Stuff about Minneapolis

May 23

Help The Families Of Peter Hobart Elementary The St. Paul Fire Department released this photo on twitter today of the area of the gravel landslide at Lilydale Regional Park that killed two little boys from Peter Hobart Elementary in St. Louis Park. If you have kids, and you send them off on a school field trip in the morning, you just assume they’ll come home at the end of the day. The story makes my heart ache… Authorities on Thursday found the body of the second child who was killed. The search for the child resumed at about 9:30 a.m., when the area was no longer muddy, making it easier for rescuers to excavate the body, said St. Paul Assistant Fire Chief Jim Smith. The child, who authorities say was dead when he was recovered, has been identified as 10-year-old Mohamed Fofana, said his uncle Mohamed Bah. The second child killed has been identified as 9-year-old Haysem Sani. Mohamed and Haysem were on a field trip with their fourth grade class looking for fossils at Lilydale Regional Park. Two additional students were injured. Two firefighters were injured during the rescue. One was hit in the head by a rock, and the other injured his back. Both are recovering at home, authorities reported. On Thursday, St. Paul police spokesman Howie Padilla said it’s now believed that the landslide came from above where the students were walking. Authorities initially thought that the ground, which was saturated by persistent rain, gave way from underneath them. via KSTP If you can help, two local companies are trying to raise money for the families… Muddy Paws Cheescake is accepting items for a silent auction to raise money. With the Peter Hobart PTA, we are putting together a silent auction to fundraise money for the families directly affected by the Lilydale tragedy.Stop by with your donation items or baskets between 10am & 2pm through Tues, May 28th. Citizens Independent Bank of St. Louis Park has set up a fund to benefit those affected by Wednesday’s landslide at Lilydale Park. Peter Hobart Student Fund c/o Citizen’s Independent Bank 5000 West 36th Street St. Louis Park, MN 55416

Help The Families Of Peter Hobart Elementary

The St. Paul Fire Department released this photo on twitter today of the area of the gravel landslide at Lilydale Regional Park that killed two little boys from Peter Hobart Elementary in St. Louis Park. If you have kids, and you send them off on a school field trip in the morning, you just assume they’ll come home at the end of the day.

The story makes my heart ache…

Authorities on Thursday found the body of the second child who was killed. The search for the child resumed at about 9:30 a.m., when the area was no longer muddy, making it easier for rescuers to excavate the body, said St. Paul Assistant Fire Chief Jim Smith.

The child, who authorities say was dead when he was recovered, has been identified as 10-year-old Mohamed Fofana, said his uncle Mohamed Bah. The second child killed has been identified as 9-year-old Haysem Sani.

Mohamed and Haysem were on a field trip with their fourth grade class looking for fossils at Lilydale Regional Park. Two additional students were injured.

Two firefighters were injured during the rescue. One was hit in the head by a rock, and the other injured his back. Both are recovering at home, authorities reported.

On Thursday, St. Paul police spokesman Howie Padilla said it’s now believed that the landslide came from above where the students were walking. Authorities initially thought that the ground, which was saturated by persistent rain, gave way from underneath them. via KSTP

If you can help, two local companies are trying to raise money for the families…

Muddy Paws Cheescake is accepting items for a silent auction to raise money.

With the Peter Hobart PTA, we are putting together a silent auction to fundraise money for the families directly affected by the Lilydale tragedy.
Stop by with your donation items or baskets between 10am & 2pm through Tues, May 28th.

Citizens Independent Bank of St. Louis Park has set up a fund to benefit those affected by Wednesday’s landslide at Lilydale Park.

Peter Hobart Student Fund
c/o Citizen’s Independent Bank
5000 West 36th Street
St. Louis Park, MN 55416

Realtor plans to remake Suburban World theater as retail The Suburban World theater, the well-placed, historic, but little-used landmark in Uptown, might get a new occupant. But it might see a bunch of sledgehammers first. The Star Tribune reports that the city’s Heritage Preservation Commission will consider a proposal next month from Realtor Jesse Olson, who wants to “renovate the Granada Theater into a retail store.” Granada was the original name for the theater; it was renamed in 1954. Renovation would include restoration of the exterior and the removal of a kitchen area and the slanted floor. Olson wouldn’t comment further on redevelopment plans. The theater’s historic status has been something of a roadblock for prospective buyers. Photo by Me, article by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Forget when I took this, but the construction you see next to the theater, became the Uptown Apple store.

Realtor plans to remake Suburban World theater as retail

The Suburban World theater, the well-placed, historic, but little-used landmark in Uptown, might get a new occupant. But it might see a bunch of sledgehammers first.

The Star Tribune reports that the city’s Heritage Preservation Commission will consider a proposal next month from Realtor Jesse Olson, who wants to “renovate the Granada Theater into a retail store.” Granada was the original name for the theater; it was renamed in 1954.

Renovation would include restoration of the exterior and the removal of a kitchen area and the slanted floor. Olson wouldn’t comment further on redevelopment plans.

The theater’s historic status has been something of a roadblock for prospective buyers.

Photo by Me, article by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

Forget when I took this, but the construction you see next to the theater, became the Uptown Apple store.

May 22

Child dies in Lilydale Park gravel slide; one still missing One child has died after being “trapped under a big pile of sand” at Lilydale Regional Park in St. Paul during a school field trip Wednesday afternoon. Two other children were taken to Regions Hospital with injuries and a fourth child is still missing, according to St. Paul Fire Department officials. The students were part of two fourth-grade classrooms, with 49 students total, from Peter Hobart Elementary School in St. Louis Park who were on a field trip to the park. St. Paul Fire Department Spokesman Steve Zaccard said the water-saturated soil gave way under the children while they were searching for fossils. The area received about 3.5 inches of rain since Friday. “This is tough on the rescuers,” Zaccard said. “It’s young children just here to have a good time.” Rain continued to fall into the afternoon, prompting the 75 emergency responders to halt the rescue operation. “Now it’s too dangerous to continue even that effort because of the water flowing into the hole” the children were trapped in, Zaccard said. via TwinCities.com So sad, just a heartbreaking day here in the Twin Cities.

Child dies in Lilydale Park gravel slide; one still missing

One child has died after being “trapped under a big pile of sand” at Lilydale Regional Park in St. Paul during a school field trip Wednesday afternoon.

Two other children were taken to Regions Hospital with injuries and a fourth child is still missing, according to St. Paul Fire Department officials.

The students were part of two fourth-grade classrooms, with 49 students total, from Peter Hobart Elementary School in St. Louis Park who were on a field trip to the park.

St. Paul Fire Department Spokesman Steve Zaccard said the water-saturated soil gave way under the children while they were searching for fossils. The area received about 3.5 inches of rain since Friday.

“This is tough on the rescuers,” Zaccard said. “It’s young children just here to have a good time.”

Rain continued to fall into the afternoon, prompting the 75 emergency responders to halt the rescue operation.

“Now it’s too dangerous to continue even that effort because of the water flowing into the hole” the children were trapped in, Zaccard said.

via TwinCities.com

So sad, just a heartbreaking day here in the Twin Cities.

May 20

May 19

Downtown skyline, Minneapolis (1938) via Minnesota Historical Society

Downtown skyline, Minneapolis (1938) via Minnesota Historical Society

May 18

May 17

diligentintelligence asked: getting stuck in mpls after getting SO wasted at a tom petty concert (darn the luck, sitting next to nam vets with killer weed.) going out the wrong side of the target center and walking halfway to bloomington before my drunk self sobered up. sleeping at the park on franklin and 35W... having a guy randomly give me lsd because i was looking haggard and sad... the guy at cheapos records letting me have the p-funk album is was looking at for free, after i told him the story. how is this a ? shrugs

*nods head sympathetically, but in a “right on” sort of way*

Wow.

I don’t know how far you made it, but getting halfway to Bloomington from Target Center is a long ass walk.

Good for you.

losdelfuego asked: Am I crazy, or do the new stadium plans completely block off 5th Street? About :08-:10 into the promo video, you can see some pretty big changes to 5th: instead of curving around the stadium and running parallel to 6th like it does now, it comes to a "T" intersection at what appears to be Kirby Pucket Dr, and just stops there. At about :18, when they show the east side of the stadium, you can see that the I94 exit ramp deviates south along what might be 11th Ave. What will happen to traffic?

YOU my friend, have paid closer attention to the video http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/videos/New-Stadium-Fly-Through/ad405006-7736-460f-82c4-58ea3ee243d3 than I have.

Traffic? I’m not sure yet, but if we all ride our bikes or take public transit, it shouldn’t be a problem. But seriously, if they close off Park and Portland for the new urban park, it could get messy without a solid plan in place.

beckylang asked: What are some landmarks in North Minneapolis? We are making some art at work and want to represent some of the most iconic aspects. Thanks!

Hey Becky! Sorry for my late reply, but here we go…

First off, I’ll tell you about some spots that are “North Minneapolis” but not downtown, or the North Loop. Actual Northside landmarks.

The old North Branch Library at 1834 Emerson Ave N, built in 1893 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12279886@N06/4454563541/

The Broadway Pizza caboose on West Broadway & West River Road
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23711298@N07/2618669276/

Friedman’s Shoe Store on West Broadway & 4th Street
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12279886@N06/4525782107/

The flagpole on Victory Memorial Drive
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwallick/6918460514/

I’m also a fan of the old Mikro Kodesh Synagogue on Oliver & Oak Park Ave N
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12279886@N06/4464217803/in/photostream/

There is also the (old?) Hell’s Angel’s clubhouse at 3234 Washington Ave N near Lowry.

The 1908, Forest Heights Church at 2054 James Ave N
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12279886@N06/4505906840/

Hope this helps!

May 16

Guindon Cartoon, 1977 (image scanned by me)

Guindon Cartoon, 1977 (image scanned by me)