inside

Opinion ........................................................... 2 Snow Parking Info ................................. 3 Crime & Safety ...................................... 4 ECCO News ................................................. 6 Events Calendar...................................... 8
< Rubber Ducky Douglas Flanders & Associates re-open their gallery at 910 W. Lake St. (Art by Bruce Nygren)

Your Community-Supported News Source

Covering the Uptown AreA and the Neighborhoods of CARAG and ECCO

JANUARY 2012 Volume 8, Number 1

a blend of black tea, sweet cinnamon, fragrant cardamom, black pepper, spicy ginger and cloves blended with steamed milk and sugar. There is not only one recipe and preparation for a good Chai Tea. Nearly every Indian family has its own secret formula. The traditional brewing process simmers the black tea leaves together with spices, sugar and milk over sustained heat instead of putting them into preheated water. Chai Tea is traditionally served hot with the sweetness bringing out the full spice flavor So where can you find the best Chai Teas in the neighborhood? And how do they taste? Discover the warm, aromatic flavor of Chai Tea while exploring with me six different coffee and tea shops in Uptown. Rating: **** = outstanding, *** = pretty good, ** = decent, * = no comment ** Dunn Bros Coffee (Hennepin Avenue and 34th Street) Once you get through the thick milk foam on top, you will experiTEA page 5

2012 Is A Big Election Year

by Gary Farland
2012 will be a big election year with many elections at all levels of government. The elections in Minneapolis for local offices will be only for the school board, although redistricting could force elections for county commissioners in Minneapolis. The redistricting issue is a big one which can affect many of our races. A five-judge panel is preparing to order new political boundaries on February 21 for Minnesotas legislative and congressional districts. Precinct Caucuses are the first step in the political process. The caucus date and time set in Minnesota Law is February 7 at 7 pm. The locations of various political party caucuses have yet to be announced but will be posted on the Minnesota Secretary of States website (www.sos.state. mn.us, Elections and Voting) on January 18. The ECCO and CARAG caucuses need to elect delegates to the Senate District 60 conventions and to conventions held to nominate candidates for the Minneapolis School Board. If redistricting changes the county commissioner boundaries a great deal, it could happen that conventions will be needed for all of the County commissioner districts. ECCO and CARAG are presently in District 3 with Gail Dorfman being the Commissioner. The present plan, if boundary changes are minor, is that Commissioner Districts 5, 6 and 7, the western Hennepin County districts, would hold elections in 2012. Senate District 60 Conventions will elect delegates to the state conventions which in turn will elect delegates to the national conventions to nominate a presidential candidate. The state conventions will also nominate candidates for the U.S. Senate seat, presently held by Amy Klobuchar. Delegates will also go to Congressional District conventions to nominate for the 5th District Congressional seat presently held by Keith Ellison. Minneapolis City Conventions will be only for the purpose of nominating for the Minneapolis School District. In 2012 elections will be held for Districts Two, Four and Six, plus one at-large seat. Presently, ECCO is in District Four and CARAG is in District Six. These will be the first ElECTIoN page 7

Addicted To Chai Tea

Namaste.

(Photo by Aline Anliker)

By Aline Anliker
Chai Tea has become extremely popular. But what is it about this sweetened and spiced milk tea that makes it special? Is it the unique blend of spices, or the exotic origin? Or is it simply that the season is perfect for beverages that warm you up? Id like to suggest

some of the best Chai Tea places in Uptown so you can experience the unique cup of tea on your own. Chai Tea is a rich and complex beverage that has been savored for centuries in many parts of the world. Chai is the South-Asian word for tea and Masala means spices in Hindi. Masala Chai is the most commonly served and is

Uptown After Dark

Friday Night Happy Hour at Chino Latino
By Harry Savage
Its 5:30 on a Friday night and you are at home watching one of the three alphabet soup nightly news broadcasts. After thats over, you flip the television to PBS for the news and political commentary. Wait, stop for a minute. Heres an alternative: get dressed in your hottest clothes and head out to Chino Latino. This hip place was monumental in changing Uptown from being punk, grunge and alternative to yuppie, hip and trendy. This is the place in Uptown where you can see and meet women and men dressed to hilt. You dont have to take a bus, cab or risk getting a DWI by heading downtown in order to have great food, drinks and socialize with lots of people of all ages. In my opinion Chino Latino is the classic place in Uptown at Happy Hour (5 pm to 7 pm) for meeting people. You are advised to get there early and find a place at the bar if possible. The music is rather loud for some and they have two TVs showing sporting events above the bar at both ends. The bartenders are very friendly - especially say hello to Scott, one of the coolest bar tenders in Uptown. Enjoy some great food like the amazing Cuban Pork. Treat yourself to a seductive martini but consume carefully - their martinis pack a punch so watch out! Chino Latino is well known as a meet market so if you want to meet people, I can think of no better place for happy hour and having fun! Chino Latino, 2916 Hennepin Avenue, 612.824.7878, www.chinolatino.com Harry Savage lives in East Calhoun and serves on the ECCO Board.

Beat Connection
Crime update

Come To The UNN Public Forum

The FBI believes the man in black is now wearing some different outfits. Above is the Bremer Bank holdup on November 30. (Bremer Bank surveillance photo)

By Bruce Cochran Bank robberies

In late November two bank robberies occurred in Uptown. The first was on November 22 at approximately 1:30 pm at Bremer Bank in Calhoun Square. Chief Division Counsel for the FBI, Kyle Loven, said the robber was a white male in dark clothing. The individual entered the bank, pointed the gun at the teller, demanded cash and left with an undisclosed amount. On November 30 at approximately 3:30 pm a robber held up Central Bank at 2120 Hennepin Avenue. The robber, who was described as a white male, entered the bank and approached the teller counter. He BEAT page 4

Uptown Neighborhood News is holding a forum on Monday, January 9 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm at St. Marys Greek Orthodox Church to tap into your creativity and promote collaboration throughout the community. Well explore what topics you would like to read about in your neighborhood paper and how you can get involved. Youll learn a little about what goes into production of the UNN.
UNN is your community newspaper! It is managed by a group of your neighbors in ECCO and CARAG. The Board contracts with local people to produce the free monthly paper. Join us for cookies, cider and conversation and talk about how we can make this important part of our community even better. St. Marys Greek Orthodox Church is at 3450 Irving Avenue. There will be signs directing you to the meeting space. From the UNN Managing Board: Ralph Knox, Nancy Riestenberg, Harry Savage, Samantha Strong, Linda Todd and Elizabeth Walke

2 Uptown neighborhood news

www.carag.org

JANUARY 2012
January 10th, 2012 from 12-1pm at the 5th Precincts Community Room (3101 Nicollet Ave S). Meet with Meg is a time for you to talk with me, ask questions, and voice concerns. Bring your sack lunch! Cookies and lemonade are provided! Meet with Meg is held the second Tuesday of every month. Attention: If you want help translating this information into a language other than Hmong, Spanish or Somali, please call 311. Hmong - Ceeb toom. Yog koj xav tau kev pab txhais cov xov no rau koj dawb, hu 612-673-2800; Spanish - Atencin. Si desea recibir asistencia gratuita para traducir esta informacin, llama 612-6732700; Somali - Ogow. Haddii aad dooneyso in lagaa kaalmeeyo tarjamadda macluumaadkani oo lacag la aan wac 612-673-3500.

commentary 10th Ward News

From Council Member Meg Tuthill

Make Democracy A Priority Action Item In 2012

Editorial by Phyllis Stenerson
Im urging every citizen to devote extra time this year to participate actively in democracy. Its no exaggeration to say that 2012 may be a pivotal year in American history. Many critical problems create many opportunities to make needed changes, or to create stalemates and retain the status quo. Change must come from the grassroots up to shift power to we the people. . Democracy assumes there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people. Harry Emerson Fosdick The Tea Party and Occupy Movements have given regular people a collective voice to say they are fed up with politics as usual and are demanding change. The groups are deeply divided, however, along philosophical and partisan lines on what kind of change. In the interest of full disclosure, Im a progressive. To me that means we need to progress beyond old ways that are not working and find new, better ways to live together in peace, with prosperity for all. This involves a search for what is true, right and smart. Education and dialogue among citizens are essential. In a democratic society like ours, relief must come through an aroused popular conscience that sears the conscience of the peoples representatives. Felix Frankfurter For years politicians have avoided tough decisions and allowed the country to become seriously unbalanced. We cant keep putting problems off and dumping them on our grandchildren. Every part of society must be involved including government but the political process has deteriorated into nastiness that drives most people away. It may be more productive and satisfying to urge people to participate in democracy instead of being involved in politics. Millions of people are sticking their necks up out of their comfort zones to work for change. Join them. Im committed. Every voice matters! (Information, commentary and quotations about democracy can be found on my website www.ProgressiveValues.org.)

Contact Meg at 612.673.2210, meg.tuthill@ci.minneapolis.mn.us, Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit us at www.ci.minneapolis. mn.us/council/ward10

MPRB Releases WinterSpring Activities Guide

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Boards (MPRB) new Winter-Spring Guide can be found at www.minneapolisparks.org/documents/2011-2012-Winter-Guide. pdf and at recreation centers and libraries citywide. The Guide features activities, amenities, events and sports for youth, teens and adults available at parks, lakes and recreation centers throughout Minneapolis. Once winter weather conditions allow, the park systems awardwinning outdoor recreation facilities become available, including ice skating, skiing, snowboarding and tubing. The Guide lists hours for ice rink warming houses, ski chalets, tubing and snowboarding areas and recreation centers, including extended hours during Minneapolis school release days. For park information or an online copy of the Guide, visit www.minneapolisparks.org/home.asp.

Redesigned City Website

A newly designed City website was launched on Monday, December 19. www.MinneapolisMN.gov is now more accessible for people with disabilities and those who speak other languages. The new site complies with Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act Guidelines, utilizes Google Translate, and allows for adjustable text size for people with low vision.

Meet with Meg for lunch

Please join me in the New Year for Meet with Meg on Tuesday,

Recycle Your Holiday lights

Strings of holiday lights that no longer work are now being accepted for recycling at either the Brooklyn Park or Bloomington Drop Off Facilities. For more info visit http://hennepinatoz. org/azguide/item/74. There are also collection sites throughout the Twin Cities participating in the Recycling Association of Minnesotas Recycle Your Holidays program with information at www. recycleminnesota.org/index.php/ programs/recycle-your-holidays. A map of participating companies is at www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/campaigns/ryh-1112#map. Search for Minneapolis in the lower left corner next to the map.

Over the Rainbow

ECCO resident and Kenwood Kindergardener, Sanjay P., sings about the colors of the rainbow in Kenwoods Fall Share-In. The school holds two Share-Ins per year, providing each classroom with an opportunity to develop and perform a piece that builds upon something the children have learned in their classrooms. (Photo by
Courtney Cushing Kiernat)

Lyn-Lake Barbershop
Jayson Dallmann - Propietor

612.822.6584 3019 Lyndale Avenue South

www.Lyn-LakeBarbershop.com Hours: Tues - Fri. 11am-7pm | Sat. 9am-4:30pm | (Afterhours by Appointment)

Uptown neighborhood news is now on can send and receive news facebook Friend us so you
about happenings in Uptown.
Uptown Neighborhood News wants to hear from the community
News tips, story ideas, articles, photos with captions, letters to the editor and commentary are welcomed and encouraged. Send by the 15th of the month to uptownnews@yahoo.com or UNN, 3612 Bryant Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409. All submissions must be relevant to Uptown. Letters to the Editor are limited to 250 words. High resolution photos are required. We reserve the right to decide whether or not a piece will be published and to edit for space, clarity, appropriateness or legal concerns. We need to know your name, address, phone number, e-mail and neighborhood. UNN is a monthly publication of Calhoun Area Residents Action Group (CARAG) in cooperation with the East Calhoun Community Organization (ECCO). UNN covers the news of Uptown and is delivered free to households within the area bounded by Lyndale Avenue and Lake Calhoun, between Lake Street and 36th Street. Copies are distributed to businesses in the Uptown area. Circulation is 5,200 with a pass-along readership of 10,000. Publication and distribution is before the first of every month. Contributors are area residents who volunteer their time to bring the news of the area to residents. UNN is managed by a board of local citizens with the ECCO and CARAG Boards each appointing three representatives. Monthly meetings are held at St. Marys Greek Orthodox Church, 3450 Irving Avenue from 7 pm to 9 pm the first Monday of the month, unless otherwise scheduled. Meetings are open to the public. Contact uptownnews@yahoo.com to confirm and/or request time on the agenda. Copyright 2012 Uptown Neighborhood News Editor Phyllis Stenerson (CARAG) 612.331.1929 uptownnews@yahoo.com Art Direction and Production Bruce Cochran (CARAG) unn612@gmail.com Advertising Susan Hagler (CARAG) 612.825.7780 susanhagler@earthlink.net Managing Board Ralph Knox, President (ECCO) Elizabeth Walke, Treasurer (CARAG) Linda Todd, Secretary (ECCO) Harry Savage (ECCO) Samantha Strong (CARAG) Nancy Riestenberg (CARAG) Contributing Photographers Aline Anliker, Bruce Cochran, Courtney Cushing Kiernat, Bethany Heemeyer Contributing Writers Aline Anliker, Bruce Cochran, Gary Farland, Harry Savage, Monica Smith, Phyllis Stenerson, Meg Tuthill Newspaper Circulation CARAG/ECCO/Uptown Circulation: Bill Boudreau, Justin Jagoe

JANUARY 2012

www.carag.org After a street is fully plowed, feel free to park there, even if Snow Emergency parking rules are still in effect. Fully plowed means that the street is completely cleared and plowed to the full width of that side of the street. Plows may come through more than once, so make sure that it is fully plowed before parking.

Uptown neighborhood news 3 . and tows this snow season. The City of Minneapolis sent out Snow Emergency brochures, one to each household in the city. on the Citys website. If you know anyone who primarily speaks Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Oromo, Vietnamese or Lao, you can direct them to the Citys Non-English Resources webpage at www.minneapolismn.gov/languages which provides them with information on Snow Emergencies in their language.

PREPARING FoR SNoW

Snow parking information
Call the hotline: 612.348.Snow Snow emergency: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/snow receive phone Alerts: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/snow/phone-alert.asp receive e-mail Alerts: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/snow/esubscribe.asp Broadcast tv/radio: Tune in to cable channels 14 and 79 or FM (88.5 MHz) facebook: www.facebook.com/MinneapolisSnowEmergency twitter: twitter.com/minneapolissnow

Non-English Snow Emergency information

Information on Snow Emergency is also available in other languages

Snow Shoveling
Clear Sidewalks of Snow and Ice Keeping our sidewalks free of ice and snow is both the neighborly thing to do, and its the law. Here are a few points to know about keeping Minneapolis sidewalks clear of snow and ice:
Know the rules for clearing sidewalks of snow and ice. Read them at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ sidewalks/snow-shoveling-rules. asp Shovel the sidewalks on all sides of your property, the full width of the sidewalk down to the bare pavement. Remove all ice from sidewalks. After the sidewalk is cleared, sprinkling a little sand can help prevent slipping on frosty sidewalks. Pile snow into your yard and boulevard. Its against the law to shovel snow into streets and alleys. If you have corner property, clear curb cuts at corners and crosswalks to the street gutter. You are not required to clear snow ridges or piles left by the plows beyond the gutter City crews sometimes return to do that, but if they cant your neighbors would appreciate it if you could clear an opening. Call 311 to report snow and ice on sidewalks when it hasnt been removed within 24 hours after snowfall has ceased. Tell others about the rules and importance of sidewalk snow clearance. Lend a hand to neighbors who may have a hard time shoveling.

Snow Emergency Parking Rules

Day 1 - 9 pm to 8 am (overnight) A Snow Emergency will be declared no later than 6 pm on any given day. At 9 pm on that day, Snow Emergency parking rules begin. Park on either side of non-Snow Emergency routes (these streets do not have the red sign: Snow Emergency Route). Do not park on either side of the street with the red sign: Snow Emergency Route. Snow plows will clear those streets first. After a street is fully plowed, feel free to park there, even if Snow Emergency parking rules are still in effect. Fully plowed means that

the street is completely cleared and plowed to the full width of that side of the street. Plows may come through more than once, so make sure that it is fully plowed before parking. Day 2 - 8 am to 8 pm At 8 am, Day Two parking rules begin. Park on the odd side of non-Snow Emergency Route streets (example: house address number 1359 Maple or 2513 17th Ave.). Park on either side of streets with the red sign: Snow Emergency Route. Do not park on the even side of non-Snow Emergency routes. (Example: house address number: 1356 Maple or 2512 17th Ave.) Do not park on either side of parkways.

One LifeNot Nine

Il Gatto, located in Calhoun Square, closed effective December 17, 2011. The closing came about because Il Gatto was unable to align the economics of operating the restaurant with the cost of occupying the premises, as stated in a press release from its owners, Parasole Restaurant Holdings. (Photo by Bruce Cochran)

Citizen ACtion
CARAG Neighborhood
612.823.2520 carag@carag.org

East Isles Neighborhood

612.821.0131 nrp@eastisles.org

ECCO Neighborhood
612.821.0131 nrp@eastcalhoun.org 612.377.5023 lhena@thewedge.org 311

After a street is fully plowed, feel free to park there, even if Snow Emergency parking rules are still in effect. Fully plowed means that the street is completely cleared and plowed to the full width of that side of the street. Plows may come through more than once, so make sure that it is fully plowed before parking. Day 3 - 8 am to 8 pm At 8 am, Day Three parking rules begin. Park on even side of non-Snow Emergency Route streets. (Example: house address number: 1356 Maple or 2512 17th Ave.) Park on either side of streets marked with the red sign: Snow Emergency Route. You may park on parkways. Do not park on the odd side of non-Snow Emergency Route streets (example: house address number 1359 or 2513 17th Ave.).

real estate | design-build

www.morphmpls.com
612.782.2000

Whats missing on your path to a greener home? My team.

Samantha J. Strong General Contractor + Real Estate Broker Specializing in urban homes.
BC. 20628624

Lowry Hill E. Neighborhood Minneapolis Information Mpls. Park & Rec. Board
Brad Bourn 612.230.6443 ext. 4 bbourn@minneapolisparks.org Bob Fine 612.230.6443 ext. 6 bfine@minneapolisparks.org

Uncover your fire hydrant Property owners are responsible for making sure the snow is cleared around fire hydrants. Minneapolis has more than 8,000 hydrants. Please make sure theyre easily assessable in case fire crews need them.

NARs sustainable property designation

green

Mpls. Public Schools

City Councilperson (10) Meg Tuthill Mayor R.T. Rybak

612.673.2100 rt@minneapolis.org

612.673.2210 meg.tuthill@ci.minneapolis.mn.us.

State Representative (60A) Marion Greene

651.296.0171 rep.marion.greene@house.mn.

State Representative (60B) Frank Hornstein

651.296.9281 rep.frank.hornstein@house.mn

State Senator (60) D. Scott Dibble

651.296.4191 sen.scott.dibble@senate.mn

DEADlINE for submissions to The Uptown Neighborhood News is JANUARY 15 (email: uptownnews @yahoo.com)

English Lutheran Church Weve moved into SpringHouse Ministry Center

Open HOuse Feb. 4, 1- 4pm
Join Us Sundays 8:30am raditional Service T 9:15am unday School S 0:30am azz Worship 1 J

Salem

Mon - Fri 6:30am-3pm sat. & sun. 7am-2pm

Lyndale United Church of Christ SpringHouse Ministry Center

(3 churches, 1 building)
We left our building at 31st and Aldrich in 2008, left Intermedia Arts December 21st, 2011 and are now figuring out everything in our newly renovated historical building. Please stop in - for no matter who you are or where you are on lifes journey, youre welcome at Lyndale UCC. Sunday, January 8th, 10:30 a.m. A service of rituals to say goodbye to 2011 and welcome 2012. SundAyS 9:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Christian education for all ages Worship (in the north sanctuary)

Check out in the new

Governor Mark Dayton

651.201.3400 mark.dayton@state.mn.us

28th & Garfield discoversalem.com

U.S. Congressman (5th) Keith Ellison

612.522.1212 www.ellison.house.gov

U.S. Senator Al Franken

202.224.5641 info@franken.senate.gov

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar President Barack Obama

202.224.3244 www.klobuchar.senate.gov

202.456.1111 comments@whitehouse.gov

Divine Liturgy Sunday 9:30 am Fr. Paul Paris

www.stmarysgoc.org (612) 825-9595

610 W. 28th St. Minneapolis MN 55408 612.825.3019 Lyndaleucc.org

LyndaLe UNITED CHURCH

OF CHRIST

c Uptown Neighborhood News

612.668.0000 answers@mpls.k12.mn.us

Snow Emergency Information In Your Mailbox

All residents should have received information in their mailboxes that could help you avoid tickets

36th St & Bryant ave S 612-825-3718

Hours

4 Uptown neighborhood news

www.carag.org

JANUARY 2012

crime & safety

BEAT from 1 showed the teller a gun and demanded cash. After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, the robber fled from the bank and moved westward on foot. In both of these robberies the individual is described at 5 10 tall, with a thin build in his late 20s to 30s with a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, black shoes and a black ski mask. He is suspected of several other robberies in the metro area. As of December 17 the Minnesota Bankers Association and the FBI are offering $25,000 for any information leading to an arrest. People with Information can contact the FBI at 612.376.3200 or the Minneapolis Police Department (Fifth Precinct) at 612.673.5705.

Crimes By location

November 21 - December 28
Burglary of dwelling includes garages, attached or unattached.

Chelsea Adams, Crime prevention specialist 612.673.2819 or Chelsea.Adams@ci.minneapolis.mn.us 5th precinct: sectors 1&2: (Uptown)

Business burglaries
According to Tara Larson, store manager at Roam, 2914 Hennepin Avenue, a burglar pried open the front door with a crowbar at around 5 am on November 21. Only the basement office was messed up but nothing was missing, said Larson. A broken front door lock a week earlier led Larson to believe it was the same individual. At around 7:45 am on November 23 at Walgreens, 2426 Hennepin, an individual robbed the store with an undisclosed amount of property stolen. An arrest was made on November 26 by Hennepin County with a 25 year old male charged with both first and second degree aggravated robbery charges. Mesa Pizza at 1440 Lake Street was burglarized on December 5 at around 6 am. The thief broke the glass on the front door, removed a drop safe with $400 in cash and left through the front door.

CPS officer positions saved

In October the Minneapolis Police Department was considering several options for saving money in their budget including eliminating the Fifth Precinct Crime Police Specialists (CPS) Chelsea Adams and Amy Lavender. CPSs focus on education, resolution and prevention of crime incidents. In the final passage of Mayor R.T. Rybaks budget those positions were no longer an option for budget cutting.

Beat phone replaced

The UNN reported in January of 2011 that Uptown beat officers had lost their cell phones due to budget cuts. Those phones allow beat officers to respond more quickly to non-911 calls in the Uptown area. On December 12 Uptown beat officer Butch Blauert received a new phone from his department to take phone calls once again from area business owners. Bruce Cochran is Art Director and in charge of Production for the Uptown Neighborhood News and lives in CARAG.

Annual Store-Wide Sale

EvErything 30-70% Off!
3146 Hennepin Ave. 612.823.3988 www.shoezoo.us

hoe Zo o S
Doing business as if people mattered, from the beginning.

The Biggest Discounts Ever

Mon-Fri 9-10

Sat & Sun 9-9

www.wedge.coop

c Uptown Neighborhood News

2105 Lyndale Ave S. 612-871-3993

JANUARY 2012
TEA from 1 ence a very smooth taste. No strong spices and herbs flavor, but rather a soft aroma and a bit too sweet. The leaf pattern in the foam on top crowns the drink. The shops huge windows and the cozy chairs are a big plus, too. *** Jacksons Coffee & Gelato (822 West Lake Street) A cinnamon scent in the air is a sign of the season. Jacksons Chai Tea has an aromatic taste; its creamy and smooth until the very last sip. Very milky, but a lot of people like it that way. Watching people passing by while relaxing in a big sofa chair makes the experience even more enjoyable. **** Namaste Caf (Hennepin Avenue and 25th Street) There we go! They claim to serve the best Chai Tea in town and they actually do. Its a perfect mix of spices, tea and milk, and not too sweet. A little darker in color as well, more brownish than ivory. No single spice or taste dominates, the tea is well balanced. And it can be ordered in seven different flavors, all made with natural ingredients such as coconut, ginger or eucalyptus. ** Urban Bean Coffee (Bryant Avenue and 33rd Street) The first impression is that the Chai is a bit too watery. Not much of a spice taste, just creamy. If you like it very smooth and light, this might be the Chai Tea place for you. Not for nothing the place is called Urban Bean Coffee, as their coffee is delicious. ** Gigis Caf (Bryant and 36th Street) For once, its not the cinnamon spice that stands out, but instead you can smell and taste cloves. Unfortunately, there is more of a sweet-milky-watery taste in place of a creamy black tea flavor. But youll always be in good company at Gigis as it is a lively neighborhood caf. *** The Tea Garden (Hennepin and 26th Street) You love it sweet? The Tea Garden is the ideal place for you. And with its dark brown color, you can assume that this Chai Tea contains more black tea leaves and spices than milk (which I personally like). You can also add a lot of different flavors such as chocolate or lavender. Altogether, the tea shop lives up to its name.
Chai Tea is a matter of your own

www.carag.org
taste and your very individual preferences. I suggest trying all of them!

Uptown neighborhood news 5 .

Spice up your winter by brewing your own Chai Tea (makes 2 cups)
1-1/2 cups of water 1 inch stick of cinnamon 8 cardamom pods 8 whole cloves 2/3 cup of milk 6 tsp. sugar (or to taste) 3 teaspoons of any unscented loose black tea Put water in a saucepan, add cinnamon, cardamom and cloves and bring it to a boil. Cover, turn heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Add milk and sugar and bring to a simmer again. Add the tea leaves, cover and turn off the heat. After two minutes, strain the tea into two cups and serve immediately.

Holiday Cheer
Carolers kicked off the holiday season by spreading good cheer in the East Calhoun neighborhood on December 19, followed by an evening with hot cider, snacks and social time. (Photo by Bethany Heemeyer)

Whittier Clinic
Hennepin County Medical Center

Healthy additions to Whittiers exceptional care.

Introducing the new Whittier Imaging.

Now at Whittier Clinic, we are providing state-of-the-art MRI imaging in a comfortable neighborhood setting. Visit hcmc.org to learn more about the Whitter Clinic.

And advanced vein care.

Introducing our specialized vein care now at Whittier. From varicose and spider vein repair, to treatment for other vascular conditions, we provide care combining the latest minimally invasive technologies to help you look and feel your best. Call 612-873-7833 to schedule your comprehensive evaluation today.

Brooklyn Center Clinic Brooklyn Park Clinic East Lake Clinic Whittier Clinic Richfield Clinic St. Anthony Village Clinic

Client: Job# Size:

Hennepin County Medical Center HCMC-1211-01 7.967 x 3.375

Color: Publication: Vendor:

4/C Lyndale News N/A

2011 Twin Cities In Motion. 039-2069a-6

 Uptown neighborhood news

www.carag.org

JANUARY 2012

ECCO report
Lake St. 36th St.

East Calhoun Community Organization

ECCO meets the first Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. at St. Marys Greek Orthodox Church, 34th & Irving. All ECCO residents are welcome and urged to attend.

letter to City Council Member Sandy Colvin Roy in support of single-sort recycling and a letter to the President of the Parish Council of St. Marys Greek Orthodox Church, encouraging the church to implement organics recycling.

ECCO Meeting Minutes for December 1, 2011. (East Calhoun Neighborhood Monthly Meeting) Minutes recorded and submitted by Harry Savage and Monica Smith and approved by the ECCO Board by electronic vote prior to publication. Board Members Present: Sarah Sponheim, President; Blake Harper & Linda Todd, Co-VP; Glen Christianson, Treasurer; Harry Savage, Secretary; Anja Curiskis; Kate Davenport; Brad Durham; Judy Shields; and Heather Wulfsberg. Absent: Gael Ellis and Jim Smith. Also present: Breanna Patsch (aide to Council Member Meg Tuthill), Council Member Gary Schiff and East Calhoun residents. ECCO Board President Sarah Sponheim called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting began with introductions. The agenda was unanimously approved.

Breanna Patsch: Aide to Meg Tuthill, City Council Member, Ward 10

The final public hearing on the 2012 budget will be December 14, 6:05pm at City Hall. Block leader training will be held on December 6, 1-2 p.m. at the 5th Precinct. There are a variety of ways to learn about Snow Emergencies, including Facebook and Twitter. Check out the options on Citys webpage: www.minneapolismn.gov/snow or call 612348-SNOW. There will be no Meet with Meg in December. A request was made that the City offer a special yard waste collection due to the late fall.

standards for building materials, access, landscaping, etc. The CUP is a tool to add conditions to a permit. CUP is not a tool that can be used to deny an application. It allows for conditions placed on the use, but it doesnt stop the use. Since the use of a residential building is housing, CM Schiff cant identify any conditions that are not already required in the Site Plan. He feels that the CUP is a duplicative regulation that doesnt add substantive value to the review process. In the past decade, 44 new developments with 5-9 units were reviewed by the Planning Commission at a public hearing. If this proposal passes, 39 of those projects would still require neighborhood notice and a public hearing because they had some other issue. This proposal is for new residential developments (5-9 units) only. The CUP will remain in place for commercial use and for height requirements in the Shoreland Overlay District. In response to concerns about neighborhoods losing the ability to provide feedback on development, CM Schiff stated that eliminating the CUP does not eliminate neighborhood notification. Developments with 5-9 units are required to comply with Site Plan review rules. If the Site Plan rules are not met or the development is requesting rezoning or a variance, a public hearing will be required.

Planning staff feels that the CUP application does not have any weight behind it. Eliminating the CUP will allow staff to focus on the more important Site Plan. State law limits the amount of time that government can review applications to 60 days. If a city does not rule on an application within 60 days, the developers get whatever they request. Eliminating this type of CUP will help streamline the review process. Another proposed change for greater communication with the public: the Weekly Planning Applications Report will be available to anyone upon request.

planning a holiday caroling event. Meet at St. Marys at 6:30 p.m. on December 19 for caroling in the neighborhood followed by a social event at the home of Judy Shields. Everyone is invited. The ECCO Board approved using funds to purchase refreshments. Uptown Neighborhood News (UNN) The UNN board would like more direction and input from East Calhoun and CARAG. A combined ECCO/CARAG/UNN meeting was suggested. The UNN is now on Facebook. The ECCO Board voted to allow the UNN to post PDFs of back issues of the newspaper on www.eastcalhoun.org. Tree Task Force: The next meeting of the task force will be December 20, 7 p.m. at St. Marys. Rainbow Treecare will discuss treatment options for Emerald Ash Borer. The Park Board wrongly tagged a number of trees for removal on Irving Ave. These trees will not be removed. Green Team The Transportation & Public Works Committee of the City Council has directed staff to review the pros and cons of single-sort vs. dual-sort recycling for further consideration this spring. The Green Team received a positive response from St. Marys regarding organics recycling; the church will get back to us in January. Waste Watchers is having a party to thank all ECCo page 7

Hennepin Ave.

Lyndale Ave.

Announcements
In the interim since the last board meeting, the ECCO Board electronically approved sending a

LAKE CALHOUN

Committee Reports
Sarah Sponheim proposed that committees meet on a regular basis so we can invite more participation from residents. Committee chairs will write descriptions for their committees to be posted on the website. The board voted to create a Livability Committee. This committee will encompass zoning, traffic, safety and public events. Kate Davenport and Jim Smith will co-chair this committee. Heather Wulfsberg, past chair of the Zoning Committee will transition her files to Kate. The Social Committee will expand to include community engagement. The committee is considering an ambassador program (ECCOs version of Welcome Wagon). The Social Committee is

Gary Schiff: City Council Member, Ward 9

Gary Schiff presented his proposal to eliminate the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application for residential property with five to nine units. Currently, new residential property with 5-9 units requires a Site Plan and a CUP. The Site Plan is a set of requirements specifying

EAST CALHOUN NEWS AND EVENTS

JANUARY EVENTS
T H U R S D AY, J A N U A R Y 5 7:00 -9:00 p.m. S AT U R D AY, J A N U A R Y 2 1 10:00 a.m.

ECCO Board and Neighborhood Meeting St. Marys Greek Orthodox Church, 3450 Irving Ave S
W E D N E S D AY, J A N U A R Y 11 7:00 p.m.

Home Energy Workshop Jefferson Community School, 1200 W. 26th Street

Learn how to reduce your home energy use and save money at a free Community Energy Services (CES) workshop. By attending this workshop, you are eligible to receive a customized home energy visit for a co-pay of only $30 (free to the rst 150 ECCO homeowners). RSVP to Ashley Robertson at 612-335-5869. T U E S D AY, J A N U A R Y 2 4 7:00 p.m.

East Calhoun Green Team Meeting St. Marys Greek Orthodox Church, 3450 Irving Ave S
The Green Team meets the second Wednesday of each month, please join us! M O N D AY, J A N U A R Y 1 6 7:00 p.m. FREE

Green Film: No Impact Man Grace-Trinity Community Church, 1430 W. 28th Street
ECCO is teaming up with East Isles for a viewing of the terrically entertaining, compelling and extremely funny No Impact Man, a 90-minute documentary (2009 Sundance selection) that follows a Manhattan family as they replace their high consumption lifestyle with a year of no net environmental impact. Includes refreshments and a short discussion. RSVP to nrp@eastcalhoun.org T U E S D AY, J A N U A R Y 1 7 7:00 -9:00 p.m.

East Calhoun Livability Committee Meeting Dunn Bros Coffee, 34th Street and Hennepin Ave
Attend the rst meeting of this newly established committee that will address zoning, trafc, safety and public event matters relevant to the neighborhood.

were watching our waste

Sign up for a Green Cart and win FREE stuff Save space and money: downsize from a large trash cart to a small one. Take a minute to complete a brief online survey, go to www.eastcalhoun.org/page/waste-watchers to access the survey. To sign up for a green cart or small trash cart, contact Sarah at greenteam@eastcalhoun.org.
East Calhoun Waste Watchers is funded by a grant from Hennepin County.

ECCO

East Calhoun Tree Task Force St. Marys Greek Orthodox Church, 3450 Irving Ave S
Ralph Sievert, Director of Forestry, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will be joining us to discuss the Emerald Ash Borer.

www.eastcalhoun.org
Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter to learn more about our events. Send a request to nrp@eastcalhoun.org or call Monica Smith at 612-821-0131.

JANUARY 2012

www.carag.org ECCo from 6 volunteers. Waste Watchers will be distributing a cart hanger to all residents in January encouraging people who dont have them to sign up for an organics recycling cart. Finance The board discussed forming a Finance Committee to help set the East Calhoun budget and oversee neighborhood fund-raising and project expenditures. This was tabled for discussion at a future meeting. The board discussed devoting an entire meeting to creating ECCOs 2012 budget. ElECTIoN from 1

Uptown neighborhood news 7 .

Street life

Loppet takes Lake & Hennepin, Feb. 4,5

The City of Lakes Loppet is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a move to Hennepin Avenue in Uptown. Participants will ski from Lake Calhoun and up Lake Street before turning down Hennepin with a grand finish in front of Kitchen Window. Event Headquarters will be based in Calhoun Square. The weekend events will radiate from the lagoon on Lake of the Isles and Theodore Wirth Park, with all courses finishing in Uptown. Minneapolis is one the few cities that can host an event like this, said Nordic Ski Foundation director John Munger. We have the climate, landscape and culture that makes skiing in the city possible. The Loppet course unites both the urban and natural environments of Minneapolis. The last time we finished on Hennepin was in 2005. We are thrilled to be bringing the celebration back to the heart of Minneapolis. With the move, the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation is expecting the event to grow beyond 2011s record of 10,000 participants and 40,000 50,000 in total attendance. We are genuinely looking forward to the event, said Associate Director of the Uptown Association Megan Orr. On these cold winter days, we all need to come together like this to stay warm. The Nordic Ski Foundation is also excited to announce its partnership with Park Nicollet on the new Park Nicollet Luminary Loppet, part of Loppet Saturdays Mall of America Family Day. For more information see www.cityoflakesloppet.com.

elections for these districts under the new School Board design, which consists of six district seats and three at-large seats. After 2012, the Board will have elected to it all members under the new design. Previously, all seats were at-large. Redistricting will play a big part in the elections. First, the State has to set the congressional and legislative districts. Then, the political subdivisions will rearrange their own boundaries. In Minneapolis, due to a charter change the Minneapolis Charter Commission, with the help of an appointed commission, will set the various boundaries in Minneapolis. Previously, this had been set by a commission appointed by a district judge and consisted mostly of representatives of the political parties. For the February 7 caucuses, the boundaries of the precincts will be as before. However, precincts could move into different districts for the City and County offices. After that the precinct boundaries themselves may be changed to reflect changes in population. Gary Farland lives in East Calhoun. Editors note: Uptown Neighborhood News will provide additional information in the February issue as it is available.

Monica Smiths Report

Neighborhood signage City workers are hanging our new East Calhoun border signs. Community Participation Program (CPP) Expenses year-todate were reviewed for the CPP funding. NRP Phase I and II expenses and budgets were reviewed. Grant money is available for home improvement projects, home security and more. Mailing The Board approved spending approx $900 of the CPP communications budget to mail a brochure to all East Calhoun residents. The brochure will include information about NRP programs, social events and committees to encourage participation in neighborhood activities. Idea Auction The board will consider an idea auction to give residents a chance to present ideas for possible uses for the $5,000 CES grant. The meeting was adjourned at 9:07 p.m. Next meeting: Thursday, January 5, 7:00 p.m. at St. Marys Greek Orthodox Church.

Destination Uptown

Uptown Association Annual Meeting, Jan. 18

Celebrate the community and learn more about the Associations current initiatives, as well as those of Uptown businesses and organizations. Destination Uptown is the Uptown Association Annual Meeting on January 18, 5pm to 8pm at St. Marys Greek Orthodox Church. The evening will feature a Business and Community Expo, cocktail hour, dinner catered by Rudolphs and more. This years keynote speaker is Robert Stephens, founder of Geek Squad, the worlds largest technology support company, and Chief Technology Officer for Best Buy. For details and registration information see www.uptownminneapolis. com.

Going To The Dogs

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) approved the location and design for a dog park in the Sixth Park District at its December 7 meeting. The new dog park will be located in Lyndale Farmstead Park along Kings Highway (Dupont Avenue and 39th Street). The lower section of the MPRBs Southside Operations Center parking area will be converted with construction and opening planned for 2012. For more information go to www.minneapolisparks.org/default. asp?PageID=1266

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Advertising Sales Representative 612.825.7780 susanhagler@earthlink.net

CARAG Neighborhood Meeting

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 7pm
Bryant Square Park (3101 Bryant Ave S)
Chilly Chili Fest February 26 Earth Day Clean Up April 21 Super Sale May 19 Bryant Square Park Concert Kick Off May 29 Plant Swap June 2 Garden Tour June 23, 25 & 27 Kids of CARAG Car Wash July (TBD) Uptown Art Fair (Pop Booth) August 3, 4 & 5

SUSAn hAGler

classifieds
Commercial classified ad sales are 40 per word, 10-word minimum and MUSt Be prepAid. Ad and advance payment are due the 15th of the month. please send a check and ad copy to: Uptown neighborhood news, Attn: Classifieds, 3612 Bryant Ave. S., Mpls., Mn 55409.

On the agenda
Crime & Safety Forum Transportation Project Updates Council Member Meg Tuthill Update And More

Happy New Year! 2012 CARAG Events

National Night Out August 7 Movie in the Park/ CARAG Kickball Game August (TBD) Annual Meeting September 18 Hennepin Lake Community Wine Tasting October 24

INT/EXT PAINTING
Sheetrock (Drywall) Taping, skim coating, textured ceilings. Ceiling & wall repair, water damage, wallpaper removal, power washing, deck staining. Fully insured. References. 24 years experience. A lifelong uptown area resident. casey.reynolds@att.net 612.825.9959, 612.991.6384

UPTOWN GRAPHIC DESIGN

Fast-Reliable-Professional: Graphic Design, Copy Writing, Illustration, Photography. www.satellitedesign. com, bruce@satellitedesign.com, 612.202.3045.

On-Going Events
Uptown Market Sundays: June-September Bryant Square Park Concerts Tues & Thurs: May-August

COMPANYS COMING!
Is your house clean? Let me help you! 612.636.1701. P.S. yard work, babysitting, pet care, too!

REMODELING
Windows and doors. Siding. Fences and decks, finish carpentry. Custom tile. Sheet rock, taping. Local references, free estimates. Tom 612.824.1554

Join the CARAG E-update at www.carag.org to receive emails about CARAG activities and events.

CARAG | 3612 Bryant Avenue S | Minneapolis, MN 55409 www.carag.org | carag@carag.org | 612.823.2520

 Uptown neighborhood news

www.carag.org

JANUARY 2012

community events calendar

JANUARY
(Editors Note: We will run community event listings every month on this page. Contact uptownnews@yahoo.com to submit your event information by the 15th of each month to be included in the next issue.)

10 TUESdAY

SeCUlAr BiBle StUdy ClASS

First Universalist Church - 7pm 3400 Dupont Ave. 612.825.1701 www.firstuniv.org

Julia Spencer. For the Love offeatures new work by twelve Spectrum ArtWorks artists. Living with mental illness is merely an element that brings these gifted artists together; it does not define the individual. The show runs thru January 18.

17 TUESdAY

thoMAS frAnk diSCUSSeS pity the BillionAire

28SATURdAY

firSt yeAr of iMprov GAlA

Huge Improv Theater - 8pm 3037 Lyndale Ave. 612.702.7910 www.hugetheater.com

TUESdAYS

SoCrAteS CAfe

Dunn Brothers - 7:30pm 3348 Hennepin Ave. 612.822.3292

The Socrates Cafe is an open meeting. The evening is spent discussing a short list of questions of philosophy that range all over the map from self identity, capital punishment, perception and anything else in between. Bring your questions and prepare to engage your mind.

In January and February, study the question, How does one reconcile the existence of human suffering and injustice with the existence of a loving and just God? January 10 and 24: What does the Book of Job say about the role of suffering and despair, fidelity and temptation? Of human understanding and forgiveness? February 14 and 28: What modern philosophers, thinkers and society take from the tale of Job and its modern implications.

14SATURdAY

Magers & Quinn Booksellers - 7:30pm 3038 Hennepin Ave. 612.822.4611 www.magersandquinn.com
In Pity the Billionaire: The Unlikely Resurgence of the American Right (available now), Thomas Frank, the great chronicler of American paradox, examines the peculiar mechanism by which dire economic circumstances have delivered wildly unexpected political results. Economic catastrophe usually brings social protest and demands for change--or at least its supposed to. But when Thomas Frank set out in 2009 to look for expressions of American discontent, all he could find were loud demands that the economic system be made even harsher on the recessions victims and that societys traditional winners receive even grander prizes. The American Right, which had seemed moribund after the election of 2008, was strangely reinvigorated by the arrival of hard times. The Tea Party movement demanded not that we question the failed system but that we reaffirm our commitment to it. Republicans in Congress embarked on a bold strategy of total opposition to the liberal state. Using firsthand reporting, a deep knowledge of the American Right, and a wicked sense of humor, he gives us the first full diagnosis of the cultural malady that has transformed collapse into profit, recast the Founding Fathers as heroes from an Ayn Rand novel, and enlisted the powerless in a fan club for the prosperous. The conclusions Frank reaches are startling, original and profound.

votinG riGhtS diSCUSSion

First Universalist Church - 10am 3400 Dupont Ave. 612.825.1701 www.firstuniv.org

Learn about the key issues of this anticipated constitutional amendment requiring a photo ID to vote, and watch a new video prepared by the League of Women Voters Minnesota about the amendment. Sponsored by the Association of Universalist Women (AUW) and Minnesota Universalist Unitarian Social Justice Alliance. All are welcome.

Huge Theater is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a gala show on January 28 at 8 pm. Tickets are $10 for the event featuring a special performance by the very best of its talent including the theaters Board of Directors, Butch Roy, Nels Lennes and Jill Bernard, plus cake and a raffle. Huge is the only theater in Minneapolis devoted to scenic improvisation, also called long form improv. We really beat the odds opening and surviving our first year in this economy, said Butch Roy.

11WEdNESdAY

MyStery Book ClUB

7 14, 21, 28SATURdAYS ,

B-Girl Be SAtUrdAyS
Intermedia Arts - Noon-3pm 2822 Lyndale Ave. 612.871.4444 www.intermediaarts.org
Delve into the Four Pillars of Hip-Hop culture Saturdays in January with some of the Twin Cities leading hip-hop artists. Get out of the cold and into Intermedia for some dance, spoken word, visual art, graffiti, music and hip-hop history. Based on the wildly successful B-Girl Be festival, these workshops will open up your mind and creativity to the contributions of women in hip-hop history. Open to boys and girls. Space will fill up fast, so send in your registration form today.

Once Upon A Crime Bookstore - 6:30pm 604 West 26th St. 612.870.3785 www.onceuponacrimebooks.com
Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay, Facilitated by Michael Mallory.

lAke hArriet winter kite feStivAl

14SATURdAY

filM: froM the BACk of the rooM

30MONdAY

BRYANT LAKE BOWL - 8pm 810 W. Lake St. 612.825.8949 www.bryantlakebowl.com

From the Back of the Room: January 30th and 31st at Bryant Lake Bowl Theater. Although it is often credited with spurring the third wave of feminism, Riot Grrrl seemed to many to be a blip in the media. Riot Grrrl paved the way for the more mainstream girl power phenomenon, but was ultimately forgotten until recently. Books and films have now been released on the subject, but in the scramble for commemoration, many women who were predecessors or contemporaries of Riot Grrrl have been ignored. This film tackles the past thirty years of female involvement in Do It Yourself music, and aims to give a more complete picture of how women have participated in the D.I.Y. community, and how it affects their daily lives. Interviews include: Kathleen Hanna from Bikini Kill and Le Tigre, Slade from Tribe 8, Chris Boarts-Larson of Slug and Lettuce, Cynthia Connolly, Author of Banned in D.C., Cristy Road, Graphic Artist, Allison Wolfe from Bratmobile and Partyline, Anna from Blatz, Kirsten from Naked Aggression, Jen from Submission Hold, Witch Hunt, Condenada, Bruise Violet. Tickets: $5-$10.

for the love of openinG reCeption

12 ThURSdAY

Mpls. Park & Rec. Brd. - Noon-4pm Lake Harriet 612.824.9350

Soo Visual Arts Center - 6pm-9pm 2638 Lyndale Ave. 612.871.2263 www.soovac.org
Soo Visual Arts Center and Spectrum ArtWorks Presents: For the Love of Featuring work by: Cecile Bellamy, Audrey Bernard, Faye Buffington-Howell, cynTHIA, Christi Furnas, Peter F. Hinze, William Kothol-Borgen, David Morris, Jude Mostek, Clarence Reed, James Sjolin and

The UNNs Contest Giveaway Returns In February. Stay Tuned...

Winter fun with strings attached: Kites of all shapes, sizes, colors and themes will fly over frozen Lake Harriet. But theres more fun to be had on the ice and even underneath it. Other fun family activities at the festival include ice fishing, horsedrawn wagon rides, snowshoeing, a kids medallion hunt and a marshmallow roast. Minnesota Kite Society experts will demonstrate their skills maneuvering spectacular kites throughout the day, and offer their expertise to kite flying enthusiasts and to those who are new to the pastime. Bring your own kite, or buy an inexpensive one at the lake. The DNR Ice Fishing Expo will teach kids ice fishing skills and safety tips; the DNR will provide all the equipment needed to participate. The festival will take place on the north end of Lake Harriet near the Bandshell, located at 4135 W. Lake Harriet Parkway; admission is free. In case of extreme weather or poor ice conditions, the event will be re-scheduled for January 21.

21SATURdAY

lAte niGht MUSiC

Cause Spirits & Sound Bar - 9pm 3001 Lyndale Ave. 612.822.6000 www.spiritsandsound.com
The Evening Rig, The Color Pharmacy, Bigtree Bonsai. Tickets: $5.

Let the YWCA of Minneapolis help you get fit and save money. Join the YWCA of Minneapolis during January and get $100 off the Joiners Fee.
Offer good on new Adult, Family and Young Professional memberships. Some exceptions apply.

Serious about keeping your resolutions this year?

The Power to Soar

TM