught in Troy. For more information contact Deborah Bogle at 248.244.2060

Our friend Minoo brought this to our attention and we encourage everyone to visit the Detroit Public Library for their new exhibit DARFUR-DARFUR. "This is a traveling exhibit that provides a visual education about the richly multi-cultural region of Sudan’s western region of Darfur, while exposing the magnitude of the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The digitally- projected, changing images, along with other scheduled events and programs, are certain to raise awareness and empower the visitors to mobilize and voice their concern." The exhibit will be open from October 22nd until November 19th. Please visit the Michigan Darfur Coalition for more information on local efforts to raise awareness of and end suffering in Darfur.

Finally, we are actually FREAKING OUT about the synchronicities that connect the Bioneers Conference and the new exhibit at Henry Ford Museum, Best of Friends: Buckminster Fuller and Isamu Noguchi! Fuller is a huge influence on the "Lab" and speaks directly to sustainable development. This highly acclaimed exhibit features Fuller's 1934 three-wheeled Dymaxion Car! Yes, that is right, the Dymaxion Car will be on exhibit with the Dymaxion House for the first time ever. We're a little geeky about this kind of stuff so we'd actually like to try and get a group together to attend the exhibit. If you're interested in checking this out with a group of like minded folk email or call 313.316.1411. We'll post the consensus date and time next week.



VEGAN AND RAW FOOD CLASSES:

Angela's classes are about much more than just food preparation - meet like minded people, share great food, information and resources! We will prepare a four-course meal from start to finish, and then sit down together to enjoy the fruits of our labor! The cost is $50 per class. To register please send an email or call 313.316.1411 and leave a voicemail.



October 27th - Vegan Holiday Cooking #1, 1-5 pm

This is the first of our Holiday classes. Are you always the odd one out at holiday gatherings? Would you like to bring a vegan dish that will wow everyone and possibly open up the healthy and aware vegan world to your loved ones and co-workers? Angela will share menu items that can help you to do just that! We'll prepare an appetizer, side dish, a meat alternative for a main course, and a luscious desert. Watch for our second Vegan Holiday Class in November to learn even more alternatives to these alternatives!



November 3rd - Vegan Holiday Cooking #2. 3-7 pm

We'll share the same great info as we did in Vegan Holiday #1 but with entirely different dishes! Of course, you don't have to take #1 to take #2 but taking them both would be a great way to expand your vegan repertoire!

November 10th - Vegan Basics, 3-7 pm

Learn how simple it is to create healthy and flavorful vegan foods! This class is jammed packed with mouth watering, energizing foods that will revive and rejuvenate both mind and body. Discover how delicious wheat, meat, sugar and dairy-free foods can be! Some of the topics we will cover:

~ "Meat" alternatives: learn how easy it is to make your own mock meats!!

~ Delicious homemade "Cheese" alternatives

~ Pantry necessities: set yourself up for success with a well stocked pantry!

~ Sugar and Egg substitutes: Delectable desserts so satisfying you will never crave real sugar again!

November 17th

"Raw Raw Raw Raw Raw... Raw Raw... Raw... Raw" Holiday Class #1, 3-7 pm

(That title will make sense when sung to the refrain of "Deck the Halls") Share the gift of healthy raw food with your family, friends and co-workers this season! Join Angela and pick up tips and new techniques for your raw food kitchen while you learn to put together impressive raw holiday fare. After all, the best way to introduce someone to the raw lifestyle is simply to share a delicious, beautiful and nourishing raw dish with them.

COMMUNITY BASED YOGA:

All classes are an hour long and are open to all levels of practitioners, from the first timer to the veteran. Doors are opened a half an hour prior to class and are closed promptly at the start of class. Some mats and blankets are available but bringing your own is recommended. Please check our yoga page and schedule for more details. Walk-ins are $10 and multi-class passes are available!

Beginning October 25th, Moon Days are pranayama rather than asana practice!

Tuesday: 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday: 7 a.m.

Thursday: 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Friday: 7 a.m.

Note the change, no 7 am class! Market Saturdays: 9 and 11 a.m.

THIS WEEK'S MENU:

Tuesday, October 23rd - Friday, October 26th Menu

Call Ahead to Order 313.316.1411

Our food is lovingly hand-crafted daily using organic and/or local ingredients! Quantities are limited to keep everything FRESH! We sell out everyday so calling as early as possible (even a day or two before) is encouraged. Pick-up and Delivery are available Tuesday - Friday between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Limited Downtown, Midtown and New Center delivery is available for $2!

Raw Offering: Herbed "Steak-n-Potatoes" $10

Yes, you read right. Two sliced Portabella Caps marinated to perfection in a special herbed marinade, dehydrated until tender and juicy, topped with Caramelized Onions, Red Peppers, and served with a side of Angela's special A-1 "Steak Sauce". Oh no, the fun doesn't stop there! This dish comes with the perfect companion, Mashed "Potatoes" and Gravy made with whipped Cauliflower and a light and creamy Miso Gravy.

Vegan Offering: The Colors of Autumn Vegetable, Bean, and Grain Stew $8

The perfect dish to cozy up and share! Take a deep breath ... Michigan Butternut, Acorn, and Sweet Potato Squashes, Zucchini, Yellow Onions, Carrots, Brussel Sprouts, Mushrooms, Turnips, Red Peppers, Diced Tomatoes, Lentils, Black, Kidney, and Pinto Beans, (whew!), served with a Cheddar "Cheese" Swirl, a sprinkling of Cilantro, and a dollop of "Sour Cream" ... all on top of a bed of lightly seasoned fluffy Brown Rice!

Try a side of our Autumn Stew along with your salad for only $4!

Angela's Raw Energy Nuggets $3

Almonds, Pecans, Walnuts, Cranberries, Raisins, Agave Nectar and Sunflower Oil blended together to satisfy a sweet-tooth craving or as a mid-day "pick-me-up" snack.

The Every Man and Woman Is A Star Salad $7

We start with a bed of crisp mixed greens, and you choose what fresh local and/or organic toppings you want to add! You also have your choice of homemade dressings to heighten your salad experience.



Toppings: (5 are included, additional toppings are .50 each): Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Carrots, yellow, green or red Onions, Avocado, Peppers, Walnuts, Sliced Almonds, Pecans, Raisins, Cranberries, and Sunflower Sprouts



Dressings: (All of our dressings are vegan, sugar free, wheat free and made with sunflower oil. We use sunflower oil so that the true flavor of the dressings can shine through.) Angela’s Signature Lioness*, Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Sesame-Ginger Vinaigrette and our Green Detroit Ranch.



*Lioness Dressing is: Sunflower oil, garlic, stone-ground mustard, lemon juice, sugar-free/wheat-free Worcestershire sauce, sea salt and black pepper.

LOCATION, DIRECTIONS & PARKING:

1434 Gratiot Avenue #1, Detroit MI 48207

Our entrance is behind our building NOT on Gratiot!

We use google maps for directions, they're much better at it than we are. If you need assistance please email or call 313.316.1411. The Lab entrance is well marked and located off the cobble stone service drive behind our building on Gratiot. Please pay attention to parking signs and meters if you elect to park on Gratiot or behind the building.