Harvest Fest On Lowry Avenue, North Minneapolis...

Photos by Megan Goodmundson, blog post by John Hoff


These photos by Megan Goodmundson were forwarded to me in Afghanistan so I could be at the Lowry Avenue Harvest Fest in spirit. I thought I'd throw the images into a blog post so I could vicariously participate even more.

Above, Lowry Avenue is blocked to vehicle traffic, transforming it into a pedestrian mall for the event.

Above, "Hawthorne Hawkman" Jeff Skrenes models a pendant that is perfect for him because it features a chili pepper, one of his favorite things. I say, "Why buy things when you can just take a picture of yourself with it, and then put it on a blog?"

Yummy steaks being prepared by a North Minneapolis grill master.

Some of the many art and crafts available from local vendors.

These folks do "brain massages" with those instruments and were also featured at Northside Art FLOW. Does anybody know who these folks are? Are they from North Minneapolis or do they just come here seeking our brains, like zombies?

Sandy's "Home of the Knock Out Dog," who can frequently be found in front of Cub Foods on West Broadway, is breaking in her new food truck. She is the wife of Mayor's Aide Sherman Patterson, who lives in McKinley.

The stage featured local bands, a gospel group, and a martial arts demonstration from kids at Doc's Gym on the corner of Penn and Lowry.

State Representative Bobby Joe Champion with NoMi homie Brian Connoy. Brian lives in Folwell and has bought and rehabbed two houses on the block where he lives in his own house. The rehabs were beautifully done and he rents out to decent folks at a decent rate. This is an example of NoMi being revitalized from within. Who needs slumlords like Mahmoud Khan and Bashir Mogul when we can do it ourselves, and do it better?

The "Goddess of Glass" poses with her latest creation, for sale in her gift shoppe at Penn and Lowry.

Just a sample of the funky and unique handmade fashions and accessories available at Goddess of Glass and Friends gift shoppe, featuring over 60 different local artists.

Volunteers from the McKinley CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program helped judge the produce contests and pose with some of the winners.

Darryl Weivoda and wife Janet get a hot dog and burger from the Camden Lions Tent. Darryl might be considered the "mayor" of Penn and Lowry, and therefore mayor of Lowry Avenue Harvest Fest.

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The Lowry Cafe - Offically Opening This Friday!

Photos and Blog Post by Nomi Passenger

The much anticipated opening of The Lowry Cafe is this Friday, May 6. Go ahead, everyone stampede at once and form a line out the door. The staff have been practicing and they will be ready for you. I had the chance to get a sneak peek during one of their practice runs recently and I snapped a few photos to share here, including the menu.

The Cafe's hours will be...

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday - Breakfast and Lunch only 6am to 3pm
Wednesday through Saturday - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 6am to 9pm

In the top photo above, the cover of the Cafe's menu features an actual historic photo taken on the same corner of Penn and Lowry Avenues where the Cafe sits today.  Look closely at the photo and you'll see the sign for The Lowry Cafe hanging above the children's heads.  No, there was not a Lowry Cafe in the 1920s. A fun little photo trick was used to make a great menu cover, but they could have fooled me.

A display case will hold the desserts, which will vary day to day. Cakes and pies and such.  An exciting offering will be four flavors of Sebastian Joe's Ice Cream, a popular and highly acclaimed local business which self describes their ice cream as "super premium" and I'd have to agree with them on that.  The four flavors at the Lowry Cafe currently are Vanilla Bean, Chocolate, Raspberry Chocolate Chip and Pavarotti(caramel, bananas, chocolate chips - super yummy- I got to try a spoonful!) I'm not sure if they will rotate the two specialty flavors but I imagine they will always keep vanilla and chocolate in stock.

This past Saturday I didn't have time to eat, but I got a salad to go and gave it to John, who gave a two thumbs up (see photo below). I know it's not much of a review, so you'll have to dine their yourselves and share here with the rest of the JNS audience.

For now, take in the photos and preplan your order from the menus below.

Here are five of the nine servers.  From Left to Right we've got Paula, Amy, Matt, Tonya and Geisha.  They were all super friendly and professional. Geisha is quite funny, you'll have a laugh or two when you meet her.

Chef Steve checks the plating of food before it's carried out to the table.

One of the Signatures: Meatloaf on texas toast w/ onion bourbon glaze; shoestring onions and garlic mashed potatoes.

Early Bird Burger features breakfast on top of your burger.

Buffalo Chicken Wrap

Buffalo Wings - I hear the sauce is on the mild side - safe for everyone

Chicken Tenders

The Spinach salad with candied pecans, bleu cheese crumbles and strawberry vinaigrette

The walls display the works of local artists. Right now the first featured paintings are befitting. They are by Nomi resident Pat Waddick who is actually also the architect of the Cafe.

The Lowry Cafe is a welcome addition to the up and coming Lowry Avenue corridor - check out the facebook page started to promote all the great things happening on Lowry. The New Lowry Avenue Page
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JNS BLOG CUISINE EXCLUSIVE: The Lowry Cafe Is Looking Good And Soon To Open!

Today, Johnny Northside blog was specially invited for a sneak peak inside the Lowry Cafe, (click here for their Facebook page) which is set to open in early May. The last time I was inside, the place had studs instead of walls. Now it's so close to finished, some cooking ingredients are already stocked.

From its cherry-stained oak bar, to its 12-foot ceilings and 1920s style interior, the new restaurant shows what is possible when you have AN ENTIRE HARDWARE STORE AT YOUR DISPOSAL to finish a space and make it perfect...




The brand new kitchen is like an artist's canvas waiting to receive a masterpiece. I am told the menu will consist of "comfort food with a twist" which could also be described as "home style classics turned up a notch." For example, meatloaf with bourbon onion sauce and shoestring onions, on Texas toast. The pork tenderloin is expected to be "a staple." Bottled beer and wine will be available.

Though the walls are newly finished and empty at the moment, in the future they will feature the works of local artists.



This is not the same kitchen as the previous photo, but the "prep kitchen" in the basement.



Special glassware that says "Lowry Cafe."



Brand new mixer. The kitchen looks like Christmas morning at the Martha Stewart residence!



Dark black, classy cloth napkins. How environmentalist!



Ingredients, ready to go.



One of the rest rooms. Yes, that's real marble tile.



The other rest room. Darryl did all the tile work himself.



Extra outlets have been installed at the bar to accommodate customers with laptops. Johnny Northside blog LIKEY LIKEY.



Here's the chef, Steve Swinney, who has previously worked for independent restaurants, corporate restaurants, and franchises. He's very well-rounded in the food service industry. In addition to "comfort food with a twist," Swinney hopes to have wines of "affordable quality anybody can enjoy" and a local emphasis with the ingredients for the cuisine; including produce from farmers markets when available. The bread used at the Lowry Cafe will be from Franklin Street Bakery, and the coffee will be B & W which is a local "fair trade" company, click here for their website.


The booths will be named after the five North Minneapolis neighborhoods that line Lowry Avenue and will be identified by little brass plaques. Extra big and comfy, the booths seat six. The table tops are huge and will work well to unfurl maps and plot further neighborhood revitalization.

Visible from the windows of the Lowry Cafe are large, open areas of land just itching to be developed. Pouring so much money and effort into the Lowry Cafe is an act of faith in the bright future of our neighborhood.

Here's hoping owner Darryl Weivoda's faith is rewarded with success.