A few good causes. 3 December 2008 7:04 am
Posted by Tracy in : eugene,friends,news,nyc,people,restaurants,time versus money , trackbackEugeniuses especially, take note:
I got some sad news over the weekend and I’ve decided to stop keeping it to myself. Mark Zolun, chef/co-owner of Eugene’s Iraila and all around great guy, has bladder cancer. (Some of you may remember that one of my first TracyFood posts was about my interview with Mark for my first food studies class.) He was diagnosed in September, right after he and his partner Kenne closed the restaurant to prepare for their transition to an exciting new location in Eugene, and the fact that he has this interim period to heal is a bright spot in his favor. Not so favorable is the fact that, like many small business owners, Mark has no health insurance. What he does have, however, is friends. (Some of whom are across the country wishing we could do more, and gritting teeth about being enraged at cancer yet again…. grrr.)
Catering jobs are out as a source of income, but there’s a fund set up in his name at Washington Mutual (again, that’s Mark Zolun, account #3411304029, and donations are tax deductible). More deliciously, there are some benefit events coming up in and around Eugene, and I would love it if anybody reading this checks them out or helps in any other way.
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December 7, 2008
6 PM: Holiday Buffet and Wine Dinner (bring your own is ok!)
Koho Bistro and Azul Wine Bar and Lounge
2101 Bailey Hill Road
Eugene, OR 97401
Call (541) 681-9335 to make a reservation; all proceeds from the dinner go to Mark’s medical fund.
January 9, 2009
7 PM: “When life gives you cancer, make a Variety Show Flea Market!”
Cosmic Pizza
199 W 8th Avenue (8th and Charnelton)
Eugene, Oregon
$10 at door, but bring your wallet.
Entertainment includes:
The Swinging Marmalukeys, Cowboy Gypsy Party Music
Americanistan, Middle Eastern-inspired music
Luminessah, Tribal Belly dancing
Rhys Thomas of Jugglemania
Dirty Wink (featuring former Iraila chef Andrew)
THE QUICK AND EASY BOYS from Portland
Luminessah and Americanistan appeared regularly at Iraila dinners, including the many benefits which Mark and Ken hosted for other causes over the years. Rhys Thomas and Tim Miller of The Swinging Marmalukeys are former juggling partners of Kenne’s from his days in Guys With Ties and Out To Lunch.
There will also be a flea market and art sale with donated treasures, gift certificates from Eugene businesses, and so on. More donations would be gratefully accepted, but if all you can give is your time, that’s okay too — they need volunteers. Contact info@iraila.com for, you guessed it, more info.
February 14, 2008
And then finally, a special dinner at The Secret Garden with Mark and the staff of Iraila cooking. There’s no menu up yet, but I’ll plug it again as soon as I know more. Entertainment will include harp music and scenes from frequent Iraila beneficiary Free Shakespeare in the Park.
One last way to help
Make a blood donation in Mark or anyone else’s name, and they can get credit for their transfusion or other blood needs. I haven’t given blood in years, but that idea’s enough to get me started up again.
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Finally, because Mark and Kenne are nothing if not generous, their latest email newsletter (where I got all this news) includes a message of support for their friend David Reekie, who at the age of 70 is looking for sponsors for his trip to Cambodia with the Nobel Peace Prize-winning land mine clearance charity, MAG. (In case I haven’t exhausted your generosity yet, that’s http://www.justgiving.com/davidreekie)
So. If you were thinking of me with regards to the obligatory winter holiday gift-giving thing, that’s a few possibilities right there (it gives me great warm fuzzies to think of people going to and/or doing these things on my behalf). Have I mentioned that our apartment is already way too full of stuff? Yes. I want to write something about time versus money versus mental/emotional effort spent on activities and things, based at least in part on my experiences with food, but it’s interesting to think about in terms of gift-giving and generosity as well. The best gifts are the ones that both the giver and the receiver feel good about, blah blah blah…. I digress.
Back to food and good causes, this time in New York: Next Wednesday, December 10, is Small Planet Fund Annual Auction and Party, honoring special guest Lucas Benitez of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. The celebration coincides with the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (Article 25: Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for… health and well-being… including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services…). I’ll be helping out at the book table and coveting some of the non-apartment-cluttering silent auction offerings (lots of tasty dinners!) Should be pretty good.
And now I’m off to Grow, Cook, Eat, and Learn. With first-graders. Eek. Good thing we’re meeting for caffeine beforehand!
