Plan it

BLACK LOVE CELEBRATION FEB. 12
The Black Youth Healing Arts Center (BYHAC) is hosting Black Love: A Celebration of Self, Family and Community on Sunday, Feb. 12 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at 643 Virginia Street. This is a free family friendly event. Meet the BYHAC staff, tour the building, create your own rice therapy bags, make greeting cards and affirmation jars, write your own poetry, or visit the selfie booth for pictures.
T. Mychael Rambo will emcee the event and introduce local talent such as vocalist, Thomasina Petris; award winning poet and St. Paul Central alum, Danez Smith; and rising music talent, Detrell Melodies. Shop the “Ebony Emporium” – local black artists and goods from black businesses will be there with clothing, jewelry, plants, wellness bags, and slices of red velvet cake. BYHAC artist-in-residence, Teneka Graves, will have beautiful handmade wood burned earrings and you can purchase your favorite lipstick from Tameka Jones of Lip Esteem. This event is cosponsored by Guns Down Love Up, Midway Rise Up, Planting People Growing Justice and Love First, who will be giving away will give away joy bags.

‘Springboard on Ice’ rink and winter events IN FEBRUARY
To welcome the new year, Springboard for the Arts created a community ice rink at its site on 262 University Avenue. Springboard will partner with a roster of local organizations and artists for “Springboard on Ice,” featuring a variety of community events, ice-skating workshops, and gatherings. Attend Free Skating Lessons with Brownbody on Sunday, Feb. 12, 1-3:30 p.m. Check out Interactive Art and Activities with Art Shanty Projects on Saturday, Feb. 25 and March 4, 1-3:30 p.m. For a full list of ice-rink events, visit https://springboardforthearts.org/springboard-on-ice/.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: ‘FROGTOWN THEN AND NOW’ MARCH 11
The community is invited to a “then and now” slide show about Frogtown and the Midway area at Rondo Library on Saturday, March 11 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. There will be story-telling and guessing games to go with slides of neighborhood landmarks, celebrities and spaces. This is a free event, hosted by Frogtown Green and orchestrated by Andy Dawkins, former Minnesota State Representative for the area for 15 years, who assembled the show.
“When we did this show the first time, back in January at the Half Time Rec, we had tremendous fun showing old photos of places and signs in Frogtown, along with photos of what’s on each site now,” Dawkins reported. “Here’s another chance to celebrate the neighborhood, both then – and now!” For more information, visit the Frogtown Green website Events page, www.frogtowngreen.com.