This week in Saint Paul: Monday, July 28–Sunday, August 3, 2014

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We are marking the days until the second Thursday of September, the same Thursday each year on which we hold one of the best parties in Lowertown. It is the Release Party for the 2015 Saint Paul Almanac, and it will, again, be a very fun night at the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar. While the 2015 Almanac is getting put together at the bindery, we are asking you to do the opposite with old editions of the almanac. Yes, you can still get an old edition of the tome and take it apart, THEN MAKE SOMETHING WONDERFUL OUT OF IT! We are asking artists and people who fail to think of themselves as artists to take an old edition of the Saint Paul Almanac and re-image it into newly imagined pieces of art. SAINT PAUL ALMANAC: RE:BOOKED. Display your work at the AZ Gallery, and WIN A CASH PRIZE. There is still time to participate — in this project or in other ways. The book art will be on display through September at the AZ Gallery and during the Thursday, September 11 Book Release Party. If you are interested, contact Lisa at lisa@saintpaulalmanac.org and put “RE:BOOKED” in the subject field. In the meantime, our Almanac arts calendaris filled with things to keep us busy. Continue Reading

Tour de Fat: A fun event with or without beer and a bike

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I know the whole focus of the Tour de Fat is beer and bikes but when you’re hanging with a 10 year old and you live pretty far away from the location, beers and bikes are less appealing than event as a whole. But I’m happy to report that Tour de Fat can be fun with or without the beer and bike.Tour de Fat is an annual festival sponsored by New Belgium beer to celebrate biking and raise money for bike-focused nonprofits. Taking place in Loring Park, the festival includes lots of local bikers in costume, beer, food trucks and a series of different acts and activities.Black Joe Lewis headlined the show. He is a little funk, a little soul. Perfect for the hot sun and funky crowd. Continue Reading

VIDEO: Dinkytown Greenway expands, grand opening

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Phase III of the Dinkytown Greenway, an off road bike trail that connects the University of Minnesota with downtown, opened on July 20 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and two group rides. Phase III utilizes a tunnel under the 35W bridge approach that was built under the bridge when it was reconstructed.Council Members Jacob Frey and Cam Gordon led group rides from Gateway Park and TCF Stadium and met Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges and other local leaders at Bluff Street Park, near where the tunnel connects Bridge #9 and an off-road bike trail that leads to the far end of the University of Minnesota campus with on-street bike lanes on 2nd Street South that lead to downtown.This video takes a look at the Gateway Park Group ride and the speeches and ribbon cutting at Bluff Street Park: Continue Reading

TC Weekend | FLOW Arts Crawl, Open Streets, Red Hot Art & Music, ArtCar & ArtBike Parade, Lowertown Blues Fest & more!

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The last weekend in July is going out with a bang! This weekend should be a delight for art lovers and bike enthusiasts, especially, with Open Streets, ArtBike (and ArtCar) Tour de Fat and fun art gatherings around town. Also, the Minneapolis Aquatennial fun continues into the weekend, ending with the dazzling Target Fireworks!  Scroll down for details:How will you spend the weekend? Let us know in the comment section or by sending your photos or comments to tcweekend@tcdailyplanet.net, and check back to see your photo attached to the Storify over the weekend.If you know of an event fit for TC Weekend, use our calendar to upload the event or send an email to tcweekend@tcdailyplanet.net.  FLOW Northside Arts Crawl, July 25FLOW Northside Art Crawl is a free, family-friendly event that highlights the diverse and unique art community in North Minneapolis. Continue Reading

“He fought to level the playing field”: KFAI volunteers remember Andy Driscoll

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Andy Driscoll, longtime KFAI volunteer and host of Truth To Tell, passed away on Sunday, July 20th at the age of 74. Andy had spent years in a struggle against pulmonary disease, and within the past year he went through chemotherapy for esophageal cancer and endured a series of strokes. In spite of the challenges, Andy continued to work with his Truth To Tell team to produce compelling radio programs through his nonprofit organization, Civic Media Minnesota.Andy’s final KFAI broadcast was a conversation on June 23rd about the recent trials of the Minnesota Orchestra and the renewed excitement of classical music fans with the signing of a musician contract and the return of Osmo Vanska. Appropriately, Andy’s sign-off was followed by another rich, deep voice – a cello played by the orchestra’s own Tony Ross. The audio of that program is included on this page [below].A tribute to Andy is in the planning stages.His fellow KFAI volunteers have expressed their sadness at Andy’s passing and their appreciation of his talents and passion. Continue Reading

Day tripping in Northfield: What book are you reading?

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This year summer has been about finally reading those books that have spent too many months untouched on the shelf, evenings and weekends spent at the grill, and glorious warm, slow, sunny moments strung together with day trips to great places within a few hours drive of the Twin Cities. We hike for a few hours, grab a cone or a root beer float, and come home feeling like we’ve taken Thoreau’s advice to live deliberately and deep, and to suck out all of the marrow (and ice cream) of life. Continue Reading

Snapshots | Street performer Nathaniel Harris

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” I love playing music and I love people — people bless me and I bless people.” — Nathaniel HarrisMeet musician Nathaniel Harris. You may have seen Harris performing along Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis during the farmers markets. Harris enjoys singing songs with messages of love and hope, ranging anywhere from funk to old school R&B, to gospel. He has two other jobs, but cherishes the freedom that comes with singing for people on the mall. Continue Reading

Abdulrahman Adem, respected Twin Cities Somali leader and longtime MPS staff member, dies at 58

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The Twin Cities Somali community has lost an esteemed leader and a passionate advocate for Somali families.Abdulrahman Adem, a cultural facilitator at Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), died Sunday of a heart attack. He was 58.Adem was known for his commitment to serve Somali families with students in Minneapolis schools as their ultimate ambassador in the school district. He was also known for his commitment to help his immigrant community navigate the district’s complicated educational system and find the resources they needed.Adem, who worked at MPS since 1997, held various posts in the district: bilingual program aide, associate educator, bilingual communicator, translator and communications and public affairs specialist.Community Sketchbook focuses on the economic and social challenges facing communities, especially low-income communities and communities of color, and how people are trying to address them. It is made possible by sponsorship support from The Minneapolis Foundation. Community Sketchbook articles may be republished or distributed, in print or online, with credit to MinnPost and the foundation.Whatever his job title, Adem always made sure that school officials heard the voices of Somali families — and to ensure this, Adem didn’t hesitate to take issues directly into administrators’ offices, invited or uninvited.I had the privilege to work with Adem when I worked in the office of communications, and like many people, I immediately noticed his enthusiasm, commitment and compassion. Continue Reading

Rediscovering Ruth

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John and I moved last weekend. It was a long, tough two days. We schlepped a bunch of heavy items across town only to discard them. A couch, for instance…. Somehow we lost all my underwear. But we also found random relics from the past, which always happens when you move. A shirt I hadn’t seen in two years, a report my 22-year-old did in fourth grade, and a folder of clippings. Continue Reading