This Week in Saint Paul: Monday, March 10–Sunday, March 16, 2014

March 10, 2014

Last week, I checked out three movies from the library. I did not watch any of them. I am guilty of depriving the rest of the world of these copies of movies, but I have an excuse: I went outside. I saw things. I met with people who are doing things. I saw people—people not unlike the folks our stories celebrate each week. Whether I was meeting in Lowertown or Rondo, or working in my neighborhood, it felt great, likely at least in part due to the improving weather. It will grow even warmer this week, and some of the art will be even hotter! We have a few ideas to turn up the temperature.

March 26, 2014: Ifrah Mansour presents “West Bank Footprints; Hidden, Awe-inspiring Stories” at the Lowertown Reading Jam

March 9, 2014

Where have your footprints taken you? Through storytelling, spoken words, poetry, chanting, singing, crafting, and painting, we retrace our footprints and reflect as educators, community organizers, artists, students and fellow supporters on our journeys to romance the West Bank neighborhood in the midst of our greater personal journeys. The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the sixth in its 2013–2014 season of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, which celebrate the rich literary history of Minnesota's capital city and the widely popular genre of spoken word. Featuring performances by Farhiyo Abdulkarim, Janet Curiel, Safy-Hallan Farah, Ifrah Mansour, and Lula Saleh.

Booker Taliaferro Washington and Me

March 8, 2014

Booker Taliaferro Washington, born in approximately 1856, was enslaved in Virginia on a plantation. The young Booker yearned to learn to read and to serve. After slavery was abolished, Washington went to school and became an educator. In 1881, as the principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute in Alabama, he transformed the campus from a rundown building to an educational institution offering thirty-eight trades. His first book, Up From Slavery, tells his story and is highly acknowledged today. Washington also authored thirteen other books.

March 20, 2014 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Liz Lassiter

March 8, 2014

Music, to Liz Lassiter, is purpose. Music is transformative. Music is a process for all spirits involved in creating it. Ultimately, music defines itself differently for different people and that is the beauty of it.

March 13, 2014 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Mahmoud El-Kati/Sankofa Series

March 8, 2014

MAHMOUD EL-KATI is a lecturer, author, and commentator on the African American experience. El-Kati is Professor Emeritus of History at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. El-Kati hosts a weekly public affairs radio show called “Reflections and Connections” on KMOJ radio in the Northside of Minneapolis. He also moderates a monthly viewing and discussion on various Black classic films at the Fourth Fridays at the Movies held at Golden Thyme Cafe in St. Paul.

Calling Gadahlski

March 4, 2014

Gadahlski refers to the garage door of the house I grew up in. The house was a modern rambler sitting on a hill in the pristine, well-educated community of St. Anthony Park. My parents, my sister, and I did whatever we could to fit into the mold of “the Park.” The house expressed this desire for perfection with its regularly mowed lawn, clipped hedges, and fresh paint. Even the flower and vegetable gardens were neat and orderly.

March 6, 2014 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Andrea Jenkins and writing workshop

March 3, 2014

Andrea Jenkins is a poet and writer living and working in the Twin Cities. She is currently employed by the Minneapolis City Council as a Senior Policy Aide. As an African American, Out Transgender Woman she has faced her share of significant challenges, however she continues to move on with grace, dignity, and pride. She has performed with Leslie Feinberg, Kate Bornstien and Minnie Bruce Pratt to name a few.

This Week in Saint Paul: Monday, March 3–Sunday, March 9, 2014

March 2, 2014

One of the reasons that Saint Paul has a snow emergency protocol different from that of Minneapolis is that so many of the cross streets in many parts of town do not have houses or other buildings with numbers on them. This means that knowing which side of the street is “the odd side” can be tricky. This is why I was a little surprised when, Thursday evening, the city told us that the odd side of streets is where we must park on many roadways in town until further notice—just like Minneapolis. This means many of us have to move our cars. To where? Well, since you asked, we have a few ideas this week.

March

March 1, 2014

It hadn’t occurred to me until someone at work brought it to my attention that this winter has been going on for eleven years. I said, “That can’t be. Surely not.” But then I got thinking about it. It was eleven years ago November we moved into this house. You remember, snow was just beginning and we had so much trouble getting the refrigerator down the driveway and through the door.