District Del Sol: Music and movies in Castillo Park

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On Thursday evening at Castillo Park in St. Paul the playground was full, lawn chairs and blankets had been brought out, and smiling faces of all ages were prevalent. Hosted by the Riverview Economic Development Association, Music and Movies in District Del Sol, now in its seventh year, is a free summer event each Thursday night for eight weeks of the summer. If you’ve missed the first seven weeks, you still have one more chance on Thursday, August 6. Click here for slideshow. Continue Reading

Latino business, culture enhance Twin Cities

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It’s hard to miss the green, white and red exterior of Don Panchos Bakery. The sweet aroma of freshly baked conchas greets you at the door of the shop on St. Paul’s west side. In the back, Efrain Perez squeezes frosting into two-inch pink roses on a Tres Leches cake. He cuts bolillos and puts them in the oven. Continue Reading

St. Paul schools closing: Roosevelt, Longfellow

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The St. Paul Board of Education voted Tuesday night to close Roosevelt and Longfellow elementary schools, but spared Sheridan, which had also been on the list. The 5-1 vote on Roosevelt came after the board heard more pleas from West Side residents to spare their community school. The schools will remain open for the 2009-10 school year, and will close for the 2010-11 school year. Board member Keith Hardy spoke to the strengths of Roosevelt, saying that “in a lot of ways, Roosevelt embodies what we are looking for in a school and a community.” Continue Reading

Cherokee Heights Garden Club celebrates 75 years of gardening

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In 1934, thirty St. Paul neighbors, with the help of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society (MSHS), transformed their love of gardening into a tradition of service to the community. Now celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Cherokee Heights Garden Club is the oldest continuously operating garden club in Minnesota, inspiring generations. “Participation has continued on from members to their children and grandchildren,” says Secretary Rebecca Christopherson. In collaboration with St. Continue Reading

Minneapolis, St. Paul celebrate May

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The Twin Cities know how to celebrate May Day, and this weekend’s sunshine brought out the best. The photos are still coming in, and we’ll be adding links to slide shows as soon as we get them up. Want to share your photos? Bring them on! (See instructions at bottom of this article.)
Here’s a beginning:
Alan Wilfahrt’s MayDay paradeA selection of photos from the MayDay parade! Continue Reading

Arts Orbit Weekly: 4/30/09

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This week’s picksThursday, April 30The Southern Theater becomes the Southern Asia Theater tonight as it welcomes Ragamala Dance with its epic Silappathikaram. (Yes, I had to cut and paste that word.)Friday, May 1Join the Daily Planet crew (operations manager Emily Ryan’s little son Orren is our cox) at the Bedlam Theatre for a third birthday party—for the Daily Planet, not Orren. Then head over to the Loring Pasta Bar for Fuego Friday, a fundraiser for the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom network. Music is by the Salsa Police, who hopefully will play “King of Pain.” Saturday, May 2It’ll be Cinco de Madness all day today on St. Continue Reading

Cinco de Mayo times three: Celebrate in St. Paul and Minneapolis

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Cinco de Mayo is coming again — with celebrations in St. Paul on May 1 and 2 and in Minneapolis on May 3 and May 10. Saint Paul
The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta in Saint Paul on Friday May 1, and Saturday May 2 is open to anyone who enjoys the excitement, flavors, sounds and crowds of a street fair. More than 100,000 people are expected to come to César Chávez street on the west side of Saint Paul for the 27th celebration of Cinco de Mayo Fiesta presented by REDA (Riverview Economic Development Association), a community development corporation. Saturday’s parade, beginning at 10 a.m., features floats, performers and tens of thousands of people in attendance. Continue Reading

Arts Orbit Weekly: 4/23/09

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This week’s picksThursday, April 23Pulled pork and free beer? You can’t hope for anything better on an 80-degree day, especially if it’s at the Twin Cities’ best-looking coffee shop. After porking up, you have to ask yourself what kind of adventure you’re ready for. If you want a driving adventure, turn north to downtown and catch Kati Ray at Trocaderos. If you want an aesthetic adventure, stay in Uptown and see Sin Nombre.Friday, April 24It’s a hoary stereotype, but tonight it’s true: in Minneapolis, things are amplified. Continue Reading

Bread, Coffee and Cake in St. Paul

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Robert Dubuc hadn’t always thought about opening a bakery. Living in California, he took a loaf of fresh bread for granted. Then, Dubuc moved to St. Paul and instantly missed the array of fresh baked breads readily available in his former state. That’s when Dubuc said he started making his own. Continue Reading