Featured Stories

Community Developers Create Room to Mingle

Gayle Thorsen Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Twin Cities community developers aim to create more public spaces in lower-income neighborhoods as common assets for all to enjoy.

Affordable Housing, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy, Strong Local Economy

Greater East Side, Cedar - Riverside/West Bank, North Side, Nokomis, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown

Ryan Companies' work in DT East includes two office towers (right) for Wells Fargo, courtesy Ryan Co

A Long Way From Surface Parking Lots: Downtown East's Rapid Transformation

Brian Martucci Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Downtown East could soon become the national face of MSP; quite a step up for a neighborhood that barely existed a decade ago.

Affordable Housing, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, Design, High Technology, Nightlife, Regionalism, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

Riverfront/Mill District, Cedar - Riverside/West Bank, Downtown

Legal Marijuana Spurs Entrepreneurialism, Gentrification in Denver

Eric Peterson Tuesday, March 10, 2015

The Mile High City's booming marijuana industry has created and catalyzed thousands of jobs. While its impact rivals that of any single economic development initiative in the city's recent history, there are plenty of challenges and growing pains as well.

Artist Liz Miller's installations explore the beauty in devastation

Nicole Rupersburg Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Minnesota installation artist Liz Miller--her collaboration with other local artists is on view at Public Functionary--"is fascinated with weapons, invasive species, and pattern/ornament/decoration. My installations reference beauty and violence."

Arts and Culture

University, Northeast

The Centennial Chromagraph, fabricated in the DigiFab Lab to celebrate the U of M School of Architecture's history

Why MSP is Leading the New DigiFab (Third Industrial) Revolution

Brian Martucci Tuesday, February 24, 2015

We're experiencing the third industrial revolution in which MSP’s digital fabricators are innovatively building the future, one pixel at a time.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, Emerging Technologies, Emerging Technology, Entrepreneurship, High Technology, Higher Education, Strong Local Economy

University, Midway, Saint Anthony Park, Southwest, Powderhorn, Northeast

An L.A. Native and Her Husband Embrace the Pedal-Powered Lifestyle

Brian Martucci Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Janis LaDouceur relocated to The North in the late 1980s and began a two-decade process of disengaging from car culture.Today, LaDouceur and her husband, Sean Burns, live an almost totally car-free lifestyle.

Coordination/Collaboration, Design, Sustainability, Transportation

University, Warehouse/North Loop

Still from the Coen brothers' film "A Serious Man"

Cultivating a Cinema of The North

Kevin Obsatz Tuesday, February 10, 2015

In this essay, reprinted from MinnesotaPlaylist.com, Kevin Obsatz puts forward bold proposals for how filmmakers based in The North could create a body of signature, lasting work.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Regionalism, Strong Local Economy

10 Independent Bookstores To Get Cozy With This Winter

Gina Dewink Tuesday, February 03, 2015

Searching for a book to get lost in? Ditch your computer and mobile devices, and plan a day trip exploring these distinct and community-minded local bookstores, many of which are celebrating decade birthdays in 2015.

Arts and Culture, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Reuse / Rebuild, Shopping, Strong Local Economy

Macalester - Groveland, Midway, Saint Anthony Park, Lake Street, Southwest, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Summit Hill and Crocus Hill

The Discussion Continues: Still More Reasons Why MSP is Capital of The North

Brian Martucci Tuesday, January 20, 2015

In our follow up to our blockbuster story "Forget Midwest. We Are North," we look at why city leaders continue to believe MSP should be the first non-coastal city that knowledge workers and business leaders think of after Chicago.

Cultivating Youth As Agents of Change Through Urban Agriculture

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Youth programs with a focus on urban agriculture cultivate good health, leadership skills, community development and economic independence.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Green Jobs, Healthcare, Philanthropy, Shopping, Strong Local Economy, Sustainability

Greater East Side, Phillips, North Side, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown, Battle Creek

Mill City Winter Farmers Market, photo courtesy Mill City Times

Local Doesn't End With Summer: Meet 4 Food Entrepreneurs at 5 Winter Markets in MSP

Brian Martucci Tuesday, January 13, 2015

A merry band of farmers market managers and vendors are braving the cold and dark to keep us supplied with locally grown food, locally made food products and locally sourced crafts. Here's where you can find them this winter!

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Shopping, Strong Local Economy, Sustainability

Riverfront/Mill District, Downtown, Southwest, Downtown/Lowertown

Light Blox at work, courtesy Laser Classroom

An (Almost) One-Woman STEM Revolution Brings Photonics to Light

Brian Martucci Tuesday, January 06, 2015

Colette DeHarpporte is on a mission. The CEO of Laser Classroom designs, builds and markets educational light, laser and optics tools for schoolchildren.