Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

In her dream, a young girl was walking down Dale Street with her mother, who pushed a stroller. She was reading a poem on the sidewalk. “Look, mama, you can read it both ways,” the girl … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 9/16/21

ANIMATE, is a fictional, eight-scene moving theatrical experience performed on the Como Zoo grounds that repeatedly asks the question: “Does the good of the many supersede the good of the individual?” In an extravaganza that begins with a helicopter landing and ends with a sea lion jumping, audiences travel in small groups throughout the mythical Jackson Kennicott Zoo - to the primate house, the giraffe grotto, the big cat building, polar bears, the tropics, and culminate at the seal and sea lion habitat- to witness the Twin Cities greatest actors explore race and philanthropy through a lens of species preservation and conservation. The host of characters includes primatologists, zoo directors and curators and keepers, elected officials, activists, and more. ANIMATE has one preview, September 16, and opens September 17 for a two-week run, closing September 26. All performances are at 6:30PM. Reservations can be made at www.mixedblood.com

PLAN IT September 2021

Meet police at resource fairMeet the Saint Paul Police Department Community Engagement Specialists at Information and Resource Fairs this month. Learn about crime trents, prevention tips and ongoing … more

9/16/21

Frogtown Art Festival set for Sept. 25

On Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021 the Frogtown Neighborhood Association (FNA) and the Victoria Theater Arts Center (VTAC) will co-host the annual Frogtown Arts Festival. This annual festival celebrates the … more

9/16/21

Ten Thousand Things Artistic director Marcela Lorca said, "This is a very difficult time, but it has required all of us to learn many new things." (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

What is role of artists in community?

Marcela Lorca is the artistic director of Ten Thousand Things (TTT), a theater company whose work has been grounded in practices of inclusion, equity, service and accessibility since in its founding … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 8/12/21

Alan Berks (left) and Leah Cooper (right) are co-artistic directors of Wonderlust Productions, located in Frogtown. Their 2016 play about the experience of adoption has been adapted into graphic novel form. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

In my Heart: the Adoption Story Project

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLINSeven years ago, Wonderlust Productions co-artistic directors Alan Berks of Merriam Park and Leah Cooper began inviting people from the adoption community to share their … more

8/12/21

Como resident and author William Kent Krueger focused on the various relationships in his main character’s early life in this newly released prequel. (Photo by Jan Willms)

Newest Cork O’Connor book coming Aug. 24

By JAN WILLMSFor his 18th novel in the Cork O’Connor series, Como author William Kent Krueger has written a prequel to the adult life of his Irish-Ojibwe private investigator. In … more

By JAN WILLMS | 8/12/21

2021 CHROMA ZONE MIDSUMMER ‘HAPPENING’ EVENT

Discover the people, places, and murals near Raymond and University avenues at a free, outdoor event on July 24. This family-friendly midsummer “happening” will celebrate the 2021 Chroma … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 7/23/21

Frogtown author Kathryn Nuernberger, who teaches creative writing at the University of Minnesota, has written a book that examines how the use of medicines and potions meant to heal were instead attributed to the power of evil, and the healers then accused of being “witches.” The book is titled, “The Witch of Eye.” (Photo submitted)

Women of mystery, power and honesty focus of ‘The Witch of Eye’

Hags, crones, cunning women and witches – terms that have been used throughout the ages to describe women of power, of honesty and mystery. Frogtown author Kathryn Nuernberger, who teaches … more

By JAN WILLMS | 7/23/21

Judy Gibson has lived in the Midway neighborhood for more than 40 years. She has found lasting friendships through the Hamline Midway Elders Knitting and Crochet Group. The group currently meets on Zoom, but hopes to return to in-person meetings in the not-too-distant future. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Hamline Midway Elders knit through pandemic

The Hamline Midway Elders Knitting and Crochet Group is live on Zoom for two hours every Monday afternoon. The 6-8 members who have stuck with it have gotten used to this new kind of knitting … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 6/9/21

Midway resident Susan Gainen is part of Art to Change the World, which will have a pop-up event at Sociable Cider Werks on Aug. 8 from noon to 8 p.m. (Photo submitted)

Midway resident part of Art to Change the World

When Art to Change the World director Barbara Bridges saw all the new construction of apartment buildings going up in her Northeast neighborhood she saw potential art buyers and collectors moving in. … more

6/9/21

Marvin Roger Anderson at the Rondo Commemorative Plaza (on the corner of St. Anthony and Fisk avenues). (Photos by Margie O’Loughlin)

Connecting past, present, future

ReConnect Rondo (RCR) is leading the effort to revitalize St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood. The non-profit organization and its partners propose building a community land bridge that would cap … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 5/12/21

See "Summer of Soul" at an outside event taking place at Como Pavilion on Thursday, May 13. (Photo submitted)

40 years for International Film Festival

In a year that has seen its share of trauma with the ongoing pandemic and the tragedies of George Floyd and Daunte Wright, the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) has reached an … more

By JAN WILLMS | 5/12/21

Chroma Zone returns

Rather than eight days in the fall, this year’s Chroma Zone will kick off in May with a four-day live painting event at Bang Brewing called the Bang It! Mural Meet, curated by Peyton Scott … more

5/12/21

Artwork by Susan Gainen, a resident of the Midway area.

Art to change the world

When Art to Change the World director Barbara Bridges saw all the new construction of apartment buildings going up in her Northeast neighborhood she saw potential art buyers and collectors moving … more

4/14/21

Victoria Theater Arts Center establishes a Community Trauma Response Program

All summer of 2020 Victoria Theater Arts Center (VTAC) made a commitment to the Frogtown and Rondo community to help process the trauma in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and other Black … more

4/14/21

‘Stable Weight: a Memoir of Hunger, Horses, and Hope’

Eating disorders affect every gender, age, race, class, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Longtime Hamline-Midway resident and writer Lisa Whalen knows that only too well. Her debut book was out in … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 3/10/21

LEGENDARY

The whirlwind life of legendary film enthusiast, professor, writer, photographer, filmmaker, and founder of the University Film Society ended Dec. 20 when Al Milgrom, 98, succumbed to a … more

By JAN WILLMS | 2/11/21

ComMUSICation looks ahead to next stage

Youth participating in ComMUSICation programs speak many different languages including Spanish, Hmong, Karen, Oromo, Somali, Thai, and Vietnamese. The common language they all share, besides English, … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 1/14/21

PPGJLI children’s book takes top award in Minnesota Author Project contest

The children’s book, “Justice Makes a Difference: The Story of Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire,” has been selected as the winner in the first annual Minnesota Author Project … more

1/14/21

“Comets are amazing night sky objects to observe. They are relatively rare, and absolutely striking. Comet Neowise, pictured here, was the brightest comet seen from Earth in the last 20 years.” (Photo submitted by Mike Shaw)

In search of dark skies

Between the months of March-September on a clear, moonless night, it’s easy to find astrophotographer Mike Shaw. He will be in his car heading north.In August 2019, he was doing just that. … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 12/9/20