The Walker Art Center. Have You Been Recently?
Long-time residents: I expect you've visited before. But the Walker Art Center is a place that really benefits from being seen more than once. For the average person, you may say "what?" to many of the objects on display the first time you see them. It's somewhere you need to see a couple of times before it starts making sense. A book or two from the excellent Walker Shop will usually help in appreciating the art.
And befitting a modern art gallery, there's always something new to see. Several special exhibitions, plus events, classes, and exciting performance make a return trip (or several) most worthwhile. Here's a small selection of what's on at the Walker.
Currently, Richard Prince's Spiritual America, a retrospective of his work organized by New York's Guggenheim Museum, is on display until September 14.
Choreographer Tricia Brown's 1968 dance Planes will be performed on Thursdays and Saturdays through July 17, as part of the exhibition Trisha Brown: So That the Audience Does Not Know Whether I Have Stopped Dancing, which combines performing and visual arts.
Opening May 15 and running until July 12, Statements: Beuys, Flavin, Judd celebrates the three post-war modern artists, pioneers of modern sculpture.
And outdoors in the Sculpture Garden, perhaps the most thought-provoking exhibit, Design for the Other 90% displays innovative devices and technology solutions for use in the third world, where the vast majority of the people don't have access to even the most basic technologies. This exhibit opens May 24, until September 7.
There is an charge to visit the Walker Art Center, but admission is free every Thursday evening from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., and all day on the first Saturday of the month. The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is always free to visit.
Memorial Day Events in Minneapolis and St. Paul
Many places of worship in Minneapolis and St. Paul are holding special Memorial Day services on Monday.
Historical sites in the Twin Cities, such as Fort Snelling, are holding special events to commemorate Minnesota's veterans.
A major Latino music festival in downtown St. Paul celebrates Latino culture over the three day weekend, and the festival will be paying tribute to veterans on Monday.
Several memorials, including the Minnesota Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial, are in the grounds of the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. There will be no formal event here, rather it will be a place for quiet, personal remembrances of loved ones.
Art-A-Whirl: May 14 - May 18
More than 500 artists will be displaying their works. Studios, cafes, warehouses, coffee shops, and homes are turned into galleries for the weekend. As well as the art, there will also be wine tasting, live music, artist demonstrations, films, music lessons, acupuncture, and entertainment.
Celebrate Syttende Mai: May 17, Norwegian Independence Day
Syttende Mai is traditionally family-orientated, and celebrates and shares Norwegian culture with others. On Saturday 18, a church service precedes a flag parade, music, singing and folk dancing at the Mindekirken Norwegian Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.
Minnesota's History: The Jackson Street Roundhouse
In the early days of American history towns lived or died on their links to the rest of the world, and in the last century, that meant one thing: the railroad. For a place as far from the coasts and other major cities as Minneapolis and St. Paul, the railroads were vital to survival.
I visited the museum with my son, who was fascinated by the trains, and it was enjoyable seeing the amount of love and care that has gone into restoring this place. Clearly this museum will interest train fans, but for anyone with an interest in the history of Minnesota, this museum makes a fascinating morning or afternoon out.
Star Wars at the Science Museum: June 13 - August 24
The most hyped exhibit of the year is opening at the Science Museum of Minnesota on June 13. Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination was developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd and features real costumes (including Darth Vader, right) models and props from all six Star Wars films. Interactive displays will explore real-life examples of robots and transportation inspired by Star Wars, and visitors will be invited to build their own robots and run a magnetic levitation train.
It's expected to be one of the most popular things to do this summer: admissions will be timed, and there is an extra admission charge for the exhibit. Reservations are strongly recommended, and tickets go on sale on May 21.
Photo © Lucasfilm Ltd.
Red Means Stop, Green Means Go, White Means...?
An small poll of my fellow Twin Cities drivers indicates that a lot of motorists don't know what those little white lights mounted on traffic signals are. The most common thought is that they are something to do with catching people who drive through a red light.
They are actually part of a system called OptiCom, developed by St. Paul technology company 3M, which changes the signal priorities for emergency vehicles. Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles carry a transmitter that notifies the traffic signals of their approach, and the signals change to give the emergency vehicle the right of way. The white lights come on or flash to warn drivers that the signals are about to change, and that they may need to move out of the way.
A white light means that the emergency vehicle is on the same road as you. A flashing light means that the emergency vehicle is on the road crossing yours. The signal will soon change to give the emergency vehicle the right of way. If you will be in the way of the emergency vehicle, pull safely to the side of the road, without blocking the intersection, and let the emergency vehicle pass.
Where's Our Wi-Fi? Wireless Internet in Minneapolis
Some people using the service are wondering where they got their data from. Customers living near lakes and in high-rise buildings complain that their reception is poor. Those who are receiving service are only getting around half of the advertised 1 Mbps speed. Trees can impede the signals, and as leaves grow back it will only get worse. Users with mobile devices, such as the iPod touch, are also having problems.
A large part of the city still doesn't have access to Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi transmitters must be mounted on lightpoles or similar structures, and in Calhoun-Isles and areas around the University it's been hard to get permission from various organizations (Minneapolis Parks and Recreation, Xcel Energy, and private property owners) to have enough poles to provide service.
USI Wireless say they are confident that they'll find enough poles and the whole of the city will be able to receive Wi-Fi.
Issues aside, I admire the city of Minneapolis for taking the initiative in building the network, and giving customers another option to connect to the internet.
Now, I live in St. Paul. Are we going to get Wi-Fi?
Give Green on Mother's Day
Moms are some of the most green people I know. Here's a few ideas of how to treat Mom the environmentally-friendly way.
- Sponsor her a solar panel at Izzy's Ice Cream. Izzy's is the first ice cream factory in the USA to run on solar power, with the help of their customers. One panel can be sponsored for $100. Mom will get her name on the wall at Izzy's Ice Cream Cafe in St. Paul, and $25 of Izzy's ice cream.
- Put together an eco-friendly home spa package. Twin Cities Green sells natural, non-animal-tested beauty products, soy candles, and the softest organic cotton towels you ever felt.
- Jewelry is a classic mother's day gift. You won't find pearls or diamonds at Re Gifts, but you can find earrings and necklaces made from recycled materials like sea glass and vintage typewriter keys.
- Brunch at the Birchwood Cafe Birchwood doesn't compromise taste in their delicious menu of organic, natural, locally produced food. The Birchwood Cafe's Mother's Day brunch will be served until 3pm on Sunday.
Need more inspiration? Here's a guide to Mother's Day events in Minneapolis, St. Paul and beyond.
Twin Cities Green. Photo © Clara JamesVintage Fashion in the Twin Cities
The Twin Cities are known for their unique style, a blend of practical, vintage, designer, modern and DIY fashion. What sounds like a fashion disaster is actually turns out really quite fabulous. An afternoon walk around Uptown Minneapolis or the Walker Art Center will give you fashion inspiration enough for a whole season. A lot of stylish folks base their look around a single vintage piece - perhaps a print dress, an retro t-shirt, or some killer heels - and mix with modern clothes for a look that's all our own.
Part of the reason that the the Twin Cities love vintage clothing is that we are so eco-friendly. Giving a second life to old clothes saves them from the landfill, and saves the resources needed to make the new garment. It's the antithesis of disposable fashion. Vintage clothes were made to last and look good for many seasons when they are looked after. And vintage fashion is timeless so no worrying about whether it is last season. It's already way out of date, so throw it on, and head out!
Vintage divas should make tracks to the annual Spring Shindig, held by the St. Paul Retro Loop. Retro clothes, furniture, jewelry, art, LPs, plus vintage-style refreshments to celebrate spring. May 3 and 4, at the stores of the St. Paul Retro Loop.
Then, on the evening of May 15, the Minnesota Historical Society hosts RetroRama, a celebration of all things 1950s. There will be a fashion show, vintage fashions on sale, cocktails, music and Brad Zellar, the man behind the 1950s photo exhibition "Suburban World: The Norling Photos" currently running will be signing the accompanying book.