Central Corridor Senior Planner Donna Drummond updates the progress and current status of the Central Corridor lightrail project. Drummond discusses the planning steps leading to the development of the LRT route, the current status of project funding and future planning vision for the University Avenue corridor. [Watch the Video...]

The City of Saint Paul is finishing planning for areas around proposed Central Corridor LRT staton hubs, and now it is time to bring the plans to life! Come explore three opportunity sites on the east end of the Central Corridor that are ready to move forward for redevelopment. The four-part innovative and interactive Corridor Housing Initiative (CHI) community workshops will set the stage for future development along the Central Corridor. Childcare and translation services will be provided by request only. Please contact Gretchen Nicholls at 651-265-2280 one week in advance of each workship if you would like to reserve childcare or request translators. [Additional info...]

Como Zoo has bestowed Mother of the Year honors to new Sumatran orangutan mom, Markisa. Markisa had a rare cesarean section delivery in December to baby Jaya. There has only been 9 c-sections in over 1,600 orangutan births documented in zoos worldwide including this one.

At almost five months of age, Jaya can be observed climbing around on his own- never straying far from his mother- and sticking everything he can find into his mouth as he continues to explore his surroundings. An infant orangutan will start eating solids by one year of age but can nurse for up to seven years. The mother-infant bond of orangutans is incredibly strong and they have one of the longest dependency periods of any species. An orangutan learns everything he/she needs to learn to survive from mom and will stay with her for up to 8-9 years of age.

Markisa has mastered the art of nest building as she makes comfy sleeping spots for herself and Jaya daily. Adult female orangutan Amanda serves as an auntie to Jaya- allowing him to climb on to her and by assisting with some light babysitting duties. Despite not giving birth naturally to Jaya, Markisa has been an excellent mother since receiving him back just twelve days after the c-section. Markisa's success is in large part due to the maternal examples that she has learned from her own mother and former Como exhibit mate Joy who gave birth to and raised "Willie" over the past nine years.

About 200 orangutans are currently on exhibit in zoos throughout the U.S. Their native population, found only in Sumatra and Borneo, has drastically dwindled due to logging, conversion of habitat to palm oil plantations, and a series of wild fires –all of which put the species under the treat of extinction, potentially within the next 10-15 years. Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered with approximately only 7,000 left in the wild. OrangutansOrangutans are the largest arboreal (tree-dwelling) mammal. “Orang-utan” means “person of the forest”. They are the only Great Ape found in Asia.

Animal sponsorships make a great Mother's Day gift - that gives back all year. Sponsorships are a unique way to help Como Park Zoo and Conservatory with its wildlife conservation efforts. They support enhanced habitats and efforts to maintain the best care possible for the animals, including Markisa and Jaya, at Como Zoo. orangutanorangutanorangutanorangutanorangutanorangutanorangutanorangutanorangutanTo purchase an organutan sponsorship, visit Garden Safari Gifts at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory or call 651-487-8229.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Background

For over 100 years, Marjorie McNeely Conservatory and Como Zoo in Saint Paul, Minnesota has charmed, educated and entertained millions of children and adults while fostering an appreciation of the natural world, helping to make Saint Paul the Most Livable City in America. The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is open 365 days; 10am-6pm from April-September and 10am-4pm from October-March. Admission to both the Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is always free and a voluntary donation is appreciated.

For more information, visit www.comozooconservatory.org.

Saint Paul, MN (April 4, 2008) - An endangered, rare Sumatran plant that has been patiently waiting to bloom for 15 years has started to show a flower bud and may soon send a perfume odor of rotting flesh. The Amorphophallus titanum, also known as the Corpse Flower from the smell it omits during bloom, will hopefully be in bloom in a about a week at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in Saint Paul, MN.

Horticulturists from the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory have been conferring with experts worldwide on the development of the Copse Flower. The corm started to show signs of growth in January and the tip began to emerge from the soil in February. By March 4, the emerging shoot was 6"tall and today, it is 25"tall today, growing at a rate of an inch a day. "Not huge or even big by standards set at other botanical institutions for a Titan arum and may even be a growth anomaly," explains Margaret Yeakel-Twum, Marjorie McNeely Conservatory Horticulturist. "The inflorescence does seem to be a bit unusual in that the spathe does not cover the entire spadix. You can actually see the male and female flowers that are normally entirely covered at this point. "

The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory obtained the plant from Gustavus Adolphus College's Chemistry Professor Brian O'Brien in 2005 from seeds given to them by Dr. James Symon in 1993. Gustavus had a large bloom last spring, the first in the state of Minnesota, from a corm that weighed about 90 pounds, Como's corm only weighs 25 pounds. Once the flower opens in full bloom it omits an odor associated with rotting flesh for approximately 2 days.

The Titan Arum was first discovered in 1878 by Italian botanist Odoardo Beccari. He sent seeds to England's Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, where the first bloom of this species in cultivation occurred in 1889. The First U.S. bloom occurred in 1937 at the New York Botanical Gardens and through 2007, only 122 plants have known to bloom worldwide.

The Corpse Flower has been moved from the greenhouse into public space for visitors to see and soon smell. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory has started a Gardener Blog, along with a web-cam with the help of the City of Saint Paul's Media Services. To follow along the growth and watch the progress, visit http://www.comozooconservatory.org/cons/gardenblog.shtml.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Background

For over 100 years, Marjorie McNeely Conservatory and Como Zoo in Saint Paul, Minnesota has charmed, educated and entertained millions of children and adults while fostering an appreciation of the natural world, helping to make Saint Paul the Most Livable City in America. The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is open 365 days; 10am-6pm from April-September and 10am-4pm from October-March. Admission to both the Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is always free and a voluntary donation is appreciated.

The new Leonard Wilkening Children’s Gallery at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory will be the epicenter for kids’ experiential learning. Children are able to learn about the circle of life through hands-on activities, creative play and interactive stations. The Children's Gallery, a new permanent exhibit, opens April 19, 2008.

The Children's Gallery allows children to explore five educational, fun and interactive play zones. Kids can get their hands wet with a water play station that illustrates evaporation; or play the food chain game with colorfully illustrated blocks, or roll up their sleeves and work as a gardener or zookeeper while identifying natural habitats.

The new Children's Gallery is made possible by the generous support of the Como Zoo and Conservatory Society. The Children's Gallery is named in honor of Leonard Wilkening in appreciation for all his work to improve Como Park Zoo and Conservatory for children. Wilkening helped found the Como Zoo and Conservatory Society, served as its Board Chair for many years and lead the Society through the successful completion of the capital campaign that resulted in the Visitor Center and Tropical Encounters.

In celebration to the opening of Children's Gallery, Como Park Zoo and Conservatory will be celebrating Party for the Planet, April 19-Earth Day April 22. Como is teaming up with other AZA-accredited zoos, to host a nation-wide celebration to help visitors discover ways to connect to the local environment to make a collective difference in conservation on a national and global level. Guests will be able to learn more on recycling, water gardens and how to lower energy consumption.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Background
For over 100 years, Marjorie McNeely Conservatory and Como Zoo in Saint Paul, Minnesota has charmed, educated and entertained millions of children and adults while fostering an appreciation of the natural world, helping to make Saint Paul the Most Livable City in America. The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is open 365 days; 10am-6pm from April 1-October 1 and 10am-4pm from October 2-March 31. Admission to both the Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is always free and a voluntary donation is appreciated.

Guests voted and selected Jaya as the name of the baby orangutan. Como Zoo held a naming ceremony today and announced the name with the assistance of the Sumunar Youth Gamelan Ensemble. Jaya is an Indonesian name that means celebration and victorious.

Jaya, a male Sumatran orangutan was born via cesarean section- a medical first for the historic Saint Paul Zoo. The baby’s successful birth is the result of a partnership that merged the skills of Como Zoo’s zookeepers and veterinarians from University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, along with medical staff from University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview including two OB-GYN physicians. There has only been 9 c-section births in over 1,600 orangutan births documented in zoos including this one.

Jaya's parents are Markisa, a 20 year old female orangutan and Jambu Aye, a 22 year old male. Mom and dad arrived at Como from other zoos in 1995 as part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Program for future breeding purposes in an effort to boost the Sumatran orangutan population. This is the 14th orangutan birth at Como since exhibiting orangutans in 1959.

About 200 orangutans are currently on exhibit in zoos throughout the U.S. Their native population, found only in Sumatra and Borneo, has drastically dwindled due to logging, conversion of habitat to palm oil plantations, and a series of wild fires –all of which put the species under the treat of extinction, potentially within the next 10-15 years. Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered with approximately only 7,000 left in the wild. OrangutansOrangutans are the largest arboreal (tree-dwelling) mammal. “Orang-utan” means “person of the forest”. They are the only Great Ape found in Asia.

Some may know it as 'Motor City' or the place of the 'Motown Sound', but Detroit is also home to the world's largest polar bear exhibit. The Detroit Zoo's Arctic Ring of Life habitat may be Como Zoo's polar bears Neil & Buzz's home away from home during the construction of Polar Bear Odyssey opening in 2010 at Como Zoo in Saint Paul.

The temporary placement of the polar bears is based on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) recommendation. The SSP looks at polar bears in all AZA-accredited zoos and monitors such things as breeding and space. There are currently 86 polar bears in 34 accredited zoos in the United States. Once the SSP makes a recommendation the facilities work together to determine what is best for the health and welfare of the animals.

"Detroit Zoo is an industry leader in the exhibition, management and breeding of polar bears and we are pleased that the bears could be calling it home," states Michael Hahm, Director of the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. "Our team is excited to be working with the Detroit Zoo and are confident that this will be a good placement for the bears."

Detroit Zoo's facilities will address Como's specific needs for the bears. Neil & Buzz will be allowed to be kept together during the day and in separate night holding areas near each other. The operant conditioning training, which is key to maintaining their husbandry practices will be able to continue in the same manner as it's performed at Como.

Recently, the Buffalo Zoo declined the loan of the two polar bears due to the cost of modifying their space to accommodate Como’s training needs. The Board of the Zoo felt the estimated $30,000 - $60,000 would be better used on designing future projects rather than investing in an exhibit slated for demolition.

The bears are still scheduled to embark on their adventure sometime in late winter/early spring. Como Zoo and Detroit Zoo will now work on finalizing details which includes pre-transit site visits and transfer plan preparation.

Polar Bear Odyssey is four times larger than the current polar bear space. It features over 13,140 square feet of outdoor, natural landscape with soil and gravel along with three pools to provide the bears with options that mirror their native Tundra habitat. The $14.3 million project, which $4.5 million will be privately funded, will begin construction this spring and is scheduled to open in 2010.

For over 100 years, Marjorie McNeely Conservatory and Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota has charmed, educated and entertained millions of children and adults while fostering an appreciation of the natural world. The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is open 365 days; 10am-6pm from April 1-October 1 and 10am-4pm from October 2-March 31. Admission to both the Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is always free and a voluntary donation is appreciated.

For more information, visit www.comozooconservatory.org.

[Additional info...]

At the Celebrate A Healthy Heart event you can meet Fire Chief Tim Butler, sample a chair massage, practice some simple exercises, spin the Wheel of Good Health, try yoga, see the latest in emergency heart care, tour an ambulance, take a guess at how much sugar is in soda pop, and interact with our Question and Answer Board. Food and prizes will be offered. the event is free - space is limited. YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER BY CALLING 651-224-7811. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

A 3 a.m. fire in a duplex required the rescue of one unconcious victim by firefighters. One firefighter was also injured. See local news converage

Arson was the cause of a 2-alarm fire at the vacant M & L Motor Shop at 1493 University Ave. W. Firefighters kept the fire from spreading to adjacent business. There were no injuries. See KARE 11 fire scene footage

Featuring two stages, more than 26 musical acts, art, street cuisine and activities for the entire family, and with Harriet Island playing host and the city of St. Paul serving as the stunning backdrop, the stage is set for Vive Minnesota…El Festival. Event hours: Sat: 11AM – 9PM, Sun: 11AM – 8PM, Mon: 11AM – 8PM [Additional info...]

 

Hello friends,

The big news this week is that Eclipse Records is finally Opening its Stage!!! – I have been looking forward to this for over a year.  This fantastic independent record store has been open in my neighborhood for a while now, and a lot of us have enjoyed dropping in to buy music – especially local music and vinyl.  But this weekend the long anticipated venue will open up at this record store which will make it a nationally significant independent record store.  This will be our version of Seattle’s Easy Street or Austin’s Waterloo Records.  A cool indie store with a great selection, an old-school arcade, a homey little coffee corner, and fantastic in-store performances – this is going to be the best!

 

So… on with the week:

 

Martin Devaney and Superhopper at Eclipse Records – Friday and Saturday respectively

I can’t think of two better bands to be a part of the grand opening of the stage at Eclipse.  Both bands are fantastic acts, both bands are Saint Paul bands, and both bands were a part of the first generation of Eclipse (on Grand).  Martin’s band and Superhopper (starring my former colleague, Nick Schuminski) are sure to draw huge crowds this weekend.  I’ll be down sometime after bedtime both nights to celebrate the opening and enjoy two of my favorite bands.

http://www.myspace.com/eclipserecords651

 

Art Reception in the Mayor’s Office – Tonight (Wednesday)

For the third consecutive year, the Mayor is showcasing the scholarship show from Saint Paul’s College of Visual Arts.  Recently, we dropped in on this show when it was up at the Western/Selby gallery with 40 of our closest friends, and this show knocked the socks off of everyone.  I’m really proud to showcase this work in the Mayor’s office and hope you can join us for an informal reception.  Drop by after work (5 – 7) and look at the ten best pieces from one of the nation’s up-and-coming art colleges.

http://www.cva.edu/

 

Gregory Douglass & Kirsten Melrose at Ginkgo – Thursday

Here is a great example of a fiercely independent artist with an amazingly accessible pop sensibility.  Following the Ani Difranco model, this full-time musician has put out 5 records in 6 years and toured constantly without support from a major label.  Out Magazine said he has "Rufus Wainwright´s opulent musicality and Justin Timberlake´s accessible soulfulness . . . Welcome to your new favorite singer-songwriter."  The founder of Windham Hill Records said “Gregory Douglass is simply the most remarkable new talent I've heard in a decade. A brilliant, intelligent songwriter with an expressive and verstile voice.”  Kirsten Melrose, simply has the endorsement of Douglans, and when if you go to her myspace page, you’ll find a fantastic local musician you probably hadn’t heard of.

http://www.ginkgocoffee.com/music.htm

http://www.gregorydouglass.com/index.html

http://www.myspace.com/kirstenmelrose

 

 

Burlesque All Over Saint Paul this week – Wednesday and Friday

The regular installment of the Twin Cities Burlesque Show, hosted by the hilarious Foxy Tann is on again tonight at Station 4 with guests, Sweet Lilly Bee tonight.  I might try to head down there after the reception is wrapped up.  It’s worth it to see Foxy alone.  Friday, Le Cirque Rouge will be entertaining all the folks over at Big V’s.  If you haven’t been to one of these shows at Big V’s, this would be a good way to spend 5 bucks.

http://station-4.com/

http://www.myspace.com/foxytann   

bigvs.com

http://www.myspace.com/lecirquerouge  

 

Saint Paul Farmers Market is open for the Season – through autumn

This is the regions original farmers market and its one of the greatest events week in and week out.  I was recently talking with a new downtown resident, who said that there is no cooler place on earth than a Saturday morning during the Saint Paul farmers market.  This early in the season, you can show up to buy some early produce (onions, onions, onions), plan you garden, or just pick up a bagel sandwich (or a donut in my case)  and stroll through the crowd.  This is an easy kids-pick, and Moms will be treated to free donuts this weekend.

http://www.stpaulfarmersmarket.com/

 

Minnesota Thunder at the newly improved Griffin Stadium – Thursday

One of my regrets from this past weekend is that I wasn’t able to bring Emmy to the home-opener for the Minnesota Thunder.  Thunder Games have long been one of my favorite things to do in Saint Paul, but his year is especially exciting.  The team has brought in a ton of new talent, they have a whole new look and this year, and they are serving beer!  I assume the Thunderheads will be there banging on drums, evoking the die-hard fans in the movie Major League.

http://www.mnthunder.com/

 

Saint Paul Saints vs. the Air Hogs – Thursday through Sunday

After a busy couple of weeks, I’ve realized that I missed a couple things for your calendar, the Saints have quite a few games this summer, so you’ve got some time to make up for it.  After I sent out last week’s note, I ended up going out to Midway Stadium with the Mayor to meet a visiting baseball team.  It turned out that this baseball team from Japan which happened to be owned by a very famous (he’s huge in Japan) comedian.  They had a full camera crew and plenty of zany hijinks, I realized I missed out on recommending an outstanding exhibition baseball game – I’m sorry we all missed that one, but there’s plenty of baseball left.

http://saintsbaseball.com/

 

Well, that’s quite enough for this week.  Thank again, for taking the time to read my missive.  Please drop me a line if you have suggestions for future messages.  I love it when you forward this to you friends, so keep it up.  If you would like to be added or subtracted from my list, let me know.

 

Have a great week!

 

Joe

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Joe Spencer
Policy Associate - Arts and Culture
Office of Mayor Chris Coleman

Making Saint Paul the Most Livable City in America!

651-266-8524
joe.spencer@ci.stpaul.mn.us

 

Hello friends,

Last weekend ended up to be fantastic at the Art Crawl in spite of cold temps. There is so much activity around the crawl that it’s just a blast – Joanne and I ended making some impulse purchases. I met a new artist in town who recently relocated here from New York. It was a kick listening to him talk about Saint Paul like the Promised Land for artists after a 10 + year career with a 10010 zip code.

This week the fun doesn’t let up. This is a very busy weekend in Saint Paul, and I’m left with the stress of trying not to miss anything – while at the same time being mindful of the realities of having a toddler and a new baby. We’ll do our best, and if I don’t make it to everything, I’ll expect a full report from you.

So… on with the week:

Cinco de Mayo in District del Sol – Friday and Saturday
When I worked on the West Side, we boasted that the District del Sol Cinco was the biggest Mexican festival outside of Mexico. Come out and celebrate the day our neighbors clobbered the French! I definitely recommend Friday night, starting at 6:00 Maria Isa will kick things off followed by the Low Rider show and hydrolic demonstration. I’m assuming that still MC’d by Philipe (of Los Nativos) which is partly what makes that such a fun time. After you’ve seen the nicest entertainment system you can imagine in some dude’s trunk lined with neon, you can head to Chavez for good food, and great people watching.
http://districtdelsol.com/docroot/cincodemayo.html
http://www.myspace.com/mariaisalolita

Festival of Nations – Friday through Sunday
Well this definitely gets a kid-friendly pick of the week (not that Cinco isn’t kid friendly). I actually haven’t been for a few years, and I’m due, so I’m planning to head down sometime after naps on Saturday and take advantage of the food vendors for dinner. With 90 different performance groups and 40 different food menus (including a “fine wines of the world” menu), there will certainly be something for everyone.
http://www.festivalofnations.com

Greg Brown at the Fitz – Friday
If latin hip-hop isn’t your flavor, check out the Fitz. They’ve had a ton of great shows lately (great work Lief!), especially capturing the talent of our friends at Red House records. This weekend Greg Brown will bring his low voice and the greatest folk sounds to the Fitzgerald Theater. Saturday is Ann Reid and Sunday is Dan Zanes. If you haven’t seen Greg Brown at the Fitz, the phenomenal sound/recording equipment is an amazing way to showcase his voice and sounds.
http://fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org/events/

Spaghetti Western String Company at the Black Dog – Friday
I love that the Black Dog is programming more music into their space. Spaghetti Western String Company is a fantastic rootsy yet funky group and the show (along with Wars of 1812) is a benefit to buy kids music instruments for a school in West Saint Paul. If you get there before 7:00 you can take advantage of the happy hour $3 Newcastles.
http://www.blackdogstpaul.com/index.shtml
www.spaghettiwesternmusic.com

Charlie Parr and Molly Maher at the Turf – Sunday
These Sunday nights on the “old stage” at the Turf Club are super fun, and Charlie Parr is amazing. It still blows my mind that 1) he is a local guy who we have the privilege of seeing often and 2) that anybody still sounds as old timey yet relevant today.
http://turfclub.net/
http://www.myspace.com/charlieparr

Cabaret at the Ordway – opens Friday through May 18
Within the past year, there have been two shows that warn “Mature Themes and Sexual Content.” This isn’t your mom’s Ordway! My hat goes off to Jamie and Rocco, Patricia Mitchell and the rest of Ordway staff for making some more adventurous programming choices. Of course you’ve seen the show before, but I’ve heard great things about this particular production!
http://ordway.org/performances/0708/cabaret.asp

Everything at the AQ over the next few days – Friday through Tuesday
I’m sorry to have such a everything-is-great recommendation, but what a run at the artists quarter. Friday and Saturday is Red Planet with Dean McGraw – simply amazing players in this group. Sunday is Face Candy with Eyedea (of Eyedea and Abilities). Monday is the Grand Slam for the Soap Boxing Poetry Slam, and Tuesday is B-3 nights which happens to feature Kenny (proprietor of the AQ) on drums. What a gem!
http://artistsquarter.com/

Well that’s all I have room/time for this week. Unfortunately, I missed tonights event with labor historians (including one of my mentors Hy Berman) at 411 main, but look for more upcoming Labor History related events associated with labor history month. While I’m thinking of it, next Wednesday there is a screening of the The Cradle Will Rock at the Merriam Park Library – one of my all time favorite movies. And look for some terrific productions at the History Theatre, and the MN Jewish Theater Company.
http://thefriends.org/untold_stories.html

Alright, that’s really all for this week. Thanks for taking the time to read my message. If you have any suggestions for next week, please let me know. Also, if you feel so inclined, I’d love for you to forward my message to friends you think might be interested. If you’d like to be added or subtracted from my list, just drop me a note. Have a great week, and I’ll talk to you soon…

Joe

Hello again friends,

We’re coming up on one of my favorite weekends of the year in Saint Paul, the spring Art Crawl. Emerson is at my dad’s for the night, so Joanne and I will be hitting the crawl with Harriet in the sling. It’s as close to a date as we’ve had in a while. No surprise, the weather isn’t the most ideal for the crawl, but I’m sure we’ll make do.

Art Crawl…Downtown Edition – Friday through Sunday
The original art crawl concept was born in my favorite part of downtown. This neighborhood has the highest concentration in the nation of artists living and working. Highlights to include at fashion show (7:00 pm) at the Artists Merchantile on 7th Place, live music at the Hat Trick, music and performances at the Black Dog, shows at Nautilus, and don’t miss Barbara Streisand at CAMP, plus wine, cookies and other treats offered by these generous artists.
http://www.stpaulartcrawl.org/

Art Crawl… University Avenue Edition – Friday through Sunday
This neighborhood used to organize its own event in early May. In a merger that is much more exciting to me than the NWA/Delta merger. This rich community of artists will open their doors as a formal part of the Art Crawl this year. If you haven’t visited the Carlton Artist Lofts, seeing that place alone will be worth the trip. There are DJs promised to spin records, and ton of great artists will be opening up their spaces and sharing their artwork.
http://www.stpaulartcrawl.org/

Mom’s the Word at the Lowry Theater – Opens tonight!
There was some discussion in my house about what we needed to do tonight. We decided that Mom’s the Word will run for a while, and we’ll try to catch it soon (maybe next weekend). I’m really excited about this new show from the Actors Theatre, and I am quite confident that it will do well. With a built in crowd of ECFE moms, this thing is almost guaranteed to have a ton of success in downtown Saint Paul. As Mothers’ Day approaches, keep this in mind as a terrific gift idea. The mom in your life can come downtown and make a night of it!
http://www.actorsmn.org/moms.html

Happy Apple at the Artists Quarter – Friday through Sunday
Dave King and the gang have not only had tremendous national success and generally regarded pioneers in Jazz. They also created a form of post-modern free jazz, and become like rock stars. The energy at their shows is amazing, and the crowd is filled with young devotees, and music hipsters. If you haven’t seen this band, you have to check them out, and there is no better venue for them than the AQ.
http://www.artistsquarter.com/

The Mushroom Picker at the History Museum – Saturday
I’ve been meaning to get to this show for months now, and I hope to be able to catch the nap-time performance (1:00 pm) this weekend. My friend and colleague, Patrick Dewayne, put this one-man show together about his grandfather, a WWII Czech-American soldier fighting in the forests of his family’s ancient homeland.
http://events.mnhs.org/calendar/Results.cfm?EventID=3036&CFID=1870646&CFTOKEN=85040266

Art Here event at the MMAA (April in Paris) – Saturday
You know that the MMAA is my favorite museum/venue in Saint Paul. Their Art Here events are these fantastic events that they’ve put together with their exhibit show, live entertainment, films, food, and free booze. What more could a person hope for? This month, they are using the April in Paris theme to show La Vie En Rose, the Academy Award winning film based upon to life of French singer Edith Piaf. Music from Dreamland Faces, and if you haven’t seen the photography show in the exhibit space yet, it is fantastic.
http://mmaa.org/ART_HERE.html

Creepy Karpis Trial at the Landmark Center – Wednesday and Thursday
For those of you who’ve ever been curious about Saint Paul’s 1930’s arrangement with organized crime, you should take a look at this project. A theatrical reenactment of Alvin “Creepy” Karpis is written in part by JP Barone (never seen w/out a pocket square). I’m personally less interested in the story reenactment, than I am about seeing the space come alive as the courthouse building it used to be.
http://www.landmarkcenter.org/

Willie Nelson's 75th Birthday Bash at Big V’s – Wednesday
This calendar listing caught my eye. I recommend regularly checking the calendar over at Big V’s. They always have interesting stuff, and its become the go-to place to see new music. This show with Heathcliff and the 88's plus Aqua City Hotel just looks too interesting to pass up.
http://www.myspace.com/bigvs

Well, thanks for taking the time to read my message again this week. Please send me suggestions and tips. Also, take a minute to checkout the stpaul.gov website. You can go to the calendar, and add your own events to the City’s events calendar (subject to my approval of course, our neighbors across the river had some issues with adult-content). If you’d like to be added, or subtracted from the list, let me know – send me a note.

Have a great weekend!

Joe

Mayors Chris Coleman and RT Rybak announce that both cities will debut Freewheelin, a bike sharing program, during the Republican National Convention on Sept. 1-4. The announcement comes on the cusp of Twin Cities Bike Walk Week, May 12-16, promoting commuting alternatives.
Thanks to Humana, the cities will receive 1,000 bikes for people to use during the convention, of which 75 will remain after the convention. Use of a bike is free of charge at designated Freewheelin bike racks/kiosks throughout the cities. Bike racks are set up at various points, each housing a collection of bikes which are equipped with readers and odometers.
Each rack is accompanied by a kiosk through which people can “check out” a bike. Bike rack security is ensured by only releasing a bike after a program ID card or credit card is inserted into the kiosk. Once the user is finished, they simply return the bike to any Freewheelin rack in the cities. [Watch the Video...]

Almost 200 employees celebrated 25 years or more of service to Saint Paul during ceremonies Tuesday morning marking Public Employee Recognition Week. Four of the employees – William Hansen and Roger Rygwalski in the Parks and Recreation Department; Marcella Schillinger in the Department of Safety and Inspections; and Mary Sonnen in Public Health – received recognition for 40 years of service.

Mayor Chris Coleman applauded the employees, citing their dedication to the City and its residents as the reason government works for the people.

“I am proud of the work the City’s public servants do to meet the multiple demands placed on them,” Mayor Coleman said. “They often work behind the scenes and without thanks, but because of their dedication to serving everyone without prejudice, Saint Paul can claim to be the Most Livable City in America.”

Saint Paul employs about 3,100 people in 17 departments, including police, fire and emergency medical services, emergency management, parks and recreation, safety and inspections, libraries, public works, planning and economic development, financial services, human rights, technology, water, administrative, and the city attorney’s office.
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Councilmembers Russ Stark and Melvin Carter and Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter will join Erik “the Bike Man” Saltvold, founder and CEO of Erik’s Bike Shop; Mark Stutrud, CEO of Summit Brewing, and Anne Hayes, director of parking and mass transit for Traveler’s, to welcome cyclists, bus riders, and walkers into downtown. Bicycle patrol officers from the Saint Paul Police Department also will join the celebration.

Commuter convoys will flow into downtown Saint Paul from around the city, with Erik the Bike Man leading one convoy from across the Mississippi River; Councilmembers Stark and Carter joining another leaving 7:30 a.m. from Hamline Park in Saint Paul’s Midway neighborhood; and members of Mayor Chris Coleman’s staff leading a convoy at 7:20 a.m. from Phalen Boulevard and Maryland Avenue on Saint Paul’s East Side.

Commuters can find posted routes or sign up to lead a convoy from their neighborhood on the Web at www.bikewalkweek.org. On the site, workplaces can compete to have the highest percentages of participating employees and win trophies, and bikers and walkers can join to be eligible to win prizes, including bicycles, gear, and gift certificates.
Festivities in Rice Park, including a free continental breakfast, begin at 6:30 a.m., with speakers giving a special presentation at 8 a.m. and Rich Weiber’s Bike Stunt Show at 7:30 and 8:30 a.m.

Other events are being added regularly for Bike Walk Week. To find out the latest, go to the Bike Walk Week website at www.bikewalkweek.org.
Bike Walk to Work Day is a public, private, and non-profit partnership. Presenting sponsors include Ameriprise, Anoka County TMO, City of Minneapolis, City of Saint Paul, Dero Bike Racks, Downtown Minneapolis TMO, 494 Commuter Services, Hennepin County, Hoigaard’s, Hour Car, Metro Transit, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Penn Cycle, REI, Rich Weiber’s Bicycle Stunt Show, St. Paul Smart Trips (Formerly St. Paul + Midway TMOs), Transit for Livable Communities, and Whole Foods.

Located north of Phalen Boulevard and between Payne Avenue and Arcade Street, Saint Paul’s newest park now has a name: Eastside Heritage Park. The name was selected from dozens of community submissions; the vast majority of suggestions referenced individuals, families, settlers, businesses, or geologic attributes of the area. Eastside Heritage Park pays tribute to all of these themes and anticipates our future.

Noted architect, Dewey Thorbeck, has prepared schematic designs for this beautiful park and trailhead. You are invited to view the plans and meet the design team at an open house on:

Wednesday, May 14 - 6:00 PM
John A. Johnson Elementary School -740 York Avenue – Saint Paul

Mayor Chris Coleman, Councilmember Dan Bostrom, and Council President Kathy Lantry will join representatives from the design team and local advisory group for a brief program at 6:30 PM. Eastside Heritage Park will surely become a highly valued landmark and public space for the Eastside. Come celebrate this important occasion.

Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, Toyota Group Vice President Bob Carter and Minneapolis Park Board President Tom Nordyke will speak about the unique benefits of the partnership. A showcase of six hybrid vehicles, similar to the vehicles each city will be receiving, will be on display during the press conference.

“Saint Paul is a national leader on sustainability, acting locally to reverse the negative impacts on the environment. This partnership clearly demonstrates how the City and corporations can find local solutions to the problems we face,” Mayor Coleman said. “These vehicles will help lay the ground work for future initiatives to improve both the emissions and fuel efficiency of our vehicle fleet.”

The St. Paul Parks & Recreation Department and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will each receive 10 leased Toyota vehicles, six of which are hybrid, and a total of $300,000 over three years. Toyota will receive citywide event sponsorships and the option to place vehicles and promotional materials at these events. Along with both cities, Toyota has an established history of being at the forefront in addressing environmental issues. All vehicles being donated are at or above the competition in terms of pollution emissions and fuel efficiency.

“Toyota is excited about this unique partnership opportunity with Saint Paul and Minneapolis,” said Bob Carter. “This partnership really demonstrates how committed each city is to ‘going green. It gives us the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to the community and to the environment.’”

“Sustainability is a high priority for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board,” explained Minneapolis Park Board President Nordyke. “We are committed to reducing energy use in vehicles and to showcasing best practices. Our partnership with Toyota allows us to do both.”

The event is free and open to the public [Watch the Video...]

Margaret Recreation Center playground is dedicated to Saint Paul Police Sergeant Gerald Vick, killed in the line of duty on May 6, 2005. Sergeant Vick was a dedicated and decorated officer who truly believed that the citizens of Saint Paul deserved a quality of life second to none. Margaret Recreation Center is located at 1109 Margaret Street in Saint Paul.
[Watch the Video...]

If you would like Assistant Chief Matt Bostrom to speak to your group/event about security for the Republican National Convention, please fill out the schedule request form & submit. [Additional info...]