A Green Light for Bikers, When Traffic Allows
Steve Brandt, Star Tribune
Are Minnesotans willing to grant bicyclists limited immunity from stop signs and red lights?
That question is posed by a legislative proposal introduced during Bike/Walk to Work Week earlier this month by Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, and Sen. Jim Carlson, DFL-Eagan, both bikers.
Their proposal is based on an Idaho statute that allows bikers to proceed though stops in certain circumstances. It would require bikers approaching a stop signal or sign to slow to a speed that allows them to stop.
They'd be required to stop if a vehicle is in the vicinity. But they could proceed through a stop sign without stopping if there's no traffic close enough to pose a hazard while they'd be moving through the intersection. At a red light, they could also make a right turn, or a left turn onto a one-way street, without stopping. And if there's no vehicle nearby, they could proceed through the intersection after a full stop without waiting for a green light.
"It's how most people behave anyway," said Kahn.
Dateline Minneapolis touched on the issue two weeks ago. We continue to believe there's no excuse for blowing through a congested intersection on a bike against a stop. But this proposal recognizes that the physics of accelerating a bike from a standstill are different from pressing an accelerator. It also recognizes that bikes don't trip the pressure plates that trigger a signal change for cars.
The Kahn/Carlson proposal will be reintroduced for next session. It may be read at www.startribune.com/a4406 .
Memories of a pioneer
We highlighted last month the status of Elsa Johnson as the first woman to serve on the Minneapolis City Council.
That prompted some anecdotes relayed by Chuck Lutz. He's now deputy director of the city's development and planning agency, but has been around City Hall since Father Hennepin was still in seminary.
One tale involved one of Johnson's election bids at the height of the Cold War. Her opponent bore a Russian-sounding name, beginning with a K. In public forums, Johnson slyly addressed him as "Mr. Khrushchev," before correcting herself. Nikita Khrushchev was then the first secretary of the Soviet Communist Party.
On another occasion the council was noting the pending observance of Mother's Day. Johnson was recognized, and council members expected some flowery platitudes. "What's so hard about being a mother?" Johnson blurted. "All you have to do is lie on your back!"
Johnson was elected in 1961 and served through 1967. Before her death in 1990, the world had changed enough that women comprised a majority of the council for a time. The gender tally now is seven men and six women, still more balanced than that of the State Legislature.
More First Ward history
Speaking of women on the council, Lutz also provided this interesting bit of trivia. The First Ward in northeast Minneapolis, which stretches from the Camden Bridge to Falcon Heights, is the only one never to be represented by a woman.
Paul Ostrow, who holds that seat now, said he doesn't think voters in his ward are any less inclined to vote for a woman than those elsewhere in the city. His wife, Julie, a political strategist in her own right until she resumed a career as a dietician, said the ward has lots of women capable of holding a council seat.
One reason for the ward's track record arguably could be that three men have locked up the seat electorally for most of the time since Johnson became the council's pioneering woman. First came Don Risk, who was elected the same year as Johnson. He served until he resigned to head the Minneapolis Industrial Development Commission. Walt Dziedzic then held the seat for 20 years before retiring and running for the Park Board. Ostrow challenged Dziedzic unsuccessfully before winning the seat with his backing, and he now is in his third term.
Steve Brandt • 612-673-4438
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Did You Know that SPAM was Made in Austin, MN!!
Sales of Spam Rise as Consumers Trim Food Costs
EMILY FREDRIX , Star Tribune
MILWAUKEE - Love it, hate it or laugh at it — at least it's inexpensive.
Sales of Spam — that much maligned meat — are rising as consumers are turning more to lunch meats and other lower-cost foods to extend their already stretched food budgets.
What was once cheeky, silly and the subject of a musical (as Monty Python mocked the meat in a can), is now back on the table as people turn to the once-snubbed meat as costs rise, analysts say.
Food prices are increasing faster than they've risen since 1990, at 4 percent in the U.S. last year, according to the Agriculture Department. Many staples are rising even faster, with white bread up 13 percent last year, bacon up 7 percent and peanut butter up 9 percent.
There's no sign of a slowdown. Food inflation is running at an annualized rate of 6.1 percent as of April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The price of Spam is up too, with the average 12 oz. can costing about $2.62. That's an increase of 17 cents, or nearly 7 percent, from the same time last year. But it's not stopping sales, as the pork meat in a can seems like a good alternative to consumers.
Kimberly Quan, a stay-at-home mom of three who lives just outside San Francisco, has been feeding her family more Spam in the last six months as she tries to make her food budget go further.
She cooks meals like Spam fried rice and Spam sandwiches two or three times a month, up from once a month previously.
Pulling Spam from the shelf prevents last-minute grocery store trips and overspending, said Quan, 38, of Pleasanton, Calif.
"It's canned meat and it's in the cupboard and if everything else is gone from the fridge, it's there," she said.
Spam's maker, Hormel Foods Corp., reported last week that it saw strong sales of Spam in the second quarter, helping push up its profits 14 percent. According to sales information coming from Hormel, provided by The Nielsen Co., Spam sales were up 10.6 percent in the 12-week period ending May 3, compared to last year. In the last 24 weeks, sales were up nearly 9 percent.
The Austin, Minn.-based company, also known for the Jennie-O Turkey Store, has embarked on its first national advertising campaign for the 71-year-old brand in several years. They've credited the sales increase to that, along with new products like individually packaged "Spam Singles" slices. Also helping sales, executives said in an earnings conference call, was the fact that people looking to save money are skipping restaurant meals and eating more at home.
Spam sales are reaching across all spectrums, young and old and rich and poor, said Swen Neufeldt, Hormel's group product manager for the area that includes Spam. Many of the eaters are new to Spam, which was created in 1937 and gained fame as the meat that fed Allied troops during World War II.
"We have significantly increased our household penetration," Neufeldt said. "I think it's a lot of folks that are coming into the brand perhaps for the first time and coming back to the brand."
Hormel began its national advertising campaign, including print and television, for Spam in January. Neufeldt said such campaigns are planned in advance and it wasn't tied to perceived weakness in the economy.
Consumers are quick to realize that meats like Spam and other processed foods can be substituted for costlier cuts as a way of controlling costs, said Marcia Mogelonsky, senior research analyst with Mintel International in Chicago.
These products have protein and decent nutritional value, and they provide some variety to consumers who may be bored because they're eating more at home, she said.
"They might not have Spam at every single meal, but they might supplement a couple of meals," she said.
Consumers are also using more coupons and paying more attention to sales, doing anything they can to save money, she said. You may be able to cut back on your driving due to high gas prices, but you're not going to stop eating because of high food prices, she said.
Quan just bought a couple more cans of Spam on sale and some ramen, the instant noodle dish long a staple on college campuses. Her food and gas budgets are together, so she's had to cut back on food spending while the cost of gas increases. Her favorite Spam meal? Spam and macaroni and cheese. She doesn't skimp on nutrition, though. Quan serves her husband and three children — ranging in age from 4 to 11 — organic vegetables like salads, broccoli and carrots.
"It balances out," she said.
Other companies are seeing similar boosts in their lunch meats. Kraft Foods Inc. reported last month that subsidiary Oscar Mayer, which makes hot dogs, bacon and cold cuts, saw double-digit revenue growth in the previous quarter in its Deli Fresh cold cuts. The company, based in Madison, Wis., has recently introduced new products including family sized deli-meat packs and deli carved, which offers thicker slices of meat.
April Smith has been changing the way she feeds her family in Broken Arrow, Okla., to keep up with rising costs. This summer the 33-year-old administrative assistant will feed her two boys, ages 11 and 8, more ramen for lunch. Normally they eat the noodle soup on Saturdays, but since ramen costs about a dime per pack, they'll get it twice a week. Smith says she'll throw in some leftover frozen vegetables to make it more nutritious.
"Since it's cheap and easy, I figure why not let them eat it twice a week instead of once a week," Smith said.
___
On the Net:
Spam: http://www.spam.com
EMILY FREDRIX , Star Tribune
MILWAUKEE - Love it, hate it or laugh at it — at least it's inexpensive.
Sales of Spam — that much maligned meat — are rising as consumers are turning more to lunch meats and other lower-cost foods to extend their already stretched food budgets.
What was once cheeky, silly and the subject of a musical (as Monty Python mocked the meat in a can), is now back on the table as people turn to the once-snubbed meat as costs rise, analysts say.
Food prices are increasing faster than they've risen since 1990, at 4 percent in the U.S. last year, according to the Agriculture Department. Many staples are rising even faster, with white bread up 13 percent last year, bacon up 7 percent and peanut butter up 9 percent.
There's no sign of a slowdown. Food inflation is running at an annualized rate of 6.1 percent as of April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The price of Spam is up too, with the average 12 oz. can costing about $2.62. That's an increase of 17 cents, or nearly 7 percent, from the same time last year. But it's not stopping sales, as the pork meat in a can seems like a good alternative to consumers.
Kimberly Quan, a stay-at-home mom of three who lives just outside San Francisco, has been feeding her family more Spam in the last six months as she tries to make her food budget go further.
She cooks meals like Spam fried rice and Spam sandwiches two or three times a month, up from once a month previously.
Pulling Spam from the shelf prevents last-minute grocery store trips and overspending, said Quan, 38, of Pleasanton, Calif.
"It's canned meat and it's in the cupboard and if everything else is gone from the fridge, it's there," she said.
Spam's maker, Hormel Foods Corp., reported last week that it saw strong sales of Spam in the second quarter, helping push up its profits 14 percent. According to sales information coming from Hormel, provided by The Nielsen Co., Spam sales were up 10.6 percent in the 12-week period ending May 3, compared to last year. In the last 24 weeks, sales were up nearly 9 percent.
The Austin, Minn.-based company, also known for the Jennie-O Turkey Store, has embarked on its first national advertising campaign for the 71-year-old brand in several years. They've credited the sales increase to that, along with new products like individually packaged "Spam Singles" slices. Also helping sales, executives said in an earnings conference call, was the fact that people looking to save money are skipping restaurant meals and eating more at home.
Spam sales are reaching across all spectrums, young and old and rich and poor, said Swen Neufeldt, Hormel's group product manager for the area that includes Spam. Many of the eaters are new to Spam, which was created in 1937 and gained fame as the meat that fed Allied troops during World War II.
"We have significantly increased our household penetration," Neufeldt said. "I think it's a lot of folks that are coming into the brand perhaps for the first time and coming back to the brand."
Hormel began its national advertising campaign, including print and television, for Spam in January. Neufeldt said such campaigns are planned in advance and it wasn't tied to perceived weakness in the economy.
Consumers are quick to realize that meats like Spam and other processed foods can be substituted for costlier cuts as a way of controlling costs, said Marcia Mogelonsky, senior research analyst with Mintel International in Chicago.
These products have protein and decent nutritional value, and they provide some variety to consumers who may be bored because they're eating more at home, she said.
"They might not have Spam at every single meal, but they might supplement a couple of meals," she said.
Consumers are also using more coupons and paying more attention to sales, doing anything they can to save money, she said. You may be able to cut back on your driving due to high gas prices, but you're not going to stop eating because of high food prices, she said.
Quan just bought a couple more cans of Spam on sale and some ramen, the instant noodle dish long a staple on college campuses. Her food and gas budgets are together, so she's had to cut back on food spending while the cost of gas increases. Her favorite Spam meal? Spam and macaroni and cheese. She doesn't skimp on nutrition, though. Quan serves her husband and three children — ranging in age from 4 to 11 — organic vegetables like salads, broccoli and carrots.
"It balances out," she said.
Other companies are seeing similar boosts in their lunch meats. Kraft Foods Inc. reported last month that subsidiary Oscar Mayer, which makes hot dogs, bacon and cold cuts, saw double-digit revenue growth in the previous quarter in its Deli Fresh cold cuts. The company, based in Madison, Wis., has recently introduced new products including family sized deli-meat packs and deli carved, which offers thicker slices of meat.
April Smith has been changing the way she feeds her family in Broken Arrow, Okla., to keep up with rising costs. This summer the 33-year-old administrative assistant will feed her two boys, ages 11 and 8, more ramen for lunch. Normally they eat the noodle soup on Saturdays, but since ramen costs about a dime per pack, they'll get it twice a week. Smith says she'll throw in some leftover frozen vegetables to make it more nutritious.
"Since it's cheap and easy, I figure why not let them eat it twice a week instead of once a week," Smith said.
___
On the Net:
Spam: http://www.spam.com
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Hip-hop's Underground Shines Outside Metrodome
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER, Star Tribune
The Twin Cities' underground hip-hop scene finally had its big day in the sun Sunday.
A who's-who of the local rap community turned out in the Metrodome parking lot for the first Soundset music festival, drawing around 12,000 fans, most under the age of 30.
It was by far the biggest crowd for a nearly all-local hip-hop concert and a clear indicator that Twin Cities hip-hop is no longer just an underground thing -- although not every performer appreciated being out in the daylight.
"I hate the sun," complained Anthony (Ant) Davis, the basement-loving producer/DJ in the Minneapolis hip-hop group Atmosphere, which headlined the 10-hour event.
Hanging out with Ant backstage, another of the fest's big hometown performers, albino rapper Brother Ali, shot back, "You think you got it tough."
Atmosphere and Brother Ali became nationally known thanks to their Minneapolis-based record company Rhymesayers Entertainment, the main instigators of Soundset.
After a decade-plus of hosting sold-out concerts at First Avenue nightclub -- and three weeks after landing its highest-charting album (Atmosphere's latest CD debuted at No. 5 in Billboard), Rhymesayers delivered on its most ambitious production to date.
A theory buster
Not only did Soundset trumpet Rhymesayers' popularity, it spoiled several popular theories: That lake-loving Minnesotans won't attend a big music fest on summer holiday weekends; that major-label recording artists, big corporate sponsors and corporate radio stations are all needed to put on a successful music fest, and that Minneapolis is not a hip-hop city.
"I think these are some of the best hip-hop acts in the country," said Walt Carlson, 22, who drove from Milwaukee.
With the music spread out over two stages and one tent, Soundset looked like a hip-hop version of the ever-popular Vans Warped Tour punk-rockathon -- also held outside the Dome in previous years. Soundset also included daredevil skateboarding exhibitions, a low-rider car show and booths featuring locally made hip-hop fashions.
Forest Lake High School students DJ Dexter, 16, and Fred Ogez, 17, have been fans of Rhymesayers acts for several years but had never been able to see any of them perform. "A lot of times the First Avenue shows are 18-plus, or it's hard for us to get there," said Ogez.
Dexter's first impression: "I think it's a really positive thing."
One more theory disproved: That a big hip-hop concert cannot be pulled off without violence and crime. Minneapolis police at the concert had no incidents to report after six hours.
Their own themes
All of the Soundset rappers eschewed mainstream hip-hop's stereotypical themes of bling-bling, guns and gang-banging. More than any other theme, Soundset's 30-odd sets of rappers stressed hip-hop's classic message to take pride in yourself and express your individuality.
Tattoo-covered, punk-rock-loving Minneapolis rapper P.O.S had a big chunk of the crowd singing along to his proud declaration, "No one will ever be like me."
Atmosphere rapper Slug (Sean Daley) -- the unequivocal star of Soundset and a co-founder of the Rhymesayers label -- seemed content to prove there are, in fact, a lot of young music fans out there like him. "A lot of these kids get put down for liking this music, or for being one of only 10 people in their high school who listen to us," he said before his fest-closing set. "I think this event is as much a validation for them as much as it is for us."
The fans seemed impressed. Rick Carey, 19, from St. Paul, said, "I'm not surprised so many people showed up, but I am sort of overwhelmed just by the enormity of the event."
Tim Smith, 23, of St. Louis Park, hopes the event will become an annual thing -- as do Rhymesayers and co-promoters Rose Presents. "I bet it just gets bigger and bigger if they do it every year," Smith said.
See Atmosphere's set list and fan comments at startribune.com/poplife. Chris Riemenschneider • 612-673-4658
The Twin Cities' underground hip-hop scene finally had its big day in the sun Sunday.
A who's-who of the local rap community turned out in the Metrodome parking lot for the first Soundset music festival, drawing around 12,000 fans, most under the age of 30.
It was by far the biggest crowd for a nearly all-local hip-hop concert and a clear indicator that Twin Cities hip-hop is no longer just an underground thing -- although not every performer appreciated being out in the daylight.
"I hate the sun," complained Anthony (Ant) Davis, the basement-loving producer/DJ in the Minneapolis hip-hop group Atmosphere, which headlined the 10-hour event.
Hanging out with Ant backstage, another of the fest's big hometown performers, albino rapper Brother Ali, shot back, "You think you got it tough."
Atmosphere and Brother Ali became nationally known thanks to their Minneapolis-based record company Rhymesayers Entertainment, the main instigators of Soundset.
After a decade-plus of hosting sold-out concerts at First Avenue nightclub -- and three weeks after landing its highest-charting album (Atmosphere's latest CD debuted at No. 5 in Billboard), Rhymesayers delivered on its most ambitious production to date.
A theory buster
Not only did Soundset trumpet Rhymesayers' popularity, it spoiled several popular theories: That lake-loving Minnesotans won't attend a big music fest on summer holiday weekends; that major-label recording artists, big corporate sponsors and corporate radio stations are all needed to put on a successful music fest, and that Minneapolis is not a hip-hop city.
"I think these are some of the best hip-hop acts in the country," said Walt Carlson, 22, who drove from Milwaukee.
With the music spread out over two stages and one tent, Soundset looked like a hip-hop version of the ever-popular Vans Warped Tour punk-rockathon -- also held outside the Dome in previous years. Soundset also included daredevil skateboarding exhibitions, a low-rider car show and booths featuring locally made hip-hop fashions.
Forest Lake High School students DJ Dexter, 16, and Fred Ogez, 17, have been fans of Rhymesayers acts for several years but had never been able to see any of them perform. "A lot of times the First Avenue shows are 18-plus, or it's hard for us to get there," said Ogez.
Dexter's first impression: "I think it's a really positive thing."
One more theory disproved: That a big hip-hop concert cannot be pulled off without violence and crime. Minneapolis police at the concert had no incidents to report after six hours.
Their own themes
All of the Soundset rappers eschewed mainstream hip-hop's stereotypical themes of bling-bling, guns and gang-banging. More than any other theme, Soundset's 30-odd sets of rappers stressed hip-hop's classic message to take pride in yourself and express your individuality.
Tattoo-covered, punk-rock-loving Minneapolis rapper P.O.S had a big chunk of the crowd singing along to his proud declaration, "No one will ever be like me."
Atmosphere rapper Slug (Sean Daley) -- the unequivocal star of Soundset and a co-founder of the Rhymesayers label -- seemed content to prove there are, in fact, a lot of young music fans out there like him. "A lot of these kids get put down for liking this music, or for being one of only 10 people in their high school who listen to us," he said before his fest-closing set. "I think this event is as much a validation for them as much as it is for us."
The fans seemed impressed. Rick Carey, 19, from St. Paul, said, "I'm not surprised so many people showed up, but I am sort of overwhelmed just by the enormity of the event."
Tim Smith, 23, of St. Louis Park, hopes the event will become an annual thing -- as do Rhymesayers and co-promoters Rose Presents. "I bet it just gets bigger and bigger if they do it every year," Smith said.
See Atmosphere's set list and fan comments at startribune.com/poplife. Chris Riemenschneider • 612-673-4658
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Saints Promotion: Not Quite a Bobblehead
BOB von STERNBERG, Star Tribune
The St. Paul Saints, long known for offbeat, sometimes edgy, promotions, have come up with a real doozy for this Sunday's game.
While lots of sports franchises hand out bobblehead dolls, usually depicting their players, the Saints are handing out 2,500 "bobblefoot" knicknacks.
The keepsakes consist of a miniature bathroom stall with a couple of lower legs and feet. One of the feet is springloaded and "taps," which, the Saints' press release says, is in honor of National Tap Dance Day.
Right.
The team also takes pains to note: "It doesn't matter if your tapping style is done with a 'wide stance' or is used as some sort of code."
That's a none-too-subtle reference to Idaho Republican Sen. Larry Craig, who pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct after an undercover police officer arrested him for allegedly soliciting sex in a bathroom stall at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
The undercover officer who arrested Craig said the senator's foot-tapping, bumping feet and swiping his hand under the bathroom stall amounted to well-known code used in soliciting sex.
Craig, however, said his foot-tapping was the result of the fact that he has "a wide stance."
The St. Paul Saints, long known for offbeat, sometimes edgy, promotions, have come up with a real doozy for this Sunday's game.
While lots of sports franchises hand out bobblehead dolls, usually depicting their players, the Saints are handing out 2,500 "bobblefoot" knicknacks.
The keepsakes consist of a miniature bathroom stall with a couple of lower legs and feet. One of the feet is springloaded and "taps," which, the Saints' press release says, is in honor of National Tap Dance Day.
Right.
The team also takes pains to note: "It doesn't matter if your tapping style is done with a 'wide stance' or is used as some sort of code."
That's a none-too-subtle reference to Idaho Republican Sen. Larry Craig, who pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct after an undercover police officer arrested him for allegedly soliciting sex in a bathroom stall at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
The undercover officer who arrested Craig said the senator's foot-tapping, bumping feet and swiping his hand under the bathroom stall amounted to well-known code used in soliciting sex.
Craig, however, said his foot-tapping was the result of the fact that he has "a wide stance."
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Minneapolis No.7 Place to Raise a Family, Magazine Says
TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune
And the 7th best place to raise a family is?
Minneapolis, according to a survey published in the June-July issue of Best Life magazine.
For its "100 Best Places to Raise a Family," the magazine's editors looked at such criteria as where people feel their children are safe, can attend good schools with favorable student-teacher ratios, above-average test scores, and respectable budgets.
They also looked at places that have scores of museums, parks, and pediatricians that contribute to a high quality of life, as well as factors that don't -- such as cities where drivers experience long commutes, expensive houses, and divorce rates.
Best Life editors used these categories and data from the U.S. Census Bureau, National Center for Education Statistics, FBI, American Association of Museums, National Center for Health Statistics, and American Bar Association to evaluate 257 cities.
Leading the list was Honolulu, cited for its low unemployment rate, the amount of money schools spend per pupil and 125 beaches to play on. Next was Virginia Beach, Va., followed by Billings, Mont., Columbus, Ga. and San Diego.
Des Moines, Iowa came in at No. 6, with Minneapolis at No. 7, Madison, Wis. at No. 8, Colorado Springs, Colo. at No. 9 and Santa Rosa, Calif. at No. 10.
On the other end of the scale, the magazine ranked Clarksvile, Tenn. as the worst place to live. Close behind were Beaumont, Texas; Fayetteville, N.C.; Philadelphia; Waco, Texas; Columbia, S.C.; Flint, Mich.; Corpus Christi, Texas; Dayton, Ohio, and Springfield, Mo.
And the 7th best place to raise a family is?
Minneapolis, according to a survey published in the June-July issue of Best Life magazine.
For its "100 Best Places to Raise a Family," the magazine's editors looked at such criteria as where people feel their children are safe, can attend good schools with favorable student-teacher ratios, above-average test scores, and respectable budgets.
They also looked at places that have scores of museums, parks, and pediatricians that contribute to a high quality of life, as well as factors that don't -- such as cities where drivers experience long commutes, expensive houses, and divorce rates.
Best Life editors used these categories and data from the U.S. Census Bureau, National Center for Education Statistics, FBI, American Association of Museums, National Center for Health Statistics, and American Bar Association to evaluate 257 cities.
Leading the list was Honolulu, cited for its low unemployment rate, the amount of money schools spend per pupil and 125 beaches to play on. Next was Virginia Beach, Va., followed by Billings, Mont., Columbus, Ga. and San Diego.
Des Moines, Iowa came in at No. 6, with Minneapolis at No. 7, Madison, Wis. at No. 8, Colorado Springs, Colo. at No. 9 and Santa Rosa, Calif. at No. 10.
On the other end of the scale, the magazine ranked Clarksvile, Tenn. as the worst place to live. Close behind were Beaumont, Texas; Fayetteville, N.C.; Philadelphia; Waco, Texas; Columbia, S.C.; Flint, Mich.; Corpus Christi, Texas; Dayton, Ohio, and Springfield, Mo.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Ancestral Mi-Ni-So-Ta
BILL WARD, Star Tribune
If Paul Durand had been one of the Native people he spent his life studying, he might have been dubbed Kikapoo Zibi. That's Ojibwa for "He-Moves-About," which is what Durand spent a half-century doing in search of the original Indian name for every lake, river, creek, forest, hill and dale in these parts.
"On trips, no matter where we were driving, there'd be an Indian reservation, a friend, someone he'd heard of, that we'd stop and see," said Durand's son, Brian.
All that work came to fruition in 1994, when Durand self-published "Where the Waters Gather and the Rivers Meet" and completed a windshield-sized map of the region. Scores of Dakota, Ojibwa and French names dot the map, along with one odd outlier: Fort Snelling.
It's a representation of the area circa 1850, before there was a Minnesota, only a river called Mi-Ni So-Ta (Dakota for "Translucent Waters").
One doesn't have to be fascinated with history or current events (such as the Mdewakanton Sioux's recent property purchases in Shakopee) to spend serious time poring over the map, which covers hundreds of square miles and is loaded with eye-catching icons and tongue-twisting nomenclature.
Some of the names are nearly indecipherable, while others have at least phonetic familiarity, such as Lake Waconia, nee Mde (Lake) Wa-Ko-Ni-Ya ("The Breathing Hole of the Gods").
Quite the life's work -- except that Durand, who was a spry 76 when he "completed" the book and map, kept at it, right up until his death last June at age 89.
"He never stopped collecting names," said Brian Durand.
"He had a big metal box filled with 3-by-5 index cards, plus papers and books piled up on the dining room table. We ate in the kitchen a lot," he said.
"Yes, I think you could call it an obsession," said Dorothy Durand, Paul's widow, with a gentle smile. "But he was a very humble man, so he always called it his little book."
And the little book is now getting a revamp. Brian and his sister, Sue Busse, are culling a slew of typed notes, index-card scribblings and illustrations in the hopes of publishing a second edition of the book in the next few years. The Durand family and the Indian activist group Heart of the Earth Center for American Indian Education have been negotiating a deal to make full-sized prints of the map, with some proceeds going to Indian youth programs.
But Brian Durand indicated that he'd prefer to wait until the publication of the updated book before completing such a deal. He is starting a website, www.wherethewatersgather.com, with information on the map and a means of registering to receive notification when the map and/or book are again available. He also hopes to list libraries and other locations where people can view the map or book (which is such a rare commodity that copies are on sale at used-book website www.alibris.com for up to $379.04.
Hunting and gathering
Paul Durand, who was white, developed an ardor for all things Indian at an early age in south Minneapolis. When playing cowboys and Indians, "Paul always had to be the Indian," his widow said. As a Boy Scout he searched arduously for arrowheads. Alas, she said, "he never found one."
Durand enjoyed eminently more success tracking down appellations over the years, traversing the region and putting in some serious time at the Minnesota Historical Society.
"He knew enough French to translate all of Joseph Nicollet's papers," Dorothy Durand said. "He'd go to Prairie Island to visit the elders. He'd think nothing of pulling over and talking to people who might have some information."
The timing was right, Brian Durand pointed out, "because if he had tried to do it now, the people he needed to talk to would be gone." But it was still a daunting task, especially given that the federal government had outlawed Indian ceremonies and language in 1891.
"The government didn't want us to know our Indian names," said longtime activist Clyde Bellecourt. "They wanted us to all be Matthew, Mark, Luke or John."
Indeed, Bellecourt noted, he was well into adulthood before learning of his Indian name: Nee Gon Nway Wee Dung, or "Thunder Before the Storm."
"Paul found the people, the storytellers, over a 50-year period," Bellecourt said. "When I met him, he was in his 80s, but he still was just like a little boy when it came to this."
Bill Ward • 612-673-7643
If Paul Durand had been one of the Native people he spent his life studying, he might have been dubbed Kikapoo Zibi. That's Ojibwa for "He-Moves-About," which is what Durand spent a half-century doing in search of the original Indian name for every lake, river, creek, forest, hill and dale in these parts.
"On trips, no matter where we were driving, there'd be an Indian reservation, a friend, someone he'd heard of, that we'd stop and see," said Durand's son, Brian.
All that work came to fruition in 1994, when Durand self-published "Where the Waters Gather and the Rivers Meet" and completed a windshield-sized map of the region. Scores of Dakota, Ojibwa and French names dot the map, along with one odd outlier: Fort Snelling.
It's a representation of the area circa 1850, before there was a Minnesota, only a river called Mi-Ni So-Ta (Dakota for "Translucent Waters").
One doesn't have to be fascinated with history or current events (such as the Mdewakanton Sioux's recent property purchases in Shakopee) to spend serious time poring over the map, which covers hundreds of square miles and is loaded with eye-catching icons and tongue-twisting nomenclature.
Some of the names are nearly indecipherable, while others have at least phonetic familiarity, such as Lake Waconia, nee Mde (Lake) Wa-Ko-Ni-Ya ("The Breathing Hole of the Gods").
Quite the life's work -- except that Durand, who was a spry 76 when he "completed" the book and map, kept at it, right up until his death last June at age 89.
"He never stopped collecting names," said Brian Durand.
"He had a big metal box filled with 3-by-5 index cards, plus papers and books piled up on the dining room table. We ate in the kitchen a lot," he said.
"Yes, I think you could call it an obsession," said Dorothy Durand, Paul's widow, with a gentle smile. "But he was a very humble man, so he always called it his little book."
And the little book is now getting a revamp. Brian and his sister, Sue Busse, are culling a slew of typed notes, index-card scribblings and illustrations in the hopes of publishing a second edition of the book in the next few years. The Durand family and the Indian activist group Heart of the Earth Center for American Indian Education have been negotiating a deal to make full-sized prints of the map, with some proceeds going to Indian youth programs.
But Brian Durand indicated that he'd prefer to wait until the publication of the updated book before completing such a deal. He is starting a website, www.wherethewatersgather.com, with information on the map and a means of registering to receive notification when the map and/or book are again available. He also hopes to list libraries and other locations where people can view the map or book (which is such a rare commodity that copies are on sale at used-book website www.alibris.com for up to $379.04.
Hunting and gathering
Paul Durand, who was white, developed an ardor for all things Indian at an early age in south Minneapolis. When playing cowboys and Indians, "Paul always had to be the Indian," his widow said. As a Boy Scout he searched arduously for arrowheads. Alas, she said, "he never found one."
Durand enjoyed eminently more success tracking down appellations over the years, traversing the region and putting in some serious time at the Minnesota Historical Society.
"He knew enough French to translate all of Joseph Nicollet's papers," Dorothy Durand said. "He'd go to Prairie Island to visit the elders. He'd think nothing of pulling over and talking to people who might have some information."
The timing was right, Brian Durand pointed out, "because if he had tried to do it now, the people he needed to talk to would be gone." But it was still a daunting task, especially given that the federal government had outlawed Indian ceremonies and language in 1891.
"The government didn't want us to know our Indian names," said longtime activist Clyde Bellecourt. "They wanted us to all be Matthew, Mark, Luke or John."
Indeed, Bellecourt noted, he was well into adulthood before learning of his Indian name: Nee Gon Nway Wee Dung, or "Thunder Before the Storm."
"Paul found the people, the storytellers, over a 50-year period," Bellecourt said. "When I met him, he was in his 80s, but he still was just like a little boy when it came to this."
Bill Ward • 612-673-7643
Monday, May 19, 2008
An Egomaniacal, Straight-talking Dynamo Who's Perfect for Senate
NICK COLEMAN, Star Tribune
Jesse Ventura is threatening to get into the race for senator from Minnesota, and his bluster has produced the usual chuckles from the usual clowns who point out, correctly, that Jesse always makes noises about running for something when he is trying to sell a book.
Jesse's new book is a dud. Running for Senate might be dynamite.
Jesse's latest literary effort (I use both of those terms loosely) is a boring, repetitive repackaging of stuff he has sold before called "Don't Start The Revolution Without Me." It would make a good doorstop but, at $25 a copy, a rock would be cheaper. But don't underestimate his appeal in a three-way race for Paul Wellstone's old seat in a campaign where the other candidates are Norm Coleman and Al Franken.
These are the kind of odds Jesse Ventura likes.
He shocked the seven-county mosquito district 10 years ago when he beat Republican Coleman and DFLer Skip Humphrey, winning the governorship with a Pawlenty-esque plurality of 37 percent. Yes, yes: In his four years as governor, Jesse often was a jerk and embarrassed the state and his office, but he managed something no one has done since.
He kept the bridges up.
More than that, he put competent people in charge who wanted government to succeed, not to fail and fall down so they could justify their desire to drown it in a bathtub.
I admit to having a thing for having Jesse in office. I like party animals more than I like party loyalists. Jesse was a maverick who brought soap opera to St. Paul but let government work while he fiddled. I thought it was a shame when he didn't run for a second term, and I wrote, three years ago, that he ought to run for the Senate seat vacated by Mark Dayton in 2006 (Amy Klobuchar went on to win it).
Maybe he's ready now.
Jesse is a massive egomaniac who needs the spotlight and hates the heavy lifting of governing. In other words, he's perfect for the Senate, whose 100 members fancy they belong to the most elite club in the world and believe they would look good in togas. We've already seen Jesse in tights and boas and he could pull of a toga better than a spindly-legged Norm or a knock-kneed Franken.
Plus, he'd spice up a campaign focused on fundraising, Franken's bookkeeping problems and Norm's evasiveness more than on war, the economy and infrastructure issues that desperately need debate.
Jesse Ventura is not subtle. But this is no time for subtlety.
When Barack Obama is attacked for not wearing a flag pin and school kids are suspended for not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance, it's refreshing to remember that Jesse opposed a 1999 effort to pass a constitutional amendment banning flag desecration.
"It's the freedom that's important, not the symbol," he said. Even after Sept. 11, he vetoed a law making the Pledge of Allegiance mandatory in school. "Patriotism comes from the heart, not repetition," he said.
Tim Pawlenty signed the law when it was passed again after Jesse left office. It's impossible, now, to imagine politicians standing for freedom as much as for flag-waving.
So it was good to hear Jesse on public radio again last week, raising blood pressures by threatening to run and by calling out his would-be opponents:
Norm Coleman, he said, is a "chicken hawk," someone who did not serve in the military but who "rubber stamp(s) the president on everything he wants to do with the war." And Franken, he said, is "a carpetbagger."
Tell it, Brother Jesse!
A former Navy Seal, Jesse has opposed the war in Iraq more outspokenly than Franken and stood up for veterans more effectively than Coleman. He has kooky ideas about a national sales tax and other things, but on the big issues -- war and peace, freedom and the Constitution -- he is worth hearing. His entrance into the race would bring attention to the stakes in this election. That's more than his book can do. Only a few dozen people came to the Mall of America for a Jesse appearance Thursday.
Forget the book, Jesse. Make some more history. Filings for office close July 15.
Bring it on.
He's tanned and rested and the curb feelers -- his goofy facial hair strands with love beads in them -- are gone. No more Mr. Weird Beard.
He looks very statesman-like these days. At (almost) 57, with a chrome dome and long flowing locks, he looks a bit like Benjamin Franklin, especially if you imagine him in a bathtub with a French woman somewhere in the bubbles.
Who knows? Minnesotans might be able to imagine him in an even stranger place.
The U.S. Senate.
Nick Coleman • ncoleman@startribune.com
Jesse Ventura is threatening to get into the race for senator from Minnesota, and his bluster has produced the usual chuckles from the usual clowns who point out, correctly, that Jesse always makes noises about running for something when he is trying to sell a book.
Jesse's new book is a dud. Running for Senate might be dynamite.
Jesse's latest literary effort (I use both of those terms loosely) is a boring, repetitive repackaging of stuff he has sold before called "Don't Start The Revolution Without Me." It would make a good doorstop but, at $25 a copy, a rock would be cheaper. But don't underestimate his appeal in a three-way race for Paul Wellstone's old seat in a campaign where the other candidates are Norm Coleman and Al Franken.
These are the kind of odds Jesse Ventura likes.
He shocked the seven-county mosquito district 10 years ago when he beat Republican Coleman and DFLer Skip Humphrey, winning the governorship with a Pawlenty-esque plurality of 37 percent. Yes, yes: In his four years as governor, Jesse often was a jerk and embarrassed the state and his office, but he managed something no one has done since.
He kept the bridges up.
More than that, he put competent people in charge who wanted government to succeed, not to fail and fall down so they could justify their desire to drown it in a bathtub.
I admit to having a thing for having Jesse in office. I like party animals more than I like party loyalists. Jesse was a maverick who brought soap opera to St. Paul but let government work while he fiddled. I thought it was a shame when he didn't run for a second term, and I wrote, three years ago, that he ought to run for the Senate seat vacated by Mark Dayton in 2006 (Amy Klobuchar went on to win it).
Maybe he's ready now.
Jesse is a massive egomaniac who needs the spotlight and hates the heavy lifting of governing. In other words, he's perfect for the Senate, whose 100 members fancy they belong to the most elite club in the world and believe they would look good in togas. We've already seen Jesse in tights and boas and he could pull of a toga better than a spindly-legged Norm or a knock-kneed Franken.
Plus, he'd spice up a campaign focused on fundraising, Franken's bookkeeping problems and Norm's evasiveness more than on war, the economy and infrastructure issues that desperately need debate.
Jesse Ventura is not subtle. But this is no time for subtlety.
When Barack Obama is attacked for not wearing a flag pin and school kids are suspended for not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance, it's refreshing to remember that Jesse opposed a 1999 effort to pass a constitutional amendment banning flag desecration.
"It's the freedom that's important, not the symbol," he said. Even after Sept. 11, he vetoed a law making the Pledge of Allegiance mandatory in school. "Patriotism comes from the heart, not repetition," he said.
Tim Pawlenty signed the law when it was passed again after Jesse left office. It's impossible, now, to imagine politicians standing for freedom as much as for flag-waving.
So it was good to hear Jesse on public radio again last week, raising blood pressures by threatening to run and by calling out his would-be opponents:
Norm Coleman, he said, is a "chicken hawk," someone who did not serve in the military but who "rubber stamp(s) the president on everything he wants to do with the war." And Franken, he said, is "a carpetbagger."
Tell it, Brother Jesse!
A former Navy Seal, Jesse has opposed the war in Iraq more outspokenly than Franken and stood up for veterans more effectively than Coleman. He has kooky ideas about a national sales tax and other things, but on the big issues -- war and peace, freedom and the Constitution -- he is worth hearing. His entrance into the race would bring attention to the stakes in this election. That's more than his book can do. Only a few dozen people came to the Mall of America for a Jesse appearance Thursday.
Forget the book, Jesse. Make some more history. Filings for office close July 15.
Bring it on.
He's tanned and rested and the curb feelers -- his goofy facial hair strands with love beads in them -- are gone. No more Mr. Weird Beard.
He looks very statesman-like these days. At (almost) 57, with a chrome dome and long flowing locks, he looks a bit like Benjamin Franklin, especially if you imagine him in a bathtub with a French woman somewhere in the bubbles.
Who knows? Minnesotans might be able to imagine him in an even stranger place.
The U.S. Senate.
Nick Coleman • ncoleman@startribune.com
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Minnesota Quiz: Can We Stump You?
From the Star Tribune
1We're known as The Land of 10,000 Lakes. But how many lakes are there really in Minnesota?
2 Who had his first short story published in 1909 at age 13, while a student at St. Paul Academy?
3What year did both the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings arrive in Minnesota?
4How many times did Harold Stassen run for president?
5What does the "SP" in SPAM stand for? ("AM" is for ham, and it doesn't count if you check the pantry.)
6What small but helpful innovation at Southdale Mall has been copied by countless other malls?
7What was Minnesota almost called when the Minnesota Territory needed a name?
8Which team did the U.S. Olympic hockey team -- a collection of amateur and college players, many from Minnesota -- defeat to win the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y.?
9What Minnesota company was the world's largest producer of underwear under a single trademark in 1923?
10 What 1962 song brought Bob Dylan his first widespread acclaim?
1. 11,842 (A lake is 10 acres or larger)
2. F. Scott Fitzgerald
3. 1961
4. Nine, between 1948 and 1992
5. Spiced
6. Identifying parking lots by animal
7. Itasca
8. Finland — the famous game against the Russians was a semifinal
9. Munsingwear
10. “Blowin’ in the Wind”
1We're known as The Land of 10,000 Lakes. But how many lakes are there really in Minnesota?
2 Who had his first short story published in 1909 at age 13, while a student at St. Paul Academy?
3What year did both the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings arrive in Minnesota?
4How many times did Harold Stassen run for president?
5What does the "SP" in SPAM stand for? ("AM" is for ham, and it doesn't count if you check the pantry.)
6What small but helpful innovation at Southdale Mall has been copied by countless other malls?
7What was Minnesota almost called when the Minnesota Territory needed a name?
8Which team did the U.S. Olympic hockey team -- a collection of amateur and college players, many from Minnesota -- defeat to win the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y.?
9What Minnesota company was the world's largest producer of underwear under a single trademark in 1923?
10 What 1962 song brought Bob Dylan his first widespread acclaim?
1. 11,842 (A lake is 10 acres or larger)
2. F. Scott Fitzgerald
3. 1961
4. Nine, between 1948 and 1992
5. Spiced
6. Identifying parking lots by animal
7. Itasca
8. Finland — the famous game against the Russians was a semifinal
9. Munsingwear
10. “Blowin’ in the Wind”
Minnesota Icons from Star Tribune
POPPIN' FRESH
The Pillsbury Doughboy debuted in 1965 with a trademarked giggle provided by Paul Frees, the voice of the evil Boris Badenov in the "Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle" cartoons.
BETTY CROCKER
The trusted spokeswoman for General Mills (originally Washburn Crosby Co.) since 1921 has had seven makeovers since 1936. Her first portrait blended the features of several General Mills home economics staffers.
JOLLY GREEN GIANT
First appearing as a scowling white ogre in 1921, he went green in 1928. By 1946, he'd been transformed into a smiling, muscular giant. Little Sprout popped up in 1973.
PRINCESS KAY BUTTER HEADS
In 1965, the American Dairy Association of Minnesota, now the Midwest Dairy Association, started the tradition of sculpting the likenesses of the State Fair's princesses in butter.
ø GOLDY GOPHER
The University of Minnesota's mascot was adopted decades after an 1857 political cartoon satirized a proposed $5 million government investment for building western Minnesota railroads. The cartoon showed gophers with the heads of local politicians pulling a locomotive. The university's Gophers became Golden in the 1930s, when radio announcer Halsey Hall called the school's football teams so because of their gold uniforms.
REDDY KILOWATT
Reddy was used as a corporate symbol by more than 200 utilities around the world, including NSP from 1942 to 1973. NSP bought exclusive rights to Reddy in 1998.
WEATHERBALL
The 12-story tall Weatherball sat atop the Northwestern National Bank building from 1949 until the Thanksgiving Day fire destroyed the building in 1982.
HAMM'S BEAR
The gangly and goofy-looking bear and his animal pals starred in Hamm's Beer commercials from 1953 to 1969.
LAND O' LAKES INDIAN MAIDEN
The Indian maiden trademark for the butter business took hold because Minnesota and Wisconsin were the legendary lands of Hiawatha. The original design (1924) was updated in 1939 and has had only minor changes since.
PAUL BUNYAN AND BABE
Monuments to the legendary lumberjack are found throughout northern Minnesota, but the most memorable ones are in Bemidji and Brainerd.
º SPAM
Hormel Foods introduced SPiced hAM (ergo Spam) canned luncheon meat in 1937.
KENSINGTON RUNESTONE
The controversial Minnesota artifact was discovered in a farm field near Alexandria in 1898. Now considered by most to be a hoax, advocates insist that it proves Nordic explorers were there in 1362.
SPOONBRIDGE AND CHERRY
Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen created the signature sculpture of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, which opened in 1988.
PRONTO PUPS
The quintessential State Fair food was introduced to Minnesotans in 1947.
MINNESOTA STATE CAPITAL QUADRIGA
The chariot drawn by four horses: the chariot represents the state; two female figures portray Minnesota agriculture and industry, and the four horses represent earth, fire, water and wind.
EIGHT-POINTED STAR
The state motto "L'Etoile du Nord" (Star of the North) was chosen by the first governor, Henry Sibley.
POST-IT NOTES
The serendipitous invention by two 3M scientists, Spencer Silver and Art Fry, changed the way we all communicate.
CASEY JONES
During the 1950s and 1960s, thousands of Minnesota children had their lunch with Casey, a local television star.
º SPLIT ROCK LIGHTHOUSE
Congress granted Minnesota $75,000 to build the lighthouse after a storm in November 1905 battered 29 ships along Lake Superior's shoreline. The Coast Guard decommissioned the lighthouse in 1969 and gave it to Minnesota.
LOON
After a vote by schoolchildren and sportsmen's groups and a letter-writing campaign, the Minnesota Legislature in 1961 made the common loon the official state bird.
MARY RICHARDS
Mary Tyler Moore's plucky single gal worked on the news show of a fictional Minneapolis TV station in the 1970s sitcom. There is now a statue of her on the Nicollet Mall.
MINNEHAHA FALLS
In the 1800s, the falls were a major tourist attraction, due in part to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "The Song of Hiawatha," published in 1855.
LAKE ITASCA STATE PARK
Minnesota's first state park, founded in 1891, includes more than 100 lakes and the headwaters of the Mississippi River.
LUTEFISK
Minnesotans' Norwegian ancestors have been eating lutefisk -- literally, "lye fish" -- since the Middle Ages. It is cod that's been dried, soaked in lye and boiled.
RED WING POTTERY
Popular today as collectibles, Red Wing pottery was once was part of Minnesotans' everyday lives and was the nation's largest pottery-making enterprise.
The Pillsbury Doughboy debuted in 1965 with a trademarked giggle provided by Paul Frees, the voice of the evil Boris Badenov in the "Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle" cartoons.
BETTY CROCKER
The trusted spokeswoman for General Mills (originally Washburn Crosby Co.) since 1921 has had seven makeovers since 1936. Her first portrait blended the features of several General Mills home economics staffers.
JOLLY GREEN GIANT
First appearing as a scowling white ogre in 1921, he went green in 1928. By 1946, he'd been transformed into a smiling, muscular giant. Little Sprout popped up in 1973.
PRINCESS KAY BUTTER HEADS
In 1965, the American Dairy Association of Minnesota, now the Midwest Dairy Association, started the tradition of sculpting the likenesses of the State Fair's princesses in butter.
ø GOLDY GOPHER
The University of Minnesota's mascot was adopted decades after an 1857 political cartoon satirized a proposed $5 million government investment for building western Minnesota railroads. The cartoon showed gophers with the heads of local politicians pulling a locomotive. The university's Gophers became Golden in the 1930s, when radio announcer Halsey Hall called the school's football teams so because of their gold uniforms.
REDDY KILOWATT
Reddy was used as a corporate symbol by more than 200 utilities around the world, including NSP from 1942 to 1973. NSP bought exclusive rights to Reddy in 1998.
WEATHERBALL
The 12-story tall Weatherball sat atop the Northwestern National Bank building from 1949 until the Thanksgiving Day fire destroyed the building in 1982.
HAMM'S BEAR
The gangly and goofy-looking bear and his animal pals starred in Hamm's Beer commercials from 1953 to 1969.
LAND O' LAKES INDIAN MAIDEN
The Indian maiden trademark for the butter business took hold because Minnesota and Wisconsin were the legendary lands of Hiawatha. The original design (1924) was updated in 1939 and has had only minor changes since.
PAUL BUNYAN AND BABE
Monuments to the legendary lumberjack are found throughout northern Minnesota, but the most memorable ones are in Bemidji and Brainerd.
º SPAM
Hormel Foods introduced SPiced hAM (ergo Spam) canned luncheon meat in 1937.
KENSINGTON RUNESTONE
The controversial Minnesota artifact was discovered in a farm field near Alexandria in 1898. Now considered by most to be a hoax, advocates insist that it proves Nordic explorers were there in 1362.
SPOONBRIDGE AND CHERRY
Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen created the signature sculpture of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, which opened in 1988.
PRONTO PUPS
The quintessential State Fair food was introduced to Minnesotans in 1947.
MINNESOTA STATE CAPITAL QUADRIGA
The chariot drawn by four horses: the chariot represents the state; two female figures portray Minnesota agriculture and industry, and the four horses represent earth, fire, water and wind.
EIGHT-POINTED STAR
The state motto "L'Etoile du Nord" (Star of the North) was chosen by the first governor, Henry Sibley.
POST-IT NOTES
The serendipitous invention by two 3M scientists, Spencer Silver and Art Fry, changed the way we all communicate.
CASEY JONES
During the 1950s and 1960s, thousands of Minnesota children had their lunch with Casey, a local television star.
º SPLIT ROCK LIGHTHOUSE
Congress granted Minnesota $75,000 to build the lighthouse after a storm in November 1905 battered 29 ships along Lake Superior's shoreline. The Coast Guard decommissioned the lighthouse in 1969 and gave it to Minnesota.
LOON
After a vote by schoolchildren and sportsmen's groups and a letter-writing campaign, the Minnesota Legislature in 1961 made the common loon the official state bird.
MARY RICHARDS
Mary Tyler Moore's plucky single gal worked on the news show of a fictional Minneapolis TV station in the 1970s sitcom. There is now a statue of her on the Nicollet Mall.
MINNEHAHA FALLS
In the 1800s, the falls were a major tourist attraction, due in part to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "The Song of Hiawatha," published in 1855.
LAKE ITASCA STATE PARK
Minnesota's first state park, founded in 1891, includes more than 100 lakes and the headwaters of the Mississippi River.
LUTEFISK
Minnesotans' Norwegian ancestors have been eating lutefisk -- literally, "lye fish" -- since the Middle Ages. It is cod that's been dried, soaked in lye and boiled.
RED WING POTTERY
Popular today as collectibles, Red Wing pottery was once was part of Minnesotans' everyday lives and was the nation's largest pottery-making enterprise.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul
By Clara James, About.com
The Science Museum of Minnesota is a large museum of science and technology on the bank of the Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul.
The Science Museum takes full advantage of it's wonderful location on the river. Guests enter on the top floor, which is actually at street level in downtown St. Paul, and from there the galleries extend downwards towards the river. A large, light-filled atrium in the center of the museum displays dinosaur skeletons and scientifically inspired artworks against the river view.
Galleries on three floors exhibit the museum's large paleontology, anthropology, and natural history collections, and many interactive displays demonstrate mathematical, electrical, light and weather phenomena.
Permanent Collections
Mississippi River Gallery The Science Museum pays tribute to the mighty Mississippi in the first gallery. Exhibits include a diorama of Mississippi flora and fauna, the original marker from the source of the Mississippi at Lake Itasca, Minnesota, and a real river tugboat perched on the roof.
Dinosaurs
The dinosaur gallery is hugely popular. The Science Museum has one of the largest paleontology collections in the world, with a roll-call of all the famous dinosaurs: Diplodocus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus and more. Fossils range from mighty to microscopic, beautiful to... well, dinosaur poop.
Electricity and Light This section does an admirable job of turning a rather unexciting area of science into something interesting with elegant displays and instruments demonstrating electromagnetic phenomena.
Weather In this hands-on gallery, ingenious machines make clouds, simulate weather fronts, sand dunes, tornados, waves, and more.
Collections Gallery This gallery could be a whole museum in itself. There's animals from the upper Midwest, plus one gorilla, an ex-resident of Como Zoo. Anthropology exhibits include a Hmong house, and there's a selection of questionable medical devices.
The Human Body Gallery This galley explores how our bodies work. Blood flow, cell biology, disease, and DNA are explained with super-sized models and hands-on activities.
The Big Back Yard Open seasonally, the Big Back Yard garden has a science-themed mini golf course, a maze, water tables, and a stream for visitors to pan for gemstones and fossils.
The Omnitheater
The Omnitheater - the Imax Convertible Dome Omnitheater to be exact - shows incredible educational films inspired by the natural world on a giant screen. The films change every couple of months, and there is usually a couple to choose from at any one time.
There is a charge for Omnitheater shows. Admission to the Omnitheater is separate to general museum admission, it is not necessary to visit the museum to see an Omnitheater show.
Special Exhibitions at the Science Museum
Usually two major travelling exhibitions are on show at the museum, making repeat trips very worthwhile. Entrance to the special exhibitions is usually included in the price of admission.
Special Events at the Science Museum
The museum has weekly senior days and pre-schooler days. There are also frequent lectures, classes and special events.
Visiting the Science Museum
Who would enjoy the Science Museum of Minnesota?
Children as young as two enjoy seeing the dinosaurs, and pressing all the buttons. As for actually appreciating the science, the displays are aimed at children six and up. Many exhibits have higher-level concepts geared for teenagers and older students.
The Omnitheater shows are usually suitable for all ages, except the very young.
Location
120 West Kellogg Boulevard St. Paul, MN 55102 Telephone 651-221-9444
Parking
The entrance to the Science Museum's parking ramp is at the level of the river, and not-at-all obvious how to get to it. There's a couple of other parking ramps on Kellogg Boulevard right next to the museum, but they are not for museum guests. Follow the directions for Science Museum Parking at the museum's website. There is a charge for parking, ask for a parking coupon at the admissions desk.
Public Transportation
The nearest bus routes to the Museum pass through downtown St. Paul, two or three blocks to the north or east.
Food at the Science Museum
There are three cafes at the museum. There's a Caribou coffee shop in the lobby, the Chomp kid-friendly eatery in the dinosaur gallery, and the Elements Café on the top floor with the best view of the Mississippi in town.
There are picnic tables in the Big Back Yard.
Shopping at the Science Museum
A well-stocked store in the lobby sells scientific-themed gifts, toys, mini-experiments, Minnesota souvenirs, and Science Museum merchandise. Visit Their Web Site
The Science Museum of Minnesota is a large museum of science and technology on the bank of the Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul.
The Science Museum takes full advantage of it's wonderful location on the river. Guests enter on the top floor, which is actually at street level in downtown St. Paul, and from there the galleries extend downwards towards the river. A large, light-filled atrium in the center of the museum displays dinosaur skeletons and scientifically inspired artworks against the river view.
Galleries on three floors exhibit the museum's large paleontology, anthropology, and natural history collections, and many interactive displays demonstrate mathematical, electrical, light and weather phenomena.
Permanent Collections
Mississippi River Gallery The Science Museum pays tribute to the mighty Mississippi in the first gallery. Exhibits include a diorama of Mississippi flora and fauna, the original marker from the source of the Mississippi at Lake Itasca, Minnesota, and a real river tugboat perched on the roof.
Dinosaurs
The dinosaur gallery is hugely popular. The Science Museum has one of the largest paleontology collections in the world, with a roll-call of all the famous dinosaurs: Diplodocus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus and more. Fossils range from mighty to microscopic, beautiful to... well, dinosaur poop.
Electricity and Light This section does an admirable job of turning a rather unexciting area of science into something interesting with elegant displays and instruments demonstrating electromagnetic phenomena.
Weather In this hands-on gallery, ingenious machines make clouds, simulate weather fronts, sand dunes, tornados, waves, and more.
Collections Gallery This gallery could be a whole museum in itself. There's animals from the upper Midwest, plus one gorilla, an ex-resident of Como Zoo. Anthropology exhibits include a Hmong house, and there's a selection of questionable medical devices.
The Human Body Gallery This galley explores how our bodies work. Blood flow, cell biology, disease, and DNA are explained with super-sized models and hands-on activities.
The Big Back Yard Open seasonally, the Big Back Yard garden has a science-themed mini golf course, a maze, water tables, and a stream for visitors to pan for gemstones and fossils.
The Omnitheater
The Omnitheater - the Imax Convertible Dome Omnitheater to be exact - shows incredible educational films inspired by the natural world on a giant screen. The films change every couple of months, and there is usually a couple to choose from at any one time.
There is a charge for Omnitheater shows. Admission to the Omnitheater is separate to general museum admission, it is not necessary to visit the museum to see an Omnitheater show.
Special Exhibitions at the Science Museum
Usually two major travelling exhibitions are on show at the museum, making repeat trips very worthwhile. Entrance to the special exhibitions is usually included in the price of admission.
Special Events at the Science Museum
The museum has weekly senior days and pre-schooler days. There are also frequent lectures, classes and special events.
Visiting the Science Museum
Who would enjoy the Science Museum of Minnesota?
Children as young as two enjoy seeing the dinosaurs, and pressing all the buttons. As for actually appreciating the science, the displays are aimed at children six and up. Many exhibits have higher-level concepts geared for teenagers and older students.
The Omnitheater shows are usually suitable for all ages, except the very young.
Location
120 West Kellogg Boulevard St. Paul, MN 55102 Telephone 651-221-9444
Parking
The entrance to the Science Museum's parking ramp is at the level of the river, and not-at-all obvious how to get to it. There's a couple of other parking ramps on Kellogg Boulevard right next to the museum, but they are not for museum guests. Follow the directions for Science Museum Parking at the museum's website. There is a charge for parking, ask for a parking coupon at the admissions desk.
Public Transportation
The nearest bus routes to the Museum pass through downtown St. Paul, two or three blocks to the north or east.
Food at the Science Museum
There are three cafes at the museum. There's a Caribou coffee shop in the lobby, the Chomp kid-friendly eatery in the dinosaur gallery, and the Elements Café on the top floor with the best view of the Mississippi in town.
There are picnic tables in the Big Back Yard.
Shopping at the Science Museum
A well-stocked store in the lobby sells scientific-themed gifts, toys, mini-experiments, Minnesota souvenirs, and Science Museum merchandise. Visit Their Web Site
Three-wheelers to Patrol Downtown Minneapolis
Outside, inside and all over downtown, police say a new crime fighting tool will help give them the upper hand in Minneapolis.
The T-3 personal mobility vehicles are also turning heads.
"I've seen people with the two wheels, but I've never seen these, they'll get a lot of attention, they'll get a lot of attention," said Alton Brandford who takes a close look at the three-wheeled plug and ride electric machines.
"It's worth checking into and the design is very intriguing because, it reminds you of a chariot," said Ed Foss who's looking for a cheaper way to get around.
The Segway looking three wheeled machines help officers stand tall above crowds, reach speeds of 25 miles an hour and turn on a dime.
"It's an eye catcher, I walked by and immediately they caught my attention," said Brandford.
That's the other and maybe the most significant purpose of the battery powered machines. If police can get people talking and feeling more comfortable around them, it may help with their investigations.
"There's a lot of folks that already want to come up and talk with officers and that way you can see them easier you can communicate with them you can share information," said Minneapolis Police Inspector Janee Harteau.
The first two have been donated with help from Target and four more are on the way at $10,000 a piece.
"Woah, now you're going to knock me out, I'm going to pass out. You can get a car a couple cars for that," said Brandford initially and then added, "Well, if it helps somebody for our safety and in Downtown, I think it's a good thing, I think it's worth ten grand.
"The T-3 able to cover the streets more quickly, rise above a crowd and fight crime in the 21st century.The personal vehicles simply plug in and run.
It has zero-gas emissions and can run on one battery for hours.
Police at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport replaced a couple carts with T-3's several months ago.
The Los Angeles Police Department has also been using the machines with success and now regularly uses dozens of them.
Click here for more information about T-3 Motion.
By Jeffrey DeMars, KARE 11 News
The T-3 personal mobility vehicles are also turning heads.
"I've seen people with the two wheels, but I've never seen these, they'll get a lot of attention, they'll get a lot of attention," said Alton Brandford who takes a close look at the three-wheeled plug and ride electric machines.
"It's worth checking into and the design is very intriguing because, it reminds you of a chariot," said Ed Foss who's looking for a cheaper way to get around.
The Segway looking three wheeled machines help officers stand tall above crowds, reach speeds of 25 miles an hour and turn on a dime.
"It's an eye catcher, I walked by and immediately they caught my attention," said Brandford.
That's the other and maybe the most significant purpose of the battery powered machines. If police can get people talking and feeling more comfortable around them, it may help with their investigations.
"There's a lot of folks that already want to come up and talk with officers and that way you can see them easier you can communicate with them you can share information," said Minneapolis Police Inspector Janee Harteau.
The first two have been donated with help from Target and four more are on the way at $10,000 a piece.
"Woah, now you're going to knock me out, I'm going to pass out. You can get a car a couple cars for that," said Brandford initially and then added, "Well, if it helps somebody for our safety and in Downtown, I think it's a good thing, I think it's worth ten grand.
"The T-3 able to cover the streets more quickly, rise above a crowd and fight crime in the 21st century.The personal vehicles simply plug in and run.
It has zero-gas emissions and can run on one battery for hours.
Police at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport replaced a couple carts with T-3's several months ago.
The Los Angeles Police Department has also been using the machines with success and now regularly uses dozens of them.
Click here for more information about T-3 Motion.
By Jeffrey DeMars, KARE 11 News
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Psycho Suzi's
This seems like the perfect place for Air Medical Transport Conference attendees to check out while in Minneapolis for AMTC08!
From Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on Food Network check out Psycho Suzi's Motor Lounge
From Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on Food Network check out Psycho Suzi's Motor Lounge
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Minneapolis Restaurant Reviews from IgoUgo site
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Destination: Seeing Double
BY LINDA HENRY
The Mill City Museum in Minneapolis.
HERE’S A GAME TO PLAY with friends: During coverage of the Republican National Convention this September, take a sip of Pig’s Eye beer every time a reporter claims to be “live from Minneapolis.” In fact, the convention will be held across the Mississippi River in St. Paul.
The Twin Cities—always referred to as “Minneapolis/St. Paul,” never “St. Paul/Minneapolis”—are an unlikely pair. While they share a passion for the arts and a love of walleye (always pan fried, never broiled), each city has its own personality. The perception: Sedate St. Paul takes a back seat to metropolitan Minneapolis. That’s only partly true, but visitors benefit from the twins’ differences by getting two distinct Midwestern cities in one trip.
LAY OF THE LAND
As quiet as the town is now, St. Paul has a raucous, boozy past. In 1839 it was called Pig’s Eye, in honor of saloon owner Pierre “Pig’s Eye” Parrant. Almost immediately after Parrant’s saloon opened, Father Lucien Galtier built a log chapel nearby, christening it the Chapel of St. Paul. Despite that righteous name, the revelers carried on for decades. During Prohibition, resident gangsters described St. Paul as “a perpetual party.”
There’s still plenty of action today, whether it’s opera at the Ordway, “A Prairie Home Companion” at the Fitzgerald or an August Wilson play at the Penumbra Theatre. But St. Paulites do like to be home by midnight.
As for Minneapolis theater, most people probably think of the Guthrie, the esteemed 44-year-old theatrical powerhouse. But the city also hosts the eclectic 11-day Fringe Festival (July 31–August 10; fringefestival.org).
With a population of 388,000, Minneapolis is larger than St. Paul, and locals still party like it’s 1999, as hometown icon Prince would say. First Avenue, the Minneapolis nightclub that Prince made famous in Purple Rain, is still cranking. Today Prince reportedly prefers The Lounge, which has a dress code, couches and a VIP dance floor.
While locals argue over which city is best and what constitutes a party, why not check out all that the twins have to offer?
ST. PAUL
Rice Park, established as a public square in 1849, is a good spot to get a handle on St. Paul’s quirky personality. This shade-filled haven draws office workers at lunchtime and holds free concerts in summer. Historic buildings (the public library, the St. Paul Hotel) surround the square, and statues of novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald and Charles Schulz’s Peppermint Patty pay tribute to St. Paul’s literary legacy.
Across the freeway to the north, the State Capitol rises like Minnesota’s answer to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The building serves as a massive bookend to the city, with the Cathedral of St. Paul, a mile west of Rice Park, as its mate. The cathedral, which has a copper dome and seating space for 3,000, has come a long way since Father Galtier’s log chapel.
Historic Summit
F. Scott Fitzgerald, who was baptized at the cathedral in 1896, wrote This Side of Paradise while living in the Summit Avenue neighborhood just west of Cathedral Hill. Fitzgerald’s old smoke spot, W.A. Frost’s Pharmacy, has been reinvented as a Midwestern bistro serving superb Norwegian grilled-salmon salad and walleye.
Fitzgerald’s old apartment (at 599 Summit Avenue) is modest compared to the area’s historic mansions. Chief among these is the 117-year-old home of railroad baron James J. Hill. His fortresslike red limestone mansion has five floors, 13 bathrooms and 22 fireplaces. When built, the 36,000-square-foot “house” was a mechanical wonder, with elaborate plumbing, electrical and security systems. The Minnesota Historical Society offers tours Wednesday through Sunday; Saturday tours include a pipe-organ demonstration.
A Charming Rebellion to Malldom St. Paul’s best boutiques are on Grand Avenue. The block between Oxford Street and Lexington Parkway offers a good sampling: the Bibelot Shop (1082 Grand), for artsy gifts and clothes; next door’s Wuollet Bakery, for lattes and pastries; and Creative KidStuff, whose staff knows what kids like. For local flavor, check out Saga Living (1856 Grand), selling Marimekko’s Scandinavian designs.
MINNEAPOLIS
Unlike St. Paul, Minneapolis was originally saddled with a ho-hum nickname, Mill City. But today even flour mills are fascinating, thanks to the Mill City Museum, a modern glass-and-steel structure built inside the jagged ruins of Washburn A Mill (704 S. 2nd St.; 612-341-7555; millcitymuseum.org; $8). A half-hour tour includes an eight-floor freight elevator ride that recreates the noisy, industrial process of turning wheat into flour. The tour wraps up with a panoramic view of the riverfront from the ninth-floor observation deck.
A Theatrical Debut
A few doors down, the new Guthrie Theater, designed by Paris architect Jean Nouvel, seems to hover above the river. A black-blue mass of steel, glass and light, it echoes the shapes of the flour mills and silos. Visitors can explore the cantilevered lobby, called the Endless Bridge, and the ninth-floor Amber Box, with a view of the riverfront. This summer the Guthrie presents the world premiere of Little House on the Prairie, a musical based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books about growing up in Minnesota in the late 1800s—when Pa Ingalls’ wheat was milled almost exactly where the play will be performed.
Modern Tastes
On Hennepin Avenue, the clean lines of the Chambers hotel serve as a backdrop for owner Ralph Burnet’s collection of contemporary art. The 60-room hotel is pricey, but you can get a peek by dining at the Chambers Kitchen, where the artworks include a mammoth but otherwise lifelike sculpture of a man’s face and a painting whose subjects appear to blink and breathe.
Southwest of downtown, the renowned Walker Art Center also offers art leavened by cuisine. After rising through its stunning galleries, you’ll reach the top floor and Wolfgang Puck’s 20.21, named for the Walker’s focus on 20th- and 21st-century art. The menu, like that at the Chambers, is Asian-influenced. Forget the traditional walleye here—green Thai seafood curry is the signature dish.
The Uptown Experience
Any trip uptown, which strangely is south of downtown, should include a visit to Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater for bowling, beer and sandwiches, comedy cabaret or a little of everything. To find the quintessential lake experience, head to the Tin Fish, a fish shack on Lake Calhoun. The trick is to designate a table-grabber while someone else gets in line to order food: tacos with fried walleye, grilled salmon or halibut, say, or seafood combo platters, all at great prices. The people speeding by on bikes and skates might inspire a walk around the lake—after lunch.
A Final Thought
Oh, yes, you might have heard there’s a large mall in town. That’s the Mall of America, located near the airport in Bloomington. Visitors come to see its 520 stores, the Underwater Adventures Aquarium and the Park at MOA (formerly known as Camp Snoopy). Many shoppers end up never venturing outside Bloomington. With all that the Twins have to offer, don’t let that happen to you.
stay
St. Paul Hotel
The elegant 254-room hotel has been completely refurbished since Lucius Ordway built it in 1910. 350 Market St., St. Paul; 800-292-9292; saintpaulhotel.com; doubles from $160
Nicollet Island Inn
This quiet 24-room inn doesn’t skimp on the amenities (400-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, Aveda products). 95 Merriam St., Minneapolis; 612-331-1800; nicolletislandinn.com; doubles from $200
Chambers
A luxurious hotel in the heart of Minneapolis that showcases a museum-quality collection of contemporary artwork. There’s also a rooftop nightclub and a restaurant headed by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Few hotels have raised a city’s profile so much. 901 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-767-6900; chambersminneapolis.com; doubles from $265; dinner for two, $85
eat
W.A. Frost
Housed in the 1889 Dacotah Building, this restaurant has three rooms and a patio. You can get tasting-size portions of dessert, so there’s no excuse to turn it down. 374 Selby Ave., St. Paul; wafrost.com, 651-224-5715; lunch for two, $60*
Nicollet Island Inn
Watch the Segways go by, and lunch on a corn-crusted walleye sandwich with green chili-tomato tartar. 95 Merriam St., Minneapolis; 612-331-1800; (three-course) lunch for two, $55
Wolfgang Puck’s 20.21
It’s elbow-to-elbow here, but the skyline view and impeccable food are worth it. Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-253-4210; dinner for two, $90
Tin Fish
This fish shack on Lake Calhoun is open April through October; no reservations are required, but be ready to grab an open table when you see one. 3000 Calhoun Pkwy. E., Minneapolis; tacos, $3–$6; combo platters, $15.
Axel’s River Grille
Try the Coco-Fish-Bull appetizer, with coconut shrimp, walleye and tenderloin “bull bites.” Such delectable fare packs the house, in a suburb south of the Twin Cities. 1318 Sibley Memorial Hwy., Mendota; 651-686-4840; dinner for two, $80
*Prices cover a meal for two, not including drinks, tax or tip.
TO DO: ST. PAUL
Riverboat rides
The Padelford Packet Boat Co. offers day trips on the Mississippi, departing from Harriet Island. riverrides.com
The wicked stage
Summer theater performances take place aboard the old-fashioned Minnesota Centennial Showboat. showboat.umn.edu
High art
Guided tours of the Cathedral of St. Paul are held Mon., Wed. and Fri. at 1 p.m. 239 Selby Ave.; 651-228-1766; cathedralsaintpaul.org
To the manor born
Tour the mansion of railroad magnate James J. Hill. 240 Summit Ave.; 651-297-2555; mnhs.org; $8
The new two-wheelerA 2½-hour Segway tour takes you to Boom Island, across the Stone Arch Bridge and to the Mill City Museum. 952-888-9200; magicalhistorytour.com; $70
TO DO: MINNEAPOLIS
Jazz + food
The Dakota Jazz Club dishes up music and a top-tier restaurant. Visit dakotacooks.com to see who’s playing. 1010 Nicollet; 612-332-1010; dinner for two, $90
Bowled over
Go to Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater to bowl, eat and watch a show under one roof. 810 West Lake St.; bryantlakebowl.com; 612-825-3737; dinner for two, $40
Walker Art Center
In April, a Richard Prince retrospective shares top billing with Kara Walker’s racially charged cutouts. 1750 Hennepin Ave.; 612-375-7600; $10
Published: March/April 2008 Issue
Photos: Minnesota Historical Society
The Mill City Museum in Minneapolis.
HERE’S A GAME TO PLAY with friends: During coverage of the Republican National Convention this September, take a sip of Pig’s Eye beer every time a reporter claims to be “live from Minneapolis.” In fact, the convention will be held across the Mississippi River in St. Paul.
The Twin Cities—always referred to as “Minneapolis/St. Paul,” never “St. Paul/Minneapolis”—are an unlikely pair. While they share a passion for the arts and a love of walleye (always pan fried, never broiled), each city has its own personality. The perception: Sedate St. Paul takes a back seat to metropolitan Minneapolis. That’s only partly true, but visitors benefit from the twins’ differences by getting two distinct Midwestern cities in one trip.
LAY OF THE LAND
As quiet as the town is now, St. Paul has a raucous, boozy past. In 1839 it was called Pig’s Eye, in honor of saloon owner Pierre “Pig’s Eye” Parrant. Almost immediately after Parrant’s saloon opened, Father Lucien Galtier built a log chapel nearby, christening it the Chapel of St. Paul. Despite that righteous name, the revelers carried on for decades. During Prohibition, resident gangsters described St. Paul as “a perpetual party.”
There’s still plenty of action today, whether it’s opera at the Ordway, “A Prairie Home Companion” at the Fitzgerald or an August Wilson play at the Penumbra Theatre. But St. Paulites do like to be home by midnight.
As for Minneapolis theater, most people probably think of the Guthrie, the esteemed 44-year-old theatrical powerhouse. But the city also hosts the eclectic 11-day Fringe Festival (July 31–August 10; fringefestival.org).
With a population of 388,000, Minneapolis is larger than St. Paul, and locals still party like it’s 1999, as hometown icon Prince would say. First Avenue, the Minneapolis nightclub that Prince made famous in Purple Rain, is still cranking. Today Prince reportedly prefers The Lounge, which has a dress code, couches and a VIP dance floor.
While locals argue over which city is best and what constitutes a party, why not check out all that the twins have to offer?
ST. PAUL
Rice Park, established as a public square in 1849, is a good spot to get a handle on St. Paul’s quirky personality. This shade-filled haven draws office workers at lunchtime and holds free concerts in summer. Historic buildings (the public library, the St. Paul Hotel) surround the square, and statues of novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald and Charles Schulz’s Peppermint Patty pay tribute to St. Paul’s literary legacy.
Across the freeway to the north, the State Capitol rises like Minnesota’s answer to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The building serves as a massive bookend to the city, with the Cathedral of St. Paul, a mile west of Rice Park, as its mate. The cathedral, which has a copper dome and seating space for 3,000, has come a long way since Father Galtier’s log chapel.
Historic Summit
F. Scott Fitzgerald, who was baptized at the cathedral in 1896, wrote This Side of Paradise while living in the Summit Avenue neighborhood just west of Cathedral Hill. Fitzgerald’s old smoke spot, W.A. Frost’s Pharmacy, has been reinvented as a Midwestern bistro serving superb Norwegian grilled-salmon salad and walleye.
Fitzgerald’s old apartment (at 599 Summit Avenue) is modest compared to the area’s historic mansions. Chief among these is the 117-year-old home of railroad baron James J. Hill. His fortresslike red limestone mansion has five floors, 13 bathrooms and 22 fireplaces. When built, the 36,000-square-foot “house” was a mechanical wonder, with elaborate plumbing, electrical and security systems. The Minnesota Historical Society offers tours Wednesday through Sunday; Saturday tours include a pipe-organ demonstration.
A Charming Rebellion to Malldom St. Paul’s best boutiques are on Grand Avenue. The block between Oxford Street and Lexington Parkway offers a good sampling: the Bibelot Shop (1082 Grand), for artsy gifts and clothes; next door’s Wuollet Bakery, for lattes and pastries; and Creative KidStuff, whose staff knows what kids like. For local flavor, check out Saga Living (1856 Grand), selling Marimekko’s Scandinavian designs.
MINNEAPOLIS
Unlike St. Paul, Minneapolis was originally saddled with a ho-hum nickname, Mill City. But today even flour mills are fascinating, thanks to the Mill City Museum, a modern glass-and-steel structure built inside the jagged ruins of Washburn A Mill (704 S. 2nd St.; 612-341-7555; millcitymuseum.org; $8). A half-hour tour includes an eight-floor freight elevator ride that recreates the noisy, industrial process of turning wheat into flour. The tour wraps up with a panoramic view of the riverfront from the ninth-floor observation deck.
A Theatrical Debut
A few doors down, the new Guthrie Theater, designed by Paris architect Jean Nouvel, seems to hover above the river. A black-blue mass of steel, glass and light, it echoes the shapes of the flour mills and silos. Visitors can explore the cantilevered lobby, called the Endless Bridge, and the ninth-floor Amber Box, with a view of the riverfront. This summer the Guthrie presents the world premiere of Little House on the Prairie, a musical based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books about growing up in Minnesota in the late 1800s—when Pa Ingalls’ wheat was milled almost exactly where the play will be performed.
Modern Tastes
On Hennepin Avenue, the clean lines of the Chambers hotel serve as a backdrop for owner Ralph Burnet’s collection of contemporary art. The 60-room hotel is pricey, but you can get a peek by dining at the Chambers Kitchen, where the artworks include a mammoth but otherwise lifelike sculpture of a man’s face and a painting whose subjects appear to blink and breathe.
Southwest of downtown, the renowned Walker Art Center also offers art leavened by cuisine. After rising through its stunning galleries, you’ll reach the top floor and Wolfgang Puck’s 20.21, named for the Walker’s focus on 20th- and 21st-century art. The menu, like that at the Chambers, is Asian-influenced. Forget the traditional walleye here—green Thai seafood curry is the signature dish.
The Uptown Experience
Any trip uptown, which strangely is south of downtown, should include a visit to Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater for bowling, beer and sandwiches, comedy cabaret or a little of everything. To find the quintessential lake experience, head to the Tin Fish, a fish shack on Lake Calhoun. The trick is to designate a table-grabber while someone else gets in line to order food: tacos with fried walleye, grilled salmon or halibut, say, or seafood combo platters, all at great prices. The people speeding by on bikes and skates might inspire a walk around the lake—after lunch.
A Final Thought
Oh, yes, you might have heard there’s a large mall in town. That’s the Mall of America, located near the airport in Bloomington. Visitors come to see its 520 stores, the Underwater Adventures Aquarium and the Park at MOA (formerly known as Camp Snoopy). Many shoppers end up never venturing outside Bloomington. With all that the Twins have to offer, don’t let that happen to you.
stay
St. Paul Hotel
The elegant 254-room hotel has been completely refurbished since Lucius Ordway built it in 1910. 350 Market St., St. Paul; 800-292-9292; saintpaulhotel.com; doubles from $160
Nicollet Island Inn
This quiet 24-room inn doesn’t skimp on the amenities (400-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, Aveda products). 95 Merriam St., Minneapolis; 612-331-1800; nicolletislandinn.com; doubles from $200
Chambers
A luxurious hotel in the heart of Minneapolis that showcases a museum-quality collection of contemporary artwork. There’s also a rooftop nightclub and a restaurant headed by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Few hotels have raised a city’s profile so much. 901 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-767-6900; chambersminneapolis.com; doubles from $265; dinner for two, $85
eat
W.A. Frost
Housed in the 1889 Dacotah Building, this restaurant has three rooms and a patio. You can get tasting-size portions of dessert, so there’s no excuse to turn it down. 374 Selby Ave., St. Paul; wafrost.com, 651-224-5715; lunch for two, $60*
Nicollet Island Inn
Watch the Segways go by, and lunch on a corn-crusted walleye sandwich with green chili-tomato tartar. 95 Merriam St., Minneapolis; 612-331-1800; (three-course) lunch for two, $55
Wolfgang Puck’s 20.21
It’s elbow-to-elbow here, but the skyline view and impeccable food are worth it. Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-253-4210; dinner for two, $90
Tin Fish
This fish shack on Lake Calhoun is open April through October; no reservations are required, but be ready to grab an open table when you see one. 3000 Calhoun Pkwy. E., Minneapolis; tacos, $3–$6; combo platters, $15.
Axel’s River Grille
Try the Coco-Fish-Bull appetizer, with coconut shrimp, walleye and tenderloin “bull bites.” Such delectable fare packs the house, in a suburb south of the Twin Cities. 1318 Sibley Memorial Hwy., Mendota; 651-686-4840; dinner for two, $80
*Prices cover a meal for two, not including drinks, tax or tip.
TO DO: ST. PAUL
Riverboat rides
The Padelford Packet Boat Co. offers day trips on the Mississippi, departing from Harriet Island. riverrides.com
The wicked stage
Summer theater performances take place aboard the old-fashioned Minnesota Centennial Showboat. showboat.umn.edu
High art
Guided tours of the Cathedral of St. Paul are held Mon., Wed. and Fri. at 1 p.m. 239 Selby Ave.; 651-228-1766; cathedralsaintpaul.org
To the manor born
Tour the mansion of railroad magnate James J. Hill. 240 Summit Ave.; 651-297-2555; mnhs.org; $8
The new two-wheelerA 2½-hour Segway tour takes you to Boom Island, across the Stone Arch Bridge and to the Mill City Museum. 952-888-9200; magicalhistorytour.com; $70
TO DO: MINNEAPOLIS
Jazz + food
The Dakota Jazz Club dishes up music and a top-tier restaurant. Visit dakotacooks.com to see who’s playing. 1010 Nicollet; 612-332-1010; dinner for two, $90
Bowled over
Go to Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater to bowl, eat and watch a show under one roof. 810 West Lake St.; bryantlakebowl.com; 612-825-3737; dinner for two, $40
Walker Art Center
In April, a Richard Prince retrospective shares top billing with Kara Walker’s racially charged cutouts. 1750 Hennepin Ave.; 612-375-7600; $10
Published: March/April 2008 Issue
Photos: Minnesota Historical Society
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
