Entertainment Spotlight: Berlin

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Rich Henriksen, owner, seated at the bar in front of the stained glass entryway. Photo credit Northstar Imagery

Rich Henriksen recently opened Berlin in the North Loop – and aren’t we lucky? This intimate music club, located at 204 N 1st Street, provides first rate entertainment with tasty food and drink menus. We talked to Henriksen about his inspiration for Berlin and what we can expect when we visit. Check out the amazing talent on the team! Berlin is open six days a week from 4PM to 12AM, (1AM closing time on Friday and Saturday), closed on Tuesday.

Q:  Congratulations on opening Berlin in the North Loop. What inspired you to open a jazz club? We would love to hear your vision for the club. 

A:  I have always been captivated by the spontaneity of live music and its ability to connect people around the world. Minneapolis has a rich musical history and culture - our aim is to make a meaningful contribution to the city and its artists. We created Berlin to be a cozy space designed for genuine connection, great conversation, as a way to immerse yourself in the energy of live music. We hope people will discover new artists experimenting with sound. It’s good for the soul to listen to live music together.

Q:  How do you go about selecting the individual artists and bands to perform at Berlin?

A:  Music Supervisor Alex Proctor selects artists to feature a wide variety of experimental music from jazz, ambient, and electronic programming while leaning on mostly instrumental music. The calendar will balance between live bands and DJ’s that span across musical genres with an expanding cast of local, national, and international artists.

Photo of the main room, view from the desirable counter-height seating. Photo credit Northstar Imagery

Q:  How did you design the Berlin interior? What elements of the décor or ambiance are you most proud of?

A:  Built in 1888, this historic building will maintain much of its time-honored charm, though with a fresh, cocktail-forward perspective. Designer Aaron Wittkamper, of Wittkamper Studio, brings together decadent velvety textiles, a stunning marble bar top and layered moments of colored glass, to evoke a truly jazz-minded environment, both contemporary and classic in its presentation. Vintage brass fixtures, tasseled pendants and soft curves in the millwork offer a subtle nod to all things art nouveau, while a stained glass entryway, hand crafted using a thousand year old technique, by Janelle Wilson of Archon Glassworks utilizes antique glass acquired from Germany. Berlin honors the past, while hosting a 21st century party.

We are most proud of how you can't quite place where Berlin exists in time. It is both old and new.

Q:  Are there community events or collaborations in the works that you may share with us? I’m thinking of a MacPhail School of Music/Berlin collab on jazz performances by emerging artists!

A:  There definitely will be in the future! This year we were brand new, but we still collaborated with The Great Northern for some of their programming. We hope to partner with other organizations once we get into a groove with our team.

Tinned fish is a hidden delight of the food menu. Photo credit Isabel Subtil

An old fashioned highlights the beauty in simplicity of the classic cocktail program. Photo credit Isabel Subtil

A spread of warm olives with orange and chili, a sourdough baguette with caramelized bacon butter, and a soft pretzel with cervelat cheese sauce. Photo credit Isabel Subtil

Q:  How did you decide on the menu for Berlin? Are there signature drinks or dishes?   

A:  Culinary Director Jamie Malone of Paris Dining Club offers shareable snacks, a few large plates, and delightful desserts. The beverage program is overseen by Ruby Langworthy, previously of Young Joni back bar and Little Tijuana. Cocktails are classic, simple, and unfussy. Both food and drink are designed to complement the heartbeat of the experience, which is music. You can enjoy a full dinner that adds to the show, without being too distracting and taking away from it. There is also an amazing happy hour from 4-6pm Monday-Friday.

Q:  How may we stay current with the performance schedule and other events at Berlin?

A:  We keep our calendar up to date on our website, but the best way to hear the news first is to subscribe to our newsletter here.

Mill City Farmers Market Opens May 4, Welcomes 10 New Vendors for the 2024 Season

A treat in May - the scent of lilacs and lilies of the valley wafting from Goldfinch Flowers

Mill City Farmers Market (MCFM) returns to the Chicago Mall and historic Train Shed with fresh local produce, sustainable groceries and handmade goods on Saturday, May 4 from 8am to 1pm. 

This year, an additional 10 new vendors joined the MCFM roster for a total of 115 vendors. MCFM is a primary storefront for many of the farms and local businesses showcased each Saturday. Customers can find a wide variety of local businesses including fruit and vegetable farmers, food makers with staple pantry items, textile and ceramic artists, jewelers, bakers, skin and body care, ready-to-eat food and more.

What you can expect this season:

Thanks to the Market’s Charitable Fund (MCFM-CF), educational programming will be back at the Market, including live cooking lessons with Market Chefs, veggie sampling for kids, Storytime and more.

Alongside food education, the Market and its Charitable Fund will continue their mission to give everyone in our community access to fresh, nutritious food through their food access programming. SNAP and EBT users can get their purchase tripled up to $10 each Market day (spend $10, get $30). In addition, beginning in July, MCFM’s Greens for Good food rescue program will return in partnership with Augsburg University’s Campus Kitchen, purchasing excess produce from farmers and distributing it weekly to low-income seniors in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood.

MCFM welcomes 10 new vendors for the 2024 season, with initial appearances scheduled as following:

May 4:

• Mom’s Garden Hmong woman-owned farm using organic practices to grow fresh produce.
• Zeytoon Bread & Co. Woman-owned bakery crafting sourdough with Mediterranean flavors.
• Chocolate San Jose Latino woman-owned business providing ethically sourced chocolate.
• Menoush Bakery Family owned company making and selling home baked Middle Eastern desserts.

May 11:

• Feather Thief Fly Fishing Custom curated, one of a kind hand-tied flies for fly fishing.
• Janna’s Gluten Free Bakery Woman-owned bakery offering gluten-free baked goods.

May 25:

• Suki's Chateau Gems and bracelets (formerly with Mhonpaj's Garden).
• Dervish Mazza Middle Eastern flavors showcased in a variety of spreads and dips.

June 15:

• Stone Fruit Creative Handmade crochet granny-square totes and produce bags.

July 13:

• Mi Sota Essence Latino Woman-owned cannabis company (formerly part of Primitiva Collective).

MCFM runs every Saturday, May through October, from 8am to 1pm (October markets open at 9am).

MCFM has long been a champion for the local food movement and has put farmers first since its founding in 2006 by farm-to-table pioneer and James Beard nominated restauranteur Brenda Langton. All vendors meet a high standard for local sourcing and are committed to market’s sustainability statement, which ensures the use of farming practices aligned with building healthy soils, sustainable water use, humane treatment of livestock, honorable workplace practices, and rejects synthetic inputs, pesticides and GMO seed. MCFM vendors are not required to be USDA Certified Organic, as the time and costs associated with certification are a barrier to many BIPOC, immigrant and emerging farmers. Customers at the Mill City Farmers Market can feel confident they will find high-quality, naturally grown and made products no matter which vendor they support.

New for the 2024 Art-A-Whirl: Art Passports on Parade, a Chance to Win $500 Worth of Art

Collecte 10 or more stamps to be entered into a drawing for $500 worth of art from a participating Art Passports on Parade artist of your choice.

Every year Art-A-Whirl draws over 40K visitors to the NE Arts District, which has ranked as the best, or one of the 10 best, art districts for a number of years by the US Today Readers Choice Awards. For 2024, non-profit Art to Change the World (ACW) is introducing Art Passports on Parade - an opportunity to visit artists who belong to ACW in their studios during Art-A-Whirl, May 17-19.

How Art Passports on Parade works:

Pick up a free Art Passport at the new ACW office and meeting space at 699 Lowry Ave NE (follow the ACW signs to the upper level), or from one of the participating artists. There will only be 100 Art Passports so be sure to get yours early!

Next, you will visit at least 10 of the participating ACW artists in Solar Arts, The Casket Building, The Carriage House, The California Building, The Northrup King Building and Flux Arts to see their work, interact with the artist, scope out what work you might choose if you win and have them stamp your Art Passport. Most artists will also host activities in their studios.

Participating Artists: Anna Karena, Frances Bates, Josh Blanc, Madeline (Lin) Boemer, Barbara Bridges, Rose Cooper, Rebecca David, Marko Fields, Kelly Frankenberg, Sara Hanson, Paul Kellett, Candy Kuehn, Layl McDill, Natalie McGuire, Catherine A. Palmer, Debra Ripp, Lucienne "Lucy" Schroepfer, and Sadie Ward.

Finally, Passports must be dropped off at the Flux Arts/ACW World Headquarters to be entered in the drawing. The winner will be notified by May 26, 2024.

Getting Around:

If you're driving, find parking on Monroe Street. Be aware that construction will be happening in the area. 

Not driving? A free shuttle driven by Eric Boyum of Boyum Enlightening Art Services will loop around from Lowry/Monroe to Solar Arts and the Carriage House at Casket Arts Building all three days. Once you are at Casket Arts, it will plug you into the Art-A-Whirl trolly route. Click here for map. 

2024 Art-A-Whirl Schedule:

May 17, Friday: 5pm – 10pm

May 18, Saturday: Noon – 8pm

May 19, Sunday: Noon – 5pm

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2024 Art Passports on Parade sponsors include East Side Food Coop, Central Ave Liquor and MPLSART.

Full Moon With A River View by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Ric Rosow

Full Moon With A River View

On April 23rd the moonrise in the East was around 8:15pm coming over the natural horizon. It was 8:27pm when it rose over a tall building. Even though it was past sunset, the sky was not too dark so I was able to capture the entire scene with one image. At other times of the year, from the location where this image was taken, the moon rises in locations now blocked by structures in the foreground. A different place from which to have shot this image is the Stone Arch Bridge, but of course half of that bridge is now closed for repairs.

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Art-A-Whirl, A NEMAA sponsored event, is only weeks away! Visit us at Price Krishnan Gallery in Studio 171-173 of the Northrup King Building. The Gallery is open Fridays 12-4pm and Saturdays 12-5pm.

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During Art-A-Whirl, the hours are:
Friday, May 19, 5 - 10 pm
Saturday, May 20, Noon - 8pm
Sunday, May 21, Noon - 5pm 

Theatre in the Round Players' 72nd Season Continues with Men on Boats by Jacklyn Backhaus May 10 - June 2

An audience discussion with the cast and director will be held immediately after the performance on Sunday, May 26.

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) continues their 72nd Season with Men on Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus, the true(ish) story of John Wesley Powell’s 1869 expedition down the Colorado River, running weekends May 10 to June 2 with a Monday Pay-What-You-Can performance on May 20. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2pm. 

This rollicking adventure offers a fresh perspective on the American West and the nature of adventure itself, telling the story of the all-male explorers with a cast women and gender-expansive performers. With humor, heart, and a thrilling narrative, Men on Boats uses unconventional storytelling to create a thrilling theatrical experience.

Sophie Peyton directs the ten-member cast with movement direction by Kelly Nelson, sets designed by MJ Leffler, costumes by Claire Looker, lighting by Bill Larsen, props by Vicky Erikson, and sound design by Christy Johnson.

Sign Up for City of Minneapolis Emergency Text Alerts via Smart911

Excerpt from the April 25 City of Minneapolis e-news

Sign up for the City of Minneapolis’ new alert system. You can get text alerts, create a full profile if you’d like alerts on specific subjects, and even download the mobile app to your phone.

Alert topics

The City of Minneapolis will use the new system, Smart911, to send alerts on many topics including:

• Snow emergencies
• Severe weather
• Public safety incidents
• Major infrastructure issues
• Major special event impacts

Smart911 replaces the City’s former alert system, Swiftreach. If you were subscribed to Swiftreach, you'll get alerts in the new system. You are encouraged to create a Smart911 profile for more precise alerts.

Sign up for alerts

To subscribe, text MPLSAlerts to 77295 or create a full Smart911 profile online.

Read more about the new alert system on the City website.

Don’t Miss Mia’s Art in Bloom Festival, April 25 - 28

Article and photos by Becky Fillinger

The 40th anniversary of Mia’s Art in Bloom (AiB) Festival opens today, April 25, and runs through the 28th.  Admission is free and open to everyone. As you wander from gallery to gallery, you’ll be delighted to see how over 100 local floral artists interpret artworks chosen by a Mia curator.

Perry McGowan with his floral arrangement to accompany Portrait of a Girl by Georg Pencz

We spoke with Perry McGowan, and greatly admired his interpretation of Portrait of a Girl by Georg Pencz in Gallery 342. McGowan has been a participating floral artist at AiB for 6 years but was quick to explain that he is a CPA, not a florist or artist by training. “It’s a huge honor to be chosen to participate and to be able to see your sculpture in a public place, especially at Mia. It’s an absolute joy to see people respond and connect to my, and my co-artist Zuzana Menzlova’s, sculpture.”

Mia welcomed over 60,000 visitors last year to AiB and this year should also see record crowds. Prepare for crowds and give yourself time to appreciate the wonderful pairings of Mia’s artworks alongside gorgeous floral interpretations. The museum’s restaurant will be open daily during the festival, and food trucks will be onsite as well. Full event information can be found here.

Billboard by Grace Hartigan

The Intrigue by James Ensor

Nanbozhoo and Toad Woman by Rabbett Strickland

The Smoker by Édouard Manet

Although admission to AiB is free and open to everyone, it’s important to realize that it is the Friends of the Institute’s most essential annual fundraiser. Funds raised enable Friends to sponsor events like AiB and to continue Mia’s mission of sustaining and enhancing Mia’s collections, exhibitions and programs. Please donate generously to support Art in Bloom!

Lidia Bastianich to Feature Sean Sherman in an Upcoming Episode of Lidia Celebrates American: Changemakers

Lidia and Sean by Water Works Pavilion with the 3rd Avenue Bridge in the background. Photo credit Owamni

Italian-American cooking icon Lidia Bastianich was recently in town interviewing Sean Sherman for her special Lidia Celebrates America: Changemakers. Sean talked to Lidia about indigenous food knowledge, how his nonprofit, North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NĀTIFS), is uncovering, collecting, and disseminating that knowledge, and how understanding these very different ways of gathering food and eating can benefit everyone in our society.

Mark you calendar with a reminder to look for the episode this December on Twin Cities PBS!

Lidia samples dishes, ingredients and drinks with Sean at Owamni. Photo credit Owamni

A Year With Frog and Toad returns to Children’s Theater Company

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A Discussion with Jay Goede, returning as of Frog

A Year with Frog and Toad returns to Children’s Theatre Company, April 23 - June 16. We spoke to Jay Goede, our Frog, a role which he originated in CTC’s 2003 world premiere and the subsequent Broadway production. He describes the joy in collaborating with fellow actor Reed Sigmund and in delighting audiences with the characters’ friendship played out against the changing seasons of the year. Get your tickets here because this one is a delight and a favorite for all ages.

Q:  What draws you to the character of Frog who you portray in A Year With Frog and Toad? Are there aspects of the character that resonate with you personally?

Jay GoedeA:  I think Frog is very much a person who likes to have a balance between social, personal, and spiritual worlds. There's a beautiful song in the show called “Alone” where - in distress – Toad pedals out to a little island, where Frog is sitting alone in nature, and Toad is convinced that poor Frog must be angry or sad or some negative emotion because he's isolated himself alone on this island. And, quite the contrary, Frog tells Toad that he's happy to be alone because it makes him feel at one with nature, enjoy his surroundings, and remembering how wonderful it has been to be who he is in nature. He "loves being a frog in the warm sunny summer," his beautiful phrase from the song. That really resonates with me. You need to be alone to be in touch with your spiritual and physical surroundings. The joy of taking in nature and all be magic that goes on within it.

Q:  How has your perspective or approach to the character of Frog evolved since your previous involvement with the show in 2003?

Frog and Toad go sledding. Photo by Glen Stubbe PhotographyA:  Well, it is very much informed by who I am today as Jay, versus who I was in 2003 as Jay. I guess what I mean by that is: I stepped away for many years from the business of "show." The acting business. I found much serenity and peace in that decision. I began painting again, as I was trained as an artist originally many years ago. Most importantly, I have found a spiritual center that was much needed, and not quite in place in 2003. But I have missed the art of acting. I have not missed all the shenanigans that are "show business." But I do enjoy acting when I get the chance. "Frog" in 2024 will probably be my last time on stage for quite a while. It has been a lovely chance to get to know Frog again, and to work with the incredible talent of Reed Sigmund, who is - without question - one of our country's finest and most brilliant actors. This has been the greatest gift for me this time playing Frog. I feel extremely fortunate to be sharing the stage with such a fine talent, just as I felt the first time acting with Mark Linn-Baker who originated the role of Toad. Both are genius talents that don't come around very often. So if that makes any sense, those are the big differences this time around. I also don't jump as high as Frog used to do in 2003! Sigh.

Q:  The show explores themes of friendship and the changing seasons. How do you think the themes resonate with audiences?

A:  For me, as a child growing up, the most magical part of each year was the change of seasons. I loved the change of seasons, and most of all I loved fall and spring. Winter was a wonderful challenge because we got to go outside and sled down the hill, as Frog and Toad do, but spring is the most magical time of year for me. I think everyone sits in the audience and brings their own personal relationship with all the seasons to the show. Fall, for me as a young person and of course still as an adult, is when my two favorite holidays take place: Halloween and my birthday, which is November 2nd. So I guess I have romantic and nostalgic feelings associated with every season. As we age, we bring more of our history to living through those seasons each year, but without a doubt I think we all have our favorite seasons. It is fun to see the audience, especially the children, respond to each new scene, and enjoy watching Frog and Toad experience all the wonderful seasons onstage.

Regarding friendships: in the changing seasons, I have beautiful memories of sledding with my friends, and going Halloween trick-or-treating with my friends. I think about Christmas gift exchanges with my friends. Every one of us has special memories that we cherish from our childhoods, and even in adulthood our friends mean so much to us, especially during the holidays. We love and look forward to sharing our time, our gifts, and our memories with them. The friendships that last over many years, like Frog’s and Toad’s, are the ones that anchor us in our reality, in our happiness, in our struggles and in our victories. The friendships that last through the years are the ones we hold most dear in our hearts. And, certainly, the seasons give us indicators of how many years we've known our special friends.

Reed Sigmund (Toad), rehearses with Jay. 

Q:  Are there any particular scenes or songs in the production that hold special significance for you?

A:  Yes, as I mentioned, I will always feel fortunate to sing “Alone” every day that the show runs. This beautiful song, in the middle of this gorgeous show, talks about one's need to be not isolated but with oneself in nature. It is one of the most beautiful ideas in the show. Frog explains to Toad that he doesn't mind being alone, and he actually needs it sometimes. It is a beautiful spot in the show, where you see the depth of the friendship between the two characters. Toad has made this beautiful lunch of sandwiches and iced tea for Frog, to comfort him and cheer him up. The lunch gets ruined in Toad’s efforts to get out to the island. Just as he falls off his log, Frog reassures him that it is enough to just be with him and sit in the wonders of nature. In essence, Frog is letting Toad know that just his friendship and his presence are enough. Even without the iced tea and sandwiches. It is such a beautiful part of the show for me. 

Q:  How do you prepare for the emotional aspects of your character, and how do you find a balance between the comedic and more serious moments in the show?

A:  I guess the key to good comedy is that the character doesn’t know the situation is funny. I don't look differently at comedy than I do at more serious moments. If you think about the truth of the situation, that takes care of it. In other words, I think comedy and seriousness can layer on top of each other, the more we get to know the characters, their behaviors, and the situations in which they find themselves. Behavior comes out of truth, and the more truthful we can make the situations, the more truthful the behavior is. And the audience discovers joy and sadness while watching the character experience all these moments.

Q:  As someone returning to a familiar role, how do you keep the performance fresh and exciting for yourself, as well as for the audience?

A:  At my age, I just try to keep it simple, and the rest takes care of itself as far as the joy of performing. I take the advice of that great actor Spencer Tracy who said, "Just learn your lines and don't bump into the furniture."

Q:  Lastly, you mention that you might not be on the stage again for a while. What’s on the horizon for you after Frog and Toad wraps up in June? 

A:  After this wraps up, Frog/Jay is going on vacation to an island far away, all alone by himself, to sit and be one with the spiritual self and the joy of nature.

Q:  How may we follow you?

A:  I'm very elusive and like to stay that way. You might find me on Facebook and Instagram, but you might not."Maybe yes and maybe no!" as Frog says.

Eagle Watches Over the Stone Arch Bridge Project

Submitted by Ric Rosow

The tug boats are doing yeoman work on the Stone Arch Bridge repair project. Above, a tug boat is pushing and guiding a new barge, the third, into place. Note the eagle perched atop a tree branch in the bottom center of the second image watching over the project. Below, a tug boat returns from one of the barges.

Clay Squared Gallery Announces Grand Opening, May 10

Image: ReUse On the Range, mixed media sculpture by Layl McDill, 55"x100"x9", 2023

Grand Opening May 10, 6:00 - 8:00pm

Mixed media sculptor Layl McDill is expanding her gallery and studio. The newly renovated storefront space at Lowry and Monroe will showcase Layl’s sculptures of all sizes and shapes. The Grand Opening is May 10 from 6:00 to 8:00pm. There will be door prizes and snacks, and an opportunity to play with some clay, too! 

Check out her latest teapots that have transformed into birds and whimsical worlds. Take your time searching the bead collection to find just the perfect grouping for a personalized bracelet. You'll also find a life-size bison made of found objects and polymer clay! 

The new gallery space (above) will be open Monday-Saturday from 12:00 to 5:00p, or by appointment or chance. Direct entrance is located at Monroe and Lowry, or enter at the main entrance of the Flux Arts Building, 2505 Howard Street NE (below).

Also open in the Flux Arts Building will be: Clay Squared to Infinity tile showroom and studio, Art to Change the World and Potek Glass.

Clay Squared Gallery will also be offering classes, parties and workshops in this new space. With several newly trained instructors, classes will be offered regularly. You will learn amazing magical techniques and then create a finished project such as a vase, frame or switchplate cover. Take it home and bake it in your own oven or let Clay Squared bake it for you. 

Public is Invited to the Annual MPD 1st Precinct Open House, May 14

Inspector Billy Peterson and the entire MPD 1st Precinct staff cordially invite you to the 1st Precinct Open House, taking place Tuesday, May 14, 11a-2p at 19 N 4th Street.

The Classical Music Project Returns to Westminster on June 2nd

June 2, 3pm Westminster Presbyterian Church

Sponsored by The Dakota

The Classical Music Project, launched in 2023, seeks to offer audiences intimate and thought-provoking musical experiences that highlight the beauty and complexity of classical music of the 17th-19th centuries. As a member of the Incubator Program at Springboard for the Arts, the project is committed to exploring new and creative approaches to presenting older music in a modern context.

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The first concert of the 2024 season promises to be a captivating exploration of love, revenge, and the beauty of Italy through the music of three influential composers. Get your tickets now and immerse yourself in an afternoon of musical mastery and storytelling.

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The program includes:

• Sinfonia Avanti II Barcheggio - Alessandro Stradella (Marissa Benedict, Trumpet Solo)
• Suite from the Ballet Pulcinella - Igor Stravinsky
• Symphony No. 4 in A, Op. 90 (Italian) - Felix Mendelssohn

Marissa Benedict will be featured as a solo performer. Her impressive resume includes being the first woman trumpet player to record on prestigious scoring stages and being featured on numerous blockbuster film and television soundtracks.

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Jere Lantz, Conductor, has been recognized with many awards for his contributions to the world of classical music, and his dedication to the arts has left a lasting impact on the communities he has served. His passion for sharing the joy of music with audiences of all ages and backgrounds has made him a beloved figure in the world of classical music. 

Tickets Now Available for Puccini’s Suor Angelica at The Basilica of Saint Mary, June 26-29

Puccini’s Suor Angelica will be the first-ever opera to be performed at The Basilica of Saint Mary - June 26-29

TICKETS

Out of the Box Opera, which designs productions that get to the heart of what makes opera exciting, is a pioneer of popup opera. Past production venues include Uppercut Boxing Gym, Weisman Art Museum, A-Mill Artist Lofts and Canopy Hotel. For this historic first, The Basilica of Saint Mary is acting as co-producer.

Few places in the Twin Cities can rival the Basilica’s power to stun. The iconic building is a place of beauty, mystery, and drama - the perfect complement to Suor Angelica, an intense one-act work set in a convent and sung by an all-female cast. As the tragic story of Sister Angelica unfolds, audiences will visit three separate locations within the Basilica: the Teresa of Calcutta room, the Chapel, and the majestic Nave. As if swept along by the music itself, at times actually mixing with the performers, the audience will have a uniquely immersive opera-going experience that will be unforgettable to first-time opera goers and veterans alike.

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Side note  - Learn more about this production when Mill City Times publishes a Becky Fillinger interview with Out of the Box Opera President, Noah Eisenberg, in May!

Local Artist Spotlight: Sarah Nassif, Artist in Resident at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Sarah creating a felted vagus nerve

Bringing People, Plants and Place together through interactive art works

Sarah Nassif is Artist in Residence at Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO), where she developed her Weaving Water Workshops. Keep reading to learn about this workshop where you can share personal connections to textile traditions, bodies of water and the Mississippi River. That’s just one of the programs that Nassif has created in the local area. We talked to Sarah about her amazing nature-based projects in the Twin Cities and how you can participate.

Q:  You're the Artist in Residence at Mississippi Watershed Management Organization. How did this marvelous appointment come about?

A:  Just months before the pandemic, I was awarded an MRAC Next Step grant and a Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant. The funding was meant to allow me to continue the work I had started in 2018 with Weaving Water, which was funded by a 2017 Artist Initiative Grant by presenting it through MWMO. The plan was for me to present my first solo show in the beautiful MWMO Stormwater Park and Learning Center gallery space as well as provide some public programming for MWMO. My show plan was to create enormous weavings depicting three watersheds and design an immersive fiber art installation.

Of course, everything froze in March 2020– and then life took us all through some very hard times – fires around the world, the murder of George Floyd and the upheaval that followed, the isolation and fear brought on by the pandemic, etc.

Abby Moore, Outreach Principal at the MWMO, and I stayed in conversation through 2020-2021, having no idea when or how my project could (or should) resume.

Abby’s challenge when the MWMO reopened its offices (after more than a year) in fall 2021 was how on earth to move forward with the work of connecting the public to what this governmental body accomplishes day in and day out for our watershed, a world most people barely know. She had always engaged artists to present art shows each year with some public programming to complement them, but the MWMO building hours were now very limited, people were still scared of gathering, and circumstances were shifting due to COVID conditions and a very cold winter that set in in January 2022.

I have long admired the work of Christine Baumler as Artist-in-Residence at Capitol Region Watershed District, so I suggested we create a similar role for me as a way for me to collaborate with Abby to meet both her goals and mine as we rode the waves of changing circumstances starting in October 2021.

Both Abby and I wanted to create opportunities for people to come together safely, connect with the Mississippi River, and find creativity and relaxation in community to help offset the extreme stress of daily life at the time.

The first Weaving Water Workshop at MWMO was distanced/masked and outdoors in late October, but people loved the chance to gather by the river, get creative playing with indigo and fiber, and just be together again. We shared about our personal lineages of creativity and connection to water to kick off a couple hours of making. It felt like such a gift and a balm at that time, under the huge cottonwood trees with the sparkling river and smiling people. We planned monthly workshops after that, and I brought in fellow artists to expand on the theme of creativity and connection to water. So that was it, I became the first Artist in Residence for the MWMO, and I continue in this role to bring arts-engaged outreach programming to all corners of the watershed.

Q:  That’s quite a story – thank you for persevering with your vision. Your website notes that your passion is bringing people, plants and place together to create interactive art works. Can you tell us how you first became aware of your interest in unexpected collaborative experiences?  

A:  I like to say that my art practice is about the intersections of people, plants and place. When I moved to Minnesota in 2000, I had no history here, no family roots, and despite my B.S. in Botany from University of Washington, all the plants were brand new to me. My first jobs here were in marketing data analysis, far removed from my love of art and nature. I was living here, but didn’t feel connected to the place for the first five years. Unhappy with work, I left the corporate world in 2005 with room to return to my creativity at long last. Getting to know the plants was my first artistic ambition – I documented trees and plants on my hikes and created textile designs from them that I screen printed in my home studio.

In 2005 I launched Rectangle Designs: Botanically Inspired Fashion. This was a line of apparel and accessories featuring botanical screen prints I created from my field photography of plants. Each design connected the buyer to an actual plant and the place it grew. I had beautiful hangtags and a website where shoppers could learn more about each plant. I was trying to inspire people about nature in the unexpected location of a boutique where they were just shopping for clothes or gifts. In 2012 I was invited to host a solo trunk show at the Walker Art Center’s Gift Shop, and I loved talking to all the people who bought my designs.

But I decided to close the business when we moved to a new house that required me to pack up my screen printing studio indefinitely, and I just did teaching artist residencies for a couple years. In 2014, I got my first artist grant through Springboard for the Arts’ Irrigate program to create The Other Green Line, which was also my accidental introduction to “social practice” art. The Other Green Line was a free field guide distributed alongside other free printed materials at convenience store check outs and local businesses up and down the new Green Line light rail. This project was the real catalyst for me realizing the power of “unexpected creative (and collaborative) experiences.” It also led me to meet other local artists working in similar ways.

The Other Green Line revealed the natural history of the landscapes between Minneapolis and St. Paul that were obscured by urban development. It invited people to participate as field naturalists observing the world around them with curiosity and sharing their observations with other people. They could follow a self-guided foray route and draw on pages in the booklet. I offered guided forays for free. An article in Streets.MN was the ultimate validation to me that somehow, I was on the right track creatively.

Q:  Please tell us more about the Weaving Water Workshop at MWMO. How may we participate?  

A:  The Weaving Water Workshop was created in 2018 and is an ongoing project - an umbrella title for the collaborative work I do with a variety of organizations including (but not limited to) MWMO. The project can take the form of an art show installation, a public festival, or a privately held workshop for a smaller audience.

Above and below - some of Sarah's workshop participants, clearly enjoying themselves.

I collaborate with select partners to design Weaving Water Workshops for organizations and communities. This summer, the project will travel south along the river to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona in May and north to the Watermark Art Festival in Bemidji in July. Contact me here to inquire about commissioning a Weaving Water Workshop for your group. 

Subscribe to the MWMO newsletter to learn about public Weaving Water Workshops across the urban watershed. And listen to an in-depth interview of Sarah on the MWMO's new podcast River of Ideas. Please follow me on Instagram @sarahjnassif.

Q:  Another of your creations is the Trees of Prospect Park (TOPP). Can you tell our readers about the program?  Will you possibly design other tree or plant walks in our neighborhoods?

A:  TOPP was a pandemic project designed to help people de-stress by connecting to nature and to each other in the safety of the outdoors and fresh air. I designed a 26-tree walk that anyone can follow on Google Maps using the link is on my website. I led free tree walks along the river banks south of the Franklin Bridge in my neighborhood. My friend was just starting Signature Arts in a former grocery building, and there was space where I could host drawing sessions safely – with masks, distanced and with an air purifier! I provided walnut ink I made from a neighborhood tree’s windfall of walnuts, paper, and my extensive collection of pressed leaves, cones, acorns and other tree treasures. I coached individuals and family groups from 10 feet away to trace the leaves and draw without self-judgment while we chatted about our tree affinities. After a winter of being isolated in our homes, this was a fun way to get out in the world! 

I am developing a plant walk for the Walker Art Center in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden – to be released this Spring/Summer!

I also have a 9-week art residency that I teach at older adult communities. We gather weekly to explore the trees growing around the residences, and the students create and illustrate a custom field guide of these trees. The course is called Seeing the Forest and the Trees. It’s so fun!

Q:  So many wonderful projects! How may we follow your news?

A:  Please do follow my Instagram @sarahjnassif or subscribe to my newsletter. My website sarahnassif.com – check out my news and projects there.

Sherman Associates Completes Ladder 260 Apartments in the Mill District

Ladder 260 is a six-story, 82,225-square-foot low-rise apartment building, featuring 90 affordable housing units. 

Now pre-leasing - learn more at Ladder260.com

Sherman Associates has completed Ladder 260, a new $34 million affordable housing development located at 260 Portland Avenue in the Mill District neighborhood.

Kraus-Anderson (KA) is the general contractor for the multi-phase project for Sherman, which is redeveloping most of an under-utilized city block at Washington Avenue and Portland Avenue. The first phase of the overall $161 million development project was a new $12 million fire station for the City of Minneapolis, which was completed in 2022. The final phase, called O2, is a 22-story, 240-unit market-rate apartment tower at 250 Portland Avenue, expected to be completed in early fall of 2024.

Designed by ESG Architects, Ladder 260 is a six-story, 82,225-square-foot low-rise apartment building, featuring 90 affordable housing units.  Amenities include a hotel-like lobby and leasing center, fitness room, 2nd floor lounge and a rooftop deck, bike storage/parking and pet spa.  Walk-up units on the street level provide a unique unit type to the market and will enhance the vibrancy along 3^rd Street.  The location has proximity to light rail and bus routes and is highly walkable and bike-friendly.

KA and Sherman have worked together on several projects that have enhanced the downtown Minneapolis community. Most recently, the 10-story Moment Apartments opened its doors in January 2023. The mixed-use, 222-unit development also includes the Transitional Healing Center for Firefighters For Healing. The center located on the 2nd floor includes 12 fully furnished suites for families of burn survivors, firefighters and first responders traveling to the Twin Cities for care at nearby Hennepin Healthcare.

Cirrostratus Clouds Over Downtown by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Ric Rosow

It was January 29th and the sun had set behind downtown building. The glow of the setting sun continued to light up the sky and the cirrostratus clouds. I had gone out specifically to photograph the sunset. The cloud formation was stunningly beautiful. Mother nature put on quite a show.  

Art A Whirl, a Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) sponsored event takes place May 19-21. You can see more of my work during Art A Whirl, at Price Krishnan Gallery and at  ricrosowphotography.com

Cirrorstratus Clouds Over Downtown

Local Theater Icon: Bradley Greenwald

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

From a Theater Latté Da production of OLIVER!  Photo credit Heidi Bohnenkamp

One of the Twin Cities favorite performers is Bradley Greenwald. We wanted to know more about his start in the performing arts – and what’s on the horizon this year. If you haven’t had the pleasure of watching Greenwald on stage (unlikely, but even if you have), do yourself a favor and get tickets for the upcoming reimagining of Puccini’s comic opera Gianni Schicchi at Theater Latté Da. Greenwald wrote the libretto, and directs and stars in the production. He never disappoints whether on stage or teaching acting and singing to high school students.   

Bradley Greenwald, Photo credit Devon CoxQ:  Anyone who has seen you on stage has a favorite Bradley Greenwald performance. For me, it was your portrayal of the Emcee in Frank Theater’s 2011 Cabaret on the Centennial Showboat. You were exuberant, playful, mysterious, a bit sinister, bawdy and in our faces! Alan Cumming would have been impressed. Can you describe your routine or preparation process before a performance?

A:  I like rehearsing much better than performing because there's so much freedom in the discovery process. Most people are probably not aware that what they see on stage - the choices performers have locked in for their characters that may seem so natural and obvious to the audience - only comes after a tedious process of finding the right choice for the right moment. And that involves rehearsing a lot of wrong choices. Rehearsing is exploration. And I could keep exploring a piece forever.

Q:  Let’s now ask you – what’s your most memorable Bradley Greenwald performance and why?

A:  I am never able to answer that question easily because there are so many, and they're never because of my performance - they're memorable because of a deep connection between the audience and those of us on stage. I do have a short list of moments that will live forever with me: the end of Leonard Cohen's "Halleluia" in Rumblings, and the very first run of Carmina Burana, both with Minnesota Dance Theatre; Theâtre de la Jeune Lune's The Magic Flute - ​the most joyful union of theater and audience I've ever experienced; singing Peter Mayer's "My Soul" with pianist Sonja Thompson and the sigh from the audience as snow started to fall on stage behind us at the end of every performance of The Longest Night at Open Eye Theater.

Bradley, accompanied by Sonja Thompson, in The Longest Night. Photo credit Star Tribune

Q:  How did you first discover your passion for performing?

A:  Completely by accident. My major at the University of Minnesota was German, and I planned on being a high school German teacher. But I got interested in classical music and started taking voice lessons. During that time, I spent a summer as a fellow with a Bach Festival in New York. There was a closing concert, and I had been asked to perform the aria "Ich habe genug" with a small chamber ensemble, a piece of music I was much too young and inexperienced to take on. It was too mature for me technically, and emotionally, and I actually pulled out of it after a couple rehearsals. But the vocal coach talked me back into it. He sat me down, listened to my reasons for not wanting to do it and he agreed that it really was too much for a young singer to tackle, but I had told my colleagues I would do it and should honor that commitment. And really, who's ever ready for anything? So, I did, and I don't remember performing it at the concert at all - it was suddenly over, and I was there on stage with these fantastic instrumentalists who had played their hearts into an aria sung by a man on his death bed, and the audience was hushed by this profoundly beautiful music and didn't clap for a good ten seconds after it was over. And I thought: this is what I want to do. I went back to Minneapolis unsure about what I wanted in life - and a few days later Minnesota Opera called and asked me to do their national tour of Madama Butterfly. I quit school, did that, and 35 years later I'm still at it.

Q:  Where and in what roles will we see you perform in 2024? Are there upcoming projects or performances that you're excited about?

JOHNNY SKEEKY; or, The Remedy for Everything runs May 29 - July 7 at Theater Latté Da.A:  The next production I'm in will be Johnny Skeeky; or The Remedy for Everything at Theater Latté Da, running end of May into July. Steven Epp, formerly of Jeune Lune, and I were commissioned to write a piece around the one act Puccini comic opera Gianni Schicchi, in the style of collaboration we had during all the opera projects at Jeune Lune. It's part play, part opera. Steve and I wrote the script and libretto, and we're directing it, and we're in it. And we're very excited about it. And grateful to Latté Da - we were commissioned one week before The Lockdown in 2020, and working on it that summer in Steve's backyard at opposite ends of his long picnic table was what kept us sane. Relatively.

Q:  How do you continue to grow and evolve in your skills and artistry? 

A:  Because I chose a life in the performing arts and have no practical skills, I had to stay employed - and I learned early on that I needed to be as versatile as possible to keep working. I've done everything from an Elvis impersonation to fake tap-dancing. Artists have been underpaid since, well, forever, and at 57, I'm still never guaranteed work, or entitled to keep drawing a paycheck from anywhere. And I'll never be able to afford retirement. I just keep looking for work one month at a time. So, I've learned to do many things over the years out of necessity. And I'm constantly adding to my tool kit. I've recently added writing and directing to my grab bag. Because of that, I have a deep respect for every genre, discipline and performance style under the sun. Because I've probably had to learn how to do it myself. If I have grown at all as an artist, it's because I am a jack-of-all-trades, definitely master-of-none.

Q:  You’re also a faculty member at McPhail Center for Music where you are the Prelude Coordinator. Could you tell us about the program?

A:  Anna Hashizume and I were brought on in the fall of 2021 to head Prelude - the singing and acting class for high school students. After our first couple years, we realized connection was a struggle for these kids in the age of devices and especially after COVID - that in some cases, they weren't even aware what connection was, much less how to make it happen. So, we have focused the program on how a young performer connects with other performers and with the audience. Once we made the rule that when singing a duet, the student had to look the other student in the eye, or into the eyes of anyone in the room listening as an audience, the transformation was unbelievable: their voices suddenly opened up and bloomed, they were committed to the material and to each other, and they were singing and acting with incredible abandon and creativity. And it ultimately makes them receptive to the singing and acting skills that Anna and I, and our inspired theater colleague Jon Ferguson, are wanting to teach them. It's just been beautiful to witness.

Q:  We’re so lucky to have you in the local creative community! How may we follow your news?

A:  I don't have a web page, but I am on Facebook and I publicly post everything I'm up to there, if anybody wants to come to a show. (Interviewer comment – of course we want to come!)

Restaurant Spotlight: Masa & Agave

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A discussion with Ed McDevitt, Executive Chef of Masa & Agave

Looking for a wide selection of agave-based spirits in a beautiful, intimate atmosphere?  Would delicious Mexican cantina food enhance the experience? Look no further than Masa & Agave, located in Hotel Ivy at 201 S Eleventh Street. We talked to Executive Chef Ed McDevitt about blending ancient traditions into the modern world to create an unforgettable dining experience. 

Chef Ed McDevitt Q:  What is your experience in the restaurant industry, and have you specifically worked in Mexican cuisine before? 

A:  I have been cooking since I was fifteen. I've worked in fast food to fine dining and everything in between. I spent 7 years as the executive chef for the flagship Rosa Mexicano on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I was also the corporate chef for a small restaurant group in Brooklyn which specializes in Mexican and Colombian cuisine. 

Q:  I read in your bio that your mother and grandmother were instrumental in instilling an ethic of “putting everything into your efforts” as you were first learning to cook. How does that impact your approach at Masa & Agave? 

A:  It all starts with research, looking for the highest quality ingredients, looking into the history of a dish or ingredient. I have the utmost respect and admiration for Mexico, the diversity of flavors from region to region, the culinary traditions, the mix of ancient traditions blended into the modern world all play a part in a rich and vibrant culture.

Elote

Q:  The Masa & Agave website tells us that your restaurant is "not just a place to eat and drink, it’s a cultural journey." Can you tell us more about that idea? 

A: We’re an authentically-inspired, absolutely delicious Mexican cantina boasting one of the Twin Cities' largest collections of agave-based spirits, fantastic Margaritas and exceptional craft cocktails.  We pay homage to Mexican cuisine with bold flavored, regionally-inspired recipes prepared in a scratch kitchen. And we celebrate generations of mezcaleros and their craft with classic mezcal pairings and presentations, handcraft agave-based cocktails mixed with regional ingredients.

Q:  Can you recommend any must-try dishes or drinks for first-time visitors? 

A:  The Huitlacoche quesadilla is a must try. It’s a fungus that grows on the ear of corn, and which blends the sweetness of fresh corn with the earthiness of an oyster mushroom. For beverages, the Masa and Agave - it's a play on Mexican street corn in cocktail form.

Masa & Agave offers an extensive array of agave.

Q:  What's the décor of Masa & Agave?

A:  A little dark, a little moody. You’ll find intimate gathering spots for groups or couples. The spotlight is on our hand-picked collection of agave spirits, which fill shelves behind the bar and throughout the space. 

Q:  Will you offer happy hour specials?

A:  Not happy hour, but we will be launching industry and DJ nights! Follow us for updates! For happy hour, check out the daily happy hour at Breva, our sister restaurant located inside the Hotel Ivy.

Q:  How may we stay up to date on what’s happening at Masa & Agave? 

A: Follow us @masaandagave, check out our website masaandagave.com and join our email list!

Don't Get Towed - Spring Street Sweeping Starts April 16

Public Works crews are gearing up to start the City’s comprehensive street sweeping program to clear away what has accumulated in the streets over the winter. The City has scheduled Tuesday, April 16, for the first day of sweeping. Beginning Monday, April 15, drivers should watch for hot pink temporary “No Parking” signs to avoid a ticket and tow.

Starting April 16 for approximately four weeks, sweeping crews will take care of more than 1,000 miles of city streets. To make sure the crews can do the most complete job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance to make sure streets are clear of parked vehicles. Drivers need to follow street sweeping parking rules or they may have their cars ticketed and towed to the Minneapolis Impound Lot.

Find your street on the schedule! Starting Friday, April 12, you can see when your street is scheduled to be swept by visiting the interactive street sweeping map.

Learn more about street sweeping.