Laopocalypse Now: Fear, poetry, and the end of the world

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This Wednesday, October 22nd will be the 170th anniversary of “The End of the World,” as predicted by the adherents of Millerism in the 1830s. William Miller had predicted the Second Coming of Christ on October 22nd, 1844, That day came and went, and left a good number of people disillusioned. Some returned to their old congregations, others became Quakers or Shakers. In more recent years, the late Harold Camping predicted October 21st, 2011 was going to be the day to end all days. Continue Reading

Kindness in chalk

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You could still see the messages written three different languages chalked on the sidewalk in front of my daughter’s school earlier this week from the October 10th Kindness in Chalk event. The words were faded then, but they still have me hope. Continue Reading

Should Southeast keep its library without a building?

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Should Southeast Minneapolis keep its library and, if so, should it remain near Dinkytown?Southeast Minneapolis residents have been invited to suggest where and whether a new library should replace the current facility adjacent to Dinkytown at the corner of Fourth Street and 13th Avenue Southeast.But some have complained that the public meetings, scheduled to begin this weekend, will not allow residents to support renovation of the current building, a classic of modern architecture designed by the late prominent Minneapolis architect Ralph Rapson.“Participation is not only important in terms of providing your feedback and learning about the process, but your presence will help demonstrate community support for the Southeast library – our library,” said Hung Russell, co-president of the Friends of the Southeast Library.The public meetings are in neighborhoods a consultant has determined represent the major stakeholders of the library. The meetings are:9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, October 18, at the Van Cleve Recreation Center, 901 S.E. 15th Ave.;6-8 p.m. Monday, October 20, at Marcy Open School, 415 Fourth Ave. S.E.;9-11 a.m. Saturday, October 25, at Brian Coyle Community Center Community Room, 420 15th Ave. S.; and7-9 p.m. Thursday, October 30, at Luxton Recreation Center, 112 St. Mary’s Ave. Continue Reading

TC Weekend | Twin Cities Film Fest, Fall Feast Food Truck Rally, Grow on Penn Pumpkin Patch & more!

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It looks like the gorgeous weather will continue this weekend, with mild temps, plenty of sun and warm fall hues. Scroll down for this weekend’s roster of events, featuring more literary and film fun, tasty food truck festivities and pumpkins! See Pumpkins, caramel and more; Twin Cities fall fun for more fall ideas.We’re gearing up for the holiday season! If you know of great holiday/seasonal events, use our calendar to upload the event, or send an email to tcweekend@tcdailyplanet.net to spread the word!Twin Cities Film Fest, October 16 – 25The fifth annual Twin Cities Film Fest kicks off this week, offering 10 days of big-name releases and independent films. Some of the bigger draws include “The Imitation Game” starring Benedict Cumberbatch, “Wild” starring Reese Witherspoon, and Lynn Shelton’s comedy “Laggies” starring Keira Knightly and Chloe Grace Moretz, to name a few.  A ticket stub for the day’s film is good for entry into the nightly mixer where attendees, filmmakers and sponsors can talk all things cinema! Go here for the full festival schedule.Kerasotes ShowPlace ICON Theatre1625 West End Blvd, St. Louis Park Find ticket info here.  Northside Writers Group’s Annual Fall Reading, October 17Writers in the community share their creative gifts at this annual fall reading, centered on the themes: What I Learned from My Travels, and Mindfulness. Continue Reading

Artika Tyner’s new book looks at lawyering for change

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Teaching English led Artika Tyner to become a lawyer. “When I began student teaching,” she writes, “I witnessed firsthand the disparities in the school system influenced by factors such as race and poverty. This was a formative moment in my personal and professional development…. I became committed to shaping public policy and standing up for children. At this point, I also recognized that the law is a language of power and I wanted to learn this language in order to empower others in my community.” Continue Reading

No matter the heat, think twice before banning books

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MERCUTIO: …I conjure thee by Rosaline’s bright eyes,
By her high forehead and her scarlet lip,
By her fine foot, straight leg and quivering thigh
And the demesnes that there adjacent lie,
That in thy likeness thou appear to us!

That’s Mercutio summoning Romeo in Act II, Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and deploying one of the less intense pieces of sexual innuendo scattered throughout the play. That one of the most commonly taught pieces of literature, from one of the most celebrated writers in the history of the English language, contains such themes and passages is worth keeping in mind as we observe Banned Books Week this year. Schools, naturally enough, are one of the centers of these controversies. Continue Reading

What a difference

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This time last year, there’d been Something I Said (Papyrus Publishing), Dues (Playscripts, Inc.), Shelter (Kindle/Amazon.com) and that’s about it aside from Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder and Twin Cities Daily Planet. Not that things hadn’t gone reasonably well. Something I Said, a collection of controversial commentary, swiftly sold out in stores and at Amazon.com. Shelter, which was a hit – complete with fantastic reviews all over the place – depicting harsh life in a homeless shelter is available on Kindle. So is the short play, Dues, about paying a professional price for being politically incorrect. Between the three of them, am looking forward to a respectable royalty check from Amazon.com. Continue Reading