It’s always entertaining to guess about the future. What are the trends and movements that will define food, drink, and culture in the next generation? But instead of always asking “what’s next?” perhaps we should be asking “who’s next?” These Minnesotans got in on the ground floor of their industries and movements at a … [ Read more]
G.O.A.T. in MPLS: The two transcendent seasons of Elgin Baylor
July 2, 2019 by
In 1958, the once-proud Minneapolis Lakers, basketball’s original dynasty, the winners of five National Basketball Association championships, had fallen on hard times. The team was on the brink of bankruptcy, had the worst record in basketball, and didn’t even have their own arena. But their reward for falling lower than they’d ever fallen before was … [ Read more]
No Labels, No Limits: Individuals of all ages, shapes, and identities are proving that fitness is for every body
March 26, 2019 by
When she was 9 years old, Molly Lethert was in a snowmobile accident that severed her foot. Doctors were able to reattach it, but the resulting arthritis got worse every year. “Once I had my accident, year after year something got taken away,” Lethert says. “I couldn’t jump, so I couldn’t do basketball. I lost … [ Read more]
From Zero to 629.4: Tackling the North Star Bicycle Race — Part 1
March 22, 2019 by
When I announced to my family in February that I intended to participate in an unsupported, 629.4-mile bike race this September, they started planning my funeral. When I get up in the morning and look in the mirror, I see an oft-unemployed 25-year-old man, roughly 40 pounds overweight, balding and out of breath from climbing up … [ Read more]
Frontside 180: JXTA Arts turning vacant lot into a youth-designed art plaza and skatepark
December 7, 2018 by
At the corner of Emerson and Broadway in North Minneapolis lies a small vacant lot in an otherwise bustling neighborhood. Though it may look empty and idle, the site is actually in the midst of a radical metamorphosis from a gravel lot into a youth-designed art plaza and skatepark. Previously the home of youth arts organization Juxtaposition … [ Read more]
The Mill: Craft beer at Target Field for the Twins home opener
April 3, 2018 by
Though winter apparently will never end, time still moves on. Case in point: the Twins home opener is this Thursday, with a forecasted high of 36 degrees. There’s definite potential to set a record for lowest game day temp, which is currently sitting at 31 degrees in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays in … [ Read more]
Time-Speed-Distance Rallies: A different kind of car race
October 18, 2017 by
It was a 2009 “Cash for Clunkers” trade-in—an old, Dodge Caravan for a brand new, sporty Mini Cooper—that brought Clarence Westberg back to an old love. Rallying, his sport of choice, takes place on scenic backroads, behind the wheel of a car. Unlike in other motorsports though, when you get down to it, the Caravan … [ Read more]
The ‘ramshackle,’ DIY soccer club bringing a new sense of fun to the pitch
July 6, 2017 by
It’s summertime in Minnesota. The sun’s out, the coolers are full, and do-it-yourself season is officially here. The coolest DIY project in the Twin Cities isn’t a deck, or a fire pit, or a brand new man cave. It’s a soccer team called Minneapolis City SC—a self-proclaimed “ramshackle bunch” on a mission to build a … [ Read more]
Golden Rivalries: Gopher football’s most storied trophy games
October 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Autumn in Minnesota. Gold in the changing leaves, gold in the fields and prairies, and of course gold on the gridiron. It’s the time of the year that for autumnal traditions provided by college football at the University of Minnesota: reveling in the camaraderie of tailgating, raking leaves to the rhythm of radio play-by-play, the … [ Read more]
Sepak attack: The sport of takraw is gaining a foothold in Minnesota
September 27, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Thirty people are are dispersed between two nets on a near perfect August night outside Olson Middle School in North Minneapolis. Younger players, roughly between 20 and 40, play at one court, 50-and-60-somethings at the other. The courts are twined-off, the grass worn. Spectators cheer from the sidelines. From a distance, this might seem like … [ Read more]
Forward, forward, jab! Inside the world of competitive gaming
September 27, 2016 by Leave a Comment
A fighter fastens his long red bandana, tightens his leather gloves, and stares down his opponent. As though a Roman sculpture, the man before him is a mountain of muscle, a feral look in his eyes. The fighter wipes sweat from his brow; he has been in this position before. Nerves and sweat conspiring against … [ Read more]
On boards: How a Minnesotan taught the world to water ski
June 1, 2016 by Leave a Comment
The date is Saturday, July 22, 1922. The place is Lake City, Minnesota, on the waters of Lake Pepin, the largest naturally occurring lake on the Mississippi River. The time is 4pm. The scene is set for Lake City native Ralph Samuelson to carve his name into sporting history. Samuelson, who is just one day … [ Read more]
St. Paul’s Field of Dreams: Baseball hopefuls test their mettle at Saints’ open tryouts
May 18, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Every year, the St. Paul Saints hold open tryouts for potential players. Every year, most of them fall short. Every year, they come back. The press release for the May 5th event is literally titled “Fulfill a Dream,” and there is a precedent for fighting the long odds. The Saints’ all-time winningest pitcher, Charlie Ruud, … [ Read more]
Happy 125th anniversary, Itasca State Park!
April 20, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Using the date Minnesota’s oldest state park, Itasca State Park, was established, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ State Parks and Trails division is claiming 2016 as its 125th anniversary. Itasca State Park officially came to be on April 20, 1891, designed to preserve the old growth pine trees that were in danger of being logged. More … [ Read more]
Minnesota Twins announce 2016 Midwest Music Showcase lineup
April 12, 2016 by Leave a Comment
The lineup for the Minnesota Twins’ Midwest Music Showcase is better than ever this year, reports the Star Tribune. Offering performances by Minnesota musicians at Wednesday home games, the series will kick off April 27 with rapper/rocker/wordsmith/part-time preacher Astronautalis. Subsequent weeks will feature (in order) Al Church, Holidae, Sean Anonymous, Bad Bad Hats, the 4onthefloor, Har … [ Read more]
