News | Southwest Connector

Over the winter, the new Bandshell color was announced as a grayish-blue color called Bluestone (left side of mockup pictured above) and an Open House was held in January. Afterward, many people shared a preference for a more blue color like the Bandshell previously displayed in the 1990s and early 2000s.

BLUE HUE FOR LAKE HARRIET BANDSHELLLake Harriet Bandshell repairs have begun. The first phase of repairs, scheduled throughout spring and early summer, includes updating Bandshell windows, remodeling … more

4/19/23

City council races: endorsements

Palmisano Endorsed by DFLOn April 1, at the Ward 13 Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) Party convention, Linea Palmisano was endorsed for reelection in her race for Ward 13 city council member. She won on … more

4/19/23

City Briefs April 20

1301 West Lake St ProjectOn April 13, the city council approved a financing plan for the Common Bond Communities project at 1301 West Lake that includes a six-story apartment building on a one-acre … more

4/19/23

Resident asks: Where are city leaders? Why aren't they at 3rd Precinct meetings?

Longfellow business owner, 30-year Longfellow resident and local filmmaker Paul Irmiter doesn't want the 3rd Precinct site reopened at its existing location - and none of the residents he's spoken … more

4/14/23

Legacy co-owner Ruby Stinson (left) and Les Sól co-owner Mikaela Harrod (right) at Legacy send customers to each other’s stores, located on the same 1600 block of West Lake Street in Uptown.

Collaborators not competitors

Empty storefronts and “For Lease” signs have been a frequent sight along West Lake Street in Uptown over the last several years. But, it appears things are starting to turn over and along … more

By Allie Johnson | 4/6/23

Kingfield’s performing arts center expands

Artist Jackie Hayes was living in New York and was writing a dissertation for her Ph.D. in performance studies when she visited her parents after their move to Minneapolis. She was drawn to the city … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 4/6/23

The Wilson’s back porch was opened up through careful deconstruction by a Better Futures crew. (Photo submitted)

Why throw away a house when parts can be reused?

From early 20th Century thrift to building cabins from contractor cast-offs, building materials reuse had long been an informal norm. But in a more recent world, entire houses have been thrown in the … more

By Margo Ashmore | 4/6/23

A true sign that spring is on the way or has actually arrived is the appearance of the Mourning Cloak butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa).

Spring yard Cleanup in a word: WAIT!

Especially this spring, after what feels like an endless winter with February weather in March, most gardeners are understandably impatient for the snow to melt and clear the way for yard work. But … more

By Constance Pepin | 4/6/23

Nataliya Beccera, marketing person for Sustainable 9, visits 3900 Ewing Ave. S.

Learn about building reuse grants April 29-30 on MSP Home Tour

Ryan Hanson of the Linden Hills-based Sustainable 9 Design Build sees deconstruction – and when applicable, use of a Hennepin County grant that helps with the cost – as part of their … more

4/6/23

“It’s Only Life After All” tells the story of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls – the iconic folk rock duo. View it on the closing night of the film festival, on April 27.

MSPIFF 42 begins

Whether a long-time film society member or new to the scene, film buffs all over the Twin Cities and beyond are getting ready for the 42nd Minneapolis Saint Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) … more

By Jan Willms | 4/6/23

Filmmaker Marius Anderson resides in Duluth and his father-in-law does the Arrowhead 135.

‘40 Below’

Why do people do this? Documentary filmmaker Marius Anderson tries to answer this question about the reasons people choose to expose themselves to bitter Minnesota wind and temperatures in the annual … more

By Jan Willms | 4/6/23

Ranked Choice Voting supporters attend the Senate hearing on a bill to make RCV a statewide practice.

Ranked choice voting one step closer to becoming state law

Twenty years ago, in Minnesota’s 2002 Gubernatorial Election, Republican Tim Pawlenty was elected governor of our state with only 44% of the vote. Minnesota’s progressive/liberal vote was … more

By Larry LaVercombe | 4/6/23

City Briefs April 6

Franklin Avenue redesignHennepin County will be reconstructing Franklin Ave. between Lyndale and Chicago avenues in 2025. They held a community meeting in March and posted materials online to gather … more

4/6/23

Neighborhood News April 6

BDE MAKA SKA PAVILIONConstruction on a new concessions pavilion area at Bde Maka Ska continued to progress throughout the winter with work on the building interiors. Starting Monday, April 3, … more

4/6/23

John Wilson lives in south Minneapolis and pays attention to transit issues.

Sneak peek at the future of buses

BETTER BUS ROUTES Metro Transit has a little-known program called Better Bus Routes. The primary purpose of this program is to simplify bus routes by trimming branches (versions of a route with the … more

By John Wilson | 4/6/23

Jim Tittle did most of the camera work for “Minnesota Mean.” He died before the film was complete.

‘Minnesota Mean’ tells story of local roller derby players

Minnesota documentary filmmaker Dawn Mikkelson has managed to capture both the strength and the vulnerability of the roller derby skaters whose story she tells in her film “Minnesota … more

By Jan Willms | 4/6/23

Twin Cities ranks 24th nationally for EV-friendliness

The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metropolitan area ranks 24th nationally for EV-friendliness, mainly prompted by a strong EV ownership mindset, the overall favorable infrastructure, the growing … more

4/4/23

Support a women-owned businesses in Uptown

Meet some of Uptown's women business owners, courtesy of the Uptown Association. Women's History Month may be over, but you can support women-owned businesses can be year-round. Kim Bartmann … more

4/3/23

Did a troubled Black History Month expo need a City Council rescue? Minneapolis ex-equity director says leaked audio proves it didn’t

When the Minneapolis City Council gathered on short notice on Feb. 17, council members said they were convening to save a struggling, city-sanctioned event to mark Black History Month. With the … more

By Kyle Stokes, MinnPost | 4/3/23

“You’re talking about our children breathing. You’re talking about our children living past 25 and not having heart issues that we don’t understand where they got them. It’s our future and our children,” said Jolene Jones on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Roof Depot site.

Residents speak: No city project at Roof Depot Site

For the Indigenous people and allies living in south Minneapolis, the Roof Depot conflict is an issue of life or death. And they can back it up with data.Their decade-long fight to stop a city-run … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 3/23/23