Over on the Minneapolis Issues Forum, there is a long thread (for that forum, anyway) about the Minneapolis Citywide WiFi network being built out by USI Wireless, a subsidiary of US Internet. The long and short of it seems to be that the node density needs to be at least twice what USIW has built it out to, people are frustrated with their lousy connectivity and the requirement to purchase or rent a Ruckus router/adapter, the promised Minneapolis Civic Garden is a nonstarter and folks are canceling their service.
I've been considering signing up and relieving myself of my Comcast bill, but this information doesn't encourage me to do that at this time. YMMV.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Blast from the Past: Urban Guerrillas
On the Minneapolis Issues Forum, Dean Carlson posted about a local band that he used to listen to in the mid-1980s -- Urban Guerrillas. I also witnessed some of that band's complete debauchery, with its lead singer, Larry Sahagian, regularly outdrinking most of his audience and preferring to sing table-top rather than on stage. Other stories about UGs included that they were the musical act at Highland Park High School's winter dance circa 1982 and were asked to leave mid-show due to some bad behavior.
Apparently Dean and his friend, Timmy the Freak, are trying to collect remembrances of UGs as well as any mp3s that may be out there (which would've had to have been transferred from vinyl). They've started a Myspace page (of course) for fans of UGs. So if anyone has word of what's up with the former members of UGs or any fond remembrances, get in contact via the Myspace page. There's also a post on Dean's (?) blog with some great comments about the band.
Shimmy shimmy coco-pop, y'all.
Apparently Dean and his friend, Timmy the Freak, are trying to collect remembrances of UGs as well as any mp3s that may be out there (which would've had to have been transferred from vinyl). They've started a Myspace page (of course) for fans of UGs. So if anyone has word of what's up with the former members of UGs or any fond remembrances, get in contact via the Myspace page. There's also a post on Dean's (?) blog with some great comments about the band.
Shimmy shimmy coco-pop, y'all.
Monday, March 17, 2008
St. Paddy's Day Parade Downtown Mpls Tonight
It's almost time to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Minneapolis. The Parade is Monday March 17th, 6:30pm on the Nicollet Mall, line up to begin at 6pm. More info available at the St. Patrick's Day Association of Minneapolis website, including a list of sponsoring pubs.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Off-Topic: Mary Ann Caught Smokin' Dope
Well, not actually caught smokin' dope -- but TV's Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island, was nailed by the Teton County, Idaho, sheriff's department with a couple of roaches and "two small cases used to store marijuana." According to the Yahoo article, "[s]he was sentenced Feb. 29 to five days in jail, fined $410.50 and placed on probation after pleading guilty to one count of reckless driving." I don't know why I get such a kick out of a 69-year-old TV star getting busted for doobage, but I will say that I thought Mary Ann was way hotter than Ginger when I was a baked teenager watching those old reruns.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Meet a Farmer on Sunday
Straight from the Strib's Counter Intelligence column:
Farmers who will be offering shares in their crops in the form of community-supported agriculture (CSA) will be part of a fair on Sunday at Let's Cook, 330 E. Hennepin Av., Minneapolis (www.letscook.com), in a collaborative effort with the Mill City Farmers Market and the Northeast Minneapolis Farmers Market. The free event includes mini-talks about the CSA concept; those talks will be held every hour, on the hour, from noon to 4 p.m. The fair includes representatives of 11 farms.Go, support local farms and eat healthy in 2008!
Big Plans for the Parkway Theater
Lots of new news on the Parkway Theater (which is now called Pepito's Parkway Theater, according to the website):
Renovations have begun, and just this week they brought in some University of Minnesota students to design murals on the interior walls, which an insider tells me will look fabulous when they are complete.
They've got the finals of the 48th Street Poetry Slam this Saturday, March 8, at 9:30pm.
They're currently playing award-winners Taxi to the Darkside (Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature) and La Vie en Rose (Academy Awards for Best Actress and Best Makeup), along with a Saturday matinee of the original Charlotte's Web (1973, featuring the voices of Debbie Reynolds, Paul Lynde and Danny Bonaduce, among others).
The Parkway will be a Fringe Fest site for 2008, so you can see some of that Fringe-y goodness at 48th and Chicago.
And at some point this spring, it sounds like they will be featuring live comedy, perhaps on a weekly basis. The folks behind the Parkway are committed to making it a multi-use arts space, so they will be hosting films, theater productions, and live performances. And keep in mind that you can take your drinks from next-door Pepito's into the theater.
Renovations have begun, and just this week they brought in some University of Minnesota students to design murals on the interior walls, which an insider tells me will look fabulous when they are complete.
They've got the finals of the 48th Street Poetry Slam this Saturday, March 8, at 9:30pm.
They're currently playing award-winners Taxi to the Darkside (Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature) and La Vie en Rose (Academy Awards for Best Actress and Best Makeup), along with a Saturday matinee of the original Charlotte's Web (1973, featuring the voices of Debbie Reynolds, Paul Lynde and Danny Bonaduce, among others).
The Parkway will be a Fringe Fest site for 2008, so you can see some of that Fringe-y goodness at 48th and Chicago.
And at some point this spring, it sounds like they will be featuring live comedy, perhaps on a weekly basis. The folks behind the Parkway are committed to making it a multi-use arts space, so they will be hosting films, theater productions, and live performances. And keep in mind that you can take your drinks from next-door Pepito's into the theater.
Meat Raffles!
Tom Horgen writes up meat raffles for the Strib, though oddly he focuses first on a meat raffle in Golden Valley (?!? -- at least it's at the American Legion) and then on the kitschy "Risk Your Meat" event at Grumpy's in downtown. The saving grace of the article is a list of Nordeast (and other) bars that hold meat raffles. While not comprehensive, it is a pretty good list. I've won meat at Jimmy's and the 1029, and I was gratified to see that the Rail Station (nearest bar to me physically) has a meat raffle, which I didn't know.
Just thinking about all that yummy pork, beef, chicken (and, apparently, at Grumpy's meat raffles, lamb, rabbit and other goodies from Clancey's (here's a City Pages article that includes info on Clancey's)) gives me the meat sweats. Mmmmmm, meatily delicious.
Just thinking about all that yummy pork, beef, chicken (and, apparently, at Grumpy's meat raffles, lamb, rabbit and other goodies from Clancey's (here's a City Pages article that includes info on Clancey's)) gives me the meat sweats. Mmmmmm, meatily delicious.
Fire Arts? Yes, We Will Have Fire Arts!
Saw a nice post on the Minneapolis Issues Forum about something called
The Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center (CAFAC). I was pretty sure that "Fire" was a typo and that the poster meant "Fine," as in The Chicago Avenue Fine Arts Center, but NO! I was wr-wr-wr-incorrect. Turns out that the building that used to be the Nokomis Theater at 3749 Chicago Avenue South, which now houses Wreck Bros. Auto Body, will be converted into the CAFAC through Neighborhood Revitalization Plan funding and the work of committed community organizers. According to the website, it will be focused "on fine and industrial art forms that are produced by heat, spark or flame, including sculptural welding, blacksmithing, glasswork, jewelry making, electronics and others. The umbrella term for these forms is 'fire arts.'" I did not know that.
Here's where you can get involved and help make it happen:
CAFAC will be holding a fundraiser and informational event at:
Bancroft Elementary School - Old Gymnasium
1315 East 38th Street
Thursday, March 13th from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
So, go! And get your fire arts on!
The Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center (CAFAC). I was pretty sure that "Fire" was a typo and that the poster meant "Fine," as in The Chicago Avenue Fine Arts Center, but NO! I was wr-wr-wr-incorrect. Turns out that the building that used to be the Nokomis Theater at 3749 Chicago Avenue South, which now houses Wreck Bros. Auto Body, will be converted into the CAFAC through Neighborhood Revitalization Plan funding and the work of committed community organizers. According to the website, it will be focused "on fine and industrial art forms that are produced by heat, spark or flame, including sculptural welding, blacksmithing, glasswork, jewelry making, electronics and others. The umbrella term for these forms is 'fire arts.'" I did not know that.
Here's where you can get involved and help make it happen:
CAFAC will be holding a fundraiser and informational event at:
Bancroft Elementary School - Old Gymnasium
1315 East 38th Street
Thursday, March 13th from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
So, go! And get your fire arts on!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Oak Street Cinema's Days are Numbered
Strib reports that the Oak Street Cinema will likely be torn down after the MSP International Film Festival ends in early May. The Film Festival's website is still under construction for the 2008 Festival. While I'm sorry to see it go, I can't say that I spent a lot of time there in the last few years. With the Riverview Theater (note the snazzy new website design), the Parkway (now owned by Pepito's owner Joe Senkyr Minjares) and others making a go of it on a shoestring, I'm not sure why Oak Street has been mired in trouble for so long. There were a flurry of articles in early 2006 about Oak Street's troubles, then not much new news. Now, it looks like it could be the end.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Great Site on Mpls Condos/Downtown Living
Ok, remind me to check with this guy before I ever post anything again about condos in Minneapolis and/or living in downtown Minneapolis. Minneapolis Guy is Matt Loskota, an Edina Realty manager in downtown Minneapolis. He knows the downtown market, especially condos. Check out this Condo Count Report for all the deets on any townhouse, loft or condo building in or near downtown.
Some interesting information in the report:
(1) If I'm reading this right, there were about 3,000 units (townhomes, lofts and condos) in 30 buildings downtown before the recent building boom. The building boom added 4,700 units in 50 new buildings, for a total of 7,700 units in 80 buildings. In addition, there are about 500 units in 11 buildings near downtown, for a total of 8,200 units in 91 buildings. That's more than I would've guessed.
(2) There are plans for an additional 3,000-4,000 units (I thought I had heard 4,000 somewhere -- maybe in the forums at Minnescraper? -- but I'm not sure where). None are beyond the planning stage right now, but if they all were built, that would bring the total units to between 11,000 and 12,000 total in and near downtown Minneapolis. Wow.
(3) If 2008 absorption rates follow 2007 rates, there are approximately 11 months of previously owned inventory on the market now. I'm no real estate expert, but given the predictions for the economy, I have to believe that the 2008 absorption rate will be slower than 2007, so I'm guessing there is at least a year of inventory out there. In addition there are 2 years worth of newly built inventory available. That's a lot of units available, so I'm guessing the list of cancelled projects will continue to grow, and there will also be some projects that change from condo to rental or from residential to commercial. Already, that's what's rumored to be happening with a project in my neighborhood, 46th and 46th, where construction stalled last spring. Apparently the former luxury condo development will now be luxury rental development.
(4) There are 3,293 units in the Proposed Projects list, in 13 projects. At this point, it appears that 130 of those units are sold, leaving about 3,150 units in the proposed stage. That's a lot of units waiting for commitments. I'll be surprised if half of those actually get built.
This is a great list, and a terrific resource if, like me, you're interested in the downtown residential real estate market. I'm definitely going to follow the Condo Count Report every month. Nice work, Minneapolis Guy!
Some interesting information in the report:
(1) If I'm reading this right, there were about 3,000 units (townhomes, lofts and condos) in 30 buildings downtown before the recent building boom. The building boom added 4,700 units in 50 new buildings, for a total of 7,700 units in 80 buildings. In addition, there are about 500 units in 11 buildings near downtown, for a total of 8,200 units in 91 buildings. That's more than I would've guessed.
(2) There are plans for an additional 3,000-4,000 units (I thought I had heard 4,000 somewhere -- maybe in the forums at Minnescraper? -- but I'm not sure where). None are beyond the planning stage right now, but if they all were built, that would bring the total units to between 11,000 and 12,000 total in and near downtown Minneapolis. Wow.
(3) If 2008 absorption rates follow 2007 rates, there are approximately 11 months of previously owned inventory on the market now. I'm no real estate expert, but given the predictions for the economy, I have to believe that the 2008 absorption rate will be slower than 2007, so I'm guessing there is at least a year of inventory out there. In addition there are 2 years worth of newly built inventory available. That's a lot of units available, so I'm guessing the list of cancelled projects will continue to grow, and there will also be some projects that change from condo to rental or from residential to commercial. Already, that's what's rumored to be happening with a project in my neighborhood, 46th and 46th, where construction stalled last spring. Apparently the former luxury condo development will now be luxury rental development.
(4) There are 3,293 units in the Proposed Projects list, in 13 projects. At this point, it appears that 130 of those units are sold, leaving about 3,150 units in the proposed stage. That's a lot of units waiting for commitments. I'll be surprised if half of those actually get built.
This is a great list, and a terrific resource if, like me, you're interested in the downtown residential real estate market. I'm definitely going to follow the Condo Count Report every month. Nice work, Minneapolis Guy!
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