Volume 7, Issue 2
Summer 2009
Inside this issue:
Northland Poster Collective Closes
After 30 Years
Greenway Banners
2
by Joyce Wisdom
Radio & Airport
Marketing
2
Whereto when the Northland Poster Collective has
been home for 30 years?
Ricardo Levins Morales
will set up a new studio/
gallery on Minnehaha
Avenue where the social
justice and community art
that we have come to depend upon from him can
continue to grow.
Gold Members
3
New Board Member
4
Calendar
5
Keeping Lake Street 6
Green
Translations
Ricardo Levins Morales
began drawing pictures of
chickens on the small
Puerto Rican farm where
he spent his childhood.
Raised in the anti-colonial
movement, he absorbed
critical politics along with
the sun, rain, and rhythms
of his homeland. He experienced adolescence in
Chicago at a time of politi-
Ricardo Levins Morales designed the Visit Lake Street logo,
which we now use in many of our marketing materials
cal ferment. He was active
in the movement to end
the war against Viet Nam
as well as in support of
the Black Panther Party,
the Puerto Rican Young
Lords, school strikes, and
community struggles. He
drew his first leaflet for a
Black Panther fundraiser.
Moving to Minneapolis in
1976, he began teaching
himself silk screen printing—eventually finding
work as a printer. In 1979,
joining with other activist
- Northland, cont. on page 5 -
Lake Street Ambassadors
Cleaning Up The Street, Year 6
by Chris Oien
Another summer on Lake
Street, another mountain
of trash picked up by our
teenage summer work
crew, the Lake Street
Ambassadors. For 10
weeks this summer, these
teens get our street
looking much cleaner and
7
more inviting, and learn a
lot about Lake Street in
the process.
Monday through Friday,
our crew members get
their pik stiks and trash
bags and work 9 - 3 to
remove the litter from
Lake Street’s sidewalks,
gutters, and bus stops.
We believe that a clean
street means more business and a more positive
impression of our community, and with our crew’s
work, we are able to put
that belief into practice.
Just as importantly, the
Ambassadors program is
- Ambassadors, cont. on page 4 -
Lake Street Council
919 East Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Phone: 612-822-0232
Fax: 612-821-6219
Websites:
www.lakestreetcouncil.org
www.visitlakestreet.com
OUR THANKS
Lake Street Council’s
services & programs are
supported by: our members, the McKnight Foundation, Payne-Lake Community Partners, Hennepin County, Minneapolis
Business Association
Assistance Program,
Metro Transit, Great
Streets and other funders
New Greenway Banners Show the Way to Lake Street
by Chris Oien
runners, walkers, and in-line skaters
use it daily for transportation,
recreation, and exercise.
However, one needed improvement
that has been discussed for years
now is how to create a stronger link
and better wayfinding between the
Greenway and Lake Street. It has
been unclear for many on the Greenway just what part of Lake Street
they’re close to, and easy to forget
entirely that Lake Street is even there.
closest trail exit, one on each side.
This will let all Greenway users know
where to exit to get to their favorite
Lake Street businesses.
We would like to thank the City of
Minneapolis, Hennepin County, and
Midtown Greenway Coalition for their
support in getting these banners installed. We all share the belief that
strengthening the connection between
the Greenway and Lake Street benefits both the residential and the business community.
Now, thanks to a Great Streets grant
from the City of Minneapolis, that is
starting to change. The grant has allowed us to create and install wayfinding banners on the Greenway near
eight major Lake Street intersections,
such as 27th, Chicago, and Lyndale.
The Midtown Greenway has proven
itself to be a valuable part of the Lake
Street corridor. Thousands of bikers,
These yellow banners all say “Lake
Street” and point the way with large
arrows. They also all include a picture
of an area business that represents
what can be found in the area. Two of
each banner has been hung near the
Lake Street on the Radio and at the Airport
Along with the Greenway banners, we
are also using this year’s Great
Streets grant to expand our Lake
Street branding and advertising efforts
to a larger segment of the Twin Cities.
We’re doing this by hitting the
airwaves and the airport.
740-AM comes to a Lake Street
location to broadcast live. We’ve
already used this to promote the
Midtown Farmers’ Market, Uptown Art
Fair, and Mercado Central’s 10th
Anniversary, and several more live
remotes will take place in 2009.
On the radio, we have a 60 second
Lake Street spot running daily on
popular stations like 93X, WCCO-AM,
and LOVE105-FM. This ad highlights
the many different dining, shopping
and entertainment choices Lake
Street has for all, and invites listeners
to go to our new site for more.
Lake Street is at the airport, too.
We’ve purchased a 10 second digital
ad that runs in the baggage claim
area. It grabs the attention of both
visitors and returning residents, and
gets them wanting to know more.
We have a number of live radio
remotes to use as well, where WDGY
Page 2
A shot from our ad at the airport
We already know from both word of
mouth and increased Web traffic that
these ads are having an effect! As the
airport and radio campaigns continue
throughout the year, they’ll keep
attracting notice, and drive more and
more people our way.
The Lake Line
GOLD MEMBERS
Calhoun Square
3001 Hennepin Ave. S.
612-824-1240
calhounsquare.com
Chicago Lake Dental
2900 Chicago Ave. S.
612-823-2080
chicagolakedental.com
Maaco Collision Repair &
Auto Painting
2005 E. Lake St.
612-721-6448
maacominneapolis.com
Blue Construction
PO Box 6630
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612-396-0933
blueconstructioninc.com
Volume 7, Issue 2
Page 3
Ambassadors, from page 1
a chance to connect Lake Street with
the next generation of Minneapolis
citizens. Some of the Ambassadors
live just a few blocks off of Lake
Street, and some of them bus here
from North Minneapolis, but they all
learn a great deal more about Lake
Street’s businesses and business
owners than they knew coming in.
“It’s been a great opportunity to find
out more about this area and see all
the diverse cultures of the world on
this one five mile street,” says
Anthony, one of our team leaders.
We help them get to know Lake by
arranging tours of various businesses
and landmarks. In 2009, we visited
Mercado Central, The Green Institute,
Pangea World Theater, and Pioneers
& Soldiers Memorial Cemetery, to
name a few.
For many of our Ambassadors, this is
one of their first experiences working
at a job, so we also have the chance
to instill in them the skills and outlook
they need to be a success. This includes showing up to work promptly,
managing time wisely, working
together in teams, and keeping a
positive attitude. And on this job, they
2009’s Lake Street Ambassadors
also get to know what it feels like to
have an impact in a community. “I like
being able to look back at where we
just picked up trash and see that we
made a difference, since it looks so
much nicer than it did before,” says
Danny, our other team leader.
Lake Street will certainly miss the
Ambassadors when they go back to
school. But we can all do our part to
clean up Lake Street year-round!
(See page 6 for more)
Agatha Vaaler Joins Lake Street Council Board
by Becky George, Board President
We are pleased to announce that
Agatha Vaaler, Green Institute
Program Associate,
has been elected to a position on
the Lake Street Council Board of
Directors.
Agatha has experienced board
service with skills in fundraising,
communications, and planning.
Agatha looks forward to being a part
of the Lake Street Council Board
Page 4
team, working with our staff and our
business community to create
greater engagement, improved
services and expansion of our
advocacy efforts.
Lake Street Council membership
and services continue to grow and
expand. With the leadership of our
board, including newest member
Agatha Vaaler, we anticipate strong
membership growth and program
expansion to continue as we search
for solutions today and plan for the
future.
The Lake Line
Lake Street Calendar of Events - Summer & Fall 2009
Sunday, September 13, 12 - 7 PM
Friday, Sept. 25, 9:30 AM - noon
Sunday, October 4, 1 - 5 PM
Mexican Independence Day Celebration
4th & Lake
Business Day at City Hall
350 South 5th Street
This celebration empowers & promotes
Latino business in the Twin Cities, and
educates the community about Mexican
history. Local groups will perform music
and cultural dances throughout the day
on two stages and a variety of other
activities will be available. There will be
a parade that begins at 1:00 p.m. that
travels down Lake from Bloomington
Ave. to Third Ave.
An opportunity for business owners to
speak with city officials about issues
that affect their businesses. Following
a short program, participants will
attend separate “town hall” sessions
with their own council member. Call
the Minneapolis Chamber of
Commerce at 612-370-9100 to
register. $15 cost to register.
Taste of Lake Street
920 E. Lake St. (inside Midtown
Global Market)
Northland, from page 1
tion tells stories that shed
light on how change really
happens, stories
of collective action; of struggles that are won or lost; of
the embers of hope that
glow in even the most difficult times.
artists, he helped found the Northland
Poster Collective which linked artists
with social justice organizing.
He credits his sister, Aurora, with
naming his approach to community
art and calls it “medicinal art.” He
starts his work with any community or
group by asking what it is that keeps
people from exercising power in their
lives, workplace or community. The
shape of the work which follows flows
from the resulting “diagnosis.” His
work often relies on humor. Ricardo
sees fear as the greatest obstacle, so
re-enforcing hope is a major theme in
his work, a positive reaction to the
hopelessness that has lay beneath
too much of our cultural landscape.
Ricardo’s art has been the foundation
of the Northland Poster Collective and
as he and the other valued members
of this collective move into a new
stage of their lives, they have helped
us to understand that art and organizing are effective tools to shift power
into the hands of those who have too
little. The art made at Northland
Poster Collective and which Ricardo
will continue to create in his new loca-
Volume 7, Issue 2
Held by the Minneapolis Rotary Club
for Minneapolis hunger relief. Great
food, great wine, greater cause. This
event will be held in the Global Market
and feature restaurateurs from around
Lake Street and South Minneapolis.
Tickets $25 online, $30 at the event.
Visit www.tasteoflakestreet.org to
learn more.
The Northland Poster Collective has been an active
participant in the movements
of our time. As this missionbased group of inspired, dogood artists go in various
directions, it is a loss to our
communities, but should
also be seen as a point in
the history of art and social
justice when we can celebrate their 30 years of effort
accomplishments. Our
thanks to the many artists
and others who have called
Northland Poster Collective
home over those years.
Northland Poster Collective
will long be remembered and
the results speak for themselves. We wish for everyone who contributed here
that their futures be filled
with reasons to hope.
Page 5
Ambassadors, from page 1
Several
Tips to Help Lake Street Be A Little Greener
by ZoeAna Martinez
Please help us beautify Lake Street!
•
Nurture the trees you have on
your property or in front of your
business by watering them. The
trees do get watered, but not as
often as they need to be and
with your help we can help
maintain them.
•
Picking up, litter, debris, and
junk on your property, streets,
and sidewalks helps make your
business, property and Lake
Street look terrific. Blowing,
sweeping or moving debris into
the street only worsens our
quality of water. This in turn
goes into our sewers and into
our local water supply that
comes out our faucets. So we
ask you to bring a trash bag with
you and pick it up.
Here is a link with more information
on the City of Minneapolis site:
http://bit.ly/mpls-blip
Business Beat - New Openings
Uptown
Floyd’s 99 Barbershop is open at
1220 W Lake St. Art At Your Door,
an art, framing and home décor
gallery, is in business at 1433 W.
Lake St. Women’s clothing store
Drama is new at 1203 Lagoon Ave.
has completed its move into 912 W.
Lake St. New Italian restaurant
Risotto is at 610 W. Lake St., next to
It’s Greek To Me. Anchor Bar is soon
moving into the old jP American Bistro
spot at 2937 Lyndale Ave. S.
Nicollet-Lake
Lyn-Lake
Minneapolis's latest addition to the
nightclub circuit, Sauce Spirits &
Soundbar at 3005 Lyndale Ave., is
open for business, and features live
music, a full bar and casual Italian.
Jackson's Coffee & Gelato is now
up and running at 822 W. Lake St.
Highpoint Center for Printmaking
Page 6
Little Caesar’s and a new
Laundromat are slated to move in
soon to the Office Max shopping
center at 3001 Nicollet Ave. S.
4th & Lake
World of Wireless’s new location is
open at 505 E. Lake St. Monkey
Business is open at 420 E. Lake St.,
featuring clothes and accessories.
Other new businesses include
African Safari Grocery, Halal
Community Market, and Botanica la
Hoja Verde.
Chicago-Lake
Dental Emergency Room is open at
707 E. Lake St.
Bloom-Cedar-Hiawatha
A new Pupuseria y Restaurant is
coming soon at 1530 E. Lake St.
Cedar Pharmacy is open at the
northwest corner of Cedar & Lake.
The Lake Line
Las nuevas banderas del Greenway señalan la
dirección a la calle Lake
The Midtown Greenway a demostrado ser una valiosa pieza del
pasillo de la calle Lake. Miles de
ciclistas, corredores, caminantes
y patinadores que diario utilizan
para transporte, recreación y
ejercicio.
Sin embargo, uno necesita la mejoras que se han discutido por
años, hasta ahora es cómo crear
un enlacé más fuerte y mejor entre el Greenway y la calle Lake.
Ha sido confuso para muchos en
el Greenway para saber adonde
estas en la calle Lake y es fácil
olvidar que la calle Lake está allí.
Ahora, los gracias a una Great
Streets concesión de la Ciudad
de Minneapolis, de que están comenzando a cambiar. La concesión nos ha permitido crear é instalar banderas en el Greenway
cerca de las ocho intersecciones
mas importantes de la calle Lake,
tales como la 4 avenida, Chicago,
y el Lyndale.
Estas banderas amarillas todas
dicen “la calle Lake” y señalan la
dirección con las flechas grandes
a la calle Lake. También todas
incluyen una foto de un negocio
que se puede encontrar en el
área. Dos de cada bandera se
han colgado cerca de la salida
más cercana, una en cada lado.
Esto dejará saber a todos los
usuarios del Greenway dónde
salir para seguir a sus negocios
preferidos de la calle Lake.
Quisiéramos agradecer la Ciudad
de Minneapolis, al Condado de
Hennepin y el Midtown Greenway
Coalition por su ayuda a conseguir estas banderas. Todos compartimos la creencia que él enlazó más fuerte y mejor entre el
Greenway y la calle Lake beneficia tanto el vecindario como la
comunidad de los negocios.
Varios recordatorios para ayudar a la calle Lake para
convertirse en un poco más verde
¡Nos ayudan por favor a embellecer la calle Lake!
•
•
Cuide los árboles que usted
tiene en su propiedad o enfrente de su negocio y regándolos. A los árboles los riegan,
pero no tan a seguido como
necesitan y con su ayuda podemos ayudar a mantenerlos.
Cogiendo la basura y los des-
Volume 7, Issue 2
perdicios en su propiedad y
las aceras ayudan a hacer que
su negocio y su propiedad se
vean fabulosas en la calle Lake. Barriendo y moviendo la
basura a la calle solamente
empeora nuestra calidad del
agua. Esto alternadamente
entra en nuestras alcantarillas
y nuestro abastecimiento de
agua local que sale en nues-
tros llaves (grifos). Por eso le
pedimos que usted traiga una
bolsa de basura con usted y
que lo recoja.
Aquí esta más información sobre
esto en el web de la ciudad de
Minneapolis:
http://bit.ly/mpls-blip
Page 7
OUR GREAT STREETS MARKETING INITIATIVES
SEE PAGE 2
Translations by ZoeAna Martinez
Our thanks to new and renewing
members! April - July 2009:
Bryant Lake Bowl, El Nuevo Rodeo, Migizi Communications, North Star Mini Storage, Corazon, US
Bank, Intermedia Arts, Pangea World Theater,
Carlson Printing, Patrick’s Cabaret, Fuji Ya,
Volunteers of America, Calhoun Square, Ryan
Companies, Marisqueria el Nayarita, ICC Wireless,
Jungle Theater, Ingebretsen’s, Town Talk Diner,
Church of St. Albert the Great, Sheraton Midtown
Hotel, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Floating World
Café, M&I Bank, Urban Ventures, Green Institute,
Mercado Central, Smitten Kitten, Intown On Lake
Condominium Association, La Vina Restaurant, Blue
Apartments, Wells Fargo, Frattallone’s Ace
Hardware, Stranik Inc., Hamoudi Sabri, Longfellow
Family Dentistry, VFW Post #246, Penn Cycle,
Northern Sun, Communications Workers of America,
Franklin Bank, CLUES, Vi Runquist, Burnomatic
Mooney & Ridler, Minneapolis South Rotary Club,
Highpoint Center For Printmaking, Peace Coffee
Become a member today! Apply at our website
www.lakestreetcouncil.org or give us a call at
612-822-0232.
Can’t get enough Lake Street news? Sign up for our
weekly e-news! E-mail [email protected]
The Lake Street Council
Board of Directors meets monthly.
Joyce Wisdom, Executive Director
612-822-0232
[email protected]
ZoeAna Martinez, Outreach & Services Coordinator
612-822-1912
[email protected]
Se Habla Español
Chris Oien, Administration & Communication Coordinator
612-824-7420
[email protected]
The Lake Line is published quarterly
by the Lake Street Council.
Engaging, serving and representing the
Lake Street business community to ensure the
vitality and prosperity of the commercial corridor.