Belly Up Organic pancakes and peaceful dissent

One of the pleasures of being a consumer in the 21st century is that you rarely have to carry cash. That is, unless, you spend your money on Madison’s near-East side. For all the many benefits of localism, it sure can be a pain in the ass when few of the awesome bars, restaurants, and grocery stores accept credit cards. The Madison Hours co-op shares this same no-plastic ethos, but its coolness factor far outweighs the annoyance of ATM fees. In short, Madison Hours distributes local currency (called Madison hours) that members can spend in exchange for goods and services received and offered. On Sunday, March 14, Madison Hours will hold a pancake breakfast fundraiser at the Wil-Mar Center from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The hotcakes will be organic and vegan, and served with potatoes, orange juice, and organic fair-trade coffee. All are welcome in the door for $8.50, though if you’re already part of the program, it’ll only cost you one half of a Madison hour. For more information on Madison Hours and how it conducts its sawbuck-free business, check out its website.

Fatsometer: 5. It’s true this is a pancake breakfast, but the enjoyment of sticking it to Uncle Sam this close to tax time will lower your blood pressure and negate any of the negative syrupy effects.