Can you “permit to carry” at St Paul Union Depot without note to Sheriff?
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I went to the St Paul Union Depot this past week. Hung off Door 1 entrance was a big sign with 17 rules plastered on it. Continue Reading
Mai Village saved by Hmong American Partnership
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The doors of the pinnacle of Little Mekong, Saint Paul’s Asian Business and Culture district, will remain open thanks to an intervention by the Hmong American Partnership (HAP). Mai Village, a Vietnamese restaurant renown not only by locals and metro area Vietnamese, but by state legislators and City Hall officials, will not be closing it’s doors as was once feared. Thanks to a combination of debt forgiveness and the HAP, Mai Village will remain at the center of Little Mekong.
Minimum wage hike clears House, heads to Senate
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Minnesota’s $6.15 hourly minimum wage is one of the lowest in the country and among only four states that allow employers to pay below the federal level of $7.25, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. But that could change after the House voted to increase the minimum wage for some to $7 this summer and as high as $9.50 for others by 2015.HF92, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden Valley), was passed by the House as amended 68-62 on Friday. It now moves to the Senate, where Sen. Chris Eaton (DFL-Brooklyn Center) is the sponsor.Despite opposition from businesses, Winkler said higher wages would help the economy because low-wage workers spend an increase more quickly than anybody else.“Low wage workers are more likely to spend a small increase in their income more quickly than other workers in the economy because every extra dime that they make goes to paying for the basic necessities of life,” Winkler said.The bill would incrementally increase the minimum wage beginning this summer. Large employers would be required to pay a minimum wage of: • $8 per hour beginning Aug. 1, 2013; • $9 per hour beginning Aug. Continue Reading
THEATER REVIEW | “Mary Poppins” captivates the Orpheum Theatre
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There were a lot of little children at the opening night of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins on Tuesday, April 23. While I don’t generally find myself entertained by the same things children are entertained by, Disney will almost always be—and in fact was—an exception. Mary Poppins took a collective hold of the audience, and if this is any indication of the captivating power of the show and Mary Poppins herself, I didn’t notice just how many kids were in attendance until intermission (i.e. they were quiet). Mary Poppins, in many dimensions, has the power to control even the most problematic child, or at least make them sit still and watch.Despite being set at the turn of the century, Mary Poppins follows a vaguely similar plot to the reality TV show Supernanny (or vice versa). Have bad kids? Sic the British nanny on them to instill some “Precision and Order.” First a book by P.L. Travers then a film in 1964 from Walt Disney where “Spoonful of Sugar,” “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” became timeless classics, Mary Poppins still remains a household name. Continue Reading
THEATER REVIEW | Yellow Tree Theatre’s “Circle Mirror Transformation”: A beautiful reflection on theater workshops
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It’s true that some people love touchy-feely theater workshops more than actually performing. They engage in creative self-exploration by participating in theater games, improvisational exercises, self-revelatory monologues and other activities. But what if the workshop participants found themselves trapped within a reflection of a reflection? What if they find they don’t want to get out? Anne Baker’s play Circle Mirror Transformation just completed performances at Yellow Tree Theatre in Osseo. I found the script to be incisive and witty with its poetic dialogue. The playwright’s focus is a theater workshop in a small town community center. Through a series of vignettes we see the characters become caught-up in an extraordinary exploration of the boundary between art and life. Continue Reading
THEATER REVIEW | “The Book of Mormon” pokes fun but enlightens at the Orpheum Theatre
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Getting a ticket to review The Book of Mormon at the Orpheum Theatre on Wednesday, February 6 was like getting a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. “We bought our tickets a year ago,” an acquaintance of my friend told us. People filled the halls before the doors opened at 7 p.m., anxious to get to their seats. The half hour before the show started, people had their phones out, taking pictures of their tickets and selfies in front of the cloud backdrop (probably sharing it on Facebook to make friends who couldn’t get a ticket jealous). There’s a lot of hype surrounding the show by the creators of South Park, and judging by the reception of the bathroom humor, Star Wars and Star Trek references, irreverent religious commentary, the show didn’t disappoint Wednesday night’s crowd. Continue Reading
THEATER REVIEW | Theater Latté Da moves up to the Pantages Theatre with “Aida”
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Let me begin by saying that I’ve never been disappointed with a Theater Latté Da production (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Spring Awakening), and January 5th’s performance of Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida was no exception—not in the slightest. Now in a partnership with Hennepin Theatre Trust for their Broadway Re-Imagined collaboration, Theater Latté Da is proving what exactly they’re capable of (and to a large extent has already proved to most; they won an Ivey award for their 2012 production of Spring Awakening). Aida first premiered on Broadway in 2000 as a Walt Disney production with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice. The story of Aida existed before Disney though (a children’s story and opera), but the plot does indeed scream Disney. Radames (Jared Oxborough), the captain of the ancient Egyptian army, and Aida (Austene Van), recent captor of the Egyptians and princess of the Nubian people (unbeknownst to Radames), fall, unlikely, in love with each other. Continue Reading
2012: My year with TCDP
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Wrapping up my year with TC Daily Planet (like a present!) seems a bit like what I would imagine writing a holiday newsletter is like. Because I am a Google search fiend, I searched for “writing holiday letter tips.” The sites I looked at suggest to keep it short, maybe write a top ten list or timeline. “When bragging a bit about accomplishments, use a bit of self-effacing humor to balance ego with humility.” “Write in your own voice and insert some humor.” OKAY! Thanks, Internet!Starting on a postive note (as widely suggested): It’s been a productive year for me with TCDP! In January, I started sending out the Daily Headlines newsletter twice a week. Continue Reading
MUSIC REVIEW | Of Monsters and Men play to an excitable crowd at First Avenue
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I was lucky enough to see Of Monsters and Men at their Cities 97 Sampler recording at the New Century Theatre on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 19 and then again that night at First Avenue for their second sold-out show in Minneapolis (and incidentally the last show of their tour). As the mayor of myself, I declared it “Of Monsters and Men Day” in my town of one. At the New Century Theatre, OMAM played on the kitcshy Midwestern towny bar set of Deer Camp: The Musical. The band members (even though they’re from Iceland) fit in perfectly along with their acoustic set. I stand by my original observations of their humble nature I made when I saw the band back in March at the Fine Line Music Cafe. Continue Reading
THEATER REVIEW | Catch “Catch Me If You Can” while you can at the Orpheum Theatre
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While waiting for a ride in the lobby outside Rock Bottom after opening night of Catch Me If You Can, Frank Abagnale Jr. walked in and headed towards the escalator to go to the after party at Crave. He was stopped by theatergoers to snap a few pictures and sign playbills. After some delay, and as he was moving closer and closer to the escalator, my friend told me she was going to go get his autograph too. I said after her, “Okay, if you can catch him.” The pun was completely (and disappointingly) unintended.