Early last week, we got a taste of autumn, not the one with the golden sun shining on the amber landscape. The one with the cold rain that, when near the equinox, knocks the leaves off the trees and mocks us with visions of winter’s starkness. The message? Enjoy the summer.
Hello, readers. I have nothing to say. I am speechless, mostly because I heard that many of you were watching cat videos on your own instead of the safer option of watching them in public at CHS Field. As I write, I will have to fight through the disappointment to deliver this week’s events.
I am thinking of all the stories that have been created this summer. I am thinking of the ones that Storymobile collected at last week’s Little Mekong Night Market, or ones we will celebrate with next month’s Almanac Book Release Party at the Black Dog, or the ones we will create in the sun, rain and thunder of the next few weeks before the State Fair shifts our consciousness to whatever our modern urban version of harvest looks like.
The night air is feeling wonderful these days. Getting slathered with humidity and heat might take a little bit out of our limp sails, but there is something about the evening air and a blue moon that makes these waning days of summer worthwhile. That and the fact that there is art to see, hear, and feel in the midst of our atmospheric reality. I hope you can join us for a few of the frolics.
Saint Paul Almanac and the Minnesota Humanities Center received a $90,000 Heritage Partnership grant to plan how to consistently publish and distribute the stories of Minnesota African American leaders and writers.
Saint Paul Almanac celebrates its first decade with a grand book release party for its new literary collection, Saint Paul Almanac: A Ten-Year Retrospective. (Aug. 5, 2015) SAINT PAUL—The Saint Paul
I can’t believe that summer is almost two thirds over. I can’t believe that it has already been quite full. It is not over, thankfully. You could think awhile about how to fill the rest of the summer, but I have done a little of that for you–at least for this week.
It’s another full week. I have not wilted from the heat yet but have had to turn on my air conditioner at home only twice so far. Maybe it is because I have been taking in some of the great views the city has to offer in the performance, art, and community venues that keep me from noticing it is getting to the hot part of the year.
I want mini donuts at my funeral
nothing fancy, just a van
owned by a retired couple
who won’t skimp on the sugar
and for the kids, all-you-can-ride wristbands.
Last week’s Canadian fires brought me a scratchy throat and sights of suns and moons with colors that would make the artist’s palette envious. On alternate evenings, I saw the blood moon and the pink sun that hovered over Saint Paul and was reminded of the brilliant things happening in the stages, in the neighborhoods, and in the hearts and minds that made and consume it all.
The spectacle of the Fourth of July left us with a late night of fireworks after an exciting extra-inning ball game at CHS field. Last week was grand, but there are even more fireworks in store for this week. You cannot possibly catch them all, but Saint Paul is busy this week. Take a look, listen, feel, and taste. You will be glad you shared it with us.
Do I see myself in the water’s reflection? Do you? Or have we been written out of this Minnesota Brand all together? “The Minnie-rasure” of People of Color.
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