JNS BLOG EDITORIAL: The Usual Lack Of Insight From Insight News...

Photo By John Hoff

The June 29-July 5 edition of Insight News hit the streets and, as always, it's like eating two chicken drummies and calling that "supper."

Your first clue that you won't get much content from Insight News is the part of the paper called the "name plate," where the words "Insight News" are prominently featured. When the name plate of a publication is more than three inches high, (white margin included) you know somebody is trying to fill space...

So, this week Insight News has a story (if you want to call it that) about the National Newspapers Publishers Association, which includes publishers of America's black press.

You would think such an important event would merit some coverage from Al McFarlane (who is, after all, the convention host) but instead we simply have a photo...a really BIG photo...of publisher Al McFarlane posing with some of the convention participants. That's it. That's the coverage. A photo on the front page and a caption. Al is on the far left and, oh gee, the guy on the far left gets his name listed first. That's how it works.

Don Allen of the IBNN blog (who attended the convention) told me the event wasn't publicized very well.

(ADDENDUM: February 6, 2011. This blog post was written before I and many others in North Minneapolis discovered what a disreputable con man character Don Allen is. I would advise anybody: Do not trust Don Allen. Seek further information about Don Allen from various online sources before having any contact with him)


That's what Don tells me. Well, I can see it certainly wasn't COVERED very well, after the fact. Inside of this week's Insight News are fluffy features like "Three good excuses for having a summer party" and "Retailers cut women sizes to save money" which read like journalistic garnishes instead of entrees. Meanwhile, this blog delivers video of a notorious crack house burning. In some ways I consider Insight News my competition but in a lot of ways...well, I don't consider them competition at all.

The fact this community newspaper is falling flat on its fat, papery ass seems to be admitted between the lines, as one story says, "There were simply too many successful youth at the AAU Youth State Track Meet to mention them all." That same page contains an advertisement from a tire store, a "mortgage modification" business, and a copy shop. In glorious full color.

Honestly, if this blog had an email with the names of all those successful young athletes at AAU, how long do you think it would take me to copy, paste and publish? There are plenty of times this blog puts out more content--by which I mean SUBSTANTIVE stories, instead of fluff and filler--in a SINGLE DAY than Insight News puts out ALL WEEK.

I would strongly suggest advertisers who want to reach a North Minneapolis (NoMi) audience should get in touch with Google ads and find a way to be featured on local blogs like this one. Paper is dead. The internet is the future.

And, hey, it's not like Insight News lacks a website, it's just they're much too wedded to their archaic and gruesome "dead tree format." Every week they put some murdered, violated tree flesh out on the streets, and every week I have to wonder, "Why did they even bother? I weep for the forests." Well, this week is a week like any other. Shed a tear for the ozone, Insight News just hit the racks.

But, hey, at least this week Al McFarlane wasn't trying to prop up Reverend Jerry McAfee's so-called "leadership."

Be grateful for small favors from God.

Arson Hotline Placards Appear At 3020 6th St. N.

Photo By John Hoff

Yesterday, following the mysterious fire at 3020 6th St. N., arson hotline placards have appeared at the property.

It is unknown whether arson is actually suspected, or if these placards are fairly routine at the scene of vacant house fires. However, a fire department investigator was observed at the scene on the night of the fire.

Anybody who has information, well...you can see the number on the placard.

(Do not click "Read More")

Drummer Of The Band "Watson" Goes NoMi...

Photo By John Hoff

Brian Mondl of the band "Watson," also known as the "Thong Master," appreciated the recent props from this blog. Yesterday he picked up a NoMi sticker which he vowed to display on his basehead drum to promote our rapidly-revitalizing neighborhood.

Click here for a link which gives info on a July 2 appearance by Watson. 

(Do not click "Read More")

Elite Whorehouse Patrol Unit Keeps An Eye On 2700 Morgan Ave. N.

Contributed Photos Xoxo 

One resident of the Jordan Neighborhood has taken note of stepped-up police activity repeatedly circling the block near 2700 Morgan Ave. N., a property which has been a nexus of drug and prostitution activity dragging down the otherwise high quality of life on the Jordan Pond...

This blogger gave the patrols a spontaneous nickname, but before I even had a chance to publish, well, my the phrase started going viral by word-of-mouth:

Elite Whorehouse Patrol Unit. (EWPU)

The acronym is pronounced "Ewww! Pew!"

Meanwhile, the word from the 311 system is the denizens of 2700 Morgan Ave. N. have until July 7 to take care of the foot-and-a-half creeping Charlie and other weeds overtaking their yard like a noxious little rain forest, without the "rain forest" part.

But as tall as the weeds are, they're not high enough to cover up all the litter, especially drink cups and cigarette butts where no account scum-of-the-earth tend to congregate on the steps, waiting for God-knows-what.

Word is city officials are on top of this problem. Of course, that's been the word for weeks, now, ever since the residents of the house ripped off the boards and went back inside shortly after the police raid.

This house is owned by Danna D Investors III Llc, 509 2nd Ave S Hopkins Mn 55343. I tend to refer to it as "Dana D Roman Numeral 3" for purposes of clarity. Word is these slumlords are in hot water with public officials.

The Foreclosure Crisis Hits Even Exclusive Homewood...

During the Johnny Northside movie party a couple days ago, our host Brian Reichow took guests on an impromptu tour of his neighborhood to point out two houses going into foreclosure. The Homewood area of Willard-Homewood is a highly desirable neighborhood, and foreclosures haven't been hitting there in the way they've hit, for example, Hawthorne and Jordan...


All the same, the word is two houses are going into foreclosure: 1111 Russell Ave. N. and 1001 Russell Ave. N.

So if you know somebody who wants a home in Homewood, spread the word. Brian (pictured posing near "The Gates of Homewood") tells me this neighborhood is full of teachers and school administrators, who have somehow formed clusters. There's also a good share of lawyers.

Serving Up Images Of The Johnny Northside Movie Party, Part Two...

Photos By John Hoff

Here are a few more images from the Johnny Northside movie fundraising party. More of these events will take place, which include discussions about the issues impacting our neighborhood.

In the top photo, Realtor and part-time model Connie Nompelis (No-buhl-iss) demonstrates innovative NoMi name-tag wear. Her dress was too, um, slinky for the stickers to stick. The poor dear!

As part of our kicky "demolition" party theme, the name tags were made to look like...

...little condemnation placards. Guests had a choice of being condemned for stuff like lack of maintenance, bad hygiene, no utilities, etc. "Unsafe structure" was rather popular with a few of the men who were into, like, body building.

In the next image, our host Brian Reichow shows off a letter he received from the city after trimming branches and leaving a pile of branches sitting around for ONE DAY. I told Brian, geez, I could show you a pile of branches on Bryant Ave. N. which has been sitting in a front yard for THREE MONTHS. But, like I tell him, "What's a crime in Homewood? Answer: somebody burned the toasted brie." By that definition, Brian and his unsightly branches are the Homewood equivalent of a whorehouse.

Put that in your crack pipe and smoke it, Brian!

In the next photo, Connie poses with a copy of the original Homewood advertising brochure from the early 1900s. A particularly amusing portion of the brochure says, "This could never happen in Homewood." These pieces of history remind us things do change. In fact, sometimes things change dramatically if a few energetic people keep pushing in a focused way.

Right now, in the wake of historic opportunity created by the foreclosure crisis, we are remaking our neighborhood. The Johnny Northside movie documents a part of that struggle. It is a story of North Minneapolis told BY us, not ABOUT us.

In the last photo, hard evidence from Brian's fridge that even exclusive Homewood is still "Single Daddyville." Brian is very devoted to his daughter who is nearly the same age as my son. I'm told when Brian's daughter comes over for visitation, she helps with the recycling. By use of the Minneapolis Advantage program, Brian found an incredible deal on a house and has created a wonderful life in this affluent enclave of North Minneapolis.

But he still craves the excitement and struggle of neighborhoods like Hawthorne and Jordan. That's one reason Brian hosted this party. I want to take this opportunity to thank Brian for his hospitality. Brian, your beautiful home was truly "of service" to our effort!

Serving Up Images Of The Johnny Northside Movie Party, Part One...

Just to be clear, this isn't the PREMIER PARTY or something. We were just showing some video snippets and raising funds for final production of the movie. You still have an opportunity to attend more of these Johnny Northside movie parties, and you won't even have to miss Pride Week or whatever.

So here's some photos of the soiree. If you were there and want to add your all-too-interesting anecdotes, well, in that case...

...there are comment threads and you know what to do.

From top to bottom, our host Brian Reichow poses with some brie cheese...and I'm not talking brie from the So Low! store, though I love the So Low! store and their prices are, well, SO LOW...but this was top-o-the-line double cream brie. Why is Brian holding a flame next to the brie?

He's illustrating a little joke we tell in the neighborhood, and here it is: what is a crime in Homewood?

Answer: Somebody burns the toasted brie.

In the next photo, Charles Shaw wine, which can often be purchased for $2.99 a bottle at Trader Joe's. (In California, where Trader Joe's got its start, it can often be purchased for $1.99 a bottle, which is why it's known as "two buck chuck.") As Connie Nompelis put it so well, "We're serving Charles Shaw because we want to MAKE money at the fund raiser."

In the next photo, little party favors: small slices of gray board with tiny condemnation notices, made to look like the doors on a vacant and boarded house. Word is if you put one of these talismans in your window or above your doorway, it will ward off condemnation.

There's a story behind the party favors and it's a big part of the making of the movie. The guys at 612 Authentic had a break-in at their offices, which resulted in the theft of their video equipment and computers, including much of the footage shot for the Johnny Northside movie project. A gray board appeared to secure the building right after the break-in. Obviously, 612 Authentic was devastated by the loss of their equipment and footage.

However, a short while later, the Minneapolis Police Department actually recovered the stolen property. The footage was returned and, in fact, there was something extra: an amateur attempt to shoot a "gangster rap" video. I keep hoping some of that stuff will appear in the final movie.

Anyway, the party favors were created from that gray board which appeared on the office after the break in. There is a lot of magic, luck and emotional energy in those little squares of wood.

Moving on to the next picture: Jules Inda, who is the spouse of North Minneapolis marketing guru Pat Carney, stands nearby as I serve up what you might call...a spontaneous comic reading. In the next photo, three bloggers pose together for a portrait: Dottie Titus of the Jordan Livability Blog, myself, and Ed Kohler of The Deets.

In the next image, Pat Carney shows how he feels about residents of HOMEWOOD, and Brian Reichow shows how he feels about residents of HARRISON. I guess the "L" stands for "LOVE" or...well, perhaps not.

In the next photo, I pose with Carleton Crawford, chair of the Fifth Congressional District Republicans. He was very nice and, um, he had enough money for the cover charge, so we let him inside.

Living The Good Life On The Jordan Pond...Thanks To Dennis Wagner!

Photo By John Hoff

I've mentioned the "Jordan Pond" in a few posts, so I thought it would be a good idea to publish a photo. Some weeks ago, I heard an interesting story about the origins of this body of water, also sometimes called "Lake Jordan." The word is...

...the pond isn't a naturally-occurring body of water. At one time, Logan Ave. N. went through the area which is now the pond, with houses on either side. (Indeed, every few years, the driver of a stolen car will try to recreate the Logan Ave. N. of that bygone era, which only results in driving straight into the water)

So, anyway, some years ago when the pond was being created the city's plan was to simply have a fenced-off holding pond for rainwater runoff, without any amenities. The only plan was for a big, wet hole. With a chain link fence.  

However, neighborhood resident Dennis Wagner made it his unpaid personal mission to assure a more scenic body of water. He went to every other holding pond in the city and took pictures, and then he confronted city officials on their plans for a pond surrounded by a chain link fence. By these efforts, Wagner moved city officials to expand and improve their plans. The result is the Jordan Pond has become a beautiful amenity and folks who live around it never want to leave.

The efforts of Wagner were apparently never written about in the press nor given public credit. I say it's time to correct this imbalance in the force. Denny Wagner...you're our hero. YOU DESERVE A BIG PAT ON THE BACK!!!!

NoMi's Very Own "Thong Master" Is The Drummer For A Band Called "WATSON"

Contributed Image

Brian Mondl, who lives near Theo Wirth Parkway, and achieved lasting fame when he handled (emphasis on HAND) a disturbing "stray thong" problem near the Jordan Pond, is the drummer for a band called "WATSON."

Because Brian has done so much for our neighborhood, I agreed to mention the band's latest gig...

Here is information from the band's listserv, forwarded to me by a Jordan resident.
-------------------------------------
Hello Everybody!

In honor of our country's 233rd year of independence, WATSON will be performing a very special show on Thursday July 2nd at the Fine Line in downtown Minneapolis.

Yes, we realize that Independence Day is actually July 4th, but we also realize that many people will be traveling that weekend, and we wanted to start the weekend off in style

Music starts at 7:30pm with Adam's side project, The Straight 90s (an all 90s cover band), and also performing are The Jason Paulson Band and 36 Sunrise. WATSON will hit the stage at 10pm. I can almost 100% guarantee that we'll start on time because we'll finally be working with a reliable sound guy!!! Also, we're debuting some brand new songs (written in the past couple weeks) and dusting off some oldies, so it's bound to be a fun night.

(JNS says: I wonder if any of those songs have to do with THONGS? Underwear, my dear WATSON)

There is a $5 cover, and it's 21 plus.

For more info on the band, check out our website:

www.watsontheband.com

We're also on Facebook and MySpace if you prefer that social interaction.

Hope to see you next Thursday! Don't forget that you probably have Friday off for the 4th of July!

USA! USA!
your friends - WATSON

(Special thanks to Seth Foy for another awesome poster design!!!)

JNS BLOG EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Fire At 3020 6th St. N., Former Crack House...

Here is exclusive video of last night's fire at 3020 6th St. N.

The young man in the video who briefly breaks into song is named Alex a.k.a "Shmoo" (rhymes with "moo") and he hails from Goober Gulch, Virginia.

No, seriously, he's from near Virginia Beach and he's visiting a relative in the Jordan Neighborhood. Shmoo's infrequent visits to North Minneapolis are always exciting.

The other video is the "Bloodhound Gang" singing "The Roof Is On Fire" if you want to sing along with Shmoo. The sentiments expressed in the song were spontaneously uttered by several bystanders. This house has brought evil to our neighborhood for years.

All the same, I'll be the first to say the structure might be saved, and I still hope a success story can come from all this crack house drug dealing ugly-piled-on-ugly.

(Do not click "Read More")

3020 6th St. N., Fire At The Vacant And Boarded Former Crack House, More Pictures...(Summer Visitation 2009)

Photos By John Hoff

Here are more images from last night's not-so-surprising fire at 3020 6th St. N., the former crack house which was recently evacuated and boarded.

In the top photo...

My 12-year-old son, Alex, watches the work of the firemen. In the second photo, the patriarch and matriarch of the Hmong family who live next door watch with concern.

In the third photo, a ladder unit extends to the third floor. Even many minutes after the firemen arrived, there were blasts of steam from the house as (apparently) pockets of fire were hit by water. In the next photo, my son watches the firemen with open admiration.

Second to last photo, some of MFD's finest. The very last photo--which was sort of taken by accident--shows the "beverage table" where thirsty firemen can refresh themselves. What a great idea!

NoMi's "Goddess Of Glass" Makes Front Page Of STrib During Gay Pride Week...

Photos by John Hoff

Artist Connie Beckers and her partner, Tracy Allen, well-known North Minneapolis residents, were effectively the "faces of Minneapolis gay pride" today in the Star Tribune's coverage of Pride Week.

Beckers is called the "Goddess of Glass" for her amazing work with stained glass windows. She is also involved in the ad hoc NoMi group which is rebranding North Minneapolis.

In the pictures above, Connie is at North United Methodist where photos were taken for a NoMi-themed calendar. Connie is to the right, in green. "Sara" (spelling unknown) is to the left. She is Connie's "personal tattoo artist and glass apprentice."

In the bottom image, Connie shows off her Emerald City "Wizard of Oz" tattoo.

(Do not click "Read More")

Notorious Former Crack House Severely Fire Damaged Tonight...(Summer Visitation 2009)

Photo By John Hoff

The former crack house at 3020 6th St. N., recently vacated and boarded, was damaged by fire tonight. According to one fireman and one high-ranking fire department official at the scene, the cause of the blaze was unknown. (This according to my 12-year-old son, Alex, who was delegated the task of asking pertinent questions) This property has been the subject of extensive coverage here on Johnny Northside dot com.

From the sidewalk, it appeared the worst part of the fire was a second story bedroom on the south side of the building...

Extensive smoke and fire damage was obvious, as was water damage. Numerous windows were smashed out by firemen. The house was already suspected to be in bad condition, but it was hoped the property would soon hit the real estate market and might be purchased for the purpose of becoming a neighborhood success story.

Notably, something very much like this incident was predicted. There had even been informal talk among a few neighbors of having a "fire watch" after the no-account druggies were evicted, out of fear some crack head would simply burn the house down out of spite.

A Hmong family living next door were observed to be virtually camping out on the lawn of 3016 6th St. N., the house formerly owned by yours truly. Neighborhood housing director Jeff Skrenes was contacted in Northfield, Minnesota, where he went for the weekend. Skrenes said he would have the Hmong liaison contact the family next door tomorrow, and would do what was necessary to clarify and expedite the fate of the structure at 3020 6th St. N.

More photos to follow.

Kleindl Property Empire Being Sold Piece By Piece?

As I reported a couple days ago, two properties owned by the Kleindl housing empire ("United Homes") are suddenly for sale in the Eco Village area of Hawthorne. Now another Kleindl property appears for sale at 2105 Bryant Ave. N. City property records confirm this is a "United Homes" property.

Approximately a year ago, United Homes appeared to be in the process of creating a large rental property empire in North Minneapolis, but now their properties are hitting the market like...like...OK, like used cars hit the market after a hurricane rips up the Gulf Coast.

Like that.

You really have to wonder what's going on, here, what economic pressures or opportunities are forcing the sale of these homes.

However, in my observation the Kleindls are smart, self-made people and I have a hunch they'll find a way to make good on their investments.

(Do not click "Read More")

Making A Career Out Of Loitering At Hawthorn (Sic) Crossings Strip Mall, Your One Stop Open Air Drug Market...

Consider, if you will, the art and science of drug loitering. If you're going to loiter, you'll probably just stand around. Maybe you'll lean against a wall to save your energy. If you want to loiter a long time, you need to find a place to sit like the "butt fence" around the perimeter of Merwin's Liquor.

However, if you want to make a CAREER out of loitering, you need to keep yourself entertained. Yesterday, at Hawthorn (sic) Crossings Strip Mall, quite near the sign which claims no loitering will be allowed, I saw a guy who...

...brought a basketball with him, and bounced it repeatedly against the wall of the strip mall while just, you know, hanging around. The anti-loitering signs appear to tell the truth, however. The anti-loitering rule is POLICE ENFORCED. God knows you don't see any MALL MANAGEMENT doing something about it. No, the job is all dumped on the lap of the Fourth Precinct while the owners of the mall and the businesses there just keep raking in the money from, inter alia, McNuggets.

Seldom does one enter the parking lot without witnessing some no-account characters hanging around, often inside of vehicles. In all the many months I've been watching this open air drug market, I've never seen a security guard in the parking lot, not even ONCE. If I saw one, I'd be writing about it and giving him/her some kind of rating, but that just isn't the case.

Yes, I must say I am really looking forward to Merwin's Liquor fixing the "butt fence" situation, so I can direct more effort and energy at Hawthorn (sic) Crossings Strip Mall...a place which continues to be MY BLOG BITCH.

A Lovely New Crop Of Official Paper (Be Still My Foolish Heart!)

Just when you think you've seen every cool variation of "official paper" that can hit the doors of vacant, foreclosed houses...something new appears to keep the avid placard watcher interested and excited.

In the last few days, salmon-colored tax delinquency placards have been hitting both doors and vacant lots...

...including this property, pictured above, in the Hawthorne Eco Village cluster project. It seems to be another wave of the foreclosure crisis. Though it takes years for a property to become tax forfeited, it can take less time in North Minneapolis because this is a "targeted area" and therefore delinquent properties fall into the hands of the county more quickly.

I doubt these properties will ever sell at an auction, however. I think most of them will fall into the hands of official and quasi-official entities as part of our ongoing revitalization efforts. That's OK, though. If you want a cheap home, you don't need to scour tax forfeiture lists. Just get yourself a Realtor and start looking in NoMi (North MInneapolis).

PARTY! PARTY! PARTY! PARTY! 6:30 to 10 PM TONIGHT At 1215 Russell Ave. N.

Photo by John Hoff

First of all, this is NOT a picture of 1215 Russell Ave. N., which is a mansion, actually. However, we do have party favors shaped like little boarded doors with condemnation notices, and also name tags with the same theme.

For the price of a night out--TWENTY BUCKS--you can come here and drink plenty of wine, eat some good chow, hang out with some fun people. The funds will go toward the Adventures of Johnny Northside movie, which documents our colorful and romantic struggle to transform North Minneapolis into NoMi--an urban utopia which is funky, affordable, and oh-so-green.

Don't make me pimp myself even further because, well, um....I will totally do it. JUST GET YOURSELF TO THE PARTY.

(Do not click "Read More")

Elite Butt Fence Unit On Patrol Near Merwin's Liquor...

Photo By John Hoff

Yesterday, I spotted a police officer keeping a close eye on the "butt fence" near Merwin's Liquor at Lyndale Ave. N. and West Broadway.

Though word is the fence will be improved to get rid of the ledge used by druggies and chronic inebriates, for now the problem remains. However, police seem to be cracking down lately.

I heard a rumor that one chronic butt-sitter took an empty can of beer and tossed it over his shoulder...right in the path of a police car rolling past to the rear. Word is officers in the Fourth Precinct are as fed up with the "butt fence" as are the citizens of this area. With neighborhood revitalization gains being made all over North Minneapolis, officers appear to be putting the squeeze on chronic problem areas like the Merwin's "butt fence."

(Do not click "Read More")

Alex Visits His Probation Officer In The Jordan Neighborhood... (Summer Visitation 2009)

Photos By John Hoff


Turns out if you build a dangerous and heavily-armed robot, you're legally responsible for whatever that robot does. Who knew?

But seriously...

I was going by the "Jordan House" probation offices at 2539 Irving Ave. N., and I thought I'd have a look at this facility. Probation officers visit their North Minneapolis clients at the conveniently-located building. I hear they run a pretty tight ship and don't tolerate nonsense.

According to one active and involved Jordan resident, the cameras placed around the facility have cleaned up that particular street corner and the street corners quite far down 26th Ave. N., which used to be chronic problem areas.

ADDENDUM: Though the Hennepin County website uses the term "Jordan House" for this facility, individuals active in the JACC organization always refer to it as the "Probation House" and almost never use the term "Jordan House."

Taste The Regulatory Rainbow...

Photo By John Hoff

I spotted this house in Lyndale Ave. N., several blocks north of Lowry and naturally I was drawn to seek out what housing inspections gold might be found at the end of the rainbow...

Upon closer examination, I found the address was cited for illegal occupancy three different ways, including people stuffed in the attic. The house also had no water. Oh, and it was CONDEMNED.

Given all that, you have to wonder what offensive things were written on the placard which is clearly missing, where some sticky residue is visible on the glass of the door where the placard was ripped down.

As far as I can tell, five placards is a record. But records are made to be broken!

One Car, Two Police Chases In One Day... (Summer Visitation 2009)

Contributed stock photo. Vote for Officer Mark Klukow at www.onemanminneapolis.com every day until July 15! Klukow was not the source for this story.

A source in the Fourth Precinct told me an interesting story. Yesterday, one vehicle was involved in two police chases in North Minneapolis.

Fourth Precinct officers pursued the vehicle initially, but broke off the chase when the vehicle went downtown, fearing bystanders could be injured. However, later in the day...

...the same vehicle returned to North Minneapolis, where police AGAIN took up the chase. I personally saw the chase proceed down 22nd Ave. N. while my son was sitting on my sunny front porch playing some kind of "prison struggle" online computer game. The second time the driver tried to bail, but (according to my source) was apprehended.

Now here's where I add my editorial comments. How often do you hear about somebody SUCCESSFULLY eluding a police chase? It's got to be one out of a hundred. So after virtually winning the legal lottery and escaping downtown, this idiotic driver returns to North Minneapolis!

Like, what? The numerous surveillance cameras wouldn't NOTICE? He thought he wouldn't run into a police officer out of, what? Dumb luck?

Let's hope the Fourth Precinct locks this guy up for a long time and to keep him from harming humanity's gene pool.

Johnny Northside Movie Party Saturday, June 27, 6:30-10 PM

Photo By John Hoff 

I hope readers who regularly enjoy this blog will consider attending a fun event this Saturday, June 27. It's a fundraiser for the Johnny Northside movie project, being held at 1215 Russell Avenue North.

Here's all the details, as posted on Facebook:

Host:
The Adventures of Johnny Northside: a Subprime Mess

Type:
Party - House Party

Date:
Saturday, June 27, 2009

Time:
6:30pm - 10:00pm

Location:
Casa Brian, 1215 Russell Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN

612-396-4046

minneapolisgirl@gmail.com

Join us for a peek at exclusive footage, plus conversation about NoMi, the foreclosure crisis, and how demolition in particular has affected our communities.

Oh, and wine!

And treats!

And Johnny Northside himself!

All this and more, at the much-renowned, much-researched, beautiful, historic, surprising, past-home-tour-star-residence of Mr. Brian Reichow in glorious Willard-Homewood.

All for a suggested $20 donation.

Proceeds to 612 Authentic to further the production of this documentary project.

(Oh, by the way, the photo above shows one of the producers of the movie. It was taken in an attic on 6th St. N.)

(What were we doing in the attic? Well, let's just say the sound quality of the insulated attic was superb, but we also had a really great view of some crack heads)

More Images Of The Lowry Bridge Implosion... (Summer Visitation 2009)

Here are a few more images of the Fathers Day bridge implosion I wanted to share...

In the top photo, some spectator made a little boat out of a piece of wood and a feather, and sent it floating down the river. In the next image, workers at the scrapyard wait and watch for the bridge implosion.

In the third photo, a Hennepin County Sheriff's Department vessel, patrolling the river. There were many boats with spectators, including what appeared to be rented canoes, next photo.

In the next photo, my son holds shells found along the river. The next image captures some of the litter which was, well, everywhere. You really have to wonder why snack food companies don't use biodegradable bags made of corn starch polymer, but I guess the people who make Cheetos just don't give a rip about the environment. I picked up a few pieces of litter, but found myself wishing I'd brought a bag, so I could make myself productive while waiting for the demolition.

The last two pictures show my son right after the demolition. The demolition was VERY COOL.