Reader Writes: Answers and Changes to Policing Needed to Curb Downtown Mayhem

By Joe Tamburino

The horrific events on the Fourth of July in our wonderful Mill District neighborhood was, sadly, predictable and likely to happen again.  Ever since the riots in the summer of 2020, we’ve sporadically experienced large groups of people causing mayhem in our streets ranging from exhibition driving and drag racing to property destruction and gunfire. Such lawless behavior will likely happen again because rarely is anyone in these crowds arrested or held accountable for their actions.  It is beyond time for the city’s leaders to take control of the situation.  To prepare for and combat future street unrest, the mayor should make three important and immediate changes to city policy: allow police to physically disperse crowds, remove all scooters, and have the National Guard ready to deploy during major downtown events.

First, Mayor Frey signed a “stipulation and order” (Stipulation) regarding Minneapolis Police Dept. (MPD) procedures and officer conduct on June 5, 2020.  Though the agreement addresses some important issues like banning police chokeholds it also unnecessarily hamstrung police in engaging and disbanding large crowds.  MPD officers are prohibited from using physical force and crowd dispersal tools like tear gas to break-up large and often times unlawful crowds unless the chief of police directly authorizes such actions. We need to know whether such authorization was requested by MPD officers on July 4th and what the Chief’s Office did or did not authorize.  No matter what we find out, the terms of that Stipulation must be re-visited to address the situation we are in two years after the mayor signed it. 

Second, scooters in downtown have become unmanageable, especially at the bottom of Portland Avenue near the Stone Arch Bridge. That scooter station has become a late night magnet for people who want to cause trouble.  We see people starting their scooter rentals at 10:00 p.m. at that location and drive all over the Mill District yelling, screaming, blocking traffic, jumping on and off sidewalks until their rental time expires at midnight. On July 4th, that station was filled with people causing all sorts of problems and firing off dangerous fireworks. The mayor should order the scooters removed until downtown returns to some semblance of order, however long that takes.  The fact that some people love the scooters and they are a fun way to get around town can no longer be the dominant concern.  They have to go. 

Lastly, the National Guard should be placed on standby in Minneapolis during major events. We experienced the fallout from communication problems between Mayor Frey and Governor Walz during the 2020 riots concerning National Guard deployments, but there’s no excuse now for not having their troops ready-to-go at a moment’s notice to assist MPD. We have the Aquatennial celebrations in two weeks and we need the Guard to be ready.

Our city leaders see the problems and know that law-abiding residents are in danger. Now let’s see if they have the backbone to stand up against this craziness and do something about it.

Editors note: Joe Tamburino is a resident of Downtown Minneapolis, Defense Attorney with offices Downtown, and Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association Board Member 

4th Street Reconstruction Project Update - July 8

4th Street Reconstruction Project Overview

The City of Minneapolis is reconstructing 4th St. between 2nd Ave. N and 4th Ave. S in downtown Minneapolis. The reconstruction will include wider sidewalks, improved crossings, a new bi-directional off-street bike path on the north side of the street, lighting, trees, and planting beds. Construction is underway and is expected to be complete by the end of 2022.

What's Happening Next Week? 

Roadway reconstruction continues on 4th St. between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave. Local access is maintained between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave.

• Crews are planning to continue landscaping, sign installation, and lane striping on 4th St. between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave.
• Sidewalk repairs are being completed between Marquette Ave. and 4th Ave. S

*Please note that the construction schedules are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances. 

What to expect during construction?

• During roadway construction, 4th St. will be closed to through traffic between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave. Local access will be maintained from 2nd Ave. N to 1st Ave. N. 
• Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout construction. Be aware of your surroundings when walking or biking near the construction zone. 
• Expect additional noise, dust, and vibration as crews complete work.

Upcoming Events

4th Street Weekly Stakeholder Meeting 

Weekly project newsletters are sent out weekly and virtual stakeholder meetings occur bi-weekly. Join us at the next stakeholder meeting to get project updates, talk with project staff and get your questions/concerns answered.

Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings:

July 15, 9-9:30 a.m.

July 29, 9-9:30 a.m.

Teams Meeting: Click here to join the meeting

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: www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/fourth-st-n-and-s/  

Provide questions, comments or concerns on the interactive map: https://zan.mysocialpinpoint.com/4thstreetreconstruction

Email the project team: info@4thstmpls.com

Contact the project hotline: 612-412-9774

The Falls Initiative: Community Conversations Update

Article by Becky Fillinger

The fifth Falls Initiative Community Conversation was hosted June 28 at Open Book in Minneapolis. If you haven’t been following this story, The Falls Initiative is a multiyear, multiphase project to create a place of healing and celebration at Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls). The project will transform and return the Mississippi riverfront to the public, being especially mindful to the Dakota and other Indigenous communities who consider the site sacred. The theme of the evening was A Powerful Place for Partnerships.

June 28 community conversation     Photo: Drew Arrieta for Friends of the Falls

The Falls Initiative is often visually represented by a thread. The imagery illustrates the Falls as a story disrupted. Examine the tightly knit beginning of the thread story – it reflects the communities, sense of place and sacredness of Owámniyomni. The middle part of the threaded imagery reflects how this place was torn apart through colonization, genocide against Indigenous people, the city’s development, and industrialization. At present day, we are still in this segment. The Falls Initiative is an effort to bring the threads back together again. It will be a long and thoughtful process to knit the story back together and to permit us all to return to the river.

Image credit: GGN for Friends of the Falls

Below is the timeline of project, with Phase 4 concluding last week. Please click on any Phase to learn more about the work done during that time frame: 

Phase 1: Coalition Building (2016-2019)

Phase 2: Inform & Connect (2020)

Phase 3: Grounding (2021)

Phase 4: Engage (January – June 2022)

Phase 5: Align  (July – August 2022)

Phase 6: Respond  (September 2022 – March 2023)

.

At the June 28 meeting, many stakeholders gave input on the process so far.

Carrie Day Aspinwall and Kjersti Duval.   Photo: Becky Fillinger

Carrie Day-Aspinwall, who has served as a consultant to The Falls Initiative and facilitator for the Native Partnership Council, told us, “The work on The Falls Initiative has been amazing. It’s not often that we’re invited to the table. We have been able to reestablish, reconnect and re-energize the non-Indian people to the Dakota community. The journey has been strong, consistent and quite honestly it has felt like the right thing to do. We keep our culture at the center of all this work - Indigenous values - our culture, our language, customs and way of life - have been the basis of all our work on The Falls Initiative to date.”     

David Malda, key design leader at GGN provided us with schematics of the design concepts of upper falls, falls and lower falls and what features and programming might take place on the sites. He reiterated that the theme for the night’s presentation, A Powerful Place for Partnerships, was not about decolonizing, but instead indigenizing.

Kjersti Duval, Director of The Falls Initiative, walked the audience through the timeline of turning the property back to the public. She told the audience that early action by The Falls Initiative to build a strong coalition has protected the site and has created the space necessary for a different kind of process to shape the future of the site, saying, “Indigenous landscapes are rising up all over the world, and this place will be one of the most important.”

Kjersti also introduced Interboro Partners, who will lead a focused study on partnerships and programming with local partners MIGIZI and the Division of Indian Work in the coming months.

Image credit: GGN for Friends of the Falls

David D’Oca, Cofounder and Principal at Interboro Partners, told us, “We are just getting started - my firm along with local Twin Cities’ partners are working together for a programming partnership study. We are looking to advance some of the initial ideas about programs. What should be on the site? How can we advance these ideas, and who would be good partners? Art on the site – who would be part of that conversation? Our task is to keep the conversation going - this is complex, long term and a gamechanger.  We are so honored to be part of this project.” 

After the main presentations, breakout groups continued to brainstorm about what the place could be – and how it could grow through time. 

The public’s involvement is by no means over. For community members who are interested, please follow The Falls Initiative on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or by subscribing to the newsletter. Your input is welcome and desired.

Hennepin Avenue Downtown Reconstruction Project - July 7 Update

Hennepin Avenue Downtown Reconstruction Project

Hennepin Ave. will be reconstructed between 12th Street and Washington Avenue. The City will reconstruct the pavement from building face to building face, including improvements to public and private utility infrastructure, and improved space for pedestrians, bicycles, transit, and vehicles.

Latest Project News

Concrete work is winding down for the project with only a small portion of the  6th St intersection remaining including the ped ramps and bike way connections in this intersection.

What's Coming Up 

Irrigation work will begin next week on the last two blocks between 5th and 7th.  The last lane of paving in the 6th St intersection will be completed early next week with the remaining ped ramps and bike lane connections following.

New signals and light poles will arrive in August.

For more information please see attached update. Hennepin_Update_Vol98.pdf

Contact Info

For more information on this project contact: 

Project email: hennepinCM@minneapolismn.gov

Phone: 612-255-4049

Website: www.hennepindowntown.com 

Art at the Bridgewater Hosts 20th Rotating Exhibit “Two Hundred Six” through July 29

Submitted by the Bridgewater Lofts Art Committee

Walk into the Mill District’s Bridgewater Lofts and the first thing you might notice is the quantity of original art that graces its interior common spaces. Several pieces were purchased by the condo association for its permanent collection. Others are part of an established rotating exhibit program that showcases local artists from a wide variety of disciplines, from abstract oils and watercolor landscapes to sculptural works in bronze, clay and other natural materials. Four shows a year are produced, and the current exhibit, Two Hundred Six, demonstrates the depth and diversity of the Minnesota arts community.

Nebula — Martha Bird

Some of the largest and most striking pieces in the show are the creation of sculptural basket weaver Martha Bird, whose “Nebula” inspired the exhibit title. Commenting on the work, Bird noted that the sculpture, a French technique known as Perigord, contains 206 individual pieces of rattan, coincidentally the same number of bones in the human body.

Sea Floor — S. Catrin Magnusson

S. Catrin Magnusson takes inspiration from another natural structure, the diverging oceanic plates that comprise the deep trench in the Atlantic Ocean, also known as the mid-Atlantic ridge. But it is more than physical separation that the artist evokes in her large-scale felted creations. “I express my own personal timeline of emigration from Sweden to the United States,” says Magnusson. “The distance between my two countries, cultures and family inevitably continues to grow each year.”

Immigration Series — Brenda Litman

Emigration is also a touchpoint for Brenda Litman. Her seven-painting series of abstracts looks at the variety of ethnicities cultures and races that make up the American melting pot. She filters her subjects through the rhythms of nature: seasonal change and the life cycle. In Litman’s view, “All who live in our nation inhabit a garden, a rich mosaic of entwined blossoms.”

Interior and Portrait Series: Maria, Restaurant Entrepreneur — Ann Magnusson

Ann Magnusson’s ongoing series of paintings, “Interior and Portraits,” highlights the kind of structure that is found in the everyday objects with which people surround themselves. Each of her subjects is placed in their carefully curated environment. What emerges is not just a collection of lifeless things, but a deeper understanding of the personality of their owner. When choosing her subjects, Magnusson looks for differences in age, gender, occupation and culture, but also the interconnectedness of the human experience.

Messenger — Gordon Coons

Common Loon — Ellen Moses

Native American artist Gordon Coons and ceramicist Ellen Moses both take inspiration from the natural world. Coons original, hand-pulled block prints featured in the Bridgewater show highlight the role of the Raven as a messenger between man and the spirit realm. Moses creates slip-cast sculptures from original molds and, like Coons, she seeks to capture the interface of humans and wildlife as we work on sharing the natural environment.

Chaos — Marvin Wise

An early developmental speech problem made it difficult for painter Marvin Wise to communicate. Drawing cartoons eased the challenge and allowed him to share stories with others. That skill translated into a full-fledged art career which brought his talents before such luminaries as Maya Angelou and Bishop Desmond Tutu. Wise’s work ranges from the fantastical to the abstract, and his use of bold colors and brushwork is highlighted in the works displayed at the Bridgewater.

Ebullience — Wendy Heimsness

Self-taught artist Wendy Heimsness creates abstract paintings in acrylics and mixed media that burst with color and energy. Feelings and emotions take center stage in works like “Merriment,” “Outburst” and “Ebullience,” but the viewer is always encouraged to place their own interpretations on her array of Bridgewater contributions.

Two Hundred Six runs through July 29 at the Bridgwater Lofts condominiums, 215 10th Avenue S. For more information on viewing/purchase opportunities, contact bnfacommittee@gmail.com.

Preserve Minneapolis' Nicollet Island Walking Tours

Preserve Minneapolis presents 2 walking tours on Nicollet Island:

Nicollet Island - South Tip Walking Tour

Sunday, July 24, 10 – 11:30 am

Nicollet Island information kiosk at E Island Avenue and Merriam Street

Nicollet Island developed as a microcosm of early Minneapolis, with water-powered factories, storefronts, block-long rowhouses, a mansion district and a neighborhood that still stands as a sampler of the 19th century residential architecture. The 40-acre island just above St. Anthony Falls next to downtown Minneapolis is the site of the first bridge anywhere across the Mississippi River (where Hennepin Avenue crosses now), as well as an early railroad crossing that divides the island in two. It is said to be the only inhabited island the entire length of the Mississippi. The South Tip Tour focuses on the falls and the industry it attracted; the Hennepin crossing and the commerce that lined it; and the movers and shakers who populated Grove Street and built grand homes downriver from the railroad tracks. This tour walks about a half mile; the tour guide is Chris Steller. $14, plus $1 processing fee. For information and to register: https://www.preserveminneapolis.org/events/nicollet-island-south-tip-walking-tour-2022.

-  -  -  -  -  - -  -  -  -  -  -

Nicollet Island -- North Tip Walking Tour

Sunday, July 24, 11:30 am – 1 pm

De La Salle picnic area at E Island Avenue and Grove Street

Nicollet Island developed as a microcosm of early Minneapolis, with water-powered factories, storefronts, block-long rowhouses, a mansion district and a neighborhood that still stands as a sampler of the 19th century residential architecture. The 40-acre island just above St. Anthony Falls next to downtown Minneapolis is the site of the first bridge anywhere across the Mississippi River (where Hennepin Avenue crosses now), as well as an early railroad crossing that divides the island in two. It is said to be the only inhabited island the entire length of the Mississippi. The North Tip Tour focuses on the  neighborhood upriver from the railroad tracks where people have lived since the 1860s. Native Americans tapped maples there, houses moved within the island and onto the island, a school went up and came down and resident donkeys made friends with visitors into the 1980s. This tour walks about a half-mile; the tour guide is Chris Steller. $14, plus $1 processing fee. For information and to register: https://www.preserveminneapolis.org/events/nicollet-island-north-tip-walking-tour-2022.

Small Business Spotlight: Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided by Molly Ingebretsen

Julie IngebretsenIngebretsen's Nordic Marketplace is 101 years old – a Minneapolis institution. They were recently named Minnesota’s Family-Owned Small Business of the year by the SBA. We talked to third generation co-owner Julie Ingebretsen about the award, mentoring other small immigrant businesses and items not to miss in the retail store – I have my eye on the Biking Viking chocolate bars!

Q:  Congratulations on Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace being named Minnesota’s Family-Owned Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Association. What does the award mean to you? Will you have a party or event to celebrate the award?  

A: We were so delighted - it's quite an honor to be recognized by the SBA! We're big fans of theirs. The award event was really nice, both mayors (Frey and Carter) handed them out - and it was at Urban Growler, sweet! No party here yet though - we plowed right into a big building repair/remodeling project that's still keeping us partly closed. 

MetroIBA (Metro Independent Business Alliance) advocates for independent businesses across the metro area, focusing on the 'buy local' movement, state-level lobbying, and resource-sharing among members. We're grateful that they nominated us for this award!

Ingebretsen's Butcher Counter 1921

The Model Market, 1921

Charles Ingebretsen, Sr. family, 1925Q: Ingebretsen’s has been a community staple for over 100 years. Four generations of Ingrebretsens have owned this business celebrating Scandinavian culture. Please tell us the history of the Ingebretsen’s retail store. Do you think the founders could imagine a Minneapolis of today?  

A: My grandfather, a Norwegian immigrant, started our meat market in 1921, when Lake Street was near the edge of town and our neighborhood was largely Scandinavian. Hard to know how he imagined the future, but I know he understood the importance of location (Lake Street had a new street car line then), and of being rooted in the community. My dad and his eventual partner took over in the 1950's. They added our gift shop in 1974 and hired me to run it, which I thought would be fun for a year or two. I'm still here, and it's still fun. And our 4th generation is very involved and getting ready to take over.

Q:  Did Ingebretsen's sustain damage during the unrest following the murder of George Floyd in 2020?

A:  We had broken windows and quite a lot of internal damage and looting that first night, but thankfully no fire. It was tough, but so many of our neighbors had it much worse. We have felt well supported by our wonderful community of customers and our insurance, and have learned a lot on a visceral level about the meaning of white privilege. Lake Street itself is recovering in some pretty inspiring ways with the help of a wide net of people and organizations contributing time and energy and expertise and money. We're so proud to be a member of this special place.

Q:  I know you’re active in mentoring new immigrant businesses along Lake Street. How did you develop this interest and what types of mentoring do you provide?  

A:  I'd say our "mentoring" is more indirect, but I know our presence and stability influences our newer neighboring businesses in positive ways. We try to be conscious allies of new immigrant businesses and communities, of arts groups, of our surrounding neighborhoods, of the groups working directly with small businesses. Lake Street Council is foremost among those groups, and has done an amazing job raising money and managing the complexity of the recovery. To us, being an ally means supporting and participating in events, sitting on active boards (I've been on Lake Street Council's for years), being active in community safety organizations and projects, welcoming (and buying from!) new businesses, just being as visibly supportive as we can.

Q:  How have you expanded the Ingebretsen’s marketplace during your tenure?  

A:  We occupy four storefronts on the corner of 16th Avenue and East Lake Street. While the meat market/deli part of our business has remained much the same all these years in the second storefront, the rest of the business has expanded around it. The gift shop was added in 1974 in the corner storefront. We had outgrown that space by the mid-90s, so we expanded to the third storefront where we now have our clothing, needlework (especially knitting), and children's things. The fourth space is mostly occupied by our growing mail order business, along with some space for classes. We also had a small boutique in Stockholm, WI for several years, and still run a gift shop in the Norway House building at 913 E Franklin Avenue.

Hagar next to the fish counter

Ingebretsen's clothing and needlework area

Biking Viking chocolatesQ:  What’s a few items we should not miss when we come to shop at Ingebretsen’s?

A:  Our food specialties, for sure - Swedish meatball mix, Swedish sausage, smoked salmon, herring, lefse, cheeses, chocolate, lots more. Nordic specialty cookware. A great book selection. Christmas things when it's time. We're big on Viking-themed things (real Vikings). Also so many of the wonderfully designed and made products for the home that come from Scandinavia. Norwegian wool yarn. Cool socks. Hard to stop...

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  We update our website daily, and there you can sign up to get emails from us. We are also active on Facebook and Instagram where we share cultural information and day to day happenings in the store! Come by and see us at 1601 E Lake Street – we love first time and regular visitors!

Father Hennepin Bluff Park Improvement Project Progress

By Doug Verdier

The current project to renovate and improve Father Hennepin Bluff Park is moving along nicely, as construction of a new performance stage and attached seasonal restroom facility currently is underway and on schedule. The photos below show some of the recent progress.

Supports are in place to install a roof above what will be the new outdoor concert stage area. New restrooms are built into the back side of this structure.

Shown above is the entrance to the restroom area beneath the cantilevered roof being placed at the rear of the new structure behind the stage shown in the previous photo.

The existing bandshell seen above will remain. Original plans were to refurbish it and remove the roof, but budgetary considerations resulted in a change. According to park officials, plans now call for dressing up the front of it, removing much of the concrete that was there, and simplifying the approach to it. Since the new building will now be where performances are held, the existing bandshell area can take on a simple look and feel.

Extensive landscaping and stormwater management throughout the park has been happening since the project began in April 2022. Work is expected to be complete in Fall 2022. 

zAmya Theater Project Announces "Second Chance" - August 4, 10, and 14

Who deserves a second chance? And who decides?

zAmya Theater Project announces Second Chance, a play that explores second chances through the lens of people experiencing homelessness.

What does it mean to get a second chance in life? Who deserves a second chance? And who decides? Hear the pleas to the Council of Second Chances. You, the audience, get to weigh in on whether or not a second chance is granted. What will you decide?

Originally created in 2018 through a residency with Minneapolis Central Library, Second Chance was made and performed by actors who have experience with homelessness. This summer’s production is directed once more by Maren Ward, and includes music by mick laBriola and Carlisle Evans Peck. The original production team included Carlyle Brown (playwright), Bianca Pettis and Esther Ouray (Assistant Directors), and Leah Nelson (Choreography). 

Tour partners include: Mill City Museum, North Loop Neighborhood Association and Avivo, and the Mpls Downtown Improvement District. 

Performance dates, times and locations:

Thursday, August 4, 7:00-8:00pm

Mill City Museum in the Ruin Courtyard (704 S 2nd Street - indoors if bad weather strikes)

ASL interpretation provided

.

Wednesday, August 10, 7:00-8:00pm

Target Field Station Amphitheater (the corner of 5th Street N & 5th Avenue N)

Alternate rain date: Fri. August 12

ASL interpretation provided

.

Sunday August 14 (rain or shine!), 2:00-3:00pm

Downtown Minneapolis Street Art Festival (Nicollet Mall between 6th & 7th)

ASL interpretation provided

Tickets are Free. Registration encouraged (but not required) August 4 and 10. No registration required for the August 14 show.

Second Chance is filled with the real life stories of people who’ve found themselves without shelter in all kinds of ways imaginable. Audiences will be asked to face the part of themselves that may judge the personal circumstances of others as they ask for help. zAmya presents Second Chance as our contribution to raising awareness and advocating for housing justice in the face of Minnesota’s housing crisis. 

With support from the City of Minneapolis Partnership Engagement Fund, this three-show tour also kicks off a project between zAmya Project, North Loop Neighborhood Association and Avivo. The North Loop is Minneapolis’ fastest growing neighborhood, home to both high-end condos and wealthy residents, and several organizations sheltering low income residents in need of housing. Together, we aim to establish a shared vision amongst community members, housed and homeless, of what needs to happen for everyone in their neighborhood to feel safe, have shelter, and ensure support for the most vulnerable.

Since 2004 the zAmya Theater Project has been changing hearts and minds through performances and workshops in hundreds of Minnesota locations and with many partners including: Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District, Hennepin Theater Trust, Southwest Minnesota Housing Project, The Guthrie Theater, Edina Realty, Salvation Army, Thrivent Financial, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless Annual Conference, Basilica of St. Mary, Augsburg College, and more.

Dream Job: Benji Bloom, Programming and Booking Assistant, Dakota

Article by Becky Fillinger

When you’re joining your fifth Zoom meeting of the day, and considering monthly sales pipeline quotas, think about the dream job held by Benji Bloom – Programming and Booking Assistant at the Dakota! We talked to Benji about how he goes about planning the Dakota’s music calendar and what it’s like to work at a legendary venue.

Benji Bloom

Q:  Your LinkedIn profile mentions that you’re adept at analyzing trends and human behavior as it relates to pop/urban culture. Please tell us more about how you acquired this skill and how you use it at the Dakota.

A:  I credit a lot of my “ear to the ground” skill to my time at the radio station back in college, 90.7 FM KJHK. I was booking shows there, so I had to stay in tune with the local acts around town (Lawrence, Kansas). Along with that, I have always loved finding new artists. A lot of people can listen to the same artists their whole life, but not me. I constantly need something new. That skill allows me to bring in new acts that haven’t been exposed to the Dakota before – not only good acts, but important ones.

Q:  You really do have a dream job. How do you go about putting together a monthly calendar for the Dakota? Do you work one month at a time, or perhaps three at a time, to get the right mix of shows?

A:  It is truly all over the place. Depending on the acts, we could be booking anywhere from a month out to a year out. If we like it and we think the Twin Cities community will (or already does) like it, then we jump on it. Getting that right mix is very important, especially due to the fact that we don’t identify strictly as a “Jazz Club” anymore; even though we still present Jazz, the Dakota is way bigger than that. Presenting musical diversity is extremely important.

Q:  Did you grow up in Kansas? Where’s home for you?

A:  I am originally from Minnesota. I went to Lawrence, Kansas for college. My intent was to move to Kansas City after school, but the pandemic brought me back here.

Q:  The Dakota webpage includes a quote from Jazz Weekly – “It’s because of concerts like this that I can’t stand living in Los Angeles. Why is it that Lowell Pickett’s Dakota…gets artists and tours to come to Minneapolis and not darken the doors of any club in LA?” What is your secret sauce in booking these artists that are the envy of every jazz club?

A:  The credit all goes to Lowell (Pickett). He has built such incredible relationships with figures in the industry during his career. It’s impressive because it’s not like artists feel like they have to perform at the Dakota, but instead they want to because they know they will be treated extremely well and have a memorable experience in such a legendary venue. That’s why we get some incredible underplays.

Q:  Do you solicit community input in booking future shows?

A:  Always! I can’t book for just myself. Audience input is always helpful and very much appreciated.

Q:  What music do you listen to in your time away from work?

A:  That’s kind of impossible to answer. I listen while at work too, I like to find new stuff all the time, its part of the gig. I’ll listen to just about anything and it changes just about every day. I will listen to anything from Charles Mingus to Sunn 0))) to John Prine to MF Doom.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  I am not very active on social media. I kind of like staying under the radar, but I am always paying attention. You can follow the music calendar on the Dakota's website, subscribe to our newsletter, and if you really want to, you can follow my very slow-moving Instagram @benji.bloom to see me rock climb and what I am listening to in real time!

July 2 at the Mill City Farmers Market

The first cucumbers and green beans of the season from GVY Fresh Produce graced our July 2 Mill City Farmers Market shopping basket.

By far THE best thing I've eaten in a very long time: the pork belly sandwich from Jabà Noodles, with a refreshing frozen watermelon juice. They return to the Market on August 6th, and I sure hope both these items will be on the menu again!

Whether it's bread, freshly milled flour, cookies, pretzels or other goodies - you can count on Baker’s Field Flour & Bread to have your carb fix.

Northwood Mushrooms Family Farm (formerly Cherry Tree House Mushrooms) offers an array of fresh, dried and powdered mushrooms, along with mushroom brownies, mushroom butter and log kits. In other words - all things mushroom!

Friends of the Falls was the July 1 Community Booth. This non-profit is working to a create a place of healing and celebration at Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls), and has been hosting a series of Community Conversations on the subject. Learn more on their website and follow them on Facebook to stay in the loop.

Who else can relate to this T-shirt from Shepherd's Way?

Bohemian Flats and Its Bygone Village

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Nestled along the west bank between limestone bluffs and the Mississippi River once sat a small community of immigrants that garnered the name Bohemian Flats. This community popped up around the same time Minneapolis became incorporated as a town in 1867 and lasted roughly 100 years. Today, a park with the same name sits at the location of this bygone village, but what exactly happened on this strip of shoreline we call Bohemian Flats?

Photo of Bohemian Flats during the construction of the Northern Pacific Railway Bridge taken in 1880, courtesy of MNHS.

As milling continued to grow in Minneapolis and St. Anthony, so did the cities’ immigrant population. On the east side of the river in St. Anthony, many of them lived in what is now Northeast Minneapolis, but on the west side of the river, the young town of Minneapolis did not have much room for affordable residential growth at the time. This led to many immigrants from central Europe congregating at a low point along the shores of the river and created their own Old World-style village in which to raise their families.

The first major groups to call Bohemian Flats home were the Czechs and Slovaks, and soon after, immigrants from places like Austria, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway all came to this location. Throughout its existence, many names have been given to this village. Dane Flats, Little Ireland, Little Lithuania, and Connemara Patch, to name a few, were all used at one point or another, but “Bohemian Flats” stood the test of time.

Many of the houses built in this village were shacks at best. None had foundations, and yearly flooding made it difficult for families to truly invest in their homes. Later on, nicer homes were constructed atop the bluff, separated from the lower bluff by a flight of seventy-nine stairs. Homes on the upper bluff could be rented out for between $15 and $20 a year, while homes on the lower bluff went for $0.50 to $2 a year. Only a few families were able to find enough economic success to be able to afford moving up the bluff, and the majority of the residents of this village lived close to the river’s shores. 

Photo of boys rowing a boat down Cooper Street, next to the Immanuel Evangelical Slovak Lutheran Church during a flood in 1898, courtesy of MNHS.

.

Photo of Polish immigrants searching for their belongings that floated away during a flood in 1900, courtesy of MNHS.

.

Life at Bohemian Flats was quite difficult compared to the rest of the city. Fresh water was hard to come by as many of the shared wells were close to outhouses. Materials to build a house were too expensive to buy, so families waited for logs to sneak away from the log booms of the lumber mills and float over St. Anthony Falls for them to fish out of the river. Crime would also create chaos, especially on Sundays when workers at the nearby breweries would throw keggers along the bluffs. These breweries, the Heinrich Brewing Association and the F.D. Noernberg Brewing Company, would eventually merge with the Orth Brewery in 1890 to form the Minneapolis Brewing Company, later known as the Grain Belt Brewery.

Photo of Bohemian Flats taken in 1910 with the F.D. Noernberg Brewing Company in the background on the left, courtesy of MNHS.

A plat of Bohemian Flats in 1910 created by Joseph W. Zalusky in 1940, courtesy of the Hennepin History Museum.

It was also a common practice for families who resided on the lower bluff to live with family or friends during high water season in the spring, because much of the lower bluff was swallowed up by the river, flooding all the homes. For this reason, the area also was called Little Venice. As more people started living at Bohemian Flats, the small village made their own streets, Mill, Cooper, and Wood, named after the most common occupations the residents had. In 1890, things got much worse for the residents of Bohemian Flats. The City of Minneapolis was ordered to stop dumping garbage in the river, so instead, they dumped it next to the river, by the Washington Street Bridge. Their reasoning for that decision was that the location was “away from the settled city.” This lasted nine years, until the State Board of Health ordered the city to move their dump once again in 1899.

1919 painting by Samuel Chatwood Burton titled Christmas Eve on the Flats, courtesy of MNHS.

The first round of evictions started in 1915 when the city and Army Corps of Engineers was planning to build Lock & Dam No. 1, which would raise the water level of the river. In 1921, landlord C.H. Smith started buying properties at Bohemian Flats and attempted to collect rent from the residents. They claimed, “squatters’ rights,” refusing to pay rent or leave, battling eviction notices in court for ten years. One of the main reasons residents were able to fight in court for so long was because of the efforts of John Medvec. He noted,

“I bought that little house in May 1884. I paid $210 for it but never paid for the land. I'm there all the time. I move in the spring because the river rolls over my floor. I raised my family there... The land belongs to the river if anybody. That's the property of the government. We'll pay taxes, but it isn't fair to ask rent for a riverbed.”

Unfortunately for the residents, the court ended up siding with the landlord in 1931, and evictions started happening once again.

Soon after the evictions, that land was turned into a municipal barge terminal with coal and oil storage. The last resident to live at Bohemian Flats was Joseph A. Kieferle, who was eighty years old in 1963 when he was forced out of his home for the construction of the new Washington Avenue Bridge.

Photo of the barge terminal and coal storage taken in 1949, courtesy of MNHS.

With the extension of West River Parkway and the Grand Rounds in the 1980s, Bohemian Flats turned into park land. From 2007 to 2010, the park housed the wreckage from the I-35W Bridge collapse until it was moved to a warehouse in Afton, MN. The closure of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock & Dam was scheduled for 2015, so Paradise Charter Cruises moved their river operations, along with their boats the Paradise Lady and Minneapolis Queen, from Boom Island Park to Bohemian Flats in 2013. From 2015 to 2017, a part of the park was used as a staging area for the reconstruction of the Franklin Avenue Bridge, and in 2018, that area was turned into a nursery site for saplings that were to be planted throughout the park system.

This land that once was home to a small village of 100 homes, a variety of shops and a church has gone through many transformations in the last 150 years. It was never an ideal spot to house struggling residents, and using the land for heavy industry and storage was hardly a good idea in retrospect. But now the land is serving nearby residents once again, providing pedestrian paths, perfect picnic spots, a sandy canoe and kayak launch, and picturesque views of the Mississippi River Gorge, hopefully, for generations to come.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -   

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

Beneath the Banks: Caves and Tunnels Along the Riverfront

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Five hundred million years ago a giant, shallow, tropical sea covered the vast majority of what later became North America, including the central and eastern portions of Minnesota. This resulted in a very thick layer of St. Peter Sandstone developing with a thinner layer of Platteville Limestone forming on top of it. These layers made it possible for St. Anthony Falls to erode upstream to where it sits today along the downtown riverfront. However, these geological layers are also the perfect recipe for caves and tunnels to naturally form. Once European settlers established the towns of St. Paul, St. Anthony, and Minneapolis, they too took advantage of the soft sandstone and dug out cave systems for various uses. It is because of this that some say the subterranean world of the Twin Cities is comparable, if not grander, than the catacombs of Paris. These next three stories are just a small portion of what lies beneath our feet.

Chute’s Cave

Photo of a collapsed section of Chute's Cave taken in 2000 by urban explorers, Action Squad.It didn’t take a well-learned person to figure out that the exposed sandstone along the bluffs of the Mississippi can be easily manipulated. Once the riverbanks were filled with lumber and flour mills, entrepreneurs began exploring the possibility of using tunnels to power their mills. One of the first to try this out was Samuel H. Chute, namesake of Chute Square, the location of the oldest house in the city, and an agent for the St. Anthony Falls Water Power Company. He wanted to dig a tunnel underneath Main Street of over 1,100 feet. Workers digging out Chute’s Tunnel were stopped a few hundred feet in from the shoreline when they broke through into a large cavern.

Photo of the formation "Chute's Medusa" taken in 2001 by Action Squad. It measures roughly six feet wide.

Originally, Chute’s Cave was 200 feet long and 100 feet wide, and in the middle was a large geological formation, likely a stalagmite, that was dubbed the Tower of St. Anthony. In 1866, the St. Paul Daily Press reported that some explorers lifted up a slab of malachite in the cave, and underneath was a spiral staircase. After descending 123 steps, it opened up into Chute’s Cave, where they saw human-sized stalagmites rising up, and diamond-like stalactites glistening on the ceiling. The columnist then ended their report by saying that Chute’s Cave “is supposed to be the place where good St. Antonians go when they die.” It must’ve been a slow news day.

Woman entering Chute's Cave by boat, photo courtesy of Dr. Greg Brick

A resort was opened on the bluffs near the cave’s entrance and even offered torchlight boat tours of the stunning cave system. Unfortunately, the beauty of the cave changed on December 23rd, 1880 when a portion of the cave collapsed, taking some of Main Street with it. Once the area was stabilized and the street was back up and running, the cave was deemed unsafe and the resort was abandoned. Years later in the 1960s, the city pondered the idea of turning the cave into a fallout shelter, but that idea was abandoned.

The Eastman Tunnel Collapse of 1869

Before Main Street sank into Chute’s Cave, businessmen William Eastman and John Merriam purchased the majority of Nicollet Island with the intent to mill along the island’s shores. The two argued that the St. Anthony Falls Water Power Company controlled all of the water power on the east side of the falls, so they sued the company and won. The two parties agreed that Eastman and Merriam could dig a tunnel underneath the falls from Hennepin Island to Nicollet in order to take advantage of the falls fifty-foot drop to create 200 horsepower to operate their mills.

Digging started in September of 1868 and workers slowly dug their six-by-six-foot tunnel 2,500 feet to Nicollet Island. By early October 1869, the crew made it 2,000 feet in and reached the southern tip of Nicollet Island. They were almost there. Towards the end of the workday on October 4th, some workers noticed a very small leak in the tunnel. The next day when they arrived at the site, they discovered that that the river turned the small leak into a giant hole, and the river quickly carved out a seventeen-foot deep hole ninety feet wide!

Photo of the Eastman Tunnel collapse taken in 1869

Over 100 men from St. Anthony volunteered to help save St. Anthony Falls, and more important to them, the power it was capable of producing. They started throwing rocks and logs into the giant hole, but they were tossed around and swept away like toothpicks. The power of the mighty Mississippi was just too much. Eventually, the Minneapolis Fire Department came to the rescue, and with the help of even more volunteers, they constructed three cofferdams to stabilize the falls. Wood will obviously erode over time, so the dams had to be replaced every four years or so until the 1950s when the Army Corps of Engineers installed the concrete apron that makes up St. Anthony Falls today.

1940 photo of the remnants of the Eastman Tunnel

Nicollet Island’s Many Secrets

Remnants of tunnels from the Eastman tunnel collapse are still located throughout the southern tip of Nicollet Island. These are known as the Neapolitan Caves because of iron-red swirls mixed into the white and green sandstone walls. Further up the island is a tunnel dubbed the “bloody snake passage” by local explorer, historian, and author of the book Subterranean Twin Cities, Dr. Greg Brick. He gave this tunnel, which dead ends at the foundation of DeLaSalle High School, its name because of scarlet-red flowstones along the walls that resembled dripping blood.

The two most prominent caves can be found around the northern tip of the island. First, accessible from an old utility tunnel that forms a loop around the island, Satan’s Cave is aptly named because of bas-reliefs carved in the sandstone of demonic figures and a small alter with a candelabra on top. The carvings were created in such a way that when lit candles are placed in the mouths of the carvings, light glows out of their flaring nostrils. These carvings and the alter are fairly recent, appearing no earlier than the mid-1970s when a Minneapolis Star reporter explored the caves on the island and did not note anything demonic. Satan’s Cave used to have a more important use, however. When John Orth became the first brewer in Hennepin County in 1850, he would use this cool cave to keep his lager chilled. Eventually, Orth would go on to establish the Minneapolis Brewing Company. Once Orth left the cave, it was used the grow mushrooms through the 1920s.

Underground entrance to Satan's Cave

Carvings and candles inside Satan's Cave

The last notable cave on Nicollet Island is Santa’s Cave, a transposition of Satan’s Cave, done by Dr. Brick. Prior to this name, it was known as Cave X, for its cross-like shape. While more impressive than Satan’s Cave, Santa’s Cave is hard to access, so most urban explorers leave it for the two species of bats that hibernate there in the winter months.

These caves are still around today, but don’t be fooled, they are still dangerous. That early explorer who found a spiral staircase down into Chute’s Cave said the stairs were made out of polished marble with brass bannisters. Earthly gasses, like methane, can get trapped in these caves. Perhaps this explorer’s tall tale was influenced by trapped gasses and a lot of time on their hands? A French explorer claimed to have studied hieroglyphs in a vault on Nicollet Island, and he concluded that beyond the vault was a room full of treasures where an extinct race of very smart, flying humans kept their knowledge. Maybe the gasses got to him and he saw bats flying by his head? More recently, in the late 1900s, a resident of Nicollet Island was exploring one of the many tunnels and passed out from inhaling too much methane. Luckily, he was with a friend who pulled him out and he came to once they were topside. Caves are pretty neat, but they are blocked off for a reason. Hopefully one day we can safely explore Minneapolis’ subterranean world.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -   

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

Water Works Park Proves to Be a Terrific Spot for MPRB's Movies and Music in the Park

By Doug Verdier

July 1 saw movie-goers gathering early at Water Works Park for a showing of the 1975 film Mahogany, staring Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams. The Mezzanine Lawn overlooking the riverfront provided the perfect location for the big screen (inflatable, no less!) to enjoy a film about a poor Chicago secretary (Diana Ross) who takes the fast lane to fame as a model and fashion designer. It received an Oscar nomination for music (original song). The music throughout the film was great.

Mahogany was the second film presentation of the Twin Cities Black Film Festival at Water Works Park this summer. Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board staff handled the setup and technical aspects of the showing. Great job, MPRB!

.

Movie buffs may remember that Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams also teamed up in the 1972 film “Lady Sings the Blues” which was loosely based on the troubled life and career of the legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday. That film received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Original Song Score.

.

On June 14th, MPRB’s Music in the Parks series kicked off with perfect weather for a performance by Blue Dog Blues Band next to the park pavilion building.

Many other concerts, classes and activities are programmed throughout the summer. View the complete listing online.

Weekly Events at Peavey Plaza July 3 – 9

Green Minneapolis is excited to host these events, free and open to all!

YWCA Minneapolis Yoga on the Plaza

Tuesday, July 5 from 5:30-6:30pm

.

Flow into summer with FREE yoga classes at Peavey Plaza (weather permitting). Bring a water, mat and towel. Members and nonmembers are welcome to attend. Nonmembers that attend receive a FREE three-day trial fitness pass to any of our three fitness locations. Plus, join YWCA Minneapolis as a member for just $15! Registration recommended

.

MNspin Musician of the Week: Dan Israel

Thursday, July 7 from 12-1pm

.

Dan Israel is a longtime fixture on the Minneapolis music scene. He was the first guest on 89.3 The Current’s “Local Show” and has been called “the hardest working singer-songwriter in Minnesota.” He won Song of the Year (for “Come to Me”) in the 2005 Minnesota Music Awards and Songwriter of the Year in the 2006 MMA’s. Learn more about Dan Israel 

.

Children’s Theatre Company Story Theatre 

Saturday, July 9 at 12-12:30pm & 12:30-1pm

Join Children’s Theatre Company for summertime fun at Peavey Plaza! Through imaginative play, collaborative storytelling, music, and family engagement, we’ll explore beloved children’s books together. Laugh, dance, and discover along with your family and friends.

For a complete calendar of our Peavey Plaza Performing Arts Series, visit greenminneapolis.org/events.

Mia's Dressed by Nature: Textiles of Japan - What Will You Learn?

Article by Becky Fillinger

Dr. Andreas MarksWe are blessed by a wealth of museums in the Twin Cities. You might have missed the announcement about Mia’s new exhibit, Dressed by Nature: Textiles of Japan. I had one question for Dr. Andreas Marks, who oversees Mia’s renowned collection of Japanese and Korean art, about the impressive exhibit covering textiles produced between 1750 and 1930. Check out the reasons for attending!

Close up detail of festival kimono decorated with carp ascending a waterfall made in Akita Prefecture

Q:  In many parts of the world, textiles embody the weaver’s or weaving communities’ beliefs, histories, folklore, motifs, and design sensibilities. Therefore, textile products are important representations of a given community and their material culture. What will museum-goers learn about Japan by visiting the exhibit? 

• Textiles embody the economical situation of the maker as well as the economical situation of the client. Even in preindustrial Japan, there were specialized makers whose occupation was to produce textiles, not necessarily for themselves or for their own community, but that might have been ordered for someone further away.

• The view of Japan as the land of the kimono, meaning the beautiful silk robe, is an oversimplification that is being repeated again and again. Exhibitions on Japanese textiles often follow the same concept, showcasing a few old kimonos and then examples of modern haute couture that were influenced by such kimonos. Our aim with “Dressed by Nature” is to illustrate the diversity of cultures in the Japanese archipelago. The kimono, how Westerners understand them, is not the standard clothing all over Japan. Silk was a luxury item that fell under sumptuary law and only people of a certain social status, the aristocracy, could wear it. There were social and regional differences that strongly influenced what you were allowed to wear or what you could afford to wear. Throughout Japan, the majority of people wore cotton as well as other fibers that could be harvested in their environment. Some regions developed patterning techniques that were very laborious to employ but famous all over the country, and although the garment was made of cotton, it was as expensive as silk.

• Another aspect to consider is that people often assume that Japan is ethnically homogeneous, but this exhibition gives visitors a glimpse of regional and ethnic differences, from the indigenous Ainu people to the Okinawans. In a nutshell, this exhibition is an eye-opener for the enormous variety of clothing that was produced in what is today the country of Japan.

• “Dressed by Nature” is set up to entertain and bring joy to visitors, but it is also a learning experience with a wealth of information available in the galleries. Nothing in this exhibition has ever been on view at Mia before.

Fireman's parade leather coat (kawabaori) with Ōhisa family crest

Dark blue-ground festival kimono sea creatures

Siberian salmon-skin woman’s robe

Attush robe with talismanic pendants

Northeast Park Summer Celebration on July 11 Commemorates 25 Years of Soccer, Twins Legends, New Playground and More

Big party at Northeast Park July 11, 4-11 pm! Celebrate 25 years of NE/SE Soccer, youth baseball honors Twins legends, dedicate the new playground, plus Movie in the Park, “Field of Dreams” at dusk!

There’s a big park party planned at Northeast Park on Monday, July 11 and everyone’s invited! Festivities kick off at 4 pm and will continue through the conclusion of a special Movie in the Park outdoor screening of “Field of Dreams” that begins at 9:15 pm.

Activities are planned throughout the park, centered near Northeast Recreation Center, 1530 Johnson St. NE.

25 Years of NE/SE Soccer

The Northeast Park Summer Celebration will commemorate 25 years of the NE/SE Soccer program, which was founded at Northeast Park by Sally Jones and Carol Kalberer (Green). 

This program provided opportunities for elementary- and middle school- aged youth to participate in a low-cost, high-quality soccer instruction and leagues in NE and SE Minneapolis. Past, present, and future coaches, players, refs, Board Members and park staff are welcome to celebrate alongside Northeast neighbors.

Playground Dedication

A new ‘adventure course’ playground opened behind Jim Lupient Water Park in June. Located near the new Northeast Recreation Center, this new playground will be dedicated in a short ceremony at 5:45 pm. Bring the kids to check out this super fun new park attraction!

RBI Baseball Twins Legends Tribute and “Field of Dreams” Movie in the Park

A pair of RBI youth baseball games will feature special player uniforms honoring Twins legends Rod Carew, Kirby Puckett, Tony Olivia, and Jim “Mudcat” Grant. Cheer on the teams and then stick around for a special Movie in the Park outdoor screening of “Field of Dreams” that starts at 9:15 pm.

Activities Schedule

4-8 pm: Pop-Up Park activity trailer and staff will be onsite

4-8 pm: Book Buggy gives away free books for youth and families

5:30-8 pm: Free face painting

5:45 pm: New playground dedication ceremony

6-8 pm: Balloon Artist

6-8 pm: WOW Mobile Metal Lab (Art Bus)

6:15-8:30 pm: NE/SE Soccer games

6:30-8:30 pm: RBI Baseball games: Stan Cyson Field hosts 15U Tournament game, Sid Hartman Field hosts 15U NE Mets vs 15U Red Bears

9:15-11 pm: Special Movie in the Park outdoor screening of “Field of Dreams”

Smack Shack's Crayfest Returns to the North Loop August 6th

Popular All-You-Can-Eat Crayfish Block Party Returns to the North Loop August 6th

After a two-year pause due to COVID-19, Smack Shack announced the return of Crayfest, the annual block party in the North Loop, Saturday, August 6. The party will take place on 6th Avenue N, next to the restaurant, from 12:00 – 7:00 p.m. Guests can expect live music, all-you-can-eat crayfish boil, and all-you-can-enjoy beer and hurricanes.

Crayfest began as a way for Smack Shack to further their commitment to serving sustainable seafood. When an invasive species of Rusty Crayfish was identified as a threat in Woman Lake in Northern Minnesota, Smack Shack partnered with local organizations to fish the invasive species of crayfish out of the lake and utilize them at Crayfest. After several years of Crayfest, Woman Lake had been restored and the invasive Rusty Crayfish were depleted. Now, Smack Shack is fishing the invasive species out of other Minnesota lakes, helping to keep the aquaculture clean and healthy.

Crayfest tickets are $75 in advance ($80 at the door). Purchase online at smack-shack.com.

Mayor Frey’s Community Safety Work Group Outlines Strategies for Improving Public Safety, Police Accountability

Excerpt from the City of Minneapolis' June 29 e-newsletter:

On June 27, Mayor Jacob Frey’s Community Safety Work Group outlined recommendations for improving public safety in Minneapolis. The recommendations include strategies for strengthening oversight of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), bolstering officer recruitment efforts and accountability systems, and expanding violence prevention and behavioral crisis response programs.

Frey convened the Community Safety Work Group on Dec. 4, 2021, which is co-chaired by Nekima Levy Armstrong, attorney and civil rights activist, and Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis, lead minister for Plymouth Congregational Church. The 22-member volunteer work group includes community members and experts engaged on the full spectrum of community safety initiatives.

Highlights of the work group’s recommendations include:

• Improving oversight and coordination within MPD, including creating a new leadership position focused on the coordination of community safety related functions within the City enterprise.
• Strengthening MPD’s recruitment and hiring process by implementing a first-in-class police recruitment and training program focused on building a pipeline of future candidates who live in Minneapolis.
• Significantly improving the quality of MPD training with a series of action steps.
• Strengthening MPD’s disciplinary and accountability systems.
• Expanding violence prevention programs and the City’s behavioral crisis response strategy. 

Mayor Frey will consider the implementation of these recommendations in the coming weeks as he prepares to finalize and present his recommended 2023 City budget.

Watch Monday's news conference.

Gamut Gallery Presents "In Your Own Words" - July 22-August 20

In Your Own Words, July 22 – August 20

This July, Gamut Gallery is pleased to welcome nationally recognized artist, designer, independent curator, and adjunct faculty at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) Suyao Tian for her latest interactive solo exhibition, In Your Own Words.

The intimate relationship Suyao has observed between her work and the unique experiences of her collectors is the inspiration behind the upcoming exhibit. Through the liberal use of water in her painting application, Suyao embraces the spontaneity of shapes as they organically unwind across her composition. “My inspiration comes from my childhood memories. I try to think like a child, without the constraints of space and time.” Her choice of vivid color strengthens this notion, illustrating whimsical scenes full of life and movement. In doing so, she encourages the viewer to embark on an exploration of their inner world, interpreting the path her paints take through the lens of their own childlike imaginations. 

During the exhibition, visitors are encouraged to share their favorite pieces from the collection online, along with a few comments about their individual interpretations of her art. “I don’t try to force viewers to understand my work. More importantly, I hope my work can inspire viewers' curiosity and a new understanding of themselves and the world.” Meanwhile, buyers will be offered the opportunity to name their piece upon purchase. In Your Own Words sets out to weave together a narrative echoing Suyao’s recognition that we each autonomously navigate events, demonstrating how experiences color our interpretation of the world around us.

MEMBERS ONLY PREVIEW NIGHT: Thursday, July 21, 7-9pm Meet & Greet with Suyao Tian • RSVP Required • Memberships required, become a member today!

PUBLIC OPENING NIGHT: Friday, July 22, 6-9pm  $10 day of the event, $7 pre-sale - FREE for Members • Pre-sale tickets available, order your pre-sale today! • Entry will be available at the door

ARTIST TALK: Wednesday, August 10, 6:30pm  A multifaceted conversation and a look into the mind of Artist Suyao Tian, hosted at Gamut Gallery. Moderated by Russ White of MPLSART, followed by open Q & A  $10 day of the event, $7 pre-sale • $5 for members • This is 30 person limited capacity event • Pre-sales available and recommended.