Downtown St. Paul Voice Jan 2020 by St. Paul Publishing Co.

Downtown St. Paul

Hip-hop artist is spreading the love Page 9

Sample St. Paul Page 7

Volume 26 | Number 1

Your Community News & Information Source

Red’s Savoy Pizza returns downtown

January 2020

A New Perspective

Amy Johnson Staff Writer

Artists selected to create diverse works for St. Paul City Council Chambers

Reed Daniels

ith the new year comes the continuation of a culinary legacy in downtown St. Paul. Red’s Savoy Pizza is set to open a location in early 2020 in the Treasure Island Center on Wabasha Street. It will be in the former Tim Horton’s space on the ground level. The original Red’s Savoy was at the edge of downtown on East 7th Street and was founded in 1965 by Earl “Red” Schoenheider, who passed away in 2017. Just weeks after his passing, Schoenheider’s family closed that location because the building was not ADA-compliant and required costly reconstruction work. Last April, Reed Daniels purchased the downtown franchise and is now set to open a business of which he has intimate knowledge. Daniels formerly operated his own marketing company, and Red’s Savoy Pizza was his first client. He went on to work Red’s Savoy / Page 3

The new artwork will be displayed with the existing artwork created in the 1930s by artist John Norton, now considered by some to be controversial for its portrayal of ethnic groups. Amy Johnson Staff Writer

he Ramsey County Historical Society has commissioned several artists to create works of art to be displayed in the Ramsey County Courthouse and St. Paul’s City Hall Council Chambers. The new artwork will be displayed with the existing artwork created in the 1930s by Chicago artist John Norton, now considered by some to be controversial for its portrayal of ethnic groups. It will be rotated with the Norton pieces in an attempt to better represent the city’s diversity.

The artists include Marina Castillo, Aaron Johnson-Ortiz, Zamara Cuyun and Gustavo Lira, who are part of the CLUES Latinx Mural Apprenticeship Project, and individual artists Emily Donovan, Adam Swanson and Leah Yellowbird. Four new works of art will be created. Some artists will base their work off themes in the current panels while others will explore new ideas. Last September the Historical Society sent out a call to artists and received 20 applications. A task force consisting of New artwork / Page 2

Station 81 opens at Union Depot Amy Johnson Staff Writer

t’s been a tumultuous few years for restaurants at Union Depot, 214 4th St. E., as three have tried to establish a presence there in the last five years. The latest venture is Station 81, which opened in early December. Owned by the Minneapolis-based nonprofit Appetite for Change, its name is a tribute to the year the depot was founded: 1881. The restaurant offers locally sourced organic food, including a variety of vegan and vegetarian options. As with its predecessors, the restaurant will offer on- and off-site catering. One reason the previous restaurants have had a hard time making a go of it is the complex rent structure. For example, Appetite for Change will pay Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority, which owns the Depot, a 3 percent commission on restaurant sales, 10 percent of on-site catering revenue and 3 percent from off-site events. The former tenant, Kaskaid Hospitality, which opened Union Bar & Grill in July 2018 after the county completed a $2 million renovation project of the space, had a less competitive agreement and paid 7 percent for off-site events. Now Kaskaid Hospitality will sublease the space to Appetite for Change. Instead of a fixed-lease agreement, Appetite for Change will exclusively pay a sales-based commission. Appetite for Change has a mission of strengthening communities by

Station 81 / Page 3

Noecker brings new ideas, enthusiasm to second term Tara Guy Contributor

hen Rebecca Noecker was elected in 2015 to represent Ward 2 on the St. Paul City Council, she received one piece of advice from her colorful predecessor, Dave Thune: “Don’t forget, you only have four years—work as though you’re not guaranteed anything beyond that,

because you’re not.” Noecker took the advice to heart, and since her first day has let no grass grow under her feet. She is on the go from dawn to late night. If you do catch her standing still, she’s likely at the standup workstation next to the window in her office at City Hall. “I like to work at the window with a view of my Ward,” Noecker said during

a recent visit in her office. “It reminds me of who I’m working for.” Re-elected on Nov. 5— winning handily with 62% of the vote—Noecker isn’t resting on her laurels. A quick glance at her schedule reveals that her days are replete with meetings of all kinds, not only in her official capacity with the city council, committees and advisory boards but also the

many social outreach events she routinely hosts. “I try hard to be as accessible as possible to my constituents,” she said. “If you just sit back and wait for people to come to you, you’ll only get a certain kind of people. Some segments of the population are always active, but there’s a whole swath of my constituents that would never dream of coming to City Hall.”

Noecker mingles frequently at events in her ward, hosts her own coffees, happy hours and virtual lunches, and speaks in university classrooms. She also hopes to develop her own “salon” soon to further the community conversations. A special concern is for those who might feel set apart from the larger community. “New residents, immigrants with English as a sec-

ond language and those living in poverty, even though working multiple full-time jobs; it’s so hard for these people to get engaged,” she said. “I try to connect deeply with all of my constituents.” Raised in St. Louis Park by parents who worked as physicians for the Veterans Administration, Noecker was inculcated early with Noecker / Page 4

A rts & Culture

Your community news and information source

New artwork from page 1

seven community members reviewed the applications and nine finalists were identified. These finalists were interviewed by the task force before the final decision was made. Here’s a look at the contributors.

CLUES Latinx Mural Marina Castillo has been a photography contributor for the St. Paul Voice since 2006. Her expertise includes mural and installation projects at the Minnesota History Center and Guadalupe Alternative Programs. She is a collage artist and painter, and has had work exhibited in Minnesota, Iowa and California. She recently had a solo exhibit at the Wilder Foundation. Her work focuses on spiritual healing. Castillo is also a mental healthcare worker. “This is an opportunity to share our story,” said Castillo, who considers it an honor and a blessing to be able to create artwork that represents the Latino community. “When somebody enters those chambers, I want them to say, ‘they look like me.’”

Aaron Johnson-Ortiz lives in St. Paul and is a part of the Chicanx community. A multidisciplinary artist, his work focuses on social justice and movement-building. His “Workers United in Struggle” mural was named best mural by City Pages last year. He currently leads the art department at Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES), Minnesota’s largest Latinx organization. In early November, he opened a new art gallery at CLUES’ St. Paul headquarters, the only nonprofit Latinx art gallery in the state. Gustavo Lira has been a Minnesota muralist for nearly 20 years. Lira is originally from Mexico and was the lead Minnesota-based artist in the creation of “Mosaic of the Americas,” the largest outdoor mosaic mural in the state, located at 31 St. E. and Minnehaha Ave. S. in Minneapolis. A few of his commissions are Seward Co-Op, Plains Art Museum in North Dakota, Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis and La Palma Supermarket in St. Paul.

Zamara Cuyun lives in Minneapolis, and her work explores her indigenous family roots in Guatemala. A painter, she focuses on Maya history and iconography as well as colonization and resistance. Cuyun recently opened a solo exhibit at the Artistry MN gallery in Bloomington. Cuyun said the group has not yet decided on a specific idea for their piece but is focused on the history and contributions of the Latinx community in St. Paul and Minnesota, especially women. “It’s about citizens, residents of this state, community members being able to walk into a civic space and see themselves and their communities accurately reflected in that space,” she said.

Individual artists Emily Donovan lives in St. Paul and studied art history and visual art at the University of Minnesota, with an emphasis on printmaking and painting. Her batik art relies on wax and handmade dyes made from foraged materials, local pigments and natural plants. Donovan was a recipient of Minnesota State Arts Board

Affordable Living Seniors (50 & Older)

Now accepting applications for 1-bedroom incomebased apartments. Our buildings are updated, quiet and in a great neighborhood. • Utilities paid • Elevators • Controlled entries • On bus line

• Pet friendly • On site laundry • Close to shopping

Pet Friendly!

• Resident activities • Beauty salon • Views of the river

Artist Initiative grants in 2014 and 2019, and most recently completed her first artist residency in Cusco, Peru. Her award-winning work is shown nationally in galleries and art centers. Her commissions include works for the Minnesota Vikings Eagan Hotel, the Northeast Minneapolis Library and a high-rise in Taipei, Taiwan. “I’m very excited that work is being done in a public space where policy is being made,” said Donovan. She is focusing on community and urban gardens, and giving voice to indigenous peoples and immigrants. In addition, she plans to mirror the original architecture in the council chambers, which features art deco and motifs. Adam Swanson grew up in Ramsey County and currently lives in Cloquet, Minn. on the Fond du Lac Reservation. A muralist who works closely with city leaders, businesses and neighborhood residents, his commissioned work includes Allete-Minnesota Power, the Superior Hiking Trail, the Minnesota Environmental Protection Agency, Bent Paddle Brewery and murals in Mora, Chisholm, MSP International Airport, Spirit Mountain Grand Chalet in

Duluth and others. He has received grants and artist residencies from organizations in Minnesota and worldwide, including South Africa, the Pacific Islands, Sweden and the Palmer Station in Antarctica. Swanson considers the Ramsey County art project a step forward. “It’s an elegant solution to a difficult problem,” he said. For his own work, he plans to use the industrial themes found in Norton’s original art, as he is interested in alternative and sustainable energy. Leah Yellowbird, a lifelong Minnesota resident, lives and works in Grand Rapids, Minn. She has worked with Native and non-Native communities across the state for her art projects. She creates mixed-media pieces incorporating painting, beadwork, sculpture and fiber art connected to her Anishinaabe heritage. She is also a muralist and has created public art for Grand Rapids Arts, the Grand Rapids Area Library, Bemidji State University and the St. Louis County Government Services Center, and was recently commissioned to create a 50-foot mural for the Blandin Foundation in Grand Rapids. She received Minnesota State

Interested in a fast-paced job with career advancement opportunities? Join the FedEx Ground team as a package handler.

Package Handlers: $16-$18.50 to start

• Multiple pay increases within the first six months of employment • Tuition reimbursement program Weekend & • Career advancement opportunities Overnight Shifts Available! • Weekly paycheck/direct deposit • Must be at least 18 years of age • Must be able to load, unload and sort packages, as well as perform other related duties

For more information, please visit GroundWarehouseJobs.fedex.com

South St. Paul HRA

FedEx Ground is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer (Minorities/ Females/Disability/Veterans) committed to a diverse workforce.

Wishing You Health & Happiness! Let the Back in Balance team help get you back on track to better health. We use the most advanced techniques to diagnose and treat a wide variety of injuries and ailments. Dr. Scott A. Mooring Owner & Clinic Director

Dr. Debby Jerikovsky

Page 2 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - January 2020

Spring installation The result of this project will be original artwork that interprets the same overarching themes in the Norton murals currently on display, while celebrating the people and diversity of St. Paul and Ramsey County. Two new pieces will be displayed with original murals in the council chambers for a period of several months. The city and county will decide on a rotation schedule. In addition, new interpretive panels will give more context to the Norton murals and new pieces. The new art is expected to be completed by April and installed in May. The task force will meet with each artist or team throughout the next few months as they work on their commissions. The artists will be paid $3,000 per piece. The Ramsey County Historical Society will host two community meetings where artists and task force members can share their progress with the public. For meeting times, visit www.rchs.org.

Unbox Your Potential

Full-time & flexible schedules available in some locations.

For more details, call Elena at 651-288-8159

Arts Board Folk and Traditional Arts Grants in 2017 and for 2020, and other fellowships and awards.

Bumper to Bumper Auto Care from Certified Computer Technicians

Family owned & operated All Brands of Tires

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Amex

1247 S. Robert St. • West St. Paul 651-455-9048

The Downtown St. Paul Voice is published monthly and delivered to every apartment, condominium and skyway drop in St. Paul’s historic urban village, as well as other locations throughout downtown St. Paul. Publisher & Editor: Contributors: Tim Spitzack Roger Fuller and Tara Guy Copy Editor: Delivery: Leslie Martin Independent Delivery Service Staff Writers: John E. Ahlstrom, John Molene, Amy Johnson For questions regarding news or advertising, call 651-457-1177

ST. PAUL PUBLISHING COMPANY

1643 So. Robert St., West St. Paul, MN 55118 651-457-1177 | info@stpaulpublishing.com | www.stpaulpublishing.com Downtown St. Paul Voice assumes no responsibility for the opinions expressed by contributors and for the validity of claims or items reported. Copyright Downtown St. Paul Voice 2020. All rights reserved in compliance of Federal Copyright Act of 1978.

B usiness

Your community news and information source

Red’s Savoy from page 1

for the pizza chain, moving all the way up to company president in 2017, then CEO and owner this year. “I immediately fell in love with the product, the family and the stories from our guests,” said Daniels, who helped create programs that spurred growth, including online ordering and a customer rewards program. Today, he is excited to bring Red’s Savoy Pizza back to its roots. “We always planned to get back downtown,” he said. The restaurant will offer its signature ’Sota-Style pizzas, which are thin-crust pizzas loaded with cheese and other toppings and cut in squares. It will also serve appetizers, wings, salads, pastas, beer and wine. The beer will be provided by local breweries and come in 16-ounce cans rather than served on tap. The restaurant will seat around 40. Daniels said they will also offer downtown delivery and provide catering. He expects these services to be a big part of the location’s success. The pizza chain has 18 locations throughout the state, and Daniels has plans to continue expanding. In addition to the downtown store, he’d like to open more in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Plymouth and Chanhassen are targets, and a store in Blaine is currently under construction. In 2011 the chain became a franchise, with each store independently owned and operated. The downtown store is being renovated and is expected to open in late January. For official opening information, visit https://www.facebook.com/SavoyPizza/.

Photo courtesy Union Depot

Station 81 from page 1

using healthy food to bring individuals and families together through a variety of programs. One of their efforts is Kindred Kitchen, a shared commercial kitchen that entrepreneurs can use to build their food businesses such as catering, meal prep services and food trucks.

Appetite for Change works with Northside Economic Opportunity Network to help the businesses with their licensing, permitting and access to capital. Another popular program is Breaking Bread, a community-run café in North Minneapolis

that trains and hires youth from the area. In 2017 the organization received the Bush Prize for Community Innovation. Station 81 will use food grown in gardens owned by Appetite for Change, along with that from growers around the state. Happy hour deals and other meal specials will help keep food affordable. Menu items

include the farm board, a before-dinner platter featuring a selection of local meats and cheeses, smoked almonds and a dried fruit compote for $12.95. Other options include vegan and gluten free three-bean chili for $4.95, and walleye tacos with green cabbage, shredded carrots, pickled red onions, cilantro and spicy aioli for $10.95.

• NY Style Pizza • Hoagies • Salads • Gyros & more... • Gluten FREE crust available • All fresh, local produce & made from scratch

WE DELIVER! DOWNTOWN A free public charter high school in downtown St. Paul providing the highest caliber academic and artistic education.

Learn more at www.spcpa.org

Both Pizza & Ice Cream for Home or Office.

Sun.-Thurs. 11 am-9 pm Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 pm

www.grandolecreamery.com | 750 Grand Ave. • Saint Paul | (651) 293-1655

$9.99

FREE

1 Item Pizza

large salad with purchase of 2 pizzas

Not valid with any other offers. Expires 1/31/20.

3-Course Meal Deal

2-topping pizza, cheese bread and pint of one of 10 flavors of ice cream. Not valid with any other offers. Expires 1/31/20.

Learn new skills. Make media. Share your story. www.summitfuneralandcremation.com

Become a member today. www.summitfuneralandcremation.com

THE MOST AFFORDABLE SERVICES IN THE AREA Cremation packages starting at $995 Serving All Families, Faiths and Cultures Pre-Planning Services

THE MOST AFFORDABLE SERVICES IN THE AREA Visit us at spnn.org or Cremation packages starting at $995 550 Vandalia St Suite 170Serving All Families, Faiths and Cultures Saint Paul, MN 55114 Pre-Planning Services Veteran Discount Find us at www.facebook.com/summitfuneral/

Veteran Discount Find us at www.facebook.com/summitfuneral/ Downtown St. Paul Voice - January 2020 - Page 3

P eople

Your community news and information source

Noecker from page 1

principles of community involvement, watching her parents help build parks, raise money for schools, and help neighbors in need. Adopting this ethos early, at age 12 she organized neighborhood kids into a “good deeds club,” which met regularly to discuss self-improvement and raise social awareness. Her early instinct for activism developed further as a social studies student at Harvard University. Following graduation, Noecker put her sensibilities into action, moving to Baton Rouge, La., to teach middle school in an impoverished school district. It was there she met her future husband, Shane, also a teacher and Minnesota native. Her intuitive understanding of the difference that good government could make in peoples’ lives crystalized when Hurricane Katrina hit. Noecker saw firsthand the devasting effects of bad government rippling out from New Orleans, especially for marginalized populations. After leaving Baton Rouge, the couple lived in India for a year and a half while Noecker worked for the nonprofit Teach for India. A stint in Gulu, Uganda, followed,

where the couple worked with the Justice and Reconciliation Project to promote healing in an area devastated by the depredations of warlords and terror groups over decades. Eventually they returned to Minnesota, where, as Noecker’s husband had kept reminding her while overseas, “things work, the government works, and things get done.” Attracted to the vitality and diversity of the West Side, the couple moved there in 2012. “We fell in love with the West Side,” she said, “its architecture, the views of downtown and the river from the bluffs, the walkability to businesses and parks, the history of the place as the original landing ground of immigrants, including Russian Jews like my ancestors.” She quickly became involved in the community, appointed to a seat on the St. Paul Planning Commission and chairing the West Side Community Organization. Noecker had never held elected office but noted, “I’d always been interested in politics from a distance, watching people come together to figure out how to make the best possible society.”

INDOOR HEATED CLIMATE CONTROLLED

75% OFF

Rebecca Noecker By the time Thune announced he would not seek re-election, Noecker had begun thinking about throwing her hat in the ring. She recalls ruefully, “It was probably the worst possible time in my personal life, with a one-year-old and six-weekold infant, but the timing is never going to be perfect. You just need to go for it. Thankfully, I have a great husband.” She campaigned hard and won the 2015 general election, in a field of six candidates. The children, Whitman and Fitzgerald, are now 6 and 5.

Experienced, professional tax preparation for over half a century...

Hilda E. Mickelson, EA Patrick M. Mikel, EA Timothy J. Wheeler, EA

For any unit 10'x12' or smaller

FREE DISC LOCK WITH ANY RENTAL! New rentals only. Not valid with other offers. Expires 3/31/20.

Mickelson's Tax Service

420 S. Robert St., St. Paul 651-224-4245 hilda@mickelsonstaxservice.com

TAX SERVICES

CLASES GRATIS PARA ADULTOS

SPPS

Varias ubicaciones en St. Paul

GED, Matemáticas, Inglés  IRS problems  Federal and Computación, Habilidades all states Laborales, Preparación para la  Individual and Universidad small business  Certified QuickbooksLas clasesJohn se Stevens, ofrecenEA por la advisor mañana, tarde y noche Stevens Tax &  Estates, trusts, Accounting, Inc. planning Matricúlese el EQUI-TAX lunes y DBA  Free e-filing with miércoles entre las 9-11:30 1870 East 50th St. return prep a.m. y 2-5:30 p.m. Heights Inver Grove  Licensed to practice (Corner of Babcock Trail and 50th St. E.) before the IRS www.equitax.net o visite Llame al 651-290-4822

www.hubbs.spps.org Call 651-773-5000 today for an appointment!

Page 4 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - January 2020

factor to social inequity and the resulting achievement gaps. If funding methods can be identified, she says, “St. Paul would be the first city in the region to have city-wide Pre-K.” Asked what she learned during her first term, Noecker said, “I feel like a different person. The work I do exposes me to new perspectives every day and challenges me to grow as a person. I’ve been inspired by the people I’ve met…working so hard to make things better, whether in their particular corner of the city or at a national or global scale.” Momentarily contemplative while regarding the eclectic ward from her window, she mused, “I really love Ward 2: the West Side, which I love and care about deeply because I feel like it’s often marginalized; West 7th Street, now going through this incredible renaissance while trying not to become gentrified; the Summit Hill area, trying to preserve its character yet remain open to new neighbors, new businesses; and there’s downtown and the river.” Preparing to depart for a city council meeting, Noecker concluded with her trademark energy and enthusiasm, “I work really hard every day to live up to the expectations of my constituents, to get as much as I can done,” she said. “Time is finite. I take nothing for granted. It gets me up very early every morning, excited to get things done.”

Call or stop in today to schedule your appointment

First Month's Rent

1200 North Concord St. • www.minikahda.com Call 651-450-1202

Avowedly non-partisan, Noecker says she carefully examines every issue on its own merits and listens to all sides before making decisions. “I will never be a ‘blue butt sitting in a blue seat’ always opposed to everything the ‘red’ folks propose,” she said. “In local government, the issues are simply not partisan.” Asked if the vitriol in current American politics affects her, Noecker replied, “I’m pretty thick-skinned, I understand that what someone hates is usually only what I

represent in that moment. Negativity directed at public officials goes with the privilege of serving—it’s the price we pay for the honor of being elected. The job is perhaps five percent harshness but 95 percent is this great chance to help people—creating parks, attracting new businesses, passing social justice legislation. The negativity pales in comparison.” However, she believes today’s political venom is unhealthy for society. “I worry about any place where people can’t disagree with civility,” she said. Her stated non-partisanship notwithstanding, the DFL- and labor-endorsed Noecker leans decidedly to the left. “I believe that the role of government is to be on the side of people who need it, to make it easier for regular people struggling to manage difficult lives,” she said. Reflecting on her priorities for her second term, Noecker reaffirmed her commitment to the core issues she cares about, such as safe neighborhoods, affordable housing and economic development, but added that one of her highest priorities is something she’s been quietly working on for two years. “I want to work on something the City has never gotten involved in before now: subsidized pre-K childcare for three- and four-year olds,” she said. She views the lack of pre-K availability as a genuine drag on the economy and a contributing

318 W. Water St., St. Paul 651.227.1549 Mon.-Fri. 8-4 Sat. 8-2 Sun. closed

Bring us one item or a houseful... WE ACCEPT IT ALL! Demolition and Construction Waste | Trash & Lawn Debris Furniture & Appliances | Tires and much more We will drop off a container or dumpster for you and haul it away once it's filled. If you prefer to save money, you can haul your trash to our refuse and recycling station. We accept all items in large or small quantities. We also offer many sizes of roll off containers, from 10 to 40 cubic yards.

Reasonable Rates! Roll Off Boxes for Large Jobs One Time Pickup Available

We Support

Recycling

Haul your own & SAVE!

A rts & Culture

Your community news and information source

The Urban Explorer Exploring our regional amenities Ginny Contreras Sawyer Contributor

St. Paul Curling Club hen the sun starts setting before 5 p.m., and a hat and scarf are musthave accessories rather than fashion statements, I know it’s time to get extra busy and say yes to every dinner or drink invitation and join another committee or book club. For me, hyperactivity, not hibernation, is the only way to get through winter. In the past, ice skating at the many outdoor rinks around St. Paul has buoyed my spirits, and a few years back I took up cross-country skiing. This year, however, with arctic-like conditions arriving before Thanksgiving, I suspected my normal tactics would not suffice and I would need something flashy and new to seduce me out of the house and into the tundra. That’s how I came to find myself on Selby Avenue one dark and cold Sunday evening, next to a long, white building resembling an old German farmhouse. Above the front door, a sign verified my destination: St. Paul Curling Club. It was time for

HANDYMAN

irs es

I do painting, repairs & cleaning of homes and apartments

MR. LARRY FOR HIRE

Window Washing Gutter Cleaning and Repairs

Insured

651-399-4304

a little reconnaissance work. The sport’s popularity has exploded since the 2018 Olympic gold win by the U.S. men’s curling team in Pyeongyang, South Korea. According to Explore Minnesota, St. Paul had the only curling club in the Twin Cities prior to 2010. Now there are eight clubs in the metro area, though St. Paul Curling Club holds title as oldest in the state. At the Selby Avenue location since 1912, its origins date to 1885 when the first curling match in St. Paul was played on the Mississippi River near Raspberry Island. I entered the building and climbed the carpeted stairway to the lobby, while wondering what a 100-plus-yearold curling club would look like. Upstairs, plush, oversized leather furniture was arranged around low coffee tables, with a large, brick fireplace as the centerpiece. I realized the lobby had most definitely been redecorated a few times since 1912. Nearby trophy cases displayed the club’s successes along with countless pictures of men in old-fashioned suits, ties and

Insurance STATE FARM

Stremski Agency 1560 Livingston Ave., Suite 101, West St. Paul

Home, Auto, Business, Financial Services 651-457-6348

overcoats, brooms in hand, posing on a myriad of frozen bodies of water. I love old pictures like that. They send tingles up my spine and, for a few exhilarating seconds, make me feel as if I’ve traveled back to that very moment in time. A few spectators were gathered around a large viewing window that runs the length of the lobby. Inside, not one but eight games were underway. I crossed over to get a better look. Players appeared to range in age from early twenties to late fifties or sixties. This day, nobody was wearing a suit and tie, although a few sported team jackets with embroidered logos. The majority were men but there were also some women. Apparently, curling is an athletic and challenging sport, yet still quite accessible to all age and ability levels. I watched as the “throwers” crouched low and collapsed into controlled lunges. With one hand on the stone, they glided forward and gently released their grip. Their teammates coerced the stone along by scrubbing the ice furiously with their brooms at calculated intervals. I had never seen a proper curling match before and my first thought was that it had a lot in common with the lawn game petanque, or perhaps shuffleboard. After a later internet search, I discovered I was way off base with both

It's NOT too late to make the BEST choice for your child!

Call 651-225-9177 to arrange a tour

St. Paul City School

Pre-K-5: 260 Edmund Ave., St. Paul Grades 6-8: 643 Virginia St., St. Paul Grades 9-12: Rivers Edge Academy Campus, 188 West Plato Blvd., St. Paul www.stpaulcityschool.org

Sweepers work to get their team’s stone inside the tee. comparisons. Curling teams are made up of four players. Each player “shoots” two rocks toward a 12-foot circle called “the house.” After a stone is delivered, the non-throwing players can “sweep” to control or correct the desired speed and distance of a throw. Each game is made up of 10 “ends” (like innings), and a point is scored for each stone that lands closer to “the tee” (like a bullseye) than the opponent’s stone. The last player to throw is called the “skip,” and this is the person who usually calls all the shots.

Players were popping into the lobby between throws for a quick sip of beer—no food or drink is allowed on the ice—and they seemed focused yet relaxed. The atmosphere reminded me of a jovial bowling league. Curious, I continued up to the next floor and discovered the Club’s in-house restaurant—the Firehouse Grille. It’s a beautiful space featuring a high, lofted wood ceiling decorated with strings of white lights, and another fireplace and viewing window. I scanned the menu and chuckled when I spotted a Reuben sandwich, a Reu-

Find your new home

STATE FARM with us! We're

Stremski At Home Agency Apartments 1560 Livingston Ave., with locations throughSuite WestCities St. Paul out 101, the Twin metroHogar area. Call 651-224-1234 or visit Automóvil AtHomeApts.com for Seguro availability ofde anVida apartment or townhome. 651-457-6348

ben burger, and a Stroganoff burger—only in Minnesota! With a $3 dollar pint of Surly Furious in hand, I pulled a chair to the viewing window to enjoy the rest of the match. An hour or so later, with the first matches finished, a flood of players entered the restaurant for postgame festivities. All around me people were sipping beer, munching on food and chatting enthusiastically. Yes, I could see myself doing this during the long, winter months ahead. Hopefully I can find three other people to join my team.

Dry cleaning orders of $15 or more

Insurance FOR RENT

$3.00 Off

Cleaning done on site

651-457-2909

984 So. Smith Ave. - West St. Paul (Smith at Dodd Rd.)

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7-7, Sat 8-4.

Please present coupon with incoming order. Not valid with other offers. Expires 1/31/20.

Camelot Cleaners, 984 So. Smith West St. Paul • 651-457-2909

Equal Housing Opportunity.

A Challenging Education for a Diverse Population

9-12 CAMPUS ON ST. PAUL'S WEST SIDE

Photo by Amy Johnson

• Free public charter school • Grades Pre-K - 12 • Environmental Ed / Experiential Learning High School programs • All day kindergarten • Small class sizes (25 or fewer) • Free busing in St. Paul • Free breakfast & lunch available • Special education services • English language learning services • Multi-lingual staff & teachers • Respectful, safe environment • School culture that emphasizes relationships, community building, leadership and character growth.

INCOME TAXES. DIETING. At least we can make one of these easier.

Richard "Tiger" Schmitt, CPA (Highway 62 & Dodd Road)

Call 651-454-0141

Downtown St. Paul Voice - January 2020 - Page 5

E ducation

Your community news and information source

School Choice time

he school shopping season is here. With registration deadlines approaching, many schools

are hosting open houses and parent information fairs soon. Families have many choices: public, magnet, pa-

rochial or charter. Public schools - Public schools are funded through taxes and are operated by local school districts and a board of education. Each

student is guaranteed enrollment and is assigned a school near where they live. Bussing is free for those outside of walking distance. Minnesota has open enroll-

Educating women to lead and influence.

stkate.edu

ment, which allows families to apply to any school. Families that apply to a school not assigned to them are responsible for their own transportation. When selecting a public school, families may want to consider class sizes, student-teacher ratios, academic progress and extracurricular activities. Magnet schools - A magnet school is part of the public school system but has curriculum with a teaching focus that is used in all classes, such as environmental or STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Families should ask about the school’s focus, transportation options and if there are additional fees. Charter schools - Private groups can get a charter to operate a school that uses alternative teaching methods and innovative curriculum. These schools typically have a smaller student population and a lower student-teacher ratio. They are required by law to have open admission and recruit from all segments of the community. If the school does not meet academic performance requirements, the charter is revoked and the school is closed. Inquire about the teaching

methodology used, how academic progress is measured, if there are any special enrollment requirements or fees and if the site is the school’s permanent location. Parochial schools - Parochial schools are operated by a church or religious organization and have a curriculum that includes religious instruction. Class sizes and student-teacher ratio are usually small but tuition can be high. Parents should ask about tuition, scholarships, transportation, religious requirements or expectations and if there are any additional expenses for uniforms or supplies. School fairs - More than 35 charter schools will be featured at the St. Paul Charter School Fair, held 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Jan. 18 at Wilder Center, 451 Lexington Pkwy. N., St. Paul. For more information, visit www.stpaulcharterschoolfair.org. St. Paul Public Schools is hosting its school choice fair 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25 at Union Depot, 214 E. Fourth St. Paul. For more information, visit www.spps. org/schoolchoice.

Find thepath right path Find the right path Find the right for your child’s PreK - 12+ education. for child’s PreK--12+ 12+education. education. foryour your child’s PreK (ages 4-20) (ages 4-20) (ages 4-20)

35+ 35+

27 years 29 years 27

of high quality, of high quality, schools! tuition free, school tuition free, school choice chartering choice chartering in Minnesota in Minnesota

schools!

St. PaulSt. Paul

Charter School Charter School FairFair We are very excited to see you all We veryexcited excited to see Weare are very to see you you all all at our third Saint Paul at our third Saint Paul at our Fifth Annual Saint PaulFair! Charter School Charter School Fair! Charter School Fair! The fair gives students and families the

Thefair fairgives givesstudents students and families The and families thethe chance to chance to interact with school administrators chance to with interact withadministrators school administrators interact school & teachers, & teachers, ask questions and learn more ask questions and learn more aboutmore the great & teachers, ask questions and learn about innovative the great formats opportunities and opportunities charter about the great and opportunities and innovative formats charter school education school education offers. Meet our community innovative formats charter school education offers. Meet community partners as well! partners asour well! offers. Meet our community partners as well! WHERE: SAINT PAUL COLLEGE

draWiNgS & door PriZES!

WHERE: SAINT PAUL COLLEGE WHERE: Wilder235 Center Marshall Avenue WHEN:WHEN: WHEN: 235 Marshall Avenue Saint Paul, Minnesota 451 Lexington Pkwy SATURDAY draWiNgS Saint Paul, Minnesota N. SATURDAY SATURDAY & door nearest greenline: Western Ave. Saint Paul, Minnesota Jan 27, 2018 greenline: Western Ave. PriZES! Jan 27, 18, 2018 nearest bus stop: Bus 21A Selby Ave./Western Jan. 2020 nearest nearest bus stop: Bus 21A Selby Ave./Western Bus and greenline stops 9 am 12 noon Ave. 9 am 12 noon Ave. at Lexington Pkwy. N. 9 am - 12 noon

info at : www.stpaulcharterschoolfair.org more info more at : www.stpaulcharterschoolfair.org Page 6 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - January 2020

S ample St. Paul

Fitzgerald Theater

10 E. Exchange St. St. Paul 651-290-1200 https://thefitzgerald theater.com

National Geographic Live, 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12. Dr. Kara Cooney, professor of Egyptology, explores the reigns of powerful ancient queens. $25-$45.

History Center 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-259-3000 www.mnhs.org

“First Avenue Stories of Minnesota’s Mainroom,” through May 3, 2020. Since 1970, First Avenue & 7th St. Entry have been at the heart of the Minnesota music scene. This exhibit celebrates the musicians, employees and regulars who have called First Avenue their rock ‘n’ roll home. Museum tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students, and $6 for children ages five to 17. Free on Tuesdays, 3-8 p.m. Host Ryan Cameron of Let It Be Records will host Music History Trivia, 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7. The exhibit “Art From the Edge of the Boreal Forest: Reflecting Biodiversity” opens 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18 at the James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave., and continues through June 21. Victorian Superstitions, 7-8:15 p.m. and 8:30-9:45 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10. Visit the Alexander Ramsey House, 265 S. Exchange St., to explore the world of Victorian superstitions. $11-12. Master of Illusion, 7-8 p.m., 8-9 p.m. and 9-10 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10 and Saturday, Jan. 11. Visit the James J. Hill House for a re-enactment of a 1920s magician act. $18-$20. Dakota and Ojibwe Winter Sky Family Day, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11. Join educators from the Native Sky-

watchers program to learn about Dakota and Ojibwe star maps and constellation guides. $6-$12. Evolution of the Russian Army, 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 14. Dr. Bruce Menning, author of the upcoming book “Russian Army and First World War,” will discuss the turmoil of WWI as it led to WWII. The Capitol Art and Artists Tour will take place at the Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1-2:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18. $8-$10. VocalEssence’s “Together We Sing” Festival will take place 1-5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18. The MLK Jr. Community Day will take place 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday, Jan. 20. $6-$12. Angels and Madams, 7-8:15 p.m. and 8:30-9:45 p.m., Friday, Jan. 24. Visit the Alexander Ramsey House for a tour exploring the dark secrets of the capitol city. $11-$12. Winter on the Hill, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25. Visit the James J. Hill House for a look into Minnesota’s wintry past. $6-$10.

Landmark Center

75 W. 5th St., St. Paul 651-292-3225 www.landmarkcenter.org

The Minnesota Boychoir will perform its Winter Concert at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 5. Urban Expedition: Germany, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12. Music, dance and crafts that highlight the culture and traditions of Germany. Free. The St. Paul Civic Symphony will perform “Hot & Cool Classics” celebrating the 2020 St. Paul Winter Carnival from 2-3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 26. Courtroom concerts: Julia and Irina Elkina will perform classical pieces, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9.

Your community news and information source

The Artaria String Quartet will perform noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 16. Two pianists, an oboist and a bassoonist will perform noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 23.

Ordway Center 345 Washington St. St. Paul 651-224-4222 www.ordway.org

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra will perform Mozart’s 40th Symphony, 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10, Saturday, Jan. 11 and 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12. Artistic Partner Pekka Kuusisto collaborates with composer Nico Muhly for new interpretations of Mozart. Jan. 10-11 shows are held in the Ordway Concert Hall in downtown St. Paul. The Jan. 12 show is held in Benson Great Hall in Arden Hills. $11-$50.

“Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo” returns to the Xcel Center Jan. 24-25. exhibition that has drawn 47 million people.

RiverCentre

175 West Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-265-4800 www.rivercentre.org

Twin Cities Bridal Show, noon-4 p.m., Sunday, Jan.

26. General admission: $15. General admission and fashion show: $20.

Xcel Center

199 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-726-8240 www.xcelenergycenter.com

Oprah’s 2020 Vision,

9 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 11. WW presents “Oprah’s 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus,” and a special interview with Tina Fey. $96.50-$289.50. “Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo,” 7:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 25. $12-$81.

The orchestra will also present Northside Celebration, 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 24. This concert brings the spirit of the North Minneapolis community to the stage. $12$50. Minnesota Opera presents “Flight,” 7:30 p.m., Jan. 25, 28 and 30; 8 p.m., Feb. 1; 2 p.m., Feb. 2. Jonathan Dove’s opera “Flight” explores the human connection through the story of eight strangers stranded overnight at an airport. To order tickets, visit https://my.mnopera. org/flight/739.

Palace Theatre

17 W. 7th Place, St. Paul 612-338-8388 www.palacestpaul.com

Folk duo Mandolin Orange will perform 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 30. $27.50-$50.

Science Museum of Minnesota 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-221-9444 www.smm.org

“Body Worlds RX,” through Jan. 5, 2020. Explore the human body

Hot Diggity Dog! Grab your favorite pooch and join us on Saturday, February 1 when Union Depot transforms into Doggie Depot. There will be a doggie marketplace, adoptable rescue dogs, doga (dog yoga) and, of course, cute pups everywhere. We’ll even be crowning this year’s St. Paul Winter Carnival Canine King and Queen. It’s a fun, fur-filled day you won’t want to miss. Hosted by:

Sponsored by:

uniondepot.org/doggiedepot

Downtown St. Paul Voice - January 2020 - Page 7

N ews Briefs

Your community news and information source

{ THE FULLER FILES } Coming and going Capitol River Council/ District 17 has appointed Will Travis to serve as treasurer. He will fill the unexpired term of Vicki Plaistow, who resigned. Travis also serves on the Skyway Governance Committee. The trustees of the James J. Hill Center are planning to sell the building, located next to the St. Paul Public Library. They said maintenance costs of the building negatively affect the center’s $15 million endowment fund. The building was constructed in 1921 as a reference library for business. The library closed this summer. The Winter Carnival ice

carvings will return to Rice Park after an absence last year due to the reconstruction project of the park. The Wells Fargo WinterSkate, which has been held next to Rice Park since 2005, has been moved from Landmark Plaza to the infield of CHS field. The vacated space at Landmark Plaza will be available for ice carvings. In addition to WinterSkate, CHS field also houses the Securian Financial SuperSlide, which was introduced in 2018 during Super Bowl festivities. The Opportunity Center of the Dorothy Day Center has opened. It is part of a $100 million project of Catholic Charities to serve the homeless. The Richard

by Roger Fuller

M. Schulze Opportunity Center, 422 Dorothy Day Pl., will provide permanent housing for 370 people, and offer a cafeteria, hair salon, computer room and storage cabinets. The Opportunity Center is across the street from Higher Ground, which has 356 beds to provide emergency shelter. The Fairview Health Services board of directors is considering closing St. Joseph’s Hospital in downtown St. Paul. The hospital, founded in 1853 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, was part of the HealthEast system until it merged with the Minneapolis-based Fairview system two years ago. Shortly afterwards the

{ CALENDAR OF EVENTS } St. Paul Farmers’ Market will feature pop-up kitchens where a local chef will prepare a few dishes on Saturday mornings at the winter market, located at Market House at Fifth and Wall St. The market and NO Yoga center are planning to hold a “snowga,” yoga in the snow, in the latter part of January. Black Dog Café, 308 E. Prince St., will host an Early Safe New Year’s Eve Party 5:30-9 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 31. Jiselle McCullum will perform on Friday, Jan. 3. Amsterdam Bar and Hall, Sixth and Wabasha, will present Cold Sweat on Jan. 2; The Vintagers on Jan. 3; Noptober Rust on Jan. 4; Featherbed on Jan. 8; Half Moon Run with Taylor Janzen on Jan. 23; Poppy on Jan. 30. Lowertown First Friday will feature works by local artists on Jan. 3 at Northern Warehouse, AZ Gallery, Lowertown Underground

Gallery, Show Gallery, 333 Gallery, Handsome Hog, Octo Fishbar and Birch’s Lowertown. Books and Bars, 6:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 6. The group will discuss “Climate Justice” by Mary Robinson at Urban Growler, 2325 Endicott St. Coffee Concert, noon, Wednesday, Jan. 8. Trio Bella will perform at the St. Paul Conservatory of Music, 1524 Summit Ave. New Lute Café will present “The Three Amigos Ride Again” at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 16. The Chamber Music Academy Concert will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18. Fire and Ice art display, Jan. 9-Feb. 23. The AZ Gallery, 308 Prince St., will present the “Fire and Ice” art show, based on the Winter Carnival. Historic Mounds Theatre, 1029 Hudson Rd., will present “A Night of Clean

Comedy” with Brandon Young and Dan Boblitz, Jr., at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9. Live Pro Wrestling will be held 7-9:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11. “Burlesque Battle of the Stars: Trek vs. Wars, Search for the Jedi” will be held 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25. $18-$35. History Revealed will present “Moving Up, Moving Out” with Historian Will Cooley at 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9 at East Side Freedom Library, 1105 Greenbrier St. George Latimer Central Library Book Club will discuss “The First Lady” by James Patterson at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 9. The History Book Club will discuss “Desk 88” by Sherrod Brown at 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 23. The library is located at 90 W. Fourth St. Schubert Club will present concerts featuring Julia and Irina Elkina at noon, Thursday, Jan. 9 at the Landmark Center, 75 W. Fifth St.

maternity section of St. Joseph’s was closed. The board is also reviewing the fate of the Bethesda Rehabilitation Hospital and the Bethesda Family Medicine Clinic located near the State Capitol.

Variance for Xcel banner Capitol River Council/ District 17 voted to support a variance request which would permit a 2,900-square-foot banner to be displayed at the Xcel Energy Center for three years. A variance is required because temporary banners are limited to 120-square-feet and 120 days in duration. The proposed banner is the result of a partnership between Apple, the Xcel Center and the Minnesota Wild Hockey

Artaria String Quartet will perform at noon, Thursday, Jan. 16, and Christopher Atzinger, Merilee Klemp, Laurie Merz and Mimi Tung at noon, Thursday, Jan. 23. Unsung Heroes will be presented at 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11 at Underground Music Café, 1579 Hamline Ave. N. Bluegrass Showcase with Sarah Cayley will be presented at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 28. Zeitgeist will present “The Blue in the Distance” at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11 and 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12 at Studio Z, 275 E. 4th St. It features work by Scott L. Miller, an Avant Garde composer known for his electroacoustic chamber music. The crowning ceremony of the St. Paul Winter Carnival senior royalty will be held at 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11 at TST Ideal Hall, 1494 Dale St. The senior king, queen and members of the court will be honored. Ballet, noon, Tuesday, Jan. 14. Dancers from Ballet

team. The 58-foot-high by 50-foot-wide banner would face West Seventh Street, at the southwest corner of the arena and be used primarily to promote the hockey team and events at the Xcel Center.

Commercial space declines

on the competitive market, vacancy rates in the Class A buildings remained at 19%, Class B rates increased from 20% to 27%, and vacancy rates in Class C buildings declined from 21% to 9.9%.

Cheaper trash rates in St. Paul

The amount of commercial rental space in downtown has declined from 17.4 million square feet in 2010 to 15.4 million in 2019. The decline is due to conversion of office space to residential uses in several downtown buildings. In downtown, 32% of the space is government, 20% is owneroccupied and 48% is on the competitive market. Of the 7.4 million square feet

As a result of the November vote on the highly contentious issue of how trash pick-up is conducted in the city, the St. Paul City Council has reduced rates for trash service by $1 a month. The city had tried to save money by negotiating with trash haulers to allow tenants of triplex and fourplex units to share a cart, and to give townhome owners an optout option. Both requests were denied.

Co. Laboratory will perform excerpts from the company repertoire at Landmark Center, 75 W. 5th St. Union Depot will conduct hour-long tours at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 14 and 28. Yoga classes will be held at 5:30 p.m., Mondays; noon, Tuesdays; 9 a.m., Saturdays. Subtext Book Store, 6 W. 5th St., will present Donna Isaac, author of “The Vision of Persistence” on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Author Rachael Jones will appear on Thursday, Jan. 30. East Side Freedom Library, 1105 Greenbrier St., will host “From the Monkey Mountains: Listening Parties” with the Bakken Trio and Z Puppets Rosenschnoz, at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 15. The film “I Am” by Tom Shadyac will be shown at 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 16. “Star-Lite Training: Learning Strategies for Trauma Awareness” will be held at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 16. The Baroque Room,

275 E. 4th St., will present “North and South Meet: Two Hemispheres Unite” at noon, Friday, Jan. 17. Flying Forms will present “Songs of My Youth: Suzuki Baroque” at 5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18. The Lunchtime Concert Series will feature the Lux String Quartet and Lux Aeterna at noon, Friday, Jan. 24 and 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25. Penumbra Theatre, 270 Kent St., will present “Reel Talk: I Am Not Your Negro” at 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 20. It is based on works by James Baldwin and features Samuel L. Jackson as narrator. Minnesota Museum of American Art, 4th and Robert, is presenting “Sherin Guircuis: Here I Have Returned” through Feb. 23. Guircuis has created an art installation of hand-cut works of paper and sculpture inspired by Egyptian feminist leader Doria Shafit. The exhibit “History is Not Here: Art and the Arab Imaginary” will close Jan. 5.

We Put the Care Back into Car Care TRANSMISSION REBUILD

$150 OFF

1571 S. Robert St. West St. Paul

Valid at AAMCO of West St. Paul through 1/31/20. Coupon must be presented at vehicle drop off. One coupon per vehicle. Not combined with other offers or discount. See your participating dealer for details.

Schedule your appointment today: 651-455-1588 Locally owned & operated. Let us help! Page 8 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - January 2020

FREE VEHICLE CHECK

Valid at AAMCO of West St. Paul through 1/31/20. Coupon must be presented at vehicle drop off. One coupon per vehicle. Not combined with other offers or discount. Includes road test, diagnostic scan, fluid checks and visual inspection on the hoist. See your participating dealer for details. Coupon must be presented at the start of service.

10% OFF ANY SERVICE* *Maximum discount $100. Valid at AAMCO of West St. Paul through 1/31/20. Excludes transmission rebuild/replacement. Must present this ad at vehicle drop off. One coupon per vehicle. Not combined with other offers or discount. Includes road test, diagnostic scan, fluid checks and visual inspection on the hoist. See your participating dealer for details.

Transmission Repair | Brake Repair Service | Car Tune-Up 4WD Service | Exhaust Services | Check Engine Light

P eople Hip-hop artist Desdamona working to spread the love

Your community news and information source

Nigel Parry Contributor

n recent years, internationally acclaimed artist and Lowertown resident Desdamona has been working to inspire the next generation of poets and hip-hop and spoken-word artists by sharing her artform in a variety of settings, from schools to prisons. “I do a lot of teaching,” said Desdamona, who is a vocal promoter of her neighborhood. “I work with a couple of organizations that bring artists into community situations.” Life as an independent artist can be a challenge, but she’s persevered for more than two decades. She released her first album, “The Ledge,” in 2005, and her second, “The Source,” in 2007. That one reached number 10 on the hip-hop charts. It was recorded at Fuzzy Slippers studio, a record label based at Union Depot until 2012. The studio also cut many other definitive recordings for regional independent artists, including the 100-voice-strong Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir. Desdamona’s 2009 spoken-word album “Inkling” was also recorded there. Desdamona frequently collaborates with Twin Cities beatboxer Carnage the Executioner. On “The Source,” the duo performed the first track, “Infinity.” In 2005,

they formed Ill Chemistry and were noted as a rising hip-hop group at the 2007 Minnesota Music Awards, releasing a self-titled album in 2012. “The Source’s” politically insightful, smokilydelivered lyrics and groove did not escape the notice of the local music scene— which had already awarded Desdamona five consecutive Minnesota Music Awards for “Best Spoken Word Artist”—or hip-hop fans around the world. The album spurred a small revolution with its spoken word poem “Too Big For My Skin.” It went viral and became a rallying cry for an international movement that decries body-shaming and promotes positive images of women in the media. In the song, her mother says: Tell them, a body, just can’t hold all this beauty Tell them, they only wish they had hills and valleys like the Earth They can criticize, but they will never give birth to the love that rests in your breast They will never see the life in your hands And you can never, expect them to understand Too big for your skin she says, too big for this Earth Too big for anyone to ever to determine your worth… Desdamona is cofounder of the B-Girl Be festival, the first arts festival in the world

Postscript Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com

with them and imagine I am a much younger person than I actually am. Yesterday, we stopped at the local greenhouse in the small town near their cabin. It was unbelievably cold. I don’t know why I couldn’t believe it; I grew up in the cold and was raised with the idea that extreme cold was a

Desdamona is currently planning a follow-up to the album. “It’s going to be a kind of part two to ‘No Man’s Land,’” she said. “I’ve been writing some poetry and have a number of concepts and songs floating around my head and on my computer. The second project will also feature women artists, not just from the Twin Cities but from around the world.” In a nod to the first album’s science fiction component, Desdamona laughs as she wonders aloud whether the second album “should be set in the future or if I should take it off the earth entirely.” Desdamona has performed as near as Mears Park and as far away as France and Germany, and has opened for some of America’s most distinguished hip-hop, soul, R&B and funk artists, including Wyclef Jean, GURU, Bahamadia, Zap Mama, Black Uhuru/Sly & Robbie, Saul Williams, Ursula Rucker and KRS ONE, as well as many local artists, including Brother Ali. When not on the road, she enjoys life in Lowertown. Born in Mount Pleasant, Iowa and a resident of the Twin Cities since 1995, she moved to the Crane-Ordway building in 2008. “Initially it was about the building, the apartment layout,” she said. “I’d been to Lowertown before—to the

Photo by Justin Hedstrom

Desdamona St. Paul Farmers’ Market, the Black Dog Cafe, and other places—but it was only after I had moved here that I found out how amazing the neighborhood was.” Desdamona repeatedly mentioned the open and welcoming nature of people in the neighborhood. “I’d lived all over the Twin Cities metro area and suburbs but this was the first time I felt such a sense of community,” she said. “It’s a small town inside a larger city, and there’s a different thing happening here. Walking into a cafe, everyone who lives here is sitting around a big table and just chatting. There’re people you recognize. (Artist) Ta-coumba

Aiken lives down the street, and there’s so many artists in the neighborhood. It just felt so amazing. I had never experienced that living anywhere else in the Twin Cities.” The neighborhood, she said, has taught her to focus more on relationships. “Lowertown is a reminder to be social,” she said. “Don’t be in a rush to be anywhere and don’t be in such a rush that you haven’t got time to stop and talk. I always leave half an hour earlier to get to places because I know I’m going to meet people on the way.” Desdamona’s music can be found at desdamona.bandcamp.com.

SPV-MammaJan2020V-Eng.qxp_Layou

signpost of Christmas and a litmus test for true Christmas spirit. But the truth is, I haven’t lived in a very cold place for a while and the cold stole the breath out of me. The greenhouse was a bit out of our way, but my mother explained, “I like to support them, they put up such nice floral arrangements in the summer.” The shop was surrounded by welcoming signs and Christmas trees propped up against giant bags of earth, waiting for spring. Inside it was warm and smelled of soil and cinnamon. As my parents were in the greenhouse, bundling up the poinsettia for the drive home, I warmed the car and looked across the street at a mobile home that was a little worse for wear. The yard was piled high with stuff, now half buried in the snow. As I waited, the door flew open,

accompanied by a string of expletives. A man about my age was following a younger man out of the house, screaming at him, yelling terrible things. I watched as the young man— who was wearing the beginning of a thin beard and a winter jacket—was chased out of the house and began walking down the country road alone. Minutes later, my parents in the car, we were driving home on the road that leads to the greenhouse when we saw the young man, walking. It was several miles to town. “Should we stop, dad?” I asked. My dad was silent. “It’s hard to know what to do,” my mom said, quietly. The young man seems appropriately dressed for the weather. He is walking down the road in a deliberate fashion, as though he knows where he was going—I say

all this to myself because I know I won’t stop. I know I won’t take a chance and put this stranger in the car with my eighty-year-old parents and get involved in something that I don’t know the first thing about. We drive by. Snug inside the car, my mother holds the small poinsettia in her lap. I wonder what that young man’s Christmas will be like and I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do, in this crowded time of year, with all the emotions that bump against each other. I don’t know how to sort out the tangled strands of joy and sorrow that run through me. Sitting with my happy, healthy parents, I am quiet as I watch the young man, walking alone down the road on this bright cold day. Till next time.

Must close February 22!

Michelle Barber, Kersten Rodau, Therese Walth

Christmas at the Greenhouse It is the tender cusp of Christmas. It is that time when emotions run close to the overfill point, when sentimentality and anger and depression and euphoria mix freely together, with not enough space between them to tell the difference from one moment to the next. I am visiting my parents— and of course this does not help. My parents are doing well (thank you for asking). They are in their eighties now, still living in their dream cabin in the woods and, although I know they are growing older, the signs are so incremental and their attitude so upbeat, it is easy to deny the passage of time when I am

dedicated to the contributions of women in hip-hop and unashamedly celebrating hip-hop’s girl power in every discipline, including video, photography, painting, sculpture and textiles— as well as live performances. On her 2016 album, “No Man’s Land,” Desdamona invited fellow female artists to collaborate in a project imagining an alternate reality in which woman were the dominant force in hip-hop music. “It was set in a kind of parallel universe where that reversal is never articulated explicitly but that’s clearly what’s going on,” she said. “What’s left is the question: ‘What would women have to say in that reality?’” Reviler, a Twin Citiesbased online music site that just celebrated its first decade, reviewed the album and offered this praise: “Desdamona was all about smashing the patriarchy rule of hip-hop ever since she started… All this time, she proved a point, whether you took stock in that belief or not; she is equal or better than them. You as a listener might tire of listening to her say it over and over, but Des says it to suspend or delete the belief from your mind state that there’s a separate category for emcees of different genders. It’s a sentiment echoed by Jean Grae, Psalm One, Apani and countless others who operate in a field dominated by men.”

952.934.1525 800.362.3515 ChanhassenDT.com

Downtown St. Paul Voice - January 2020 - Page 9

N ews Briefs

Your community news and information source

{ VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES } Neighborhood House in St. Paul is looking for volunteers to assist in the food shelf, with tutoring, youth services and other areas. For more information, contact Vanessa Edwards at 651-789-2524 or vedwards@neighb.org. Neighbors, Inc., a social service agency serving northern Dakota County, has a number of volunteer opportunities to assist local residents, including work with the food shelf and thrift store. For more information, contact Jenny at 651-2721133 or volunteer@neighborsmn.org. DARTS, a nonprofit organization serving seniors in Dakota County, offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for all ages. To volunteer, contact Angela Liedke at 651-234-2254, angela.liedke@darts1. org or visit www.darts1.org/volunteer. Dakota County offers volunteer positions in community corrections, environmental resources, the Historical Society, library, parks, public health, the sheriff’s office and social services. For more information, call 651-438-4435 or visit www. co.dakota.mn.us/Government/Jobs/Volunteering/Pages/default.aspx Dodge Nature Center, a nonprofit environmental education center in West St. Paul, is seeking volunteers age 16 and over to assist with community events, land management and environmental education. For more information, call 651-455-4531 or visit www.dodgenaturecenter.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for men, especially Latinos, to mentor boys ages 7-12 in St. Paul. Volunteers are asked to commit just a few hours a month. To volunteer, call 651-789-2400 or visit www. bigstwincities.org. CommonBond Communities seeks volunteers to assist children and teens with their academic skills, homework and discovering post-secondary school and career opportunities. For more information, visit commonbond.org/volunteer or contact volunteerservices@commonbond.org or 651-290-6226. Cerenity Senior Care–Humboldt is seeking volunteers to transport residents to activities. It also needs Spanish-speaking volunteers to assist with one-onone visits. Volunteers may work weekly, monthly or at a special event. Located on the West Side, the Cerenity Residence at 514 Humboldt provides assisted living, memory care and transitional care, and the Cerenity Care Center at 512 Humboldt provides nursing care. To volunteer, contact 651-220-1789, HumboldtVolunteer@bhshealth.org, or visit www. cerenityseniorcare.org/volunteer. St. Paul Public Schools is seeking volunteer tutors to assist students one-on-one or in small groups. Flexible day, evening or weekend hours. To volunteer, contact Jyni Koschak at 952-945-4162 or jkoschak@ voamn.org.

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon needs volunteers to assist the families of deployed military members with household chores, grocery shopping, transportation to medical appointments, etc. To volunteer or for more details, contact yellowribbon@wspmn.gov or call Jan at 651-457-3541. Volunteers of America is looking for volunteers age 55 and over to assist children who are struggling with homework and reading. Time commitment ranges from three to 12 hours a week. To volunteer or receive more information, contact Jyni Koschak at 952-945-4162 or jkoschak@voamn. org. Minnesota Reading, Minnesota Math Corps is seeking full- and part-time tutors to serve in St. Paul public schools during the school year. Volunteers earn a biweekly living allowance of $526 (full-time) and an education award of up to $4,200 to help pay for education. Full-time tutors may also receive health insurance. For more information or to apply, visit visit www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org, www. MinnesotaMathCorps.org, or contact 866859-2825. Rebuilding Together Twin Cities is looking for Safe at Home volunteers to provide home safety and accessibility modifications for low-income older adult or disabled homeowners in St. Paul and

Dakota County. For more information, call 651-776-4273, email volunteerservices@rebuildingtogether-twincities.org. or visit http://rebuildingtogether-twincities.org. St. Joseph Hospital in St. Paul is looking for volunteers to escort patients as they discharge from the hospital. Flexible shifts, free parking and meal vouchers offered. Contact Michele Sahar at 651-232-3756 or MLSahar@healtheast.org. Ramsey County Community Human Services has volunteer opportunities for people age 16 and older. For more information, contact 651-266-4090 or humanservicesvolunteer@co.ramsey.mn.us. Science Museum of Minnesota is seeking volunteers to assist with visitor services and exhibits. Apply at smm.org/volunteer or call 651-221-9453. YMCA in West St. Paul - The YMCA offers several volunteer opportunities, including youth sports coaches, member services and Kids Stuff staff. For more information, call 651-457-0048 or visit www.ymcamn.org/weststpaul.

The World is a Great Big Place We proudly cover just a tiny portion of it. Community news specifically for community-minded people in... • Downtown St. Paul • The West Side • West St. Paul • South St. Paul • Sunfish Lake • Lilydale • Mendota Heights

To submit news or advertising to reach 37,500 homes in the greater St. Paul area and the Latino market of the Twin Cities, call 651-457-1177. Check us out at www.stpaulpublishing.com. Page 10 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - January 2020

Downtown St. Paul Voice - January 2020 - Page 11

SANDWICHES BURGERS PIZZA ENTREES & MORE

Help with your heating bills?

Help yourself, Help your friends, Help your neighbors.

Delicious, Affordable & Close to Home

WEEKEND BREAKFAST Saturday-Sunday starting at 8 am

Happy New Beer!

“Typical household grant averaged $400 last year!”

Sorry, we're just a little excited about our new seasonal beers on tap. Call your friends and join us. HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS 2:30-6:30 PM DAILY

Nearly all Minnesota households spend a large share of their income on energy cost. For households with limited income, this can be especially stressful.

PROGRESSIVE HAMM’S TAPS (16 OZ.) STARTING AT 50¢: 2:30-3:30 pm 50¢; 3:30-4:30 pm $75¢; 4:30-5:30 pm $1; 5:30-6:30 pm $1.25 $1 off all glasses of wine and all other drinks (except fountain drinks) 2 for 1 on all domestic taps (except Hamm’s) and rail drinks Craft Beers: $1 off pints; $2 off talls

Community Action’s Energy Assistance Program helps thousands of families in Ramsey and Washington counties pay energy bills and improve the efficiency of their homes.

Come for the food. Stay for the friendship.

Apply Now! Contact us for more info.

• Call (651) 645-6470. • Visit our website at www.caprw.org • Email us at EAP@caprw.org 450 Syndicate St. N, Suite 122, St. Paul, MN 55104 Office Hours: Monday - Friday / 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

456 Concord Exchange S., South St. Paul 651-350-7743 www.kaposiaclubssp.com

HAPPY HOUR

Daily 2:30-6:30 pm

Try Our Famous Pizza! Dine in or take out

Downtown bp Serving the downtown community for more than 90 years!

651-221-0026

TRIVIA MAFIA 7:30 pm Wednesdays POKER 7 pm Thursdays

• • • •

Quality bp gasoline Full-service auto repair ASE Master Technicians 36 month or 36,000 mile warrantly on all repairs • Convenience store

542 Robert St. N., St. Paul | www.downtownbp.com | Mon-Fri. 7 am-8 pm, Sat. 8 am-4 pm, Sun. 9 am-4 pm

GASOLINE

10¢ off per gallon (maximum 30 gallons)

Not valid with other offers. Limit one coupon per visit. Offer expires 1/31/20. Downtown bp, 542 Robert St. N., St. Paul 651-221-0026

A/C Check 99 $49

Includes one pound of freon. Most vehicles. Not valid with other offers. Offer expires 1/31/20. Downtown bp, 542 Robert St. N., St. Paul 651-221-0026

GASOLINE

10¢ off per gallon (maximum 30 gallons)

Not valid with other offers. Limit one coupon per visit. Offer expires 1/31/20. Downtown bp, 542 Robert St. N., St. Paul 651-221-0026

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON?

FREE computer scan for store codes Most vehicles. Limit one coupon per visit. Offer expires 1/31/20. Downtown bp, 542 Robert St. N., St. Paul 651-221-0026

OIL CHANGE $1999 or $4999

Synthetic blend

Full Synthetic Most vehicles. Up to 6 quarts of oil, standard filter and chassis lube. Not valid with other offers. Offer expires 1/31/20. Downtown bp, 542 Robert St. N., St. Paul 651-221-0026

ANY SERVICE 10% off

(maximum savings $100.) Most vehicles. Not valid with other offers. Limit one coupon per visit. Offer expires 1/31/20. Downtown bp, 542 Robert St. N., St. Paul 651-221-0026

FREE Local Shuttle and Same Day Service on Most Repairs! Page 12 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - January 2020