Mäni’s Blog Café

Acknowledging Elijah Wood

Thank you Elijah Wood for being so helpful to your friends at Mäni's on Fairfax.  We really appreciate your helpfulness and friendliness.  Your involvement in our press release  promoting our blog site is greatly appreciated.  By the way all your friends (and family?) that you've dined with here have also been really friendly and wonderful.  Even the little toddler seemed to enjoy himself.

Our blog site is important to us since it brings us closer to our customers.  It allows our guests to comment on articles and give us feedback on what people like and what's not working for them.  For instance, many guests have commented on our new bakery/restaurant colors being too bright, so we've re-designed some colors and will be repainting the interior very soon.

Thanks Scot Sax

One of Mäni’s regulars, musician Scot Sax, of Feel, is moving back to the east coast.  We'd like to thank Scot for all his support, patronage and enthusism about and for Mäni’s.  Also thanks for the acknowledgement on your Debut Album.  Come by and see us at Mäni’s on Fairfax when you get to L.A.

Larry and your friends at Mäni’s

Mäni's is Back Open for Business

Our maintenance is complete and we're back in business.  Remember, we're honoring Dine For America today so stop on by for your favorite dessert, soup or entree.  We are donating $1 for every customer who comes in today.

Making Lemonade When Life Gives You A Lemon

Well, we got our lemon alright!  We were hit with a maintenance issue that required us to be closed for 3 days.  Since we're open 18 hours a day 7 days a week, we had to close to take care of a much needed issue.  So we decided to close during our slower days, Monday through Wednesday and re-open on Thursday.  We're very sorry to have inconveniced our valued guests and certainly our regulars!

So during that time we've had an entire company meeting at LACMA in the park and came up with some great ideas from staff to better serve our guests.  As soon as they're implemented, we'll let you all know.

We've finalized our new color scheme for retail, finalized our new casual shirts for retail team members, shopped for new chairs for the restaurant and more.

So that's the lemonade we made from the lemon we were dealt.  We also passed out coffee coupons to customers who came by while we were closed.  If you came by and we were closed, just ask us for your complimentary coffee drink, next time you come to visit us for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack.

Larry

UPDATE: "Dine For America"

Due to a necessary maintenance repair, Mäni's will be closed for business from Monday, October 3rd through Wednesday, October 5th.

Since October 5th is "Dine For America" day across the nation, we will simply use Thursday, October 6th as our personal "Dine For America" day.  Read the "Dine For America" story! http://manisbakerycafe.blogs.com/cafe/2005/09/manis_morsel_oc.html

We really want to be a part of this fundraiser, so Please visit us on Thursday, the 6th!!! For every customer we have on Thursday, we will donate 1 dollar to the "Dine For America" Fund.

Again, it's a great way for you to participate in this fundraiser without donating from your own wallet!

We really encourage you to visit your "second favorite" (participating) establishment on Wednesday the 5th and support "Dine For America".

For more information visit the "Dine For America" website.

We'll see you on Thursday, October 6th. Tell all your friends to come too... make us pay a lot!

Helping Hand Cookie Update

Here is just a quick note to let you know that as of Noon on Friday, September 30th, we have sold 555 Helping Hand Cookies.

Read The Story... http://manisbakerycafe.blogs.com/cafe/2005/09/update_helping__1.html

Thanks for your support!!!

Mäni's Morsel: OCTOBER 5TH IS "DINE FOR AMERICA" DAY

It all began after September 11, 2001. A group of restaurant employees in Seattle went to their CEO with the idea to have a "dine out" day to raise money for the 9/11 relief fund.

The CEO not only agreed to their idea, he suggested they go public in an effort to get other restaurants around the Nation to participate as well.

"DINE FOR AMERICA" as it became known, grew to 8,000 restaurants and raised over 20 million dollars for the relief effort and was the second largest fundraiser for those whose lives were devastated by the events of September 11, 2001.

In light of recent events in our own Gulf region, on Wednesday, October 5th, "DINE FOR AMERICA" will return.

Dine For America is not an organization, instead it's Restaurants across America, their employees, and guests and the National Restaurant Association uniting in support of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, by raising funds for The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Check out DINE FOR AMERICA.

100% of the funds raised will go to The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. 100% of the funds raised through Dine For America will go directly to The American Red Cross to help the victims, their families and other needs arising out of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Check out The American Red Cross.

Mäni's has joined with the thousands of restaurants across the U.S.A. and pledges to give 1 dollar, to Dine For America, for every customer we have on Wednesday the 5th.

So, if you haven't yet tried our New Menu items, October 5th is the perfect day to come in. Check out the New Menu http://manisbakerycafe.blogs.com/cafe/2005/09/manis_morsel_ne.html.

Even if you come in to get your daily Muffin ToGo, we'll donate 1 dollar. How about a nice Hot Chocolate or Latte ToGo? We'll donate 1 dollar. Whatever you do, come in and do it on Wed. the 5th of October.

Double up on your power to help by buying a Helping Hand Cookie for 1 dollar. All proceeds will go to Americas Second Harvest; and we'll donate 1 dollar to "Dine For America". Read about Helping Hand Cookie. http://manisbakerycafe.blogs.com/cafe/2005/09/manis_morsel_ma.html

Many are planning Dine For America "parties",  getting groups of friends together at  restaurants participating in the Dine For America Fundraiser.

Whether you eat out often or not, if your thinking of dining out the first week in October, do it on the Wednesday the 5th! Find out if your favorite places are participating or not and support those that are.

You might even suggest that they do participate. There are various ways in which a restaurant may be a part of this huge Fundraiser. They should check out the Dine For America Site.(linked above)

Please come by Mäni's on Wednesday October 5th and be a part of Dine For America. It's an easy way for customers to play a huge part in the Fundraiser without having to dig deep into your own pockets.

Now that's a great value!!!

Helping Hand Cookie UPDATE: America's Second Harvest Hurricane Relief

  For anyone reading our BLOG for the first time; we've been selling Helping Hand Cookies for 1 Dollar since 9/7/05.

The response to our cookies has been very positive. The total Helping Hand Cookies sold, as of Noon today (9/26), is 524!

For every cookie we sell (1 dollar), America's Second Harvest provides 4 bags of food to those who have no food. So, we're looking at 2,096 bags of food!!!

Thank you for adding those "Hand Cookies" to your purchases these last few weeks.

The relief effort may lose it's "hot new story" coverage, but the need will not go away as quickly.

Thank You! We will continue to keep you informed.

Hurricane Katrina: RED CROSS DONATIONS UPDATE

As many of you know, Mani's is going to match your donations to the American Red Cross.

At 1 pm today (9/20) we counted a total of 489 dollars from you. When we reach 500 dollars, we will match it with 500 dollars and turn it over to the Red Cross.

Thank you! We are all grateful to you for supporting us in our effort to take part in helping those who are in serious need right now.

We will update you, when we give the money to the Red Cross.

UPDATE: Helping Hand Cookie Sales

Here's the latest update for our Helping Hand Cookie Sales. As most of you know by now, we're selling these crispy butter cookies for a dollar and all monies collected will be given to Americas Second Harvest.

For every dollar A2H receives they  can provide 4 bags of food to feed the hungry.

The Hurricane in the Gulf Coast has left many with nothing at all... some haven't even got I.D. to prove who they are!

A2H is involved with those who have been devastated by hurricane Katrina as well as the many who already go hungry here in the U.S.A.

Our thought behind the Helping Hand Cookie is that when you come in to Mani's for some of our healthier alternatives to traditional baked goods, why not donate a dollar to America's Second Harvest and get a Helping Hand Cookie in return.

As of 11 am today (Monday) our total sales are 434 cookies. At 4bags of food for every cookie you buy, that totals 1,736 bags of food available to eat.  

If you would like to check out Americas Second Harvest click here.

If you have any comments or questions about anything please feel free to click the comment bar below.

Thanks. And thank you to all of you for your support!