Oxfam Caf?© is easy to miss. Tucked away behind Miller Hall, the location of this vegetarian eatery is less than prominent. Locale notwithstanding, the caf?© has succeeded in carving a niche for itself as both a serene study spot and the place to go for healthy munchies.
But in recent years, Oxfam has come to be recognized for more than its unique menu of vegetarian fare and its efforts against hunger. The Midnight Caf?©, a live music show hosted by Oxfam on Friday nights from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., has helped Oxfam to build a reputation as one of the most inviting and laid back performance venues on campus.
"The objective of the Midnight Caf?© is to provide an alternative on Friday nights to the frat scene and alcohol scene," Midnight Caf?© coordinator Doug Hansen said.
While frat parties and bar scenes are "definitely competition" for the Midnight Caf?©, Hansen said that people continue to show up on Friday nights to check out the show's eclectic mix of talented musicians. The show features a wide variety of musical styles ranging from hip-hop to folk to jazz-funk fusion.
Even though the size of the crowd varies from show to show, the enthusiasm of musicians to perform in Oxfam Caf?© does not.
"Performers really like it better than playing at Hotung and the Campus Center," Hansen said.
Despite this, it's not always easy finding people to play the Midnight Caf?©, and the lineup is contingent on "who's available and who we can get," Hansen said. In past years, performers have included current undergraduates, alumni, and professional musicians. The show has also featured a series of open mic nights.
Past shows have been produced in collaboration with WMFO and broadcast live, such as the one featuring rap artist Mr. Lif last spring. The Midnight Caf?© has also hosted joint concerts with groups such as Amnesty International.
Coordinators hope that this year's Midnight Caf?© will be even more successful than past years. Thanks to the efforts of Hansen and Tufts Lighting and Sound Video (TLSV) office manager Sean McDermott, Oxfam has acquired new equipment that will make it easier for the Midnight Caf?© to put on a show.
The money for the new system came from the TCU Senate and was purchased through TLSV.
"Past semesters have been difficult because the equipment was old," Hansen said. "Sometimes we had to rent equipment...But this year we plan to be a lot more active. Hopefully we're going to start 'rockin' the casbah'."
The Midnight Caf?© is tentatively scheduled to do just that beginning Sept. 21, when Hansen hopes to collaborate with Oxfam Caf?© for "a grand opening kind of thing."
Music fans should arrive there hungry, as Oxfam Caf?©'s menu is unlike any other on campus. Despite the fact that the eatery serves only vegetarian food, the menu is well rounded enough to appeal to those who aren't vegetarians. There are five different kinds of veggie burgers ranging from the aptly-named Basic Burger to the Oxfam Burger with veggies and hummus or cheese. The menu also features more basic munchies like pizza bagels and pita with hummus as well as more exotic offerings such as Alu Paratha and Samosa, two vegan Indian dishes made from a potato and pea mixture served with tamarind chutney. A wide variety of beverages is available to quench your thirst.
The caf?©, which is staffed entirely by volunteers, is an affiliate of Oxfam America, a non-profit organization committed to eradicating worldwide hunger. In the past 30 years, the organization has been responsible for over $100 million in funding and technical support. Oxfam Caf?© has contributed to the organization's endeavors by donating its profits and thus aiding in Oxfam America's mission to create "lasting solutions to hunger, poverty and social injustice through long term partnerships with poor communities around the world."
