Our intrepid photographer Garrio Harrison was on the scene to capture the vibe at last week’s double header event: Strom Studio’s open house + Ken Friberg’s exhibit of tilt-shift photos of St. Paul.

See the gallery

Thursday, July 22
9 a.m. to Noon

> Register

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the past three months show an intriguing trend: more people are quitting their jobs than are being laid off. It’s a surprising reversal of the previous 15 months, where the stats showed quite the opposite.

Whether they’ve already quit or are planning to quit, many workers are reconsidering their options. But there’s more to quitting than simply handing in your two week’s notice. Successful quitting requires social, financial, professional and emotional planning.

From career coaching to networking to dealing with post-cubicle panic attacks, we’ll examine the anatomy of a successful quitter.

Special Skype guests: Michelle Ward of When I Grow Up, Chrissy Scivicque of Eat Your Career and Chanelle Schneider of There From Here.

Agenda

Basic flow:  I’ll spend a relatively small chunk of time talking about myself + my career path, and after that I’ll become the “MC” and focus on the interview guests (and their expertise). I’ll set aside about 5 minutes for Q&A with each guest, and encourage audience members to share their experiences and stories throughout the event. I’m hoping it’ll be a vibrant dialogue, not The Alex Franzen Show.

9 – 9:15 am:  Introductions (all around the room) / explain what CoCo is (for non-members) / networking / present the morning’s schedule.

9:15 – 9:35 am:  I’ll share my “quitting story” and present some tips + resources. I’ll touch upon three main topics: financial, emotional and social preparation.  Warning: there will be PowerPoint.

9:35 – 9:55 am:  In-person interview with an HR professional (TBD). Topic: How to quit gracefully (and leave your bridges intact).

{ BREAK: 5-10 minutes }

10:05 – 10:30 am:  Skype interview with career coach Michelle Ward of When I Grow Up. Topics: Creative careers, day jobs and “Renaissance Souls.”

10:30 – 10:50 am:  Skype interview with career coach / nutritionist Chrissy Scivicque of Eat Your Career. Topics: When to quit, when not to quit and what to do when quitting is impossible.

10:50 – 11:05 am:  Skype interview with Chanelle Schneider of There From Here. Topics: Quitting and Generation Y, career shifts for college non-grads.

{ BREAK: 5-10 minutes }

11:15 – 11:45 am:  In-person interview with Dr. Annie Peters from the Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction Studies. Topic: Psychology of a quitter, do you hate your job (or are you just depressed?), stress management and healthy coping strategies.

11:45 am – 12 pm:  Wrapping it up: final Q&A + reiterate contact deetz for all presenters + plug CoCo one mo’ again + coffee + chatting!

Alexandra Franzen is a freelance writer + editor + organization freak. She designs rockstar resumes, leads personal branding jam sessions, writes marketing copy for individuals and small businesses, and teaches wallflowers how to hustle like a gangsta’. She quit her cubicle gig on April 1st (no joke), and her sanity is still intact.

July 17
9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Real Food Minnesota is a free event with a practical focus. For those with a new interest in learning about the food you buy and eat, we hope to unveil the mysteries of selecting and preparing healthy, delicious, and ethically-produced “real” food. Already comfortable in co-ops and your kitchen? Come hear about new ways to learn about food via the web, emerging sources of local ingredients year-round, and some of the great food communities being built throughout the Twin Cities. There will be:

• Guided tours of the St. Paul Farmers Market with tips on how to buy fresh ingredients
• Food prep demos with experienced chefs
• Discussions led by folks doing cool things in the local food scene (topics include urban farming, the ethics of eating, and more)
• Opportunity to chat with other curious and enthusiastic eaters, and to learn about ways to get more involved with our local food system

Join us for the day, or come and go for the session(s) you are interested in. No experience necessary…just come hungry to learn!

Learn more and register at the Real Food Minnesota site!

Thursday, July 1
4 to 10 p.m.

Strom Studio is proud to announce its new office in Lowertown St. Paul at CoCo. Come join us for food, drinks, and a tour of the CoCo space! In addition, you’ll be able to meet other design collectives such as Rat Race Studios, doublethink, Buffalo Nickel Creative and Comfy Chair Consulting.

Founded by Kerstin Strom and Marshall Young, Strom Studio is an industrial design firm specializing in design research and sustainable development.

I rode my bike 11 miles to CoCo today in order to enjoy Prof. Don Ball’s legendary waffles.  And what a joy it was!

Don spent a good two hours this morning manning the waffle iron in the CoCo kitchen, keeping a continuous flow of waffles coming for the early morning faithful.

Lacking all of the flair (runny fruit, whipped cream, etc.) that covers up the taste of poorly-cooked waffles at IHOP, Don’s waffles stood on the merits of their highly-delectable flavor and golden personality.  These were the type of waffles that would have made Betty Crocker proud!

Thanks, Don!