Jumping Off the Kawarau Bridge

Dear Daughter, Having a grand time in New Zealand, but if you don’t stop fussing, we’re not sending any more postcards. Just remember that 70 is the new 30. Guess what’s hot in Queenstown? [reference to postcard photo — bungy jumping off the Kawarau Bridge] Sometimes in the nude! We tried it with our clothes […]

In Defense of Tou Saiko Lee

Good morning, My name is Chris DeLine, and I’m the editor for a local music site called Culture Bully. Today we posted a rebuttle written written by one of our writers, Kyle Myhre, regarding Jason Lewis’s discouraging comments on local Hmong artist Tou Saiko Lee. Kyle is also a local MC, spoken word artist, and […]

Dance Is a Visceral, Powerful Voice

We read with disappointment the open letter from Marcie Rendon — "The Cost of Silence" — and several other online posts she has written attacking our work with her on our recent production, Border Crossing. In some of these communications she has gone to the unfortunate, and offensive, extreme of describing our process as "racist." […]

Sauced Again

Sauced is run by John Conklin, a friend of mine, and is a great addition to the Northside. I am, however, puzzled as to why John gets a great review and my restaurant, Papa’s Pizza and Pasta, gets totally ignored once again. We have been on the corner of 42nd and Thomas for three years, […]

Don't Take Bags from Anyone

Greetings from a former actual subscriber to The Rake. I’m not sure how I ended up at Ann Bauer’s blog tonight, but I enjoyed several pages of it, and only quit reading as it’s long past time I was in bed! I’d like to challenge her on her attitude about cloth shopping bags, though. Although […]

Standing Ovation

Thanks for reprinting the 2003 WSJ Opinion piece. I remembered it, but couldn’t recall the source. I may print copies and hand them out the next time I go to any performance in the Twin Cities. A couple of weeks ago, Jorja Fleezanis performed Elgar’s Violin Concerto with the Minnesota Orchestra, which was conducted by […]

The Cost of Silence

I am writing this letter as an apology to people who have migrated here from Mexico, Central America, and South America. I am Anishinabe, indigenous to what is now called Minnesota. I am also a playwright. Within the last year I was approached by a production company, OffLeash Area, to write a play with them […]

Surdyks USED to be pleasant

On a Saturday afternoon you can run many errands.  One great example is tasting the many cheeses at Surdyks and even sample some wine. My roommate and I did just this. After spending an hour of doing this and hunting for two nice bottles of wine, it was time to check out.  I was then […]

Dude Weather Fan Mail

I love keeping up with the weather in Mpls. via Dude Weather. Your #1 Fan   and so on…  Author(s) and Location: Jasper McClosky, Brooklyn, NY Letter Type: Letter

The New Thirty

Dear Mom and Dad, How two people who still use a rotary dial telephone dare claim to be the "new 30" is beyond me. And that old red Chrysler you drive is so ancient I actually saw one in the museum! You’d better behave yourselves when you’re in Paris in April. No singing in the […]