Local
North Minneapolis block party celebrates, remembers
On May 22, 2011, three tornados spiraled down on North Minneapolis, killing one person and injuring 30 more, leaving homes heavily damaged and thousands without power. On Saturday, Northside residents gathered at Logan and 30th Avenue North to mark the anniversary of last year’s devastating tornados and celebrate the rebuilding effort.MORE »
Ice House Plaza opening marks a new era on Eat Street
Ice House Plaza, a new privately owned public green space at 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in Whittier, officially opened on Friday, May 18 with a dedication that included food and beverages from the surrounding businesses (with proceeds benefitting the Whittier Alliance) and music by The New Standards. The celebration came at the heels of news the return of Azia to the corner (the restaurant will reopen as Azia Market Bar & Restaurant at 2550 Nicollet in mid-June) as well as the opening of Icehouse Restaurant. That restuarant, opening on June 7, will feature live music (a cross between the Dakota and the Turf Club, according to co-owner Brian Liebeck) and small plates dining with meats made in-house.MORE »
Remembering the tornado of 2011: An unforgettable lesson
On May 22, 2011 a tornado ripped through North Minneapolis destroying homes, tearing out trees, and taking two lives. Oblivious of this tragedy unfolding nearby, I was in the Brookdale Library community room, facilitating a tense, stormy townhome association meeting. The association board had asked me to assist them as discord within the group had escalated, with accusations being hurled and various interests groups aggressively rallying people to their “sides.” With the help of a facilitator the board hoped to find a mutually-workable resolution amidst the intense animosities.MORE »
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES | Prospect Park's Cupcake advances to Food Network's Cupcake Wars Championship series
Kevin VanDeraa, owner of beloved bake shop Cupcake, has more to be excited about than the impending conclusion of Central Corridor construction on University Avenue in front of his shop: having won the Yo-Gabba-Gabba-themed episode of the Food Network's show Cupcake Wars on April 15, VanDeraa is now set to compete in the show's "Cupcake Champions" series.MORE »
Granary Corridor planning seeks to accommodate economic development and livability from 35W to 280
A bicycle and pedestrian greenway may be the most cost-effective transportation use of the railroad trench through Dinkytown, while new truck routes could increase access to I-94 and Minnesota Hwy 280. This scenario was among more than 16 options considered over the last several years by planners, architects and neighborhood residents looking at the Granary Corridor around the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Transportation engineer JoNette Kuhnau presented their Granary Corridor Study to about 80 neighborhood residents and other stakeholders on May 9 at Van Cleve Park in Southeast Minneapolis.MORE »
"Neighborland" project uses billboards to invite conversation about Twin Cities neighborhoods
What do you want in your neighborhood? Tell us: your neighbors, your city, the world. You can…really! It’s pretty easy now, thanks to the trio of Forecast Public Art, Clear Channel Outdoor, and Neighborland, which are involved in a new, innovative partnership bringing non-commercial public art to several electronic billboards (currently on Hennepin Avenue, but soon to be throughout the Twin Cities).MORE »
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES | Donors sought to turn car-parking markers near the University of Minnesota into bike-parking spaces
This University neighborhood biker felt safe locking a bike to one of Minneapolis's new stick-like parking meter space markers—would you? It wouldn't be hard to slip a U-lock off one of those, which is why the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition is partnering with the City of Minneapolis to raise funds to turn those meter markers into proper bike-parking spaces.MORE »
Weaving to survive, preserving futures like treasures
This month at the Gordon Parks Gallery, master weaver Bounxou Chanthraphone (Daoheuang) and Laddavanh Insixiengmay opened a special exhibit, Weaving to Survive. The Gordon Parks Gallery is located in the new Library and Learning Center at 645 East Seventh Street in St. Paul. MORE »
Golden Gate Park on the Mississippi? University of Minnesota architecture students suggest grand plans, encounter grander obstacles
For years, the future of Minneapolis's riverfront along St. Anthony Main has been rich in promise but lacking in follow-through. New proposals for the area poured in after a plan to reinvigorate the area collapsed in the 2008 recession. To help educate them on options for their neighborhood’s future, residents of the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood and the greater University District sought the help of Ignacio San Martín.MORE »
Community Supported Art comes to North Minneapolis
Would you like a painting with your green beans? With NOMI CSArt, you can get regular fresh supplies of local art with a new initiative by the Goddess of Glass and the McKinley Community CSA. Closely modeled after community-supported art programs developed by mnartists, the new program is run by Connie Beckers, former executive director of the Northside Arts Collective and current owner of the Goddess of Glass, a retail gift shop that regularly features artists based in North Minneapolis.MORE »
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