rakemag Hello, this is Bryan Alvarez, Dr. Marla Spivak’s son. I am writing to say thank you for publishing such a wonderful article about her and her work. It’s a pleasure to finally see a story about honeybees that doesn’t read like a Dario Argento script. Bees don’t kill people. People kill people. Or something like … Read more
I enjoyed reading the article about the stone arches and wall that stood amidst the weeds alongside Highway 52 in Inver Grove Heights for decades [“The Ruin,” September]. Growing up in the fifties and sixties, my family made a monthly pilgrimage to visit my grandmother on the shores of Lake Pepin. Sitting in the back … Read more
I recently was given the September issue of The Rake by a Twin Cities relative. She passed it on to me as I am from Litchfield and there is an article written by Christy DeSmith titled “Power in Our Union” [September]. I enjoyed the article as I have a deep interest in the Grand Army … Read more
www.rakemag.com/today “An anonymous interlocutor took me to task last week for crying about the FEMA and Army types who wouldn’t let reporters ride along to document the search for the dead in New Orleans. Well, the reporters have their own rides now, but it seems the Army didn’t get the message about letting reporters do … Read more
When we called up Kevin Kling to talk about desert islands, we weren’t too surprised when the conversation turned to ice fishing. After all, this mysterious, frigid pastime has come up often in the work of the Twin Cities’ consummate storyteller. While Kling is Minnesotan to the core (he also squeezed in a Sven and … Read more
As the new Museum of Russian Art has mounted a couple of intriguing survey shows since opening last spring, the Weisman has delved into Mir Iskusstva, a multidisciplinary artistic renaissance that marked the turn of the twentieth century in Russia. Borrowing some principles and elements of Art Nouveau, the visual art produced as part of … Read more
We know where Kurt Cobain’s money goes, but what about the royalties from Jerry Garcia ties and Grateful Dead compilations? A chunk of it helped make this documentary by Garcia’s widow, Deborah Koons Garcia. In looking at the political and corporate forces that shape what we eat, The Future of Food may lack the gross-out … Read more
The other day I saw a television ad for something called Sedation Dentistry. Obviously, we are taking people’s fears of drills and root canals seriously. We are no longer shunning these hypochondriacs, and that seems like a step in the right direction. Maybe we are becoming more sympathetic as a culture. What else could be … Read more
Amy and Jeff of Minneapolis write: Here’s our rakish travel snap from the Good Old USA — We are “raking” in the gorgeous view of the Grand Tetons on our July 4th road trip out West. And of course we had The Rake along for some stimulating reading material! Author(s) and Location: Jeff and Amy … Read more
Sally Helmerichs of Minneapolis writes: Gentlemen/Ladies: The Rake gets around. I took it to read on the seven (ugh!) hour flight to Spain and Portugal. Author(s) and Location: Sally Helmericks