Lake Street News Brief
www.lakestreetcouncil.org
December 9, 2009

Lake Street Council's mission is to build
a cohesive strategy to ensure the ongoing vitality
of the Lake Street Corridor business community.

The Latest on Lake:

This past weekend, a class from South High came in to decorate the windows of the US Bank at 919 E. Lake St. They took photos along the way, and you can see them at work and view the finished product at South's website. Stay tuned for a full montage of all the holiday decorating going on on Lake Street this month, coming soon!
Congratulations to Midtown Global Market for once again getting some national attention, this time in the pages of the USA Today. The Kitchen in the Market spot in the Global Market has also been getting some local attention recently, with the website Simply Good & Tasty doing one piece on Tastebud Catering, and another on Cafe Nepal, which serves momos there Friday and Saturday.
Calhoun Square is nearing completion of its big remodel, and the Star Tribune visited recently to see what's new in the remodel, the new businesses that are moving in, and what else is in its future. The Star Tribune also recently reviewed Calhoun Square's new Italian restaurant Il Gatto, saying that it has "wall-to-wall style" and a wide selections of pastas and other entrees.
Also in the Star Tribune, a look at Cristo Rey high school, located at 4th & Lake. They call it "a different sort of private school, getting students into the work world and motivated to succeed." One of Cristo Rey's business partners interviewed in the article is M&I Bank and their manager Felicia Ravelomanantsoa, also right there in the 4th & Lake area.
For all area retailers and restaurants interested in a new partnership with Metro Transit and its customers: "Transit Treasure a first of its kind, merchant-funded coalition loyalty rewards program designed for users of public transportation is coming to the Twin Cities. Transit Treasure is an innovative, exciting and differentiated marketing platform through which local merchants can market directly to the people who walk or ride by their businesses on a daily basis. Visit www.transittreasure.com or call/text Fred Erickson at 612.229.8808 for more information."

Lake Street Calendar:

December 10th - 20th: La Natividad, at In the Heart of the Beast Theatre
1500 E. Lake St.
This alternative holiday show combines street theatre, HOBT’s expressive puppetry, and an outdoor candle-lit procession. Much more than a straightforward enactment of the Christmas story, La Natividad unites evocative theater with an open-armed community celebration of inclusion and generosity. It has become a tradition for many in the Twin Cities who wish to push beyond the commercialism that abounds during this season and experience the essence of the holiday.

December 10th: Uptown Holiday Boutique Crawl
5:00 - 9:00 PM
20% discount at all participating stores, trunk shows, complimentary cocktails, and swag bags for shopper who visit every boutique while supplies last. Participating boutiques are: Covered (1201 Lagoon Ave.), Drama (1203 Lagoon Ave.), Ivy (1440 W. Lake St.), Atmosfere (1426 W. Lake St.), and Vstate (3001 Hennepin Ave.).

December 11th & 12th: Dance Film Project, at Intermedia Arts
7:00 - 10:30 PM, 2822 Lyndale Ave. S.
Dance Film Project is an annual festival for dancemakers and filmmakers to collaborate and create original short works for the camera. The project aims to explore choreography through a cinematic language. Click here for a full schedule of events.

December 11th & 12th: Kinetic Kitchen, at Patrick's Cabaret
8:00 PM, 3010 Minnehaha Ave.
Featuring Cade Holmseth premiering "Just One More", Jennifer Glaws’ Jagged Moves, Sarah LaRose-Holland’s Kinetic Evolutions dance company, and youth group The Phipps Dance Company.

December 12th: Santa Lucia Celebration, at Ingebretsen's
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 1601 E. Lake St.
December 13, is a celebration of light in Sweden, and all of Scandinavia; countries that are very dark in the winter. Join Ingebretsen's to share the tradition of this special Swedish holiday with holiday music and pepparkakor served by Lucia and her attendants. Special thanks to the talent of the SvenksarnasDag Girls Choir.

December 12th: Get to Know Project 8, at Powderhorn Park
5:00 - 7:00 PM, 3400 15th Ave. S. (Powderhorn Park Building)
A community event to discuss the concerns of youth in the neighborhood, to eat a free meal, and to enjoy free youth entertainment. Project 8 recognizes that there are an infinite number of things the people in our community are good at. Whether it be cooking or teaching math or giving free law advice, we want to show the youth of the Twin Cities that the support is here for them to succeed. This is a family event so bring your kids!

December 15th: Chiang Mai Thai Wine Pairing Dinner
6:30 - 9:00 PM, 3001 Hennepin Ave. S.
Five flights of exceptional wine from Oregon and the Willamette Valley have been chosen to accompany five courses from Chiang Mai Thai's award winning menu. The cost is $50 (tax/tip included). Limited number of seats available, so we call or stop by soon! 612-827-1606

December 17th: Annual Phillips Neighborhood Open House, at American Swedish Institute
4:00 - 6:00 PM, 2600 Park Ave.
Live or work in Phillips? Bring your business card, employee badge, driver's license or other ID to receive: free museum admission, complimentary cider and cookies, and a 10% discount in the ASI Museum Shop.

December 18th & 19th: Santa Claus visits Midtown Global Market
5:00 - 8:00 PM Friday, 12:00 - 4:00 PM Saturday, 920 E. Lake St.
"Santa Claus is here for free picture taking December 18 & 19! Just bring your camera and capture the smiling, crying, laughing, terrified expressions your children will make while sitting on Santa's lap telling him if they have been naughty or nice!"

December 19th: Vine Arts Center Holiday Sale
12:00 - 5:00 PM., 2637 28th Avenue South
Find unique arts & crafts from the areas best artists & artisans. See & buy jewelry, sculptures, ceramics, pottery, original wall arts & more.

December 19th: "Damn Good Food" Book Discussion, at Magers & Quinn
1:00 PM, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S.
Mitch Omer will be at M&Q to meet customers and talk about his cookbook Damn Good Food. Mitch Omer is the chef and owner of the wildly popular Hell's Kitchen, named one of the Best Breakfasts across America by Esquire magazine. In his new cookbook, Damn Good Food, Mitch Omer reveals the recipes that have made his restaurant a pleasure seeker's destination, including inventions like his tart, ethereal Lemon-Ricotta Hotcakes; dark, wild Bison Sausage Bread; and sweet, creamy Mahnomin Porridge. These dishes have the hungry and eager queued up out the doors of Hell's Kitchen, often for hours, but now you can make them at home.

Saturdays & Sundays through December 19th: Letters to Santa...Postage Due!, at Bryant Lake Bowl
Sundays at 6:00 PM, Saturdays at 7:00 PM, 810 W. Lake St.
The slightest miscalculation or worse FORGETTING that precious few cents on a letter to Santa can have the direst of consequences for anyone! Ranek and Weiland return with an all-new installation of “Letters to Santa”.

Through December 19th: Almost, Maine, presented by Swandive Theatre
Thursdays - Saturdays at 8:00 PM, Red Eye Theater
On a cold winter night in the small town of Almost, Maine, the northern lights dance in the sky and the residents of Almost find themselves falling in and out of love in heart warming and often hilarious ways.

Through December 20th: The Seafarer, at Jungle Theater
2951 Lyndale Ave. S.
A collection of Irish misfits lay their cards - and their souls - on the table in this tale of a poker game played on Christmas Eve. A wonderful exploration of passion, provocation, and the potential for redemption, The Seafarer showcases one of today's greatest storytellers, and an all-star cast of local favorites.

Through December 23rd: Holiday Pageant, at Open Eye Figure Theatre
506 E. 24th St.
This family-friendly, joyfully amusing celebration of the Christmas season crackles with puckish sensibilities. Expect trumpets and tricks, angels and devils, shepherds...and a little lamb. You'll experience a whole lot of magical puppetry and holiday cheer. The one-hour show is served up with cookies and hot cider for all.

Through January 16th: Annual Winter Co-Op Exhibit, at Highpoint Center for Printmaking
912 W. Lake St.
Highpoint Center for Printmaking is pleased to present Prints on Ice, an exhibition and print sale hosted by members of its community printshop cooperative. This event will offer a firsthand look at the prints and a chance to meet cooperative members and experience their Lake Street studio.