Local Chef Spotlight - Christina Nguyen of Hai Hai

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Chef Nguyen                                                                               Photo Credit Matt Lien

Christina Nguyen won a James Beard Foundation Award this summer for Best Chef Midwest. We wanted to learn what the award meant to her, and some dishes not to overlook at Hai Hai. If you haven’t visited her restaurant at 2121 University Avenue NE, make a reservation today to experience her bold, complex Southeast Asian dishes cooked from the heart. She is also the chef behind Hola Arepa, with many press accolades.

Photo Credit Matt Lien

Q:  I’ve read that you’re a self-taught chef – congratulations on excelling at it! What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while teaching yourself to cook? How did you overcome these challenges?

A:  I guess that I would say that it's a lot of trial and error and years of practice. Obviously, it is sort of defeating when you try to make something and it doesn’t turn out as you envisioned, but I never considered cooking as too laborious or too stressful. I have a lot of perseverance; I learn from my mistakes.

Q:  Congratulations on winning the award for Best Chef Midwest from the James Beard Foundation this year. What does winning this award mean to you?  

A: Oh gosh, it means, it means a lot in so many different ways. It is a testament to my whole team’s consistent and excellent work – we make food that is delicious and you do it over and over again every day.  With every single dish, that is always an opportunity to fail or mess something up. I know that everyone tries really hard. I try hard. We all do to make sure we’re making great quality food in a fast-paced setting. 

And also on a personal level, it's really an honor because I know that there are so many people who are better chefs than me who are more deserving. My path started from not knowing how to cook to 13 years later having this honor - I have worked a lot of hours and it definitely didn't happen overnight so I feel personally that it is recognition for the effort and results from learning and creating delicious foods. I was helped by many people – my husband, Birk, and so many others.

Thirdly, in a cultural way, I think it means a lot for immigrant food - for Southeast Asian food to be recognized on the same level as more European or Western food, because I think that a lot of the times when you think of these sorts of awards, you think of a more high-end or, I don't know, French or Italian - that kind of food, and not so much Asian or Southeast Asian food.

People have always loved Southeast Asian food, but I think it always seemed that Southeast Asian food was considered cheap - it's "cheap eats" or it's "a hole in the wall" type of experience. It means a lot to have that recognition for immigrant food in general because it is a labor of love and it is difficult and labor-intensive food to make. So, to have that recognition and to know you don’t just have to be making handmade pastas and souffles and steaks and things like that in order to get this recognition - it means a lot.

Hanoi Sticky Rice

Water Fern Cake

Balinese Chicken Thigh

Q:  How would you describe your culinary philosophy?

A:  I would say that my culinary philosophy is creating delicious food from the heart, with bold flavors. I like to make auntie food, street food and food that female entrepreneurs make all around the world. My food has big bold flavors, with fresh ingredients and herbs – it excites the palate with complex flavors and contrasts.  Vietnamese food and my food have contrasts between hot and cold, savory and sweet, bright and umami.  

Q: Do you foresee expanding your restaurants beyond the Twin Cities?

A:  Ooh, beyond the Twin Cities. I wouldn’t rule it out. I'm not actively searching for that now. I have my hands full, but I wouldn't rule it out.

Q:  Or perhaps selling your products in grocery stores? I sampled your Balinese Chicken and Hanoi Sticky Rice appetizers – both delicious - at this summer’s recent hospitality events surrounding the U.S. Olympics Gymnastics Trials. I could definitely envision those as frozen food items available in grocery stores.

A:  That definitely that would be exciting. Honestly, I know that kind of thing takes a lot to get into grocery stores and getting placement. If I partnered with the right person to make that happen, I feel like that would be awesome and totally a dream come true. I certainly wouldn't mind being able to get more of these flavors out to more people.

Q:  What is one menu item we should not overlook when we visit Hai Hai?

A:  There's definitely more than one menu item we shouldn't overlook! No, I'm kidding, but I would say it's really hard to narrow down. Of course you mentioned the Balinese Chicken and Hanoi Sticky Rice, which are a couple of our best sellers that are both unique and fantastic. I would also throw in our Water Fern Cakes, which are really close to my heart and taste very quintessentially Vietnamese. I love them, and they’re something you can't get in many places.

Q:  Are there any new projects or concepts you're working on that you can share with us at this time?

A:  Nothing that I can 100% share yet! There are definitely some exciting things in the works, fun partnerships and events. I can't wait until I can actually talk about them. So, you'll just have to keep following me and looking at my Instagram to find those things out.

Q:  All right, we will! And that leads into how can we best stay current with your news?

A:  The best is our Instagram accounts: @haihaimpls, and for Hola Arepa @holaarepa. My personal Instagram is @christinanguyenmpls. Please follow us. Please come visit us, too.

Hai Hai feast                                                                        Photo Credit Tyson Crockett

Minneapolis Greening and Public Realm Awards 2024 to be Celebrated November 7th

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Public is invited to the November 7 Downtown Greening & Public Realm: Awards & What's Next event at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Did you know that Minneapolis has a program to recognize outstanding greening and placemaking in our beautiful city? The Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District has sponsored the Greening and Public Realm Awards program since 2010 and the winners are all nominated by the public. We talked to Ella Graham, Sustainability Manager, about the program’s origins, this year’s winners and how you can attend a celebration to recognize the winners.

Q:  Can you please tell us about the origin and goals of the Greening and Public Realm Awards?

Ella GrahamA:  The Greening Awards were established in summer 2010 with the understanding that a green and vibrant downtown is only possible through collaboration. The goal is to celebrate how we all contribute to the downtown community in different ways, including greenery but also art, and vibes! The award categories shift slightly each year based on nominations from the public, but the idea is to highlight projects or efforts by private citizens and organizations that benefit the entire community.

After public nominations close, DID staff select finalists and then the public votes for the winners.

Q:  What criteria does DID staff use to evaluate nominees for the Greening Awards?

A:  Our team selects finalists from the nominee pool by first looking at the number of nominations each potential finalist received. We then make an effort to showcase new or expanded developments and projects that have evolved in sustainable ways. We also look at the quality of maintenance and care at the location. Finally, we try to make sure the finalists are from different areas of downtown, especially those that are off the beaten path.

Q:  What kind of projects or innovative approaches tend to stand out during the awards process?

A:  A project that tries something new while not totally reinventing the wheel really stands out to us.

Q:  Have you noticed that the Greening and Public Realm Awards have had an impact on planning or environmental initiatives at the local level?

A:  We’ve seen consistent public participation in the Awards plus new nominations every year, so the awards have definitely raised public awareness of greening downtown.

We did have to pause the Greening Awards for two years in the wake of the pandemic, as a lot of businesses needed to scale back public realm and greening projects. We brought the awards back in 2022 because we heard from the community that they missed it.

Q:  How do the awards encourage collaboration across different sectors like government, business, and local neighborhood groups?

A:  The awards are a chance to raise the visibility of the work of each of the groups you mentioned not only to the downtown community at-large but also to one another. It’s a way for people who care to see that there are lots of others who care, too, which opens the door for collaborative projects.

Q:  Talk to us about two of the winners: Best Small Green Space and Best Tree.  What are the attributes of the winners in these categories?

A:  The Best Small Green Space is a long-standing award category that recognizes green spaces less than an acre in size. This year, the Minneapolis College Courtyard won the award. The space is open not only for students and faculty but also for community members to enjoy. The Courtyard connects Hennepin Avenue to Loring Park to create a sense of continuity, and features native plants.

Minneapolis College courtyard

Giant cottonwood at Water Works Park.  Photo credit - Kurt Moses Photography

The Best Tree of 2024 is the Cottonwood tree that grows near the Mississippi River, at Water Works Park. I would highly recommend visiting the tree to see for yourself why this one won the award!

Q:  How are the winners recognized?

A:  The DID Sustainability Team placed Greening Awards Winner yard signs at the winning locations. Winners will also receive a commemorative plaque created by Wood from the Hood, a Minneapolis-based company that reclaims discarded trees from urban neighborhoods to created high-quality wood products, at the upcoming Downtown Greening & Public Realm: Awards & What's Next event on November 7th from 3:00-4:30pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church. We invite everyone to come – it is free of charge and will recognize the great work that goes into these projects. 

Q:  How may we follow news of these awards and other sustainable practices happening locally?

A:  Check out mplsdid.com/green for a wealth of information on sustainable practices in downtown.

2016 Green Awards, created by Wood from the Hood

Historical Tibetan Shrine Room at Mia

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room

A Discussion with Matthew Welch, Mary Ingebrand Pohlad Deputy Director and Chief Curator at Mia

Matthew WelchMia unveiled a new fully installed historical Tibetan Shrine Room in September. The Shrine Room is a multi-sensory experience featuring more than 200 new pieces of Tibetan Buddhist art, generously donated by Alice Kandell, a New York collector. We talked to Chief Curator, Matthew Welch, about the significance of the donation, Mia’s extensive Asian collections, and partnership with Twin Cities Tibetan organizations. I recommend visiting the Shrine Room on every visit to Mia; it will center you and prepare you to leave your cares behind and enjoy the many wonders of Mia.

Q:  Can you provide us with timeline on Mia’s Asian collections?  

A:  Mia has long been celebrated for its exceptional collections of Asian art. We were the recipient of Asian objects even before our opening in 1915. John Bradstreet (1914), Alfred Pillsbury (150 bronzes; 194 jades) in 1950, Richard P. Gale (over 300 prints in 1974), Louis W. Hill, Jr. some 1500 works of Japanese art in the 1970s, Mary Griggs Burke, over 670 works of art in 2012, Willard Clark some 1700 works of art in 2013, and over 2000 objects from Bruce B. Dayton over the course of his 70-year involvement with the museum.

Q:  Please give us a historical perspective on the Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room - why is the donation by Alice Kandell significant? 

A:  Of course, with this gift, Mia becomes one of the country's great repositories of Tibetan art. Besides the importance, beauty, and workmanship of each object, the extraordinary thing that Alice has done is to bring it all together to evoke a traditional Tibetan sacred space in all of its richness and complexity as it would have existed in a historic Tibetan home. 

Kandell says that the objects were not considered ‘art’ by the original owners, who would have included them in the family’s shrine room. The objects were necessary for daily rituals and offerings. 

The Twin Cities is home to approximately 5,000 people of Tibetan descent, the second largest population in the United States - following Queens, NY - so it is especially meaningful to have them here at Mia.

Read the full story from Minneapolis Times... 

Latest News on Aging Research from the U - a Discussion with Dr. Paul Robbins

Article by Becky Fillinger, photo provided

Dr. Robbins is a resident of the Mill District, but more importantly, he is Professor of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics and Associate Director of the Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism (iBAM) and the Medical Discovery Team on the Biology of Aging at the University of Minnesota. We talked to him about Geroscience and senescent cells and expanding our healthspan because – well - we’re all aging! 

Dr. Paul RobbinsQ:  Please tell us the definition of Geroscience.

A:  Geroscience is the concept that the biggest risk factor for diseases that come with old age is the aging process itself. What we have done with healthcare forever is target one disease at a time. What leads to an increased risk of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, dementia – almost every disease you can name – is aging itself. We need to not target each disease, which leads a handful of different pills, but rather target aging itself. It goes across all disease fronts. We should be focusing on aging to treat or prevent or reduce the severity of all these different diseases.

Q:  Please tell us about senescent cells and why the U is interested in slowing or reversing their damage to the body?

A:  Some years ago, all the aging researchers got together and came up with the hallmarks of aging – things that go wrong with aging. Also, the hallmarks are interconnected so if you could target one of the hallmarks, other hallmarks should improve too, providing a therapeutic benefit to the patient. There are many of these – mitochondria go bad, your stem cells don’t work as efficiently, chronic inflammation, etc. But one of the hallmarks that happens and has been documented extensively is that as cells acquire damage (which can happen through many different ways) they trigger a cell fate called senescence where the damaged cells shut down. Senescent cells stop growing and release inflammatory factors that instruct your immune system to get rid of them. If your immune system is healthy, it will recognize the cells as damaged – the cells are killed and removed from our bodies. But as we age and our immune system starts to fail, these damaged cells are not removed from the body as efficiently. They’re not cleared and it leads to chronic inflammation, which leads to a variety of adverse health conditions. We’ve shown in animal models that if you clear or remove the senescent cells, (using genetic tricks in mice and we’ve developed senolytic drugs that in mice work effectively) mice live healthier and with a 10-20% increased lifespan. The goal is compressing the period of co-morbidity. We’ve observed that people are healthy for a number of years and then everything starts to fall apart. In that slope where things continue to go wrong – the gradual decay – it leads to nursing homes, increased medical care, etc. We are trying to compress that period of decline to keep someone healthier longer. Increasing the healthspan is our goal. We would like to mimic in humans what we’re seeing in mice. 

Q:  How important is interdisciplinary collaboration in your research on senescent cells?

A:  It is absolutely essential. One of the things we were tasked with when we came here was to encourage all researchers to include aging as a variable in their research. We collaborate across campus and all over the country – some you would not expect. If you think about cancer or heart disease, it takes many people and specialties to treat the diseases, with aging as a primary cause of the diseases. An advantage of being at the U is that it is a large university with a large medical school, and they have departments and institutes and centers working in almost every health area. So, for example we work with neuroscientists because Alzheimer’s and dementia are associated with aging. Cancer is absolutely a disease of aging (pediatric cancer aside); the biggest risk for breast and prostate cancer is aging. So, we work with the Cancer Center.  Transplants is another hot area. If you take a liver from a 70-year-old – the senolytics could improve the quality of the liver for the recipient. Also, the Covid pandemic showed the increased mortality of the elderly to viral infection so we are working with the Center for Immunology to increase resilience to pathogens in our aging population. Everyone is interested in aging now. 

The collaboration extends off campus as well. We are collaborating with people with funding from NASA.  Mars astronauts are going to be exposed to a lot of radiation. Damage from radiation leads to cellular senescence. We are sending cells to a laboratory in New York which can radiate them with space radiation.  We’re screening drugs to see which ones work against space-induced senescence. 

Q:  Are you conducting trials for your senolytics?

A:  Yes. Doing trials for aging is difficult – they’re expensive with many moving parts, for example, getting FDA approval to use the drugs on humans that have been used on mice is time consuming but must be done. There is one trial underway at the U for sepsis - they’re testing some of our senolytics for sepsis. Our trial is investigating whether you can reduce time in the hospital and mortality if you treat these people early on with these compounds we’ve developed to clear senescent cells. There’s one with the VA for obesity to see if our compounds can limit weight gain similar to a drug like Ozempic for which we are applying for funding.

We are also part of a national Translational Geroscience Network - 14 universities across the country with more than 40 trials underway for aging and age-related diseases. I’m on the steering committee of the network; the hope is that we will soon have many more clinical trials here at the U using the resources of the network.

Q:  Are there any foods that can reduce senescent cells?

A:  Yes, but you would have to eat a large amount of the foods to make a difference. One of the natural products is flavonoid found in strawberries called fisetin. There is evidence that people in other parts of the world who eat a lot of foods with fisetin are healthier. Is it the fisetin or is it something else? We don’t know.  It’s a natural product that is safe. Getting natural products into a clinical trial is easier. I take a fisetin supplement every couple of weeks. There is a clinical trial in Germany supported by the strawberry growers in Germany - they make a rich strawberry paste. We haven’t tested it here. There is much that we can learn about the foods we eat if we can test them on the hallmarks of aging.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  Please check out our website: The Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism. Here you’ll find our news listed and also podcasts and links to papers with the latest research.

Know Your Local Dive Bar – Otter’s Saloon

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A Discussion with Otter’s Saloon Owner Lynn Vashro

Otter's Saloon has karaoke 7 nights a week, 365 days a year, 8PM to 2AM. There’s even an earlier start on Saturdays - 4PM! If you feel like singing, or just being with a happy crowd, head on over to 617 Central Avenue SE. I asked Scott Parkin of Old Town Minneapolis if he has a favorite memory of Otter’s Saloon. Turns out he does – keep reading...

Lynn Vashro

We talked to Lynn Vashro, Owner/ Manager about the history of the bar, the karaoke program and the perfection that is Otter's Saloon.  

Q:  Can you give us the history of Otter's Saloon. How long has it been around?

A:  This building has a long history. Designed by renowned architects, Joseph & Ernest Haley, it was built in 1898 for Henry Thompson and operated as Thompson & Olson Saloon. It was a “tied house” connected to the Gluek Brewing Company selling Gluek products exclusively. It converted to a soft drink parlor during prohibition despite being cited multiple times for bootlegging. Despite Prohibition and ownership changes, the building has operated as a saloon its entire existence. It went through many changes of ownership. In 1997, Denise Freeman and Dell Hederman purchased the building and renamed it U Otter Stop Inn. In 2010, Bobby Vashro, my husband, and I purchased and renamed the business Otter’s Saloon. Bobby was a bartender here before we purchased the business. Bobby passed in 2022 – he truly loved the business and all our customers. See more extensive history here, thanks to Old Town Minneapolis.

Q:  Otter's must have the longest happy hours in the state. Please talk about your happy hour times and offerings. 

A:  We do have a lengthy Happy Hour - 8AM-7PM Monday-Friday, 8AM-6PM Saturday and Sunday. The happy hour specials are $3 Rail Drinks and $3 Domestic Beer.

Q: I read that you have the best karaoke in Minnesota. Please tell us about your karaoke program. What's the most requested song?

A:  We love our karaoke program. We use the songbooksonline.com app and paper slips and pencils. We have a nice crowd of regulars on the weekdays singing karaoke, the weekends bring in the big crowds to sing karaoke. The most popular song is Journey’s Don't Stop Believing. Scott Parkin of Old Town Minneapolis, has a favorite memory of Otter’s Saloon: “I watched a stunning woman with an entourage walk in, do an amazing rendition of Salt-N-Pepa’s Shoop, and walk right back out the door without batting an eyelash. The room was speechless.” 

Belt out your favorite tunes at Otter's!

Q:  I also saw a post about cribbage tournaments. Please tell us more about that and other sponsored activities.

A:  Our Cribbage tournaments are the second Saturday and last Saturday of each month at 1:00PM. Cribbage is $21 to play and all monies are paid out to the winners. We have 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, depending on how many players we have on any certain day. The largest jackpot you can win is $120. 

We have pull-tabs and e-tabs daily. For pull-tabs, we have two $2 boxes and one $1 box. You can win up to $500 in the $2 boxes and up to $300 in the $1 box. The boxes are changed out frequently.

Our customers can win up to $899 on e-tabs, with 77 games available.

Q:  Do you have plans for expanding or renovating Otter's Saloon? Or is it best to 'don't change anything'?

A:  We don't have plans for expanding Otter's. It's kinda perfect the way it is. We are a staple in Northeast.

Q:  How do we follow your news?

A:  Come by and visit us at 617 Central Avenue SE. We’ll be here. We’re also on Facebook.

Here's to good times and good friends at Otter's!

Voices in the Dark – A One-Night-Only Immersive Paint and Sip Mystery at Oya Arts

10/14/24 Editor's Note - Due to demand, a second date (Oct 31) has been added: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/halloween-voices-in-the-dark-a-haunted-who-done-it-paint-and-sip-mystery-tickets-1047069451917?aff=oddtdtcreator

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

For one night only, October 26, at the Oya Arts Studio in the Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson Street NE, you can participate in a Halloween edition of a who-done-it paint and sip mystery. We spoke to Karen Caldwell, Producer of Voices in the Dark about the experience – you’ll be assigned a character to reenact, have fun painting and sipping, nosh on delicious Caribbean treats provided by Channa Trinidadian Kitchen and will solve the mystery of a haunted attic. Get tickets here.

Q:  As producer of Voices in the Dark, what do you hope the participants will experience? 

A:  I want participants to experience something they've never experienced before - this is not your typical paint and sip. At Oya Arts, we do things a little differently. We combine the fun of painting with a fully immersive experience, and for Voices in the Dark, we're turning the studio into a Victorian attic for the evening. So, participants can expect mysteries, riddles, and even a few scares along the way!

My hope is that people will feel like they're stepping into a story, where they’re not just painting but becoming part of a thrilling, haunted tale. Each person will take on a character, uncover clues, and work together to solve the mystery. It’s not just about the art - it’s about getting caught up in the atmosphere, the suspense and having a blast in a way that’s totally unique. I want them to walk away feeling like they’ve created something special and had an unforgettable experience that they couldn't get anywhere else.

Karen CaldwellQ:  Is there a maximum number of participants allowed to register for the event?

A:  We keep it to 20 people to ensure it’s an intimate experience where everyone can fully engage and interact with each other. Since each participant will have a character and are encouraged to get into their role, it’s important that the group stays small enough for everyone to be part of the mystery. This way, everyone has the chance to connect, contribute to the storyline, and fully immerse themselves in the experience.

Q:  Tell us more about the characters we’ll reenact. What might the characters be?

A:  Each participant will be assigned a character to reenact, adding to the immersive experience. The event centers around unraveling the mystery of a long-buried tragedy at Blackwood Manor, where secrets, rumors, and hidden motives have haunted the family for years.

Each participant will step into a character, holding key pieces of the puzzle as the night unfolds. Every character brings their own story and secrets, making them vital to uncovering the truth that haunts the manor.

Q:  This sounds really eerie and fun. Why just one night?

A:  We’re really excited about the event. Right now, we’re only running it for one night to keep it special and exclusive. However, if the demand is high enough and we get a lot of interest, we may consider adding another night to give more people a chance to experience it. So, stay tuned - there could be more opportunities to join in the mystery!

Q:  What type of art will participants be creating?

A:  The painting itself will be a surprise, revealed on the night of the event! But don’t worry, everyone will get their own personal canvas and acrylic paints, and an artist will guide you step-by-step through the process. No previous art experience is necessary - it’s all about having fun and getting into the spirit of the evening while creating something unique to take home with you.

Q:  Is there a prize for solving the mystery?

A:  Yes, there is a prize for solving the mystery! Everyone who guesses correctly will have their name entered into a hat, and one lucky winner will get to choose from a cool range of prizes. These include a private art class for two with an English afternoon tea experience, a ticket to a future paint and sip event, or a free art print of their choice. Plus, there’s also a prize for the best costume! One thing we love to do at our paint and sip events is always give participants a chance to win something fun, so there’s plenty to look forward to!

Q:  How can we be notified of other upcoming events?

A:  There’s always something exciting happening at Oya Arts! We run our immersive paint and sip events every couple of months. So far, we’ve had themes like a secret agent paint and sip, an art heist, a 1920s murder mystery, and now our Halloween special. We also offer art meditation sessions, private lessons with an English afternoon tea experience, and private events for birthdays, bachelorette parties, and team-building sessions for organizations.

We’re not giving away too much just yet, but keep an eye out for our immersive art escape room coming to Minneapolis early next year - watch this space!

To stay in the loop on upcoming events, you can follow us on Instagram, check out our website and sign up for our newsletter!

Marcela Lorca Reflects on Final Project with Ten Thousand Things Theater

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Marcela Lorca

A Discussion with Marcela Lorca, Artistic Director

Ten Thousand Things Theater's current production of Helen will be the final show for Artistic Director, Marcela Lorca. The play began its tour October 3 and runs through November 10. We talked to Marcela about the themes of Euripides’ play and its relevance today, and her reflections on her time at Ten Thousand Things Theater.

Q:  You’ve been the Artistic Director at Ten Thousand Things (TTT) for 6 years. Helen will be your last production there - what are your thoughts as you reflect on your time at the theater?

A:  I feel immense gratitude for this great community of artists, colleagues, and diverse audience members. They’ve given me the opportunity to bring unique stories to life in ways that have taught me so much. I’ve learned, I’ve dreamed, and I’ve collaborated in atmospheres of joy, creativity, and love. What else can one ask for? TTT will always have a special place in my heart.

Q:  Helen by Euripides was first produced in 412 BCE. What themes from the play do you think are relevant today?

A:  The play asks some important and universal questions in a unique language that blends music, comedy, and high drama: How can we discern between what’s true or what may be false? Does it sound familiar? Is war inevitable? Why can’t we solve our problems through dialogue? Do Gods exist? And if so, how do they treat mortals?

Q:  Great job casting this production! How did you go about recruiting such a stellar cast?

A:  It is a slow and thoughtful process. This was a challenging one as we needed a cast of great singers who could embody specific roles and have the generosity and skill that deep choral/ensemble work requires.

Q:  What’s next on the horizon for you and how may we follow your news? 

A:  I’m excited to focus solely on directing for the foreseeable future. I am based in Minnesota but will travel where the work takes me. In the coming months, I will direct a new play called “December: A love years in the making” by Marisela Treviño Orta at the Alley Theater in Houston, and then I will direct Nilo Cruz’s “Anna in the Tropics” at the Asolo Theater in Sarasota. I look forward to my next artistic chapter and to continue my work in different venues and formats. I will be posting about my work on social media and on my website: marcelalorca.com.

Please note - Approximately half of TTT’s award-winning shows are performed for paying public audiences, and the other half are performed for free in locations where people may not have ample opportunities to see live, professional theater, including correctional facilities, shelters, English Language Learner centers, centers for individuals with disabilities, and low-income senior and youth centers. There is one performance at Open Book (October 27) and many at nearby Hennepin Methodist Church and the Capri Theater. Check the schedule and please come out to support this worthy theater company.

The Lehman Trilogy: An American Story

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

The Lehman Trilogy at the Guthrie Theater is an epic story of one family, from immigration to America in the early 1840s to the collapse of the Lehman Brothers company in 2008. Three very talented actors portray approximately 50 characters - you will be amazed at their talent and stamina. I keep thinking about the play – it’s such an American story of immigration, persistence to succeed, losing touch with your family traditions and how greed can cause the collapse of all dreams. I suggest you get your tickets now – The Lehman Trilogy is playing through October 13th. Two of the actors, Mark Nelson and William Sturdivant, shared with me their experience of performing multiple characters, 8 performances a week, in a play that stretches to three and a half hours in length. 

Mark NelsonQ:  Tell me about the challenges of playing so many characters in an epic production.

Mark Nelson:  My most satisfying challenge is playing two members of the Lehman family over the span of their lives: Mayer starting at age 19, and Bobby at age 6! Both start as the shining soul in the family. In the 1850s, Mayer is the sweet peacemaker between his two hot-tempered brothers, and the business grows on the strength of his trusting smile. But when he follows the business from Alabama to Wall Street, from handshake deals to cold numbers, he’s a stranger in his own life, his soul starts to shrink. Then in the next century, little Bobby adores drawing and horses. He doesn’t care if his horse wins, he just loves watching them run. But under the pressure of his family’s ambition, and the unwanted role of savior after the 1929 crash, his exuberance gradually turns into a tense mask, and finally into unhinged greed. It’s a very human arc: the inexorable power of money to warp the best impulses of our hearts. It’s an amazing gift to tell their stories.

My other big takeaway is that I’m not as young as I thought I was. I’m playing 25 characters in a 3-and-a-half-hour play 8 times a week. I love it, and I don’t need to ever do it again!

William SturdivantQ:  What are your takeaways from performing in this epic play? 

William Sturdivant:  As a Minneapolis-based actor, I am continuously blown away by the vigor, artistry, and courage of this entire theater community and their willingness to venture into the unknown as a matter of cultural necessity. After performing in the History Plays at the Guthrie Theater this past spring, I get to embark on yet another epic trilogy (after having only 10 days off from performing as Claudius and Benedick at Great River Shakespeare Festival).

The Lehman Trilogy seemed like an obvious, "only up from here" opportunity, with the entire process being communal, collaborative, and awe-inspiring. I was shocked the most by the incredible fortitude and willingness to adapt, by both the script and the artists collaborating on this project. This principle of adaptation was instilled daily and acknowledged throughout the work. From director, to designer, to stage management, to crew and in-house costume builders, we as actors have been supported beyond, BEYOND! Quick shout out to Draper/Costume Builderess, Juliann Benson, whose expertise makes me feel like a million bucks every time I step on the stage.

My biggest takeaway is that it takes a village, a community, a populace to hold fast to the dream of what America can be, and the shock and awe, that so many at the Guthrie hold as a core principle to their craft/designated titles, and want nothing more than to help shine that light from offstage, so that audiences watching the stage have magic introduced into their veins and, indeed, their souls!

Neighbors Who Are Making a Difference: Minneapolis Neighborhood Safety Clubs

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Mill District and North Loop Neighborhood Safety Club members with MPD officers and Ward 3 Council Member Michael Rainville front and center.

A Discussion with Founder and Leader, Aileen Johnson

Did you know that we have neighbors walking our neighborhoods in the evening, providing assistance to people in need and reporting on crimes in progress? The Minneapolis Neighborhood Safety Clubs are currently operational in 15 neighborhoods, with plans to grow to 48 neighborhoods in two years. Founder Aileen Johnson provided us with the background of the clubs and information on how to join a current or start a new safety club.

Aileen JohnsonQ:  Can you tell us about the history and mission of the Minneapolis Neighborhood Safety Clubs?

A:  We began in April of 2022 in hard times in North Loop with the encouragement of MPD 1st Precinct Lt Mark Klukow, Park Police Chief Jason Ohotto, Martin Patrick 3 Business Owner Dana Swindler, and Council Member Michael Rainville. Over time what started as a neighborhood project spread across the city. We are neighbors, business, and law enforcement all moving forward together in a spirit of friendship.

Q:  What neighborhoods does the group cover?

A:  We cover North Loop, Mill District, Loring Park, East Isles, Lowry Hill, Kenwood, East Bde Maka Ska, West Maka Ska, Thomas Beach, Linden Hills, Windom, Dinkytown, Nicollet Island East Bank and Sheridan.

Q:  How often are the walks conducted?

A:  It depends upon the neighborhood. Some walk twice weekly, some weekly and some every other week. The safety walks are a part of a larger program which includes neighborhood clean-up events, tours of City Departments, and learning sessions with Departmental leaders to improve our civic and municipal acumen. We also do special details, for example, staffing our safety information table from during bar close in North Loop when there was trouble in the alley near N Washington Avenue and N 2nd Avenue and helping keep an eye out to address drug dealing on Oak Grove Street in the Loring Park neighborhood. We also have purely social events to get to know each other better.

Q:  What are the requirements to join a group?

A:  We are a civic-minded group promoting friendship and engaged in volunteer service to our beloved City.  In order to be a member, you must support our mission of neighbors, businesses, and law enforcement all moving forward together in a spirit of friendship.

Q:  What safety protocols does the group follow during walks?

A:  We stay together and look out for one another. We are not violence interrupters but are an extra set of responsible eyes on the street looking out for people who need help and reporting crimes in progress to 911. Even when we encounter a health emergency, we take a moment to reflect on the next safe step to take which is almost always to call 911 immediately and then let them talk us through the situation until help has arrived. We periodically meet with the MPD Precinct Crime Prevention Specialists who instruct us in tips and skills to keep us safe while on our walks and in our personal lives. We rely upon our collective ability to keep calm in an emergency and to evaluate all next steps from the position of not jeopardizing our own safety.

Q:  How do you communicate with local law enforcement or emergency services?

A:  We communicate both formally and informally. We report in-progress crimes and medical emergencies through 911 and other issues through 311. We have excellent relationships with each of the five MPD Precincts and the Park Police. They reach out to us and we reach out to them on a routine basis to discuss crime information and to adjust our walks and special details to address their needs and the needs of our neighborhoods. We have formed strong friendships with MPD Officers and visit with them on the streets and at their workplaces on a regular basis.

Q:  What equipment or tools do members typically carry (e.g., flashlights, whistles, phones)?

A:  We wear orange t-shirts - kindly provided to us at no charge by MP3 in North Loop - with our individual neighborhood name on front and our common motto on the back, “Join us. Together we stand for a safer community.” In winter we wear orange stocking caps also provided to us by MP3. We carry flashlights when we are out at night. We carry Narcan provided by the Sheriff. We pick up a lot of litter across the city so we also carry trash bags, gloves and pickers. In Loring Park - where our litter detail is extensive - we have a wagon provided by one of our members to carry our equipment and to manage recyclables, dog waste and broken glass.

Q:  How do you coordinate the walks or patrols (e.g., schedules, routes)?

A:  We are a federation of neighborhood safety clubs operating under one umbrella. We are a grassroots self-funded group of volunteers committed to the same objectives, which are to: improve safety; build friendships; increase our civic and municipal acumen. I lead the larger network plus the North Loop, Mill District and Loring Park clubs. As we expanded, we began to engage more safety club leaders and continue to inspire more people to become safety club leaders for their neighborhoods. The leaders of each club work with their neighbors to determine the schedule of walks. Most neighborhoods walk on the same day each week and a few neighborhoods change their walking day every week. In addition to their regular walks, the leaders of each neighborhood safety club often call upon their teams to do special details such as litter pick-ups, lake and river clean-ups.

Q:  Can you share any success stories or notable achievements of the group?

A:  MPD 1st Precinct Inspector Billy Peterson credits the North Loop Neighborhood Safety Club with reducing theft from autos in North Loop through our education program. Park Chief Jason Ohotto credits our Loring Park Neighborhood Safety Club with moving Loring Park from its status as number one park for crime to not even placing in the top ten. Park Board President Meg Forney and Park Chief Jason Ohotto credit our joint East Isles, East Bde Maka Ska,West Maka Ska, Thomas Beach and Linden Hills safety clubs with influencing a peaceful 4th of July at Bde Maka Ska through their 4th of July safety plan and nighttime walk around the lake paths. Perhaps our most notable achievement is the mutual aid network and the friendships we have built across our neighborhoods and with business and law enforcement. Working with Council Member Michael Rainville and Park Police Chief Jason Ohotto we successfully completed our “Lights On” project to restore broken lighting along the James Rice Parkway and the Stone Arch Bridge.

Neighborhood safety club team members perform litter pick-up as part of their overall tasks. 

Q:  What are the goals for the next year or two?

A:  Our goal for 2024 is to grow from our current 15 to 24 neighborhood safety clubs and then to double that number in 2025 to 48. We have made great strides in educating our members about how the various departments of our City work and in building friendships with the people who lead and work in these departments. In 2025, we would also like to expand our educational tours and programs to include County functions.

Q:  This is all so impressive – congratulations on making a difference in our neighborhoods and city. How may we follow your news or contact you to form a group?

A:  Please visit our website at www.mplsneighborhoodsafetyclubs.com or contact me at fritzdoris@comcast.net or at (612) 516-9705.

FINNOVATION Institute and Conscious Capitalism

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Cohort 6 participants

A Discussion with Connie Rutledge, Executive Director

Connie RutledgeFrom its inception, FINNEGANS Brew Co. has been donating a portion of their profits to help feed those in need. FINNEGAN’s founder, Jacquie Berglund, also founded the FINNOVATION Lab (now FINNOVATION Institute) in 2017, a social business incubator and venture services company. We talked to Connie Rutledge, Executive Director at FINNOVATION Institute, about success stories from the Institute’s cohorts, conscious capitalism and what other innovative projects are in the works. You can get involved too – keep reading and supporting local businesses that back innovation and what’s best for all community members.

Q:  Can you share more details about Jacquie Berglund’s "potential of conscious companies" idea?

A:  Conscious capitalism is a global movement, and Jacquie is a rambunctious advocate in Minneapolis. Jacquie has been a social entrepreneur for over 20 years and is dedicated to helping others use business for the common good. Conscious capitalism is the idea that we can balance the needs of various stakeholders and still build profitable, thriving businesses. It's a mindful strategy to consider what's best for the environment, workers, and neighbors while making products or delivering services instead of only trying to maximize profit through the exploitation of resources. We all do better when we all do better.

Q:  FINNOVATION Institute has sponsored six cohorts. Can you tell us success stories from the program?

Junita Flowers of Junita's JarA:  We are really proud of all of our founders, so it is hard to highlight just a few! But I'll try to illustrate the breadth of ideas that our founders have and the various types of impact they are having in our communities.

From the first cohort, our most mature company is Junita's Jar. Junita Flowers started Junita's Jar with a mission to end relationship violence, and has become a well-known advocate and speaker - with cookies now being sold nationally in all Target locations. 

Alysha Price, CEO of The Price Dynamic, has become a thought leader in successful co-parenting and has made a difference in the lives of hundreds of families in the Twin Cities.

Marlee James, who founded Reviving Roots to elevate the mental health services available to Black people and to attract more Black therapists to our region; and Hilary Otey will be opening up Queermunity in Uptown Minneapolis this year - the first Queer community center in the Twin Cities!

The list of success stories goes on and on - our Fellows are working hard to preserve and advance the culture and languages of Hmong, Somali, and Native American communities, as well as equipping often overlooked communities with the tools and services they need to thrive.

Some of our newest Fellows are launching businesses this year to advance natural organic reduction (a greener alternative to cremation), to help ADHD college students stay on track, to center the Asian American experience in board games, to improve outcomes for BIPOC farmers, to connect Spanish speakers to resources in their local communities, to engage East African immigrants in both their heritage culture and American culture, to create emotionally intelligent workplaces where a diverse workforce can grow, and to bring the healing powers of sound and nature to those struggling with neurological disorders or poor mental health.

Q:  Has your organization inspired other companies to collaborate with FINNOVATION Institute to come up with their own programs? Can you share any details about their program objectives and history?

A:  We have collaborated with many other parts of our entrepreneurial ecosystem over the years. The Initiative Foundation in greater Minnesota has a program similar to ours for social entrepreneurs, and we have shared ideas and insights over the years. We've also collaborated with ILT Academy to offer early-stage entrepreneurs a way to prepare to apply for the Fellowship program, and we've also consulted with other organizations about fellowship programs they were launching.

Q:  What would you like Mill City Times readers to know about FINNOVATION Institute, and how may they support this initiative?

A:  There is so much good work happening in our city and so many social entrepreneurs to support. The best support they can give is to become customers and advocates for these young companies. Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram), and let us connect you to the cool things happening in the world of entrepreneurship and social impact. 

Our alumni are making a difference in Minneapolis, whether it's providing tools for your child with sensory issues or reducing gun violence by empowering young people to handle conflict constructively. There is power in choosing a new way of doing business, but it is realized through customers willing to use their spending power to nurture and promote innovation and local businesses.

How Does Climate Change Impact the Mississippi River?

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Dr. Alex Roth

Climate change has serious impacts for the Mississippi River. Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) has been at the forefront of protecting and restoring our precious river. We talked to Dr. Alex Roth, Conservation Director, and Colleen O’ Connor Toberman, Land Use and Planning Director, to find out what a changing climate means for the river, efforts to stem the damage, and most importantly, 30 ways in which you can participate. Check out the annual fundraiser in September, and on November 5th be sure to vote YES for the environment trust fund or Lottery Amendment!

Q:  What does a changing climate mean for the Mississippi River?  

A:  It’s difficult to think of any aspect of the Mississippi River that isn’t harmed or impacted by climate change. 

Some changes are better known, such as intense rains, increased flooding and dramatic droughts. And, of course, we’re seeing temperatures tick upward, stressing riverfront communities, particularly those with fewer natural areas or shade, as well as wildlife. 

However, many climate change-related challenges are harder to visualize and involve extensive systems or critical infrastructure. 

Let’s zoom in on the Mill City or central riverfront area for a moment.

After an intense rain, we see St. Anthony Falls swell and roil. But below the riverbed, there’s what’s known as a “cutoff wall.” The Army Corps of Engineers built this underwater concrete wall just upstream of St. Anthony Falls in the 1870s to essentially hold up the falls and keep the riverbed from collapsing.

But it hasn’t been inspected in decades. If it fails, the outcome could be catastrophic. Without the wall, upstream water levels could drop too low to supply crucial drinking water supply intakes that serve Minneapolis, St. Paul and several suburbs. The water supply for 1 million Twin Cities residents, hospitals, schools and even fire hydrants could dry up within a few days.

We all saw the river overwhelm the Rapidan Dam this summer, leading to a partial collapse. Our dramatically increased river flow clearly makes it even more important to inspect and address this cutoff wall. 

Thankfully, legislators agreed with FMR and our advocates or River Guardians, and funded a study of the wall’s condition that is currently underway.  

Also, I should note that increased river flow is due not only to more intense rains from climate change but also to too much water running into the river — from our streets, storm drains, and especially farm fields, particularly those planted with row crops like corn and soybeans and that don’t have any cover crops on them. At FMR, we work to reduce the amount of excess river flow and pollution flowing into the river from such runoff pollution. 

But back to our Mill City area… If we look at one of our most popular local riverfront habitat restoration projects:

Climate change has also made us rethink our approach to many of our restoration projects, including our roughly 10-acre project on the north half of Nicollet Island. Now, all of our tree and shrub planting efforts include climate-adapted species - those predicted to do well under our future climate conditions. These species, including American Sycamore, Catalpa, bitternut hickory, and others, are already expanding their ranges north through Minnesota and will help make our forests more diverse and resilient in the face of climate change, and will ensure that our tree canopy is maintained, especially as other species contract their ranges northward.

We also recognize that as the effects of climate change progress, it’s important to have corridors of high-quality habitat, not only for the local benefits those connected sites provide but also to allow the movement of wildlife and plant species. FMR’s focus on the restoration of riverfront parkland in Minneapolis, including at Sheridan Memorial, Ole Olson, BF Nelson, Nicollet Island, and the Mississippi River Gorge Regional Parks, is an effort to do just that. We’ve also partnered with MPRB and local neighborhood organizations to create volunteer-centric management plans for James Rice (2021), Bassett’s Creek (2022) and Father Hennepin Bluffs Parks (2024) to help empower volunteers and communities to restore and maintain their own local natural areas.

All FMR climate change articles are available here: https://fmr.org/climate-change.

Q:  Is FMR working with local and state leaders on mitigation strategies to reduce the harm to the river from an increasingly hotter city and state? 

A:  Absolutely. FMR works with leaders and decision-makers at all levels - from community groups to state and federal legislators - to mitigate harm to the river from climate change. 

Returning to our local examples… 

Earlier, we mentioned the cutoff wall behind St. Anthony Falls as well as the problem of increased water flow and runoff pollution overall, especially from farm fields. FMR is working with various agencies, like the Army Corps of Engineers to address the wall and preserve our drinking water. To reduce agricultural runoff pollution, we’re working with the Forever Green Initiative at the University of Minnesota amongst others to support “continuous living cover” that helps to reduce runoff water pollution by keeping roots in the soil year-round. 

Colleen O’ Connor TobermanFor both of these issues, we work with state and even federal legislators, not to mention all the FMR River Guardians, our advocates. These are everyday people who care about the river and have signed up to advocate with FMR to contact our representatives when we need their help the most. 

Now, back to the tree planting at Nicollet Island. FMR conservation staff have worked with the NPS, the DNR and the Army Corps to encourage the use of climate-resilient trees. We keep climate change front of mind whenever we plan a restoration project (and we have about 40 restoration sites in the Twin Cities metro!). 

While I mentioned climate resiliency, this also relates to mitigation: Healthy waters need healthier ecosystems on riverbanks and surrounding lands to absorb more water and pollution. Of course, forests and prairies—in both urban and rural spaces—are essential for not only wildlife stressed by climate change but can also help combat the heat island effect in urban areas and provide respite and shade for community members. 

Zooming back out for a moment, I want to note that in addition to our local and state level work, FMR has been working with Representative Betty McCollum, the National Wildlife Federation, the Mississippi River Network and dozens of other endorsing organizations, to pass a federal Mississippi River Restoration & Resilience Initiative.

This initiative would provide substantial funding for natural infrastructure, flood protection, habitat restoration and climate change mitigation in Mississippi River communities all along the river’s 10-state run, potentially funding work to reduce runoff pollution and restore habitat from Itaska to the Gulf of Mexico.

Q:  Talk to us about the work FMR does in the area of climate change and justice.

A:  Well, just about any work someone or an organization does to address climate change is inherently justice-related, since the people who will feel the impact of climate change the most are under-resourced communities. If Minnesota does not address its agricultural runoff, we will continue to push the costs of not only increased water flow but increased nitrate pollution and the health risks associated with it on downstream neighbors, especially impacting downstream communities that don’t have the extra money to address them.

Take the federal initiative I just mentioned, the federal Mississippi River Restoration & Resilience Initiative, we’re advocating that it set aside a significant percentage of resources specifically for underserved communities and tribes to address these issues.  

Now, back to the local level… In Minneapolis, wealthier areas have historically had the best access or have been the closest to natural areas. As temperatures increase, access to parks and natural areas matters even more, since they can both buffer and provide respite from increasing temperatures. At FMR we invest many resources, both in terms of land use planning and habitat restoration, to restore or even create natural areas in areas that have traditionally been industrialized, such as North and Northeast Minneapolis.

We have had a lot to say about climate change and justice – please see these additional resources:

- https://fmr.org/updates/conservation/climate-change-climate-justice-and-fmrs-land-conservation-program
- https://fmr.org/updates/land-use-planning/climate-change-climate-justice-and-fmrs-land-use-planning-program
- https://fmr.org/updates/water-legislative/climate-change-climate-justice-and-fmrs-water-program
- https://fmr.org/updates/stewardship-education/how-our-volunteer-and-education-programs-work-climate-change

Please also see FMR’s position on Mpls 2040.

Q:  The Held v. Montana case from 2023 has significant implications for climate litigation and environmental policy. The Montana court ruled in favor of the young plaintiffs, finding that the state’s actions and laws violated their constitutional right to a “clean and healthful environment.” Although not binding on other states, do you think we’ll see similar actions here in Minnesota?

A:  We were excited about that case as well. (See https://fmr.org/updates/water-legislative-land-use-planning-stewardship-education/reflections-recent-youth-climate/esi) On a related note, we’ve also been encouraged by cases that grant personhood to rivers, although there’s yet to be one of those in the US. 

We certainly don’t have a crystal ball, but we can definitely say we are encouraged by this up-and-coming generation of environmental leaders. FMR operates an Environmental Stewardship Institute for high schoolers, and we’re regularly blown away by their passion and dedication. Our money is on the youth.

Q:  Is FMR a member of the State’s Interagency Climate Adaptation Team? Do you advise it or the Governor’s Climate Change Subcabinet?

A:  All of the official advisors and team members are with state departments or government agencies, such as the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Natural Resources. But we have worked with many of these agencies and we were particularly pleased to see the Walz administration - including not only the Department of Agriculture but the Pollution Control Agency - highlight the importance of natural and working lands, including continuous living cover crops, as part of their climate solution.

Q:  What can we do as citizens do to preserve the health of the Mississippi River? 

A:  There are many ways to get involved! 

We maintain a healthy list of 30 ways to help the river at fmr.org/30-ways. We picked “30” in honor of our organization’s 30th anniversary last year. And the tips include a wide range of activities, including ways to get involved with FMR as an advocate, so you can weigh in on issues like the cutoff wall, or volunteer, like at Nicollet Island and other nearby restoration sites, parks and natural areas.

Of course, we also recommend becoming a paid member of FMR if you have the means to do so. And if you’re able to join us at our annual fall fundraiser Thursday, September 26th at the Nicollet Island Pavilion, be sure to RSVP. We’d love to see you out on the river!  

And this November 5th, don’t forget to vote “yes” and check the box for the environment trust fund or Lottery Amendment! Many critical FMR and other projects depend on lottery dollars, and it’s up to Minnesota’s voters whether to renew that environmental trust fund this fall. 

Statistics from the MPD Forensic Services Division

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

It’s National Forensic Science Week, September 15-21. We all watch reruns of Forensic Files, and many other television shows that explain how crimes are sometimes solved through forensic evidence. We have our very own Forensic Services Division within the Minneapolis Police Department. We talked to Shannon Johnson, Director of the Forensic Division, and she provided us a breakdown of how forensic science is used by the MPD. I’m so grateful for the work of these 38 scientists!

Shannon JohnsonGeneral Information

The MPD Forensic Services Division is accredited through the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) to the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards and the ANAB Accreditation Requirements for Forensic Testing and Calibration (AR) 3125:2023. Accreditation is required by MN Statute and requires all MPD Forensic Services Division employees to possess the technical skills needed to perform work that meets the highest international standards in forensic science. 

Units in our Division

The Forensic Services Division conducts casework in the following disciplines (the Units in the lab are in bold and listed after the forensic disciplines):

Digital and Video/Imaging Technology and Analysis (Computer Forensics Unit and Video Forensics Unit)

  - Examiners assigned to the Computer Forensics unit perform forensic examinations on items, such as computers, thumb drives, and cellular phones.

  - Forensic Scientists in the Video Forensics unit analyze video for evidentiary content, isolate and enhance still video images, perform audio analysis, recover video from DVRs, perform comparative analysis and prepare timelines.

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Firearms and Toolmarks (Firearms Unit)

  - The Forensic Scientists/Technicians in the Firearms Unit perform examinations on firearm evidence (firearms, bullets and discharged cartridge casings) as well as manage the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) program for MPD.

Headstamp sample. A headstamp includes numerals, letters and symbols (or combination thereof) stamped into the head of a cartridge case or shotshell to identify the manufacturer, caliber, gauge or give additional information.

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Friction Ridge Impressions (Field Operations Unit)

  - Forensic Scientists examine friction ridge impressions (fingerprints) for sufficiency, enter them into AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System), and make comparisons to known impressions.

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Scene Investigation (Field Operations Unit and Forensic Garage)

  - The Field Operations unit examines, documents, processes, and collects evidence at crime scenes and in the laboratory.

  - Vehicles and other large items that are related to a crime are typically examined at the Forensic Garage.

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Staffing

38 staff are assigned to the Forensic Services Division, with this breakdown:

  - Computer forensics – 2

  - Video forensics – 2

  - Firearms – 5

  - Field Operations and Forensic Garage – 24

  - Administration and Quality Assurance – 5

Statistics for 2023

Computer Forensics

  - Processed approximately 430 cell phones 

  - Processed approximately 30 computers

Video Forensics

  - Completed approximately 300 onsite video recoveries

  - Isolated approximately 1,260 still images from videos 

 -  Examined approximately 640 removable media devices

Field Operations and Forensic Garage

  - Processed approximately 1,000 crime scenes

  - Processed approximately 300 vehicles

  - Processed approximately 950 firearms

  - Collected approximately 5,700 DNA swabs 

  - Collected approximately 2,700 friction ridge impression lifts

Firearms

  - Examined approximately 950 firearms

  - Examined approximately 7,700 discharged cartridge casings

  - Conducted approximately 2,330 NIBIN entries resulting in approximately 1,000 NIBIN leads 

  - Conducted approximately 1,230 firearm E-traces 

Forensics lab

Get to Know Anne Hoyt Taff, New Executive Director Minneapolis Parks Foundation

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Anne Hoyt TaffAnne Hoyt Taff took over the reins at the Minneapolis Parks Foundation as Executive Director in early July. We talked to her about her immediate and longer-term plans for supporting Minneapolis’ parks. The Trust for Public Land announced in May that Minneapolis climbed to second place on the annual ParkScore index – keep reading to learn Taff’s plans for keeping our parks well-funded and aligned with community vision.

Q:  What are your top priorities for the first 100 days in your role?

A:  I work through relationships and my approach is to pursue opportunities in partnership with others – so the priorities for my first 100 (and 1,000…) days at the Minneapolis Parks Foundation will stem from what I learn and observe through conversation and connection with people who are enjoying, supporting, and promoting Minneapolis parks. I know already from my initial conversations that our commitment to the Transforming North Commons Park Campaign is a top priority. We are committed to raising $20M in philanthropic funding towards this transformative investment in one of Minneapolis’s oldest and most iconic neighborhood parks, which will include a new fieldhouse, an updated rec center and new water park.

Q:  Your prior non-profit positions, most recently as the Vice President of Partnerships at the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation, required excellent partnership and collaboration skills. How do you envision that background will come into play at the Minneapolis Parks Foundation?

A:  My skills are, of course, a compilation of the support and mentorship I have received throughout my career. As I think about this question, the first thing that stands out is a piece of advice I received over a decade ago from a friend: Don’t wait to learn everything and know everyone before you dig into the work – pick up the phone and start connecting. I have applied this advice at the start of every new job and project and will do so now at the Parks Foundation. By not waiting, my on-the-job learning can be done through relationships and in partnership with my new colleagues, our partners at the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, parks supporters and Minneapolis residents. In my experience, these relationships will strengthen my ability to serve as a facilitator for the Parks Foundation and the Minneapolis Park system. Within this system, I hope to be someone who can make connections and engage a diverse range of stakeholders in solving problems, whether it be raising public and private funds for critical infrastructure or fostering more inclusive programming.

North Commons Park aerial rendering

North Commons Park

Youth Council Meeting at North Commons Park

Q:  Do you think that park foundations can broaden community engagement? If yes, what would that look like in Minneapolis?

A:  Yes! This answer to this question should always be yes – from anyone, doing anything! For the Minneapolis Parks Foundation this looks like consciously expanding the net of resources and voices involved in planning, funding, and enjoying Minneapolis parks and public spaces. We can do this by creating spaces for affinity groups to come together and inform this shared work, such as the Youth Council that is gathering around the North Commons Park redevelopment project. As a Minneapolis resident with two small children, I’m thinking about how we might meet parents (active users of parks!) where they’re at – likely a neighborhood park. I’m also thinking about our vast network of corporate and business partners who rely on the strength of Minneapolis parks to attract and retain workers.

Q:  How have parks been a part of your life, and why are they important to you? 

A:  I grew up in Falcon Heights, the daughter of two urban and regional planners, so I have a deep appreciation for civic spaces and their essential role in our communities and public life. I got my start playing mini-soccer when I was three at a community park, and I worked for Roseville Parks and Recreation throughout high school. For me, parks are also a connection to nature. Growing up, we visited nature centers, hiked and camped regularly and after college I worked year-round at an environmental education center in northern Minnesota. I met my partner while working in the Boundary Waters. So now, I love the chance to reconnect with nature in our parks, to step inside a stand of beautiful trees and feel a small bit of wilderness in the city. 

Q:  Let’s ask a specific (and selfish) question: Will you fund additional pickleball courts? 

A:  Ha. Is there a community need for pickleball courts? I’m sure that’s a complicated question and one that I will hear a lot about from folks in the next year! As with any park asset, it’s essential to have courts that are high-quality, safe and accessible. But where and when depends on what is needed in community at this moment. I appreciate that the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is specifically managing both its financial resources and planning capacity to address racial and economic equity across our city. We need to have a critical eye on how disparities in funding and energy for parks projects might perpetuate the broader racial and economic gaps we are facing in our city.

With that in mind, pickleball courts and play are an important part of our parks system today and one we have supported. In 2023, a People for Parks Fund grant helped provide free pickle ball equipment and instruction to new players at Folwell Park.

Q:  We wish you much success! How may we follow your news?

A:  You can sign up for our monthly E-Newsletter at mplsparksfundation.org, where we highlight upcoming events and programs, news and updates on current park projects (including North Commons Park), and stories from park-users and supporters.

You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram, LinkedIn and X @mplsparksfndtn. 

Know Your Local Dive Bar - A Discussion with The Terminal Bar Manager, Joe Fleming

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

The Terminal Bar opened in 1932, and according to their website, has been ‘Classic Nord East’ since that time. We talked to Joe Fleming, third generation managing the bar, about the history, ambiance and fun weekly events happening at 409 E Hennepin Avenue. Sounds like a great spot to me!

Above, Joe Fleming at The Terminal Bar

Q: The Terminal Bar is the oldest operating business in Old Town Minneapolis and has been family-owned since 1932. Can you please give us the history of your family’s ownership of The Terminal Bar? 

A: On March 21, 1932, my maternal grandparents Frank and Joann Narog, opened The Terminal Bar. They opened the bar so their friends could have someplace to go to relax, have a good time, and have a “cold one” or two. In 1965, my parents, C.G. “Flem” and Annette Fleming, purchased the bar from her parents.  My Dad had just gotten out of the Marines and the timing was right. In 2019, my Mom broke her hip and asked me if I wanted to manage the bar. Since I was already planning to retire from my day job in July 2023, I accepted her offer. While I manage the bar, my Mom who just turned 86, still owns the business (my Dad “Flem” passed away on May 14, 2016). 

When you’ve been in business for 93 years, I’m absolutely positive my grandparents and parents faced numerous challenges they had to overcome, too many to name. They had to continually come up with new and creative ideas to overcome the challenges and stay in business. Like everyone else in the city, the challenges we currently face are never-ending construction and lack of parking.

Q:  Did you consider another career or did you know at any early age that you would continue the family business?

A:  I did not know that I would eventually be the manager of the bar. I had a successful 28-year career working as a forensic auditor for the Department of Defense. I was looking for something to do in retirement, and this seemed like the perfect fit. 

Q:  I think it’s a great encore career. What does a typical day look like for you as manager of The Terminal Bar?

A: There is really no such thing as a typical day. I do most of the cleaning and stocking every day, plus all of the beer and liquor ordering. I also do a lot of running around picking things up that we run out of. I am usually at the bar on the weekends to help bartend or run the door or whatever else needs to be done. I have been fortunate to have such wonderful people come into my life since I started managing so we can keep the bar operating. 

Q:  How do you keep regulars coming back? Is there an ambiance you seek to maintain?

A:  For years we used to open at 8am and had numerous regulars from industry folks and retired people who worked and lived in the area. Since the area has changed, we had to pivot. Now we open at 5pm daily, and as always, are closed on Sundays. We have created a vibe that we think people will enjoy because believe it or not, some people still have never heard of The Terminal Bar. We also have fostered a very safe environment that is all-inclusive. Every night the vibe changes based on the crowd and who is performing on our stage, which I think is pretty cool and special. 

Q:  Congratulations to you for continuing the legacy of the family business! What are your future plans for The Terminal Bar?  

A:  We are looking forward to our 100-year anniversary, which is just 7 short years away. We enjoy every day and especially our customers. They are the reason we are still in business. Like the sign says above the front door inside the bar, “Through these doors walk the most beautiful people in the world, my customers.” 

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  You can find The Terminal Bar on Facebook or Instagram, and if anyone wants to perform on our stage on Friday or Saturday nights, they can send an email to terminalbar32@gmail.com. We also have a lot of fun during the week. We have Open Mic Music every Monday, Industrial Night every Tuesday, Live Music most Wednesdays, and Open Mic Comedy every Thursday. Come visit us at 409 E. Hennepin Avenue.

Meet the Mill City Farmers Market Vendors: Clover Bee Farm

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Editor's Note - This article was written prior to Clover Bee’s announcement that they will be stepping back from farming for the 2025 season. See the end of the article for details.

A Discussion with Andrew Hanson-Pierre, Co-Owner

Clover Bee Farm is the creation of Andrew and Margaret Hanson-Pierre. We talked to Andrew about his philosophy of “wondering about doing things differently,” their organic farm’s products, and where you might find their produce on the menu in Minneapolis restaurants. Here’s something you might really like - you may also camp at their farm!

Q:  You have said, “There is great value in wondering how things could be done differently.” Please talk to us about that notion and how you apply it at Clover Bee Farm.

A:  Working outside oftentimes by yourself leaves you to your thoughts. This can be a great time to reflect and meditate on so many things. You see redundancies in what you do, however that doesn’t necessarily mean you change how you do things. We’re creatures of habit, and changing things can be difficult. But when you do change something, that oftentimes opens doors to other changes. Margaret came from a background in farming where everything was done by hand, whereas I come from a background in farming that was very mechanized. That meant we approached planting, seeding, weeding, and harvesting very differently. We both brought good approaches, but maybe things didn’t work out as best they could at the scale we were at. It wasn’t until we hit “walls” that we stopped ourselves and examined things to change how we farm. We would seek guidance from fellow farmers to see how we could change practices. By the time we made it to now, 10 seasons, we have gone from farming 4+ acres with a tractor to farming 2 acres mostly by hand. That translates to going from doing a 30-member CSA and two farmers markets to doing a 65-member CSA and a single, but very successful, farmer’s market (2023).

Q:  What do you produce on Clover Bee Farm?

A:  We grow wholesome organic vegetables that are unique compared to many other growers. Our choices in varieties are inspired by the markets of Europe and dishes all across the world. People seek out our farm because we grow the weird things. We make sure that while these vegetables may look different, they always taste amazingly. We’re adventurous eaters and we always appreciate a challenging dish to make. So, when we try out a new variety of a vegetable, we prepare it and eat it so we can share that first-hand experience with our CSA members and market customers.

Above - high tunnels and harvested garlic. Below - a display of beautiful produce awaiting shoppers at the Mill City Farmers Market.

Q:  Do you farm year-round?

A:  We farm 10-ish months of the year. We harvest crops out in the field (our high tunnels) into December, transition into harvesting pea shoots and other small greens type of plants during the really cold months, and then we are seeding things in the ground (in our high tunnels) as early as the 2nd week of February. But farming isn’t just working with soil in winter. We’re also bookkeeping, crop planning, ordering seeds and other supplies, reading/learning about some new tactic to managing a farm, updating our website and online presence. It’s a lot that goes on year-round. 

Q:  Your website mentions that you have several wholesale partners – Sanjusan, Northern Fires Pizza and Laune Bread – what do you supply to these Minneapolis restaurants? 

A:  We supply the more unique items those particular restaurants are seeking. Mostly culinary herbs like basil, shiso, and parsley. But we also sell cherry and plum sized tomatoes, eggplant, and specialty greens like frisée. 

Q:  What is Hipcamp and how does Clover Bee Farm participate?

A: Hipcamp is the Airbnb of the camping world. We host campers in tents, pop up campers and the occasional RV. We offer our farm as a site for people to spend a night, or many nights, camping. We’re just far enough away from the city that we have minimal light pollution, we’re not in a flight path, and we’re also far enough away from a major road that it’s relatively quiet here. Those three things equate to an area that is quiet, calming, and a great place to see the stars. 

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  We are fairly active on our Instagram, which gets forwarded to our Facebook page. We also put out a newsletter through our website. Following us on Instagram is probably the best way to keep up with what we’re doing. We try to share both the good and the bad of farm life there. Every Friday we have a 6-10 slide show on our Instagram’s stories where we recap the week’s highlights. That’s always a great way to follow the farm’s progress through the season.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Editor's Note - Recently Andrew and Margaret announced, with heavy hearts, that they will be stepping away from the MCFM: 

“Farming requires planning ahead. As does running any business and we wanted to notify our customers, who have so generously supported us all these years, that we need a break. Ultimately we wouldn’t have gotten to where we are today without all of our supporters. It’s with tears in our eyes that we extend gratitude and big hugs to you all. Thank you for seeing in us sometimes what we could not see in ourselves. Thank you for the no interest loan for a tractor when we wanted to expand our growing operations, thank you for the 50 dollars that you donated when our cooler broke in the middle of summer. Your generosity has made our farm what it is. Keep making a difference in ways that you can, the world needs hope and kindness.”

Farming is not for the faint of heart. Every Saturday morning I'm saddened to see people walk away from the MCFM with just a pastry and a coffee - no veggies or fruit, no eggs, meat or bread - nothing but a drink and a roll. If nothing else, please take a moment to acknowledge and thank the vendors. Better yet, support them!

Mini Mia – Free Educational Program for the Very Youngest of Museum Goers

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A Discussion with Abigail Penders, Youth & Family Programs Specialist

Mini Mia offers a brand new, free educational program for the very youngest of museum goers. It’s offered the first Wednesday of the month from 10:15-11:15am. Registration is required. We talked to Abigail Penders, Program Specialist, about how this program came to be and the components of what you and your child will experience. Make new friends and introduce your child to the wonders of art in a comfortable, kid-friendly setting.

Abigail PendersQ:  Please tell us about the history of Mini Mia. What inspired the creation of this program?

A:  Mini Mia is a new free program at Minneapolis Institute of Art, launched in May of this year, designed for caregivers and their little ones (from birth to five years old). This program engages intergenerational learning in our galleries and through movement. Family Days have been a staple program at Mia for many years, but I noticed at those events, those with the youngest ages of kids were not as comfortable or involved as parents with older children. This led to creating a program to help those parents and caregivers feel comfortable bringing their youngest kids to an art museum! Part of our youth and family programming is making the art in our galleries and exhibitions accessible to a younger audience, through art making and reflection.

Q:  How do you incorporate educational content into your programming while keeping it entertaining for children?

A:  We incorporate educational content in our programming through play and hands-on activities like art making, or watching performances with contented themes. For example, during a Family Day, if we’re learning about an artist who uses screen printing, families will try the process of screen printing in our studios here at Mia to understand how the art was made, and have fun experimenting with art making as well.

Q:  Do you collaborate with educators and schools to enhance the educational value of your programs?

A:  Yes, we collaborate with teaching artists and educators, who help design those projects that engage families with our collection.

Q:  What strategies do you use to make museum visits enjoyable and interactive for families with children?

A:  Through free programming opportunities, families and youth engage with our collection and can learn in unique ways. Our programs dive into our collection and provide a more interactive experience with the museum. Our Mini Mia program brings families into the galleries to take a tour specially designed for young children. This tour involves asking questions, scavenger hunts, teaching tools like replicas of the art on display, and games. This way, younger audiences are encouraged to interact with art in a playful way.

Q:  Are there any upcoming initiatives or new programs specifically designed for children that you're excited about?

A:  Mini Mia just launched in May, and we’re excited to have babies and toddlers in our galleries, learning about art through play and movement! This program is aimed at helping caregivers and giving parents the tools they need to comfortably attend Mia and have an enriching and enjoyable experience. Stay tuned for more events and programs!

Q:  How do you ensure inclusivity and diversity in your children's programming to cater to a wide range of backgrounds and interests?

A:  With a diverse, global collection of art, we’re able to design programming that encompasses a diverse range of experiences for youth and families. We also work with many organizations and local artists that design art making activities and performances so our audience is exposed to a rich cultural experience.

Q:  Can you tell us about those partnerships or collaborations that enhance Mia’s programming offerings for children?

A:  At Mini Mia, we work with YoungDance, a local arts organization in the Twin Cities that designs a movement component to the program based on the art in the galleries the attendees saw that same day. Our work with outside organizations with specialties helps us give our attendees a diverse and enriching experience they can’t get anywhere else. For Family Day, we work with many arts organizations and local artists.

Q:  This is all so innovative and exciting for young children. How may we follow your news?

A:  Stay connected with us at artsmia.org, and join our email newsletter!

August is National Tree Check Month - A Discussion with Tyler Hesseltine, Master Arborist

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Tyler HesseltineAccording to the USDA, August is National Tree Check Month, and Minneapolis has an estimated 400,000 trees. Now is a great time to take a few minutes to check trees for invasive pests, diseases, and potentially dangerous branches in our yards and neighborhoods.

We talked to Arborist Tyler Hesseltine about things to check during August. He is a Board-Certified Master Arborist and a certified Tree Risk Assessment professional, so he really knows trees! Here are Tyler's tips for assessing your trees, along with other info: 

5 Steps to Checking Your Trees

1. Inspect the canopy.

· Removing dead, diseased, or unsafe branches helps trees keep a safe structure and tolerate high winds.

· Clean up unsafe, broken or hanging branches by pruning… but keep your feet on the ground! Any pruning that cannot be managed from the ground should be handled by a certified arborist.

2. Look for signs of heat stress.

· Look for wilted, drooping, or curling leaves with brown edges; premature fall color or early leaf drop.

· The fix? Water deeply and slowly in the mornings; about an inch of water is good for mature trees.

· Mulch also helps reduce moisture loss and regulate soil temperature.

3. Check for pests and diseases.

· Check the leaves for chewing, discoloration, or egg masses.

· The bark or trunks may show signs of holes, oozing sap or resin, or tunnel-like patterns.

· For diseases, frequent signs include dark spots, odd colors or a distorted shape on your trees’ leaves.

4. Fertilize.

· Apply a slow-release fertilizer to help keep trees nourished all season long. Come next spring, your trees will be blooming and ready to show off.

5. Protect & Brace.

· Cable or brace weak limbs before colder weather rolls around.

· Identify the areas of concern, then reach out to an arborist for a solution that will protect the tree in high winds and storms.

Emerald Ash BorerBy taking a few moments to inspect your trees during National Tree Check Month, you can significantly contribute to the health of your local ecosystem and ensure the longevity of your own trees. Early detection of pests, diseases, or structural issues can save you time, money, and heartache in the long run. Remember, healthy trees provide essential benefits such as clean air, shade, and wildlife habitat. Let’s work together to protect these invaluable natural resources.

I am District Manager for Davey Tree Services. We’d be so happy to consult with you on any tree-related questions you may have. Find the closest Davey Tree Service office to you at www.davey.com/about/contact-us.

The above tree is damaged beyond saving.

This tree suffered draught damage.

Meet the Mill City Farmers Market Vendors Series - Mary Dirty Face Farm

Article by Becky Fillinger

Rachel does a brisk business at the Mill City Farmers Market. photo Mill City Times

A discussion with Rachel Henderson, Owner, operator and orchardist of Mary Dirty Face Farm

Rachel and Anton Henderson’s farm is located in Dunn County, WI on the northern edge of the Driftless region. Mary Dirty Face Farm is a certified organic farm and they produce fruit in abundance. We talked to Rachel about the inspiration for becoming an organic farmer, their wide variety of farm products and all the wonderful organizations out here to support their efforts. You should visit them at the Mill City Farmers Market – where else will you find four varieties of currants and Arkansas Black apples? 

Q:  Please tell us the origin story of the farm’s name – Mary Dirty Face Farm. 

A:  We found it in an online history of our township, while we were learning about our new community, and were drawn to a name that would stand out to people.

Q:  I think it worked! What inspired you to become an organic fruit farmer, and how did you get started in this field?

A:  We purchased the land that would become our farm in 2008, and as we started imagining what it would become, we enrolled in the Farm Beginnings program with Land Stewardship Project, and attended field days and on-farm events with many different groups. We were drawn to fruit early on, due to our plans to transition to the farm over the course of several years, as fruit was something we could start planting and care for before we lived here full time. It was also a good fit with the characteristics of our particular spot. We have a farm full of rolling hills, sloping in different directions. Most of it was in a hayfield when we purchased it, and gradually establishing a perennial crop didn't require us to till up all of the acreage to plant. As we started learning more about the possibilities of organic fruit growing in the area, we got pretty excited, and really leaned into a focus on fruit.

photo Mill City Times

Above and below, displays of the beautiful fruit offered by Mary Dirty Face Farm.

photo provided

Q:  What varieties of fruit do you grow on your farm, and are there any lesser-known or heirloom varieties that you particularly enjoy cultivating?

A:  We grow currants (black, red, pink, and white ones), blueberries, gooseberries, raspberries, plums, pears, and apples. We have over 60 varieties of apples, including many heirloom and unusual cultivars. In the fall at markets, you can often find 6 or 7 different apples at our stand, available for sampling, and we love talking about the varieties, and sharing all the distinctive flavors with customers. Introducing people to berries like black currants has been a really rewarding experience, and it's so fun to talk to the people who come back for them year after year. Some apples we grow, like Frostbite or Grimes Golden, have become big favorites of customers, but would be really hard to find in any grocery store. We also love sharing some of the really weird ones, like St. Edmund's Russet, Hubberston Nonesuch, and Arkansas Black. Mill City Farmers Market is a fantastic place to bring those experiences to people!

Q:  Are there any innovative techniques or technologies that you've implemented to improve the sustainability and productivity of your farm?

A:  Diversity is a big part of how we manage our farm. A diverse selection of different types of fruit means that we have some buffer against any one particular pest or weather event, since not everything is affected by the same problems. A diversity of varieties offers us a market niche, and is a really fun way to explore the vast world of fruit. We also focus on biodiversity around our farm, and have planted wildflowers and non-fruit trees and shrubs to offer forage and habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects. We also have left or encouraged wild areas for birds, amphibians, and other wildlife.

photo provided

Q:  How do you handle soil health and fertility in your orchards?

In the field - photo providedA:  Everything on our farm is perennial, including all our production crops, as well as pasture where we rotationally graze cattle for a neighbor during the growing season. Apart from initial planting, we do not have open soil that's subject to erosion, and almost never till, allowing the soil food web to grow and thrive uninterrupted. We bring in compost periodically to boost soil fertility. We also use foliar nutrient sprays on everything we grow, which include a liquid fish product, seaweed, molasses, and (depending on the crop) micronutrients and minerals such as calcium, zinc, and boron. Foliar sprays allow the plants to take up needed or deficient nutrients quickly, helping our fruit production immediately, while building soil organic matter supports our plants in the long term.

Q:  Please tell our readers about other practices you’re proud of at Mary Dirty Face Farm. 

A:  Beyond the good work we do growing sustainable perennial crops, we're very involved in our local community, and the farming community in Wisconsin and the region. We are active members of Wisconsin Farmers Union, the Organic Fruit Growers Association and Land Stewardship Project, and have been very involved with Savanna Institute, Marbleseed, and other groups and committees. Building community around food and farming benefits all of us in ways that go beyond promoting our businesses, and is a powerful way to create the world we want to live in. 

Q:  How may we follow your news? 

A:  You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram! We're at Mill City Farmers Market every Saturday July through October, and many of the indoor winter markets as well.

Two Mill District Restaurants are Competing in the Month-long August Twin Cities Vegan Challenge

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

The champion of the month-long competition will be crowned at Twin Cities Veg Fest at Harriet Island Regional Park on Sunday, September 22

Twenty-six Twin Cities chefs will add all-new plant-based dishes to their menus this August as part of the 6th annual Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge. The competition, organized by local non-profit Compassionate Action for Animals, invites food lovers of all dietary preferences to explore vegan cuisine and rate the dishes online for a chance to win prizes.

Karee Curry from SawatdeeLaura Matanah, Executive Director of Compassionate Action for Animals, notes, “The Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge makes it exciting to try new dishes that are good for you, your taste buds, and the planet. It’s an opportunity for everyone, vegan and non-vegan alike, to discover how fun and delicious plant-based food can be. I’m proud that these 26 Twin Cities restaurants are helping to show that vegan food is for everyone to enjoy.” 

Two of the participating restaurants are located in the Mill District – Umbra and Sawatdee Thai Cuisine. We spoke with them to learn more about their offerings and the festival.

Cyndy Harrison, Owner/GM of Sawatdee Thai Cuisine, is proud to offer Vegan Yellow Curry with Fresh Tofu.  She told us that “Karee Curry is the Thai name and the dish has s a vegan curry paste, with coconut milk, fresh firm tofu, peppers, carrot and peapods. It is served with white rice. Visit us at 607 Washington Avenue S in August to try the entrée – we hope you’ll love it and vote for Sawatdee and this dish in the challenge.”

Chef’s Choice Gazpacho from Umbra

Ackee Coconut Pappardelle from Umbra

Umbra's Blue Pea Flower Tapioca Pudding

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Umbra is offering a three-course vegan meal. The first course is Chef’s Choice Gazpacho soup, followed by Ackee Coconut Pappardelle, and finally a Blue Pea Flower Tapioca Pudding. Executive Chef Kevin Aho elaborated on the pappardelle, “I wanted to create a vegan dish with no meat substitute. A dish just to celebrate the diversity of flora. This dish combines pappardelle from Italy with ackee and scotch bonnet peppers from Jamaica. We welcome diners to visit us at 708 S 3rd Street to try this menu and to vote for Umbra in the Vegan Chef Challenge.”

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The 26 participating restaurants are:

• All Love This Burger (ALTBurger)
• Barbette
• The Block Food + Drink
• Book Club
• Duke’S on 7
• Gigi’s Cafe
• Hard Times Cafe
• heal mpls
• Herbie Butcher’s Fried Chicken
• Hi Flora!
• Himalayan Restaurant
• The Howe Daily Kitchen & Bar
• Lulu EthioVegan Cuisine
• Nala’s Kitchen
• Namaste Cafe
• Pat’s Tap
• Pinoli
• Pub 819
• Reverie Cafe + Bar
• Sawatdee Thai Cuisine
• Stanley’s NE Bar Room
• Thai Garden
• Tori Ramen
• Trio Plant-Based
• Umbra Minneapolis
• Vitalist by Sarah H

Food enthusiasts can follow contest updates and discover new dishes on Facebook and Instagram.

Diners are encouraged to cast their vote at exploreveg.org/tcveganchef and post photos of their meals online for a chance to win gift cards and restaurant merchandise.

Small Business Spotlight: Strive Publishing & Bookstore

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos by Dusty Dembley

Mary Taris

A Discussion with Founder/CEO, Mary Taris

August is National Black Business Month. Let’s take this opportunity to get to know and celebrate an exemplary small business owner and entrepreneur, Mary Taris, Founder and CEO of Strive Publishing & Bookstore. We talked to her about the challenges and joys of operating a bookstore downtown, supporting unrepresented authors and writing contests. Pay her shop a visit at 901 Nicollet Mall. Buy a book and support a small locally-owned business.

Q:  A Star Tribune article from earlier this year noted that Strive Bookstore is part of an intentional transformation of downtown to promote locally-owned, small businesses. Could you tell us your experience as a retailer downtown this year? Have the big events - Pride, U.S. Gymnastics Team Trials, Taste of Minnesota - driven traffic to your stores?

A:  As a retailer in downtown Minneapolis this year I have experienced some ups and downs, and I have learned some valuable lessons.

I love having my bookstore in the beautiful Young-Quinlan Building and I appreciate the owners, Bob and Sue Greenberg for opening up this opportunity. Thanks to my in-house designer, Dusty Dembley, the bookstore has a warm and welcoming vibe with furnishings that highlight the historic aesthetics of the building. It has been wonderful meeting customers who have fond memories of the Young Quinlan building. I am frequently told that the bookstore is beautiful, and many customers say, “thank you for being here” and “it’s great to have a bookstore downtown again.” One customer, Ms. Jewelene McIntyre, who loves books and loves to help has become our bookstore grandma. It is a joy to see her interact with customers, and she gives wise advice. I have met many local authors who come into the bookstore to have us carry their books or host a book launch. I am very proud of our “Local Authors” bookshelf. Neighboring restaurants and other businesses have sent customers our way who ask them about where to shop, which makes me happy to be part of the downtown community.

As a small business owner, I am grateful to have the opportunity to potentially be part of the transformation of downtown, but I must be realistic. There is no guarantee that the Minneapolis Downtown Council will continue the Chameleon Shoppes program. Thanks to major events and conferences happening downtown, bookstore sales go up at those times. It can be scary when 90% of our customers are from out of town. Sales go way down when there’s nothing going on downtown. The challenge is to grow the number of local repeat customers when I have a niche bookstore. Another challenge is building our inventory selection. I am trying to find a balance between underrepresented voices and the best sellers that folks see on television and social media.

One of the main lessons I’ve learned this year is that marketing is key. You can have the best retail spot in town, but if folks don’t know you’re there you don’t grow your business.

Q:  You have an education background. What inspired you to take the leap to open your own business, Strive Publishing?

A:  As an educator, I struggled year after year to find contemporary children’s books that my Black students could relate to. I was frustrated because I knew that my students (like me when I was a child) needed to see themselves represented in the books they read. That frustration made me want to do something about it, something big, and that’s what led me to start a book publishing company. I figured that publishing could be a way to get more books by and about Black people into the world.

Above and below - Strive Bookstore's welcoming environment awash in natural light awaits you at 901 Nicollet Mall in the historic Young-Quinlan Building.

Q:  Your store’s tagline is “breaking barriers, book by book.” Could you speak to us about that a bit?

A:  Book publishers are considered the gatekeepers of the stories that influence society. In my research prior to launching Strive Publishing, I learned that there are many barriers that keep many voices from being published. Those barriers are related to the lack of diversity within the book publishing industry and the dominance of the five largest and most influential publishing companies in America. Specifically, the manuscript submission process and the requirement for authors to have an agent are barriers to authors with limited resources. By accepting unsolicited manuscripts with no agent involved, Strive Publishing is breaking barriers to publishing.

Q:  What role do you see your publishing company and book store playing in promoting diversity and inclusivity in children’s literature?

A:  I see both Strive Publishing and Strive Bookstore as community connecting opportunities. I believe that books play a major role in our lives, introducing us to new places, new experiences, and teaching us about ourselves and others. I want Strive Bookstore to be a space where folks of all backgrounds can come together and share the joy of books and literary events. Especially for children who benefit from what books offer, what professor Rudine Sims Bishop refers to as “windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors.” I want children to have access to books with windows to view the world, mirrors to see themselves affirmed, and sliding glass doors to imagine being part of the various worlds they read about.

Q:  Can you share a memorable moment or interaction you’ve had with a customer that stands out to you?

A:  We had a local author visit the bookstore to read their children’s book. It happened to be a day when there was not much going on downtown and my daughter and grandson were the only ones in attendance. So, I went outside and asked two young ladies if they wanted to join us. They got excited and got their friend to come to the book reading too. We all had a wonderful time!

Q:  You sponsor writing contests! Please tell us more about the Black Voices in Children’s Literature Writing Contest. 

A:  In 2018, I attended a publishers roundtable discussion on diversity in children’s book publishing where I met Judy Galbraith, the owner of Free Spirit Publishing. Since I was new to the publishing industry and Judy had been publishing for thirty-five years, I asked her if she would be interested in finding a way to work together to create opportunities for Black children’s book authors. Judy hosted a meeting at Free Spirit Publishing where we came up with the idea to co-sponsor a writing contest.

The writing contest gives Black writers access to the possibility of becoming a published children’s book author. The first two years the contest was for Minnesota residents, the next two years it grew to regional, and last year we went national. Winners receive cash prizes and the possibility of having their children’s book published.

Q:  We wish you the best during Black Business Month and every month of the year. How may we follow your news? 

A:  You can follow us on Instagram and check out our website and Facebook.