Covering life, work, and play in the Historic Mill District and Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront neighborhoods. Have an opinion, local news or events to share? Contact us.
Pritzker Hageman Red Cross Blood Drive at Machine Shop
Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 10:00AM to 4:00PM
Machine Shop, 300 2nd Street SE
Appointments available, but not required: pritzlaw.us/donateblood
Launched in November 2009, GiveMN helps nonprofit organizations of all sizes reach new donors, increases giving through fun and engaging campaigns and significantly reduces overall fundraising costs. It is an independent 501(c) (3) supporting organization of the Minnesota Community Foundation. Donations through the GiveMN.org site to nonprofit organizations are tax deductible and irrevocable.
There are a number of local nonprofits participating in Give to the Max Day on November 16. The system is easy to use, and receipts formatted for tax filing purposes are promptly emailed.
Examples of local organizations to consider supporting:
People Serving People / Minnesota Center for Book Arts / MPS Film Society / Minneapolis Parks Foundation / The Great River Coalition / Friends of the Hennepin County Library / MacPhail Center for Music / Be That Neighbor / Mill City Farmers Market / Firefighters for Healing / Open Book / Project for Pride in Living / Ten Thousand Things Theater / Hennepin History Museum / Minnesota Historical Society (funds the Mill City Museum)
Visions Unveiled
Opening Reception Sunday, December 10, 4:00 - 6:00PM
Stonebridge Lofts, 1120 S 2nd Street
Join the The Mill Yard opening reception to meet the featured artists and engage with beautiful art. Wine, beverages and snacks are served.
The Mill City. Residents celebrate our area’s industrial heritage of the mighty Mississippi River and the mills. Today, what we see are the most recognizable Minneapolis landmarks. However, this is only part of the story. Rail lines were key to Minneapolis’ growth, and were particularly integral to the Mill District, bringing in wheat and timber and shipping out flour and lumber. We also honor the history of the mills, the reason for the rail yard’s existence. The Mill Yard aims to be both a gathering place for art and artists and a conduit by which art can be shared with and disseminated into the wider community.
Artists featured at this show:
Maggie Anderson – ceramics
Maggie Anderson’s primary clay body is porcelain. She creates functional pieces that present visual interest beyond their functionality. Most of these pieces will be carved, pierced, slipped or in other ways altered to balance beauty and function. Her sculptural pieces are fired using the Raku method, a Japanese technique of quick firing that exposes the clay to violent temperature extremes. Raku always produces a one of a kind piece.
* * * * * * * * * *
April Barnhart – jeweler
Aprilierre Jewelry, led by the creative visionary April Barnhart, embodies the essence of "Re-Birth" and draws inspiration from nature. The metals used undergo a transformative journey as they are recycled, melted, and forged into new works boasting rich organic textures. The jewelry created by Aprilierre is a seamless blend of delicacy and chic sophistication, with a touch of boldness that effortlessly complements individual styles.
* * * * * * * * * *
Eric Cornett – painter
Eric left his job as a scenic artist and manager for commercial art production, and in 1998 he established Faux Pas, painting custom murals and decorative wall finishes. In 2006 he began painting commissioned and un-commissioned oils on both canvas and linen. His realistic depictions of nature and landscapes draw the viewer into a space of beauty and repose. “I have only recently realized that the majority of my paintings are capturing quiet moments, peaceful and tranquil, as if to preserve a moment of beauty and calm in a world of too much background noise.”
* * * * * * * * * *
Anna Karena – painter
Anna Karena is an intuitive, abstract artist working in a variety of mediums including paint, mixed media, ink, and beadwork. Her pieces frequently evolve from layering that builds upon a spontaneous direction without a preset outcome. This keeps her work vibrant, lively, and authentic. Anna shows her work in various locations around the Twin Cities and viewers are drawn into the bright and inviting nature of her pieces. Anna works in her studio located in the Carriage House in the NE Minneapolis Arts District.
* * * * * * * * * *
Laura Stamper – jeweler
Laura Stamper’s background is in illustration, painting, and sculpture. She brings these skills to her figurative jewelry pieces. For years, Laura incorporated porcelain sculpture with metal work. Her progression into enamel work seemed inevitable. Her current body of work is a marriage of elegance and the unexpected. The contemporary movement of the metalwork is in sharp contrast to the primitive elements of rough stones and the elegance of enamels.
* * * * * * * * * *
Mary Welke – painter
Mary Welke’s art represents nature and natural things. In her birch tree series she considers the markings and design of the peeling birch bark as a metaphor for the human life experience, one of renewal and hope. Mary has an MFA from Pratt Institute in New York and a BFA from Minneapolis College of Art & Design. Her birch paintings are in U.S. Bank Corporate Art Collection and other collections.
* * * * * * * * * *
Lena Osman – painter, Art for All
Lena Osman is a visual artist who discovered her passion for painting years ago while growing up in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Living with cerebral palsy, she faces unique challenges daily but her indomitable spirit finds expression through art. Lena’s collection, which now boasts more than 200 original works, encompasses a diverse range of subjects, from vibrant flowers to captivating portraits, animals, and thought-provoking abstract designs. Her artwork has been featured in shows both in the Twin Cities and Abu Dhabi.
* * * * * * * * * *
Hannah Rousar – photographer, Art for All
Hannah Rousar grew up with three siblings, one of them her twin. Hannah has Down Syndrome. When she was in high school, she learned to use a camera and take photographs. Following that graphic arts class she learned the joys of photographing with an iPhone! Many of her photographs reflect her experiences while traveling with family. “Being able to take pictures of what I see and what I do makes me so happy!” Hannah also has a love of dance and has participated in the Special Olympics.
- - - - - - - - - -
TheMillYard.Stonebridge@gmail.com / Facebook / Website / Instagram
Article by Becky Fillinger, Photos provided
A Nordic Noir crime novel set in Minneapolis? Yes, please! Author Steve Berg sets his debut novel in Minneapolis on fictional Hennepin Island. He’s new as a writer of fiction, but has been a journalist for over 30 years. Looking for gifts? Lost Colony: The Hennepin Island Murders is a perfect gift for those who love the crime and suspense genre – well, I think that anyone in the Twin Cities would love the story set amongst familiar landmarks. We talked to the author about his inspiration for the book and why Minneapolis-St. Paul is perfect for Nordic Noir books and movies.
Q: You are a long-time journalist and you also wrote two architecture books, “Target Field: The New Home of the Minnesota Twins” (2010) and “U.S. Bank Stadium: The New Home of the Minnesota Vikings” (2016). What inspired you to write a crime novel and base it in Minneapolis?
Steve BergA: Correct - It wasn’t just those two non-fiction books but thousands of newspaper and magazine stories written over a 30-year career that compelled me to try something new: write fiction. I’d never done it. It was immensely intimidating. I didn’t know if I could do it. Journalism trains you not to make stuff up! I had spent my life writing about real events. The imperative of inventing fictional characters, settings and plots was exciting but daunting. A real challenge. As for the crime novel aspect, I didn’t really set out to write a book in any particular genre, although I’m a big fan of film noir. The subject of murder seems inescapable the world of noir. To set it in in the Twin Cities seemed almost necessary. I lived there for most of my working life. I know the cities well. Culturally, Minneapolis-St. Paul feels like my home.
Q: Olof Palme, the former Prime Minister of Sweden, was assassinated on February 28, 1986, while walking home from a cinema with his wife Lisbeth Palme on the central Stockholm Street Sveavägen. He was shot in the back at close range and died on the spot. His wife was slightly wounded by a second shot. This historical event figures prominently in your novel. Why has this Swedish murder cold case stayed on your radar?
A: As a fiction rookie, I felt I needed a real event to anchor my story. The “theme” surrounding the Palme assassination always fascinated me: shattered innocence. This kind of thing wasn’t supposed to happen in the safe, cozy Stockholm of 1986. It wasn’t supposed to happen on safe, cozy Hennepin Island in 2016 either, but the horrific murders there were just as shocking — especially happening, as they did, in a “refuge,” a church. Over all, I thought that the span of distance (4,000 miles between Stockholm and Minneapolis), the span of time (30 years between Palme’s assassination in 1986 and our story in 2016), and the span between reality and fiction opened a lot of space for the development of plot, character and setting. Plus, there were cultural similarities between Sweden and Minnesota that might prove useful. The best example, perhaps, is a main character’s delusional belief that Hennepin Island (a fictional island in the Mississippi River between Minneapolis and St. Paul) is a colony of the once-robust Swedish empire of the 17th Century. To bolster the delusion, this man’s family built a castle on the island — and built the church where the Minneapolis murders took place.
As a city, I think Minneapolis-St. Paul offers an under-appreciated atmosphere for story-telling. It has lots of water, a fierce climate, historic neighborhoods, a vigorous arts community and a unique ethnic heritage that lends itself to fiction and film. Not every story has to happen in New York or California or in the deep South.
Q: In your novel, there is a murder in Minneapolis, in a Swedish American church. Span Lokken, a demoralized newspaperman, and his partner, Maggie Lindberg, the murdered clergyman’s stylish young assistant, join forces to search for the killers. Will we see Span and Maggie in future novels, set also in Minneapolis?
A: There’s no sequel in the works. That’s not to say there won’t be another book featuring those characters and a similar setting.
Q: If the novel takes off and movie rights are published, will you write the screenplay?
A: If the opportunity arose, our son, Alex Rollins Berg, is an accomplished New York-based screenwriter. He has a six-part TV series script already outlined. It would be hard to picture me as a screenwriter without Alex taking the lead.
Q: Do you have a favorite author in the crime/noir genre?
A: I confess I’m not a big reader of the genre although I especially enjoy the late Elmore Leonard. (My favorite writers are E.B. White, Richard Ford, George Saunders and John LeCarre). I didn’t write this book thinking it would be published. I just wrote it to see if I could do it. I’ve been surprised and delighted by the reviews and the reception.
Q: How may we purchase Lost Colony: The Hennepin Island Murders?
A: The e and print books are available at all the usual places - Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Apple, GooglePlay. The audiobook is available through Audible, Amazon and Apple.
Q: How do we follow your news?
A: Please follow my social channels:
Steve Berg: https://www.steveberg.org
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCam7xexGQCsJI5v3S4AD5ZA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.berg.549
YouTube book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pZJfLSEhBk
Markets Offer Locally Grown Produce, Foods and Beverages, Artisan Craft Goods and More with Many Great Holiday Gift Options
With summer seeming like a distant memory, the snow beginning to fly, and the next growing season many months away, Minnesota shoppers can still enjoy locally grown and produced foods all winter long. By shopping Winter Markets, you will find root veggies, winter squash, microgreens, mushrooms, eggs, meats and cheeses, baked goods, confections, beverages, sauces, pickled foods, locally roasted coffee, jams, and many other foods, as well as apothecary items and artisan-made crafts and other goods. The Winter Markets also offer great options for holiday gift-giving including jewelry, bath and body care, sustainable home goods, local flavors and more.
Farmers markets in Minneapolis foster community engagement and make it easy for families and individuals to eat healthful, seasonal meals. Many markets in the Farmers Markets of MPLS collaborative host free community events and feature recipes on their websites to highlight easy, healthy, affordable meals using what’s in season at any given time of the year. The markets are listed here, where shoppers can learn about each market’s community events, offerings, and recipes: Find a Market - Farmers Markets of Minneapolis.org
Winter Market Locations and Schedules:
Mill City Farmers Market: 10:00a-1:00p Mill City Museum, 704 S 2nd Street
November 18
December 2, 16
January 6, 20
February 3, 17
March 2, 16
April 6, 20
Minneapolis Farmers Market: 9:00am-Noon 312 East Lyndale Ave N
November 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26
December 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23, 30
January 6, 20
February 3, 17
March 2, 16
April 6, 13, 20, 27
Neighborhood Roots at Bachman’s on Lyndale: 10:00am-1:00pm (Kingfield, Fulton, and Nokomis) 6010 Lyndale Avenue S
November 11
January 13
February 17
March 9
Northeast Farmers Market (in Quincy Hall): 10:00a-2:00p 1325 Quincy Street NE
December 3
January 7
February 4
March 3
April 14
The Farmers Markets of Minneapolis collaborative officially formed in early 2017 to build a more connected, accessible, and effective market system, and there are nearly 20 farmers markets operating in Minneapolis. Many of the markets accept EBT and Market Bucks. Current activities include collaborative metrics collection, marketing, technical assistance, and other collaborative opportunities, in partnership with the City of Minneapolis, University of Minnesota, Homegrown Minneapolis, Minnesota Department of Agriculture and other market champions. The collaborative welcomes and encourages all markets in Minneapolis to participate. The mission of the Farmers Markets of Minneapolis Collaborative is to foster the vitality of the City’s farmers markets through strategic and informed innovation, advocacy, education, and cohesive partnerships. The organization provides services to all member markets in Minneapolis.
Photo: CBS News
More than 2,600 design submissions now available to view online
The public is invited to see what Minnesotans think the next state flag and seal should look like. More than 2,600 designs were submitted to the State Emblems Redesign Commission during a one-month period, and the qualifying submissions are now available online.
Minnesota state flag designs make up about 85% of the submissions. Those are available to view at https://serc.mnhs.org/flags.
Minnesota state seal designs make up approximately 15% of submissions. Those are available to view at https://serc.mnhs.org/seals.
Both links have also been added to the State Emblems Redesign Commission website (www.mnhs.org/serc)
Later this month, the Commission will select five submissions each for the new state seal and state flag. The Commission will select one design (or a modified version) to be utilized as the basis for each emblem.
The State Emblems Redesign Commission was established in the 2023 legislative session to develop and adopt a new design for the official state seal and a new design for the official state flag no later than January 1, 2024.
As outlined in state legislation, the Minnesota Historical Society is providing administrative support to the State Emblems Redesign Commission.
Via a November 6 e-announcement from the City of Minneapolis:
The City of Minneapolis Public Works Department is constructing a new parallel storm tunnel, enlarging a portion of the existing storm tunnel, and constructing a new tunnel access in Downtown Minneapolis.
The new tunnel is being constructed parallel to the existing tunnel located under Washington Ave S between Nicollet Mall and Chicago Ave. The existing tunnel under Chicago Ave between Washington Ave S and the Mississippi River is being expanded to handle the increased stormwater capacity. The purpose of this project is to reduce pressure in the existing tunnel, provide more room for future growth, and to reduce the need for future repairs and tunnel failures.
Project Map
Latest Project News
Mississippi River Portal
2nd Ave
Portland Ave
|
|
Lining progress
In October, crews continued to work on the concrete tunnel lining, pouring about 1,600 cubic yards of concrete. To date 11,300 cubic yards of concrete have been poured. As noted in the infographic above, this is just under three and a half times the volume of an Olympic swimming pool. This process is approximately 80% complete.
Long-term closures/restrictions
What to expect
Stay Connected
There are multiple ways to get information including email updates and ongoing stakeholder meetings. Visit the project website for more information and to sign up for project updates.
Email the project team: info@mplscentralcitytunnel.com
Contact the project hotline: 612-888-9418
Article by Becky Fillinger, Photos provided
Reed Sigmund as the Grinch
See Reed as the Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas! at Children’s Theatre Company November 7 through January 7
Reed Sigmund has played the role of the Grinch in Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! at Children's Theatre Company (CTC) for six years. We talked to him about finding the essence of the Grinch, being a member of the theater’s Acting Company and interacting on stage with his spouse, Autumn Ness and child actors. Get to know more about the actor the Star Tribune called “a man of 1,000 faces.”
Reed SigmundQ: Can you share any personal connections or experiences that help you relate to The Grinch's character?
A: On the surface, there’s not a whole lot! I’m not green, or all that hairy, and I actually adore every little Christmas tradition. But at our cores, we have plenty in common. Unfortunately, I think we all know what it’s like to feel lonely. Or different. Or outcast. Maybe not constantly, but we’ve all had our moments of loneliness. I know I had plenty during my younger years of yesterday. And those lonely feelings brought their cruel feelings friends along for the ride. Loneliness often comes with sadness, frustration, despair, and anger. Thankfully, I was found and helped by numerous incredible friends. But I’m able to remember, and tap into, those hurtful feelings.
Q: The Grinch's relationship with Cindy Lou Who is central to the story. How do you build chemistry with the child actor playing Cindy Lou?
A: I’ve been so lucky over the years! Every young actor who’s taken on that role has brought their own bright presence, tremendous talent, and playful personality to the stage, and all I’ve had to do is react. Whether it’s in the rehearsal room or onstage, it’s always about listening. Listening to them sing, listening to them tell stories, listening to them find their own unique approach to each line. I haven’t had to really “build” any chemistry. I’ve just always tried to remain open and curious about how each actor will be different, and the chemistry comes on its own.
Q: The Grinch is a beloved character. How did you approach bringing your own unique interpretation to the role while staying true to the character's essence?
A: The role definitely comes with built-in expectations. And while it’s important to acknowledge that, I never focused on imitating what other performers did with the role. (Honestly, I ain’t that skilled at impressions.) I also didn’t want to instantly betray the audience’s expectations by putting my own spin on the role with the sole intention of being different. After getting the role, without rewatching any previous versions of the character, I let my memories of the iconic voice work and physicality of other Grinches sink in. Then I let it digest. Then I focused on the words. The character. The relationships. And the story. By the time I was on my feet in rehearsal, this Grinch had kind of become its own thing. The influences are obvious, but nothing is a simple duplication.
Q: This is your 6th time appearing as the Grinch at the Children’s Theatre Company. How do you keep your performance fresh?
A: This role is so ripe with possibilities and depth, that I could never tire of fully exploring every nuanced layer that I discover. I don’t think my work and exploration with this role will ever be complete. If ever I feel it is, that’s the moment I move on from it. Acting should always be about discovery. I’ve also been fortunate enough to work with other actors who play and work the same way. We try to never stop playing. Never stop digging. Never assume that we already have all the answers.
Q: You and your wife, Autumn Ness, are part of the full-time professional resident acting company at the CTC. In The Grinch, Autumn plays Mama Who. Could you share with us your thoughts about acting with your spouse and being in the resident acting company?
A: I believe the best performances are created in an atmosphere of trust. If I feel safe in a space, I take greater risks. I feel I have permission to fail. I feel I won’t be judged or ridiculed for following an idea or impulse that didn’t quite work. I feel I can fall on my face, knowing that someone will help me up, instead of criticizing me for my mistake. That’s why working with Autumn, and the rest of the Acting Company, is an immeasurable gift. They make me feel safe and supported. That allows me to create freely and let every idea have an opportunity to flourish, instead of being suppressed by self-doubt or intimidation. The best moments I’ve created onstage are entirely due to the relationships and trust I share with Autumn and my fellow company Members.
Q: On a personal note, I read that your home in Stillwater burned earlier this year. Is your new home complete?
A: Oh yeah! We were in a house fire! Our home is being rebuilt and should be ready for us in less than two months. It’s been a long road, but this community has been impossibly supportive and generous. We’ve received an overwhelming amount of donations, kindness, and love. We’re going to be in a state of awe and gratitude for the rest of our days! We want to thank all of you who gave us a moment of your time and support. You’ve had an immeasurable effect on our family.
Above and below, Reed with the other cast members.
Contemplations In Patterns & Textures by Kelly Jean Ohl
Artist Reception Saturday, November 11, 6:00pm – 8:00pm during the Northrup King Building's highly anticipated fall open studio event, Art Attack.
As we lose ourselves in lives constructed of distractions and uncertainty, master ceramist, Kelly Jean Ohl, dares us to set down the glass we interact with daily and experience the ancient, prehistoric, and most fundamental substance this planet has to offer. By challenging our minds with unique textures and patterns, Ohl believes interacting with her art will ignite within us emotions of cosmic and instinctual origins.
Using haptics and non-language communication, with her show, Contemplations in Patterns and Textures, Ohl exhibits large intricately carved ceramic pieces sure to provide a unique sensory experience. These new pieces were designed specifically for the Kolman & Reeb Gallery using resources provided to her by her Project Space Grant.
The large, abstract clay forms are inspired by and reference the patterns and textures of our living planet. The earth tone colors reflect the most basic origin from which the clay is sourced. Intrigued and inspired by the similarities between microscopic single-cell organisms and macroscopic land formations, these visuals are an endless source of inspiration for Ohl’s work.
"Kelly Jean has been a Kolman & Reeb Gallery artist since we opened," says Anita Sue Kolman, Kolman & Reeb Gallery co-founder and co-partner. "In all those years, we’ve admired the interest and excitement gallery visitors have displayed as they touch and feel Kelly Jean’s highly textured ceramic pieces. With her Project Space Grant show, Kelly Jean has created large-scale pieces that I know viewers will really enjoy seeing and feeling.”
Jodi Reeb, gallery curator, and co-partner, comments, "So many gallery visitors stop and pick up one of Kelly Jean’s hand carved clay rattles and bowls. I’m so excited to see what people think of her large-scale wall sculptures. Kelly Jean has really outdone herself with this show. It is sure to impress!"
Kelly Jean Ohl received a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Theatre and Art, as well as a Master of Arts degree with an emphasis in ceramics from Minnesota State University at Mankato (advanced education). She also earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan. Her work has been featured and sold in over 70 galleries across 25 states. It is also in private collections in all 50 states and internationally. Kelly Jean’s ceramic work can also be found in public and corporate collections in the US and around the world.
Kolman & Reeb Gallery is in Studio 395, Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson Street NE. For more information, please visit kolmanreebgallery.com or call 612-385-4239.
Watch your mail for information on what to do when the City of Minneapolis declares a Snow Emergency. The City has sent out about 182,000 Snow Emergency mailers, one to each household in the city. The mailer has graphics and text showing the parking rules during the three phases of a Snow Emergency.
Avoid a ticket and tow, and help crews do a complete job by moving your car when a Snow Emergency is declared.
Hold on to your mailer throughout the snow season and have it handy whenever a Snow Emergency is declared. It explains the Snow Emergency parking rules and ways to stay informed during the snow season. It’s also important to help neighbors and visitors know the rules.
Snow Emergencies are declared when there’s enough snowfall to warrant a complete plowing of our streets. Moving parked vehicles allows crews to plow the full width of the street.
When the snow flies, City Public Works crews have enormous jobs to do, with more than 1,400 miles of streets, parkways and alleys to clear. Vehicles parked on the street in violation of Snow Emergency rules can be ticketed or towed.
Sign up for alerts
There are several ways to know when the City has declared a Snow Emergency, and it's suggested that you get your information in more ways than one so it’s less likely your car will be towed.
Read more about how to stay informed, and sign up for alerts on the City website.
Spirits Dancing: Photographs of the Night Sky by Travis Novitsky
The night sky has enchanted humans for millennia. We marvel at the wonder of the aurora, the glory of the Milky Way, and the peace that comes from stargazing. Travis Novitsky captures these marvels in this exhibit of 15 photographs featured in the new book from the Minnesota Historical Society Press. In Spirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge, and Living Connections to the Cosmos, Novitsky’s photos are paired with insights from astrophysicist Annette S. Lee. The book reveals how the union of Western science and Indigenous knowledge enriches understanding of our place in the universe.
In Spirits Dancing, Travis Novitsky’s photographs portray night time marvels, while astrophysicist Annette S. Lee discusses how Western science and Indigenous knowledge can work together to provide a deeper understanding of our place in the universe. Both authors write of the wonders of starbathing: sitting quietly under the stars, knowing that humans have always done this, knowing that we literally come from the stars. Working together in this remarkable book, they bring the aurora to readers.
The exhibit will be located in the Mill City Museum’s central Mill Commons, and is free and open to the public during regular museum hours through April 7, 2024.
Article by Becky Fillinger, Photos provided
Two Minnesota craft breweries were honored for their beers at the 2023 Great American Beer Festival (GABF), the nation’s premier beer festival and competition, in Denver, CO on September 23rd. A GABF medal is recognized around the world as a symbol of brewing excellence, and these awards are among the most coveted in the industry. This year, there were 303 medals awarded from the 9,298 beers entered.
Minneapolis brewpub The Freehouse won a coveted Gold Medal in the Rye Beers category with their No. 68 Red Lager, which also won a gold medal as well as one of the Best in Show awards earlier this year at the statewide MN Brewers Cup awards. We spoke to Head Brewer at The Freehouse, Alex Doering, to learn more about the No. 68 Red Lager, foods to pair with it and changes in the brewing industry. Visit The Freehouse at 701 N Washington Avenue in the North Loop to try the award-winning beer and to meet up with Alex!
Q: Please tell us about your experience at the GABF in Denver last month. What was your reaction when you heard your name called as a Gold Medal winner?
A: Unfortunately, I was not able to be physically in Denver. I found out while I was watching the livestream via YouTube on my couch holding my 3-week-old son. I have been fortunate enough to be on that stage in the past and in that room with thousands of brewers and it is an amazing experience. My reaction this time around was definitely surprise and excitement paired with a little bit of disbelief being so far removed from it and a little sleep deprived too. But getting congratulatory texts from friends made it feel real!
Q: This award follows your best in show win in April at the Minnesota Brewers Cup, again for No. 68 Red Lager. Do the two awards cement your status as a brewer at the top of his craft? Do the wins make collaborations easier to arrange?
Alex Doering and sonA: I don't know that I have ever or will ever feel I am at the top of my craft - but I do think that my desire to learn and improve, over analyze, and putting in hard work has helped me get to this position. That, and the drive that a touch of imposter syndrome can give you!
Q: Forget the impostor syndrome! For those of us who haven’t tasted No. 68 Red Lager, can you describe it? Is it available now at The Freehouse? Are there any foods on the menu that pair well with the No. 68 Red Lager?
A: The No. 68 Red lager leans heavily on sweet, caramel, and toasty German malts balanced with spicy, earthy rye character while still being lighter bodied and refreshing. Noble hops are in the background and pair nicely with rye malts. It is available in growlers to go, and we are brewing a batch that should be out in early November. I think it pairs really well with our Roto Bird rotisserie chicken baguette. It is also great with the Blue-Ribbon Turkey burger, and sweet potato fries with chipotle peanut pesto aioli.
Q: You’ve been a brewer for 10 years. How has the craft beer industry changed in that decade?
A: There's been a lot of change over the last 10 years. I think the first is in the competition in craft brewery landscape. With the increase in total breweries, shelf space has become a lot more competitive, flagship brands are not selling as much as they used to and there is more of an emphasis on trying new 'one off' brands. We've seen style trends change: Bourbon barrel aged Imperial beers, West Coast IPAs, Pastry Stouts, and now New England IPAs, Seltzer, dry-hopped Pilsners. I think the average person's palette and overall beverage trends have changed as well.
At The Freehouse, we have seen a shift toward lighter proof beer and cocktails. I think the rise of seltzers and RTDs is proof that beer has been losing market share and people are enjoying more variety in what they consume. I've noticed, somewhat jokingly but also seriously, that people seem to want their beer to taste like anything else besides beer: adding adjuncts, fruit, dessert-like ingredients, coffee, peanut butter, you name it. I think the pendulum will shift the other way eventually. We are seeing lots of traditional beer culture coming back with Oktoberfests celebrated everywhere, traditional Kolsch service, etc. So, I think it could be happening soon.
Q: We’ll probably be reading many more stories about your brewing successes – how may we best follow your news?
A: I'd recommend following @freehouse_beer on Instagram or my personal account @alex.doering.12.
Shops will be open November 24 - January 5, Tuesdays - Saturdays, 11a - 6p
Holidays on Nicollet will feature festive decorative storefront windows and shopping supporting local small businesses to enjoy as you take in the holiday experience downtown.
Ten storefront windows lining Nicollet will be transformed into holiday celebrations that feature figures from Dayton’s Eighth Floor scenes reimagined by a variety of local artists.
The storefront window displays will add to the Nicollet holiday shopping experience, as four pop-up holiday shops will also be opening along Nicollet at 50 S 6th Street, City Center, IDS Center and U.S. Bancorp Center. The four shops will feature roughly 70 total vendors offering a variety of products including clothing, jewelry, gift shopping and much more.
The pop-up shops complement eight existing Chameleon Shoppes locations downtown featuring local BIPOC small businesses—part of roughly 450 restaurant and retail shops in downtown’s five distinct neighborhoods.
“We are excited to unveil a collection of unique holiday experiences you can only enjoy downtown,” said Steve Cramer, President and CEO of the mpls downtown council. “Holidays on Nicollet activities are not only unique to downtown, they help support local small businesses and artists. It includes great locations to visit, browse and shop, and add to the experiences of dining, shows, games and performances you are enjoying downtown this holiday season.”
Locations for Holidays on Nicollet storefront window displays include:
Each storefront holiday window display will be created by Minneapolis-based artists and designers, featuring more than 10 historic figurines once displayed during the Dayton’s Eighth Floor holiday displays throughout the course of 26 years. They are starting to build their scenes now, and the storefront windows will be unveiled on Saturday, November 25.
Hennepin Theatre Trust, Minnesota’s nationally recognized performing arts center in the heart of downtown, holds 34 of the vintage figurines that once graced the annual Holiday Show events on the eighth floor of Dayton’s in downtown Minneapolis. Ten of the figurines will be refurbished and on view during Holidays on Nicollet.
“This holiday season, there’s no place more magical than downtown Minneapolis,” said Todd Duesing, President and CEO of Hennepin Theatre Trust. “We’re proud to lend these classic figurines and partner with the mpls downtown council and local businesses to bring the quintessential memories of Dayton’s Holiday Show back downtown in a new format, while advancing the vibrancy of our city.”
The initiative, part of the Vibrant Storefront work through the City of Minneapolis, is being produced by the mpls downtown council in partnership with Hennepin Theatre Trust and the City Arts & Cultural Affairs Department, and support from Meet Minneapolis, the Minnesota Orchestra, Dayton’s, and Ryan Companies.
“We are thrilled to be supporting this project that is re-animating historic Nicollet Mall during the holiday season,” said Ben Johnson, Director of the Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs for the City of Minneapolis. “So many people have treasured memories about coming to Downtown, and we want to capture this energy again. I am also excited to see the unique work of the Minneapolis-based artists that are providing their talents in creating these special holiday windows for everyone to enjoy.”
Holidays on Nicollet artists include Alexandra Beaumont, Jerry and Cyrus Carlson, Heather Cole, Rachel Coyne, Dusty Dembley, Betsey Giles, Kada Goalen, Modern Day Me team of Jared Hanks and Simone Alexa, Stacie Kammerling, and Wil Natzel.
Roughly 485 total events and activities are taking place downtown between Thanksgiving and the New Year, including 310+ weekend events. These holiday stops are great additions to your downtown experience.
For more information on ways to maximize your downtown holiday experience as a whole, look for shopping, performances, caroling schedules and more on the mpls downtown holiday page.
For more information on holiday experiences in mpls downtown, visit www.mplsdowntown.com/events and follow @mplsdowntown and on Instagram.
By Carol Becker
Editors Note: Carol Becker is a Data Researcher, Political Consultant, and previously served on the Minneapolis Board of Estimate and Taxation.
Minneapolis is going to have an election November 7th.
It is a hackneyed cliché to say this is the most important election ever. Honestly, you can’t really know until years later whether an election was revolutionary. What I can say is that Minneapolis is a deeply divided city, with two dueling agendas. And this election will determine which way the City will go over the next two years and shape the full citywide election in 2025. And it is projected that only 25% of the people eligible to vote will even bother to vote.
What are the two agendas? We can think of the two groups as far-left and center-left on the political spectrum. A good example of this split is siting the replacement Third Precinct. The moderates, focused on the practicalities of running a city, wants to build a new police precinct to provide a physical place for City employees to do work. The Mayor most recently proposed 2633 Minnehaha Avenue, a site that could be ready in a year for a modest $14M, the cheapest and fastest of any alternative. Voting in favor on Tuesday were Council Members Andrea Jenkins, Michael Rainville, Linea Palmisano, LaTrisha Vetaw, Lisa Goodman and Emily Koski.
The far-left, with its roots in the defund movement, wants to build a “public safety center” with the police only one of many departments in the building. Or even perhaps a larger “community services center” similar to the service centers that the County has built. They don’t really know exactly, and as Council Member Payne said on Tuesday, they don’t really feel any urgency to come to a resolution. According to Payne, they would rather “engage the public” and “build trust” by “continuing discussions with the community” than expedite a building. But for people who went to the actual meetings about where to site the precinct, they know that activists disrupted every meeting, making real community dialogue impossible. In many ways, it feels like delay just to relitigate the 2021 charter vote. Voting against the proposal were Council Members Elliott Payne, Robin Wonsley, Jeremiah Ellison, Jason Chavez, Aisha Chughtai, and Jamal Osman.
This is just a microcosm of the gulf dividing our city. In the next two years, we are going to face questions like:
I could go on.
There are three major endorsements on the progressive side, the Democratic Socialists of America, Take Action Minnesota, and the far-left progressive PAC, Minneapolis for the Many. There are two major endorsements on the center-left side, the moderate PACs All of Minneapolis and Engage Minneapolis.
The DFL used to be a center-left/moderate party. In Minneapolis, that is no longer true. Five far-left candidates and four moderate candidates have been endorsed by the Minneapolis DFL. So it is no longer clear if the DFL is a center-left party any longer.
The Star Tribune has also made endorsements. None of them were progressives.
The play card for the upcoming election looks like this:
I don’t know if this will be the most important election ever. I can tell you whether our city thrives or declines will depend on who we elect. The turnout is supposed to be small so every vote will matter. Regardless of your views, please vote November 7th.
Highlights: Foshay Tower, IDS Building, Rand Tower, Capella Tower, Government Plaza, Minneapolis Public Service Building, Target Field, Target Center, Mayo Clinic, Dayton's, Medical Arts Building, and Young-Quinlan Building
Tour offered year-round - Mon / Tue / Thu / Fri
Start time: 10:00am, Duration: 2 to 2-1/2 hours
Tour starts & ends at Foshay Tower (W Hotel), 821 Marquette Ave S
Minneapolis is home to the largest, contiguous skyway system in the world. Originally designed to counter the 1950s post war suburban boom by revitalizing the city's retail core, today the second story walkways connect 80 city blocks and meander more than 9 miles. There are so many treasures within downtown's unique architectural landscape, and the skyway system is sometimes the only way to see them.
Check out the Minneapolis Skyway Tour (and other Tour options) from Mpls City & Skyway Tours here: https://www.minneapoliscitytours.com/walking-tours.html.
The Dayton’s Project recently announced the launch of its third annual Winter Maker’s Market, a curated retail experience highlighting legacy — and soon-to-be legacy — Minnesota brands. The market will feature 78 independent vendors and will include the return of The Dayton’s Santa Bear.
The 2023 Winter Maker’s Market will open on November 16 and remain open through December 30. The market hours are 10:00am to 6:00pm on Mondays through Saturdays, and 11:00am to 5:00pm with Sundays.
"The Dayton's Project has always been an integral part of our community," said Kristin Longhenry, General Manager of The Dayton's Project. "We are proud to welcome The Departments at Dayton's Winter Market to showcase so many incredible artists, makers, and local businesses that make our community strong."
This year’s market will feature 48 returning brands and 30 new vendors, including Art By Aleshia, Austin Fowler, Brooke and Lou, Coccinella, Deano’s Parkas, Evla Pottery, Faxon Farms, Field and Foliage, Fit Butters, Giftywrap, Hagan and Oats, Hammermade, HEPP’S Salt, Joel Kaplan Water Colors, Junita’s Cookies, Leather Works of Minnesota, Mable Concessions, Northmallow, O Grace C, The Olive Branch, Shop in the City, Sota Clothing and Urban Undercover. The total of 78 vendors for the market will also feature 25 giftable gourmet foods located in a designated gourmet foods market along with a flower market.
Santa Bear is back!
The 2023 limited edition Santa Bear will be available through Shop in the City within the market for $49.95, which features a festive hat containing a silhouette of Minnesota and a matching tote bag.
"We have an exceptional set of local, Minnesotan vendors at this year's Departments at Dayton's!" said Mich Berthiaume, the market curator. "We’re so excited to bring the Santa Bear back and continue to celebrate the holiday season by highlighting our incredible local makers. Whether you're shopping for a friend, a loved one, or even just yourself, there's something for everyone at The Departments at Dayton's!"
The Departments at Dayton's will pop-up on the first floor of The Dayton's Project, at 700 Nicollet Mall, accessible from both 8th Street and Nicollet. The Dayton's Project, a landmark historic redevelopment in downtown Minneapolis is a 1.2 million square foot building that impressive tenants like Ernst & Young, Unilver, Sezzle, Prudential Financial, and others call home. The building has recently seen increased leasing activity because of its strong amenity set that allows employers to bring employees back to the office as a magnet, not a mandate.
A message from Jenna Ray, Deputy Executive Director, GiveMN
Every November, Minnesotans come together to support the causes that make our state a great place to call home. Give to the Max Day, Minnesota’s annual giving holiday is celebrating 15 years on Thursday, November 16. We can’t wait to share it with you.
And while Give to the Max raises millions of dollars for nonprofits and schools each year, it’s much more than a fundraising campaign: it’s a reminder that when we come together to support the causes we love, we can do millions of dollars worth of good together—$10, $50, and $100 at a time. Donors have given more than $290 million to more than 10,000 organizations since the first Give to the Max Day in 2009. And those dollars translate to impact beyond our wildest dreams.
You may have participated in Give to the Max before, and for that, we thank you! This year might be the beginning of your giving story. Either way, we hope you’ll celebrate 15 years of generosity, Minnesota, as we work together to ignite generosity and grow giving this November. Here are a few ways to join in the festivities:
1. Search for favorite causes and discover new ones.
Give to the Max is quick, easy, and fun! Simply visit GiveMN.org from November 1-16 to search for nonprofits and schools by name, category, location, and more. With thousands of organizations to choose from, you can find a variety of causes and make multiple donations with one, easy checkout!
2. Maximize the power of your gift.
When you donate any amount on GiveMN.org November 1-16, you could see your generosity boosted! GiveMN is awarding more than $100,000 to participating nonprofits and schools by drawing random gifts and granting a “Golden Ticket,” with prizes ranging from $500 to $10,000!
3. Support organizations making big impacts in your community.
In every community across our state, nonprofits and schools help our friends, neighbors and loved ones meet basic needs, find homes for four-legged friends, and improve our lives through education, art, sports, and parks. For many small and medium organizations, Give to the Max Day might be their biggest or only fundraiser. Your gifts help to power their work and impact all year long.
Give to the Max is a testament to what can happen when tens of thousands of generous people like you and me share whatever we’re able with causes we love. On behalf of the thousands of nonprofits and schools working to make Minnesota brighter, we are so grateful for your support.
Visit GiveMN.org as your partner in giving and follow along throughout November for updates as we celebrate 15 years of generosity.
Submitted by Doug Verdier
Thank you to Doug Verdier for submitting his photos from the October 28 Third Avenue Bridge re-opening celebration. Per Doug, turnout was fantastic, with hundreds of people enjoying all there was to see and do across the bridge. The event was well organized, with a variety of activities for adults and kids.
No grand reopening would be complete without a few remarks and ribbon cutting. I don’t know where they found the huge shears, but given the size of the project, they filled the bill. Great job by everyone involved in the project.
Visitors could sign up for a guided tour of the bridge to learn all about what had been done and see some of the equipment used during the construction.
A memorial to some MnDOT employees was also on view.
Some of the equipment used during the job was on display so people could get an up close view (and touch) some of the vehicles.
Lots of booths lined the renovated bridge where folks could pick up a souvenir or something to eat or drink while checking out the new bridge.
Kids and a few adults enjoyed decorating a MnDOT van with markers provided for the fun. You did not have to color inside the lines if you didn’t want to, either. Can’t wait to see this vehicle on the road.
It’s never too chilly for some hot licks, and these guys delivered. The portable heaters helped keep fingers warm.
Right behind the bandstand was this lovely view of Minnesota autumn leaves along Third Avenue. Great backdrop for a family friendly activity.
This exhibit had vests and kid-size hard hats that kids could wear for photos of the event.
The Cafe Cairo food truck was a popular place for many.
The smell of fresh popcorn attracted visitors to the spot for a complimentary bagful.
With Halloween just around the corner, free pumpkins were available for decorating.
There were plenty of pumpkins to be painted and lots of folks who applied their artistic talent to the task.
These folks were among the many who stopped to paint a pumpkin.
Thanks MnDOT - and everyone involved - for putting on these activities for the community and neighborhoods!
- - - - - - - - -
Editor's Note - Words cannot express our appreciation to Doug for photo-documenting this project from start to finish (along with other projects such as Water Works and the Father Hennepin Bluff Park refurbishment).
By Victor Martinez
Editors Note: Democrat Victor Martinez is running for the Minneapolis Ward 5 City Council seat
My name is Victor Martinez, and I am running for the Minneapolis Ward 5 City Council seat. The following is why I am running to represent you.
"Creo que ya no puedemos vivir aquí, se está poniendo muy peligrosos", ( “I don't think we can live here anymore. It's getting too dangerous.”) These were the words of one of our mothers at SoyNGChurch who had raised all her children on the Northside. Her husband was beaten up when his cell phone was stolen. Her daughter’s face was grazed by a bullet while riding in a car.
We spoke in 2021, in the middle of the debate to defund the police. She also said to me, "Esto de aquitar la policía está loco!" (“This defund the police thing is crazy!”) See, people who are victims of crime in Ward 5 in North Minneapolis understand how valuable and important the police are. It also may be that the poorest and those most discriminated against better understand that police are imperfect human beings, just like the rest of us.
In the following months, I asked for counsel from pastors, Imams, local leaders and everyday people about how we could improve public safety. What came through clearly was that our residents in Minneapolis Ward 5 don't want to defund the police - they want to trust the police. And that they see the police as an important part of keeping them safe. The question is how do we create a sense of community and trust between police and residents? I know that we won’t rebuild trust by continuing to pit law enforcement against the very citizens they are supposed to protect.
The challenge of building community and trust is not just between the police and residents. The murder of George Floyd and the pandemic eroded our sense of trust with each other too. We need to build connections among residents too.
I am a Ward 5 City Council candidate as well as a minister at SoyNGChurch in North Minneapolis and I understand that community happens because we deliberately make it happen. For example, we can create strategic places in business, churches, and schools for officers to take a break, eat their lunch or simply use the restroom. We can actively bring residents to roll call and speak with police. We can create other ways for police and citizens to naturally build connections and relationships.
For our broader community, we need to deliberately build reasons to bring people together. We know that small nonprofits can bring people together at a grass-roots level to effect change. We know programs for children like youth employment, tutoring programs, after-school programs, athletic leagues, open park buildings, and similar things bring children together and help them form healthy relationships. We know outreach workers can build supportive relationships with our most vulnerable, connecting them with resources and working to shift them towards non-violence. We know that behavioral therapy, coupled with short-term financial assistance, can shift persons in hardship away from crime and violence.
How do we know these kinds of programs work to reduce crime? They have been tested and proven. You can read more about them at the John Jay’s College of Criminal Justice piece, “Reducing Violence Without Police: A Review of Research Evidence” at https://johnjayrec.nyc/2020/11/09/av2020/ or Patrick Sharkey’s book, “Uneasy Peace: The Great Crime Decline, the Renewal of City Life, and the Next War on Violence”. https://wwnorton.com/books/Uneasy-Peace/
I also want to challenge the suburbs. A lot of crime in North Minneapolis Ward 5 is because young people are coming in from the suburbs to Minneapolis and getting into trouble. What can the suburbs do to create a sense of place and belonging for their young people so they don’t have to come to Minneapolis to find it?
We can only truly flourish when we feel safe from violence from our government and our fellow citizens. We need to restore and build bonds, fellowship, and trust both with our police and within our community. Community doesn’t happen by itself - it happens because we choose it. I have been working to build community my whole life. I hope I can help heal the wounds over the last three years and rebuild the trust that we need to be a healthy and vibrant City. Please support my campaign, remember to vote Victor Martinez for City Council Ward 5 here in Minneapolis.
Article by Becky Fillinger, Photos provided
Theatre Latté Da has a new Artistic Director, Justin Lucero, and he is ready to push the theater into tomorrow! We talked to him about his background, vision for engaged audiences, partnerships with arts organizations and where we might find him out and about in the Twin Cities. If you haven’t visited Theater Latté Da in a while, now’s the time to buy some tickets to meet this local luminary – as he says, he’s interested in "radically welcoming."
Justin LuceroQ: What types of productions or themes are you particularly passionate about and hope to explore during your tenure at Theater Latté Da?
A: My favorite thing about any live theater experience is the inclusion and activation of an audience community. “Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show” is never in my vocabulary, as I always prefer an audience to “Lean forward, engage, and participate.” In theater, an audience is the final ingredient. A co-creator. And when it comes to musical theater specifically, which is Theater Latté Da’s expression of choice, that activation is even more palpable because of its heightened nature. My personal aesthetic is work that taps into that even more blatantly. I love productions that are ever-reminding an audience that what is being presented is…well…fake! Work that is hypertheatrical and metatheatrical excites me and energizes me. That kind of approach has become my calling card. And the Ritz Theater space where Theatre Latté Da performs is an ideal laboratory for such work, because its size and idiosyncrasies demand extra creativity and transparency.
Q: How do you plan to engage with and support the local arts community in Minneapolis and the broader theater community nationally?
A: Theatre Latté Da has actually declared its commitment to local artists and performers as a part of its strategic plan. I’m very much looking forward to embedding myself quickly and deeply in the arts community, first as a supporter and attendee. I’m a voracious consumer of theatre and I’ve already gotten a slew of tickets to many of our peer organizations’ shows. Furthermore, the TLD Board of Directors has graciously and generously begun to identify community partners and local arts leaders for me to be introduced to, and they’ve set up a number of meetings and gatherings for me to do so in my first few months. These one-on-ones will ensure that authentic relationships are formed, and will help me get a sense of what the greater arts community’s goals and concerns are, and how I might be able to contribute and co-lead.
Nationally, I have a wide network of colleagues from around the regional theater and drama conservatory scenes. I’m a board-level member of the inaugural Next Generation Taskforce with the Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre. I was a tenure-track professor of Directing at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama, a leader in theatre training. And I’ve been named this year as one of the “leaders who will help move opera forward for years to come” by OPERA America. These networks continue to provide me perspective and resources to bring to Theatre Latté Da as we expand our goals and further embed ourselves into the national conversation. Theatre Latté Da already has a deep commitment to the development of new musical theater work, and I look forward to helping continue that vital tradition. This valiant work champions new voices and viewpoints leading to the next generation of work that will grace the nation’s future stages.
Q: Are there any specific changes or innovations you would like to bring to Theater Latté Da to enhance its impact and reach?
A: I’m very eager to learn the ropes and continue the trajectory of what my predecessor, Peter Rothstein, built. Once I fully understand the organization and community, I can then begin to inject some new ideas and approaches thoughtfully and intentionally. If I’m honest, it’s the work, mission, and values that Theatre Latté Da currently center on that prompted me to apply in the first place, because it all felt like a perfect fit. TLD’s goals and values, particularly in the realm of equity, diversity, inclusion and antiracism, align so neatly with my own. I’m interested in reaching new audiences and developing opportunities for working artists. I’m interested in inviting our supporters into the process. I’m interested in being radically welcoming.
Q: Can you describe your vision for diversity, equity, and inclusion within Theater Latté Da's productions and operations?
A: Much of my work as a director, producer and educator has been in the area of DEI. I was a core member of the team that developed the first-of-its-kind degree requirement in Anti-Racist and Equitable Practices in Theatre for drama students, and was the chair of the national search for the first-of-its-kind professorship in AREPT. It is my core belief that performing artists are culture-builders; and that’s a huge responsibility. Theatre Latté Da has a tradition of radically reimagining the inherited repertoire of musicals and opera which, to me, demands a deep analysis, reckoning, and a committed identity-conscientiousness in order to succeed. My vision is to lead by example, which includes continually learning and expanding and evolving myself.
Q: Do you have strategies or ideas for expanding the theater's audience and attracting new theatergoers?
A: I look forward to learning more about what ideas Theatre Latté Da and other local theater companies have already pursued to attract new theatregoers. In my experience, audiences who have been let in on the process of making theater develop a deeper interest and investment, so I look forward to incorporating ways for people to peek behind the curtain and interact with the talented villages of folks who are the ones responsible for building what ends up on stage. I’m also an educator at heart, so I can see TLD offering training and workshop opportunities for people interested in developing the craft of theater.
Q: What upcoming projects or productions are you particularly excited about?
A: The whole of the 26th season of Theatre Latté Da excites me, and I’m so grateful that a marvelous slate of shows and guest directors was put into place before I came on board. But if I really had to point to a single title, I’m really psyched about The Color Purple. It was a formative book for me growing up and the musical adaptation is heart-wrenching. This Oscar season should also catapult the musical and its rich score into the Zeitgeist, hopefully intriguing many new audiences to see it performed live. It also happens to be a co-production with a peer institution, Geva Theatre in New York, which means I’ve arrived at just the right moment to witness how such a partnership works and how such partnership can hopefully continue. Co-productions, co-commissions, and touring are most certainly on the table for expanding our reach and ambitions.
Q: What might we find you doing on a day you're not working on theatrical projects?
A: I’m an avid contemporary film buff, so you might find me sitting in a cinema watching an Oscar flick. I really love international cuisine, so I like to try new-to-me restaurants pretty often. I also might be known for having, perhaps, a few too many articles of clothing, so if I’m not catching a movie or dining somewhere exotic, perhaps I’m raiding a department store sale! I also really love to travel and to visit my family back home in El Paso as often as possible.
Q: How may we follow your news?
A: I’m not as active with social media as I used to be, nor do I keep up my personal website regularly enough, but subscribing to the Theatre Latté Da newsletter and following our social media outlets (Facebook, Instagram) would definitely keep people informed about what I’m up to. Or maybe you’ll bump into me at a show, a movie, or a restaurant!
- - - - -
Side note - Theater Latté Da is accepting applications through January 15, 2024, for its NEXT Generation Commission, an opportunity for BIPOC and women artists that supports the creation and development of new musical theater projects. In addition to the $20,000 commission awarded to the individual artist or creative team, the project will receive creative and developmental support over an 18-month period, including two developmental workshops totaling a minimum of 50 hours. Artists interested in applying for the NEXT Generation Commission should visit www.latteda.org/next generation-commission for complete submission details.
Mill City Times | 35W Bridge Memorial | Mill District Block Party | Mill City Media
Monday, November 13, 2023 at 8:12AM