It isn’t every day that you hear great music with a real message.  I mean, not everyone is John Lennon or Bob Marley – right? 

That’s what I thought, but I had to think again when Erin Ross introduced me to Luminaries, a Venice based consciousness-expanding Hip Hop group whose history as teachers, social workers, activists, MCs, and instruments of service informs their music and their message.  These are not just incredible musicians, but messengers of hope, whose song titles on their debut album, “One,” read like a list of mantras: “Everything is One,” “Only Love,” “Show the World,” “Peace” and “Be the Change.”

Hi.

What an amazing week this was. We went to Los Angeles to lead Kindred Spirit and were so well received and supported by all the participants doing such deep and meaningful work on their relationships. I left completely inspired. We also got to soak up the LOVE at Cafe Gratitude L.A. where everyone wants to be and is! What a beautiful expression of love in action the Cafe is. I felt so good just looking around the restaurant at all the BEAUTIFUL VIBRANT people there knowing that they were in a fun, exciting and loving place being served food that is healing and good for them! What a miracle that is. What an amazing combination of serving others is created there. Thank you all. If you haven't yet been to the Cafe on Larchmont, make plans to visit it soon, you will LOVE your experience, I promise! We also got to hear Jason Mraz record a song on his upcoming album and I was deeply moved and appreciative of who he is for all of us. Thank you Jason!

Fresh peaches are in the Cafes now, and soon we will be moving to fresh frozen this year, so have and I AM Peachy soon, they are the sweetest peaches ever!

I meant to send this to you a long time ago and just re-discovered it on my hard drive. We visited your wonderful cafe in the summer of 2008. My eldest daughter Frederika who was 8 at the time created a game with her school friends after returning to London. They had a den and created a cafe where you didn't need money, only pebbles. Frederika suggested they call the cafe Cafe Gratitude. They created a full menu for the cafe and then it turned into a song which they played with the school orchestra at an end of term performance. One of our ex teachers who now teaches in California was there for the occasion which was rather appropriate.
Click here to view the video on youtube! 

Frederika is on the left, with her little sister Ingrid.  I hope you enjoy the clip as much as we enjoyed your cafe!

Brought to you by Philp C.

The Makepeace Brothers are long-time friends of Cafe Gratitude, and we are thrilled to be able to support them as they release their latest album, "Slow Down.  Feel Love."

Join us at their Album Release Party on January 12th to check out the chilled out 'front porch rifts' that make their sing-along roots based pop so irresistible.  It's not long before these brothers will be on that ever-expanding list of things you are grateful for.