Gamut Gallery Announces COACTION, October 22-November 19

Featuring: Ashlea Karkula, Bill Crane, Derek Meier, HML, Janice Essick, Jeremy Jones, Joli Grostephan, Jonas Specktor, Kramer Hegenbarth, Lucy Picasso, Michael Engebretson, Nora Rickey, Phoebe Mol, Presley Martin, Simone Needles, W. S. Norton

COACTION / October 22nd – November 19th

Coaction is a group exhibition curated by Derek Meier of Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, showcasing creative dialogues and accessibility within the arts. Manifesting themes of collaboration and material exchange, Gamut Gallery partners with Interact Center to host this event. The group exhibition features work from eight multidisciplinary Interact artists alongside eight artist instructors. Together, the collective exhibits individual pieces and joint works, showcasing creative dialogues and accessibility within the arts. Through paintings, sculpture, drawing, fiber arts, and written word, Coaction offers the viewer a glimpse into Interact Center’s artist community and its combined energies. One collaborative pairing features the work of artists W. S. Norton and Jonas Specktor as they individually respond through painting to the other’s poetry. The collection of paintings and written word will be bound in an artist book on display for Coaction.

"Interact artists selected for this exhibition have a longstanding, dedicated studio practice within our organization. The curation of each collaborative pairing was centered on selecting artists who engage in similar mediums or subject matter utilizing different approaches, creating a visual conversation that extends through the process," states Derek. "Coaction continues Interact’s mission to have the work of these artists shown in the same light as other professional artists within the same market."

Since opening their doors a decade ago, Gamut’s mission has been to foster a community that spans all disciplines, lifestyles, and backgrounds.

PUBLIC OPENING NIGHT: Saturday, October 22nd, 4-9 PM

$10 day of the event - $7 pre-sale / FREE for Members

•  4-6 PM Low volume for those with auditory sensitivities
•  6-9 PM DJ Set by Buddah Jankey

Follow Gamut on Facebook and Instagram for further details and information regarding the event. 

City Announces New Neighborhood Traffic Calming Process

Now available: A new way to request traffic calming and the new Neighborhood Traffic Calming process.

The City has a new process for considering community requests for neighborhood traffic calming. Our goal is to maintain a fair, transparent, and equitable process.

In the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Report September 2022 you will find:

• Details about the new process
• An application form
• An updated toolbox
• Information about how we rank the applications, and
• A timeline for the annual process

Anyone can apply for neighborhood traffic calming, including residents, property owners, business owners, and neighborhood or business organizations. To have a traffic calming request considered for installation in 2023, you need to submit an application by November 1, 2022. There are two ways to submit an application:

• Fill out the online traffic calming application. 
• Fill out and print the Traffic Calming Application, and send it by email or US Mail.

You can call 311 if you need any help filling out the application or email traffic.calming@minneapolismn.gov with any questions.

Note that we anticipate many more requests than the City will be able to fund in 2023, but this process will help us fairly and effectively use the funding we do have available to make streets safer. We plan to continue the process each year so we can address more and more requests over time.

Additional information is available on the City's traffic calming webpage.

Small Business Spotlight: Sunrise Flour Mill

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Have trouble when you eat gluten-rich products? Check out the wonderful heritage wheat products available from Sunrise Flour Mill. Your experience will be different! We talked to Marty and Darrold Glanville, owners, about how they became millers, the legacy of heritage wheat and where to buy their products in the Twin Cities area.

Q:  Non-GMO, organic and single source heritage wheat flour – that’s your core product at Sunrise Flour Mill. Why did you and your husband Darrold get into this business? Did you imagine you would be part of a heritage grain renaissance?  

A:  By the time I retired from my job with Minneapolis Public Schools in 2005, Darrold had sold his interest in a small biotech business, and we moved from Minneapolis to an acreage south of North Branch. He wanted to learn how to bake the breads we had eaten in Europe, the ones with the crusty exteriors and soft interiors. He taught himself to bake bread and we sold some at the local farmer’s market. People wanted to buy it, but he didn’t want to be a baker. He wanted to be a miller.

We started, as many small businesses do, in our garage. We were invited to sell at Mill City Farmers Market. At the time we were selling organic, conventional wheat, and many people told us they had gluten intolerance. The first summer Darrold was baking a lot of bread and was developing a pizza flour, so wheat was a dietary staple. He was becoming sicker and sicker with myriad symptoms. No doctors could come up with an answer and the prescriptions and over the counter medications he tried didn’t make a difference. One day, after a dinner out of pasta at a local restaurant, he was sicker than ever. He wondered if gluten could be the issue. We went gluten free that day and in two days he was better and in two months he was well. I had no expectations that anything would change for me but after having had to give up knitting because of very painful joints, I realized those pains were gone. We were not satisfied with gluten free products, so Darrold spent long hours researching wheat and called on others in the business for advice. That is what led us to heritage wheat. He could eat it without symptoms returning.

Marty and Darrold GlanvilleQ:  Did you expect to be a part of a heritage grain renaissance? 

A:  Absolutely not - at first. To secure enough heritage wheat, he drove all over seeking out farmers who could provide us with a few hundred pounds of heritage wheat each time, because 10 years ago there wasn’t much of a demand for it. Now we have farms that are large enough to provide us with truckloads at a time. We sold a lot of heritage at our cost to encourage farmers to plant it. We like to think we have had a part to play in the growth of heritage wheat acres.

Q:  Where is your wheat grown? Could you ramp up the production if your flour business continues to grow?  

A:  Heritage wheat was the predominant wheat grown in the Central Plains from the mid-1800’s to the mid-1900’s. It is what inspired the name Breadbasket of the U.S. Wheat typically is a desert/high desert crop so there is little wheat grown in MN. Most of the farms we use are in Nebraska, Kansas and Arizona. With the onset of the pandemic, we had unexpected growth because, yes, people really did start baking sourdough bread. Organic heritage wheat farmers are some of the nicest and most helpful people we have ever met.  As in most businesses they network, and if they didn’t have enough for a time, they sent us to other farmers they knew who were growing it. Farming is a tough business, but we are confident that we can keep up with the demand.

Q:  What are the company’s plans for growth? I read that you have a small team of eight employees at Sunrise Flour Company. Will you need to hire additional employees or add additional milling equipment?  

A:  Our staff fluctuates, and we actually have more than a dozen employees right now. We are working on an expansion plan to include more value-added products ready to launch soon. We have more pasta shapes in mind as well as frozen dough products.

Darrold working on the Unifine millQ:  Do you worry about the impact of climate change on wheat production for your business? I read that unless steps are taken to mitigate climate change, up to 60% of current wheat-growing areas worldwide could see simultaneous, severe and prolonged droughts. (See Assessing the Effects of Climate Change on Future Wheat Production on newswise.com.)

A: As everyone else does, we are very concerned about what effects climate change could have on our wheat. The good news is that heritage wheat has a very deep root system compared to modern wheat, so it is capable of reaching water deep in the soil. Our Turkey Red farmers tell us that the yield for Turkey Red is about 30% less than the yield for hybrid wheat under normal climate conditions. However, when there are drought conditions, Turkey Red will out produce hybrid wheat by about 30% because of its deep roots. Shallow roots need to be fertilized because they can’t feed themselves. Heritage wheat is good for the soil, rather than depleting it. Modern wheat fields no longer produce waving wheat. Those plants are about two feet high compared with heritage wheat plants that are about four to five feet tall. Short plants have a smaller leaf canopy allowing in more weeds and insects, thus needing insecticides and herbicides. More farmers are starting to practice regenerative farming. This helps to reverse climate c hange by rebuilding organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity. It results in carbon drawdown and improving the water cycle. 

Q:  You once said that organic wheat is not a sexy ingredient, like wine or truffles. I think that a freshly baked crusty bread can be put up against any wine or truffle for pleasing the senses. Have you come around in your thinking? 

A: We agree with you to a point. There are few smells more enticing than a warm loaf of bread. It could be, however we still say that for a number of reasons. There is a lack of consistent vernacular so that people don’t always understand each other. There is a lack of understanding about wheat in general, and heritage in particular. To most people flour is just an ingredient and there is little knowledge about the nuances in flavor and bakability among varieties. There is a vast difference in taste, quality, and baking qualities between heritage and modern wheat. More people all the time are learning about the nuances, especially when they can eat baked goods without symptoms.

Q:  Some people will complain that heritage flours are too expensive and too tricky to work with for anyone not involved in elite food production. What do you say to these critics?  

A:  It all has to do with the economies of scale. There still are relatively few producers and we pay four times as much to purchase this wheat as we would for hybrid wheat. However, many people find it easier to digest and find they stay fuller longer. They don’t have to eat as often. We let our customers tell our story. They have provided hundreds of comments on our website under each of the products. We get several emails a week thanking us for allowing them to eat wheat again. We even had one woman come to our stall at Mill City Farmers Market. She was crying tears of gratitude.

When someone takes the time to mail a handwritten note of thanks with a photo, you know you've made a positive impact!

Q:  Do you provide education for your customers? 

A:  Yes, we were doing sourdough bread baking classes a couple of times a month prior to COVID. Once that came, our space was too small. We are just beginning to think about how we can do them again. We provide our customers with recipes and information on our website and in person. We both love talking about heritage wheat and baking. We love answering questions. About a year ago we started a Facebook page, Baking With Heritage Grains. It’s such a nice and knowledgeable group of people who love to share their expertise and recipes. We also send out emails several times a week with recipes using heritage wheat, or providing information about both the wheat and our unique milling process. We do not have a stone mill but rather a Unifine high velocity impact mill which allows us to mill whole wheat flour nearly as fine as white.  The smaller bran pieces allow baking lighter, loftier loaves of whole wheat bread.

Q:  Where may we purchase your products? 

A:  We are at Mill City Farmers Market every other Saturday until the end of October. People can preorder or just come and browse. We have parking lot pick up at the mill on Tuesday mornings with a preorder. (We don’t have a store at the mill so people can’t just stop by.) We have some of our products in most co-ops. There are some restaurants and bakeries in the Twin Cities using our flour. People often ask if there is anywhere they can go out for dinner and know they can find dishes to eat. Luci Ancora and Tenant are two that use our heritage wheat exclusively. We have products in some of the smaller, specialty stores like MinnyRow Market in Hopkins. They have a whole wall of Sunrise Flour Mill products just inside the door. Around the country there are several small stores and farm stores where they can be purchased. We soon will launch a new website that has an in-depth store locator. Our primary sales outlet is ecommerce. We ship daily to all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and APO.

Q:  How may we follow your news?   

A:  Our new website will have links to previous news sources, and current ones as they happen. Signing up for our newsletter gives access to our informational messages and recipes (this is real wheat so it should convert one for one in most recipes. We just like sharing our favorites, as well as coming up with new ways to use our flour). We are on social media - FaceBook, Instagram and YouTube. I’ll give one more plug for our Baking With Heritage Grains FaceBook group. I have learned so much from reading it every day, and it’s the most wonderful, positive, helpful, encouraging group of people. From them I’ve gained my new baking motto: If it works, it works!

Construction Begins on New Graco Park Along Northeast Minneapolis Riverfront

A view of a gravel beach across from Hall's Island and an open field that will become Graco Park. Taken from the Plymouth Avenue Bridge in October 2019.

Mississippi East Bank Trail will be temporarily rerouted along Sibley Street NE and the former 10th Avenue NE while site is graded and prepared for park construction next year

Construction just began on Graco Park, a new Northeast Minneapolis riverfront park across from Hall's Island, just north of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge!

The first phase of work to build the new park involves building a flood barrier and grading the site to prepare it for park construction next year. Some of the soil used for this work will be repurposed from the Upper Harbor Terminal site, where another new riverfront park is under construction in North Minneapolis.

Mississippi East Bank Trail will be rerouted along Sibley Street NE and the former 10th Avenue NE through at least the end of the year. Please stay away from areas under construction. Trail users and truck and vehicle drivers are advised to slow down and look out for each other while the trail reroute is in place.

An agreement that allows part of the trail to be temporarily rerouted on Graco Inc. property, located next to the future Graco Park, was approved on Sept. 7, 2022. In 2018, Graco Inc., a leading manufacturer of fluid handling equipment, and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) reached a series of agreements that will result in this new park. Read the “2018 Agreements” section below for details.

Graco Park Details

Graco Park is expected to open in 2024. When it’s complete, it will feature:

• A multiuse building with public restrooms, community space and a Spark’d Studios location
• Native habitat restoration and stormwater management features
• The Mississippi East Bank Trail realigned through the park, with safety upgrades at the intersection of Plymouth/8th Avenue NE and Sibley Street NE
• Gathering spaces, walkways and river access

Graco Park Final Concept

Future phases could include additional park elements as funding becomes available:

• Picnic shelters
• Watercraft rental
• Additional park or future vendor building
• A trail under the Plymouth Avenue Bridge that connects to Boom Island Park
• Hall’s Island river overlook

2018 Agreements

On Oct. 17, 2018, the MPRB and Graco Inc. reached several agreements on the development of a riverfront park adjacent to Hall’s Island in northeast Minneapolis.

Included in the agreements:

• The Graco Foundation donated more than $3 million to the MPRB to fund a new park named “Graco Park.”
• Graco gave an easement for the Mississippi East Bank Trail to the MPRB for free and the parties ended legal proceedings related to the easement.
• The MPRB sold 2.2 acres located next to Graco’s Riverside production facility to Graco at a fair market value of $1.1 million.
  • This land is part of a 3.55-acre section of the 11-acre site, dubbed “Parcel D,” which was purchased by the MPRB without state regional park funding.
  • When the site was acquired in 2010, the MPRB, City of Minneapolis and Metropolitan Council all agreed that Parcel D would not become parkland and planned to instead use Parcel D for a public-private partnership of some kind.
• Graco funded flood protection constructed on Parcel D and prepaid park dedication fees for Parcel D.

The contributions from Graco will allow the new riverfront park to be constructed much earlier than it could have through traditional park funding mechanisms.

Minneapolis’ Iconic IDS Center to Host 50th Anniversary Ceremony on September 22

Event to feature remarks from community officials and performances from local music groups, special giveaways and more

IDS Center, the iconic centerpiece of downtown Minneapolis, today announced that, in partnership with mpls downtown council (mdc), it is hosting a special ceremony on Thursday, September 22, in celebration of the IDS Center’s 50th anniversary.

IDS Center and mdc invite the Minneapolis community to partake in the ceremony and enjoy the thoughtfully crafted schedule of events in celebration of the property’s golden anniversary. The event will take place in the Crystal Court, Minneapolis’ central gathering place, from noon – 2:00 p.m., and will feature:  

• Remarks from Mayor Jacob Frey, Council Member Lisa Goodman and IDS Center General Manager Deb Kolar on the building’s significance and the important role it plays in the Minneapolis community and defining the city’s skyline.

• Performances by Nunnabove, Sounds of Blackness and legendary graffiti artist Alex Smith.

• Giveaways from some of the building’s popular dining concepts, including noa, which is creating a signature mocktail, and Cardigan Donuts, which is designing a donut cake.

Over the last 50 years, the IDS Center has played host to many high-profile events, including the 2021 NCAA Men’s Final Four, where ESPN’s Dick Vitale and Digger Phelps broadcasted live from the Crystal Court; the 2008 Republican National Convention, where the property served as the official VIP media hub for local and national media networks; and the 1992 and 2018 Super Bowl kickoffs, where national broadcast networks conducted interviews in the lead-up to the game. What’s more, the property has served as a filming site for several blockbuster television shows and movies, such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Mighty Ducks, Purple Rain, Young Adult, Joe Somebody and Fooling Around.

“I have been with this property for 30 years now, and I haven’t gone a single day without someone from the community telling me how much the IDS Center means to them,” said Kolar. “It is truly an honor to represent this building and all that it signifies, and we are excited to pay homage to the history of the IDS Center with our event on September 22. We greatly look forward to celebrating with many familiar faces and welcoming back those men and women who played critical roles in bringing this property to life.” 

IDS Center is owned by Accesso, a fully integrated investment manager and operator of multi-tenant office buildings and multifamily properties.

zAmya Theater Project Announces Neighbors Being Neighbors In the North Loop

zAmya Theater Project has announced a theater-based community project, Neighbors Beings Neighbors in the North Loop. Community partners include North Loop Neighborhood Association and Avivo.

The North Loop is a unique neighborhood, home to both upscale condos and rentals and high-income residents, and several organizations sheltering low-income residents in need of housing. In light of recent conflict over a homeless encampment in North Loop, this project seeks to establish a shared vision for what needs to happen for all community members to feel safe, have shelter, and ensure support for the most vulnerable.

The project kicked off last month with a jointly hosted performance of zAmya’s play, Second Chance, at the Target Field Station Amphitheater. With the performance as a springboard for conversation, community members are invited to three “listening sessions” this fall. The interactive workshops will promote deep dialogue and listening between North Loop residents, housed and homeless. The conversations will inform the development of a new play about the North Loop, and shared back to the community in a play reading next February.

Second Chance performed at the Target Field Station Amphitheater in August. Photo: Bruce Silcox

Avivo Village in the North Loop                                                Photo: Avivo Village

Emily Bastian, Vice President of Avivo, says, "We hope to find a way for people with lived experience of homelessness and housed neighbors to see each other as peers with equal strength, investment, and knowledge, and recognize each other's humanity. I want them to have dialogue and take creative action.” 

Dates and Locations:

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● Monday, October 3, 7:00-9:00pm

● Location: Avivo Village, 1251 Washington Ave N

● Who’s invited: Avivo Village residents (Masks required)

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● Monday, October 24, 7:00-9:00pm

● Location: Element Minneapolis Downtown, 501 N 6th Ave

● Who’s invited: anyone housed, who lives and/or works, in North Loop (Masks encouraged)

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● Monday, November 14, 7:00-9:00pm

● Location: Avivo Village, 1251 Washington Ave N

● Who’s invited: everyone who lives, works, or stays in North Loop (Masks required)

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Registration is encouraged, but not required. To register, go to https://zamyatheater.org/northloop, scroll down to the "Sign me up!" button.

Early Voting Opens September 23; Candidates Set for November 8 Election

Excerpt from the September 15 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

The Early Vote Center at 980 E Hennepin Avenue opens at 8 a.m. Sept. 23 for voters who wish to cast their ballot early and in person. Also Sept. 23, Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services begins mailing ballots to voters who have requested to vote early by mail.

Early voting is easy

In-person early voting is convenient. Any voter can vote early; no reason is needed. It especially helps voters who need special accommodations when voting by allowing for extra time, attention and onsite resources than polling places might on a busy Election Day.

You can also vote early by mail. Please allow enough time to complete the process by mail; it can take longer than seven days depending on where your ballot is sent. You can find mail ballot applications on the City website and submit your ballot any time before an election.

Plan ahead

• Make sure you’re registered to vote. Voters can register or check the status of their registrations on the City website. Register to vote ahead of the Oct. 18 pre-registration deadline to save time when voting. Voters who need to register or update their existing registration should plan to bring proof of residence when they vote.
• Look at a sample ballot ahead of time; even bring it to refer to when you go to vote in person. Beginning at least 45 days before Election Day (Sept. 24), you can find sample ballots for all 137 Minneapolis precincts on the City website. State law allows you to bring materials into the poll to help complete your ballots, and the sample ballot is the best tool available for this purpose.

Find out which offices are on the ballot for this election at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/ballot.

New Cookbook, At Home by Gavin Kaysen, Now Available for Pre-Order

Article by Becky Fillinger

Chef Gavin Kaysen has a new cookbook, At Home by Gavin Kaysen, and it gives an intimate look at his ideas of food as a love language and food as a tool to build connections and community. Chef Kaysen told us, "This cookbook builds off of what we created with GK at Home. It’s a way to unite the community and continue to spread that sense of joy through the art of cooking at home."

It is loaded with beautiful photos and recipes that give us a glimpse into the private life of a local celebrity chef. What jumped out at me:

• Kaysen shares elemental cooking skills. You don’t have to start out as an accomplished chef to enjoy preparing the recipes. You will learn step by step how to make the meals - real meals! The home cook can teach their children - just like Dorothy (Kaysen’s grandmother) did with him - and use the correct terminology (braising, sautéing, etc.) as you prepare the meal.

• Recipes by Season – This is a cookbook you can refer to at any time of the year. Lucky for us in Minnesota, we have all the seasons. 

• Pantry essentials - Yep, he tells us what to have on hand to be successful.

• Tips accompany each recipe - making the actual preparation foolproof. To give an example, here’s how Chef Kaysen braises: “You might notice that this braise is cooked uncovered. Unless I’m cooking large cuts of meat, I actually prefer braising with the pan uncovered, as it lets moisture evaporate and intensifies the braising liquid.” (page 17)

• The reader will be able to build a repertoire of nostalgic comfort food to recreate with friends and family.

There is a book tour in the works with stops in Minneapolis and other cities across the country - those details are being finalized now. Now available for pre-order here. #gkathome

Mpls Downtown Improvement District Announces 2022 Greening & Public Realm Award Winners

The Mpls Downtown Improvement District (DID) announced its Greening & Public Realm Award winners, a group decided by an interactive public vote that includes three first-time winners among the seven categories.  

The Greening & Public Realm Awards aim to showcase the greening efforts by local organizations and companies that help beautify downtown and its surrounding areas through enhancing our urban landscape.  

This year’s first-time award winners include the Prince Mural by Hiero Veiga, The Freehouse (Best Entryway/Outdoor Café) and Water Works Park (Best Public Realm Improvement).  

Loring Greenway won a Greening & Public Realm Award for a record 11th straight year – including winning Best Large Green Space for the sixth year in a row. The Loring Park Neighborhood also took home the prize for Best Neighborhood Greening for the sixth year in a row as well. Peavey Plaza won its second straight Greening & Public Realm Award (Best Activated Space) and Gateway Park took home the award for Best Small Green Space for the second year in a row.  

“After a two-year hiatus, we’re excited to celebrate this year’s Greening and Public Realm Award winners and especially excited to add two new winners to our past award recipients,” says Steve Cramer, President & CEO of the Mpls Downtown Improvement District. “We value all efforts to enhance downtown’s beauty and vibrancy. Congratulations to this year’s winners—your contributions to our city’s core are greatly appreciated.”  

Greening & Public Realm Award winners will receive a commemorative plaque created by Wood from the Hood, a Minneapolis-based company that reclaims discarded trees from urban neighborhoods and creates high-quality wood products. Each award will display the year the award was issued and the category that was won. Winning locations will also receive a Greening & Public Realm Awards winner sign to designate their award-winning greenery.  

Finalists for the Greening & Public Realm Awards were announced on July 25. Public voting for finalists remained open through August 15. 

The finalists were selected and categorized by members of the Mpls DID staff based on criteria including overall year-over-year enhancements as well as continued excellence in their efforts to increase vibrancy in the public realm.  

This year’s results include the following winners:

Small Green Space Winner:  Gateway Park

Large Green Space:  Loring Greenway

Public Art Winners:  Prince Mural, Bob Dylan Mural

Activated Space Winner:  Peavey Plaza

Entryway and Outdoor Cafe Greening Winner:  The Freehouse

Public Realm Improvement Winner:  Water Works Park

Best Neighborhood Winner:  Loring Park

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More information and list of finalists can be found here: www.mplsdid.com/greeningawards.

21st Annual Autumn Brew Review Festival Returns to Boom Island October 15th

Enjoy fall releases and winter warmers at the 21st Annual Autumn Brew Review Festival

On October 15 brewers from across Minnesota will gather for one of the oldest and coziest annual celebrations of craft beer in the state.

Celebrate the autumn season with brewers and thousands of fellow beer lovers at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis. Craft beer fans and attendees of this afternoon festival can enjoy s’mores, live music, and bonfires in the golden hour light as they sample unlimited special seasonal releases, classic favorites, non-alcoholic beverages, and gluten-free options from 95+ breweries and brewpubs, all with scenic views of the downtown Minneapolis skyline as a backdrop. 

In its 21st year, Autumn Brew Review is one of the state’s oldest beer festivals. This uniquely Minnesotan fest highlights the variety of styles brewed by local businesses from around the state. Like other MNCBG festivals, ABR exclusively showcases the talent of Minnesota breweries and brewpubs and features games and activities created and led by the breweries themselves.

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The 2022 Autumn Brew Review festival will feature:

● Unlimited samples from 95+ Minnesota breweries, brewpubs, and cideries

● Autumn games and activities led by MN brewers and brewery staff

● Live DJ set by The Current

● Bonfires and s’mores

● Food trucks and local artisans

● Best of Fest awards - voted on by attendees

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Regular tickets are $60, sober-driver tickets are $15, and VIP early-access tickets are available to members of the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild MNthusiast program. Tickets, event details, participating breweries, and MNthusiast membership information can be found online at mncraftbrew.org/ABR.

All Are Welcome at the Cedar Riverside Multicultural Dinner, September 22

Article by Becky Fillinger, photo provided 

Amano DubeThe annual Cedar Riverside Multicultural Dinner will take place September 22, from 4 - 7 pm at the Brian Coyle Center. We talked to Amano Dube, Senior Director of Community Development Cedar Riverside, for Pillsbury United Communities, about this year’s event. He told us, “This event has been taking place for over two decades and it has grown over the years in its size and diversity – we welcome everyone to come out on September 22 to meet your Cedar Riverside neighbors.” 

Amano pointed out these highlights: 

• There is no fee to attend the dinner - delicious cuisine from 10-12 restaurants in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood will be featured.     

• We’ll be entertained by four different performance groups including Team of Artists from the Cedar Cultural Center, The Somali Museum Dance Troupe; Oromia Youth Association Cultural Dance Group and Native American drummers.

• I stated earlier but want to emphasize that we don’t charge for the event – the food and performances are offered free of charge. The event is supported by organizations and individuals who believe in its purpose which is to bring the diverse multicultural communities in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood and the surrounding communities together to celebrate the beauty of diversity through conversing and networking with each other, learning more about our diverse cultures, sharing West Bank cuisine and enjoying the wonderful performances. Please come to 420 15th Avenue South and enjoy!

Weekly Events at Peavey Plaza September 12-17

Green Minneapolis is excited to host these events, free and open to all!

YWCA Minneapolis Yoga on the Plaza

Tuesday, September 13 from 5:30-6:30pm

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Flow into summer with FREE yoga classes at Peavey Plaza (weather permitting). Bring a water, mat and towel. Members and nonmembers are welcome to attend. Nonmembers that attend receive a FREE three-day trial fitness pass to any of our three fitness locations. Plus, join YWCA Minneapolis as a member for just $15! Registration recommended

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MNspin Musician of the Week: Ray Barnard

Thursday, September 15 from 12-1pm 

Ray Barnard and Clark Adams do original Roots & Soul music. And with the help of Blair Krivanek, Nick Salisbury, and, Greg Schutte, they do it as well as anybody. They meet at the intersection of smart, pretty, and groovy.

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Joe Davis & The Poetic Diaspora

Friday, September 16 at 6-7:30pm

Journeying through the sonically diverse realms of old school and new school hip hop, R&B, funk, and soul, Joe Davis & The Poetic Diaspora seamlessly blend melodic harmonies, smooth instrumentation, and raw, poetic energy to tell stories of struggle, resilience, and celebration. Formed in the heart of the Twin Cities, the collective is dedicated to crafting vibrant soundscapes around honest narratives that reflect their community’s sacred humanity. Each song is an ancestral echo, a battle cry calling for freedom, an unending dance for justice and joy, welcoming all of the diaspora home.

Children’s Theatre Company Story Theatre 

Saturday, September 17 at 12-12:30pm & 12:30-1pm

Join Children’s Theatre Company for summertime fun at Peavey Plaza! Through imaginative play, collaborative storytelling, music, and family engagement, we’ll explore beloved children’s books together. Laugh, dance, and discover along with your family and friends.

For a complete calendar of Peavey Plaza Performing Arts Series, visit greenminneapolis.org/events.

September 10th Trip to the Mill City Farmers Market

On our September 10th trip to the Mill City Farmers Market we were lucky enough to get one of the last watermelons from Nistler Farms, as well as the last of the season's sweet corn from Bean Market. Slow Burn had some very cool Día de los Muertos beeswax candles. The blended salsa from Atacama Catering is the perfect sauce to pour over a batch of roasted squash/peppers/onions/garlic (and their cookies and empanadas are to die for!). Mary Dirty Face Farm had an extensive array of apples. We picked up some Ginger Golds.

Visit MERCADO LATINO September 19-30 to Celebrate Latino-owned Businesses

Article by Becky Fillinger, Photos provided by mpls downtown council

MERCADO LATINO will take place September 19 - 30 at Gaviidae Common. We spoke to Shannon Fitzgerald, Director of Downtown Partnerships for the mpls downtown council for all the information we need to know before visiting.

Shannon Fitzgerald

Q:  What is the MERCADO LATINO?

A:  The second annual MERCADO LATINO, a partnership between Chameleon Shoppes and the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), gives downtown shoppers the opportunity to explore products from all over Latin America as well as those created by Latino makers here in the Twin Cities. In addition to hosting the pop-up event, Chameleon Shoppes and LEDC will be providing partnership and training opportunities for each vendor throughout the month of September, meeting Chameleon's mission to connect, incubate, and accelerate BIPOC and women entrepreneurs as part of a movement to create a vibrant and inclusive Downtown Minneapolis.

Q:  Before we jump into the event, please tell us about the number and impact of Minnesota Hispanic-owned businesses.

A:  The impact of Hispanic owned businesses enfolds social, economic, and cultural aspects that are important not only for the Hispanic community but to the whole country. In addition to being the largest minority group in the USA, Hispanic Americans earned more than $1 trillion and paid more than $250 billion in taxes in 2017 alone in the United States, filling critical workforce gaps in labor-short industries- agriculture, construction, and healthcare. Hispanic immigrants start new business at a higher rate than the rest of the population of the U.S. - eight in ten new business are Hispanic owned.

In Minnesota, the impact of Hispanic businesses that LEDC has supported is exponentially increasing and can be shown through the following numbers from 2020: 

• LEDC supported Latino producers to have access to $560,000 in the market.         
• 27 small business borrowers benefited from our COVID-19 lending relief program, receiving deferments averaging 4.3 months on their loans.      
• 500+ small businesses impacted by the pandemic and civil unrest received nearly $5 million in grant relief and $2 million in emergency loans.

All this money invested in the Latino community in Minnesota is money invested in the economy that generates jobs and taxes for the state. However, the overarching reason for the investment is that it creates community and makes this growing community feel like they belong and making them believe that they can thrive and aspire to better futures.

Q:  Thank you! Now for this particular event, are you focusing solely on Minneapolis vendors and businesses?

A:  No, we have selected vendors are from several different areas of the Twin Cities.

Q:  What are the dates, hours and location?

A:  Monday - Friday, September 19 - 30, 11:00-6:00. The market will be set up at Gaviidae Common skyway level, 651 Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis.

Q:  Please tell us about the merchants who are participating.

A:  It is first important to recognize the importance of collaboration with LEDC in putting together the showcase. Thirteen local and Latino-owned businesses are represented, with products ranging from personal care, pastries, home décor, clothing, and accessories.

Corazón clothing - The Epileptic Chef - Liny's Herbal Boutique - E.M.A.s Boutique - The Pink Giraffe - Lala Draws Lines - Artesania Rosa Mexicana - Luceritos Fashion - Sanorte Designs - Susana Mendez Jewelry - Heidi Rivera Piñatas - IJX Lashes

Q:  Are any special events planned?

A:  The closing celebration will be held on Friday, September 30th, along with the opening of the newest Chameleon Shop, FX (Fashion X) a collaborative store of Urban Fashion, right across from the MERCADO LATINO location. More information will be posted on the celebration soon!

Q:  How may we follow the news of these businesses?

A:  Chameleon will be posting on social media about these businesses and tagging them. You can follow Chameleon Shoppes on Facebook @chameleonconsortiumshoppes, Instagram: @chameleonshoppes and our webpage: https://www.chameleonshoppes.com.

Here are a few photos from last years event:

City of Minneapolis Welcoming Week, September 9 - 18

Article by Becky Fillinger

Did you know that the City of Minneapolis has a Welcoming Week, part of a now-global celebration which brings together immigrants, refugees, and native-born residents to learn about each other and foster a sense of community? This year marks the 10th anniversary of Welcoming Week celebrations across the globe, which run from September 9th to the 18th, and this year’s theme is Where We Belong. We spoke to Michelle Rivero, Director, Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) to learn more about the events surrounding Welcoming Week.

Michelle RiveroHere's what Michelle shared about the theme of this year’s celebration and events we may attend:

This year’s Where We Belong theme encourages individual reflection on how and why belonging occurs and ways to break barriers so that places can foster belonging for all, including immigrants and refugees. This is the first year that celebrations are happening around the world – we know of celebrations in the United Kingdom, France, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and Canada.

As a Welcoming City, the City of Minneapolis hosts annual events in recognition of Welcoming Week to welcome new residents to the city and, because Citizenship Day always takes place during Welcoming Week, to share information about how to become a United States citizen and the importance of acquiring United States Citizenship.

The City’s Welcoming Week webpage holds this year’s calendar of events for welcoming week and beyond including:

Twin Cities Immigration Forum

Tuesday, September 13, 4:30-6 p.m.

Join the Twin Cities Immigration Forum for a conversation about the contributions of immigrants and refugees in the City of Minneapolis and St. Paul including information from the Journey to Belonging Report.

Join the meeting online over Microsoft Teams or call in (audio only) at 612-276-6670, using conference ID number: 365 504 388#

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid Naturalization Orientation

Saturday, September 17, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

The City of St. Paul Immigrant and Refugee Program, City of Minneapolis Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs and local nonprofit immigration legal service providers will offer an information session about applying for US citizenship both online and in person in honor of Citizenship Day. Coffee and snacks provided. The link to join will be provided soon on the City’s webpage.

Forum on renting to refugees and evacuees

Friday, September 23, 2022, 10-11:30 AM

Online forum about renting to refugees and evacuees in Minnesota by the Minnesota Council of Churches Refugee Services.

Register online to receive Zoom link

Of course, there will be many private get-togethers, readings, potlucks and sporting events in our city to celebrate and show welcome to our immigrant and refugee community members. Use #WhereWeBelong to let others know of your events!

Previous Welcoming Week event

Must See Exhibit: A Picture Gallery of the Soul

Article by Becky Fillinger

Herman Milligan, Jr. Photo, Susan SchaeferThis exhibit at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery features the work of over 100 Black American photography artists, with works ranging from the 19th to the 21st centuries. The exhibition is organized by independent curator Herman J. Milligan, Jr. and Howard Oransky, Director of the Katherine E. Nash Gallery. We talked to Herman Milligan about the importance of and influences for the show - and all the events open to the public. Plan your visit - the show runs  from September 13 - December 10, 2022.

Q:  I just learned that Frederick Douglass sat for photographic portraits 160 times - he was the most photographed American of the 19th century. Douglass did not sit to glorify himself. He understood that photography could do something different from a hand sketch or a lecture - it was an indelible visual record of exactly what the subject looked like at that time and as WBUR noted Douglass believed that “photography highlighted the essential humanity of its subjects.” Is his influence evident in the exhibition?   

A:  I would say that Douglass' influence in this exhibition can be seen and felt throughout. In the three speeches that he delivered, a common theme was the ability of photography to reveal an individual and historical record of humans, their traditions and surroundings that could be more readily available than before its invention. Paintings and drawings of individuals portraying their social mores and customs were more exclusively available to the elite. For enslaved and indentured individuals, the non-photographic artform of portraiture was confined to the houses, institutions, and establishments where they were allowed to work in or visit.

More importantly, photography allowed for individuals to record their own destinies so to speak, to share it, and to pass it on for generations to come. As the medium became more popularized and widely accessible, this allowed for a freer means of expression and communication that galvanized and sustained the abolitionist and other civil rights movements in his period and until the present. Photographers in this exhibition, A Picture Gallery of the Soul, employ the photographic medium as means to explore identity in its many forms; to reveal environmental, social, cultural, and socio-economic injustices that Black Americans and others are facing, as well as revealing the human conditions Black Americans and humans may experience. The photographers in this exhibition employ a diverse set of techniques (i.e., use of different camera models and technologies; differing compositional styles and varied subject matter) to reveal the Black American experience within the time period in which these images were taken. 

Q:  The US Civil Rights Movement was greatly aided by photography. We could not look away at images of the assault of peaceful protesters at lunch counters or state troopers assaulting Selma marchers. Why do we need the gut punch of a photograph to get moved by a story? Are these photographs art or history? Both?  

A:  I believe throughout human existence, humans have developed the ability to create figurative work in its many forms (i.e., cave drawings, figurative painting, photography, film, video, online media channels, etc.) to leave a historical clue as well as to communicate a current experience that challenges the viewer to become moved; motivated to engage; or not take action. In our modern society, the proliferation of diverse media channels amplifies the individual's or groups' ability to move or to not move someone or group by a story which one might interpret as having compelling photographic images. Individuals decide to engage or not to engage for various reasons. Photography as a medium, in my opinion, poses the question to the viewer as to how they should feel and if they need to do anything about it, based on the images and/or story being communicated.

I believe effective photographers do a great job at this. They produce powerful compelling images that tell a story, regardless of whether they will also write the story. Moreover, great photographers produce images that must stand on their own. If the image moves you to think and contemplate about the subject matter, in a way that compels you to think and act to do something about the subject matter of the image, then that person has done their job. Such photographs in my opinion will stand the test of time. Fine quality photographs, regardless of the reason why they were taken, will be memorable in the most positive manner over time. Who defines whether a photograph, for whatever reason why the picture was taken, or whether it is art or history, or both, is a question that I believe has meaning relative to the subject matter of the photograph as well as related to the photographer who took the picture. I hope that American society and the world will have progressed to a point where art historians, art critics, collectors, and photographers will honestly evaluate the quality of the work and honestly record the precarious journey of Black American photographers during this important period of our country's history. 

Q:  Telephones with cameras have moved us even closer to instantaneously recording the truth of a situation. Every citizen becomes a photojournalist. Are we all creating art? 

A:  Although the development of new technologies in the telephone industry has allowed photography to become a mass market phenomena, not every person can become a photojournalist or an artist just because they have a cell phone with a camera. These two fields still demand and require courses of study or the ability to acquire such skills through an educational route. Individuals who become proficient at art or photojournalism but did not get a degree in these disciplines (i.e., self-taught or through an apprentice, but not receiving a degree) are popularly identified as "Outsider Artists" or "Outsider Photojournalists." Whether what is being created by the so-called "Non-artist" or "Non-photojournalist" is "art" or "photojournalism" is left to the respective professions and society to decide if such work is "art" or "photojournalism."

Unfortunately, we have the tragic death of George Floyd, on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis to illustrate this point. Darnella Frazier, who took the now famous video of Mr. Floyd, being slowly killed by Officer Derek Chauvin on that date, was not a trained photojournalist, but a very brave woman who made a difference. Her video galvanized a movement that spread worldwide, brought some justice to Floyd's family, and hopefully will bring meaningful and important change within the criminal justice systems within the United States and beyond. For her courage, she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Journalism in June 2021. "Outsiders" of both disciplines who continue to learn and practice their skills through workshops, courses, etc. over a long period of time will become professionally proficient in their respective fields and will eventually be defined as a "journalist" or "artist" in their respective fields.

Above, Salimah Ali's Dare (Portrait of Ugochi Egonu), Courtesy of the artist. Salimah is one of the artists part of A Picture Gallery of the Soul.

Above, Kwame Brathwaite Self Portrait at AJASS Studios, Courtesy of the artist and Philip Martin Gallery, LA. Kwame is one of the artists part of A Picture Gallery of the Soul.

Q:  Setting aside civil rights, what other aspects of black life in the United States does your exhibition touch upon? 

A:  The exhibition covers many aspects of Black American life across the three centuries. When visiting the exhibition, the viewer will be able to experience portraits of individuals in various settings and situations that parallel such situations that all Americans and human cultures globally experience. For example, there are portraits of individuals, young or older, in their home or professional or social setting that in a way communicates the common experiences that all cultures within our country experience. These images present people doing the things they love to do on an everyday basis or present individuals who are recognized for their achievements and the struggles they pursue and/or are experiencing at a certain point in time. Such presentations of the everyday experiences of these individuals underscores the commonality of behaviors and circumstances that are common across the United States and the world. There is also a historical experience of being Black in America that is presented over time in a manner that underscores and reveals these struggles that are presented in a provocative and effective way to encourage a serious dialogue with the viewer about these circumstances.

Q:  Please tell us about the companion exhibition of photographs made by local high school students. 

A:  We thought it was important to showcase the work of photography students attending the Gordon Parks High School in St. Paul which was founded in 1991. Their work will appear in the nearby Quarter Galley. Gordon Parks was a St. Paul native who emigrated to the city from Fort Scott, Kansas. He chose photography to communicate the human condition and to help improve it through his photographic, filmmaking, music, writing, and philanthropic careers. We thought it was only fitting to give these students to showcase their creative work as a parallel exhibition to ours.

Q:  Are there events around the exhibition that we may attend? 

A:  Yes. There are five events – please note that registration is required for each event: 

Virtual Keynote | Thursday, September 15 | 6:30 pm | Online
Presentation with Prof. Deborah Willis, New York University
Registration required: https://z.umn.edu/Prof_Deborah_Willis

Opening Program | Thursday, September 22 | 6:00 – 7:00 pm | InFlux Space, Regis Center for Art
Presentation with the exhibition curators and visiting scholar lecture
Mining the Archive of Black Life and Culture, Prof. Cheryl Finley, Cornell University
Registration required: https://z.umn.edu/RegisRSVP

Public Reception | Thursday, September 22 | 7:00 – 9:00 pm | Katherine E. Nash Gallery
Come celebrate with the curators and visiting guests
Registration required: https://z.umn.edu/RegisRSVP

Spoken Word Event | Wednesday, October 12 |12:15 pm|InFlux Space, Regis Center for Art
Program with Ty Chapman, Keno Evol, and Andrea Jenkins
Registration required: https://z.umn.edu/RegisRSVP

Writers Reading Event | Thursday, November 17 |12:15 pm|InFlux Space, Regis Center for Art
Program with Mary Easter, G.E. Patterson, and Davu Seru
Registration required: https://z.umn.edu/RegisRSVP 

Q:  Is there a catalogue for the show? 

A:  Yes! The catalogue, co-published with the University of California Press will be on sale at the University Bookstore starting in September. Lastly, myself and Howard have developed a Soundscape for the images contained within the catalogue. MP-3 Players will be distributed when you attend the show, along with a smaller catalogue linking the catalogue image with a particular song or songs. Several images may have more than one song.

Coreen Simpson, Self Portrait

West River Parkway to Closes Between 4th Ave N and Portland Ave September 12-16 for Maintenance

West River Parkway is scheduled to close between 4th Avenue N and Portland Avenue beginning Monday, Sept. 12 for catch basin repairs performed by City of Minneapolis Public Works. The closure is expected to last up to five days.

Trails and the Stone Arch Bridge parking lot will remain open. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board appreciates the public's patience while public infrastructure is repaired.

New Vincent Francoual Restaurant Coming to the Former Bacon Social House Location

Chef Vincent Francoual, Photo: Restore Restaurant HoldingsSherman Associates and Restore Restaurant Holdings (RRH) recently announced RRH has signed a lease for the 3,000 square foot ground floor restaurant space at 700 S 3rd Street, adjacent to the Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District hotel. The space will be home to a new casual-dining concept being created by Chef Vincent Francoual in coordination with RRH.

Chef Vincent was the namesake and creative force behind Vincent, A Restaurant, which was frequently named the “the best French restaurant” in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area during its 14-year run. The new restaurant will not be a reboot of Vincent, A Restaurant, Chef Vincent emphasized, but rather a new take on a casual French restaurant featuring the foods Chef Vincent loves cooking for his own family.

The restaurant space is in the heart of Sherman Associates’ redevelopment of the Mill District which includes over 1,000 housing units completed or under construction, two hotels, and its new office headquarters.

“Over the past year, our vision has been to create a restaurant hub in the Mill District,” said Ben Kepple, director of commercial leasing at Sherman Associates. “We’re excited to welcome RRH and Chef Vincent as the first of many exciting new food and beverage concepts to the neighborhood.”

Restore Restaurant Holdings is a recently formed group pioneering a new way of running a restaurant company by collaborating with successful restaurateurs to rebuild the hospitality business in downtown Minneapolis and surrounding areas. RRH is headed by co-founders attorney Dennis Monroe and his son, Matthew Monroe, along with Francoual. Also, part of the team is restaurateur Erik Forsberg, owner of Devil’s Advocate, Dan Kelly’s Pub, Joseph’s Restaurant, and Erik the Red.

Additional details about the new Chef Vincent restaurant will be released as the date for the grand opening, expected later this fall, approaches.

Chef Vincent, who is now heading up the kitchen at EaTo, is excited to get back to his French roots: "I believe that French food and a French restaurant can be a casual concept, as is the case with other ethnic food, and can be served in a way that is more carefree and incorporates shareable dishes," Francoual said. “I look forward to bringing this idea to the people of Minnesota soon.”

Global Bartending Excellence – Meet Jessi Pollak

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Spoon and Stable’s Jessi Pollak won the national Bartender of the Year championship in June, competing against 14 other contenders. She’s now off to compete in the World Class Cocktail Festival in Sydney, Australia, to be held September 12-15. We talked to her about the competitions, her approach to a winning cocktail, and mixology classes for all of us when she returns.

Jessi Pollak at the 2022 Nationals

Q:  Congratulations on winning Bartender of the Year Award in the USBG national finals! Please tell us about your journey to become a bartender. 

A:  I began working in hospitality in my mid-20's. I had graduated from college and was on a career path in academic administration, and it just didn't feel right for me. I saved up some money and resigned, planning to spend some time figuring out my life. To pay the bills while I figured out my long-term path, I applied for my first bartending job. Within a couple of weeks, I knew that bartending was the path. I loved so many things about it - the people, the physical exertion, the schedule, and the creativity of making drinks. Since then, I've been on a journey to learn as much as I can and to be the best possible version of myself behind the bar. 

From the Nationals: "La Tequilera" - Don Julio tequila blanco, lemon and lime juices, Aperol, soda water, and La Tequilera cordial, which is based with watermelon juice, serrano and jalapeno peppers, cilantro, and mint. Photo, Shannon SturgisQ:  Were you nominated to attend the competition, or did you sign up to compete on your own? 

A:  I chose to enter the "USBG Presents World Class Sponsored by Diageo" competition (better known simply as World Class) because it's the competition that I kept track of to know who were the best bartenders in our industry and the folks I should be following. World Class is an amazing comprehensive challenge of a bartender's skills and knowledge. It's an intimidating competition to enter because it really is the best of the best, but after a few years of watching from the sidelines, I felt like I had to give it a try.

Q:  You were judged on knowledge, skill and creativity. Were there interviews or tests as part of the competition to gauge knowledge, or did it all come down to the cocktails? 

A:  World Class tests everything about being a great bartender - ingredient creation, menu conceptualization, storytelling, speed, technique, cleanliness while working, hospitality, all of it. The way I think of it is like this - at this level, every drink is going to be delicious and well balanced, and the judges are going to taste them all. How do I make my drinks stand out? How do I make it a memorable experience for the judges? Usually the answer is through storytelling, kindness, and engaging with the guest (or judge) in an authentic way.

Q:  You will now represent the U.S. in the World Finals in Sydney, Australia this month. Will you create all new cocktails for the finals?  

A:  Yes! I'll be competing in 5 separate challenges with 7 cocktails total. Each challenge tests a particular skill set - like creating a "modern classic" Scotch cocktail that is simple to make and can stand the test of time, or developing a complex martini variation that is served in a creative and theatrical way to wow the judges and show them something groundbreaking.

Q:  Will you have coaches and mentors as you prepare for the Finals? 

A:  Now that I am representing the U.S. in the Global Finals, I have an amazing team of resources behind me. I've been paired up with fantastic mentors, like past winners and judges, to help me plan and succeed. Each country is rallying for their competitor, so they put a lot of resources into supporting them. And I will of course have the Spoon and Stable team with me, as I have throughout this whole journey. 

From the Regionals in Chicago: "The Long Flight Home" - a New York sour variation with Don Julio tequila reposado, lemon juice, a compound syrup with a lot of culinary ingredients from Northern Mexico, salt and then a float of Birch-smoked mulled wine on top. Photo, Shannon SturgisQ:  Will you teach Cocktail Making to the Minneapolis community when you return – I hope victoriously – from Sydney? 

A:  Absolutely! I have had many opportunities to move to other cities to pursue my career goals, but Minneapolis is where I choose to be. Spoon and Stable feels like home, and I love educating our guests about cocktails and spirits. I regularly teach cocktail lessons for events, and I still spend a couple nights a week behind the bar doing what I love - making great cocktails for our guests. 

Q:  Good luck to you – we’re all cheering you on! How may we follow your news? 

A:  Thank you! You can follow me on my journey to the Global Finals through Spoon and Stable's social media channels (@spoonandstable) and my personal Instagram (@jessipollak).

MacPhail Center for Music Announces 2022-23 Spotlight Series

The September 24th concert will feature Jendayi Berry, and include a live painting on the stage as performances by Julia and Irina Elkina, Iris Shiraishi and Michael Cain take place.

MacPhail Center for Music has announced the 2022-23 Spotlight Series: Musical Explorations in Spectral Colors. This collaborative series of performances will build pathways in the artistic community by unifying the two captivating mediums of visual art and music.

Jendayi BerryPer Spotlight Artistic Director Mischa Santora, “I am so thrilled about the continuing journey with the Spotlight Concert Series, as we keep building new artistic connections in our community. With each new season, we have a unique opportunity to expand the scope of representation through our fantastic guest artists. Besides presenting wonderful performances, I feel we can learn so much about who we are as a community, and perhaps more importantly, where we want to go next.”

The season will showcase three important Twin Cities artists featuring Asha Belk with The Space Where Words Fail, Eyenga Bokamba with Translucent Beauty and to kick off the series Jendayi Berry will present In the Moment. Berry will put his extremely unique and alluring talents on display as he paints live on-stage rendering the musical performance into visual terms.

The first concert in the series will take place Saturday, September 24th at Antonello Hall in MacPhail’s Downtown Minneapolis location. Season subscribers will save 20% off the single ticket price and are guaranteed tickets to all three performances in September, February, and April. Season subscriptions are available for purchase up until the date of the first performance. Single tickets are also available for purchase on macphail.org.