News

Minneapolis Star Tribune calls us “fat”—and we’re okay with that

On November 30, Minneapolis Star Tribune books editor Laurie Hertzel published an article, “Holiday books: 10 that reflect Minnesota and the region”, which included a review of the 2014 Saint Paul Almanac. “From collected letters to collected stories, from memoir to adventure, these 10 books reflect Minnesota and the region”, goes the byline, which introduces a variety of fiction, nonfiction, photo books, and several items of literary interest.

This Week in Saint Paul: Monday, December 2–Sunday, December 8, 2013

Literature, music, theater, arts, and family events taking place around the city this week. Last week, we suggested some great ways to avoid the seasonal megashopping madness. This week, we change our tune…or perhaps just tune in differently, encouraging you to explore gift ideas by local artists. Readings and book launches include events at the History Center, Common Good Books, and the Red Balloon Bookshop. Holiday theater offerings include plays by the Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company, the Historic Mounds Theater, and the History Theatre. Kids and family have a lot to look forward to some Santa appearances, kid’s drawing circles, and more.

This Week in Saint Paul: Monday, November 25–Sunday, December 1, 2013

Literature, music, theater, arts, family and special events taking place around the city this week. Highlighting readings by Kristal Leebrick and Heid Erdrich; music by The Other Country Ensemble, the Saint Paul Public Libraries “Musical Notes from Europe”, and Kevin Kling; Minnesota Hmong New Year; Highland Park Library’s Siesta Fiesta; T. Mychael Rambo at Park Square Theatre; “Saturday Live!” at the Central Library; Addendum’s “Indies First program” and The Stuffed Animal HOLIDAY Show!

Union Depot highlights Lowertown artists from the 2014 Saint Paul Almanac

The Union Depot, the restored transportation hub and key Lowertown landmark, is featuring the 2014 Saint Paul Almanac in a display inside its entrance hall. The latest edition of the Almanac features artwork by many Lowertown artists including Ken and Roberta Avidor, Ta-coumba Aiken, Michael McColl, Chad Hambright, Sarah Marie Wash, Josh and Amy Hosterman, Patrick McCutchen, Tom Dunn, Serena Mira Asta, Frank Brown, Rachel Whacker, Alex Kuno, Shelley Rolhf, Kristi Abbott. Tom Reynen, Tom McGregor, Lisa Mathieson, Mike Hazard, and Nigel Parry.

This Week in Saint Paul: Monday, November 18–Sunday 24, 2013

Literature, music, theater, arts, and family events taking place around the city this week. Highlighting readings by Carol Connolly, Andrea Jenkins, Robert Karimi, Nimo H. Farah, JP Arcani, Tracine Asberry, and Joe the Great One; music by The Cory Wong Quartet and Dean McGraw; family events at the Red Balloon bookstore; a veterans theater event; and Public Art Saint Paul’s annual gala.

Soul Sounds: an open mic for nurturing arts, building community

I recently had the opportunity to attend Soul Sounds Open Mic where the featured artist was Danez Smith, who is a spoken word artist, slam poet, and author. It was an intimate crowd of about 40 people, with some attendees even dressed in Halloween costumes. Soul Sounds Open Mic takes place at Golden Thyme Cafe in St. Paul every week, and is community collaboration between the Saint Paul Almanac and Golden Thyme Coffee Café. The goal of Soul Sounds is to create a safe, multigenerational, and diverse space for people to create and share work while engaging in active dialogue that promotes connection and community.

Share the love on Give to the Max Day!

Please consider making a donation to the Saint Paul Almanac on Give to the Max Day, November 14. It’s a great way to celebrate the stories that express the heart and soul of our capital city.

November 21, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Joe the Great One

Joseph Terrance Adams was born one minute and two seconds after his deceased twin brother, Jeffrey Tyrone Adams, on November 19, 1983. God rest his brother’s soul. Joseph graduated from Washburn High School in 2002 and is married to Tequilla Adams. They have two “whatever they want” lifestyle-living daughters, Alana and Alayia. Joseph describes himself as “over-the-top, overprotective, and over this ‘whatever they want’ world my girls reside in. But they are my pride and joy, and I pride myself on being able to provide the best life possible for them. I just complain about it along the way. I’m also a ‘Rebel Music’-loving Bob Marley fan. And wish Dave Chappelle was my Black President.”

November 20, 2013: Andrea Jenkins presents “Intersectionality” at the Lowertown Reading Jam

The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the second in its 2013–2014 season of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, which celebrate the rich literary history of Minnesota’s capital city and the widely popular genre of spoken word. The “Intersectionality” Lowertown Reading Jam is hosted by Andrea Jenkins, and features emcee Robert Karimi and performances by Andrea Jenkins, JP Arcani, Tracine Asberry, Nimo H. Farah, and a special guest performance by Neo-Soul singer Liz Lassiter. Cross-Culture, Cross-Issue, Cross-Gender, Cross-Border, and Cross-Genre—Intersectionality seeks to identify areas where we—as humans, activists, lovers, and creators—have similar goals, ideas, and places where we meet. Hear stories of passion and of progress, of struggle and of loss. Meet us on the corner of Equity and Truth-telling!

November 14, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Kayla Steward

Kayla Steward, 19, graduated from Saint Paul Central High School, where she started writing poetry in the sixth grade and started slamming when she was sixteen. Kayla has won two local slams and was selected through the (K.)N.E.W. MN Youth Poetry Slam Series to be a part of the MN Brave New Voices team. She is currently enrolled at Saint Paul Technical College.

Kung Fu Zombies Vs. Cannibals is Monstrously Good!

We made our way cautiously to The Southern Theatre on October 13th. The street was teeming with pale and bloodied creatures loping around with cigarettes dangling from black lips, raising plastic cups of sour beer to the autumn night sky. The perfect setting for the world premiere of a Mu Performing Arts’ production of Kung Fu Zombies vs. Cannibals. The play is a dream, channeled and embroidered into a rich crazy quilt adventure by playwright Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay, director Randy Reyes and a a talented cast and crew.

Videos from the 2014 Saint Paul Almanac Literary Festival

To celebrate the launch of the 2014 Saint Paul Almanac, Cracked Walnut, with sponsorship from the Saint Paul Almanac, put together 25 daily readings from September 18th to October 12th, 2013. Each reading featured an average of five writers and poets who were published in the Saint Paul Almanac, and took place in a different location around the city to enable more people to attend from our neighborhoods and introduce our regulars to new watering holes. Most of the writers who took part are published in the 2014 edition of the award-winning Saint Paul Almanac. Cracked Walnut’s Satish Jayaraj also invited previous Saint Paul Almanac contributors and other writers to take part in the Saint Paul Literary Festival. Many thanks from the Almanac to Satish for his amazing work in putting together 25 readings in 25 days!