Poem: Fall Linens
2010
You resist when I take you down, refusing to end your dance with the October breeze. Flapping, twirling in your many threaded cotton gowns, which contain the smells of maple, grass and the geese sound, which blew in and won’t release.
Running, Living, and Dying in Saint Paul
2010
Saint Paul is a provincial town, a green place of bluffs and rolling hills made up of culture swatches—Old Timers and Newcomers—that sometimes clash and bump up against each other. But eventually, with a little nip and tuck here and a stitch or two there, we settle into a quilted work that is strong and wide enough to cover us all. Saint Paul is a haven for the creative and the faint of heart; those of us who long for a little less struggle and a lot more quality. So, I ran. Yes, I ran away, away!
Our first blog entry: Welcome to the Pig’s Eye Post!
2010
It has been a busy end of summer for the Almanac! In August we launched our new website, with the most comprehensive City Guide to St. Paul available anywhere on the Internet. In September we held a glorious launch celebration for the 2011 Saint Paul Almanac at a packed event in Lowertown that included readings by a host of contributors from all corners of the city—even the mayor! And this month we launch our new blog, Pig’s Eye Post!
Saint Paul Skyways = Freedom
2010
I’m sure there are many who say they love Saint Paul more than any other place on earth, but for me to say that would be an understatement. That’s because living anywhere outside of downtown Saint Paul would be like being in jail. I live in the heart of the skyway system in downtown, and for me it is freedom. You see, I am both deaf and blind.
My Unforgettable Lesson of the RNC
2010
It was Tuesday in Mears Park, the second day of the Republican National Convention (RNC). We had already marched on Monday as part of the crowd of 10,000 protesting everything from the war in Iraq to the presence of Ethiopian troops in Mogadishu. Being part of a large group like that, you tend to only see and hear those things in your immediate area. But someone mentioned that they heard a cop say there had already been tear gas used farther downtown.
Putting a SPNN on Saint Paul
2010
The segments could be about any subject we chose—as long as it pertained to Saint Paul. I learned that more than a few of those on hand already had extensive experience as television producers and/or videographers. For complete novices like me, SPNN planned to offer crash courses in video camera operation, lighting, and editing. The classes were quick but comprehensive, and gave me enough confidence to take the plunge into shooting my first video. I submitted my proposal for the project and felt ready to check out the necessary equipment and start filming.
September 16th: Arcata Press to celebrate release of 2011 Saint Paul Almanac
2010
Now in its fifth year, the Saint Paul Almanac again offers its eclectic and quirky mix of essays, history, reviews, photography and poetry about all things Saint Paul, written by the people who know and love the city best. On Thursday, September 16, at 6 p.m., contributors, editors and fans will come together to celebrate the launch of the 2011 Saint Paul Almanac at its annual Celebration through Stories.
Arcata Press launches new Saint Paul Almanac website
2010
Arcata Press announces the launch of its new website designed to turn learning about the people, places, history and “things we love” in Saint Paul into a time-saving, valuable experience for its online visitors and residents. The new site encourages people to become interactively involved with poets, authors and illustrators, restaurants and bars, museums and galleries, parks, libraries and all of the city’s cultural venues—all linked from a brand-new website at www.saintpaulalmanac.org
August Wilson’s Early Days in Saint Paul
2010
Tennessee Williams. Arthur Miller. August Wilson. When you list the playwrights of American theater whose work transcends all others, those three names stand at the top. Much of Wilson’s defining ten-play saga of African American life in the twentieth century, a massive undertaking with a play for every decade, was written right here in Saint Paul. That includes the first to hit Broadway (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) and the Pulitzer Prize winners Fences and The Piano Lesson.
July 5th, 2010: Melvin Giles presents “Nurturing the Soil of the Soul”
2010
The Saint Paul Almanac presents an evening of "Nurturing the Soil of the Soul: Intentional Acts of Kindness and Peace Are the Seeds of Liberation and Peace," the season finale of the Saint Paul Almanac's Lowertown Reading Jam series. Hosted by Melvin Giles, the evening includes readings and expressions from the godmother of peace, Ms. Bertha Givins; KFAI radio show co-host Andy Driscoll of Truth to Tell; spoken word artist Tish Jones, executive and artistic director of TruArtSpeaks; Yer Kong of Paj Ntuab Voice; community activist and urban farmer, Metric Giles I; and performing artists of Saint Paul Central's Synergy.
July
2010
Just one more day A yellow daisy day A too hot sidewalk, barefoot day A last mosquito day A sunset at the beach day One scorcher day to hold midwinter
June 7th, 2010 Lowertown Reading Jam: Tish Jones introduces the Minnesota Quest Youth Slam Team
2010
The Saint Paul Almanac continues its year-round literary celebration of Minnesota's capital city with a provocative and inspiring spoken word performance by the Minnesota Quest Youth Slam Team. The Minnesota Quest Youth Slam Team is a talented group of multi-cultural poets, writers and performers from urban Minnesota high schools who give voice to an art form that honors and brings forward the stories, experiences, dreams, convictions and perspectives often silenced by the dominant culture.