Holiday Village at Young Quinlan Building Features 40+ BIPOC- and Woman-owned Businesses, Thru December 24

The Holiday Village is officially open through December 24, Wednesdays-Saturdays 11 am-6 pm, Sundays 11 am-4 pm. The Young Quinlan Building is located at 81 S 9th Street.

Browse and shop at the Holiday Village this holiday season! The Black Market Events, The Roho Collective and Strive Bookstore will feature 40+ BIPOC and woman-owned local artists, makers, authors and chefs.

Located in the historic Young Quinlan Building—one of downtown’s first department store locations—The Holiday Village highlights collaborative entrepreneurship and a community-oriented shopping experience.

Makers include Crown Publishing, Hunt for Variety, Nature’s Syrup, Notetorious, Travel Gang, Grand Rising Press, Your Majesty Incense and Candles, Pieces of Kandakes, Hersiherbs, Dipp’d In Hunnie, Kobi Co., Regina Love Collections, Sweet Heaven by NNE, Treat Me Too Dog Treats, Unique Styles by Ricka. Artists include Tina Bliss, Christopher E. Harrison, Del Bey, Esther Osayande, Melodee Strong, Kenneth Caldwell, Ron Brown, Deshawn Henry, Angela Davis, Walter Griffin, Jeremi Hanson, Crystal Sokuu, Barbara Thomas, Christopheraaron Deanes, T’Mores Little, Jesus Ramirez, Loretta Day, Flahn Manly, Yvette Grifea Gray, Shea Maze, Chuck Love and Leeya Jackson. Strive Publishing is a featured vendor.

The market is supported by the Chameleon Shoppes initiative of the mpls downtown council. For more information, visit www.chameleonshoppes.com and follow @chameleonshoppes on Instagram.

Share Feedback on Mayor Frey’s Recommended 2023-2024 City Budget at Dec 6 Public Hearing

Exerpt from the December 1 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

There is one more public hearing for people to provide feedback on Mayor Jacob Frey’s recommended 2023-2024 City budget. Comments can also be submitted online at the City’s website.

The proposed 2023 budget is $1.66 billion and the 2024 budget is $1.71 billion. The proposed tax levy increase for 2023 is 6.5% and is expected to be 6.2% in 2024. Visit the City’s website to learn more about the mayor’s recommended budget, key dates in the approval process, FAQs and more. You can also watch a series of videos on the City’s budget process.

Comments submitted online will be entered into the public record and shared with the mayor and council members. The City Council is scheduled to vote on adopting the budget on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

Upcoming City budget public hearing

• 6:05 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, Room 317, City Hall, 350 S Fifth Street

Learn how to participate in public hearings.

Columbia Park: 129 Years of History

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Spanning over 180 acres, Columbia Park along Central Avenue in Northeast Minneapolis has been an indispensable feature to the city for almost 130 years. The surrounding communities enjoy amenities such as a dog park, archery range and an 18-hole golf course, but over the course of its long history, major changes have taken place. Today we will look at how the park has transformed throughout the years.

Section of a map from 1898 that shows Sandy Lake

In 1892, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board made plans to create an ice rink on Sandy Lake for the coming winter season. During this time, land was being plotted and people were moving in, so the park board decided to purchase 144 acres, including the majority of the 40-acre Sandy Lake. The price was high, coming in at $208,000, or over $6,000,000 after inflation. Many park commissioners were in favor of acquiring the land but were still hesitant. In order to show their enthusiasm for a very large new park, the neighbors petitioned the park board to approve their purchase plans, and the sellers put $20,000 of their own money on the table for immediate parkland improvements.

The park board officially acquired the land in December of 1892, 400 years after Christopher Columbus became the second recorded European to lead a crew to the Americas, thus Columbia Park was born. The acquisition of this park also rekindled the idea of having a parkway encircle Minneapolis, the Grand Rounds. The next summer, following the success of the ice rink on Sandy Lake, a bandstand was erected in the park for seasonal entertainment. Various ideas were thrown around for what to do with all this land, such as putting in an arboretum, a nice resort, athletic fields or a golf course, but in the meantime, the lowland areas of the park were used to grow hay. Over the next decade and a half, the park expanded by another thirty-one acres.

Sandy Lake, thought to be spring fed, began to retreat during the early years of the park. By 1910, the lake was only filled during the wet season and even then, it was more of a pond with marshland surrounding it than a lake. In 1914, the City of Minneapolis was installing storm sewers in that part of Northeast, so superintendent Theodore Wirth talked them into putting in the sewer at a level that would drain the lake. Since then, the lowlands of Columbia Park have had flooding issues in the Spring from time to time.

With more land at their dispense, the park board was ready to connect Columbia Park to the Grand Rounds. In 1912, a plan was made for the Northeast stretch of the Grand Rounds and two years later, Thirty-third Avenue was renamed “St. Anthony Parkway” from University to the Camden Bridge. This Northeast section was completed in 1924 and inaugurated with a parade. It became the first east-west route north of Lowry Avenue.

Photo from 1925 of the clubhouse under construction

The 18-hole golf course in Columbia Park looked a little different when it first opened. With the success of the 9-hole course at Glenwood Park, now known as Wirth, the park board installed six holes with sand putting greens at Columbia in 1917. Three years later, they put in three more holes, and two years after that in 1922, nine holes were added to make eighteen with the sand greens being replaced by grass. The new 18-hole course quickly became a must-play for local golfers, but there was not a system in place to handle the high demand. In order to cater to the needs of a popular course, the park board constructed a clubhouse in 1925 that would later be named “The Manor” in 1930.

Wirth's 1930 park plans

That same year, superintendent Wirth created a plan to connect Columbia Parkway, that runs along the northern edge of the park, to Thirty-third Avenue next to the clubhouse. This plan included a large picnic shelter, many athletic fields, and an indoor swimming pool situated along Central Avenue. This new road would wind its way between the recreational parkland and golf course, crossing the Soo Line Railway tracks at the Columbia Park Bridge that was installed in 1895. This bridge is only one of two steel, ribbed-arch bridges in Minnesota, was closed to vehicle traffic in 1958, and currently connects holes two and three at the golf course. The Great Depression immediately halted Wirth’s 1930 plan and it never came to fruition.

Women's golf national champion Patty Berg playing an exhibtion match, 1940.

A shoe race on the 4th of July at the park, 1947.

In 1956, the Northeast Lions Club paid for the park’s first picnic shelter, which was the first of many in the park system to have coin-operated electric outlets and hotplates. In the late 1960s, the golf course was expanded in order to stay competitive from roughly 4,600 total yards to 6,200 yards. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing were also become popular activities and the golf course began manicuring trails in the winter. In the 1990s, Columbia Park became home to the park system’s first golf learning center, across the parkway from the dog park. The next major upgrade came in 1997 when the park installed a new playground with a very fun but dangerously long slide, updated paths, volleyball and basketball courts, and a soccer/rugby field that has became a popular spot for rugby clubs around the Twin Cities.

More recently, the park board and the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization are working to mitigate flooding and improve the ecosystem of the park. The first phase of this project, which started in October of 2020, includes replacing the storm sewer system along with controlled burnings and trimmings of sections of the park for a total of twenty acres with the intent of planting native prairie vegetation and oak savannahs. Phase two, which is scheduled to begin in May of 2021, includes grading and reseeding the golf course. The work that is being done will greatly enhance the experience for its visitors, human and animal alike, and I soon look forward to walking the greens of Columbia Park when improvements are complete.

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Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

Small Business Spotlight: The Nicollet Diner

Article by Becky Fillinger

The Nicollet Diner at 1333 Nicollet has transformed its new 14,000 square foot space into a fun, contemporary 24-hour diner, drag venue and craft cocktail lounge. We spoke to Sam Turner, Owner/Founder, to get the scoop on the different experiences available when we visit.

Q:  What’s new with The Nicollet Diner?

A:  A lot! After eight years in Loring Park, The Nicollet Diner has moved just two blocks north to 1333 Nicollet Mall. The Diner is still open 24/7 365 days a year. I recommend you check out the menu and try our Biscuits and Gravy, Wings, Malts and Burgers. You can order breakfast any time of the day - our Bacon, Eggs, Hashbrowns and Toast is still the best seller. 

Q:  Roxy's Cabaret recently opened too. What types of events are planned for the cabaret?

A:  Roxy’s Cabaret is Minneapolis' newest drag venue, highlighting professional drag and featuring a variety of other live entertainment.  We currently host themed drag shows four times a week with Charity Bingo on Tuesdays. We are excited to expand the entertainment in the cabaret to include stand-up comedy, live music, independent film and cult classic watch parties soon.   

Q:  Will there be holiday-themed drag shows?

A:  Absolutely! On December 3rd, 10th and 17th our regular Saturday night show FLAMboyANCE will offer a special holiday edition, All We Want for Christmas is You!

Roxy's Old FashionQ:  Which leads us to the third business at the space, On the RoX. Please tell us more.

A:  On the RoX, is our take on an elevated craft cocktail lounge with spectacular 2nd and 3rd floor outdoor patios. We feature a brilliant, competition level craft cocktail menu. We wanted to build a space perfect for happy hour, gathering with friends or a nightcap after an amazing date. 

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  We are very active on social media! All four of our concepts have independent websites, Facebook and Instagram profiles and we keep our Google listing up to date with events, offers and updates. Please come visit us and check us out at:

• thenicolletdiner.com
• roxyscabaret.com
• mplsontherox.com 
• muffintopcafe.com
• mothercluckerspizza.com *Coming soon

CenterPoint Announces Lane Shifts During Downtown Natural Gas Line Installation

Via a November 30 e-announcement from CenterPoint

Project Update: Washington Ave. S and 5th Ave. S

From Monday, December 5 to Friday, December 16, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractors will work in Minneapolis on 5th Avenue S. from 3rd Street S. to Washington Avenue S. and on Washington Avenue S. and 3rd Street S. on one or both sides of 5th Avenue S. Michels Corporation will install a natural gas service main for a new apartment complex called O2 Market Rate Tower at 250 Portland Avenue.

Q3 Contracting will put down winter restoration on the areas affected by Michels Corporation’s work. This includes temporary asphalt on areas that were previously concrete. In spring 2023, they will return for permanent restoration, including concrete on sidewalks.

During this time, traffic will remain open with one lane closed on each street. The sidewalks on the west even-numbered side of 5th Avenue S. and the north even-numbered side of 3rd Street S. will be closed, while the opposite sides will stay open. Bicyclists will share the road with vehicles in areas with lane closures.

Entrances into the parking ramps, lots, and driveways will remain open. Any exceptions will be minimized as much as possible if the crews need to perform work in these entrances. Over the weekend of Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11, the crews will not work. Traffic control barriers will be temporarily removed from Washington Avenue S. but kept on the project’s other streets. 

How can I contact CenterPoint Energy? 

Our website will be updated at the project’s page here. You can also check out our website at CenterPointEnergy.com/Construction, click on “Project Sites” and “Minneapolis.” In addition, you can contact one of the following resources. Please reference the project name or the number 104676647:

• For questions about construction projects, please email csv.constructionservices@centerpointenergy.com or call 612-321-5546.
• For questions about restoration, please email csv.restoration@centerpointenergy.com or call 612-321-5042.

We appreciate your patience as we continue to upgrade our natural gas system, ensuring system reliability for years to come.

Minneapolis Officials Declare Snow Emergency Beginning Today, November 29

Snow Emergency parking rules:

• 9 p.m. today, Nov. 29 to 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30 (Day 1)
  Do not park on EITHER side of a Snow Emergency route until 8 a.m., or the street is fully plowed.
• 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30 (Day 2)
  Do not park on the EVEN numbered side of a non-Snow Emergency route until 8 p.m., or that side of the street is fully plowed, or on EITHER side of a parkway until 8 p.m., or the parkway is fully plowed.
• 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 (Day 3)
  Do not park on the ODD numbered side of a non-Snow Emergency route until 8 p.m., or that side of the street is fully plowed.

Find more information on the City's Snow information website, or call the Snow Emergency Hotline: (612) 348-SNOW (7669).

Crews can only plow the full width of the street if cars are out of the way. Please follow Snow Emergency parking rules or your vehicle will be tagged and/or towed to the Minneapolis Impound Lot.

Also, be sure to shovel your sidewalks and around your garbage cart.

New Online Tool Tracks MPRB Snow Removal on Park Trails, Sidewalks

Via a November 28 e-announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Service also tracks requests from park patrons

Click here for real time tracking

With snow in the forecast, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is excited to share its new Trail Plowing Status map. When snowfalls accumulate to two inches or more, the online tool shows real-time plowing activity from MPRB maintenance crews on park trails and sidewalks throughout the city.

Park staff and patrons can use the map to see where and when MPRB's established plowing routes were cleared; they can also submit requests, issues or complaints related to snow and ice (see more information below). 

More information on winter maintenance in Minneapolis parks.

Snow and Ice Requests

MPRB makes every effort to have snow removed throughout the park system within 24 hours after a snowfall ends. Delays may occur due to blizzard conditions or other severe weather; in these circumstances, we thank everyone for their patience and understanding. 

If it's been more than 24 hours since a snowfall ended and an area needs attention, please report it:

• Online MPRB Snow Event Request Service
  
  
• Email maintenance@minneapolisparks.org 
  
  
• Phone 612-230-6400 (MPRB Visitor Services; 8am­ to 4:30pm, Monday–Friday)

Note: Parkways are cleared of snow by the City of Minneapolis. 
The City's snow emergency webpage has info on parking rules, routes for city streets and parkways and more. MPRB's parkway maintenance webpage has additional information.

Snow Safety Tips

• Use caution and take your time when walking, biking or driving in parks and on parkways.
• Bicyclists must yield to pedestrians on shared-use trails in winter. 
• Get up-to-date information from the National Weather Service's Hazardous Weather Outlook report. 

The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts Announces Visual Voices Opening Reception, December 11

 

Visual Voices

Opening Reception and Winter Market Sunday, December 11, 4:00 - 6:00PM

Stonebridge Lofts, 1120 S 2nd Street

Join The Mill Yard's Visual Voices opening reception for wine, beverages, snacks and beautiful art.

Artists featured at this show:

• Allison Johanson – Painting
• Stacey Johnson - Jewelry
• Kelly Marshall - Textiles
• Stephanie Molstre-Kotz – Mixed media on paper
• Bob Tema - Painting
• Steve Hemingway - Ceramics

Also showcasing December 11 Winter Market Only:
Lynne Sarnoff-Christensen - Ceramics
Jodi Reeb – Encaustic painting

ARTIST DETAILS:

Allison Johanson – Painting
Allison paints moody and textural artworks rooted in the natural world. Her abstracted paintings are inspired by Minnesota land and waterscapes and she enjoys communicating emotion and connection in her large-scale original paintings. Allison’s process involves lots of layering with expressive applications and intuitive markings. Her pieces contain few forms, encouraging the viewer to experience the proportions, colors, and visual texture with a sense of discovery and personal meaning. www.allisonjohanson.com

Stacey Johnson – Jewelry
Stacey’s jewelry business started by chance while living in New Zealand in 2003. She started making and selling earrings and necklaces at a local Saturday market in Nelson and that, unknowingly, started a career from art shows to owning retail shops and everything in between. “It’s been a fun ride with a dash of hold-on-tight at times, but the one thing that remains constant is the jewelry and my love for designing it,” she says. Quality jewelry at an attainable price has always been the goal. www.staceyjohnsonjewels.com 

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Kelly Marshall – Textiles
My textiles are inspired by traditions, from historic patterns to modern abstractions. Color is examined in the detailed blending of the threads, while undulating texture creates visual shadows and tactile pleasure. Handwoven on a loom, using the traditional Rep weave technique, my custom designed textiles are created for functional use, they bring beauty to commercial and residential settings and add celebration to everyday living.  www.kellymarshall.com

Stephanie Molstre-Kotz – Mixed media on paper
Settling my mind has always been resolved with a pencil and paper. Line exposes an immediate sense of purpose and belief in organized thought. This is the basis of my work. By focusing on line, I am able to instigate energy from within. The process of resolving ideas through marks on paper or cloth is where I find true engagement. Material and intuition guide me toward a purpose and organization. Line sets a temporal device within those materials. The result is an opening to real and imagined space. www.stephaniemolstrekotz.com

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Bob Tema - Painting
Intrigued by historical and industrial landmarks, I capture a scene in an abstract plein air method using ink and watercolor. I then take these studies back to the studio and re-interpret for a large canvas — my canvas being OSB (chipboard) wood panels. Using bold colors and broad strokes, the random pattern of the wood brings a whole new dimension to the art. I reside in Minneapolis and my subject matter is primarily Minnesota area landmarks. www.bobtema.com

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Steve Hemingway – Ceramics
Steve is a native of Flint, Michigan and where he trained as an artist. In 1992 he moved to Minneapolis and in 1996 moved to Minnetonka where he built another studio and devoted himself full-time to his art. Steve explains the material that best suits his work is clay. “Clay responds immediately to your touch and in return you respond back and a dialog is created. It immerses you into the present moment. I find this a wellspring for creative thought and process.” Steve creates tablets, tiles, vessels and sculpture. http://www.hemingwayceramics.com/index.php?page=galery 

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                                            Winter Market Only:

Lynne Sarnoff-Christensen – Ceramics
Lynne has been a potter for over 35 years. Her focus is texture and colors, drawing inspiration from nature and her gardens. “Purposeful thought, process and distinctiveness goes into each of my pieces.”  www.abowlofgratitude.com

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Jodi Reeb – Encaustic painting
Jodi explores the theme of nature’s cycles using photographs as collage, elevated circular paintings, and constructing organic aluminum sculptures. Her encaustic photographic works juxtapose geometry with the softness found in nature. www.jodireeb.com

Cynthia Froid Group Office Will be a Drop Off Site for Dress for Success Clothing Donations, Nov 28 - Dec 2

​Dress for Success Twin Cities believes in empowering every woman through employment. They offer high impact career and workplace skills development programs for low income women to help them achieve career advancement, career stability and economic sustainability.

Think about what would you wear to a job interview. That is exactly the type of clothing Dress for Success distributes to their clients. Your suits and other professional apparel can provide another woman with the confidence to enter or return to the workplace, make a great first impression and land a job that could change her life.

The Cynthia Froid Group, 709 2nd Street S, will be a destination drop-off site for the following articles of clothing from Monday-Friday, November 28 - December 2, 10am-4pm.

Professional items that qualify for donation:

• Professional Clothing
• Handbags
• Jewelry
• Scrubs
• Non-Slip Footwear
• Professional Maternity Clothing
• Hats, Gloves & Winter Jackets

Questions? Please email nikki@cynthiafroidgroup.com.

2022 Santa Bear Product Launch and Return of Historic Dayton’s Windows

The first Santa Bears since 2007 are available beginning Black Friday at 10:00 am at The Dayton’s Project. The first run of Santa Bears since the line was discontinued 15 years ago is back and available only at The Dayton’s Project! Shoppers can pick up this new addition to their collection.

The beloved tradition of the Dayton’s holiday window display is also back! Now visible at the corner of 8th and Nicollet, the windows are especially charming for photography at night. Framed in a repeating 20-second visual light cycle, the lights in the display showcase colors pulled from different holiday traditions to highlight inclusivity and community connects. The displays once more feature a collection of Santa Bears and the creative styling of renowned window designer, Brian Guze. 

See all the vendors.

Four Weekends of Holidazzle Kick Off Friday, November 25!

Friday, November 25, kicks off the first of four Holidazzle 2022 weekends, featuring free and festive fun in Minneapolis’ Loring Park. This event brings the community together to enjoy activities and entertainment, as well as highlight local small businesses during the holiday season.

Are you ready for the Yeti?

The Holidazzle Yeti returns to dazzle you with its size and creativity. The illuminated art exhibit will be a great holiday photo location surrounded by beautiful seasonal lighting. The Yeti is made of recycled materials including steel and aluminum, up-cycled mattress packing waste, pine lumber, and up-cycled window screening.

Meet Santa Claus

Santa is back in person this year to see the good boys and girls at Holidazzle! He’ll be visiting, taking photos, hearing those holiday wish lists, and spreading cheer during all Holidazzle hours.

Get Merry on the Merry Go Round

How often do you get the chance to ride a carousel or giant slide during the middle of winter? Holidazzle is bringing this fun experience to Loring Park as guests will have the chance to ride through the night under the skyline.

Support Local Businesses

Holidazzle brings local entrepreneurs and their small businesses together for all to experience, enjoy and support in Loring Park.

This year, you can find 30+ food and shopping options including a collection of fantastic local makers that will provide new offerings each weekend. Find the full vendor list at holidazzle.com/vendors.

Plus, check out the Fulton Beer Garden for your favorite beers and seltzers. The garden will also include TVs to watch the big game, games and activities, Drag Queen Bingo on Friday from 6-8 p.m., and so much more!

Fun for the Family

The Holidazzle Kids Zone includes a collection of fun activities for all ages and abilities to enjoy. It’s equipped with slides, mazes, haybales, and more. It’s sure to be a huge hit for the young and old to enjoy during a holiday night out.

Meet donkeys up close with Save the Brays Donkey Rescue each Saturday and Sunday from 12 – 5 p.m. Plus, Minneapolis Fire and Rescue vehicles will be on site to explore each Sunday. 

Saturday Night Lights

Holidazzle will feature its popular winter fireworks every Saturday night, beginning November 26. The show always starts at 7:15 p.m. so come early to grab food, shop, and enjoy the amusement rides and entertainment, before finding your spot for a fun fireworks display!

Parking for Holidazzle in Loring Park

Minneapolis College is the premier parking partner at Holidazzle. Park at their ramp (1420 Hennepin Avenue, entrance on Laurel Avenue) and take the short walk along Maple Street to enter Loring Park. Minneapolis College will offer $5 or less parking during all Holidazzle hours on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Free Rides on Metro Transit

Get to Holidazzle on Saturdays by bus or light rail for free courtesy of Metro Transit. Visit Holidazzle.com to download your pass to ride free to Loring Park via bus or light rail. Free ride passes are valid from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. each Saturday of Holidazzle.

Volunteer at Holidazzle

Guarantee your spot on Santa’s good list by volunteering at Holidazzle in Loring Park! Volunteers are needed leading up to and through the four Holidazzle weekends in Loring Park. From decorators and ride attendants to greeters and Santa’s helpers, Holidazzle has a spot for you. Sign up by visiting holidazzle.com.

Holidazzle Social Media

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Hashtags: #Holidazzle, #mymplsdt

Gratitude for all Things Great and Small

Whether you're celebrating the day with family and friends, volunteering to serve/deliver meals, or cheering on the Vikes tonight - best wishes for a safe and healthy day. And THANK YOU to the people who are working today to keep us safe and help others in need, including medical staff, law enforcement, public transit and communication workers, and all others. 

Eleven years have passed since we took this Turkey Day 5K photo by Gold Medal Park, but it remains an all time favorite. The forecast this morning looks perfect for Turkey Day and Turkey Trot runners.

Annual 1850s Holiday Party at the Ard Godfrey House, December 4

1850s Holiday Party

Sunday, December 4, 12 noon – 3 pm

Enjoy light refreshments and guided tours of the oldest remaining wood frame residence in Minneapolis, built in 1849. The home will be decorated for the holidays in the modest style of the era, and the Woman’s Club guides will be dressed in period costume.

• Take a guided tour with docents dressed in period attire
• See how the Godfrey family might have celebrated the holidays in the new community of St. Anthony Falls.
• Admission is free, but donations are always accepted.  

Sponsored by the Woman’s Club of Minneapolis.

The Ard Godfrey House is located in Chute Square Park at corner of University and Central.

Firefighters For Healing's Transitional Healing Center Wish List

Rendering of the completed Transitional Healing Center, 500 S 7th Street

Firefighters For Healing's Transitional Healing Center is set to open in January and they would appreciate your help with putting the final touches on the 12 one-bedroom suites being housed there. These fully furnished Home Away from Home suites will be available to qualifying families of burn survivors, firefighters and first responders when they travel to the Twin Cities for care. Each suite will include a full kitchen, bathroom and in-suite laundry.

Please consider using (and sharing) this convenient Amazon Wish List to help them finish furnishing these units. Monitary donations are also greatly appreciated.

Earlier this month, Firefighters For Healing held their annual Red Tie Gala to raise funds for the many services they provide to burn survivors. Here is a video they shared during the Gala that takes you behind the scenes of the soon-to-be completed facility, along with an interview with a firefighter whose family needed to take advantage of the services as he received treatment for his job-related injuries. 

Small Business Spotlight: Wilde Café & Spirits' New Owners, Ryan Pulkrabek and Christy O’Keefe

Article by Becky Fillinger

Ryan Pulkrabek and Christy O’Keefe

Wilde Café & Spirits has new owners who just unleashed a new menu in time for comfort food season. We talked to Ryan Pulkrabek and Christy O’Keefe about what we can expect to experience at 65 Main Street SE as they transition in the next few months to the new name – Pivo Riverplace.

My question to Ryan and Christy was simple – what is new at one of our favorite spots in St. Anthony Main? Turns out, lots of change is in the air! Here’s what they had to report:

We plan to expand our menu to include dinner offerings in addition to the popular brunch fare currently offered. We're focusing on classic comfort foods from the Midwest to Italy that will pair well with a cozy snowy view of the riverfront.

Chef JordanChef Jordan has worked to create some new pleasures for all of us. Menu highlights include: 

• A Midwest classic - Red wine braised short rib dinner with broccolini, roasted potatoes with a rich beef gravy to take the chill off.

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• A Louisiana favorite - Chicken and sausage gumbo to spice up any cold wintery night!

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• An Italian comfort classic - Pan seared chicken marsala with mushrooms, potatoes in a cream sauce to dream about.

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• A British staple - Classic fish and chips, beer battered with a creole slaw for a fresh twist.

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Short Rib Dinner

Chicken Marsala

Fish and ChipsWe plan to convert the existing barista bar to a more beer-focused bar with more of a taproom feel, with 16 taps serving local brews, with an emphasis on the best pilsners. As part of the bar expansion, we will be maintaining Wilde's great coffee tradition by shifting barista goodness to the front.

We also plan to update the decor with a sensual and fun Art Nouveau theme featuring soothing deep colors and organic curvy lines. 

Next Spring, we plan to renovate the exterior to open the windows to our historic riverfront and expand the patio awning.

We want the place to feel like home but a lot more fun! A family, neighborhood gathering place with great beer and an amazing view.

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo And for folks who want takeout, we're implementing a new online ordering system.

I've always felt that a happy welcoming staff with a cool backdrop creates the best feel in a space. If the staff is having fun, the guests can feel that energy and will want to return time after time.

When Firefighters Saved Downtown: The Minneapolis Thanksgiving Day Fire

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Thanksgiving Day, November 25th, 1982. After a long day of eating turkey, visiting with friends and family, and taking a nap, a 29-year-old Michael Rainville got in his 1973 Cadillac Coup de Ville and made his way to pick up his longtime friend Greg and his two sons to go to the St. Paul Civic Center to watch the superstars of the AWA duke it out in the squared circle with Nick Bockwinkel vs. Rick Martel for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship as the main event. Capping off an eventful day of eating and napping with some good ol’ wrasslin’ sounds like the perfect Thanksgiving to me.

Around this same time, two boys, twelve and thirteen, crawled through a snow fence, broke down a plywood door, and started exploring the partially demolished former location of Donaldson’s department store. As they were rummaging around, they stumbled upon some matches and a butane torch.

As Michael pulled up to Greg’s house just past 5pm, Greg, an off-duty Minneapolis firefighter, received an urgent message; Donaldson’s and the Northwestern National Bank Building were ablaze.

Read the full story from Minneapolis Times...

Artist Spotlight: Rosy Simas

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Rosy Simas, photo: Tim Rummelhoff

Rosy Simas creates innovative interdisciplinary Native contemporary art that connects artists and audiences. She is also an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation. Rosy was selected for a 2022 McKnight Fellowship for Choreography and Dance. Her current project, she who lives on the road to war, is on display at the Weisman Art Museum and at All My Relations Art Gallery. We talked to her about the inspiration for the work and how we might all benefit from the peace generated from the performances and installation.

Q:  Congratulations are in order - your new work, she who lives on the road to war, has a dual premiere in Minneapolis in the heart of the Native community at All My Relations Arts Gallery (AMRA) and the Weisman Art Museum (WAM), before touring other cities across the country. You were commissioned to create the work, which consists of a new installation and in-gallery performances. Please tell us about your inspiration for the work?

A:  I was approached by WAM in 2019 about doing a residency, and at the time I had just finished a work at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and that project was very challenging due to the times we were living in – the contentious administration, the ramping up of bigotry and bias both towards BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ folks. I was finding that in my own group of people I work with there was a lot of difficulty for people to just show up. Creating art under these circumstances seemed like climbing a never-ending uphill mountain. I wanted to embark on a project that would be holistic, in a helpful way, to the people I work with. So, not just something they give themselves to, but one that actually gives back to them as well. Nourishing and restful for all concerned. That’s how the work began.

But also at the same time, I had been seeking for ways to find more peace in my negotiation of work with institutions. I turned to my own culture’s peacemaking practices as inspiration. I’m not an expert at Haudenosaunee peacemaking traditions – it is a lifelong learning process to understand and a constant consideration that inspires me to bring this idea of making and bringing peace into the world. I wanted to bring it into the work. 

Part of the she who lives on the road to war installation

Q:  This work will address the dual pandemics we are living through – systemic racism and COVID. Can you please tell us more about this idea?   

A:  Yes, the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, and systemic racism was full blown with everything surrounding George Floyd’s murder. It was impacting BIPOC and LGBTQIA artists in really daunting ways. Not being able to make work (you could not go into the studios), losing income, and even feeling that being in public was entering a hostile environment. I wanted to create a space where we could come together as a group and support each other and be safe. I also had to consider what audiences needed at this time as well. The considerations for the installation were – limited seating, social distancing and a feeling of safety and restfulness when entering the space. Another aspect of the installation is that we have all experienced extreme loss in so many ways; the installation allows people (performers and the audience) space to gather, grieve and condole with each other.

Q:  What are audience reactions to the work? What do you want the viewer to feel or experience? 

A:  Well there are two aspects to my answer. We have the installations at both WAM and AMRA. Performances are held in both spaces, too. Only so many people can attend the performances due to space constraints. The performances are designed to be an activation of the space and an act of peace in itself.  Responses to the performances tell us that it is very moving to watch people be in relationship and care for each other so much. People feel calmer when they leave the space. This is also true of people viewing just the installation. The installation is meant to NOT activate the nervous system. The installation is intended to calm the nervous system. I created the work to provide peace to all who engage with it – via performances or viewing the installation.

Photo of Lela Pierce by Valerie Oliveiro

Q:  Please tell us about events surrounding she who lives on the road to war. 

A:  The performances are now sold out at the two institutions. With limited seating and required registrations, they filled up right away. But we are going to do pop-up performances which we’ll coordinate and put it out via social media and people can just show up. We want other people to have access to experience the performances, in addition to the installations. See the installation at WAM through February 5, 2023. The installation is at AMRA until December 17. 

Q:  How may we follow your news? 

A:  Follow us at Rosy Simas Danse, Facebook and Instagram.

'Tis the Season at the Historic Nicollet Island Inn

Festive and fun holiday events at the Nicollet Island Inn

Starting with the Feast of St. Nic, a holiday tradition at the Inn on Dec 7, 7:30p:

If taking in the Underground Holiday Cabaret is more your liking, enjoy Dinner & Show December 7th for $120 (same menu as above), or $40 per person for the show alone. Erin Schwab & Jay Fuchs, who've crooned together for some 20 years across the country and metro, will perform a medley of holiday classics.

If a "spot of holiday tea" is preferred, tea will be served in the main dining room during a two-hour, afternoon Holiday Tea December 6th and 13th for $50 per person.

The five-course menu includes:

• Red Grapes, Hummus, Crackers and Cheddar
• Cinnamon Brown Sugar Scone with Sweet Irish Creme
• Egg Salad, Brie and Arugula on Challah Rolls
• Mini Tarragon Chicken Pot Pie
• Christmas Cookies with Berry Coulis

Dream Job: Mary Brabec, Booking Director, The Cedar Cultural Center

Article by Becky Fillinger

Dream jobs don’t just happen overnight. Check out the route that Mary Brabec took to arrive at her enviable position at The Cedar Cultural Center. We are so impressed with her perseverance, vision and enthusiasm for bringing world class musical talent to our neighborhood.

Mary BrabecQ:  Many people move to Minneapolis every month and they probably are unaware of The Cedar Cultural Center. Can you tell us the history of this entertainment venue?

A:  Located in the heart of Cedar Riverside, once one of the most prolific neighborhoods for live music in Minneapolis, and the home to the largest Somali diaspora in the U.S., The Cedar plays a key role in maintaining the vibrancy and diversity of the Twin Cities’ arts scene.

Our history can be found in found in this fascinating timeline here.

Q:  You’re the Booking Director for TCCC – what a fun job! But this is not your first talent booking position. Please tell us about your career journey that lands you here.

I grew up in a large, diverse music loving family in St. Paul — music was always in my ears! In high school (at Highland Park), my friends endured many "you have to hear this!" (whatever new wave track I was currently obsessed with). Put in charge of booking the HPHS homecoming concert, I did my first ever deal at our beloved all ages venue, The Cedar Theater, in 1987! After college I moved out West working in various contract hospitality situations. It was in a summer gig, cooking and running the kitchen for a festival organizer, Planet Bluegrass, at their ranch in Lyons, CO, that I discovered how fun it was to work in the live music community; behind the scenes; supporting artists and the people who run the events. I moved to Montana and began my lifelong career of producing concerts, festivals and love of radio with Vootie Productions and KGLT FM out of Bozeman.

DOMi and JD Beck at The Cedar, October 2022  Photo: Christopher Ludtke

Wanting to go further into festival programming, I took a job with One Reel Productions out of Seattle and helped book the Bumbershoot festival with a main focus on the (now defunct) WOMAD USA. When the organization lost their lease on this festival, my position was also dissolved. This was my turn towards representing artists directly. I opened up my own booking agency (Mighty Bison) with a roster of some fine up and coming string bands (bluegrass, old-time and other Americana acts). It was an amazing time! "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" had just been released with a new awareness of the genre — my clients were so busy touring and working the dense summer festival circuit. I merged my mighty but tiny agency with a larger boutique, the Billions Corporation, and had a solid seven year run with this group until the sharks (it's an extremely competitive business) chomped me and some of my hard-won clients to pieces.

I started Mighty Bison up again and eventually shuttered it with a move back to Minnesota. An old friend in the bluegrass world, Jerry Douglas, invited me to see his show at The Dakota in downtown Minneapolis in August, 2017 where I met the owner who was needing some assistance. Until the pandemic closed all of our doors, I worked for the jazz club helping to program the many amazing national and international artists that still grace that stage. In the fall of 2021, still not hearing back from The Dakota on whether my position was still in place, I couldn't afford to wait and took the booking seat at Icehouse. I was impressed by the owner's ability to develop an outdoor stage in the summers of 2020 and 2021, and it was an opportunity to learn more about the incredible local jazz scene. We live in such an amazing market of many VERY talented people! The Booking Director position at The Cedar opened in early 2022 and I jumped on the chance to apply. Such a privilege to be in this seat at this crucial time for the venue and humanity at large.

It's really a full circle dream for me to be applying my experience and commitment to high quality music to this sacred stage. To quote our Executive Director, Michelle Woster, "There are many hearts attached to The Cedar." It's truly an honor to serve this beloved organization and be back in the national and international touring arena.

Q:  How do you go about finding the right blend of local, national and international talent that comes to TCCC? Is there an internal vetting process for a monthly or quarterly calendar?

A:  As mentioned, I've been booking artists on many incredible stages for almost 30 years and have developed some good, big ears. The network of agents and producers across North America is my community and the communication amongst us is supportive. Obviously, COVID has changed us, but many remain committed to presenting quality live musical experiences. It's been so great to reconnect with many of these industry folks. I listen to them. I listen to our big eared staff and board. I live in our calendar. The Cedar has a solid legacy of being one of the unicorns in the United States, presenting marginalized and traditional international musicians. I get pitched many incredible ideas and with our ongoing commitment to developing local and regional talent of all genres there is a steady open door for many young artists to be acknowledged and placed in multi-band bills or opening for national touring acts. 

Q:  What are your sources for staying on top of trends in music? How do you stay aware of new talent?

A:  I listen to a lot of radio: KEXP & KBCS out of Seattle, KCRW out of LA, KBEM, KCMU and, of course, KFAI locally. I follow some tastemaker publicists and listen to agents who I admire; attending art presenters' conferences and participating in several world music consortium discussions are also very helpful for shared information and block booking ideas. Robert Lehmann, our Community & Grant-Funded Programs Manager, and I are attending a world music conference in Montreal (Mundial Montreal) this week, as a matter of fact!

Q:  If you could book your dream act, who would it be?

A: Shasa Sartin, our Marketing & Communications Manager, and I share a mutual dream of presenting D'Angelo on the Cedar stage! I got to work with him during my One Reel Seattle days (on his VooDoo tour) and it remains one of my favorite concerts. Also (because it's never just one act!) I would love to produce a tribute to Ali Farka Touré (featuring his son, Vieux, and Khruangbin). I have a dream of producing a second line parade through Central Minneapolis — a proper jazz funeral to all we've lost and been through in the past two years. My dream is to work with and support artists committed to healing and entertaining our weary hearts. I believe in the power of live music to connect us. I am committed to helping build joy filled moments. 

Q:  Please tell us about TCCC’s Racial Equity Commitment.

A:  Racial equity is central to the work we do at The Cedar in a myriad of ways. It’s a driving force for us when our mission is to “promote intercultural appreciation and understanding through the presentation of global music and dance,” and to remain committed to providing “support for emerging artists and community outreach.”

Programs such as The Cedar Commissions are an example of our organization's continuous commitment to racial equity in the arts. The Cedar Commissions is an annual program supported by the Jerome Foundation wherein six emerging Minnesota-based artists are granted $5,500 to create 30 minutes of new music to be debuted on The Cedar stage. Choosing a cohort of artists who represent a variety of racial identities is important to the selection committee. Artistic opportunities with financial support such as this one exemplify the Cedar’s support of artists holding racial identities that have been historically denied adequate resources and platforms to bring creative expression to life.

As of Quarter 3, 2022 our staff is 35% BIPOC-identifying members and our Board of Directors is 40% BIPOC-identifying members. The organization is pleased to have reached these goals set in 2021; simultaneously, we acknowledge that there are improvements yet to be made that aren’t measured quantitatively. The Cedar recognizes that working to be a racially-equitable organization is a continuous, ever-evolving process.

Executive Director Michelle Woster coordinated a visioning session by Aurora Consulting in early October during which staff and board members came together at The Cedar to collaboratively explore the question of “where do we see The Cedar in five years?” It was a really meaningful exercise and the desire to maintain a racially diverse staff and board were collectively recognized as central for the forthcoming, future Cedar. Continuing – and developing – programming that highlights racial equity is an exciting part of The Cedar’s evolution.

Q:  How may we follow the news at TCCC? 

A:  To keep up with The Cedar, follow us everywhere at @thecedar and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for updates about upcoming shows and community happenings!

Miller Lite Free Rides Teams up with MTC for Nov. 20 Vikings Game

Molson Coors’ Free Rides Program seeks to help fans celebrate responsibly during the season and beyond

Miller Lite Free Rides is teaming up with Metro Transit in Minneapolis/St. Paul to provide fans with transportation to and from the Vikings game on Sunday, Nov. 20. Fare will be free of charge on all routes, including busses and light rail from 1:30 to 9 p.m. No fare or coupons will be needed.

“Alcohol responsibility has always been a top priority at Molson Coors,” said Tami Garrison, community affairs director. “We love watching communities come together on game days and are proud to offer a program that allows fans to leave their keys at home and celebrate responsibly.”

The Free Rides program was first offered in Minneapolis/St. Paul in 1997 for St. Patrick’s Day. After its success in Minneapolis/St. Paul and other cities nationwide, the program expanded and has now provided more than eight million people with free access to transportation. In the past year, Molson Coors has offered free rides to individuals on New Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day and during the Kentucky Derby to encourage safe and responsible celebrations year-round.

“Miller Lite’s Free Rides program has had such a powerful impact in the Twin Cities and we are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with the company,” said Kelci Stones, market development strategist, Metro Transit. “We are committed to delivering safe and cost-effective transportation for our riders year-round, and programs like Free Rides brings us closer to our mission.”

Visit the Metro Transit’s website to review transit routes and plan for a safe ride home on game day.