Yesterday evening, my wife and I celebrated Valentine's Day as we always do.

[MineralMan]

We went to our favorite Mexican restaurant and overtipped the staff. This year, that restaurant here in a MSP suburb has been closed for over a month. It was raided by ICE early on in the stupidity that's going on. The owners shut it down, but reopened it this week.

Even though it is a popular restaurant in my community, it's never hugely crowded. Except last evening, when there was a waiting line to get in. People have come back in force to welcome the owners and employees back. I've never had to wait there before, but we waited yesterday.

We always overtip around Valentines date and always go to a Mexican restaurant because we flew to Mexico for a week at an all-inclusive resort before we decided to get married. It's a tradition. So, we tipped even more last night.

People are supporting our migrant communities here in the Twin Cities. There were lots of smiles there yesterday.

[leftstreet]

1. DURec

[MIButterfly]

2. Good for you and your wife!

What a great tradition and how wonderful of you to overtip the wait staff.

You and your wife are what I call good people! And I'm so glad to hear about the community support. Way to go, Mineral Man and Twin Cities!

[SSJVegeta]

3. Humanity often shines it's brightest in times of strife and struggle

This is just another story that gives me so much hope in spite of far too many stories that do otherwise.

[MineralMan]

5. Yes.

It gives me hope.

[malaise]

4. Lovely

Rec

[mysteryowl]

7. Okay...you have an insane amount of hearts!!!

You must be very popular.

[malaise]

8. and

Camera shy😀

[mysteryowl]

9. I am too

[mysteryowl]

6. Mayor Frye was asked, what can people do to help Minneapolis?

His reply was, "Come to Minneapolis!"

[AllaN01Bear]

10. ding. this .!!!!!!!!!

[Raine1967]

11. Happy Valentine's day! We do this as well.

We support our immigrant community and eat at their establishments.
I'm really happy to see it was crowded.

Have you seen a drawdown from ICE and border patrol? I understand you are in the suburbs.

[mcar]

12. Sometimes it's the "little" things that bring light to our world

Going back to a restaurant and supporting the staff and your community.

MSP is an impressive place.

[LNM]

13. I just came back from El Burrito Meecado

On St. Paul’s west side. Grocery store and restaurant. Business is booming! So glad to see so many people out spending to support our neighbors. It looked like there were a lot of people that hadn’t been there before. I did my tipping by adding to the collection box to support security staff.

[MineralMan]

14. Great. I love that place, too!

[TBF]

15. You are in a blue state so it makes some sense -

down here in TX it blows my mind that so many folks will hire day workers or service folks to work on their homes, etc. but then repeatedly turn around and vote for people who will harm them.

[Permanut]

16. Nicely done, MineralMan..

I'll be going out tonight with my Sweetheart of 38 years, to our favorite restaurant in Portland.

[Aussie105]

17. The culinary variety different cultures bring to a country is amazing!

Only dim witted white supremacists will believe multi-culturalism is bad and unacceptable.

America has always been a big cultural melting pot.

Reminded of an old song, relevant lyrics:

"What we need is a great big melting pot
Big enough to take the world and all it's got
And keep it stirring for a hundred years or more
And turn out coffee colored people by the score"

(Blue Mink were a British six-piece pop group that existed from 1969 to 1977.)

[MineralMan]

19. Exactly!

It's odd how many people love the food of other cultures, but wouldn't give the time of day to someone from those cultures.

[calimary]

18. Nice!!!

[HeartsCanHope]

20. Thank you, to you and your wife, Mineral Man, for supporting your community!

We all need to do the same--look for ways to help!

[Old Crank]

21. When we traveled to my inlaws

We stopped at a local restaurant along the way. At least once during the holiday season I would stop at the kitchen counter and ask how many were working. Then gave a 20 for each of them.
I don't think they shared tips much for the cooking staff.

[Mblaze]

22. Mmmmm Chile Rellenos

[Scott Alan Swaggerty]

23. Excellent

The lack of community in this country is almost as bad as the job market and it is time to turn the tide on that.