Back in the 1950s and 60s, a day trip to Excelsior, the waterfront town along the south shores of Lake Minnetonka, was the highlight of summer for many a city kid. The main attraction was the widely hyped Excelsior Amusement Park, which was inspired by Coney Island and had opened in 1925. Proprietor Ray Colihan … Read more
If I were a super villain who hurt people, what would my super villain power be?” Enzo said. At first it had been paralyzing rays that shot from her index fingers. Then it had been a third eye that traveled about her body and could shoot paralyzing rays at will. Then a secret sonic vehicle … Read more
As a food service industry professional, I sometimes find it difficult to retain my tableside manner. Back in 1986, when I first strapped on my apron at Mickey’s Diner, I took the Oath of Hypocrisy: Never, ever, under any circumstances let those you serve know what you think of them. I’m good at what I … Read more
There are people who would rather die than give up chocolate, and there are those who can’t imagine a day without television. For me, a life without cheese is simply not worth living. How can you get through the day without a dense bit of manchego, a smear of Humboldt Fog, or a downy shaving … Read more
Dog Days How to beat the heat in the dirty city. By August, the heat of summer begins to curdle in the city. The lifeguards are sunburnt, the flowers have gone to seed, garbage bins are toxic, tempers are short, the milfoil metastasizes, and mid-term elections thunder just over the horizon. One of our favorite … Read more
Viewed from room 1238 of the White Swan Hotel, the jagged ten-story tenements of Guangzhou, China, are softened by smog. Below, the United States Consulate complex sprawls beside century-old British colonial structures. “Pretty good view, isn’t it?” asks Paul Stueber, an earnest forty-four-year-old drum instructor from Minneapolis. He packs a baby bottle into a blue … Read more
These days, jazz is rarely performed on a truly large scale, but the eighteen-piece Count Basie Orchestra isn’t really about these days. Basie’s orchestra (sans Basie, who died in 1984, in case you didn’t know) still swings, loudly and enthusiastically, keeping the music hot. And there appears to be no slowing down–this outfit still wins … Read more
Midway Contemporary Art, through August 20 Hot stuff from both coasts. While lots of artists do cheeky or ironic or deadpan-cool takes on fashion models and magazine culture, New York painter Katherine Bernhardt has been getting acclaim for her caustic, expressionistic approach to these topics, which has a whiff of early eighties punk about it … Read more
Recently, I had rather a serendipitous experience with the Mischke Broadcast. While driving home at 10 p.m., on roads hazardous as a result of a particularly brutal March snowstorm, I tuned to the Mischke Broadcast and heard silence. Tommy finally spoke, however, from a pay phone at the intersection of Lexington and Grand. His car … Read more
T.D. Mischke’s description of selfless acts, as described in his 9/11 comments [“Old-Fashioned Cutting-Edge Radio,” July], might also describe him on most days. When I was at a very low point in my life and had trouble coming up with the money to pay the rent (a story I shared on the air with Tommy), … Read more