Central

With gas prices rising and the environment at risk, bicycling has a “cool factor” like never before. There are thousands of bicycles on local streets—the Midtown Greenway has its very own rush hour—and the Bicycle Film Festival (BFF) is again making its way to Minneapolis. Comprising more than 20 features, 20-some short films, and even a couple of bike music videos, the festival captures a wide spectrum of perspectives on biking as sport, pastime, and mode of transportation. MORE »

My first visit to e. p. atelier (you pronounce it like Maurice Chevalier) was truly an odd experience. I was in the course of interviewing Stan Kipper of New Primitives, who subjected me to a good-natured assault as he got so gleefully caught up in the conversation that he actually pummeled and kicked me to accentuate whatever point he was making at a given moment. I survived the beating, moved a sensible distance away from Kipper, and enjoyed an iced tea with sugar and honey as I talked with owner-proprietor Diane Ingram about what an exceptional place it was. MORE »

Yesterday was my first visit of the season to the Mill City Farmers Market, and I was pleasantly surprised by how many new stands there were selling locally produced prepared foods – apparently Brenda Langton, who was one of the founders of the market, and who owns the Spoonriver Restaurant next door, doesn’t mind the competition. MORE »

Here’s the situation. You and your boyfriend or girl, husband or wife—whoever—have just had a nice time at, say, the movies. You’re not ready to call it a night, you want to wind things up with a very nice time, but you’re also not prepared to spend an arm and a leg to go someplace. Well, if you’re downtown Minneapolis you’re pretty much out of luck—especially if you bought any snacks at the movie and found yourself spending more at the concession stand than it cost to get in. There you stand, in the pleasant night air, about to resign yourselves to simply going on your way. Then, faster than a caped crusader to the rescue, Babalú’s got your back as you realize that right over in the nearby Warehouse District is the perfect snazzy, jazzy nightclub to suit your needs. MORE »