St. Paul
Thomas-Dale—frequently referred to as Frogtown—is Saint Paul’s most diverse neighborhood. This diversity is reflected not only in our residents who come from every corner of the globe, but in the wonderful shops, restaurants, and services that you will also find here. University Avenue is the major commercial center in the neighborhood, home to about 100 Asian-owned businesses and many others—and it is served by high-frequency and express buses and the forthcoming Central Corridor LRT line. Our modestly-priced homes, strong sense of community, active and engaged residents, and proximity to the State Capital, downtown, and I-94 make Thomas-Dale a great place to call home.
(Description from livemsp.org)
THURSDAY PICK | At RetroRama, the personal is political
Is there any key to the mysteries of history that's more accessible than fashion? Turn back the clock just ten years, and you can see yourself wearing something that you'd never wear today...but of course, everyone was wearing it back then. In the past. The past(s) is (are) where the Minnesota Historical Society makes its business to dwell, and each year the MHS celebrates fashions past with a "RetroRama" event featuring looks from a selected moment in time. This time around, though, the designers' mandate is thematic rather than periodic: the fashions on display will all be somehow related to politics. Also on tap are custom cocktails, music by the Southside Aces, and "Blingo" with Ellie Blades.MORE »
Local comic finds at SpringCon
This past weekend I had the distinct pleasure of tabling at SpringCon for The Loft Literary Center (where I work as marketing coordinator). SpringCon is one of two annual comic book expos that the Midwest Comic Book Association (the other MCBA) plans and holds at the State Fairgrounds in St. Paul. Each year, more than a thousand comics fans flock to the State Fairgrounds to meet artists, look for rare issues, and sell their own art. This coming FallCon—the other yearly comic celebration (a.k.a. the One Day Wonder)—will mark the 25th anniversary of these events. Full of regional comic book dealers, artists, organizations, novelties, guest creator panels, and props, SpringCon is two full days of book hunting and people watching.MORE »
SUNDAY PICK | Folk Baroque: String fusion at the Baroque Room
I was nonplussed at the Portland Cello Project, but just to prove that I don't hate the entire concept of classical fusion, I'm going to go ahead and give a shout-out to Folk Baroque, an ensemble who explore the full range of the violin/fiddle repertoire. Folk and classical music have been elegantly wed many a time, from Dvořák's New World symphony to the stylings of Minnesota's own Orange Mighty Trio, and Folk Baroque's May 27 performance at the Baroque Room looks likely to please a varied crowd.MORE »
Očhéthi Šakówiŋ: The Seven Council Fires website is now live
For over a decade the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) has been digitizing collections materials for the purposes of increasing accessibility, supporting research, and preserving original materials. The Očhéthi Šakówiŋ—The Seven Council Fires digitization project expanded to include additional goals. Sought by Dakota individuals who wanted increased access and understanding of the Dakota material culture in the MHS collections, a new level of transparency was achieved. By using the WOTR (Write On The Record) tool to record feedback and comments MHS steps back and shares authority in interpreting this material. Both MHS and Dakota communities will benefit from this partnership as information about these items is dramatically enhanced.MORE »
E-DEMOCRACY | Dayton's Bluff community housing forum on June 5
Hey, all! We're looking for anyone on this list who is passionate about quality housing and community stabilization in Dayton's Bluff.
Dayton's Bluff Community Council has an upcoming forum that invites us to have a community conversation about it on June 5, 6-8pm, at Dayton's Bluff Elementary School. Dinner is provided. RSVP at 6517722075.MORE »
THEATER REVIEW | Blank Slate Theatre's "Analyzing the Bully" looks at peer abuse from the bully's perspective
I am not a bully. Despite my stint in fifth grade of pushing fourth-graders into snowdrifts and calling them stupid, I have never been, nor could I ever be, a bully.
At least that’s what the doctors from blank slate theatre’s original production of Analyzing the Bully told me. Bullies, to them, can only be males under the age of 20 who are athletes, bigots and homophobes. Bullies always use force, wear torn jeans and black shirts, and have no reason for their “random” acts of violence.MORE »
Laura Jeffrey Academy nurtures strong, growing women in St. Paul
It’s not very common for a middle school grade student to talk about vulnerability as an asset. But that’s exactly the word that Rabiya Sehgal-LaRocque used when talking about the value of attending Laura Jeffrey Academy (LJA), an all-girl charter school in St. Paul. At Laura Jeffrey, students are encouraged to express themselves.MORE »
St. Paul Hmong two-way immersion programs face challenges of enrolling non-Hmong students, developing curriculum
Nou Her is a pre-kindergarten teacher in the first Hmong immersion program in the nation, located at St. Paul’s Jackson Elementary school. She’s also a translator.
During the summer, on weekends, on weeknights and during prep hours, she translates children’s books, district curriculum, wall hangings and songs. “From big books to small books to rhyming to alliteration,” she said.
It’s what’s required for a program that teaches core curriculum in a language for which there exist virtually no commercial curriculum materials.MORE »
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES | Art in the Hollow 2012: June 2 in St. Paul's Swede Hollow
ART IN THE HOLLOW 2012
SWEDE HOLLOW PARK
SATURDAY JUNE 2
10 AM TO 5 PM
We are looking for volunteers to help with Art in the Hollow and distributing fliers.
MORE »
THEATER PREVIEW | At Dreamland Arts, Katie Hae Leo and Sun Mee Chomet tell personal stories of being Korean adoptees
Two Korean-American writer-performers will share their personal stories about being adopted in a show co-produced by Dreamland Arts, in St. Paul. In The Origin(s) Project: Memoirs in Motion, directed by Zaraawar Mistry, Katie Hae Leo and Sun Mee Chomet describe their own experiences with Korean Adoption—from two different perspectives.MORE »
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