Douglas K. Amdahl Public Attorney Career Achievement Award Caps Off a Successful Law Career for Mill District Resident Ric Rosow

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided by Ric Rosow

Ric with his son Michael and wife Vicki at the award ceremony. 

In 2022, Mill District resident Ric Rosow was awarded the Douglas K. Amdahl Public Attorney Career Achievement Award by the Minnesota State Bar Association in recognition to dedication and commitment to public service and the public practice of law.

Q:  Congratulations! Please tell us more about the award and your years of law practice that led to the award.

The award is named after Justice Douglas K. Amdahl, a Minnesota Supreme Court Justice. Justice Amdahl’s career involved 34 years of public service including being the Chief Justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Most of the attorneys who receive the Justice Douglas K. Amdahl Award are attorneys who have worked as employees for governmental entities or for non-profit entities. My situation as an attorney in private practice was different. I was nominated by the General Counsel of the League of Minnesota Cities who asked a partner in our firm to co-sponsor the nomination with her. Both were familiar with my career and public service.

January 31st was my last day as an attorney in my law firm. On that day I sent out an email on the City Attorney listserv announcing my full retirement I received many responses to my announcement. I have selected one to share with you, the response from the General Counsel of the LMC touched my heart. She wrote:

"Ric - We are all sad to see you "fully retired from the practice of law" but very excited for you as you dive more deeply into your other passions of photography and travel. An "icon" of the municipal law community is a term bestowed on a select few. As you see from the comments today made by Minnesota's city attorneys on this forum, you have earned that title. Congrats! On behalf of the entire legal team here at LMC – thank you, thank you, thank you and all the best."

My public service included service to variety entities. I served a term as president of both the Environmental Law Section and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Sections of the State Bar Association. I served a term as president of the Minnesota City Attorney’s Association. I represented on a pro bono basis several non-profit entities including two fire fighter associations, a non-profit that provides aid to two townships in South Africa and a non-profit formed by me and my wife that provided aid to people living in a province in a country in Asian.  

In addition to the non-profit work, I assisted other City Attorneys in Minnesota. I was recognized at a city attorney conference as the city attorney making the most responses from faraway places around the world. The most remote response location was from Asia while in a Nomad tent. I respond with such frequency that some city attorneys would contact me directly to seek my advice, rather than submit the question to the group.

Ric in the South Africa township of Malungeni, traveling with Arm in Arm in Africa to distribute food and clothing, and provide financial assistance to the township. 

In North Minneapolis with the Mobile Loaves and Fishes truck delivering food to first responders on the day the tornado tore through North Minneapolis. The MLF team and a pizza delivery service were the first to bring food into the area.

My public service extended beyond my work as an attorney. I was elected twice to the Minnetonka School Board and was Chair of the Board for 3 years. I served on the Finance Committee for our church for 10 years and was chair for about 6 years. I also assisted in making Mobile Loaves and Fishes Minneapolis a reality in Minneapolis. Our involvement in Mobile Loaves and Fishes led me to recommend to my law firm that in place of giving fruit baskets to our clients as a holiday gift in December, that we take the same amount of money and donate it to Mobile Loaves and Fishes. As a law firm we have donated over $30,000 to Mobile Loaves and Fishes. The firm continues making this donation.

Ric and Vicki on their first trip to Tibet, where they stayed in a 500 year old mud home with a family. In this photo they are wearing clothing provided by their host.Finally, my non-legal work in the non-profit area would not be complete without telling you about the non-profit Vicki and I formed “Companions In Compassion.” In 2009 Vicki and I traveled to the country in Asia where the Dalai Lama is from, our guide was a woman Vicki met in an art class three years before. Our guide worked with Buddhist monks in Dharmsala, India who had fled their home country, helping them write grants for improving their living situation. We were in the country for two weeks and spent one of those weeks in a small village in a mud home. Many residents came to thank our guide for her support. We were guests at both a monastery of Buddhist monks and a convent of Buddhist nuns. We stayed over-night at the convent. The nuns told us they wanted to learn English. When we returned to the U.S. Vicki and I both took classes in teaching English as a second language. Vicki volunteered for two years teaching English as a second language at two schools. In preparation for our return trip, we acquired through donations 12 laptop computers, two iPads, one desk computer, paper, pencils and materials to teach English, clothing for 100 children and funds to pay tuition for children’s schooling. With this assistance one young person in the village completed school from elementary to a Post Graduate Degree. We returned with our guide in 2011. We attempted 5 different routes to get to the city we visited in 2009. Four times we were stopped by the police after six hours or more of driving and sent back to our starting point. The fifth time we were allowed to stay in a village where we had been stopped. My most memorable experiences were riding a horse through the mountain grasslands and spending the night in a tent with a nomad family and 24 baby yaks. Vicki joined with villagers in sewing prayer flags onto thick ropes to be placed high up on the mountain overlooking the village.

Q:  You were also recognized by the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative. You received the Fireman’s Axe which is inscribed with “We appreciate your tireless dedication to improving the lives of Minnesota’s firefighters. Many thanks for everything.” Please tell us about your work on behalf of firefighters.

A:  I was asked by the Eden Prairie Fire Chief if I would provide pro bono services to form a new non-profit, Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE). The purpose of the organization is to provide firefighters with the tools to prioritize and protect their health, specifically in the areas of Cardiac, Cancer and Mental Health. After forming the non-profit and obtaining Federal 501(c)(3) status I served as legal counsel on a pro bono basis. 

Q:  You’re retired now from the practice of law. Are you still involved in supporting firefighters?

A:  Yes. Subsequent to receiving the award, a fireman from Chanhassen, Doug Foote, volunteered to walk in fire gear from the southwest corner of the State to the Capital grounds in St. Paul to raise funds for and awareness of MnFIRE and its mission. I volunteered to photograph the last three days of his walk. The very first city did not have a big turnout of firefighters to greet him but the fire chief’s wife walked with him to the next city. At each succeeding city there was a larger turnout. At the end of the walk Doug was awarded the Firemen’s Axe. See news report on the walk at this link.

Taking photographs in the Dolomites in July, 2022.

Hiking in Zion National Park and taking photographs.

Q:  I first knew you as a talented photographer, supplying many fabulous photographs to the Mill City Times. How may we follow your news as a photographer?

A:  I post my new work to my photography website, the Tres Leches Art Gallery website, my professional page on Facebook, and on Instagram. I also display my work at the Tres Leches Art Gallery, Studio 173, located in the Northrup King Building in NE Minneapolis. Tres Leches Art Gallery is open Friday from noon to 4 pm; Saturday from noon to 5 pm; and the first Thursday of each month from 5 pm to 9 pm.

At a fund raiser for Peter Yorrow’s Anti Bullying Foundation where his donation was rewarded with signatures on his guitar by Peter Yarrow and Paul Stokes of Peter, Paul and Mary.

Miller Lite Free Rides Teams up with MTC on St. Patrick's Day, March 17

Twin Cities locals can count themselves lucky this St. Patrick’s Day as Molson Coors will partner with Metro Transit to offer free public transportation through the Miller Lite Free Rides program. Ensuring a safe transportation option is available to those having a shamrockin’ good time, fare will be free beginning March 17 at 6 p.m., until the end of regular service.

St. Patrick’s Day Free Rides is the first event in the 2023 annual Free Rides program — part of Molson Coors’ three-decade-old tradition of promoting alcohol responsibility by helping individuals celebrate safely on major holidays and celebrations throughout the year. In 2022, free transportation was offered in nine different cities through Molson Coors’ partnerships with local mass transit. This year, merrymakers across the country can look forward to free rides during the Kentucky Derby, the NFL season and New Year’s Eve. Since the inception of the Free Rides program, safe transportation has been provided to more than 8 million people.

“We are excited to continue our longstanding partnership with Molson Coors and help provide people access to safe and reliable transportation as they celebrate St. Patrick’s Day,” said Metro Transit interim general manager Lesley Kandaras. “Since 1997, the Miller Lite Free Rides program has become a dependable option to get Minneapolis residents to and from their holiday destinations.”

Visit the Metro Transit website to review transit routes and plan a safe ride home.

The Classical Music Project Presents Beethoven REimagined, April 23 at Westminster

The Classical Music Project has announced their inaugural concert, Beethoven REimagined, will take place at 3:00pm on April 23 at Westminster Hall, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 Marquette.

This all-Beethoven event includes the Minnesota Premiere of Sonata for Orchestra, the brilliant transformation of Beethoven’s Sonata no. 7 for Violin and Piano into a showpiece for a much larger ensemble, arranged by Garrett Schumann and Yaniv Segal. Also programmed is Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.4 Op. 58, showcasing Steinway Artist Ignacio “Nachito” Herrera. Conductor/composer Yaniv Segal will be on the podium throughout.

The Classical Music Project is an emerging musical venture, created by professional musicians who are passionate about music composed primarily between the 17th and 19th centuries (but not only), and want to bring it to life in delightful new ways. The Classical Music Project aims to showcase outstanding local, national, and international talent in flexible configurations, ranging from one solo player up to a 33-piece classical-sized orchestra. Through engaging, thought-provoking, and carefully crafed programs, The Classical Music Project aspires to create an intimate, approachable, and moving musical experience that both delights each listener of the audience and celebrates live music.

Hosted within the Incubator Program of Springboard for the Arts, The Classical Music Project is guided by a spirit that older music can be made wonderfully new again.

The Sonata for Orchestra was arranged in Beethoven’s style, from the Sonata Op. 30 No.2 for Violin and Piano, by Garrett Schumann and Yaniv Segal. The collaborators have by effect created a new C minor symphony that foreshadows Beethoven’s dramatic Symphony No. 5. The orchestration requires capable musicians at every stand in the ensemble. The Sonata for Orchestra is available on a recording with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. 

Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.4 Op.58 in G Major is one of the pinnacles of the piano concerto repertoire. The concerto’s opening was considered radical when Beethoven premiered himself in 1807. His early biographer suggested the slow movement’s interplay between strings and piano conjures the imagery of Orpheus calming the mythical Furies. The elegant almost Haydn-like last movement dazzles with a rhythmic theme. For many audiences, the cadenzas alone make the performances of this masterpiece fulfilling.

Steinway Artist Ignacio “Nachito” Herrera is a master of Afro-Cuban jazz as well as Classical music, winner of Emmys, Grammys, and Minnesota Music Awards. He has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra among many others and made his solo debut at the age of 12, performing Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No.2 with the Havana Symphony Orchestra. In January 2023, he headlined the Havana International Jazz Festival for the second consecutive year.

Yaniv Segal has achieved critical success since childhood for his work as a conductor, composer, actor, and violinist. A rising star who is “redefining classical music” (Esquire Magazine), Yaniv is Music Director of the Salina Symphony, Conductor Laureate and Artistic Advisor of the Chelsea Symphony, and former Assistant Conductor of the Naples Philharmonic and Detroit Symphony Orchestras.

The Orchestra of The Classical Music Project is comprised of highly accomplished local, professional musicians who have performed with all the major musical organizations in Minnesota, as well as other distinguished ensembles across the U.S. 

Tickets:

$50 Premium seating /$20 General seating. Purchase tickets online, or call the Dakota Box Office at 612-332-JAZZ (5299). Attendees have the option of parking in the Westminster Garage beneath the Church, entrance on Alice Rainville Place, $10.

CEO Now – Free Program Available to Eligible Hennepin County Entrepreneurs

Article by Becky Fillinger, photo provided

Zack AvreDid you know there’s a program available for Hennepin County CEOs to grow their businesses, connect with coaching experts and meet local peers in the same business growth stage? We spoke with Zack Avre, Senior Economic Development Analyst for Hennepin County, to learn the details of CEO Now.

Q:  Who may apply for the CEO Now program?

A:  To be eligible, business owners must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be incorporated or operating in Hennepin County
• Have two years of operating history
• Employ at least one person other than the owner
• Report between $250,000 and $2 million in revenue
• Have a demonstrated desire to grow their business
• Be receptive to coaching, mentorship and collaborating with peers
• Prepare to commit up to 10 hours each month through the 7-month program

Q:  What is the cost to participants?

A:  Thanks to investments from Hennepin County, CEO Now is completely free for eligible business owners. The only cost is the time businesses choose to invest in their business.

Q:  What is the length of the program?

A:  The curriculum lasts seven months and includes 40 hours of in-class time led by an executive training coach, speakers and other advisors. Participants will also spend about 12 hours working with peer CEOs in the program to share experiences, learn from each and build a trusted network. The program will be offered three times between 2023 and 2024.

Q:  What is the genesis of the program? 

A:  This is a new program from Hennepin County. It comes out of the heritage of CEO Next, an ongoing regional program that caters to midsize or second-stage companies. Hennepin County’s Department of Community and Economic Development saw a need for that kind of executive-level training for younger businesses, too. It was designed to empower those growth-oriented business owners to reach the next level. Much of the program is focused on tools and skills needed to scale your business and helping owners approach their business systematically and strategically.

When owners leave the program, they will have a three-year strategic growth plan, a network of peers and local advisors, and the confidence to follow that strategic plan.

Q:  Who will advise the cohort?

A:  The program is facilitated by Interise, a national business executive training firm, and it builds on their StreetWise ‘MBA’ training program. The lead educator is Dr. Stephen Crawford, an experienced executive coach here in the Twin Cities. Participants will also learn from other professional advisors who will share their expertise in finance, marketing, procurement and other topics with the group. The peer network established through the program also serves as a layer of peer-to-peer advising.

Q:  Do you have businesses who are sponsoring CEO Now?

A:  There are no financial sponsors for this program. This program is funded completely by Hennepin County to help businesses grow, and to spur economic activity across the county.

Q:  How may we follow news of the program?

A:  To keep up with CEO Now and all business resources and programming from Hennepin County Economic Development, connect with the county via our website, newsletter, and social media:

CEO Now program page
Elevate Hennepin website
Hennepin County Economic Development website
Hennepin County Economic Development LinkedIn
Newsletter signup link
Our February newsletter and January newsletter featuring CEO NOW

FRGMNT COFFEE Comes to the Mill District Spring 2023

FRGMNT COFFEE is a multi-roaster cafe that is focused on bringing coffee and offerings from around the globe. FRGMNT COFFEE is owned by Ben Banse, a veteran of Twin Cities craft coffee, and his business partner Sarah Roehl. They opened the first cafe in late 2019 in the North Loop in the Nordic, 729 Washington Avenue. They added their second location in Spring 2022 in the One Southwest Crossing building in Eden Prairie, with a third location opened Riverplace in January 2023. They are now set to open their fourth location in the Mill District this Spring in Open Book, 1011 Washington Avenue S.

Open Book is a center for reading, writing, and book arts. It is a cornerstone of the Mill District and FRGMNT is excited to bring a cafe back to the space. The space is being designed by Christian Dean Architecture and will have several seating areas as well as bar seating with a front-row seat to the action.

This location will offer FRGMNT's rotating espresso and coffee offerings as well as a retail market, baked goods from Honey & Rye, and FRGMNT fares grab-and-go food.

Follow them on social at @frgmntcoffee.

NIEBNA and NEBA Sponsor Summer Fun Events

The Nicollet Island-East Bank Neighborhood Association and the Northeast Business Association are pleased to announce major summer fun events in the Nicollet Island-East Bank Neighborhood!

April 22, 2023 EARTH DAY Celebration and Neighborhood Clean-Up. Spend quality time with friends making sure the local community is cleaned up in honor of Earth Day. RSVP

June 23, 2023 DOG PARADE. This popular event returns! Show up at Riverplace on Main with your costumed canine and kids for a really fun parade and prize contests. RSVP

August 1, 2023 NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, Chute Square Park. Food, fun, and celebration of this great neighborhood with your friends and neighbors. RSVP

NIEBNA and NEBA welcome volunteers for each event - Sign up here. You can also keep up with NIEBNA on Twitter or Facebook.

Small Business Spotlight: Little Tijuana Neighborhood Lounge

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Travis SerbusTravis Serbus is co-owner of the revamped Little Tijuana, and he invites you to plan a visit to the new location at 17 E 26th Street. We talked to him about his interest in the restaurant business, the vision behind the restaurant’s rebirth and a drink you must try!

Q:  You’re owner or part owner of two Minneapolis restaurants, Petit Leon and Little Tijuana. What prompted your interest in restaurant ownership? How did you get your start in the restaurant business?

A:  I started working in restaurants when I was 15 years old. I started in the back of house washing dishes and line cooking before moving to front of house. I enjoyed the fast-paced environment, camaraderie, new friends, providing hospitality to guests. What prompted my interest in ownership was probably mostly hubris. As I got older my interest in ownership became things like providing well-paying restaurant careers and adding something unique to the culture of our city.

Q:  Little Tijuana was recently awarded “Best Comeback Bar“ by the 2022 Eater Awards – congratulations! The award mentions that you and your partners brought the restaurant roaring back to life with “scrappy panache.” Can you share with us the vision and philosophy your team had for revamping of Little Tijuana?

A:  We knew the previous history of Little Tijuana and wanted to hold true to some of the soul of the previous business but also put our own little twist on it. We wanted to ramp up the quality of the food and beverage programs but keep the relaxed atmosphere. We wanted co-owner Dan Manosack to have a platform for his cooking; we're really excited about his future. For the interior I tried to design it to feel like a southwest dive bar. Every aspect of the startup was totally DIY. I was the general contractor and designer, and did a lot of the interior work myself. I'm not qualified to do any of those things. Ultimately, we wanted to honor Little T's past while re-creating it for a new generation and provide something for the city that we didn't think existed anywhere.

Q:  Several articles about you mention that you are a cocktail aficionado. Do you agree with that label? How do you design a cocktail menu for your individual restaurant properties?

A:  I don't know about that label. I think I have a pretty decent palate and know how to set up a bar fairly well. I design each cocktail menu based on the restaurant concept and what the space of the bar allows. Things like the food offerings, how much we want to spend on labor, and beverage price points all factor into the cocktail menu. Little Tijuana was really fun to create because we were so handcuffed. We have a tiny 6-seat bar with hardly any backbar space and very little cold storage available, and we didn't have money to spend on redoing the bar or adding new equipment. We wanted to make an enjoyable and nostalgic cocktail menu with drinks that we're quick and easy to prepare to allow for us to only have one or two bartenders working because you can't fit anyone else behind that cramped bar. We can be at full capacity at the restaurant and one talented bartender can make drinks for that entire restaurant. I'm really proud of it.

Q:  What’s your favorite cocktail from all of your restaurants? Would you share the recipe with us? 

A:  I like all of the cocktails for different reasons, but I'm really into one at Petite Leon called Verde. It has a lot of different flavors going on but they all shine in their own way without any of them bullying the other ingredients. It's well balanced and it's very easy to drink. Here's the recipe:

3/4 oz Luna Cupreata Mezcal

3/4 oz Ida Graves Aquavit

3/4 oz Pineapple Syrup

1/2 oz Ancho Reyes Poblano Liqueur

   1 oz tomatillo juice

1/2 oz lime juice

Shaken and strained over ice and then topped with cava/sparkling wine.

Q:  Sounds exquisite! What’s on the horizon for you in 2023?

A:  We're working on a few things. Nothing that we can officially say yet but there are a couple new projects on the way.

Q:   We are interested – so how may we follow your news?

A:   Stop into the restaurants and say hi! Or, check Instagram.

New Minneapolis Park Markets Begin This Summer

Weekly Park Markets launch in June at Lake Harriet, Market Square, Water Works, Minnehaha Falls, and The Commons; Vendor applications are due March 31.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has announced new Minneapolis Park Markets launching at five parks in June! This new initiative will create attractions that enhance the sense of community at parks while helping local e.trepreneurs, producers and artists share their goods and services and grow their business ventures. 

Market Locations and Hours

Lake Harriet

Where: 4135 W Lake Harriet Parkway

When: Sundays, 2:30-6:30 pm; June 4-Aug. 27

Note: Market will be located near Lake Harriet Bandshell, which features concerts at 2pm and 5pm through Minneapolis Music in the Parks

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Market Square

Where: 2225 Lake St. E

When: Wednesdays 3-7 pm; June 5-Aug. 30

Note: Market Square is Minneapolis’ newest official park property

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Water Works

Where: 425 West River Parkway

When: Fridays, 10 am-2 pm; June 2-Aug. 25

Note: Priority given to Indigenous vendors and artists

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Minnehaha Regional Park

Where: 4801 S Minnehaha Drive

When: Fridays, 4-8 pm; June 2-Aug. 25

Note: Market will be located along walkway with view of Minnehaha Falls

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The Commons

Where: 425 Portland Ave. S

When: Wednesdays, 11 am-3 pm; June 7-Aug. 30

Note: Market will be run by community organization The Black Market, which highlights local black entrepreneurs and professionals.

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Become a Vendor

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Anyone interested in a space at one of the Minneapolis Park Markets can apply by filling out the Minneapolis Park Market Vendor Application. Visit The Black Market website to apply for The Commons Park Market.

Applications are due Friday, March 31, 2023. Vendors will be notified of their status by April 14, 2023. Full Season, Half Season, and Partial Season rates are available. Only handcrafted items will be allowed to be sold, no imports.

Challenging Inequity With Integrity

Commentary by Alicia Gibson | March 5, 2023
 
Editor’s Note: Alicia Gibson is an Adjunct Professor at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, community advocate, public intellectual, and mom. She ran for the Ward 10 Minneapolis City Council seat in 2021. The opinions expressed in this commentary are hers.
 
Growing up in Oklahoma as the outspoken progressive was risky business. Each time I stood up for reproductive freedom or against hate I knew I would be a target. I also knew my best chance to change minds and also to simply survive would be to outwit, but also to connect as personally and genuinely as I could with those whose politics I vehemently rejected. Perhaps navigating the contours of extreme political disagreement is a particular inheritance of mine. My own grandparent’s relationship was born of political violence: my grandfather was an American GI stationed in Tokyo and my grandmother was a Japanese operator working extra shifts to help her family survive in a city that had been largely destroyed by American firebombing. They were both people of passionate feeling and argued endlessly about the war. Later as a conflict resolution scholar, mentored by a Middle East peace expert, I learned to tell the signs of democracies in crisis: do people have relationships with whom they disagree? How quickly do political differences turn violent? 

One does not have to be a peace scholar to discern the signs that our country is a democracy in crisis. The election of Donald Trump to the presidency marked a dangerous turn; we have watched in horror as violent language and threats from the ideological right turn into real violence. The critical task of the moment is to acknowledge the depth of this political crisis. Violent rhetoric and tactics have become so normalized that it is now also employed by those on the ideological left, even among those who say they prioritize a “politics of care,” who champion “inclusion,” and who see themselves as inheritors of the Civil Rights Movement. 

In Minneapolis the violence bubbled over onto the surface after a city council vote that I myself disagree with. Instead of letting the voices of the community leaders stand on their own (I encourage everyone to read the press release from the Minnesota Urban Indian Directors), and allowing for the political process to unfold peacefully (see Rep. Hodan’s efforts at the state legislature), violent threats were hurled at council members and their families. One council member was trapped on an escalator with a phone shoved in her face while someone screamed profanities at her. 

It’s important to understand the several ways in which this violence fails us. First, it does not further the cause. Instead, it creates noise and distraction away from those we should hear clearly. Second, it pushes those who disagree on the issue further away – the message becomes repugnant as does the cause. Third, it further disincentivizes political participation by anyone other than angry ideologues with axes to grind. In a healthy democracy our representatives look like us; they are not necessarily career politicians but rather come from a variety of professional and life experiences. If we are serious about creating systems of care preferably our political representatives come to us as caregivers and peacemakers, and not as warriors out to burn it all down with shields of dogma in which they encase themselves from disagreement. 

There is no doubt that addressing systemic inequities and the harms they have caused comes with a unique challenge: how do we do this work with integrity? If we are to do anything other than reproduce the same cycle of winners and losers and pain and rage, it is a challenge we must accept and meet.

******************

About Alicia Gibson

Alicia Gibson is an Adjunct Professor at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, community advocate, public intellectual, and mom. She ran for the Ward 10 Minneapolis City Council seat in 2021. She has a BA in International Studies from American University, a JD from the University of CO School of Law, and a PhD in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies from the University of Minneapolis. She has lived in South Africa and studied the Truth and Reconciliation Process, worked in the field of environmental and federal Indian law, served as a district court law clerk, and taught critical thinking and writing at the university level.

Small Business Spotlight: FRGMNT Coffee

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Sarah Roehl and Ben Banse

Ben Banse and Sarah Roehl are co-owners of FRGMNT Coffee. Their newest location is on Historic St. Anthony Main in Riverplace at 43 SE Main Street, and the business is coming to the Mill District, too! We spoke to them about getting started in the coffee business and their ideas on gorgeous interiors that complement their beverages.

 Q:  A 2022 article mentions FRGMNT replicates a model in which a relatively small footprint opens to a spacious public area and a whole world of coffee. Can you tell us more about this model and how you’ve used it in your three locations?    

A:  All three of the coffee shops operate in shared lobbies of various buildings – in the North Loop at The Nordic,729 Washington Avenue N, in the newly renovated Riverplace at Main Exposition Hall on historic St. Anthony Main, and in the One Southwest Crossing Building in Eden Prairie. This allows our guests to enjoy a spacious environment in a variety of different settings according to the buildings' designs. It also allows us to open our doors to more people and share some of the best coffees from around the globe with them. 

Above and below, FRGMNT Coffee in Riverplace

Q:  In addition to serving delicious coffee, your locations are aesthetically gorgeous. Do you use a designer to create your ambiance?   

A:  The buildings we are a part of have partnered with a few different designers to bring our spaces to life. The North Loop and Eden Prairie locations were designed by Studio BV, and the St. Anthony Main location was designed by Perkins & Will. We have loved working with each team and we are grateful for their attention to detail in these spaces.

Q:  How did you two get into the coffee business? 

Ben: I’m a veteran of the Twin Cities coffee scene. I was part of the opening team of several cafes (such as Bachelor Farmer Cafe, Northern Coffeeworks, and Parallel) in various different roles. All the while I kept thinking about opening my own coffee shop and started taking action toward that in 2019.

Sarah: I’m a long-time friend of Ben’s and when it came time to start FRGMNT, I answered a few questions about the business side of things and decided that I wanted to be a part of this venture. We’re now co-owners of three cafes and have more planned for the future. 

Q:  How do you procure your coffee and tea? Do you sell the coffee beans for home brewing? 

A:  All our tea offerings are from Spirit Tea out of Chicago; we have partnered with them for our tea since we opened our doors in 2019. Our coffees are a different story. We have an ever-growing roster of national and international roasters that we partner with to bring the best coffees in the world to Minnesota. We have partners all the way from the Czech Republic to Iowa. 

We do offer tea and coffee for home brewing, which can be purchased at any of our locations, as well as online for shipping.

Q:  What’s your favorite beverage on your menu? 

A:  It's an always-changing answer, but we do have a menu of rotating limited drinks and currently, the favorite is the Java Bird. It is made with cold brew, pineapple juice, red bitters, and lime. It's a nice treat that reminds us that warmer weather is coming. 

Q:  Do you have another location on the drawing board? 

A:  We do! We are planning on opening in the Mill District this Spring inside Open Book. This has been a long time in the making and we are excited to be bringing our offerings to this neighborhood.

Q:  That’s wonderful news! How may we stay up to date with FRGMNT coffee?

A:  You can follow us on Instagram at @frgmntcoffee to stay up to date on all happenings.  

Threats, intimidation & violence have no place in Minneapolis politics

Commentary by Latonya Reeves | March 4, 2023

Editor’s Note: Latonya Reeves is the Chair of the Minnesota Civilian Public Safety Commission and Vice-Chair of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission. The opinions expressed in this commentary are hers.

Local politics is a place where communities, especially marginalized communities, can find a place to be heard about the issues that affect them daily. Who will support their children at school? What programs and policies are in place to help them succeed?  How do tax levies affect their property taxes?  How do elected officials advocate for their specific constituents? How do we hold police accountable for their actions?  Everyday people get to be involved in all these decisions if they show up and participate. I have had the pleasure of talking with people all over the Twin Cities regarding the power that they have in their votes.  It is what my ancestors fought and died for.  As a political organizer, I love when the community gets involved in issues that matter to them.

"There are many people in the community who condone such behavior.  This is unacceptable.  Community members, especially Council members who are currently in office and those running for office, should all condemn such behavior."

Unfortunately, there are some in the community, that have taken their right to advocate for what they believe in too far.  Recently, Minneapolis City Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw was accosted after an activist saw her eating lunch.  This stemmed from an earlier vote regarding Roof Depot in the Minneapolis City Council chambers, in which community members acted out in an aggressive manner due to a vote canceling demolition contracts for the Rood Depot being rejected.  The decision failed after not receiving enough votes to proceed (6-6), in which eight votes were needed.  There are people on either side of this issue with valid points about how the city should proceed on this issue, however, this does not give anyone the right to be physically abusive to an elected official because they do not like how they voted.  CM Vetaw defended herself after an activist screamed, shouted, and hurled profanities at her while she was walking away.  She was on an escalator and could have been seriously injured, especially considering how close the activist was to her face.  In the video posted online, you can see how close the phone was to her face.  At what point do we say enough is enough? At what point do we acknowledge that, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, we can disagree without being violently disagreeable?  Black women, who have fought to have a seat at the table,  need to be uplifted in our community, especially those who work in public service.

When I learned that a black man had verbally and physically engaged with CM Vetaw, I was even more disturbed. Black men need to support black women, and vice-versa.  This activist did not accost any of the other council members who were there eating lunch, only CM Vetaw.  We have got to take a stand in our community to protect women, especially black women.   This is the same activist who cornered Council President Andrea Jenkins in her vehicle and demanded that she do as he said, or she would not be able to leave.  That is a crime in my book—it is called False Imprisonment.  He and the others who were there should have been arrested for such behavior.  Being an activist fighting for what you believe in does not give anyone the right to infringe on the rights of others.  Everyone deserves to be heard, but not in this way. Expletives, as well as threats of harm to their family members, were hurled at city council members during the meeting.  Is this an effective way to be heard? Absolutely not.  Once you start disrespecting others instead of having critical discourse, no one is listening. Three council members have filed police reports against these activists for the way they behaved. As they should have.

There are many people in the community who condone such behavior.  This is unacceptable.  Community members, especially Council members who are currently in office and those running for office, should all condemn such behavior.  Physical violence, threats, and profanity can very quickly turn into political terrorism. That is how I see such behavior.  Another January 6th, happening right here in Minneapolis.  Our city has gone through so much in the last several years and the world is watching. We need to show up and make significant changes in our community, but not at the expense of our constitutional rights.  Freedom of speech is guaranteed under the First Amendment, but not freedom of terrorism. We are a city of inequalities, injustices, and ideologies. We have a lot of things that need to be addressed, many areas of concern, and almost half a million people to involve in the process.  What we cannot do though, is have physical altercations to be heard on a political issue.  We must respect the rights of people to vote how they wish on any given topic, without being assaulted for it.

Be the change that you want to see, with a voice that is sincere, resounding, and confident in your ideologies. Stand up for what you believe in and be heard in the process. Let’s champion the issues that are important to our city, one vote at a time.

Latonya Reeves

***

About Latonya Reeves

My name is Latonya Reeves. I am the Chair of the Minnesota Civilian Public Safety Commission and Vice-Chair of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission. I work in public safety and am a fierce advocate for community conversations and coalition building to tackle pressing issues in our community.  I sit on the executive board of the Minnesota Corrections Association and am Vice-President of AFSCME Council 5.  I am President of ASFCME Local 552 and a staunch supporter of unions, worker rights, and well-being. I am the DFL-Deputy Outreach and Inclusion Officer for CD5 and sit on the executive board of SD61 and the Minneapolis DFL. I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Sociology of Law, Criminology and Deviance,  a Master of Science in Public Service Leadership in Criminal Justice, and have completed all coursework for my Ph.D. in Criminal Justice.  I am a life-long learner in all things.  I am also a proud black woman who is a voice for my community.

March 22 Bourbon Buyout Event at Nicollet Island Inn

Whiskey-lovers event at the Nicollet Island Inn

 

Oak, almond, hazelnut, pecan and other nutty-tasting notes will be sniffed, swirled and savored during a special Bourbon Buyout tasting event at the Nicollet Island Inn on Wednesday, March 22 beginning at 5 PM.  

 

Guests will enjoy tasting pours from the Inn's hard to find labels and vintages, expertly paired with the chef's cuisine, prepared to complement every delicious note and flavor accent.  

 

A limited number of tickets are available at $180 each and include:

 

• 12 1/2 oz. liquor pours, including 4 rare/allocated pours and 8 run-of-the-bar pours

• Chef’s unlimited buffet

• Select beer and wine available throughout the evening (unlimited)

• Drawings for giveaways of selected bottles and merchandise

• All food, drinks, tax, service charges included

 

A limited number of rooms will be available for overnight stays at $125.

Get to Know Old Town Minneapolis

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Get to Know Old Town Minneapolis - a Discussion with Executive Director, Scott Parkin

Scott ParkinQ:  For those of us new to the area, please tell us about Old Town Minneapolis.

A:  Our group is best described as a grassroots movement of established businesses and residents working to establish a unified name and brand for this neighborhood so we can effectively promote it. It’s hard to promote an area that has 15 different names! Because the area is so popular and has gone so long without a unified brand, the issue is somewhat controversial. After many years of research, outreach, and discussion, it’s clear that no one brand will ever organically arise to represent the area. 

We’ve chosen a brand that highlights the history of this area. It was truly the first part of the city to be developed into what we now know it as. It was truly an “old town” in that it was originally the Town of St. Anthony and later merged with Minneapolis. We have lots of work to do to highlight the many aspects that make this area significant. Suffice it to say that a neighborhood that includes the city’s oldest house (Ard Godfrey), oldest church (Our Lady of Lourdes), oldest street (Main Street) and 50+ preserved old buildings certainly has the credibility to call itself Old Town. I always encourage folks to read Penny Petersen's book Hiding in Plain Sight, Minneapolis’ First Neighborhood as a primer to understand how this area has been overlooked. As a friend and neighbor here says, “Cool neighborhoods embrace their history.” So many tens of millions of dollars and focus has been directed to the riverfront, that the amazing business district on East Hennepin has largely been overlooked and grouped into the huge neighborhood that is Northeast Minneapolis. 

We had our first monthly meeting this month with 30+ business owners in attendance to discuss our direction and generate ideas for good promotional efforts. Our working name currently is the Old Town Collective.

Q:  Are you an official Minneapolis designated neighborhood?  

A:  We aren’t technically the city-recognized business association. The Nicollet Island East Bank Neighborhood Association (NIEBNA) came close last year, after a huge outreach and branding exercise, to committing to moving forward with a brand for the business district, but eventually was unable to commit. We are taking matters into our own hands. This is controversial work and an uphill battle without institutional funding, but we have a lot of passion and lots of volunteers who are really helping spread the word. We get lots of opinions shared with us and we do have our dissenters, but we just march forward with a sincere smile and the knowledge that history is awesome, the businesses and residents here are amazing, and the neighborhood deserves a great name and brand.

Promoting the brand at the 2022 National Night Out.

Bringing neighbors together for a Spring Cleanup event.

Ribbon cutting event at HOTWORX in the Odin building.

Ribbon cutting event at Vellee in the NordHaus building.

Q:  You’ve been busy for some time now with events in the Old Town Minneapolis neighborhood. Can you tell us about some of them?

A:  We’ve done 9 ribbon cuttings for new businesses in the last year or so, we host National Night Out every year, we host a historic walking tour with Preserve Minneapolis, we completed two neighborhood cleanups, and we have plans to bring back the popular Dog Parade and other fun events. 

Q:  What’s on the radar to bring citizens together?  

A:  We will have monthly Happy Hours, a regular schedule of events, ribbon cuttings, a monthly newsletter, and will keep people informed on social media. We can’t wait to meet more local residents.

Sign up for our monthly newsletter here: https://www.oldtownmpls.com/home-newsletter. On social channels, we’re @OldTownMpls.

Do you have a business in the Old Town neighborhood? Request a window cling!

Apply for the Community Commission on Police Oversight

Via a February 28 e-announcement from Ward 3 Council Member Michael Rainville

The City of Minneapolis is seeking applicants for the new 15-member Community Commission on Police Oversight, which will convene for the first time in late April.

The new commission will include 15 members – 13 will be appointed by the City Council (one per ward) and two appointed by the mayor. The civilian commissioners will serve as review panelists on a rotating basis to review investigations of alleged police misconduct. As panelists, they will have direct access to investigatory case files being reviewed and provide recommendations on the merits of misconduct allegations that will be forwarded to the Chief of Police.

The work of the full commission will take place during public meetings, which will provide an opportunity for residents to observe presentations, listen to discussions and provide public input.

The City is seeking applicants that represent a cross-section of Minneapolis, including formerly incarcerated individuals, LGBTQ community members, Black, Indigenous and other people of color, as well as community members from every ward of Minneapolis. 

The application deadline is March 20.

Learn how to apply and find more information on the City’s website.

Click HERE to apply for the Ward 3 seat.