February Neighbors

27 Jan 2023

New Tool Library digs

The Minnesota Tool Library, a nonprofit tool lending cooperative, has relocated from its Prior Avenue location to 1010 Dale Street N.

Officials with the cooperative said the move will provide significantly increased accessibility and allow the nonprofit to better serve its members within the North End, Frogtown, Rondo and Como neighborhoods.

The St. Paul branch of the Minnesota Tool Library opened in 2017 in the basement of the Prior Works Building. It has been providing tool loans, DIY classes and shared workshop space for the community ever since.

For further information go to mntoollibrary.org.

LION meets Feb. 11

The next meeting of the Local Investment Opportunities Network is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 11, at Mim’s Café, 1435 N. Cleveland Ave.

Come hear about the Creative Enterprise Zone’s Real Estate Investment Co-op as a movement to protect affordable commercial and work space for makers, creatives and supportive businesses through investment. The group is dedicated to connecting business owners, entrepreneurs and big dreamers who want to support sustainable ventures in the Twin Cities area.

For any questions, email lion@transitionasap.org.

Juried art show set Feb. 12

After a two-year hiatus, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church will host its “Celebration of Community Art Show” this month.

This is the church’s 23rd annual juried art show, which is scheduled to begin Feb. 12, with an opening reception at 6 p.m., and will run through April 1.

The show is open to all artists age 18 and older from St. Anthony Park and surrounding communities who wish to display their work in the Undercroft Gallery of St. Matthew’s Church, 2136 Carter Ave. All styles and media are welcome.

Registration and drop-off time for art submissions is 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Feb. 4 at the church.

For more information or to request a registration form, please contact Janet Murphy at jmurrow@aol.com.

boreal art loft exhibit

An immersive textile installation will be on display from Feb. 6 through March 17 at the boreal art loft, 2276 Como Ave.

Nina Martine Robinson, a textile artist from Shoreview, has been creating installations for the past few years using discarded clothing to highlight her exploration into autism spectrum disorder. Robinson uses the 3-D pieces as a metaphor for the common traits associated with ASD.

The artist will have a mini residency on several weekends to share her process and add to the installation, which will culminate with a closing event from 3 to 5 p.m., March 11.

Gallery hours at the boreal loft are: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays to Thursdays; 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays; 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sundays.

Women’s Drum Center camp

The nonprofit Women’s Drum Center, 2242 University Ave., is offering a 4-part drum camp in February. This camp will explore original drum pieces, as well as songs performed by drumHeart, the premier ensemble of the Women’s Drum Center, and will be led by Jo Klein, drumHeart member since 2009.

Camp sessions are scheduled for 6 to 7 p.m. on Saturdays: Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25. Fee is $65. Some drumming experience is encouraged, and drums will be provided.

To guarantee your place in the camp, please register in advance at womensdrumcenter.org.

Tuesday Scholars series

The Ramsey County Library’s free Tuesday with a Scholar virtual series continues with these programs in February.

On Feb. 7, University of Chicago senior economics and justice fellow John Roman will talk about “Gun control: Why is it so hard?”

Roman will offer his ideas on past obstacles and future avenues to a solution on gun control, an issue that continues to be divisive in American politics.

Roman’s research focuses on the economics of crime in juvenile and adult justice systems.

On Feb. 14, University of Minnesota senior German lecturer Ari Hoptman will present on “The Languages We Speak and What Happened to Them.” He will look at the evolution of languages and examine, among other things, whether English, Latin and Russian are all part of one linguistic family.

On Feb. 21 and 28, Twin Cities economist and St. Paul Pioneer Press business columnist Ed Lotterman will be the presenter for these two weeks. On Feb. 21, he will talk about “A Century of Carnal Covetousness, U.S.-Cuba relations from 1789-1903.”

On Feb. 28, Lotterman’s talk is “Blame It on Mexico City! How Minnesota’s Lucky Lindy Was Smitten by His Smithie.” The presentation will examine the celebrity couple of Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow and how their relationship revealed much about U.S. industry and foreign relations a century ago.

These online programs are offered remotely using Zoom. You must register in advance for the events by calling the library at 651-724-6001 or on the library’s website rclreads.bibliocommons.com.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

No SAP Progressive Dinner

The Progressive Dinner Committee has canceled this year’s event, normally held in February, due to concerns about Covid. The committee said it hopes to resume the event next year.

St. Anthony Park Library

The St. Anthony Park Library, 2245 Como Ave., will host a variety of activities in February including:

Saturday Family Story Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m., Feb. 25. This is an opportunity for songs, finger plays, crafts/activities and social time with other families in the children’s room. Story time is best for toddlers and preschoolers, caregivers and siblings. No registration required.

Adult Book Club: 6:30-7:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 27. Join library staff and fellow book lovers for lively conversation, coffee and cookies. Stop in or call the library at 651-642-0411 for more information or to pick up a copy of the book. No registration required.

Indoor Family Story Time: Tuesdays, 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. or 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Join the library staff for stories, songs, rhymes, and puppets indoors in the library’s auditorium. Family story time is designed for children up to age 5 and their siblings and caregivers. No registration required.

Fun Lab Wednesdays: 3:30-4:30 p.m. Hang out and make cool stuff! Featuring crafts, science experiments, engineering projects, video games and more. This STEAM drop-in program is designed for ages 7 to 11. No registration required.

Shake Your Sillies Out! Playtime: Fridays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Come to the library’s auditorium for a story, stretching, movement and lots of fun! Playtime is appropriate for children ages two to five, with an adult caregiver. Adults must remain with their children during playtime. No registration required.