MacPhail Announces New Electronic Music Recording Arts (EMRA) Program

Via a September 8 e-announcement form MacPhail Center for Music:

Full range of instruction in multitrack recording and electronic music production – enrollment now open!

MacPhail Center for Music today announces the official launch of our Electronic Music Recording Arts (EMRA) program.  The program is led by MacPhail teaching artist Michael Cain, who has held significant teaching positions at Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory and Brandon University in Canada. Joined by mixing and mastering engineer and beat maker Isaac Rohr and singer-songwriter and DJ Krysta Rayford (aka K.Raydio), EMRA offers a wide range of instruction including multitrack recording, electronic music production, mixing, mastering, beat making, DJing, remixing, sound design, Hip Hop production, mobile music making and electroacoustic composition. 

Students will learn every aspect of recording and electronic music production including how to use industry standard software such as Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Logic Pro and FL Studios. A state-of-the-art studio is currently under construction at MacPhail’s downtown Minneapolis location, and classes can be enjoyed in the meantime through virtual Live Online learning, which MacPhail has been an industry leader in for the past ten years. 

EMRA’s Fall Semester offerings include: 

• Electronic Music Production: Basic to advanced techniques in electronic music production, including working with digital audio, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), multi tracking and sequencing as well as beat making, DJing and remixing.  

• Sound Design/Synthesis: Fundamentals of synthesis and sound creation using digital and analogue electronic instruments, effects and VST plugins.    

• Digital Audio Recording: Fundamentals of digital audio recording, covering topics such as sound acoustics, using microphones, signal flow, mixing, and mastering. 

• Electroacoustic Composition: Students learn the technologies and practices for creating electroacoustic compositions. Topics covered will address software such as MAX MSP and Chuck for creating electronic musical compositions in the genre of 20th century classical music. 

“Electronic music studios and programs are more than just vehicles for creating and teaching electronic music, they become a hub and center for the entire musical community to collaborate, experiment, and learn together. They really are community resources and, therefore, support and contribute to all kinds of musical activities in a variety of genres,” said Michael Cain, director, EMRA. “The opportunity to develop this program with the dream team that is Isaac Rohr and Krysta “K. Raydio” Rayford, two of the most talented people I know, will make EMRA one of the most unique, forward leaning, and comprehensive electronic music programs out there.” 

Registration for one-on-one lessons with EMRA are now open. EMRA lessons are in accordance with MacPhail’s detailed Fall Semester Plan to promote safe music learning and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Full details on the plan as well as Frequently Asked Questions can be found at https://www.macphail.org/coronavirus/ 

MacPhail Center for Music is committed to transforming lives and strengthening communities through music learning experiences that inspire. Each year, MacPhail offers programming to 16,000 students of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, at locations in Minneapolis, White Bear Lake, Chanhassen, Apple Valley and Austin, as well as 104 community partnerships across the Twin Cities. An industry leader in online music education, MacPhail’s Live Online and Online School Partnerships programs have reached students for the past ten years. MacPhail has a 113-year history of excellence, promoting life-long learning and building long-term relationships between students and teachers. For more information, visit macphail.org 

It’s Harvest Time!

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Last week brought the last full moon of summer, called the Corn Moon by the Algonquin people. Lakota Sioux call it the "moon when the plums are scarlet." We’re in the season of harvesting – whether corn, plums, barley, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, etc. It’s also time to forage for some delicious fruits and vegetables in our urban and rural areas. We asked some of our favorite foragers about what they’re gathering now.

Bob Rice harvesting wild riceBob Rice of Pow Wow Grounds is harvesting wild rice (known as manoomin in the Ojibwe language) for use in the shop’s muffins and wild rice soup. He’s been foraging wild rice for 45 years - it is hand harvested and processed using homemade machinery. 

Tom Foerster, volunteer park steward, foraged this weekend on the East Bank for black walnuts, acorns, crabapples and wild grapes.

He will make flour from the acorn harvest, after leaching tannins from the nuts. The gluten free flour makes a nutritious and delicious bread or pasta. I even saw a recipe for Acorn Brittle – yes please!

Black walnuts and acorns

Wild grapes and crabapples

Tim Clemens, of Ironwood Foraging Company, recently foraged for the last of summer mushrooms, the first of fall mushrooms and wild rice.  He was lucky to find Chanterelles, Cornflower Boletes and a mix of Leccinum/Suillus species of mushrooms. Curious about foraging but would like to start with a master? Tim conducts many workshops – check it out.

Wild rice harvested by Tim Clemens 

Chanterelles

What are you harvesting? Let us know!

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

The Mill City Times Interview: Carlos Palacios, Owner, Café Palmira

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided by Café Palmira 

How does your morning coffee make its way from grower to your cup? We talked to Carlos Palacios, Owner of Café Palmira about his direct farm to market model.

Q:  Your company, Café Palmira is a Minneapolis-based business that imports high-quality Arabica coffee beans direct from your family farm in Guatemala. Tell us about the notion of selling directly from your farm.

A:  It started when I moved to Minnesota with my family 15 years ago. I was looking for a way to bring our coffee here so that Twin Cities’ customers could taste a really good coffee. It took me years to find the perfect way to do it. I wanted the coffee to taste as fresh as when we drink it in Guatemala. I was able to locate great local roasters, so I started the business in 2008. 

Find Carlos Palacios, Owner of Café Palmira, Saturdays thru October at the Mill City Farmers Market in front of the Guthrie Theater.

Q:  Tell us about shade-grown coffee.

A:  Our Arabica beans have grown under a canopy of trees, which is much better for the environment than other farming methods. The trees create a protective barrier to attract birds and other wildlife which keeps insects away from the plants. For that reason, we do not need to use pesticides. Our farm is at an elevation of 1,800 to 2,000 meters (about 5,900 to 6,500 feet), and that makes the perfect weather for growing coffee.

Q:  Has the farm acreage grown since you began operations?

A:  Yes, but that is a roller coaster experience with ups and downs. We suffered a coffee rust not long ago – the fungus decimated our plants and we had to start all over again. 

Q:  Has the success of your business inspired other Guatemalan farmers to sell directly to markets?

A:  Yes, but it is difficult because although they are inspired, it is takes years to find markets outside of the country. A loyal clientele takes time to develop.   

Q:  Please tell us your immigration story.

A:  My wife, Katie Anfinson, was a Peace Corps worker in Guatemala. We dated for a few years, got married and then moved to the U.S. – first to Massachusetts and then to Minnesota. We started bringing the coffee in our luggage to allow people an opportunity to try it. Roasting the beans in Minnesota gives the freshest coffee taste. We began selling my family’s coffee directly to coffee shops, co-ops and individual customers “to eliminate the middle man.” 

Q:  Is there a time when you will take visitors to your farm to help with the harvest? I imagine this as a form of eco-volunteerism/learning experience.

A:  I always think about bringing people to the farm. My family has been growing beans for decades at the northwestern side of Guatemala, in a region called Huehuetenango. It is in a beautiful place up in a mountain but it is really far from the city with difficult access. It is located right at the border of Mexico and takes about eight hours travel time from Guatemala City to get there.

Q:  Is it important to you to give back to the community?

A:  It is always important for me to give back. I have a community in the Twin Cities and in Guatemala. My community in Guatemala lives on the farm and does all the labor. I am protective of my workers. I alone do the job of bringing the beans to Minnesota. I don’t have a middle man involved in the process so I can pay better wages to my workers.

Q:  Has COVID-19 impacted your operations?

A:  Yes, of course. We are managing the situation the best we can, especially doing more door to door deliveries. Roasters have not purchased the same amount of green beans from us since so many coffee shops have closed or reduced their hours of operation. 

Q:  How can we stay in touch with you?

A:  We sell our coffee, medium and dark roast, at the Mill City Farmers Market, St. Paul Farmers Market, Kingfield Farmers Market and the Northeast Minneapolis Farmers Market. We will also deliver to your door.  Please follow us on Facebook and call or email us with questions or to order at 651-285-3884 and cafepalmira@yahoo.com.

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

All Along the Watchtower

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Fourteen thousand years ago, sand, gravel and boulders were deposited near the banks of the Mississippi River amongst the otherwise flat plains. As St. Anthony Falls eroded upstream, its surrounding landscape stayed the same. Today, we call one of these clusters of knolls “Tower Hill,” one of the most scenic sites in Minneapolis.

Tower under construction, 1912When the small towns of St. Paul, St. Anthony and Minneapolis were still in their infancy, not too many people ventured far from the town centers. With the addition of University Avenue, a more straightforward connection between the towns was established. However, unless you were wealthy enough to own a horse, development between the towns was few and far between. One of these rare developments was a wooden tower at the highest point of a four-acre plot of land in what is now the Prospect Park Neighborhood. The man who owned it allowed visitors to climb to the top and enjoy the spectacular views of the riverfront for ten cents a person. Because of this wooden tower, people started calling the area Tower Hill.

The land was first platted in 1883, but since the area was very rural and thick with trees, not everyone was up to the task of settling the area. The first permanent residents were mainly dairy farmers whose cows could be seen roaming the steep hills. With its close proximity to the University of Minnesota, the next group of people who settled the area were very learned and quite opinionated. The residents saw the potential of the area, but with major railroad lines a short distance away, they were worried that industry would intrude upon their neighborhood.

The completed "Witch's Hat" water tower in 1915In 1901, Jacob Hofsted, Harry Benton and Charles Ramsdell created the Prospect Park Improvement Association (PPIA) to "defend the areas with its hills and trees, its nearness to the restless Mississippi and its view of the Minneapolis skyline from the encroachment of industry." With the threat of Tower Hill turning into a gravel pit, the PPIA called for the city to create a park on that plot of land. It took five years of constant pressure from the PPIA for the Minneapolis Park Board to unanimously decide to buy the plot for $19,500, or over $560,000 after inflation, a testament to the value the residents created for their neighborhood.

On January 18th, 1908, St. Anthony Heights Park was officially open, and it took another sixteen months and many petitions from the neighborhood to rename the park “Tower Hill Park.” From the get-go, the Park Board decided to keep the park as natural as it can be. Upon the only level ground within the park, a tennis court was installed, and the steep, gravel cliffs were smoothed out to create a sightlier experience. Superintendent Theodore Wirth suggested that an observation tower between fifty and sixty feet should be built on the summit of the hill with multiple paths to lead up to it. He got his wish in 1913 when the City of Minneapolis waterworks department decided to build a water tower in the park.

Sitting 971 feet above sea level, the water tower was completed in 1914 and features a spacious belvedere and steep, conical roof. The unique design of the water tower lead to its colloquial name, “the Witch’s Hat.” The Minneapolis City Council foresaw the popularity of the Witch’s Hat water tower and requested that the park have a caretaker present five days a week which would allow park visitors to climb the tower and enjoy the views.

Street car on the Franklin Avenue Bridge with the Tower in the background, circa 1923.

Photo from the winter of 1962.

Other than repairs to the tower after a lightning strike in 1955, the park received no improvements for sixty-five years. In 1979, work was done to protect to steep park from further erosion, and in 1995, improvements were made that contributed to the park receiving an award from The Committee on Urban Environment. In 1997, the park was put on the National Register of Historic Places as “Prospect Park Water Tower and Tower Hill Park,” and in the midst of the Emerald Ash Borer infestation, stingless wasps were introduced to the park in 2011. In recent times, the Witch’s Hat water tower is open to the public only twice a year, during the Friday after Memorial Day and during the city-wide event Doors Open Minneapolis.

To add to the already legendary status the tower has garnered in Minneapolis, there is a local rumor that it served as inspiration for Bob Dylan’s famous tune All Along the Watchtower, as he had a view of the tower from his home in Dinkytown. In my opinion, that checks out. 

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

August 2020 by the Numbers from Cynthia Froid Group

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

Letter to the Editor: An Upper Harbor Terminal Housing Plan

By Dennis Paulaha, PhD, Great River Coalition

Although I am an economist, I would like to offer a somewhat personal plan for the Upper Harbor Terminal land owned by the city—48 acres of land in North Minneapolis with one mile of frontage on the Mississippi River.

Minneapolis, like every other city in the country, has an affordable housing problem and a racial inequity problem.

Both problems could be alleviated, although not eliminated, by building low cost single-family homes. 

The problem is, the private sector is not going to, or, more accurately, cannot provide low-cost new single-family housing. There are a number of reasons, all of which are valid, as to why that can’t happen. One of the most important is that a major expense when building any house is the cost of the land.

For example, the Minneapolis 2040 Plan is based on the idea that private developers can tear down single-family homes they pay $500,000 and more to purchase, and replace them with affordable rental units, not single-family homes, not even condos.

But because renters cannot accumulate home equity, a long-term solution to affordable housing and racial inequity should consider plans that allow families to build wealth with ownership.

And that is where the Upper Harbor Terminal land offers a unique opportunity to the city of Minneapolis.

I lived in North Minneapolis until I was 10. Then we moved to Robbinsdale, into a small cape, and my father turned the attic into a third bedroom. It was a small development that covered only two square blocks and it was a mixture of two-bedroom capes and three-bedroom ramblers. I lived there until I left for college. My parents lived out their lives in that house.

At the time, the houses in Edina were bigger, but nothing close to today’s new houses, whether they are in a suburb or rebuilds in the city of Minneapolis.

There are, however, no houses like the one I grew up in being built anywhere in the country. There are people building and selling what are called tiny houses, which are not much larger than camping trailers. But builders cannot afford, because of land costs, to build two bedroom capes and three bedroom ramblers.

And that is where the Upper Harbor Terminal land comes in.

The city owns the land, so the city could allow the property to be used to create a modern day (but smaller) version of older Minneapolis neighborhoods or suburbs.

Architects might be willing to donate time to re-create modern-day versions of homes that were built in Minneapolis neighborhoods from the 1920s through the 1940s and in suburbs all across America in the 1950s.

The City of Minneapolis could maintain ownership of the land.

And the houses could be sold to people based on an income limitation, which could exclude people who can afford more expensive homes.

I believe some discussions took place during the Minneapolis 2040 Plan debates regarding small houses, but Heather Worthington from the Minneapolis Planning Department was quoted as saying such ideas would be an admission of failure by the city.

I do not think small single-family houses should be considered a failure.

The real failure is a solution that ignores ownership.

Of course, the number of small single-family homes that can be built on 48 acres is much smaller than the number of living units that can be built in condo towers.

But condo units are not always a best choice for families with children, and there are already a huge number of towers being built or approved in the city—expensive condo towers downtown and in the suburbs, and rental units throughout the city, especially in Uptown and Northeast.

Years ago, small single-family homes were called starter homes, the idea being that young families could buy a small home and as they accumulated equity and their incomes increased, they would have the financial ability to move up to something bigger and better.

That is what has been lost in the city and it is what is missing from city plans.

And because renting does not provide the financial base that can be used by families to move up in the world, as well as to finance their children’s education, the loss of starter homes has significant economic. impacts, especially when identifying the most important causes of racial inequities in the city.

Again, 48 acres of small single-family homes will not eliminate the affordable housing problem or the racial inequity problem, but it could be a step in the right direction. It could be a model showing how various chunks of land throughout the city can be used to improve the lives of people and the economy of the city.

Sustaining Support for Small Businesses

Article by Becky Fillinger

August was #NationalBlackBusinessMonth. Mill City Times recognized a series of black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in Facebook postings. Before we say goodbye to the month-long recognition campaign, let’s recap the entrepreneurs and businesses for our newsletter readers. All of the establishments are worth a visit - virtually and in person. 

Wendy Puckett, Owner, Wendy’s House of SOUL. A menu to feed your soul!

Tish Watson, Owner, weRow – Indoor Fitness Rowing. Shake up your routine!

Kate Hertzog, Owner, House of Talents - Connecting talented artisans in developing countries to consumers worldwide.

Nicole Jennings, Owner, Queen Anna House of Fashion - Stylish, original designs and curated collections.

The Allen Family, Owners, El Norte Kitchen - Pop-up kitchen offering the best of Southwestern style comfort food.

Sammy McDowell, Owner, Sammy’s Avenue Eatery Great food and generous host of a Ghost Kitchen for black-owned restaurants.

The Minneapolis Forward: Community Now Coalition, organized by Mayor Frey, is deploying strategies that prioritize BIPOC/minority-owned businesses. Many of these businesses were struggling before the pandemic and were further harmed after the unrest following George Floyd’s death. Meet Minneapolis partnered with Carmichael Lynch to launch the #WeNeedUs! campaign. We Need Us is Phase Three of their recovery plan for small local businesses. Their strategy is to encourage support of local businesses by our local community as they determine the appropriate time to resume normal regional, national and international sales and marketing initiatives.

Billboard photos: Carmichael Lynch

We can all help out by supporting the places we love so they’ll be there for us tomorrow. Put together your own list of favorite small businesses. Share the list with us at Mill City Times and with your friends. Wear a mask and visit in person, grab some takeout or buy a gift card. Friends, we can do this!

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

Local Music Legend J.D. Steele Joins the Board of Be That Neighbor

Article by Becky Fillinger

Local nonprofit, Be That Neighbor, welcomes a new board member – J.D. Steele! J.D. is the director of the MacPhail Community Youth Choir and teaches in the school’s Partnerships Program. He is also a member of the highly acclaimed vocal group, The Steeles.

J.D. Steele and Claudia Kittock

Claudia Kittock, Board President, has a long association with J.D. “J.D. Steele and I met when our charity hired him to direct the Mill City Singers. We have worked together for almost 5 years and all of it has been a joy. J.D. is that rare human who is able to combine amazing artistry with genuine humanity. He is what he appears to be - a wonderful singer, gifted director, and fabulous friend. When the board discussed adding another board member, J.D. was the perfect choice. He brings enormous creativity and a lifelong belief in our mission of being the type of neighbor you would want to have. We are honored to have him join our work. He makes us so much stronger.”

J.D. notes, “It is great to be part of an organization like Be That Neighbor – one that is grass-rooted in change. I look forward to expanding our presence and having an impact on the Twin Cities.”

The nonprofit is currently collecting nominations for Good Neighbors. In October, they’ll celebrate A Neighbor A Day. Know someone you'd like to nominate? Send your nominations to: https://millcitytimes.survey.fm/nominate-a-good-neighbor. 

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories.