Bob Collins
You know you’ve made it, Minneapolis, when the New York Times turns to you for fashion advice. Read more →
MPR News Reflections and observations on the news
Arts & Culture
The Janesville, Wisconsin school superintendent has apologized for the showing of this video last month at a high school day to bring ‘attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools.’ Read more →
Stuck in a cubicle this afternoon? We’re not entirely sure this is going to make you feel any better but it’s pretty neat anyway. Alex Chacon, a freelance photographer, has been driving his motorcycle around the world — although he pretty much missed the entire American Midwest — after putting his doctoral studies on hold Read more →
The ice cream truck made its first appearance in my Woodbury neighborhood last week. It didn’t take long to recoil from its ‘fingernails on a chalkboard’ signature song: ‘Turkey in the Straw.’ Read more →
In the world of hyperbolic “breaking news,” there aren’t many people left who can tell a good story about people who barbecue in the snow, collect laundry soap, or do their own thing outside the 494/694 beltway. Now there’s one fewer. Jason Davis of KSTP has announced a date for the retirement he originally announced Read more →
You have to love a town that loves its library. Read more →
You’ll be seeing and hearing more of Garrison Keillor in the coming weeks. The humorist, normally a pretty reticent sort except between and 5 and 7 p.m. on Saturdays, is pushing a new book at the same time he’s observing the 40th anniversary of his show. After leading everyone to believe he would retire a Read more →
People were shut out of buying Paul McCartney tickets over the last week and, not unexpectedly, scalpers are in the crosshairs. It’s not fair, they said, that scalpers were able to get their hands on tickets, while they had no chance of seeing the oldtimer from Liverpool. Read more →
You have to skim pretty far down the New York Times story about Minnesota Orchestra conductor Osmo Vanska to get to the part that’s got the local artistic tongues wagging today: He has a romantic relationship with concertmaster Erin Keefe. Mr. Vanska, who is divorced, says this is a private matter, unlikely to affect Ms. Read more →
You spend tens of thousands of dollars pursuing a college degree. You’ll be saddled with crushing debt which likely will keep you from owning a home or maybe even getting ahead. You’ll be entering a terrible job market. Is it really so bad if you want to take a selfie of you getting your diploma? Read more →
One Day in the Twin Cities Read more →
Next week, Monday specifically, those of us who want just one more game of catch with our fathers will pause to mark the 25th anniversary of the release of the film, Field of Dreams. Read more →
It’s nearly time for the traditional ‘watering of the girls’ in Hungary. Read more →
An acting company that performs short plays to teach college students about date rape, racism, and substance abuse sees firsthand that there’s no shortage of kids who have a lot to learn. Read more →
This scene is no more. The most famous wallpaper in the world has been relegated to the ash heap now that Microsoft has walked away from its Windows XP operating system.
The image is called “Bliss.” Is it real? Microsoft has released this video with the answer.
Read more →