El Meson, Minneapolis

Pastoral services take place daily at the nonprofit Café El Meson, which provides literature and camaraderie in order to bridge the gap between Christian religious practice and daily life. Beyond a nook containing the sandwich counter and the espresso machine, wood tables spread out under an A-frame ceiling, and armchairs cozy up to a fireplace. Visitors sup on the El Meson sandwich, a ham, turkey, and pepper-jack shindig held on a focaccia-bread dance floor, and they imbibe blended drinks flavored with mango, peach, and other fruit flavors. Musical instruments displayed near the entrance evince a commitment to creative collaboration, and a gurgling fountain on the patio reveals what regular speech therapy can do for a puddle.