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Our final segment with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in studio focuses on the future of Target Center, plans for Nicollet Mall and more!
Mayor Frey's administration has a plan to add "vibrancy" to Nicollet Mall by adding additional programming and events, but that means removing the buses. The longtime transit mall would transition to a full time pedestrian mall. Bus riders Amity Foster and Taylor Dahlin join John for a conversation about whether this is a good idea; why buses aren't the problem; why you should be demanding a bus lane on Hennepin Ave downtown; and whether the city can address issues of safety and comfort on the streets where transit riders would be pushed if the plan goes forward. We also talk about what motivates some, especially the downtown business community, to push for bus removal: clearing out poor people. Bill Lindeke's post on solving Nicollet Mall's problems: https://www.minnpost.com/cityscape/2025/01/nicollet-mall-needs-bikes-and-other-wheeled-wanderers/ Take the downtown transit survey here: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/transportation-programs/nicollet-mall-downtown/community-engagement/ Watch: https://youtube.com/wedgelive Join the conversation: https://bsky.app/profile/wedge.live Support the show: https://patreon.com/wedgelive Wedge LIVE theme song by Anthony Kasper x LaFontsee
On today's edition of DeRusha Eats, Jason talks to Alain Lenne who owns Come Pho Soup, the tiny soup/banh mi place on Nicollet Mall.
Jason talks to Adam Duininck, President of the Minneapolis Downtown Council, about the return of Holidazzle to the Nicollet Mall!
Hour 1: Jason talks about the impending storm. Are we worse at preparing for these things than we used to be? Then Adam Duininck, President of the Minneapolis Downtown Council, joins the show to talk about Holidazzle's return to Nicollet Mall!
On Dec. 18 Holidazzle will return to its beginnings: Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. The event started as parade in 1992 that attracted more than 750,000 people downtown. In 2016 it moved to Loring Park due to construction on Nicollet Mall, and since the pandemic the event has been on thin ice. In 2023 it was altogether canceled.The CEO and President of the Minneapolis Downtown Council, Adam Duininck, joined Minnesota Now to talk about the new iteration of Holidazzle and how it fits into the council's plans to revamp downtown Minneapolis.
Big Lake kid, 9, making a fortune as a professional gopher trapper. Biden administration announces more student loan forgiveness. Tax man Dan Pilla with new theory on attempted assassination. It seems clear to GL that the table is being set for Biden to step down. Johnny Heidt with guitar news.Heard On The Show:Investigation underway after 1 million gallons of ash wastewater spill from energy center in Cohasset4 hospitalized for Nicollet Mall shooting-related injuriesTrump to rally unified Republicans in convention finale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Big Lake kid, 9, making a fortune as a professional gopher trapper. Biden administration announces more student loan forgiveness. Tax man Dan Pilla with new theory on attempted assassination. It seems clear to GL that the table is being set for Biden to step down. Johnny Heidt with guitar news. Heard On The Show: Investigation underway after 1 million gallons of ash wastewater spill from energy center in Cohasset 4 hospitalized for Nicollet Mall shooting-related injuries Trump to rally unified Republicans in convention finale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There are so many food vendors along Nicollet Mall for Promenade du Nord and we chatted with a few of them as well as Adam Duininck, President and CEO of Minneapolis Downtown City Council about the buzz along the mall with these events!
There are so many food vendors along Nicollet Mall for Promenade du Nord and we chatted with a few of them as well as Adam Duininck, President and CEO of Minneapolis Downtown City Council about the buzz along the mall with these events!
Sandy Sweeter, the Executive Director of the Local Organizing Committee for Gymnastics City, USA joins Henry Lake to preview this upcoming weekend's US Gymnastic Team Trials at Target Center and on Nicollet Mall.
Let's make Nicollet Mall beautiful -- go ahead and plant some flowers (so says Mayor Jacob Frey!), BOOB TUBE BONANZA: Alexis binged Season 3 of "Bridgerton" and things are getting HOT! We play a round of Marketplace Price is Right and Microsoft's plans for AI are not really sitting well with us... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Let's make Nicollet Mall beautiful -- go ahead and plant some flowers (so says Mayor Jacob Frey!), BOOB TUBE BONANZA: Alexis binged Season 3 of "Bridgerton" and things are getting HOT! We play a round of Marketplace Price is Right and Microsoft's plans for AI are not really sitting well with us... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's Wednesday, May 15th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark New Zealand churches might lose tax-exempt status Churches have enjoyed tax-exempt status in New Zealand for hundreds of years. However, the country's government is considering a plan to revoke the tax exempt status of churches. Not surprisingly, churches provide many forms of social and spiritual support to their communities for free. Removing their tax-exempt status would result in fewer people receiving help. International Christian Concern is circulating a petition to keep the church in New Zealand tax free. You can sign it through a link in our transcript today at TheWorldview.com. 76 million displaced people The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center reports more and more people are facing displacement in their own country. Conflicts and natural disasters led to 76 million internally displaced people last year. Violence caused 90% of the displacements, and over half of them were in sub-Saharan Africa. The number of internally displaced people increased by 50% over the last five years. And, over the last 10 years, the number has roughly doubled. Brazilian flooding kills 143 people Speaking of displacement, flooding in Brazil has triggered landslides and flash floods, displacing over half a million people and killing 143 people. Electricity has been cut off to more than 1.4 million Brazilians. The flooding came after torrential rains at the end of last month in the country's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. Churches across Brazil are providing shelter and care for those affected by the flooding. U.S.-based aid groups are also stepping in to help. On Sunday morning, May 12th, a DC-8 aircraft, funded by Samaritan's Purse, departed the Greensboro Airlift Response Center in North Carolina bound for Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil in a second airlift transporting relief to the flood-ravaged region. The flight carried shelter tarp and other relief supplies. Also on board were relief staff deploying to the area. Onboard the May 11th Samaritan's Purse flight were personal water filtration systems, hygiene kits, blankets, and solar lights. They also supplied ten community water filtration systems, each capable of supplying clean drinking water for up to 10,000 people per day. Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan's Purse said, “Please continue praying for all those whose lives have been devastated by this flooding as even more heavy rains are on the way.” You can make an on-line donation through Samaritan's Purse to help the people in flood-ravaged Brazil through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com. California school district agrees to pay FCA $6 million A California school district agreed to a nearly $6 million settlement with a Christian high school student group recently. A Fellowship of Christian Athletes student group had been operating at Pioneer High School in San Jose. The group required leaders to agree with its statement of faith which included saying that marriage is between one man and one woman. The high school stripped the FCA group of its official status. Now, after years of litigation, Christian students are free to operate the group according to their beliefs. Biden puts pro-abortion spin on Pregnant Workers Act Congress passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act back in 2022. Now, the Biden administration is trying to make the law pro-abortion. Last week, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced a new rule that would require employers to make accommodations for abortion. Multiple attorneys general from states across America are already challenging the rule. Louisiana's Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill said, “This new action ... is another example of bureaucrats rewriting acts of Congress to their own liking, and it's unconstitutional. We will continue to challenge this administration's overreach and protect pregnant women.” Isaiah 59:6-7 says, “Their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood.” Trump is leading in five of six battleground states A new poll from The New York Times found that former President Donald Trump leading President Joe Biden in battleground states. Ahead of the presidential elections this year, Trump is leading in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, and Nevada. Of six key states, Biden was only leading in Wisconsin. He won all six states in 2020. The poll found young, non-white voters were not satisfied with Biden. And Trump received record support of 20% of black voters. Target eager to promote sexual perversion AGAIN Target, once again, announced its plans to celebrate sexually perverted lifestyles during so-called “Pride Month” this year. The retail giant will included “pride” merchandise at stores. However, it will only be a handful of stores based on “historical sales performance.” And Target won't be selling such apparel for children. Target appears to be scaling back such merchandise after huge boycotts last year over the issue. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” You can sound off against Target for promoting sexual perversion by writing a letter to the CEO, Brian Cornell, Target, 1000 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403. Pastor thanks God for sparing congregation in tornado And finally, a church in Pennsylvania is giving thanks to God after surviving a tornado during a worship service over the weekend. An F1 tornado struck the church building of Crossroads Ministries, tearing off the roof. Nearly 100 people were in the building, and no one was severely injured. Pastor Ken Barner called it a miracle. Listen. BARNER: “We had a tornado come and hit the wing of our church. The tornado came up the hill at about 6:14pm, and it took the roof off of that building, and it sent it into the woods. I just have to tell you: God was with us. The steeple got knocked out. Cars were damaged. Nobody was injured. “There's a few cuts and bruises and bumps, as you might imagine, but nobody had to be hospitalized, that we know of. We're just so thankful for that. And folks, I just want you to know that we're standing on the promises of God right now.” Close And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, May 15th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
Jason has a great idea to beautify Minneapolis' Nicollet Mall, BOOB TUBE BONANZA: Holly watched "The Contestant" on Hulu, we play a round of Who Wants to be a Fake Millionaire, and Alexis shares her picks for best and worst fashions from last night's Met Gala! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jason has a great idea to beautify Minneapolis' Nicollet Mall, BOOB TUBE BONANZA: Holly watched "The Contestant" on Hulu, we play a round of Who Wants to be a Fake Millionaire, and Alexis shares her picks for best and worst fashions from last night's Met Gala! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
12-14 Adam and Jordana 10a hour
It's Friday, December 1st, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus More subtle persecution against Christians in Bangladesh In countries like Myanmar and Nigeria, acts of persecution against Christians are more likely to make news reports because of their extreme violence, reports International Christian Concern. But, in many other locations, persecution typically takes on a more subtle form. One place where such persecution occurs is Bangladesh, a South Asian nation with an overall population of 170 million, where over 90% of the people are Muslim and most of the remaining portion are Hindu. Thomas, a Christian in Bangladesh, says that many people “express their desire for conversion” to Christianity, but they don't follow through with it due to “threats of killing and persecution.” He also said that many children in Bangladesh “grow up with a nasty mentality to hate other faiths. These children often target the Christian families to steal and destroy farms and gardens.” In John 15:18-19, Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger died at 100 Henry Kissinger, the former Secretary of State for President Richard Nixon, died at the age of 100 on November 29th, reports Politico.com. His influence was felt in three primary areas. First, getting America out of the Vietnam War. Second, opening diplomatic relations with China. And third, reducing tensions with the Soviet Union. For decades thereafter, Kissinger's work with Nixon and President Gerald Ford earned him the role of the Republican Party's elder statesman when it came to foreign policy. In 1973, Kissinger shared a Nobel Peace Prize with Le Duc Tho, his North Vietnamese counterpart, for hammering out an agreement to end the Vietnam War. The accord, which was signed Jan. 27, 1973, had “brought a wave of joy and hope for peace over the entire world,” the Nobel committee said. However, the war rapidly flared up again, minus the American troops. Mostly untainted by the Watergate scandal that toppled Nixon, Kissinger continued to wield influence in the waning days of the administration. He was heard telling Nixon in an April 1973 White House tape, “You have saved this country, Mr. President. The history books will show that, when no one will know what Watergate means.” Nixon resigned in August 1974, but Kissinger remained in office. Is Kevin McCarthy likely to resign? Multiple GOP lawmakers expect former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California to step down from his seat before the end of the year, reports Axios. The potential exit of McCarthy could leave the House GOP with an even narrower majority. He posted a photo on Instagram in which his district office appeared to be in the process of being packed. California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom could hold McCarthy's seat open if he decides to resign in the new year. Plus, the GOP's razor-thin majority is already on the verge of being diminished further by the potential expulsion of Republican Congressman George Santos of New York in a vote expected today. Ohio becomes first state to report uptick in pediatric pneumonia Ohio has become the first U.S. state to report a mysterious uptick in pediatric pneumonia as cases surge in China, according to The New York Post. The Warren County Health District has reported 142 cases of the illness among children since August. This is above the county average and meets the Ohio Department of Health's definition of an outbreak. However, officials do not think it is a new respiratory disease, but “rather a large uptick in the number of pneumonia cases normally seen at one time.” The illness has spread across multiple school districts and the average age of those fallen ill is 8 years, the local health district said. Target now pushing perversion for Christmas And finally, back in 2012, Target debuted pro-homosexual merchandise connected to Homosexual Pride Month in June, the invention of Democrat President Bill Clinton in 1999. It raised money for a group pushing homosexual faux marriage. Sadly, the Supreme Court sanctioned this insult to God's institution in 2015. Ever since 2012, Target has wallowed further in the gutter of sexual perversion. They sell every product imaginable with homosexual and transgender logos as well as books for toddlers, pre-teens, and teens that groom them into sexual perversion. Most recently, the retail giant sold tuck-friendly swimsuits for men pretending to be women. Not surprisingly, Target lost $15.7 billion in market value, reported Fox News. Americans have voted with their wallets. They will not support a store that mocks their Judeo-Christian values. You would think that Target had learned its lesson. But you would be wrong. Target has now hired Erik Thompson, a sexual perversion corporate strategist, who referred to himself as the "Gay Cruella" on his Instagram handle. Thompson was directly responsible for loading up with merchandise that celebrates homosexuality -- for Christmas, reports Fox Business. Listen to conservative commentator Benny Johnson. JOHNSON: “This Target new coordinator has pushed Target into selling gay nutcrackers. So, for $63 you can own a Wooden Gay Pride Nutcracker. “That Gay Cruella has now gone private on the old Instagram after being found out and after having, of course, the most wonderful Instagram bio. ‘Not all villains are the antagonists, darling. Be your best, beautiful self and go rip that Old World to shreds.' There it is. Right there in the Instagram bio. So, great job Target. This is what parents want to see during Christmas time!” To object, send a letter to the Target CEO, Brian Cornell, 1000 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403-2542. Or you can call 612-696-3400 or email press@target.com Romans 1:24-26 says, “Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie. … For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions.” Close And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Friday, December 1st in the year of our Lord 2023. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
How are Downtown Thursdays working out on Nicollet Mall? The Downtown Council's Mark Remme joins the program to discuss the ongoing events and more things going on downtown.
How are Downtown Thursdays working out on Nicollet Mall? The Downtown Council's Mark Remme joins the program to discuss the ongoing events and more things going on downtown.
Minneapolis is trying to attract people back downtown. Would taking buses off the Mall and turning it into a pedestrian, entertainment zone do the trick? Jason is dubious
Hour 1: Jason talked with Hennepin County Sheriff Dewanna Witt about funding public safety. Then will taking buses off the Nicollet Mall bring people back downtown? And Paul Douglas talked about the Canadian wildfire smoke.
6-7 Adam and Jordana 9a hour
We talk about a new plan to revitalize Nicollet Mall.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joins Chad at the top of the show to talk about the plan to revitalize Nicollet Mall and other parts of downtown as well as safety concerns in the downtown area. Later, Rena Sarigianopoulos throws her producer team at KARE-11 under the bus and shares a story of purchasing groceries and nearly forgetting to bring them home.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joins Chad for two segments to speak about violence downtown, revitalization efforts coming to Nicollet Mall and the warehouse district and much more.
Some folks may have forgotten about The Taste of Minnesota, with the most recent edition of the event being held in 2015. Now, it's ready to make a comeback onto the Summer calendar. This week's announcement set the stage for Minneapolis' Nicollet Mall, which will host the event July 2nd & 3rd. Taylor Carik, one of the organizers, provides a preview of what we can expect from this latest revival.
The U.S. soccer team plays Iran Tuesday in the FIFA World Cup. For Iranian Minnesotans, the world cup looks very different this year. As Iran is on the world's stage for soccer, the spotlight—and criticism—on their government has grown harsher. It has been 10 weeks since a Kurdish woman died in Iranian police custody after violating religious dress code. Her death sparked intense unrest in the country and protests around the world. Here in Minnesota, the group called Minnesota Committee in Support of a Democratic Iran have been protesting against the Iranian government. They have been at Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis every Saturday since the beginning of the unrest. Host Cathy Wurzer talks to Hamid Kashani about the weight of the upcoming soccer match.
Todd About Town has a few ideas for people to spend some of your free time this holiday weekend! WCCO Radio Thanksgiving Weekend Events1. World Cup Watch Parties Black Hart of St. Paul The Black Hart, 1415 University Avenue West, will show every match of the 2022 World Cup, including the 4 a.m. matches. The bar is selling $15 World Cup Passports, which gets you discounts. Every game you watch at the bar earns you a stamp in your passport. At the end of the tournament, you can submit your passport to win big prizes. Brit's Pub in Minneapolis The popular Minneapolis bar at 1110 Nicollet Mall will be hosting watch parties throughout the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The bar will be selling $10 tickets for "guaranteed admission" for some of the big games, while other games will be first-come, first-serve. Tickets are required for November 25 and November 29. More information and tickets here. Allianz Field Friday, Nov. 25: USMNT v. England (United States Men's National Team ) Where: Brew Hall When: Doors open at 11:30 a.m., kickoff at 1:00 pm Team store will have up to 40% off select items for Black Friday Free Parking in Allianz Field Stadium lots Food and beverages will be available (including $6 Coors Light and hot cocoa) 2. Black Friday and Small Business Saturday EventsMidtown Global Market will offer hourly prize giveaways, food demos and samples, a special holiday selfie station, kids' activities, shoppable holiday decor, and the grand reopening of Art Shoppe. Friday, Nov. 25–Saturday, Nov. 26, 902 E. Lake St., Mpls., midtownglobalmarket.orgHoliday Market at Schmidt on West 7th: More than 40 local artists will have their works on display to peruse and take home for this holiday shopping extravaganza. Don't shop on an empty stomach—enjoy food, festivities and other holiday activities. Friday, Nov. 25–Sunday, Nov. 27, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–3 p.m, Schmidt Artist Lofts, 900 W. 7th St., St. Paul, schmidtartists.com https://mspmag.com/shop-and-style/twin-cities-black-friday-small-business-saturday-cyber-monday-deals/3. European Christmas MarketSt. Paul Union Depot The European Christmas Market is setting up their magical Christmas Village at Union Depot for four Holiday weekends. Visit the only authentic Christmas Market in Minnesota running through the advent season. The market opens on Friday, November 25 and runs through Sunday, December 18. Visit stpaulchristmasmarket.org for all event details.https://www.uniondepot.org/event/european-christmas-market/2022-11-25/4. Opening Weekend of Holidazzle Loring Park - Mpls Nov. 25 through Dec. 18 - Fridays (5-9 pm), Saturdays (12-9 pm) and Sundays (12-6 pm) Free to attend Holidazzle focuses on featuring local people, places and products that showcase the local food and art scenes, active lifestyle, local entertainers, and community groups that make our city and region unique and special. This year's festivities include: Holidazzle winter fireworks each Saturday at 7 pm Free amusement rides during all Holidazzle hours Visit Santa for free during all Holidazzle hours 17-foot-tall Yeti interactive illuminated art installation Fulton Beer Garden Drag Queen Bingo on Friday evenings at Fulton Beer Garden Dog rescues on site Saturdays and Sundays Dog market featuring pet products on Sundays Local small businesses feature food, beverage/gift shopping with wide variety of offerings Minneapolis Craft Market vendors on site each weekend Tree lighting throughout Holidazzle space in Loring Park Alpacas on site during last two weekends (Dec. 9-11 and Dec. 16-18) A Capella sing-off competitions on Sundays Entertainment and holiday music on Holidazzle stage throughout each weekend Holiday Instagram backdrops and fun activities throughout https://www.mplsdowntown.com/event/holidazzle-8/2022-11-26/5. GLOW Holiday FestivalCHS Field - St. Paul Runs November 23, 2022 through January 1, 2023Admission: $12.75 - $20.75GLOW Holiday Festival will run November 23, 2022 through January 1, 2023 at CHS Field. We look forward to seeing you at GLOW this holiday season! Stroll through over a million lights, sElfie Plaza, Enchanted Forest, Bright Bikes, Tremendous Tree, and so much more! Enjoy strolling through the holiday lights, while soaking up all the amenities of our new location, CHS Field! Plan a stop by the GLOW Gift Shop to stock up on unique gifts from local artisans, like these cute threads from M+B Boutique. While there won't be any presents underneath, our magnificent 60 foot tree's light show with synced music is a present in itself. This wintery playground on the concourse level is lit! Adults & kids will have a blast on the lighted seesaws, swings and there's so much more to experience!https://www.glowholiday.com/features
Todd About Town has a few ideas for people to spend some of your free time this holiday weekend! WCCO Radio Thanksgiving Weekend Events1. World Cup Watch Parties Black Hart of St. Paul The Black Hart, 1415 University Avenue West, will show every match of the 2022 World Cup, including the 4 a.m. matches. The bar is selling $15 World Cup Passports, which gets you discounts. Every game you watch at the bar earns you a stamp in your passport. At the end of the tournament, you can submit your passport to win big prizes. Brit's Pub in Minneapolis The popular Minneapolis bar at 1110 Nicollet Mall will be hosting watch parties throughout the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The bar will be selling $10 tickets for "guaranteed admission" for some of the big games, while other games will be first-come, first-serve. Tickets are required for November 25 and November 29. More information and tickets here. Allianz Field Friday, Nov. 25: USMNT v. England (United States Men's National Team ) Where: Brew Hall When: Doors open at 11:30 a.m., kickoff at 1:00 pm Team store will have up to 40% off select items for Black Friday Free Parking in Allianz Field Stadium lots Food and beverages will be available (including $6 Coors Light and hot cocoa) 2. Black Friday and Small Business Saturday EventsMidtown Global Market will offer hourly prize giveaways, food demos and samples, a special holiday selfie station, kids' activities, shoppable holiday decor, and the grand reopening of Art Shoppe. Friday, Nov. 25–Saturday, Nov. 26, 902 E. Lake St., Mpls., midtownglobalmarket.orgHoliday Market at Schmidt on West 7th: More than 40 local artists will have their works on display to peruse and take home for this holiday shopping extravaganza. Don't shop on an empty stomach—enjoy food, festivities and other holiday activities. Friday, Nov. 25–Sunday, Nov. 27, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–3 p.m, Schmidt Artist Lofts, 900 W. 7th St., St. Paul, schmidtartists.com https://mspmag.com/shop-and-style/twin-cities-black-friday-small-business-saturday-cyber-monday-deals/3. European Christmas MarketSt. Paul Union Depot The European Christmas Market is setting up their magical Christmas Village at Union Depot for four Holiday weekends. Visit the only authentic Christmas Market in Minnesota running through the advent season. The market opens on Friday, November 25 and runs through Sunday, December 18. Visit stpaulchristmasmarket.org for all event details.https://www.uniondepot.org/event/european-christmas-market/2022-11-25/4. Opening Weekend of Holidazzle Loring Park - Mpls Nov. 25 through Dec. 18 - Fridays (5-9 pm), Saturdays (12-9 pm) and Sundays (12-6 pm) Free to attend Holidazzle focuses on featuring local people, places and products that showcase the local food and art scenes, active lifestyle, local entertainers, and community groups that make our city and region unique and special. This year's festivities include: Holidazzle winter fireworks each Saturday at 7 pm Free amusement rides during all Holidazzle hours Visit Santa for free during all Holidazzle hours 17-foot-tall Yeti interactive illuminated art installation Fulton Beer Garden Drag Queen Bingo on Friday evenings at Fulton Beer Garden Dog rescues on site Saturdays and Sundays Dog market featuring pet products on Sundays Local small businesses feature food, beverage/gift shopping with wide variety of offerings Minneapolis Craft Market vendors on site each weekend Tree lighting throughout Holidazzle space in Loring Park Alpacas on site during last two weekends (Dec. 9-11 and Dec. 16-18) A Capella sing-off competitions on Sundays Entertainment and holiday music on Holidazzle stage throughout each weekend Holiday Instagram backdrops and fun activities throughout https://www.mplsdowntown.com/event/holidazzle-8/2022-11-26/5. GLOW Holiday FestivalCHS Field - St. Paul Runs November 23, 2022 through January 1, 2023Admission: $12.75 - $20.75GLOW Holiday Festival will run November 23, 2022 through January 1, 2023 at CHS Field. We look forward to seeing you at GLOW this holiday season! Stroll through over a million lights, sElfie Plaza, Enchanted Forest, Bright Bikes, Tremendous Tree, and so much more! Enjoy strolling through the holiday lights, while soaking up all the amenities of our new location, CHS Field! Plan a stop by the GLOW Gift Shop to stock up on unique gifts from local artisans, like these cute threads from M+B Boutique. While there won't be any presents underneath, our magnificent 60 foot tree's light show with synced music is a present in itself. This wintery playground on the concourse level is lit! Adults & kids will have a blast on the lighted seesaws, swings and there's so much more to experience!https://www.glowholiday.com/features
What happened to the remodel of Nicollet Mall? And would you get on a Mississippi cruise this weekend? Those and more in today's best newspaper headlines
In the late 1940s, Anthony Brutus Cassius was the first Black man to obtain a liquor license in the city of Minneapolis. He went on to create safe social spaces, specifically bars, for Black people for 47 consecutive years. After producing a radio documentary about his life in 2021, I found myself wondering, what is his legacy? Would Cassius be satisfied if he were alive today? Courtesy of the John F. Glanton Collection via the Hennepin County Library A.B. Cassius smiles for a photo after being granted a liquor license for his cafe in Minneapolis. He was the first Black man granted a liquor license in the city. For decades, the Dreamland Café in South Minneapolis was often the place to be if you were Black and wanted to socialize. When Nat King Cole came to town in the 1940s, he played the Dreamland. In many ways, the Dreamland grew out of Cassius's experiences growing up. Cassius was just 13 when he arrived in Minnesota in 1922. He came from Oklahoma, put on a train by his father just months after the Tulsa Race Massacre destroyed much of the city's vibrant and prosperous Black community, known to many as ‘Black Wall Street.' On his first night in St. Paul, he got a porter job at the Merchant Hotel at the top of Kellogg Hill and slept on a mattress in the basement. That would remain his home until he graduated from Central High School. Solvejg Wastvedt | MPR News file St. Paul's Central High School stands on the site of the school Anthony Brutus Cassius attended in the 1920s. In his 70s, Cassius recorded an oral history for the Minnesota Historical Society, looking back at his life and accomplishments. He described his impressions of the Twin Cities when he first arrived: “This was a prejudiced town, St. Paul-Minneapolis.” His voice sounds strong and angry. “Back then the only thing you could do was go to school. There was no prejudice in the school system. Because there wasn't enough [of us] to constitute a threat. The class I graduated in was 1,200, and there were only two or three colored in the whole school.” Because few job opportunities were open to Black men at the time, Cassius went on to wait tables in hotels. This was even though he graduated from college as a top athlete and student at a time when having a college degree was a rarity for Black men. But he soon ran into extreme racial inequities in that industry. So he went and formed the first all-Black waiters union in Minneapolis. Eventually, he began working for his liquor license. It took two years. “But through persistence, I got it,” he said in the oral history. Listen to Cassius The Godfather of Black Space in Minneapolis Over 47 consecutive years, he owned three bars. They were known as some of the first, and most consistent, integrated spaces in Minneapolis. But Cassius opened these bars for a specific reason. He wanted to give Black people a place to be, to socialize, to conspire and to dream. Finding safe space for Black people to gather was a precious commodity in 1940s and ‘50s America. In the oral history, Cassius spoke about forming the Minnesota Club, a group of civil rights activists who organized to protest the screening of D.W. Griffiths' now notorious “The Birth of A Nation” in downtown Minneapolis, among many other movements. “There were about eight of us,” he explained in the history. We met once a month in Fosters Sweet Shoppe on 6th and Lyndale. We met in the back. And all they wanted us to do if we met there was to buy a dish of ice cream.” At the end of the quote, you can hear him emit a gasp of incredulous laughter, as though the thought of being allowed to gather over a dish of ice cream was still a bit amazing to him. Nicole Neri for MPR News Flowered curtains cover the windows of the former Dreamland social space May 5. The shell of the old Dreamland Café, Cassius' first bar, still stands on 38th street in the old southside of Minneapolis. Once a thriving Black community, cars noisily speed by the dilapidated intersection. But there's a new dream unfolding for the space, and like Cassius' original vision, it's a dream with a purpose. Anthony Taylor is the community development lead of the Cultural Wellness Center. It's a Minneapolis-based social justice organization with a mission to support the idea that active living and green space are crucial to the wellbeing of Black people. His organization wants to bring back the old Dreamland space, in a true evolution of Cassius' vision. Nicole Neri for MPR News Anthony Taylor walks through the neighborhood which used to be served by the Dreamland social space May 5. “‘Dreamland on 38th' is actually a revitalization of this entire community, as an African American legacy community,” he explained. “Fortunately, or unfortunately, the murder of George Floyd anchored that for us. We are now three blocks from there. So what we see is a connection between this development, what will emerge at 38th and Chicago, and we really see it as a destination for human rights and social justice fighters from all over the world.” The vision for the project is ultimately a place to eat and drink. But the fact Taylor is imagining Dreamland as a destination for international social justice fighters, punctuates the importance of such spaces. “We're saying ‘social' right now, but in my head I substitute ‘safe,'” he said. “Creating spaces that the community knows are safe for them to be themselves that are anchored in their own renewal, regeneration and socialization, that is really the conscious development of a safe space. And really, there's a challenge around that for Black people. There's still a challenge for that.” Several recent mass shootings have been identified as racially motivated hate crimes, including the May 14 killing of 10 Black people in Buffalo, New York. Safe spaces for Black people seem as crucial as they've ever been. Nicole Neri for MPR News The former Dreamland social space stands empty May 5, 2022. “I think what people don't realize is there is an energetic cost of being Black in white dominated spaces all the time,” Taylor emphasized. If we can agree that these spaces are crucial, how, really, are we doing in the city of Minneapolis? I posed the question to other Black owners and operators of social spaces, as well as some patrons. There is a new generation of Black-owned space in Minneapolis, and with them comes a new outlook and sensibility, too. Nicole Neri for MPR News Gene Sanguma, co-owner of Ties Lounge & Rooftop, poses for a portrait on the rooftop of his club. Gene Sanguma is part of a collective of 20-something best friends who came together over a common bond: having a good time. But not any old kind of good time. A safe good time. On a recent sunny spring day in the middle of downtown Minneapolis, sitting on the third floor patio at Ties Lounge and Rooftop, their new downtown Minneapolis nightclub, he recalled the energy that went into its creation. “We [thought we could] provide fun, and safety. We said, ‘Let's do it. Let's come up with something.'” “Something” ended up being the multi-story venue on the Nicollet Mall in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. You can eat, you can drink and you can dance. But you can also grab a quiet table with friends and talk into the night. It's like an anti-nightclub that still manages to operate with nightlife and good times at the forefront. “Ties is a community,” he went on. “We wanted to make it so it doesn't matter where you come from, what aspirations you may have in your life — you come into Ties, you feel welcomed. We wanted to provide a safe space for all people to come together and just enjoy themselves and network. We felt like the city really, really needed it.” Ties feels like an echo of what Cassius wanted to build. Dreamland on 38th's Anthony Taylor realized this about Cassius' mission, too. “When young Black people are allowed to congregate, they start to look outward and organize themselves,” he told me. “When you're creating spaces where Black people feel emotionally safe, you can imagine a future that includes you.” The exclusion of Black people from public spaces is part of America's fabric. As Taylor put it, Black people are afraid of public space. Because when it goes wrong? It goes really wrong. “It's not a skinned knee,” he said. Euan Kerr | MPR News The exterior of Palmer's Bar in Minneapolis. The bar which opened in 1906 is a West Bank institution, and the only actual bar left in what was once a thriving entertainment area adjacent to the University of Minnesota. As a young person, I gravitated to Palmer's Bar on the West Bank of Minneapolis. Though the dive bar institution has a rough and tumble façade and reputation, I immediately found that it was one of the most welcoming spaces I had ever been to. Tony Zaccardi has owned Palmer's for four years, but he says it's long attracted a seriously diverse mix of customers. “I always tell people, my motto of what Palmer's is, it's Black, white, gay, straight, trans, left, right, rich, poor. So on and so forth,” he said. Then he added “Everyone is welcome until you're an a-hole.” But there's something else about Zaccardi. He's a Black man, and his ownership adds another layer of meaning to the already storied place. I put the question to him: would Cassius be satisfied if he were alive today? “I think he'd be disappointed as hell at Black bar ownership and Black representation in bars. Restaurants are a little better, but it's still not at all where it could or should be. But I think he'd be proud of me. I just started tearing up when I said that. I think he'd be proud of me.” Euan Kerr | MPR News When Tony Zaccardi bought Palmer's Bar in 2018 he became the only Black bar owner in the city of Minneapolis. I think Cassius would be proud of Tony too. I'm proud of Tony. But this is a story about whether or not Cassius would be proud of the Twin Cities. I happened to catch Wain McFarlane, longtime fixture of the Twin Cities music scene and frontman of internationally known reggae-rock band, “Ipso Facto,” on the patio of Palmer's, where he's a regular. He didn't think Cassius would be satisfied, either. “I'd say we still haven't made the progress. It's still controlled by another entity,” he told me from a table he's sharing with his son. “But at least Tony (Zaccardi) finally owns something.” McFarlane mentioned how difficult it is to get a foothold into the business, and he believes it's time for something to change. “I think we need some sort of financial institution to allow us to have our dream and help us manage it. You know, we don't want to waste the money,” he said. I approached a group of other Black patrons on the patio. Zaccardi said one of them is in every day. I asked what it is about Palmer's that makes them feel safe, and what keeps them coming back. A guy with long braids named Caezar told me, “A cat can hang out with a dog here. Nobody would pay attention to it. It's like everybody's welcome. We're all family. For real. We love each other.” At the same table, a woman named Keisha agreed. “When you come here it's so comfortable and laid back. It's just very peaceful. I've been to other bars, but at Palmer's we have fun. We have a ball.” Euan Kerr | MPR News Pianist Cornbread Harris has been a fixture of Sunday afternoons at Palmer's Bar in Minneapolis for several years. In fact he claimed, with a laugh, during this session photographed on June 18 that he is the reason the bar remains open. The bar does attract customers on all other days of the week. Black people feeling comfortable, laid back, peaceful and having a ball? It's a much taller order than it should be in America, as Cassius attested to all those years ago. There's an energetic cost to getting there, as Anthony Taylor so eloquently put it. We're not there yet. These things run deep. Tony Zaccardi tells a story of hanging out at Mortimers, another south Minneapolis institution, chatting with the owner, and a friend. “Somebody walked in wearing a Palmer's Bar T-shirt,” he remembered. “And she said, ‘Palmers! I haven't been there in years, but I heard a brother owns it.' And [the owner said] ‘Yeah, the guy standing right next to you, he's the guy that owns it.' And she started bawling. And then I started bawling. And I was like, ‘OK, this is actually something that's pretty special.' It was astonishing. It really touched my heart and I realized why it's so important to a lot of people.” It's so important to a lot of people because still, in 2022, Black people cannot take safe social space for granted. Places like Palmer's, and people like Tony Zaccardi, are providing a service that goes far beyond pouring a drink. And Cassius would be proud — some 80 years after opening the Dreamland Bar & Café, these spaces are his legacy. But I think he would be prouder if we were able to drop the word “safe” from social space. What should we cover next? Pass the Mic
Police, state troopers, and soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard were on patrol during an overnight curfew in the Twin Cities, after looting and vandalism hit businesses along Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis on Wednesday night. The unrest followed rumors of a police shooting. MPR News morning update for August 28, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey issued a curfew Wednesday night to try to curb potential for violence downtown following rumors that a man who died by suicide had been shot by officers. Loose groups of people smashed windows, grabbed merchandise from stores on and around Nicollet Mall. This is an MPR News morning update for Thursday, August 27, 2020. Hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Our theme music is by Gary Meister.
Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. Today’s podcast news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: www.elevatorbooks.com TWIN CITIES ELEVATORS PREPARE FOR WORKERS' RETURN As workers return to downtown office buildings in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, observers say the way elevators are used is set to change, the Star Tribune reported on July 3. Social distancing stickers, tape marking standing areas and antimicrobial button covers were among the measures being taken. A touchless elevator is already installed in the yet-to-open, US$214-million Dayton’s redevelopment project inside the former Macy’s department store in Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, according to a spokesperson for Chicago-based Telos Group, which is redeveloping the 12-story property. Other technology going into city elevators includes voice and cell-phone controls. to activate elevators. Some units have antimicrobial elevator button covers or hourly disinfection. Other measures include ultraviolet lamps, antimicrobial dust filters, foot controls and software limiting elevator capacity. “What COVID-19 is doing is accelerating trends in every aspect,” said Jim Montez, vice president of Transwestern, the firm that manages Dayton’s leasing. Image credit: courtesy by Skeeze for Pixabay To read the full transcript of today's podcast, visit: elevatorworld.com/news Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes │ Google Play | SoundCloud │ Stitcher │ TuneIn
SYNOPSIS: Springtime Beta Cycle Is Back! Tom, Marcus and Charles work their way through the latest in the beta notes for macOS, iOS and more! YOUR HOSTS: Tom Bridge, Partner, Technolutionary LLC [@tbridge777] Charles Edge [@cedge318] Marcus Ransom, Technical Delivery Manager, CompNow [@marcusransom] LISTEN! LINKS & NOTES Kexts to Disappear Wacom capturing third party software use Jamf to file for IPO? Properly Formatted TAR command SUPPORTING SPONSORS: Start a 30-day free, fully-functioning trial of SimpleMDM today! Kandji: The MDM Worthy of Your Apple Devices PATREON SPONSORS The Mac Admins Podcast has launched a Patreon Campaign! Our named patrons this month include Randy Wong, Weldon Dodd, Jonathan Spiva, Justin Holt, Chad Swarthout, William Smith, Stephen Weinstein, Jason Dettbarn, Seb Nash, Will O’Neal, Joe Sfarra and the team at Command Control Power. Thanks everyone! MAC ADMINS PODCAST COMMUNITY CALENDAR, SPONSORED BY WATCHMAN MONITORING Conference Sites Event Name Location Dates Cost MacADUK 2020 The London Film Museum 24-25 March 2020 £595 List, £420 Early Bird MacDevOpsYVR 2020 SFU Harbour Centre Vancouver, Canada 10-12 June 2020 CAD$500+ education, CAD$800+ independent, CAD$1000+ corporate Mac Admins Conference Penn Stater Conference Center, State College, PA 21-24 July 2020 Registration opens in March MacSysAdmin 2020 Gothenburg, Sweden 6-9 October 2020 JNUC 2020 Hilton San Diego Bayfront 29 September – 1 October 2020 $1,399 Just in Time, $1,199 Standard, $1,099 Early Bird, $999 Super Early Bird Upcoming Meetups Event Name Location Dates Cost Univ of Utah MacAdmins Univ of Utah, Marriott Library, 1705a Classroom 19 February 2020, 11:00 a.m. MT Free Twin Cities MacAdmins Target Plaza North, 1001 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403 20 February 2020, 5:30 p.m. CST Free Atlanta Apple Admins Stratix, 4920 Avalon Ridge Parkway Peachtree Corners, GA 30071 20 February, 6:00 p.m. EST Free MacDeployment Meetup 1011 9 Ave SE, Suite 300, Calgary AB Canada 20 February 2020, 6:30 p.m. MST Free Los Angeles MacAdmins Meetup Apple Beats HQ 25 February 2020, 6:30 p.m. PT Free SPONSOR MAC ADMINS PODCAST! If you’re interested in sponsoring the Mac Admins Podcast, please email podcast@macadmins.org for more information. SOCIAL MEDIA Get the latest about the Mac Admins Podcast, follow us on Twitter! We’re @MacAdmPodcast!
SYNOPSIS: Pam Lefkowitz joins the pod to talk why it's always DNS! YOUR HOSTS: Tom Bridge, Partner, Technolutionary LLC @tbridge777 Charles Edge, Director of Marketplace, Jamf @cedge318 Marcus Ransom, Technical Delivery Manager, CompNow @marcusransom OUR GUEST: Pam Lefkowitz, Owner of Core Computing LINKS & NOTES Core Computing SUPPORTING SPONSORS: Start a 30-day free, fully-functioning trial of SimpleMDM today! Kandji: The MDM Worthy of Your Apple Devices PATREON SPONSORS The Mac Admins Podcast has launched a Patreon Campaign! Our named patrons this month include Randy Wong, Weldon Dodd, Jonathan Spiva, Justin Holt, Chad Swarthout, William Smith, Stephen Weinstein, Jason Dettbarn, Seb Nash, Will O’Neal, Joe Sfarra and the team at Command Control Power. Thanks everyone! MAC ADMINS PODCAST COMMUNITY CALENDAR, SPONSORED BY WATCHMAN MONITORING Conference Sites Event Name Location Dates Cost MacADUK 2020 The London Film Museum 24-25 March 2020 £595 List, £420 Early Bird MacDevOpsYVR 2020 SFU Harbour Centre Vancouver, Canada 10-12 June 2020 CAD$400 education early bird, CAD$600 independent early bird, CAD$800 corporate early bird MacSysAdmin 2020 Gothenburg, Sweden 6-9 October 2020 JNUC 2020 Hilton San Diego Bayfront 29 September - 1 October 2020 $1,399 Just in Time, $1,199 Standard, $1,099 Early Bird, $999 Super Early Bird Upcoming Meetups Event Name Location Dates Cost Netherlands Jamf user group Bol.com 31 January 2020, 5:00 p.m. CET Free Sydney Mac Admins Jamf Sydney Office 12 February 2020, 6:00 p.m. AEST Free San Diego Mac Admins UC San Diego Health 12 February 2020, 6:00 p.m. PT Free London Apple Admins Funding Circle 13 February 2020, 6:30 p.m. GMT Free Univ of Utah MacAdmins Univ of Utah, Marriott Library, 1705a Classroom 19 February 2020, 11:00 a.m. MT Free Twin Cities MacAdmins Target Plaza North, 1001 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403 20 February 2020, 5:30 p.m. CST Free Atlanta Apple Admins Stratix, 4920 Avalon Ridge Parkway Peachtree Corners, GA 30071 20 February, 6:00 p.m. EST Free SPONSOR MAC ADMINS PODCAST! If you’re interested in sponsoring the Mac Admins Podcast, please email podcast@macadmins.org for more information. SOCIAL MEDIA Get the latest about the Mac Admins Podcast, follow us on Twitter! We’re @MacAdmPodcast!
Giving up caffeine; exercise routines; Just Sayin: Nicolett Mall is barren ; Cheesy the Christmas Rat
Super Bowl 52 will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, just down the road from our offices in Shoreview, on Sunday, February 4th, 2018. It will be on one of the largest events hosted in Minnesota in decades. In this episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast, Bryghtpath Principal & CEO Bryan Strawser and Senior Consultant Jennifer Otremba talk through our experiences with planning for major events like the Super Bowl. Topics discussed include private sector planning for major events, threats and risks, getting connected to intelligence and law enforcement resources, contingency planning, physical security, and how to handle the general disruption in downtown Minneapolis during the week of the game. //static.leadpages.net/leadboxes/current/embed.js Episode Transcript Bryan Strawser: Super Bowl 52. Jen Otremba: Super Bowl. Bryan Strawser: Coming soon to Minneapolis' US Bank Stadium. Jen Otremba: Yeah, this is a really big deal for us. Bryan Strawser: This is a huge deal. Jen Otremba: Minnesota, huge. Bryan Strawser: For the state. Jen Otremba: Absolutely. Bryan Strawser: Huge. Jen Otremba: Yep. Bryan Strawser: Not only that, but there's crazy excitement here because the Minnesota Vikings are actually favored to win the NFC and represent in the Super Bowl, and that would be crazy. Jen Otremba: That would be crazy, and we'll see. Bryan Strawser: Yeah, we'll see. Jen Otremba: I'm a little pessimistic about that thought, but we'll see. Bryan Strawser: So is my wife, who is a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan. It's weird for me living here in Minnesota, because I am a New England Patriots fan. Jen Otremba: He is, it's ridiculous. Bryan Strawser: Yes, so, I have had, as a Boston sports fan, I've had a pretty good decade and a half. We've won everything in all four major sports. Jen Otremba: Yeah, I know. Bryan Strawser: And five Super Bowl titles. Jen Otremba: I know. Bryan Strawser: I'd like to point out. Jen Otremba: I want you to know I hear about this, endlessly, and I'm not really even a football fan, really. I shouldn't even say that out loud here in Minnesota, surrounded by Vikings people, but, I do watch the Super Bowl every year, and I think that that is a really fun and exciting event to have, so. Bryan Strawser: If it's New England against Minnesota, my marriage may not survive the night. Jen Otremba: Oh, gosh. Bryan Strawser: My wife has told me I may have to go watch the game at the office. Jen Otremba: Well, I think we all should be watching the game at the office anyway. Bryan Strawser: Yes, because we have clients that we were protecting that day in many ways. Jen Otremba: I know. Bryan Strawser: But, we're not here to talk about the Vikings or the Patriots, we're here to talk about how do you deal with a major event like the Super Bowl? I mean, we've done an earlier podcast episode where we talked about major event planning, but we're going to drill in to just the Super Bowl here in the Twin Cities, and what that means. Jen Otremba: Yep, and this is specifically a big deal because we have clients that are right down town. Bryan Strawser: We have clients that are next to the stadium. Jen Otremba: Right next to the stadium, exactly. Things we're kind of looking at here are disruptions to the businesses and patrons, and I saw a Star Tribune article came out, what was it? Last week. Bryan Strawser: Yes. Jen Otremba: About this, specifically. Bryan Strawser: Right, about how businesses are going to be impacted. I think that was actually on Sunday or Monday. Jen Otremba: Was it? Yeah. Bryan Strawser: That that came out. Yeah. The Super Bowl is a big deal, and has been. I mean, it always has been. Jen Otremba: Right. Bryan Strawser: But it's been a bigger deal in the seventeenth year since Nine-11, because it's a national special security event, so, for the department of homeland security, it is the highest level of event that they support. It's considered a high-[targetive 00:02:47] opportunity, and it will come with an enormous amount of law enforcement, security presence, and procedures in disruption that is going to be caused by that. At the same time, it's an enormous business opportunity for businesses in, really, the whole region here. Because there are events that are happening in Bloomington where the Mall of America is. At the Minneapolis Convention Center, which is totally being taken over by the NFL. On Downtown Minneapolis, on Nicollet Mall, which is in the central business district, a few blocks from the stadium will be NFL Life, which is open to the public, and is taking a huge amount of downtown. Then, the stadium itself is going to be in the biggest security zone that you could imagine for a massive building downtown. So there is a lot going on. Jen Otremba: Totally, and there is some specific, I would say, challenges here having it in Minnesota, because, the stadium, for those that don't know, or don't that live here, that it's right Downtown, Minneapolis. Bryan Strawser: Yeah, it's in the central business district. Jen Otremba: The traffic, the businesses, the crowds, the people are already there without having a big event. When there is a big event downtown here, it's gridlock everywhere. Bryan Strawser: It's also, in this particular case, it's also complicated by the fact that one of the major ways to get into downtown, coming from the eastern part of the Twin Cities Metro Area is on the street that goes right by the stadium, which will not be open in the days leading up to the game. Then, the transit line, and we have Lightrail here, so it's a subway on the street level, goes right by the stadium, and so that line is going to be closed, I believe, is the final decision they've come up with. There's also a transit terminal that's a bus station that's right by the stadium, which is also going to be closed. That significantly kind of disrupts transit, and there's a lot of transit riders that go into Downtown Minneapolis. Jen Otremba: Yeah, and to make matters worse, obviously, we live in the, they're calling it the bold north right? We live in the north, right? So that means cold. I mean, bitter, bitter cold that we're experiencing right now, as is the rest of the country, but when we talk bitter cold, we're talking 20 below zero it was the other day when I woke up in the morning. Cold, cold, and then also the risk of snow. Snowstorms. Bryan Strawser: Right, right. The weather, it's a totally unpredictable factor. Jen Otremba: It absolutely is. Bryan Strawser: Although we have sky ways, which are like indoor walkways between buildings on the second floor. Jen Otremba: Some of which may be closed. Bryan Strawser: Some of which could be closed, but they don't connect to the stadium. Jen Otremba: They do not, no. Bryan Strawser: Right? You can get to the convention center from a downtown hotel, but, you know, some of the attendees for these events are staying in Saint Paul and Bloomington and, you know, other suburbs, because there's not enough hotel space downtown. Jen Otremba: No, it's very limited. Bryan Strawser: To accommodate this. So there's a lot of challenges in terms of getting around; traffic and transit are going to be big challenges. The second one is just the security situation. If you've never been to this kind of an event ... Well, let's talk about the stadium for a second. The stadium will have a hard perimeter, so there's going to be a point 300 feet or so from the stadium that if you're not ticketed, you're just not going to be able to get into, and, you'll go through a security check at that particular location in order to get into the hard perimeter, right? This is the security standoff zone, you can figure where the 300 feet comes from, it's the blast radius. They're keeping all of this out, 300 or so feet. Then there is a soft perimeter, which really won't be a perimeter, like, you're not going to see walls or things like that, but there will be a point where you start to notice a significant security/law enforcement presence, and they'll really be doing things like watching for behavior, and trying to determine a threat prior to them reaching the security checkpoint, where there will be crowds, obviously, waiting to enter the stadium for various events. You're going to see the same thing at the convention center, because the NFL is taking that over for special events, and then for NFL Live in Downtown Minneapolis, which is totally open to the public, and it's totally free. Jen Otremba: Super Bowl Live, yeah. Bryan Strawser: Yeah, Super Bowl Live, whatever. I keep saying NFL Live, but I think it's Super Bowl Live. Jen Otremba: Super Bowl Live, yeah. Bryan Strawser: That's also going to be totally open. There will be no hard perimeter. You can't check for weapons or things like that, but there will be security and law enforcement who have been trained in behavioral observation who are looking for people that, perhaps, could be up to no good. Jen Otremba: Yes, and it's designed that way for a reason. They're really advertising it, wanting it to be one of those events where even if you don't have tickets to the game, you can come and enjoy some of the events 10 days prior. Bryan Strawser: Right. Jen Otremba: Which is really cool, but again, we have clients who have businesses right on that Nicollet Mall, downtown district area. There's a lot of concern as to how do I get my employees into work in the morning? Where do my employees park? Are they able to go out and find lunch at lunchtime? Are the crowds going to be so bad that they're not even going to be able to get around? Bryan Strawser: Right. Jen Otremba: How do we continue running our business during this time period? Bryan Strawser: You know, we've got in a number of clients and some others that have been involved in some planning efforts that we've been a part of. I think we've started all of this advice with the first thing you've got to do is get connected. Jen Otremba: Yes. Bryan Strawser: There are groups that are working on this; the chambers of commerce, the downtown business council, we are a part of a Super Bowl planning coalition that we lead for major employers in the downtown area, because they really haven't gotten much support from the city and others. It's been finding this information on their own, until recently, when the host committee has gotten better about communicating the security please and the traffic plans, and the things that are going on. Jen Otremba: Yeah, I mean, I think it was all still in planning, so, it was all still tentative up until, what? November? Bryan Strawser: Until the middle of November. Jen Otremba: Yep, exactly. Bryan Strawser: But get connected, and I think getting plugged in with the host committee and others is important, talking with the police about what their plans are, so, if you're in Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Police, but talk to your local law enforcement. They'll have some indications. I think it's important to stay connected with your peer organizations, the other companies, to find out what everyone's doing. Because when you talk with your executives about plans and about work, and about things that you might want to do to make this easier for everybody, and still get the work done, I think everyone's going to ask, "Well, what is X doing?" What are our neighbors doing? What are other businesses doing? Because that, I think, drives more of that kind of behavior, and gives, kind of, some social credibility, social proof to the efforts that you might want to be talking about. Jen Otremba: Well, and, I think it's important to stay away from the rumor-based information, right? If you go right to the sources, and actually talk to people, you can learn what's actually happening versus rumors. Bryan Strawser: First, get connected, and we can help with that, we can guide you. If you're in Downtown Minneapolis, and you're a bigger company, we can kind of pull you into the planning coalition that we're a part of. Second is that you really need to build a plan. I don't think this has to be anything complicated, but, I think, first, if you don't have a crisis plan on how you would get together and make decisions and communicate decisions, and communicate with your team, when something bad happens, you need to start there. Like, how are you going to do that? Who are the five, six, seven people that need to be your crisis team, and just keep it simple, start there. Use it for the Super Bowl, and then figure out what you're going to do elsewhere. Planning-wise, before you even start saying, "I'm going to do X, Y, Z that week." I think it needs to be if you don't have a way to make decisions during a crisis, start there. Jen Otremba: Yeah, it does not need to be complicated. Bryan Strawser: Right. Jen Otremba: Do not over-complicate this. Bryan Strawser: Yes, it's not rocket science. Jen Otremba: No, it is not. Bryan Strawser: The second thing is, you have to think about what are your particular risks. If, for example, your business abuts Nicollet Mall, where Super Bowl Live is going to be. Well, you're going to have a lot of people wandering around. So, do you need to do something different with your perimeter? With your front door? With your sky way entrance? You will have people looking to use the bathroom, and even though there's going to be, I can't remember how many porta potties they said they were bringing in downtown. There were hundreds. But those are all things that are going to happen. So, think through how you're going to handle those things. If you're a larger company and you've got a reception desk in your lobby, but anybody can walk into your lobby, maybe you don't want that during Super Bowl Live. Maybe you want to put a security officer, you know, out by the lobby entrance, and if an employee is coming in, cool, they can get in, you can see their ID badge. Jen Otremba: Properly credentialed. Bryan Strawser: Properly credentialed folks. If it's somebody just coming into your lobby, maybe you don't want that during the Super Bowl, because I will guarantee they'll be in there looking to use the bathroom. Jen Otremba: Well, and think through your sky ways, too. If you have sky ways that you own/operate yourself, you might want to think about what that looks like. Bryan Strawser: Keep in mind that there is some city ordinance and stuff around sky ways. Jen Otremba: There are, yep. Bryan Strawser: That you'll want to talk with your legal counsel about what that means. Jen Otremba: Make sure to do your research. Bryan Strawser: Right. Jen Otremba: Absolutely. Bryan Strawser: Or do it anyway. Jen Otremba: In some cases, yes. Bryan Strawser: The other part of your plan, I think, needs to be, you know, what can you do to accommodate your employees? Like, where are they going to park? A lot of the downtown parking space is going to be taken for other purposes. There won't be street parking in a lot of areas, because street parking is how vehicle-borne IEDs are delivered. One of the ways they're delivered. I think you're going to see large swaths of downtown where street parking is going to be prohibited, ramp parking will be more limited, they will want people to take transit, at least until they close that. Jen Otremba: And understand what that changes could be to the public transportation, because there are some transit changes during that time, as well. Bryan Strawser: Right. Jen Otremba: Which, I believe is up on their website, now. It's just a matter of doing your research. Bryan Strawser: Yep, so, Metro Transit, or the Metropolitan Counsel, either way, will get you there. Jen Otremba: Yep. Bryan Strawser: In the Twin Cities. If remote work is a possibility, particularly, as things get busier the closer to the game later in that week, maybe that's something you want to consider. Because then you avoid the whole issue of crowds, building protection, ramp space, and et cetera. We understand that not everybody can do remote work. That many companies have operation centers and call centers and things where people have to be there to do the work. But if you don't have to have them there, they can work remotely from home or whatever, that is a very solid strategy that lots of companies are going to use that week. Jen Otremba: At least as a consideration for sure. Then, also, communication. How are you, if something happens, how are you communicating to your employees? How are you communicating to your leadership? How are you communicating to the media? How are you ... What is your plan around communication? Bryan Strawser: How will you communicate quickly to your team if something happens? Like, if you've got to evacuate, there is a threat, or a risk for something that's going on, what do you do? Jen Otremba: Yep. Bryan Strawser: Then, lastly, I think, just in terms of general awareness, the Super Bowl, cold or not, it's going to bring out the criminal element. Things like pick-pocketing, human trafficking, people that are drinking more, I think we'll see more intoxicated behavior in downtown in the week leading up to the Super Bowl, and the night of the game, and all of those great things. Not just in the area around the game. Like, there are bars open until three or four, I can't remember what they ... Exemptions they've done. Jen Otremba: The bars have extended hours, and I think, and I'm not sure what the end result about this is, but there was discussion about allowing drinking on the street there, Super Bowl Live. I don't know what the end result was with that, but, that is also another factor to think about. Bryan Strawser: Yep, it needs to warm up for that to happen. No one is going to be outside watching concerts. Jen Otremba: I don't know, you'd be surprised. I mean, warming houses and things like that, people come out. Bryan Strawser: Not enough alcohol to get me to do that. Jen Otremba: No, but people do, definitely. Bryan Strawser: I know. Jen Otremba: I mean, think about the other outside events in the wintertime, what, crushed ice? Crashed ice? The Red Bull. Bryan Strawser: Yeah, the thing we always call the [inaudible 00:14:41]. Jen Otremba: Yeah. Bryan Strawser: Yeah. During the time around the Super Bowl, as you get closer to that event, I think it's a good time to ... You've got your plans in place, you've done all this preparation we've talked about. Now, I think it's in that week of the Super Bowl. I think it's a good time to use your crisis process, to have a daily call about what's gone on, and what's happening that day, and maybe even twice a day, about what's going on, what events are coming, what your posture is, what's happened in the last 24 hours, where you might need to adjust your strategy. Then use that to inform your senior executives about what you're doing. Find out what they are concerned with during this, and make sure that you're kind of alleviating their fears, or it's driving a change in your strategy as you go through that. I know we will be having daily calls with a group of clients and others as we go through the week of the Super Bowl, and I think once a week, in a couple weeks prior to the game, just to touch base with everybody. Those are some ideas. You know, between Jen and I, we've managed, I can't remember how many major events like this, Super Bowls, political conventions. Jen Otremba: Many. Yeah. Bryan Strawser: Many of these. Jen Otremba: Shareholder meetings. Bryan Strawser: Shareholder meetings. These are the lessons that we've learned that we think will really help you as you go about this. Certainly, if we can help with Super Bowl LII, don't hesitate to reach out and give us a call at 612-235-6435, or contact@bryghtpath.com. Go Pats!
Back in February, Minneapolis, Minnesota was the host of Super Bowl 52. We previously discussed preparing for a major event like a Super Bowl in an earlier episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast. In this episode of the Managing Uncertainty Podcast, Bryghtpath Principal & CEO Bryan Strawser and Senior Consultant Jennifer Otremba take a look back at Super Bowl 52 and discuss what worked - and what didn't. Topics discussed include major event planning, private sector information sharing, remote work strategies, physical security, and related topics. //static.leadpages.net/leadboxes/current/embed.js Episode Transcript Bryan Strawser: I really did not like Super Bowl 52. I did not like Super Bowl 52. Jen Otremba: No, he did not, and he's wearing his shirt right now. Bryan Strawser: Yeah. It's ironic that we're recording this today, because when I was getting dressed this morning, I did not have any in-person client meetings, so I am in jeans and a New England Patriots polo shirt. But I did not like Super Bowl 52. Jen Otremba: Yeah. Who won the Super Bowl, Bryan? Bryan Strawser: Not the New England Patriots. Jen Otremba: Yeah, sad to say. Bryan Strawser: Our podcast is not about the football game, but we are gonna talk about what we learned during Super Bowl 52, and I don't mean during the game. What we learned in terms of being involved, for two years, in the preparedness efforts around Super Bowl 52, and what I think we all took away from that experience that would be valuable to you as you think about planning major events. Jen Otremba: Yup, and what some of our peers learned as well, so all of us collectively, together. Bryan Strawser: We'll start off with the fact that you can't argue, which is that Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time. Jen Otremba: Okay, Bryan. Bryan Strawser: No. So, Super Bowl 52. Let me paint the picture for you if you're not familiar with the Twin Cities. But Super Bowl 52 was held at U.S. Bank Stadium, which is the home of the Minnesota Vikings. Unlike a lot of NFL stadiums, U.S. Bank Stadium is built right in the central business district of Minneapolis. It is literally a few blocks from about 15 Fortune 500 headquarters. Jen Otremba: Right. It was built on the same footprint as the Metrodome. Bryan Strawser: As the Metrodome. So right downtown you have some really big Fortune 500 firms, like U.S. Bank, General Mills has a large facility there, Ameriprise Financial, Target, Wells Fargo, Valspar, and the list just kind of goes on. Jen Otremba: On and on. Yeah, that's right. Bryan Strawser: On and on from there. So, it's not like the last Super Bowl, down in ... I think the last one was in Houston, or Dallas, where the stadium is out in the middle of a huge parking lot, off the side of the highway with nothing around it. This is right smack in the middle of the city, so it posed a very different risk situation for companies, because everything was right there. The game itself, of course, was at the stadium. The stadium doesn't have parking. It has a very limited amount of parking, so there is really no standoff distance. So, you had to block ... To kind of illustrate this ... You had to block city streets for quite some distance around, in order to get the kind of security perimeter to protect from blasts, and do adequate security screening and that kind of thing. Jen Otremba: Right. In addition to that, there was events held at the Minneapolis Convention Center, which is also right downtown, on the other side of downtown. Bryan Strawser: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Of downtown. Jen Otremba: So, more streets had to be blocked out for that. Bryan Strawser: That was the NFL or Super Bowl experience. They had the entire convention center. For this, they did the ... Between that and the Hilton, which was the NFL hotel, which is also right downtown ... They did most of the major events around the Super Bowl. All the different awards ceremonies, and dinners and stuff, were held between the convention center and that hotel. Then down Nicollet Mall, which is kind of the central pedestrian thoroughfare ... You can't drive on Nicollet Mall. It's literally an outdoor mall, in the sense that we think about outdoor malls ... That was NFL Live. Ran for about eight blocks. Had a stage. Mind you, all this was occurring in what turned out to be a minus-10 average week, which is pretty horrible. Jen Otremba: Yeah. It's that time of year. Bryan Strawser: But all of that was going on in the downtown area. And actually, Nicollet Mall was ... The NFL Live experience was one of the bigger areas of concern for companies, because their headquarters are on Nicollet Mall. U.S. Bank, Target, Xcel Energy are all along Nicollet Mall. I might be missing one or two, but they all face Nicollet Mall with their principal headquarters' locations. Jen Otremba: Yeah. So that as a whole, just location alone, really created a lot of challenges for us in planning for these events, and protecting these companies' assets, and keeping their employees in mind, parking in mind. Bryan Strawser: And then, to make things even more complicated, the teams and the media center were at the Mall of America, which is in Bloomington, Minnesota, which is not downtown Minneapolis. It was 15 miles to the south. Each team had an entire hotel, then the media center was in a space that was kind of between the two hotels. Hotels are on either side of the mall, north and south side. The media center was kind of arranged around the fourth floor of the mall. To give you perspective, there's 8,000 media that have credentials to come to the Super Bowl, or the events around the Super Bowl, and so it's just a really massive experience for them to manage. But that meant that the mall, and everything going on there, was subject to heightened scrutiny, and protests, and all the kind of things that went on. Jen Otremba: The airport is also, maybe ... What do you say? Five minutes from the Mall of America? Bryan Strawser: Yeah. It's right on top of it. Jen Otremba: Downtown Minneapolis is maybe 10 minutes from the International Airport. So, just in the city, very, very large event, obviously. But I think compounded by the fact that it's in such a populated area to begin with. Bryan Strawser: Right. Without all that as background, our involvement started two years ago, when companies finally started to ask, "Gosh, what should we do about the Super Bowl? We've known for a year it's coming. Now it's starting to ... We're starting to hear things. What do we do?" Jen Otremba: Or, "What do we need to be doing? Is there something that we should be doing, that we're not already doing?" Bryan Strawser: So, we had a lot of ... I think we've talked before about major event preparation. We did all of those things. I mean, we helped companies prepare some basic planning. We talked about options like remote work, and how do you create standoff barrier. How do you create ... What are the different tiers you might go through, if risks escalate during the course of Super Bowl week, or the game itself. All were pretty basic. All are things we've talked about on previous podcast episodes. Jen Otremba: Yeah. So, let's talk about what went really well. Bryan Strawser: Communication amongst the private sector companies was great. We created ... Along with the interests of about 30 companies that were downtown, big companies ... We created a mailing list that was kind of for rapid response. We had some meetings, where we got together and talked through, you know, "What's everybody thinking? What are you doing about this? What are you doing about this?" What turned out to be interesting, that we didn't expect through that, is we brought in the Host Committee. We brought in Minneapolis Public Works. We brought in the Minneapolis Police. And it turned out that none of these groups were talking to each other, in terms of communication to the big companies, the big employers, of what was going on. And it was pretty frustrating for the companies, because they weren't getting information. Jen Otremba: Yeah. Bryan Strawser: This, kind of venue coalition that we pulled together, really helped us move through that, and get information figured out, and they felt ... I think everybody walked away knowing more, through the course of these conversations. Jen Otremba: Yeah. There was information out there, but you really had to go and search for it. The Host Committee had a website that very little information was on, because it took them quite a while to finalize all of their plans. Bryan Strawser: Right. You know, the traffic point in particular was just really difficult to manage. Jen Otremba: And it caused a lot of angst, I think- Bryan Strawser: It did. Jen Otremba: ... amongst the businesses. So I think even just having the Host Committee there, to say, "Hey, here's when we will have the information out there." Bryan Strawser: I think that calmed a lot of folks down. Jen Otremba: It did. I think so. Bryan Strawser: I mean, one of the big challenges ... And I think there was a lot of conversation about this ... But if you've been in downtown Minneapolis, and if you've ever driven in downtown Minneapolis, there's just not a lot of parking. Jen Otremba: No. Bryan Strawser: The city is actually trying to go to even having less parking than what's there today, and you're having parking ramps, or ... What you would call a parking garage, we call a ramp here. Parking ramps are getting eliminated in favor of building new buildings, and that kind of thing. Jen Otremba: I think their goal is to make it as miserable to drive downtown as possible. We spend a fair amount of time downtown with different clients and things like that, and it's so miserable driving down there and parking down there these days. Bryan Strawser: Yeah. Parking is such a challenge. That was a big topic of conversation, is, "Are you going to be taking parking?" And the Host Committee kind of dithered for a while, and then finally came back and said, "Well, yes. We are, actually. So you need to talk to your particular ramp to find out what's going on." And we had people that didn't do that, and then the Tuesday or Wednesday before the game, showed up to park in a ramp which they had a contract with, and found out that the contract wasn't valid during the remainder of Super Bowl week. So, there were a lot of those little things that just caused a lot of angst and stress. And good information, showing up front, helps alleviate that. Jen Otremba: We did notice that in some cases, when it wasn't shared, or it wasn't heard, there was some issues. But that information sharing was incredibly helpful. One of the other things that we know goes well in all of these incidences ... And we've learned this in other cases, too ... Is really understanding and knowing what top risks are. Right? So, what is going on? What is happening between parking, protest activity, the discussion about alcohol on Nicollet Mall? All of those things, and knowing what that risk is, and what that means to your organization. I think that was really helpful, to talk through that with the different companies. Bryan Strawser: I think one of the most valuable things that they did ... And I know this was one of the first times this happened with scale like this ... But about a week ... Well actually, during the playoff games, it happened here when the Vikings were still in the mix. The Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District, which was really representing private sector interests in the inter-agency communication chain, started a chat room, a live chat room, using the DHS HSIN ... Homeland Security Information Network ... Capability. We tested it during the playoffs, so we could all get used to it, and then we used it through the entire week of the Super Bowl. And it was great, from the standpoint that it gave us a real-time chat room, and visual display of things that were going on. Companies could go in and ask questions about, "What's going on with this, and what's going on with this, or what have you heard?" Or they can report, "Hey, we just had XYZ suspicious behavior. We've reported it to 911. Now we're bringing it here." That allowed everybody to kind of talk through what was going on. It became particularly important in the lead-up to the game itself, because as was expected, we had protestors. There were a number of protest things that were going on. There was some protest march, which the police were helping. They were allowed to do a little traffic blocking, and kind of do their thing. The police generally just kind of cooperated and helped them accomplish their goals, because they weren't really disrupting anything, to a certain extent. But we also had protestors that blocked the trains, the light rail trains, by chaining themselves together. They had a plan for this. The police very quickly rerouted the trains, put people on buses, got them to the game. All the things that they needed to do, and then they moved in and arrested all the protestors with the fire department, cutting the chains and doing all that. There was great communication, I think, in the chat, while this was going on. So everybody knew exactly, "Here's what's happening, and here's how we're managing this disruption. And the police are dealing with the protest situation, and we'll explain that as it happens, not to give away, you know, kind of tactical information." So, I thought that they did a really good job of kind of working through that, and communicating what was going on throughout the course of the game and the week itself. Jen Otremba: Yeah, and the ability to get on that chat long before, and sort of understand how that's gonna work, I think was really helpful to most of us that were managing through those situations. Bryan Strawser: Mm-hmm (affirmative). By any means, I think if I was to summarize the information sharing around the event, is that the lead-up to the Super Bowl ... I don't know if the companies hadn't gotten together, and kind of pushed the issue, if they ever would have gotten answers to help them in the time frame they needed to make plans. I think it was good that they kind of got together as a group, on their own, with us, and we kind of pushed that issue with the city and with the Host Committee. I think that was really good, in order to gain info. I think what the city did, through the Downtown Improvement District, in terms of communicating information during the game and the week of the Super Bowl, was brilliant. I'd like to see more of that from a public-private sector communication aspect in the future. It was really similar to what FEMA did through the Office of the Private Sector, and the NICC, the National Infrastructure Coordinating Center at DHS, with the major hurricane season, the California wildfires. Really good real-time collaboration, using a virtual collaboration platform. Jen Otremba: Yeah. We know from previous incidents that public-private partnership is ultimately really, really important for managing all of these situations. So, it's not just law enforcement doing it. It's not just the companies in the area doing it. They're working together. Bryan Strawser: To summarize, I think that Super Bowl 52 turned out to be a pretty good event. We say that, I think, mostly because nothing happened. I felt pretty good about the plans that folks put into place. I know our individual partners ... Companies that we worked with, and companies that shared their experiences with us ... I thought prepared well, and helped other organizations as needed. We did have plans to get together if something occurred, to kind of coordinate across organizations and provide mutual aid where necessary. But I really think that the real-time collaboration, and the information sharing up front, is what made this event successful for folks. Good luck in your next major event.
Ali and Harmony give their retail picks to help revive Nicollet Mall, Brandless goes beyond $3, Harmony's Tech Report, and your Steals & Deals!
Justice and Drew discuss dying trees on Nicollet Mall, climate change apparently running its course, and much more before they're joined by James T. Harris to discuss the media never learning.
The Nicollet Mall farmer's market is back. Pink is coming back next May. Lori is liking “West World” again. “Killing Eve” is next on her list. Helena Bonham Carter will play Princess Margaret in season three of The Crown. Guest is movie and theater critic Chris Hewitt.
Super-producers with Minneapolis roots Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis visited North High School, Lewis' alma mater, Jan. 31, 2018. The duo was in town to curate the performances of the Super Bow Live event on Nicollet Mall. Jazz88 student broadcasters Azhaela Hanson and Odell Wilson visited with the pair about their connections to the North Side and what they consider their greatest honors.
Super-producers with Minneapolis roots Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis visited North High School, Lewis' alma mater, Jan. 31, 2018. The duo was in town to curate the performances of the Super Bow Live event on Nicollet Mall. Jazz88 student broadcasters Azhaela Hanson and Odell Wilson visited with the pair about their connections to the North Side and what they consider their greatest honors.
Haskell's is in the middle of all the hoopla surrounding the NFL's Super Bowl Experience. Jack Farrell explains what you can expect from the company's wine bar on Nicollet Mall.
Super Bowl overview on Nicollet Mall and MOA, J. Crew in Edina isn't closing, Guest Amy Zaroff in studio, and Whose Look!
On Saturday December 16th, Storymobile was at Winter Open Streets on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. Winter Open Streets is an outdoor celebration of the newly reopened Nicollet Mall. This one mile route in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, featured local businesses, food carts, family activities, and holiday festivities. Storymobile was there to ask visitors about their favorite spots along Nicollet Mall/
On Saturday December 16th, Storymobile was at Winter Open Streets on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. Winter Open Streets is an outdoor celebration of the newly reopened Nicollet Mall. This one mile route in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, featured local businesses, food carts, family activities, and holiday festivities. Storymobile was there to ask visitors about their favorite spots along Nicollet Mall/
On Saturday December 16th, Storymobile was at Winter Open Streets on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. Winter Open Streets is an outdoor celebration of the newly reopened Nicollet Mall. This one mile route in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, featured local businesses, food carts, family activities, and holiday festivities. Storymobile was there to ask visitors about their favorite spots along Nicollet Mall/
On Saturday December 16th, Storymobile was at Winter Open Streets on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. Winter Open Streets is an outdoor celebration of the newly reopened Nicollet Mall. This one mile route in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, featured local businesses, food carts, family activities, and holiday festivities. Storymobile was there to ask visitors about their favorite spots along Nicollet Mall/
On Saturday December 16th, Storymobile was at Winter Open Streets on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. Winter Open Streets is an outdoor celebration of the newly reopened Nicollet Mall. This one mile route in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, featured local businesses, food carts, family activities, and holiday festivities. Storymobile was there to ask visitors about their favorite spots along Nicollet Mall/
On Saturday December 16th, Storymobile was at Winter Open Streets on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. Winter Open Streets is an outdoor celebration of the newly reopened Nicollet Mall. This one mile route in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, featured local businesses, food carts, family activities, and holiday festivities. Storymobile was there to ask visitors about their favorite spots along Nicollet Mall/
On Saturday December 16th, Storymobile was at Winter Open Streets on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. Winter Open Streets is an outdoor celebration of the newly reopened Nicollet Mall. This one mile route in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, featured local businesses, food carts, family activities, and holiday festivities. Storymobile was there to ask visitors about their favorite spots along Nicollet Mall/
On Saturday December 16th, Storymobile was at Winter Open Streets on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. Winter Open Streets is an outdoor celebration of the newly reopened Nicollet Mall. This one mile route in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, featured local businesses, food carts, family activities, and holiday festivities. Storymobile was there to ask visitors about their favorite spots along Nicollet Mall/
On Saturday December 16th, Storymobile was at Winter Open Streets on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. Winter Open Streets is an outdoor celebration of the newly reopened Nicollet Mall. This one mile route in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, featured local businesses, food carts, family activities, and holiday festivities. Storymobile was there to ask visitors about their favorite spots along Nicollet Mall/
On Saturday December 16th, Storymobile was at Winter Open Streets on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. Winter Open Streets is an outdoor celebration of the newly reopened Nicollet Mall. This one mile route in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, featured local businesses, food carts, family activities, and holiday festivities. Storymobile was there to ask visitors about their favorite spots along Nicollet Mall/
On Tuesday, October 24, Storymobile joined local artists and craft makers on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. The Nicollet Maker's Market is an outdoor market where artists can sell their products and share their talents. Storymobile was there to ask patrons about the newly renovated Nicollet Mall.
On Tuesday, October 24, Storymobile joined local artists and craft makers on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. The Nicollet Maker's Market is an outdoor market where artists can sell their products and share their talents. Storymobile was there to ask patrons about the newly renovated Nicollet Mall.
On Tuesday, October 24, Storymobile joined local artists and craft makers on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. The Nicollet Maker's Market is an outdoor market where artists can sell their products and share their talents. Storymobile was there to ask patrons about the newly renovated Nicollet Mall.
On Tuesday, October 24, Storymobile joined local artists and craft makers on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. The Nicollet Maker's Market is an outdoor market where artists can sell their products and share their talents. Storymobile was there to ask patrons about the newly renovated Nicollet Mall.
On Tuesday, October 24, Storymobile joined local artists and craft makers on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. The Nicollet Maker's Market is an outdoor market where artists can sell their products and share their talents. Storymobile was there to ask patrons about the newly renovated Nicollet Mall.
On Tuesday, October 24, Storymobile joined local artists and craft makers on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. The Nicollet Maker's Market is an outdoor market where artists can sell their products and share their talents. Storymobile was there to ask patrons about the newly renovated Nicollet Mall.
On Tuesday, October 24, Storymobile joined local artists and craft makers on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. The Nicollet Maker's Market is an outdoor market where artists can sell their products and share their talents. Storymobile was there to ask patrons about the newly renovated Nicollet Mall.
On Tuesday, October 24, Storymobile joined local artists and craft makers on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. The Nicollet Maker's Market is an outdoor market where artists can sell their products and share their talents. Storymobile was there to ask patrons about the newly renovated Nicollet Mall.
On Tuesday, October 24, Storymobile joined local artists and craft makers on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. The Nicollet Maker's Market is an outdoor market where artists can sell their products and share their talents. Storymobile was there to ask patrons about the newly renovated Nicollet Mall.
Here's Ralph in his own words:I was a banker. Stand on Nicollet Mall on any weekday and you’ll see a thousand people who look like I did. You know the type – pinstripe suit, wingtip shoes, cell phone attached to our ear – captains of industry, young and old, climbing the corporate ladder.And I was pretty good at it. I came to Minnesota in 1996 to work for a big company and, by the time I left, I was running a multi million-dollar business for them. I had a pretty good and pretty typical life. I had a wife and two children, a house in the suburbs, two cars, friends, golf clubs, dog, etc. I was good at my job, and the company was happy to pay me pretty well, so off I went to work every day.And then, on April 21, 2011, my whole world turned upside down.That’s the day that my wife, Stephanie, suffered a massive stroke. Five weeks later she died. She was 49 years old. I will never know why it happened. All I know is that, in an instant, everything that I thought was important and everything that I thought my life was about, was shattered. And that’s when the blinders came off. When I went back to work I soon saw just how much I had convinced myself that I was supposed to have a big corporate job. Then I realized how much I didn’t want to do it anymore. I started to think about what I would do if I weren’t in the corporate world. That’s when it hit me that the best parts of my day were when I dropped my dog Frannie off at Downtown Dogs in the morning and picked her up again in the evening. It wasn’t just seeing all of the other dogs (although I am “dog stupid” as Stephanie used to say). It was, as much, the tremendous positive energy and genuine warmth that greeted me every time that I opened the door. That’s a rare thing and it was exactly what I needed when everything else in my life SUCKED!And so, I began to think that maybe I would open my own dog daycare business. But, the more I thought about it, the more that I realized that I didn’t want just any dog daycare business, I wanted Downtown Dogs. No other business has the amazing combination of people, energy, love, passion, knowledge, and skills that make Downtown Dogs the awesome place that it is. And so, I approached the former owner with the idea of selling me Downtown Dogs. Two years, and many conversations later, we signed on the dotted lines and Downtown Dogs became my new home.There’s a lot more to my story that I’ll be happy to bore you with later. For now, just know how excited I am, every day, to see all of our fantastic clients – and their owners – and to be working with the best group of people, and dogs, that I have ever known.Please say hi to Ralph when you see him. And do let him know that a 30-foot mural of Frannie on the side of the building might be taking the whole pug thing a bit far. (Just to clarify: Frannie's name is spelled with an 'ie' not a 'y.')