T H E M I N N E A P O L I S O B S E R V E R A Weekly Digest of All Things Minneapolitan www.mplsobserver.com Vol. 2, No. 15 November 18, 2002
This is a preview issue of The Observer. To check out what our subscribers ($12/yr.) receive, visit www.mplsobserver.com and take a look at a sample issue. ********************************************************** THIS WEEK IN THE OBSERVER: * Warehouse District Eateries Disappearing * City Leader Anxious about Pawlenty, Legislature * Library Board Recommends Budget-Cutting Options * Playing with Guns * Art Institute Modifies Expansion Plans * Lake Street Arts Center in Jeopardy Plus: Remembering Bob Short, moving the library, counting sperm, clarifying our foreign policy, and celebrating downtown's demise. ********************************************************** WAREHOUSE DISTRICT EATERIES DISAPPEARING The downtown Warehouse District, once home to some of the city's most successful restaurants, is rapidly transforming into a drink and dance zone. The recent closing of the Pickled Parrot continues a trend that includes the demise of Nikki's Caf�, Linguini & Bob, and several other restaurants on the north end of downtown, notes Andrew Tellijohn in the Business Journal (twincities.bizjournals.com). The character of the Warehouse District has been changing since the Target Center began bringing sports fans to the neighborhood in 1990, but has accelerated since construction began on Block E. The area now, says Brent Erickson of United Properties, is "really an entertainment area. To be successful you have to either be a really strong destination, like D'Amico Cucina, or you have to cater to the crowd that is showing up to mingle." But other factors have also contributed to the change, including a general economic downturn and the havoc created by light rail and Block E construction downtown. Still, says Nikki's Caf� owner Nikki Reisman, the area no longer attracts upscale diners. "It's just a different crowd," she says. "Despite Block E, the caliber of the clientele has been, I think, diminished." CITY LEADERS ANXIOUS ABOUT PAWLENTY, LEGISLATURE As you might expect in a city run by Democrats, a fair bit of concern is emanating from City Hall in the wake of the Republican electoral sweep on November 5. LIBRARY BOARD ANNOUNCES BUDGET-CUTTING OPTIONS The Library Board last week recommended six specific proposals to balance its 2003 budget, which is expected to be cut by $1.5 million. The measures include: DON'T POINT THAT THING AT ME! Two Minneapolis men were arrested recently near the University of Minnesota campus and charged with making terroristic threats--with toy pistols. LAKE STREET ARTS CENTER IN JEOPARDY A plan to transform the former Antiques Minnesota building on Lake Street into a "neighborhood multi-cultural arts center" is in jeopardy after the Minneapolis Community Development Agency (MCDA) last month refused to fund the project. ********************************************************** The Minneapolis Observer is published 48 times/year by Independent Media, L.L.C. �2002 Independent Media, 4152 Snelling Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55406; www.mplsobserver.com. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of Independent Media. Subscriptions: $12/yr. To unsubscribe, send us an e-mail ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) and we'll get you off the list and refund the unused portion of your subscription. Editor: Craig Cox Deputy Assistant Senior Executive Editor: Sharon Parker Contributing writers: Chris Dodge, Leo Mezzrow Online technical assistance: Christopher Pollard Equine consultant and correspondent: Nora Cox Perspective: Martin Cox Thanks to: Phyllis Kahn ******************************************************* Fight media consolidation! Support the independent press! Pick up your neighborhood newspaper! ******************************************************* _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
