Local Filmmaker: Zina Poletz Gutmanis

Article by Becky Fillinger

Zina Poletz GutmanisThe current Russian aggression against Ukraine is not a new development. As our local community seeks ways to help Ukraine, we are fortunate to have in our community local Ukrainian-Americans who are telling the broader historical narrative of violence against Ukraine. Meet Zina Poletz Gutmanis – a local documentary filmmaker. We spoke to her about Holodomor, growing up as a Ukrainian-American in the Twin Cities and current projects.  

Q:  You’ve been part of several national and local Holodomor commemorative events. Minnesota recognizes Holodomor as a genocidal event. What do you want all Minnesota citizens to know about the man-made famine of 1932-33?  

A:  The current invasion of Ukraine should be viewed as a continuation of centuries of Russian attempts to erase the Ukrainian national identity. The Holodomor (which means "murder by starvation" in Ukrainian) was an artificial famine engineered by Stalin to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people. To provide some historical context, under the Romanov tsars, most ethnic Ukrainians lived under serfdom, a form of slavery abolished only in 1861 - the time of our own Civil War. They farmed small plots of land owned by a foreign lord. Teaching or publishing or even acting in a play in the Ukrainian language was strictly forbidden. Even with this high level of repression, within days after Tsar Nicholas II was dethroned in 1917, Ukrainian leaders organized a government in Kyiv. On January 22, 1918, the Ukrainian People's Republic declared itself an independent nation. Independent Ukraine lasted only a few years. Outnumbered by onslaughts from the Red and White armies, Ukrainian lands ended up partitioned between the Bolsheviks and Poland.  

Lenin's policies gave Ukrainians cultural and economic freedom, but when Stalin came to power, these policies were reversed and people were pushed onto collective farms. The communist regime deliberately used terror and mass starvation to break the resistance of Ukrainian farmers to Soviet authority in general and to the confiscation of their land, grain, and animals in particular. Communist activists went door to door searching for grain and other food, leaving people with nothing. At the height of the famine in June 1933, an estimated 28,000 Ukrainians were dying each day. Concurrently, the Communist party arrested and executed or exiled Ukraine's finest minds - poets, musicians, writers, religious figures, historians. In 1988, the U.S. Commission on the Ukraine Famine reported to Congress that “Joseph Stalin and those around him committed genocide against Ukrainians in 1932-1933. To learn more about this horrific chapter in history, Red Famine by Anne Applebaum is an excellent resource.

Protesting Ukrainian famine in Minneapolis, 1955

Two Minnesotans played important roles in documenting and calling the world's attention to this genocide. The first, Dmytro Solovey, arrived in St. Paul after World War II. His book Golgotha of Ukraine, issued in 1953, contained the first English-language set of Holodomor survivor stories, which he carefully compiled while living in a displaced persons camp in Germany. Copies of the book were sent to members of Congress and other leaders and public libraries.

In the 1980s, Slavko Nowytski, also of St. Paul, co-produced and directed Harvest of Despair, the first documentary film about the Holodomor.

Q:  Thank you for that overview. You recommend "compassionate conversations” in Ukrainian communities to deal with the trauma of Holodomor; but also World War II, displaced persons camps and now the Russian invasion. Why is it important to deal with the unspoken traumas, across generations?  

A:  I represent Minnesota on the U.S. Committee for Ukrainian Holodomor Genocide Awareness. One thing I've noticed in this role is that most discussion on the topic is academic. There was no culture in the community for survivors to share their own stories, maybe because it was so horrible to live through. I myself didn't know I was a descendant of a Holodomor survivor until a few years ago. In 2019, thanks to a grant from the Minnesota Historical Society, I recorded a set of oral histories with local Holodomor survivors, and children and grandchildren of survivors, which are now housed at the U of M. I was so honored that people trusted me enough to tell some deeply painful family stories. Sharing in a safe environment makes us feel supported and less alone. The Holodomor Descendants Network is an international organization recently set up for that purpose. There is a lot of attention and study taking place right now on the transmission of generational trauma. 

St. Constantine Dance Group, circa 1970s

Q:  You speak of your Ukrainian heritage as an “extra” enrichment to your childhood. What does that mean to you?  

A: Growing up in the 1970s and 80s, I lived in two worlds - the typical American world during the week and my Ukrainian world on the weekends. Friday nights was Ukrainian folk dancing. Saturday mornings we had heritage school followed by youth group and Sundays we went to church. My home base was St. Michael’s (now St. Michael’s and St. George’s) Ukrainian Orthodox Church. That’s where I went to church and Saturday school. But the other churches and organizations held events and activities all the time that I attended also. There were so many concerts, lectures, holidays, historic commemorations - it was a very positive experience. However, underlying it all was an unsaid expectation, maybe, that my generation had to carry the spark or the seed of the Ukrainian nation because Ukraine was not free under the Soviets. It was a captive nation.

Q:  You’re making a film on Ukrainians in Minnesota. Where are you at with the project? Will you go back to the earliest Ukrainians who settled here? What are plans for the film’s distribution?  

A:  With a second grant from the Minnesota Historical Society, I am partnering with three local Ukrainian parishes on a documentary that explores Minnesota's Ukrainian community, with a focus on the impact of the Holodomor. We are currently wrapping up the Research and Writing phase and moving on to seek funding for Implementation. It will cover the time frame from the founding of St. Constantine Ukrainian Catholic Church in 1913 to Ukraine's independence in 1991. Ukrainian immigrants to Minnesota were intimately connected to events happening in Ukraine during those years - lobbying, raising money - just like the community has jumped into action now, when Ukraine is once again in peril.

Q:  We will follow your progress - how may we follow your news?  

A:  To join our mailing list, please email HolodomorMN@gmail.com.

Cochon 555's 'Heritage Fire' set for June 12 at Loews Hotel

Tickets now on sale for June 12 Cochon 555's 'Heritage Fire' 

Tickets are now on sale for Cochon555’s Heritage Fire, the first Minneapolis edition of America’s beloved culinary experience.

 

Taking place at The Loews Hotel Minneapolis on Sunday, June 12, the event will feature an all-star lineup of local chefs and artisans, each cooking globally inspired heritage-breed proteins with offerings including a wide array of beef products from DemKota Ranch Beef, whole pigs, lamb, goat, squab, rabbit, duck, fish, chicken, artisan cheeses, and heirloom vegetables. Produced and owned by Agency 21, the event’s ultimate aim is to provide education to consumers and create an experience that guests can sink their teeth into, honest food from real farmers. Attendees must be 21+ to attend.

 

An all-star cast of the Twin Cities top chefs will be on-site cooking and dishing up delicious bites. Full lineup to be announced in the coming weeks. In addition to one-of-a-kind culinary creations, Heritage Fire will feature free-flowing wine, craft cocktails and beer. All tickets are all-inclusive of unlimited curated dishes, beverage pairings, live entertainment and more!

 

“We’re incredibly fortunate and thankful to return to Minneapolis and bring our Heritage Fire to the Twin Cities for the first time,” says Brett Friedman, Partner & CEO of Agency 21, which owns and operates Heritage Fire, Cochon555, among others. “This new twist to our Cochon 555 tour provides us the opportunity to showcase live Fire proteins and produce that are locally farmed and sustainably harvested.”

 

VIP Early Access: $150

Guests can celebrate early with the VIP experience – an extra 45 minutes to get up close with the chefs, winemakers, and farmers who make it all happen. Chefs will serve one special dish to entice VIP palates, while professional bartenders and sommeliers bring their best game forward with specialty cocktails and reserve wines.

 

General Admission: $99

Feast on responsibly-raised heritage breed animals, a perfect setting of ethically sourced food, and a variety of beverages from local craft breweries, distilleries, and wineries – all created by some of the nation’s most forward-thinking food and drink leaders. 

Art in Bloom Returns On-site at Minneapolis Institute of Art, April 28

The centerpiece of the show is the gorgeous still-life of dahlias painted by Eugène Delacroix.

Mia’s annual springtime celebration is back with four days of unique events, on-site tours, and more than 140 imaginative floral interpretations of artworks from the museum’s collection

Art in Bloom, the annual celebration of art and flowers at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia), is back on-site and in person for the first time in two years. This year’s event will take place April 28–May 1, and will coincide with the opening of “Floral Affair: A Bouquet for the Friends’ Centennial,” an exhibition that revisits artworks featured in past Art in Bloom events.

Floral arrangement from the 2019 Art in Bloom. Photo: Minneapolis Institute of ArtPresented by the Friends of the Institute, Art in Bloom will showcase more than 140 imaginative floral interpretations of selected works of art from Mia’s permanent collection, created by volunteer floral artists and commercial florists. During the four-day festival, everyone is invited to enjoy the fresh floral arrangements and commercial florist installations displayed in the galleries alongside the artworks that inspired them.

Highlights of this year’s event include: 

• A featured talk by Lisa Michaux, PhD, a former Mia curator who will bring her unique perspective and engaging style to the topic of floral themes in art. She will illuminate masterpieces by a wide range of artists who adored the subject, including Vincent van Gogh, Édouard Manet, Georgia O’Keeffe, Henri Fantin-Latour, Claude Monet, Pierre-Joseph Redouté, and Eugène Delacroix. Thursday, April 28, 11 a.m. Tickets: $25
• Live floral demonstrations by Bachman’s floral artists. Saturday, April 30, 1 p.m. Tickets: $25 
• Art in Bloom Family Event celebrating May Day with singing, dancing, and storytelling, plus a craft-making activity for kids to decorate a May Day headpiece with fresh flowers and colorful ribbons. Sunday, May 1, 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Free admission. 
• Free, guided tours of the floral displays, held in person and virtually. 

Art in Bloom is the principal fundraiser for Mia’s Friends organization, a group of members dedicated to supporting, enhancing, and sustaining Mia’s collections and programs. Proceeds from ticketed lectures and demonstrations provide the Friends’ with funds to pay for buses for tens of thousands of schoolchildren to come to the museum for field trips each year. 

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Mia’s Friends organization. To celebrate, the Friends have planned a special botanical exhibition that will open in the Cargill Gallery during Art in Bloom. “Floral Affair: A Bouquet for the Friends’ Centennial” revisits artworks featured in past Art in Bloom events. 

Visit the Art in Bloom page on Mia’s website for the complete 2022 Art in Bloom program and ticket information. Art in Bloom hours match the museum’s normal hours all weekend. General admission to Art in Bloom is free. The exhibition opens on Wednesday, April 27, and will be on view until August 14.

March 2022 Third Avenue Bridge Project Photos by Doug Verdier, Part 2

Submitted by Doug Verdier, who continues to document the Third Avenue Bridge refurbishment project.

This series of photos shows the removal of the artificial “island” created around the base of one of the Third Avenue Bridge piers to enable workers, equipment and materials access to the base of the pier below the water line to rebuild the base. The whole removal process took several days. Good weather helped, but crews worked day and night.

In this “before” photo, machinery, structures and equipment boxes can be seen lining the gravel island that was built prior to work being started on the base. A ladder tower was also constructed to enable workers access to the work area. All heavy equipment and materials were lowered throughout the project to the work area by tower cranes (red structure in top center of photo).

Much of the materials, equipment boxes and the white structure have been removed from the island by the crane. The yellow excavator is beginning to pull gravel from the edges of the island to enable the crews to remove it. The excavator, which was lowered to the island by crane, is shown building a pile of gravel that it will sit on while removing gravel from around it.

Just above the excavator are two hoppers being lowered by the red tower crane. The excavator operator will fill each hopper many times during the next couple of days (and nights) so the gravel can be taken up to the bridge, loaded onto dump trucks, and hauled away. Note the edges of the island are shrinking.

This photo shows the smaller island as gravel continues to be hauled out of the river. But also note that the ladder that once stood on the island is gone. Look up above the bridge just to the right of the red crane tower and you will see the ladder tower as it is being removed and lowered onto the bridge.

Another shot of the shrinking island. Two workers remained on the site (the excavator operator and a spotter) throughout the removal of the gravel. As the level of the gravel bed beneath the excavator got lower, the tracks of the excavator were standing in water while the remaining gravel was scooped up and hauled above in the hoppers that were lowered from the crane above throughout the operation.

Almost done! Both the excavator and the worker next to it are now standing in river water flowing down stream. More gravel was scooped up and hauled up as dusk approached. When the removal was finished, the two workers hooked up the excavator to cables lowered by the crane and watched as it was hauled slowly and carefully up to the bridge. They remained on the submerged remnants of the island until a smaller container was lowered to them to return to the bridge. Well Done!

A Natural Curiosity: The Story of the Bell Museum Virtual Book Launch with the Bell Museum set for April 20

Virtual book launch for A Natural Curiosity: The Story of the Bell Museum by Lansing Shepard, Don Luce, Barbara Coffin, and Gwen Schagrin

Wednesday, April 20, 7:00-8:30pm

Bell Museum (virtual) Register 

The University of Minnesota's Bell Museum in St. Paul will host a virtual book launch event for the new book A Natural Curiosity: The Story of the Bell Museum (University of Minnesota Press, April 2022) by Lansing Shepard, Don Luce, Barbara Coffin, and Gwen Schagrin on Wednesday, April 20 at 7:00 PM CT. Hosted by the Bell Museum’s Science Director Dr. George Weiblen, the event will feature brief presentations by coauthors Don Luce and Barbara Coffin and a moderated discussion focused on the museum's leadership and innovation in public education throughout its long history. Fellow coauthors Lansing Shepard and Gwen Schagrin will join the event during the Q&A portion of the event.

Since its humble start in 1872 as a one-room cabinet of curiosities, the University of Minnesota’s Bell Museum of natural history has become one of the state’s most important cultural institutions. From its conception as part of a state-mandated geological and natural history survey, to its most recent ventures into technology, environmental science, and DNA sequencing, the Bell Museum has informed, explained, and expanded our relationship to the natural world. Drawing on a wealth of materials unearthed during the museum’s recent move, the gorgeously illustrated book, A Natural Curiosity, chronicles the remarkable discoveries and personalities that have made the Bell Museum what it is today. The Bell Museum's story, engagingly told in A Natural Curiosity, reveals and explores the profound changes undergone by society, science, and the natural landscape over the museum’s lifetime.

Beginning this past January, the Bell Museum celebrates 150 years. The book launch for A Natural Curiosity is part of the yearlong celebration that will feature different experiences that showcase the rich and varied history of the museum.

April 4-8 is Severe Weather Awareness Week, Expect Tornado Drill Sirens April 7

April 4-8 is Severe Weather Awareness Week, when households and businesses are encouraged to practice what they’d do to stay safe if a tornado or severe weather strikes.

Expect sirens April 7

Thursday, April 7, is Tornado Drill Day. Sirens throughout the state will sound at 1:45 p.m. and at 6:45 p.m., giving people time to practice taking shelter in severe weather both at home and in the workplace. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota experiences an average of nearly 30 tornadoes per year.

Alerts

An electronic weather alert service can make you aware of any imminent weather danger with email or text notices. Check the Minnesota Department of Public Safety website for options for wireless emergency alerts and smartphone apps.

There is specific information for people with disabilities or access or functional needs about how to prepare for storm season and other emergencies.

If severe weather is approaching:

• Turn to local TV or radio or the weather channel, or make sure you have alerts enabled on a smart device or a weather radio programmed to pick up alerts inside. Weather sirens aren’t intended to be heard inside. If a warning is issued, go to the basement or an inner stairwell.
• If you’re outside and hear the weather sirens, go inside immediately and take shelter in an inner space away from windows. Don’t use elevators.
• Stay sheltered until the all-clear signal has been issued.

More about staying safe during severe weather:

• Alerts and warnings
• Storms, hail and lightning
• Floods
• Tornadoes
• Extreme heat

Find emergency preparedness information on the City website.

Eric Richards Named New General Manager of Lunds & Byerlys Northeast

Article by Becky Fillinger 

Eric RichardsLunds & Byerlys Northeast, 25 University Avenue SE, has a new General Manager. Eric Richards is excited for this new phase of his career and wants to create memorable ‘grocery memories’ for the Northeast neighborhood just like he remembers from his St. Paul childhood. Stop by and say hello!

Q:  Congratulations on your new assignment as General Manager of the Lunds & Byerlys Northeast location. Have you managed a grocery store before? Do you have a high-level vision on where you'd like to lead the store?

A:  Thank you for the warm welcome! I have been in the grocery industry for twelve years. I started as a maintenance employee at our store in Highland Park, and worked at numerous locations before winding up here. This is the first store that I have worked at as a General Manager, and I am excited and humbled to be a part of such a welcoming community.

In my short time working here, I’ve seen how the store has a strong and vibrant history in our neighborhood, so I would most like to ensure that we continue to serve the community. I believe grocery stores are a wonderful cross section of the communities they serve, and our most important task is ensuring that we remain a good neighbor and steward of our “Northeast Neighborhood.” I have fond memories of trekking to the grocery store with my mom growing up in St. Paul, and I’d like to make sure that I can help create similar experiences for others here.

Q:  How much leeway do you have to personalize the customer experience at your location of Lunds & Byerlys? Will you host special events? 

A:  We have leeway to customize the shopping experience at each of our locations, although our “look and feel” is very similar between each of our stores. One thing that I am excited about is a recurring “Meet the Maker” event our Food Expert, Cynthia, is putting together for this summer. We hope to have local vendors at our store one day each weekend for a couple months to highlight their products and be able to spend time meeting people – more to come!

Q:  What's new for Spring, Easter and Passover at Lunds & Byerlys? 

A:  It’s so nice to see that the snow is finally melted and revealed grass underneath! We have a Kosher for Passover display located at the end of Aisle 1 that we just built, and there is already lots of Easter candy throughout our store. Hams are just around the corner, too!

Q:  I know you have a lot of choices - do you have a favorite prepared food from the store? How about from the bakery? 

A:  This one is a tough one for me, because we have all sorts of tasty food. I’d have to say my favorite prepared food throughout the store right now is our Mexican Street Corn salad. I like a little bit of a kick, and it tastes like warmer weather! If I had to select something in the Bakery, I’m a sucker for our new bundt cakes.

Q:  Any food or grocery innovations on the horizon from Lunds & Byerlys Northeast? 

A:  We are always looking to improve the shopping experience at our stores by creating new and flavorful food combinations. Some recent examples are our produce potato steamers, or the bundt cakes that I mentioned earlier. We are constantly rolling out new products that we developed in our test kitchen, which adds some fun surprises when coming in to work each day.

Q:  How may we follow your news?  

A:  Stop by and say hello, or visit us on our store’s Facebook page!

Vibrant Mill District Night Photos by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Ric Rosow

A full moon several nights ago afforded an opportunity to go out late and take some photographs. As I walked from my condo to the park I turned and saw the moon low in the horizon between the Eleven and the Legacy. I took a number of shots there and then set up on the hill in the park to broaden the scene. The only people I saw were neighbors walking their dogs.

After photographing the moon I turned towards the Guthrie Theater and downtown. The lights were bright and colorful. The brilliant red glow on the river side of the building that appeared to flow down the middle of the Endless Bridge caught my attention. Do you see the silhouette of a man on the side of the building? Having just seen The Tempest two nights before, I thought that indeed a tempest was brewing inside the building to produce that red hot glow. 

See more of my work @ricrosowphotography and @treslechesartgallery.

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Full Moon Next to Eleven

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A Red Hot Tempest is Brewing 

New Art Exhibit, Earth & Sky, Opens at The Mill Yard April 3rd

 

Earth & Sky

Opening Reception Sunday, April 3, 4:00 - 6:00PM

Stonebridge Lofts, 1120 S 2nd Street

Join us at The Mill Yard opening reception to meet the featured artists. Wine, beverages, and snacks are served.

The new show runs from April 3 – July 21, 2022

Artists featured at this show: 

• Lisa Fratzke, painting
• Marilyn Gonrowksi, painting
• Megan & JD Jorgenson, Maine Prairie Studio, ceramics
• Kathleen Kvern, encaustic painting
• Dean Trisko, painting

Artist details:

Lisa Fratzke

In the Shadows

Lisa received her BA in Studio Art at Luther College in Decorah, IA. As a junior she studied at the University of Nottingham, England expanding her knowledge of Art Theory, Art History and Photography. Growing up her family instilled the value of being good stewards of the environment. Her travel has “fueled her passion for understanding the human experience, the human form, and our relationship with the landscapes.” Her pieces have appeared in numerous group and solo exhibitions. 

Marilyn Gonrowski

The Wetland

Marilyn grew up in an artistic family in the Red River Valley. In the early 1960’s she joined other artists to display work at the juried Uptown Art Fair. For 33 years her work was on show there and at many other locations in the metro area. Her inspirations come from her passion for the natural world, the woods and water, and especially the textures of trees, leaves, and the different natural palettes of the seasons. Oil paints “allow me to mix my colors. Recently, I have explored incorporating oil paint with organic material as I find it adds an extra dimension to my art.”

Megan & JD Jorgenson, Maine Prairie Studio

Piglets

Megan & JD operate Maine Prairie Studio in Kimball, MN, a ceramics studio, teaching space and gallery. Megan received her MFA at Utah State and teaches in St Cloud. Both her sculptural and functional ceramics are inspired by her curiosity of forming methods and application processes to clay. JD received his BA at University of Iowa. He apprenticed with Richard Bresnahan at St John’s Pottery and has taught ceramics at numerous locations. His functional objects reflect “the true beauty of clay itself, unglazed and raw interacting with fire, charcoal and atmosphere in a wood burning kiln.”

Kathleen Kvern

Nether Largie Standing Stones

Kathleen is a Minneapolis abstract painter working in encaustic “for its translucency, luminosity, malleability, and strength.” Her work has been juried into numerous exhibitions. She was the recipient of the 2019 Emerging Artists Grant from IEA, and teaches workshops locally. She finds the process of encaustic meditative; scraping away and rebuilding. “Transformed from molten to solid, encaustic underscores the paradox of vulnerability as the true source of strength. My paintings are infused with my visual language of human emotions and experiences.”

Dean Trisko

Abstraction of Abstraction

Dean works in multiple mediums including watercolor, encaustic, intaglio, pastels, acrylic, oil and mixed medias. The natural world is the inspiration for his abstract compositions. He combines geometric shapes with natural light and color to develop visually complex paintings, drawings and prints. “My approach lets the art remain open to interpretation while retaining familiarity. My goal is forms filled with joy I find in reflective observation.”

Apply to Serve on a City Board or Commission

Thirty-one City boards and commissions have openings for appointments this spring. The City seeks applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences representing the demographics of Minneapolis to strengthen the work of the City. Translation and interpreting is available so all residents can participate. Applications are open now.

City boards and commissions have brought forward recommendations that resulted in renter protections, wage protections and a ban on a hazardous chemical in dry cleaning. Board and commission members in the City of Minneapolis help shape key policy decisions, give community-based input into the City’s administration of services and supply valuable insights.

The positions are open until filled; application review begins April 15 unless marked otherwise.

Learn about the boards and commissions with open positions.

Small Business Spotlight: noa Restaurant

Article by Becky Fillinger

Josh Hochstatter Photo: Amy Lynn Wagner PhotographyHave you been craving a new dining experience in Minneapolis? Check out noa at 77 S 7th Street in Downtown. They’re now open for lunch and dinner. We spoke to Josh Hochstatter, General Manager, about the dining experience at noa and some wonderful menu items. 

Q:  You opened a few months ago and are increasing hours to include dinner service - congratulations!  What are you noticing about people now dining out in Minneapolis?  

A:  I've noticed that the clientele here seems eager and ready for a fun time. Apps, drinks, the whole shebang. I think maybe we have all been cooped up for a bit too long with COVID and winter weather and as the season is finally changing over to spring, a sense of excitement to get out and live a little is in the air.

Flat iron steakQ:  What's your favorite item on the menu?

A:  Crispy fried tofu, then the flat iron steak with house miso-steak sauce - both are to DIE for. Yum!

Q:  How do you describe the dining experience at noa?

A:  We designed the space, menu, and service to reflect a chill California fusion vibe. Essentially, we brought in bright light, TONS of plants, fresh health-inspired flavors and an energetically-subdued ambience. The staff are top-notch as well.

Q:  Are there happy hour specials?

A:  Yes! Happy Hour is Mon-Fri 4-6pm. We have great featured snacks and beverage deals that are worth a 2nd or 3rd glass.

Enjoy happy hour with hummus and wine

Q:  Infuse Hospitality also owns Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea in the North Loop - will noa collaborate with Fairgrounds on menu items, events?

A:  Infuse Hospitality does own Fairground. We have already implemented a lot of similar vibes, coffee programs, and staffing ethics into our program here.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  Definitely on Instagram, but we will also include special events, menus, etc. on our website.

Firefighters for Healing Selected as 2022 Charity Partner for Mustaches for Kids Twin Cities

It was recently announced that Mustaches for Kids Twin Cities (M4KTC) selected Firefighters For Healing to be their 2022 charity partner. All proceeds of the April campaign will benefit Firefighters For Healing’s Camp RED program for burn survivors between the ages of 5 – 15 years old. In 2021, the first year of M4KTC, the local community raised just under $100,000. In 2022, the goal is to exceed that in honor of the burn survivors who could not attend camp for the last 2 summers due to Covid. We want to make it extra special!

The Director of Camp RED, Jeff Larson was elated when he heard the news that Mustaches for Kids Twin Cities selected Camp RED as the 2022 charity partner. He said, “The children who attend our camp have survived burn trauma but that does not define them. The money raised through the Mustaches for Kids events will help us provide these campers with memories to last a lifetime while building their confidence to embrace their scars.”

Founding Member of M4KTC John Resman said, “We are excited to partner with Firefighters For Healing this year. They are an inspiring organization that provides an important summer camp experience for some amazing young survivors of burn trauma.  Our goals are simple - have fun while raising money for a charity supporting youth in the Twin Cities area.”

M4KTC is looking for men to GROW Mustaches in April

The Mustaches for Kids Twin Cities (M4KTC) campaign is simple: Anyone who can grow a mustache should visit M4KTC.com by April 4 to register as a GROWER or learn more. Anyone who wishes to show support or make a donation is invited to attend the clean shave event on April 4 at Excelsior Brewing Company. If you’re not local, you can still join the fun by donating online until the Stache Bash on Thursday, May 5, 2022.

Nicollet Island Inn Welcomes Spring with Teas, a Cabaret and the Return of the Twilight River Cruise

Spring arrived this Sunday, and at the Nicollet Island Inn, Caryl and Larry Abdo are welcoming the change of season with specialty teas, a cabaret and the return of the Twilight River Cruise. Check out what's on their calendar and menus.

A recent article in Eat This, Not That shared that tasting experiences are trending, offering guests the opportunity to enjoy special menu experiences packaged for one price as they sample the chef's culinary creativity.  

If you ask owners owners Caryl and Larry Abdo if they're "trending with that trend," they'd inform you it's nothing new. For nearly all of the 17 years they've owned the historic inn and restaurant, they've been doing just that.

With every season and holiday, the Abdos package experiences that include seasonal afternoon teas and special culinary and cabaret dinners. Last summer when guests were somewhat hesitant to dine inside, Caryl and Larry launched the Twilight River Cruise Experience - a one-hour river taxi cruise. Chef Michael Rain prepared wicker baskets for each excursion filled with wine, cheese, bread, fruit and chocolate, followed by dinner inside. And during the height of the pandemic, romantic room service menus accompanied roses and champagne during guest stays that were routinely booked. Both experiences were so popular they're returning.

• The Underground Cabaret returns again the evenings of March 31st and April 1st with local pianist and singer Michael Thompson sharing a medley of Judy Garland, Sinatra, Billy Joel and Elton John, to name a few. Dinner before or after his performance makes for a memorable eventing. Tickets in advance; $48 per person.  

• Springtime in Paris Tea will take place on Sunday, April 3; tickets in advance at $65 per person for a five-course celebration. The Mother Daughter Tea at $65 per person will again offer five courses on Sunday, May 1st.

Theatre in the Round Players presents The Little Prince April 8 - May 1

Via a recent e-announcement

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) continues its 70th Season with a theatrical adaptation of the beloved French novella, The Little Prince, in weekend performances from April 8th to May 1st.

Engaging for young and old alike, The Little Prince follows a world-weary Aviator stranded in the Sahara Desert and the mysterious child that appears and tells of his adventures through the galaxy. This classic story explores love, loss, hope, and what it means to have an open heart.

Gretchen Weinrich directs the 6-member cast, with sets designed by Philip Hoks, costumes by Morgan Groff, sound by Kristin Smith, lighting by Andy Kedl and props by Mary Gravenstein.

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Audience discussion following April 24 performances. 

Free themed art activities prior to the performances on April 8, 9, 29, & 30 and following the performances on April 9 and May 1.

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Additional programming will be offered opening and closing weekends; audience members can visit the “Family Creation Stations” sponsored by ARTrageous Adventures to create a Little Prince themed art project. Creation stations will open 45 minutes prior to evening performances and immediately after matinees at select performances.

Tickets are $25 for Adults, $20 for Students. For information, call the theatre’s box office at 612-333-3010 or visit the website.

Masks and proof of vaccination or negative test required for all patrons.

YogaFit Studios Shows Support for Educators with Free Classes

YogaFit Studios supports educators and support staff!

Through April 15, YogaFit Studios is offering FREE yoga, barre and fitness classes at all five of their studios for Minneapolis educators, assistants and all support staff who are on strike.

It’s easy to get started:

1) Download the YogaFit Studios app.

2) Create a profile in your preferred location.

3) Email the studio - they’ll take it from there! 

• lindenhills@yogafitstudios.com
• northeastmpls@yogafitstudios.com
• loringpark@yogafitstudios.com
• uptown@yogafitstudios.com 

City of Minneapolis Improved Crime Dashboard Now Online

Excerpt from the Ward 7 March 18 e-newsletter:

The City of Minneapolis has improved its online crime dashboard. The new dashboard connects to Minneapolis Police Department data better than before, providing more comprehensive results that align with national standards.    

The MPD data accessible through the dashboard uses the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), which contains more categories than the City’s previous dashboard, including weapon law violations, destruction/damage to property, fraud and drug/narcotic offenses. The dataset also has specific crime data categories not included in the FBI’s system, including carjackings, domestic assaults and gunshot wound victims.

The dashboard’s new interface has a “summary view,” providing year-to-date statistics for crimes and their locations, and a “details view,” providing more in-depth views of specific crimes within customizable date ranges. Charts can be generated using both views, and data visualizations can display crimes by hour, weekday, precinct, ward and neighborhood as well as during certain time periods, such as seven-day, 28-day, 12-week, 13-month and four-year.

The dashboard accesses crime data back to Jan. 1, 2019. Because different methods were used to create this more comprehensive dataset, data obtained through the old dashboard may not align with the data now available.

View the new & improved dashboard...

Small Business Spotlight: Saturday Dumpling Club

Article by Becky Fillinger

Peter Bian and Linda Cao are co-owners of the wildly successful direct to consumer dumpling business, the Saturday Dumpling Club. Their weekly offerings, posted on Wednesdays, sell out in minutes. We talked to Peter about the business model, challenges and tasty collaborations.

Peter Bian

Q:  You’re currently producing over 5000 dumplings per week, which sell out in minutes. How will you scale production to please even more customers?

A:  There are many different ways to grow. We intend to grow in a smart way – to preserve our quality and brand. Every restaurant is trying to hire at this time. Good, skilled labor is difficult to find. We’ve put out feelers to friends and family – if we add headcount, we want people who know how to make dumplings and people who want to make dumplings. So, you can imagine how difficult it is to put together a team. We’re slowly getting there. With the right people, we can ramp up the number of dumplings produced and delivered.   

We have some new front of the house people – people who have had our dumplings and are passionate about our business. They’re slowly getting more involved with the Saturday drops. Linda oversees front of the house, in addition to handling our marketing, social, sales, etc. I’m back of the house manager - making dumplings, devising new flavors and fillings. Our new employees also help in my sphere with wrapping dumplings, vegetable and weekend prep.

A welcome sight - the delivery van!

Q:  What’s the next step for the Saturday Dumpling Club - would you consider selling your dumplings to local food co-ops or having a presence at farmer’s markets? 

A:  At this point, no. We’ve been approached about this a couple of times. For us, our business model works right now. My wife and I have a very good work/life balance – we can handle production and distribution but also have a life at home. We’re going to keep the direct-to-consumer model as long as we can. It also allows us to see our customer, talk to our customer every week and get direct, invaluable feedback from our customer – we can immediately learn from our customers! You cannot get that level of feedback if your items are on a shelf in a store. It’s not in our near future. The next step is continuing our collaborations with innovative food producers.

Q:  What advice do you have for other aspiring food entrepreneurs?  

A:  Don’t overthink it. When we started, it was my tendency to be cautious and a perfectionist. My wife pushed me to just loosen up and told me, "Let’s just roll it out on Instagram and listen to what people say and see if it has legs." If you believe in your product, get it out there - get it into peoples’ mouths, listen to their feedback and you’ll learn if you need to pursue your dream in a greater capacity.  

Q:  Do you have mentors guiding you and the business to the next level? 

A:  We have a lot of restaurateur friends, friends in many different businesses and friends who have started businesses. They’ve made mistakes and have graciously told us their stories. I suppose you could call them mentors. We don’t have anyone in our lives who is a full-fledged business coach, but we have a very broad network. We definitely reach out to our network for advice and wisdom – and these people are in food directly or have tangential connections to the food industry. We have been lucky to have such good advice from so many friends.

Q:  Where is your production facility?

A:  We moved our production to Dots Gray last November. This is a very large commissary kitchen in NE Minneapolis. I think there are 15 businesses operating out of there. The owners – Shari and Jean – have a food truck business called Butcher Salt, and they are building a community of food entrepreneurs.

Q:  What are the flavors in your dumpling rotation?

A:  Well, we have a lineup of original flavors – Vegan, Beef with Carrot and Onion, and Pork and Napa. We make these three flavors the most. For special collaborations, there is a rotating lineup of dumplings. This month, we’re working with Red Wagon Pizza. Last month, it was Brasa Rotisserie – these are fun and perform very well for the business. We also have our own special flavors and releases from time to time.  This month it is Cumin Lamb – a really popular street food where I’m from in China.  

Q:  Are you able to take vacations? 

A:  Yes, now and again. We’re not a restaurant. We can close our doors at any time. We set our own schedule. If we want to push, we could make 10,000 dumplings a week. But we can also scale down. If we want to take a few days off – if the weather’s nice or we have business meetings, we can cut back on production. We’re very busy but have control of our time.

Q:  What is the best way to follow your news?

A:  Instagram for sure. We post new dumplings there, collaborations, schedules, photos, etc.

Please follow us, become a customer and let us know what you like.

Minneapolis Institute of Art Organizes Exhibition Celebrating the Artistry of Textiles from Japan

Recently acquired, exceptionally rare garments on view are made of delicate natural materials, such as Japanese fiber banana plant, elm bark, nettle fiber, and fish skin

This June, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) will debut the special exhibition “Dressed by Nature: Textiles of Japan.” Demonstrating the resourcefulness and skill involved in transforming locally sourced materials into extraordinary garments, “Dressed by Nature” will feature clothing and fabrics made from traditional organic materials, including robes crafted from the Japanese fiber banana plant from the subtropical Okinawan region; textiles fashioned from paper, ramie, cotton, silk, wool, hemp, wisteria, deerskin, and rice straw from across Japan’s many islands; garments of elm bark and nettle fiber created by the indigenous Ainu people; and festival coats of fish skin made in neighboring Siberia.

Showcasing objects acquired in 2019 from Thomas Murray, a collector of Asian art, the exhibition will highlight rare and exceptional examples of textiles from Japan made between 1750 and 1930. The exhibition, which will be on view from June 25 through September 11, 2022, is curated by Andreas Marks, PhD, Mary Griggs Burke Curator and head of Japanese and Korean Art at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

“These garments and cloths are unique objects that showcase the creativity of their makers in fashioning textiles from all kinds of natural materials depending on their living circumstances,” Marks said. “While many exhibitions on the dress of Japan focus on the silk kimono and clothes worn by the aristocracy, ‘Dressed by Nature’ instead celebrates the inventiveness and beauty of folk traditions and clothes worn in everyday life. We are excited for visitors to experience the kaleidoscope of materials and designs that will be on view and which demonstrate human ingenuity in the pre-industrial period of Japan between the 18th and early 20th centuries.” 

The over 120 textiles on view will highlight the artistry from the diverse cultures that form the Japanese archipelago. These include exceptionally rare, brightly colored resist-dyed bingata robes from Okinawa; delicately patterned garments used by farmers, fishermen, and firemen from Japan’s largest and most populous islands of Honshu and Kyushu; and boldly patterned coats created by Ainu women from Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido and the Sakhalin Island of Siberia.

Exhibition highlights include:

• an exuberant festival robe from the early 1900s, decorated with sea creatures and water motifs, used to celebrate a successful fish catch. The robe’s decorations were hand-drawn and painted with tsutsugaki, a rice paste resist-dye technique, making this robe one of a kind;
• an attush Ainu robe—acquired by Mia this year— from the 18th century. Attush (elm bark) robes were decorated with appliqued cotton and embroidery, but this robe is unique in the world in that it is embellished with various talismanic pendants created from sea creatures (mostly sturgeon scales) as well as shells, bird bones, and silk tassels;
• a festival coat for women made of fish skin by the Nivkh people, hunters and fishermen who lived on the northern half of Sakhalin Island and in the Amur River region in the Russian Far East. The back of this robe from the 19th century was richly decorated with appliqué and embroidery of abstracted, animalistic designs that represent masks, birds, serpents, and dragons of Chinese origin;
• a boro patchwork farmer’s short coat from the 19th century, made using recycled textiles that have been patched together, demonstrating the tradition of reusing old, worn-out clothing and making it into new garments;
• a complete fireman’s kit from the second half of the 1800s that includes a coat, a quilted hood, heavily padded gloves, and close-fitting trousers. During this period, fires were a constant threat in the densely populated wooden cities. Kits like this—crafted from indigo-dyed, quilted cotton—were soaked in water before the men headed into the blaze;
• a luxurious dark blue-ground lined winter robe (watajin) with dog paw-print pattern that was created through floating-relief weft (Yomitanzan hanaori). The height of the Ryūkyū Kingdom elite on the subtropical islands of Okinawa in the 19th century is expressed in this robe, which has a yellow-ground lining decorated with ivy, chrysanthemum, and bamboo grass pattern achieved with the traditional bingata stencil-resist dyeing technique, unique to Okinawa.

This exhibition is made possible by lead sponsor Thomson Reuters and major sponsor Artful Living, with generous support provided by the Gale Family Endowment.

Mia’s collection of Japanese art features outstanding concentrations of Buddhist sculpture, paintings, lacquer, works of bamboo, woodblock prints, and ceramics, and is particularly rich in works from the Edo period (1603–1868). A special exhibition of masterpieces from Mia’s paintings collection was on view at four museums in Japan from 2021 until 2022. Also notable is its collection of ukiyo-e prints and paintings, popularly known as “pictures of the floating world.” Representative examples from the permanent collection of close to 9,000 works are shown in sixteen galleries of Japanese art—the largest permanent display devoted to Japanese art within any Western encyclopedic museum. Two historic rooms, a formal audience hall (shoin), and a teahouse (chashitsu) serve to heighten awareness of the relationship between art and architecture.

The Departments at Dayton’s Opens Spring Market

The Dayton’s Project welcomes spring market on first floor

Today, The Dayton’s Project launched its spring makers market, known as The Departments at Dayton’s. The spring line up will feature close to 40 vendors and a newly retooled spring collection.

The market offers an in-person retail experience in the heart of downtown Minneapolis in the newly redeveloped Dayton’s Project, a 1.2 million square foot office and retail environment. The Departments at Dayton’s offer an experiential opportunity for shoppers that coaxes people out of their homes and spurs other activities in downtown Minneapolis.

“The brands we’re showcasing in The Departments at Dayton’s have shown such creativity and resilience,” said Mich Berthiume, expert curator of the maker’s market, “Each and every single maker in the market brings a unique skillset and incredible passion to their products, which enhances the experience of the market. When you buy at The Departments at Dayton’s, you’re supporting local businesses and local community members who have poured their hearts into their incredible products.”

The new vendors open in The Departments at Dayton’s include, Zeroish, Grande Gallery, Righteous Souls, Embellish, Sweet Heaven, Corazon Clothing, The Salsa Collaborative, and Vanlice Lemonade.

The spring market will also feature an Artist Corner featuring work by former Dayton’s employee, Joel Kaplan, and three other local artists: Ann Bendt, Terry Saario, and Olivia Kor. The returning vendors include Native Roots, Handmod, Larissa Loden, Karen Morris, Molly Pepper, Opal Cool (now including Workerb skincare, honey and tea, as well as Sutter Buttes Olive Oils), Onyx Cool, Blue Heron, Minnesota Awesome, Shop in the City, Giftywrap, Rocky Robinson, Kobi and Co., Zelba and Mary, San Jose Chocolate, Junita’s Jar (which will now include warm cookies for sale on site!).

“We’re proud to be a part of the efforts to reanimate downtown Minneapolis,” said Hans Okerstrom, General Manager of The Dayton’s Project. “The Dayton’s Project is proud of our location and of our role in bringing vibrancy back to downtown. The retail offerings we’re delivering demonstrate our commitment to the future of Minneapolis.”

March 2022 Third Avenue Bridge Project Photos by Doug Verdier

Submitted by Doug Verdier, who continues to document the Third Avenue Bridge refurbishment project.

Work on the Third Avenue Bridge has continued despite sometimes bitter cold and snowy weather. These photos taken over the past couple of weeks show various stages of construction on different spans.

Platforms on the upstream underside of the span nearest to West River Road provide access to various parts of the structure that will be removed and replaced.

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The long grey “snorkel-like” apparatus transfers concrete from the blue cement mixer truck on the bridge down to the base of one of the bridge piers where it is directed into the brown forms (next to and beneath the orange tarps) where it will encase the new rebar that has been placed into the existing pier base to form the new outer concrete covering.

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A closer look at the filling of the concrete form at the base of the pier.