The Gustavus Adolphus building on Lake Street is finally gone. When it was first built, just after the turn of the last century, it was a magnificent structure with a full kitchen and ballroom and theater on the second floor. It was the center of Swedish culture for South Minneapolis, like Dania Hall on Cedar Avenue was a center for Danish activities. Wedding receptions, anniversaries and cultural pageants found a familiar and glorious setting in both buildings. Like Dania Hall, a fire destroyed it. Some mourned the loss. All that history reduced to ashes. But the real loss, of course, are the Scandanavian cultural traditions that have all become Americanized. Fortunately, for those who need a nostalgic remembrance and a taste of Scandinavia, Ingebretson's is just across the street with pickled herring, lefse and wonderful children's books.

Put on your skates and head to the parks

The rink has already had an average of 42 skaters a day.

by Aimee McAdams
published Jan. 05, '09

It’s a cold winter day, snow is falling and vacation is in full swing. Four kids sit in the warming house at the Powderhorn Park ice rink.

They’re bundled in warm coats and scarves, and piles of gloves and hats surround them.

Judging by their flaming red cheeks, they’ve just come in from ice-skating. The warming house attendant has doled out hot cocoa and little bags of popcorn to everyone.

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RNC 8 prosecuted for thinking terroristic thoughts

On Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008, the Ramsey County Sheriff arrested eight young people who had been associated with the Republican National Convention Welcoming Committee.

by Ed Felien
published Jan. 5, '09

On Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008, the Ramsey County Sheriff executed search warrants on three houses in the metro area.  They arrested eight young people who had been associated with the Republican National Convention Welcoming Committee: Luce Guillen-Givens, Max Specktor, Nathanael Secor, Ervy Trimmer, Monica Bicking, Erik Oseland, Robert Czernik and Garrett Fitzgerald. The RNC 8 are charged with Riot in the Second Degree, a felony. 

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Immigrant workers of Minnesota without documents pay more than they get back!

by Heather Fisher
published Jan. 5, '09

Minnesota is divided over whether to censor or to welcome undocumented immigrant workers. Should border controls be strengthened and immigration laws enforced, or should undocumented immigrant workers be offered amnesty and a path to citizenship?

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Pawlenty’s Budget: Shock Doctrine and gangster capitalism

by Ed Felien
published Jan. 5, '09

In order to fully understand what Governor Pawlenty is proposing in his budget, you have to read Naomi Klein’s “Shock Doctrine.”  She details how
fascist governments in Chile and other South American countries, puppet governments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Russia under Yeltsin, Poland under Solidarity and the U. S. government in New Orleans managed to use natural and man-made disasters to institute gangster capitalism.  Natural resources and state industries were sold off at fire sale prices, government functions were outsourced, basic subsidies for poor people were slashed and eliminated, and the rich got much richer and the poor became much poorer.

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Do our kids get soccer fields?

by Shawne Fitzgerald
published Jan. 5, '09

A proposal to build new soccer fields and a covered picnic facility in the northeast corner of Powderhorn Park was announced by Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board staff at a hastily called August meeting after a toddler was shot in a drive-by shooting last summer.

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Neighbors try to save the Pauline Fjelde house

Pauline Fjelde was a seamstress who emigrated from Norway to Minneapolis in 1887.  She and her sister embroidered a Minnesota State flag for the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, which is still a prized possession of the Minnesota Historical Society.

BY THORSTON ERICSSON
published Jan. 5, '09

A group of housing preservationists met early in December to try to save the Pauline Fjelde house, located at 3009 Park Avenue.  They included Bob Roscoe, formerly of the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission, and interested people from across the city.  They proposed to the Housing Committee of CANDO (the Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization) that the house be saved. Although a stucco façade covers the original wood, and additions have made it seem mundane and not unique, the original house was designed by the firm of Boehmme and Cordella...

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Mallard freedom and Cardinal “Cheer” set tone for 09

by John Karrigan

It seems like forever since there has been open water or much of anything happening at the park, but I know that is not the case. I’m sure lots of dogs and dog walkers, skaters and others are enjoying the park and lots of crows are passing by each day, but I have not been there as often as usual.

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