Today in the TC, the big bad scuttlebutt comes from local Twin Citian governor candidate, Tom Emmers. Mr. Emmers is trying to pass legislation that would allow restaurants to pay their servers less than minimum wage. Why? Because servers make so much money in tips (one quote said up to $100,000 a year), they don’t need to be paid a fair wage for their work. His other rationale? Restaurants are struggling, and cutting the servers’ pay would help them get by.
As a former server inside and outside of MN (Byerly’s Restaurant, Spaghetti Works, and The Olive Garden), I know what it’s like to make less than minimum wage as a server. In Nebraska, we were paid $2.79 an hour, which barely covered the 10% in tips we had to claim (whether we earned 10% or not, and thank you, IRS).
Here’s the deal – ser!vers are WORKING, and should be paid a WORKING WAGE, whether they make tips or not. Also? If you can’t afford to tip, don’t go to sit-down restaurants. There are plenty of other options (like the Dari-Ette in St. Paul, yum) that are tasty and tip-free. But if you are being waited upon, and that service is good, tip. I’m all for being cheap, just not a cheapskate.
Enough of the bad, let’s look on the bright side of life for awhile! Here’s something good, and frugal, we can all enjoy. Well, all of us that live in the Cities, anyway:
The Science Museum in St. Paul has Family Nights for their latest exhibit, The Dead Sea Scrolls.
“What: The Dead Sea Scrolls Family Night package: One free child’s admission, ages 4 to 12, with a paid adult, plus family-friendly activities that help kids make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition.
When: Limited time only! Wednesday evenings after 5 p.m. Offer expires on August 18.
Details: The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition provides Science Museum visitors of all ages a rare opportunity to witness the earliest known texts of the Bible. The scrolls are regarded as one of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century.
The Science Museum has tools in place to help families enjoy The Dead Sea Scrolls together. On Wednesday evenings this summer, visitors can get one free children’s pass, ages 4 to 12, with the purchase of an adult’s ticket (ticket includes admission to The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Science Museum’s permanent exhibit galleries, as well as to Arabia in the Omnitheater – a $28 value).
The Dead Sea Scrolls Family Night package includes a family-oriented introduction to the exhibit, including a Question & Answer session, from 6:30-7 p.m. on the Atrium Stage; family-friendly volunteer-led activities in The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition; make-and-take projects on level 3 with representatives from the Minnesota Center for the Book Arts.”
Cheap, fun, and educational. Plus, it’s air-conditioned! A great way to pass a steamy-hot evening in the TC.
And now it’s time for the adorable. This weekend I got to meet my new niece, Tigger. You don’t think I’d let an opportunity to show off her cuteness pass me by, do you? Here she is, in all her newborn glory:
SO. CUTE. I miss her already.
One Comment
Congratulations, Erin, to you and to the parents of your new niece, Tigger!!
Awwww…..