City Pages

Expanded web content: Campus con man not done with Minneapolis yet

Filed under: City Pages

By Andy Mannix

Daniel Gonzalez, the subject of our news story and photo slideshow this week, is out on work release. He's still incarcerated by Hennepin County, but he is allowed to leave to go to work.

Apparently he has Internet access.

Gonzalez recently updated his Facebook profile picture (which is under the name Anthony Martinez) to a dark silhouetted figure on a white background next to the name “Anthony D” written out in dark, bold letters.

The description under the photo reads: “one of the covers..Haha..here i come..”

In response to a curious friend wondering what the “D” stands for, Gonzalez responded:

“Yea the "D" Stand for (Definitive means precise; explicit and clearly defined to keep going no matter what..) Also D" is the First Letter of The Name Daniel ; the Alias I use to Use and the one that got me in trouble.The one every one hated so much..It keeps me going Every time i think of "D" as Struggle,and hate and also an ispiration to keep going every day..”

Actually, the “D” stands for Darst. Anthony Darst -- known to his fans as Anthony D -- is a 22-year-old rapper from Minneapolis living in Long Beach.

The silhouetted image is from his album art. Also on Gonzalez’s Facebook profile is a compilation of pictures from “his” studio, Megatropolis Records.

Megatropolis is actually Darst’s record label, and all of the photos are on the Megatropolis website.

Gonzalez has also recently updated his information on the University of Minnesota’s student directory. His name used to be listed as “Anthony Martines”, but has been changed to “Tony M. Martinez.”

When he was arrested, his listed address was for a fraternity house he had been living in. Now it’s an address for the Uptown City Apartments on West Lake Street -- though as of Monday, May 5, he was still in the work house, and still set to be released on June 26. No apartment number accompanies his student information, and the name Martinez is not on the Uptown City Apartment's directory. -- Andy Mannix

MORE CONTENT

Follow Gonzalez' criminal history with our interactive map, which shows you where he lived in town and what crimes he was arrested for in what parts of the country.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at May 6, 2008 2:40 PM | Comments (0)

 

Web Extras: Best Of the Twin Cities interactive map

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Our biggest Best Of the Twin Cities issue yet is live online, and will be making its way around town in perfect-bound format all day.

But why wait to see where the hottest spots in Minneapolis and St. Paul are, when you can check out an interactive map?

You can view our Google Map of the Best Of the Twin Cities below.

View Larger Map

Every entry we could map, we did. For the other, non-geographically tied entries, you'll have to pick up the Dead Tree edition. We were afraid to Google Map the houses of every private citizen we lauded. Also, we didn't want to give C.J. even more to write about.

Also see: the photo slideshow and the top ten reasons we were late getting this issue online.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at April 29, 2008 5:54 AM | Comments (8)

 

City Pages hires Andrea Myers as Music Editor

Filed under: City Pages

City Pages is proud to announce that it has hired Andrea Myers as music editor.

A veteran beat reporter who has covered the local music scene for years, Myers has been published everywhere from the (now-defunct) Pulse to Howwastheshow.com, and of course, in City Pages. She is perhaps best known as one of the founders of Reveille, an online music magazine.

Myers got her start at a relatively young age when she was taken under the wing of Jim Walsh, a former City Pages columnist and the author of All Over But the Shouting, an oral history of the Replacements.

"I've always admired Jim's writing, and have been reading his articles since I was in high school," Myers says. "He has been kind enough to mentor me through some of the most challenging parts of my writing career and I owe a lot of my success to his influence and support."

Reveille fans need not worry: the site will continue under the direction of Myers' co-founders. As for her plans for the City Pages music section, Myers promises stepped up coverage of local bands, shows, and music news.

"Now's the time for City Pages to reclaim the spotlight for local music coverage," Myers says. "I am excited to provide a passionate voice for the paper and give readers a chance to learn about the great music being made in our backyards."

You can also expect to see frequent blog posts providing updates between print editions. Myers says she usually goes to at least four shows a week and enjoys providing reviews within hours of leaving the concert.

"I can't wait to start my new position at City Pages," Myers says. "I think this will be a great opportunity to show my love of the local scene and use the resources at the paper to further investigate and report on local music trends."

City Pages is proud to welcome Myers aboard.

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at April 3, 2008 4:11 PM | Comments (14)

 

Reporter's Notebook: Soldier Suicides: veterans are killing themselves in record numbers

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As of recently, soldiers killing themselves upon their return from combat has become all too familiar to Cheryl Softich, of Eveleth, Minn. Her son, Army Specialist Noah Pierce, 23, killed himself in July after deployment in Iraq.

He came home and was felt like he was a murderer. He said he killed a doctor while he was there; he mistook the doctor for a suicide bomber, his mother says.

Back home he couldn’t sleep at night. He was drinking all the time and the spark had drained from his eyes, Softich remembers.

“There were very few smiles that were genuine,” she says.

At the time of his death, Pierce, a member of the Army's Third Infantry Division, had plans for a third tour.

Unlike most parents and family members who are stonewalled by their sons and daughters in uniform who don’t want to speak about the trauma they experienced at war, Pierce journaled his experience in war, leaving behind a book of poetry.

"His writing just brings you to Iraq with him," says Softich, who published her son’s work in the California publication Rogue Voice.

In the poem “WTF” Pierce reflects on the accidental killing of the Iraqi doctor. "The investigation said it was done by the books / I ask myself, 'What the fuck kind of war is this?'"

In “Friends” Pierce writes about Iraqi kids who would give him food in exchange for water. "No english / No arabic / Yet we still understand each other."

He wrote about desert sandstorms in “Dust” and called Iraq a “godforgotten country,” where smoking is an imperative and the “girlfriends, the parties, the training /GONE” in a piece titled "2nd time."

Softich is on a one-woman mission to change the military's current mental health screening system for returning veterans.

Pierce, like the others in our feature on soldier suicides, passed post deployment medical and psychological tests which allowed him to come home sooner, his mother says.

“They know what to say to go home and it’s not, I need help,” Softich says forcefully. “Noah should have never have been sent back to combat for a second time without counseling. Nobody in the military should should."

Many times a soldier thinks they’re fine upon return from cobat, because they feel so good about being home, says Major Cindy Rasmussen, a combat stress officer for the 80th Regional Readiness Command.

This sort of euphoric state can last for months, and sometimes it isn’t until that excitement starts to taper and the reality of life after war sets in, that PTSD symptoms start to show.

Softich is trying to enact a Noah’s clause, legislation that would require all troops to receive mandatory counseling, at least once every two weeks for a year, upon their return from active duty. Since coming forward, Representatives Jim Oberstar, D-Minnesota and Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii along with Senators Norm Coleman, R-Minnesota, and Amy Klobuchar D-Minnesota, have taken interest her idea, she says.

Anyone who has just returned from combat doesn’t have the capacity to determine his or her wellbeing, says Softich. “They shouldn’t be given the opportunity to say, ‘No, I’m fine, when in reality the solder is scared, but can’t admit it because that’s is a sign of weakness and weakness is not allowed,” she continued.

Around the clock access to trained professional is available for anyone struggling with thoughts of suicide. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. If you are a veteran and would like to speak with someone trained in working with military members, press “1” to reach the VA Hotline.

Posted by Beth Walton at March 28, 2008 5:35 PM | Comments (3)

 

Unsecret ballot: Blogger posts "Best Of" choices for all to see

Filed under: City Pages

Taylor Carik is the Raymond Carver of local bloggers. His posts at Mediation are brief in wordcount, but pack a wallop, or at least a wry smile.

Well, Taylor recently had a great idea involving City Pages. He filled out the Best Of ballot, located here, then took a screenshot of his completed answers and posted it online here. It's like a Twin Cities-centric version of the Proust Questionnaire.

I would encourage anybody interested to follow Taylor's lead--if you have questions about how to do it, we could even put together a quickie guide. Feel free to post URL's or other answers in the comments. Who knows, you may even convince other voters to put your slate over the top.

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at March 17, 2008 8:52 AM | Comments (5)

 

Vote buttons available now for Best of the Twin Cities

Filed under: City Pages

Want to win our Readers Poll for the annual Best Of issue? Of course you do. Combat the itchy clicking fingers of competing individuals or establishments by downloading these buttons for your website. Use 'em how you see fit. they're after the jump.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at March 14, 2008 11:13 AM | Comments (1)

 

Reporter's Notebook: Gone Baby Gone

Filed under: City Pages

For six weeks, Stacy and Ty Mooney were parents of a little girl called Rylee.

The Mooneys are the subject of this week's feature, a piece I wrote about the first adoption malpractice suit filed in Minnesota. To understand how Rylee went from being theirs to the daughter of another couple unknown to them requires understanding of how modern adoptions happen here -- and how they can go bad. This post explains some of the legal issues hinted at in the feature and includes some anecdotes we couldn't find room for. Also, please visit the photo slideshow for images of Stacy, Ty and Rylee.

Ty Mooney with Rylee. More photos in the slideshow.

At every stage, the Mooneys allege, the attorney they retained to handle the adoption misapplied the law, filed some forms before it was legally permissible to do so and didn't file others at all. They also say the lawyer, Daniel L. Giles, failed to counsel them properly about the legal requirements they needed to meet.

Unfortunately, I was unable to convince the attorney representing Dan Giles that he or his client should speak with me for the story. But the focus of the piece isn't the specific legal facts of the case, anyway: it's about the fact that Mooneys had a daughter, and they lost her.

Minnesota's adoption statutes are rigorous and strict. This is good, in the sense that adoptive parents are held to high standards before they can take a baby home. This is problematic in the sense that it takes an attentive and trustworthy attorney to jump through all the hoops.

“Anybody can get anybody pregnant,” says Ty Mooney, remembering the efforts he went through to no avail, “but for adoption, they put you through a lot.” The couple endured extensive background checks, multiple interviews, full physicals for each of them, and home studies. They understand what the laws are intended to do, and hope they're effective -- especially since they now know that Rylee has been placed with another family.

Minnesota adoption law guru Gary Debele has a 20-minute standard primer for anyone interested in the topic, basic groundwork essential before one even gets to the finer points in the process. “If I'm representing a birth parent, a big part of my role is making sure she understands all there is about that process,” he says. “The direct placement statute very specifically lays out, 'Here's how you do it.'”

Debele estimates that there are between 7-10 qualified lawyers in the state fully prepared to handle a direct placement adoption. Still, he told me, this should be enough to meet the demand since adoption rates are more or less static here. I spoke with two other lawyers not quoted in the piece that said roughly the same thing.

Debele recommends going through an attorney who is a member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, which has a listing of Minnesota adoption attorneys here. He is a member, and several of the attorneys listed by the academy are employed with Debele's own firm, Walling, Berg and Debele. Debele recommends each of those academy-endorsed lawyers, and one Minnesota adoption attorney who is not a member of the academy, Jody Alholinna.

To adopt a baby, you have to “free” the child from parental control. If the state doesn't terminate parental rights, this has to be voluntary. In a case like the Mooneys', this involves securing a set of consent forms from the birth parents at very specific times. “One thing that makes direct placement attractive is that you can get agreement to gain custody upon birth, and can get that secured up to six weeks before birth,” Debele said. “This enables virtually all the paperwork to be filed before birth.”

Legally, the birth parent's final consent can't be signed until three days after birth. This creates a brief period of legal limbo. “If you've got a good attorney,” said Debele, “that attorney makes sure the birth mother signs that consent on the 72nd hour. From there, she has 10 days until the consent becomes irrevocable.”

Otherwise, a birth mother need not even say why she wants to reclaim the child -– the birth mother can change her mind for any reason. After consent becomes irrevocable, a birth mother wishing to reclaim her child generally has to show fraud, which is extremely difficult.

They key is making sure that those consent forms are signed and valid. But if they're not, a so-called "disrupted adoption" is possible. Those words disrupted adoption are pretty sterile, and fail to describe the tumultuous emotional journey taken by the prospective parents who dream of watching a child grow up in their home.

The Mooney farm now has 10 horses, including a new foal. More photos in the slideshow.

Once she found out the baby had been permanently adopted into a new family, Stacy Mooney told neighbor Stephanie Tuott that she and Ty were thinking of setting up a trust fund for the infant. As Tuott remembers: “She said 'Steph, I love Rylee. She once was ours, and if she doesn't know it now, she'll know it when she's 18.' If that's not love, I don't know what is.”

Posted by Jeff Shaw at March 11, 2008 3:01 PM | Comments (10)

 

Et tu, Ellen Page? Saturday Night Live parody of Diablo Cody

Filed under: City Pages

If the Oscar wasn't enough, then being made fun of on Saturday Light Live should make it official: Diablo Cody is a star. After the jump, you'll find an embed clip of Ellen Page's monologue from over the weekend, including an appearance by Andy Samberg in Diablo's dress. You'll also hear why I think the skit misfires.

Here's the embed:

Personally, I thought this one missed the mark. One problem is that it beats the same dead horse that has already been adequately tortured on the internet for weeks as Diablo-mania morphed into Cody backlash (we get it, she makes up stupid catchphrases with the word "blog" in it).

I thought it was also a somewhat curious choice to cast Samberg as Cody. The whole "sloppy dude wearing a dress" schtick is way played out and only reinforces the feeling that this sketch passed its freshness date even before airing. I would have loved to see what Amy Poehler could have done with the part, and it would have defused some of the criticism that's brewing over Samberg's parting remark, "I was a stripper."

I also find it a bit hypocritical for Samberg to be making fun of Cody for being a catchphrase-spouting web phenom. This is, after all, the same dude who got promoted when his Lazy Sunday clip became a blog sensation. Is making an ironic rap video about weed and cupcakes really morally superior to writing a memoir about a year spent as a stripper?

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at March 3, 2008 3:54 PM | Comments (10)

 

Franchise 2.0: The More You Know

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We present to you Al Jefferson, You Tube Star. First, here's a primer on Al Jefferson's variety of offensive moves, from the ball fake to the head fake to the quick step toward the hoop to the soft jumper to the, well, you get the picture. The second half of the video, which deals with Randy Foye, is strictly extra credit.

Here's the Cliff's Notes for Jefferson's breakout game in December 2006 against the Nets. Jefferson scored 29 points and hauled in 14 boards in the come-from-behind victory.

And here's proof of the pratfalls that come with skipping college to go straight to the pros.

Posted by Jonathan Kaminsky at February 26, 2008 2:36 PM | Comments (0)

 

The Best of Diablo From These Pages

Filed under: City Pages

It's not every day when a former staffer wins an Academy Award. In honor of Diablo Cody's Oscar for best original screenplay, we've collected the top five stories she wrote during her time at City Pages.

For more from Diablo, you can also always check out her author archive for stories or the blog archive. Also, don't miss our feature interview with the Juno author and companion slideshow from late December.

5. "The Dirty Parts"
"His engorged maleness pressed urgently against her throbbing delta." No, Diablo didn't write that. But it's Diablo Cody writing about bodice-ripper romance novels, so you know there's something of interest inside. The story, not the bodice. Well, probably the bodice, too.

4. "Crossing Bridges of Hope and Taking Leaps of Faith With the Painter of Light"
Diablo Cody, meet Thomas Kinkade. Mr. Kinkade, you may not know what hit you. From June 2005.

3. "Finding My Religion"
What's a lapsed-Catholic former sex worker who doesn't like religious dogma to do when she finds out she still believes? I can think of at least one person to ask.

2. "Anarchy and Apron Strings"
This feature about crafty girls muses on multiple waves of feminism, the knitting needle and the New Domesticity involving hipsters.

1. "Are You There, Hollywood? It's Me, Diablo"
A cover story from August 2005, the inimitable Ms. Cody recounts her adventures up to that point in the trade. This bit seems prescient:

I don't need to be Charlie Kauffman, or Nora Ephron, or "the next Zach Helm," as one agent is fond of saying. All I ask is that they let me play for a few more rounds. I love writing screenplays and knowing they could plausibly evolve into a real, visual microcosm. I love talking to people who've been involved with movies that I loved as a fan, not a participant.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at February 25, 2008 5:54 AM | Comments (1)

 

Baldies soundslide (UPDATE: Read the original 1990 article)

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To go along with Matt Snyders' feature and our photo gallery about the Baldies, watch our audio slideshow set to Symarip's classic "Skinhead Moonstomp."

Also, some folks on the Insurgence Records message board scanned images from the original 1990 article on the Baldies, transcribed the piece and put the whole works online. Contrast and compare.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at February 20, 2008 12:12 PM | Comments (0)

 

Jumpers

Filed under: City Pages

This week's cover story focuses on suicide and the fatal allure of St. Paul's High Bridge. I mention briefly that the Golden Gate Bridge is the country's most notorious suicide locale, attracting jumpers at a rate of roughly one every two weeks. Tad Friend explored this phenomenon in a marvelous 2003 piece for The New Yorker that's available online. The article was the inspiration for the 2006 documentary The Bridge.

Posted by Paul Demko at February 7, 2008 10:52 AM | Comments (1)

 

The Slumlord and the Internet

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Last week, we brought you the story of Spiros Zorbalas, whom we dubbed "The Slumlord of South Minneapolis." So, the story has been met with a fair amount of feedback, much of which will be included in the coming edition's letters to the editor. (And some of which won't. Which is too bad, because there are some amazing stories in there.) There has also been some discussion of the story out in internetland. Click through for a sampling.

Backhanded compliments, anyone?
Over at buzz.mn, some dude had this to say.

At the Caveat Emptor blog, that site's resident consumer lawyer mused about the relative merits of renting from Zorbalas and living in a cardboard box.

And at the Minnesota Investment Real Estate blog, the author allowed that Zorbalas really is a slumlord.

That is all.

Posted by Jonathan Kaminsky at February 4, 2008 4:41 PM | Comments (0)

 

Andrew Zimmern endorses City Pages food critics

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Noted food critic and Travel Channel star Andrew Zimmern gave a generous shout-out to our new food critics on his blog today:

"City Pages announced who its new food critics will be, and it unveiled plans for expanded restaurant coverage both in the paper and online. Taking over Dara’s chair covering the new and noteworthy openings is Rachel Hutton, formerly of Mn Mo, and James Norton, whose work I have referenced before on this blog, will cover the ‘deals on meals’ angle. All of this begins on February 20, and both of the new hires will be blogging and podcasting as well. I like the work of both these writers, and CP’s commitment to its food section and its plans to grow it is good for the local food scene."

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at January 28, 2008 10:13 PM | Comments (1)

 

Announcing our new food section

Filed under: City Pages

I'm proud to announce that City Pages has hired two new food critics and will soon launch an ambitious new dining section in print and online.

Our lead columnist, Rachel Hutton, is a familiar voice to Twin Cities foodies. For the past six years, she has been covering the local dining scene for Minnesota Monthly, where she won three awards from the Minnesota Magazine and Publications Association and the Society of Professional Journalists. A graduate of Stanford University, Hutton edited the essay collection Before the Mortgage in 2006. Hutton's column will critique the Twin Cities' newest buzz-worthy restaurants and provide perspective on movers, shakers, and food makers across the local landscape.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to write a weekly column," Hutton says. "For a long time, City Pages has been the must-read resource for anybody who cares about dining in the Twin Cities, and I'm excited to build on that legacy."

Hutton will be joined by James Norton, with whom she previously worked at Minnesota Monthly. Norton is a weekly columnist for CHOW.com, and has contributed food writing to Salon.com and Popular Science. Norton will write a weekly half-page column that explores our local restaurant scene from a street-level perspective—think great meals for under $20 and bars with specials on unique drinks.

"I get a kick out of eating anything from mini cubanos at Chino Latino to gyros at Holy Land to wings from Shorty & Wags," Norton says. "A lot of the best eating in the Twin Cities can be found out in the neighborhoods, and rooting it out promises to be a tremendous amount of fun."

Both Hutton and Norton will be regular contributors to a new food blog, which we’ll be launching soon. The blog will feature fresh daily content and a Friday podcast hosted by Hutton and Norton.

Our new dining section debuts in the February 20 issue. Bridging the gap will be two columns by longtime City Pages copy chief Bridgette Reinsmoen, who will also be a contributor to the food blog.

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at January 25, 2008 8:00 AM | Comments (11)

 

Real Life Superheroes: Expanded Web Content

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Ward Rubrecht's cover story on real life superheroes -- "Reals," for short -- is a look into the lives of costumed do-gooders here in Minnesota, across the country and across the pond. You know we have a photo slideshow so you can see some of the people he profiles, but we couldn't let such a fun story pass without bringing the heroes bursting through your Internet machine via multiple media.

To go along with the theme, I've indexed our expanded web content with actual sound effects that appeared in the Batman TV series.

POW!: Check out our Google Map which shows you where dozens of Reals in the U.S. and Europe operate. The map points have pictures of just about all the real life superheroes listed, along with links to their respective websites. The slideshow has photos by Nick Vlcek of Rochester's hero, Geist, along with submitted photos of several other Reals. The map is more comprehensive.

ZZZZZZWAP!: Make your own superhero costume with the Hero Machine, a web application that gives you a frightening number of options.

ZOWIE!: If you find the perfect design, you can buy your own custom outfit from a local artisan at Hero-Gear.net. Michael Brinatte, also known as Jack T. Ripper, is the foremost practitioner of this craft. Read endorsements of his work from the Reals that rely on him.

FLRBBBBB!: Check out the heroes from the links in the map, or go to the World Superhero Registry. If you visit no other hero's MySpace, my recommendation is the home of Phoenix's Citizen Prime, who has embedded theme music that may get stuck in your head.

(Wait, "Flrbbbbb"? I gotta find episode 68 of the Adam West Batman series to see what that sound corresponded to.)

Hungry for more? After the jump, we have videos from six different reals whose territories stretch from Florida to Phoenix, from NYC to Indianapolis.

SIX VIDEOS FEATURING REAL LIFE SUPERHEROES

MASTER LEGEND (Florida)
"Let's go ahead and do a little paintball action ... BY THE GODS, I hope it didn't get on the camera!"

DARK GUARDIAN (New York City)
Dark Guardian (known as "Chris Guardian" at this point), is interviewed by an NYC TV station about his volunteer work protecting the streets. A surprisingly touching moment occurs about 1:45, when Guardian inspires a fellow New Yorker.

MR. SILENT (Indianapolis, Indiana)
"Are you a mime? Do you want to get paid for this?" asks the TV talking head. Mr. Silent gives her an origin story she doesn't expect.

CITIZEN PRIME (Phoenix)
The "Who Wants to Be a Superhero?" audition film clip features more than 6 minutes of Prime action.

SQUEEGEEMAN (New York City)
Composer of a regular video blog, Squeegeeman volunteers at an AIDS walk in this episode.

SUPERHERO (Florida)
Superhero addresses the members of Superheroes anonymous. Judging from the sound, he needs new brakes on the 'mobile.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 15, 2008 1:05 PM | Comments (26)

 

New Hampshire liveblog is underway

Filed under: City Pages

We've begun posting in advance of tonight's New Hampshire primary, and action's going to kick in even more after results begin to come back. Three staffers have posted so far, and at least that number more are going to chime in over the course of the evening.

Get started with this post citing the latest polls for handicapping purposes. Check out all the rest at our Elephants in the Room blog.

Matt Snyders will likely pop by to offer insights he gleaned while researching his feature about the Iowa caucus, and I have a couple of longer posts planned to go along with more observational and reactive material generated during the night.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at January 8, 2008 2:21 PM | Comments (0)

 

Diablo Cody: Expanded Web Content

Filed under: City Pages

Craving more after you read our feature about Diablo Cody? We have a couple of online-only bits about Hollywood's hottest screenwriter available now.

First, peruse a slideshow gallery with a bunch of terrific photos (and notes from the shoot!) by Nick Vlcek. Hear an excerpt from Matthew Smith's interview with Diablo, as she reflects on her time at City Pages, here (MP3).

Posted by Jeff Shaw at December 26, 2007 8:32 AM | Comments (2)

 

This Atlas Rocks

Filed under: City Pages

The two-page Rock Atlas spread from our print issue is now available on-line. Click the image below to see the full version, which highlights hot spots from local scene's past, present and future.

The same places are entered into our interactive map as well, so you can save it to your Google Maps if you use that feature.

Also, artist Kevin Cannon has a detailed post explaining his thought and creative processes, taking you through the production of the Rock Atlas.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at December 20, 2007 11:25 AM | Comments (8)

 

Radio killed the Internet star

Filed under: City Pages

I'm going to be on the radio this afternoon with Stephanie Hansen from 107.1, talking about what there is to do this weekend. If you've always wanted to hear what my voice sounds like and can't be bothered to download my one triumphant appearance on cPod, then you'll get your chance in the 2 p.m. hour. "Listen live" link is on the right side of their main page.

[/shameless Jeff-promotion]

Posted by Jeff Shaw at December 20, 2007 11:04 AM | Comments (0)

 

Dara Departing City Pages

Filed under: City Pages

Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl, the longtime restaurant critic of City Pages, will be leaving the paper in January to pursue other interests.

Grumdahl, who has won numerous awards for her food criticism, wants to write books and boost her national profile, which won’t afford the time to keep up her weekly column in City Pages.

“I’ve always loved CP, it was basically my first job out of college,” Grumdahl said. “I’ve been so happy there over the years.”

We thank Dara for the many wonderful columns she's graced us with and wish her well.

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at December 18, 2007 5:05 PM

 

Hold Steady: Expanded Web Content

Filed under: City Pages

Jeff Severns Guntzel offers the proverbial window into the life of The Hold Steady in this week's feature. Online, we're offering a different look at the band through photos, sounds, interactive media and expanded text.

Start with the photo gallery with concert images by Daniel Corrigan -- and shots from the road by guitarist Tad Kubler. Also available: an audio soundslide backed by a track from the group's acclaimed album Boys and Girls in America.

Interested in seeing the inextricable links between The Hold Steady and the Twin Cities? Check out our interactive map that shows the spots Craig Finn is talking about in the band's lyrics, with links to more information and photos.

Hear author Jeff Severns Guntzel talking about his experience doing the story on cPod, our weekly podcast.

After the jump, you'll find five of the coolest Hold Steady videos available on YouTube and a comprehensive timeline of the band's career, beginning in 2000 and stretching forward into the future -- with links to landmark articles, including one we published some years back. Enjoy.

THE BEST OF THE HOLD STEADY ON YOUTUBE

The Interweb is awash with Hold Steady videos. We combed through them and picked five really, really good ones.

1. THS performing the song that opened their first album for San Diego community television.



2. THS performing "Chips Ahoy" in Belgium. This is #2 because it is so fun to yell ROCK WERCHTER 2007!



3. THS performing "212-Margerita" live and acoustic--it's really all about Kubler on that couch.



4. THS on Jools Holland in the UK. Finn is just plain unhinged in this video. And Kubler is wearing that hat.



5. Guitarist Tad Kubler recounting the "Top 10 Buddy Cop Movies":

THE HOLD STEADY: A ROUGH TIMELINE
2000
September:
Craig Finn moves to New York City

2004
March:
Hold Steady Almost Killed Me is released on French Kiss Records

2005
May:
Separation Sunday released

Craig Finn profiled in New Yorker

THS on cover of Village Voice

Our own Nate Patrin takes a drive with Finn and records what happens here.

July:
THS plays Last Call With Carson Daly

THS plays Conan O’Brien (video)

2006
October:
Boys and Girls in America released on Vagrant Records

THS Comic Book released with Boys and Girls in America

November:
THS on Jimmy Kimmel Live

December:
Boys and Girls comes in at #8 on Rolling Stone’s best albums of 2006 list

2007
January:
THS on Late Show with David Letterman (YouTube)

Hold Steady “invades Britain”

April
Band records Take Me Out to the Ballgame for the Metrodome. The session is documented by MTV.

Craig Finn trades verses with Bruce Springsteen at Carnegie Hall (YouTube)

September:
THS opens for the Rolling Stones in Dublin

Finn returns to his alma mater, Boston College, for a “master class.”

October:
THS cover of Dylan’s “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window” shows up on soundtrack to “I’m Not There.” (YouTube)

Sometime in the future:

Craig Finn appears on Kent Hrbek Outdoors. We’re serious. It's already taped. When that airs, rest assured, we'll pass it along.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at December 4, 2007 1:51 PM | Comments (3)

 

Matt Snyders on Fox TV

Filed under: City Pages

Our very own Matt Snyders brought his debonair self to Fox News yesterday. You can see his two-minute appearance here, and if for some reason that direct link doesn't work for you, it's the top video listed on the Fox News main page right now.

If you haven't given them a look already, here are the story, the photos and the audio slideshow.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at December 3, 2007 11:44 AM | Comments (0)

 

Boy, Interrupted UPDATED

Filed under: City Pages

Jeremy, the 88 pound man recently profiled by City Pages, has entered treatment involuntarily at Methodist Hospital.

After receiving calls from Jeremy's family requesting a health and welfare check in the wake of the recent City Pages article, the Community Outreach for Psychiatric Emergencies paid him a visit at his condo on the 13th floor of a downtown Minneapolis high rise.

"After arriving, the COPE staff felt the patient was in need of emergency hospitalization and requested police support in transporting him to the hospital," reads a report prepared by a licensed clinical psychologist. "While allowing the patient to get his things from his apartment the police reported he attempted to jump off his balcony." (For his part, Jeremy says that he never tried to commit suicide by jumping off the balcony and that he was instead "turning off his grill.")

Upon being admitted to the hospital, Jeremy weighed just 85 pounds and stood 5' 7 1/2" tall. He had a critically low potassium level of 2.5, which can result in cardiac arrest.

A mental health screener talked to Jeremy's mother, who reported that she was "worried he's killing himself." His family was also "concerned as the holiday season approaches that Jeremy will 'gear up' and his suicidal ideation/intent will worsen," the psychologist's report testifies.

Jeremy was placed on a 72-hour hold--which he is still under as of this very moment.

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Jeremy had a hearing in Hennepin County Court, where he was represented by a court-appointed lawyer. He had hoped to make his case that he has every intention to come in for treatment, but wanted to first take care of a few details, such as having his car winterized, and making arrangements for his mail.

Instead, the hearing was postponed a week to Wednesday, November 28.

Recently, I paid a visit to Jeremy during visiting hours at Methodist Hospital, where he is receiving treatment as he awaits his hearing. When I arrived, he had just come out of a shower and seemed comfortable in a robe. He was the only man in a room full of women receiving treatment for eating disorders.

Jeremy asked that I tell people how to reach him. He is at Methodist Hospital's Eating Disorder Institute.

He also asked that I post the url for his blog. In doing so, City Pages takes no responsibility for its contents, nor any of the claims made therein.

For all of our reportage on this story, including audio, video, photos and links to eating disorder treatment resources, please visit this Blotter post.

Posted by Kevin Hoffman at November 27, 2007 1:48 PM | Comments (1)

 

Desmond Tutu: Expanded Web Content

Filed under: City Pages

After Matt Snyders broke the story of the University of St. Thomas canceling an appearance by Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a series of events was set in motion. There was an apology and a new arrangement with Metropolitan State University and PeaceJam International. In our new issue, Snyders catches up with the Archbishop and updates us all on the story.

After you read it, hear audio excerpts from the interview. Desmond Tutu speaks in the following MP3 files:

* Tutu explains why he was disappointed about not being allowed to speak (:53)
* Tutu commends the college president for his ultimate response (:34)
* "I've never been anti any group of persons. I've been anti the injustice, or the policies those particular people carried out." (1:08)

Posted by Jeff Shaw at November 20, 2007 2:56 PM | Comments (0)

 

Boy, Interrupted: One Man's Struggle With An Eating Disorder (Web Extras)

Filed under: City Pages , City Pages , City Pages

Eating disorders destroy lives, and new research suggests that men are affected in greater numbers than was previously assumed. This week, Kevin Hoffman tells the story of Jeremy, a 36-year-old man who has struggled with the illness for most of his life.

Check out the accompanying audio slideshow, which features Jeremy reading from his private blog, and an additional photo gallery. Plus, download MP3 files of Jeremy telling his own story. You can also use the comment feature on this post to discuss your reaction to the story.

In His Own Words
Hear Jeremy read posts from the private blog he has kept for the past few years.

* Part one (:25) Jeremy introduces himself and summarizes his adolescence.
* Part two (:18) "I am not only starving for food, but also for human touch."
* Part three (:45) "Some people say that the body is a temple. My body is a dungeon."
* Part four (:35) A description of days consumed by an eating disorder.
* Part five (:30) "If I ever make it through this eating disorder alive ... which I hope I do not ..."
* Part six (:40) A harrowing description of the role vomiting plays in Jeremy's life.
* Part seven (1:00) This series of blog entries track Jeremy's dropping weight and the specific physical consequences associated with his condition.
* Part eight (:15) What Jeremy wants.

Elsewhere on the Web
From Our Story
* Our story references a recent Harvard study about eating disorders, the first national survey of its type. Here is a summary of the study's findings.

Eating disorder treatment in the region
* Methodist's Hospital Eating Disorder Institute
* Rogers Memorial Hospital's Eating Disorder Center
* The Emily Program, an outpatient treatment program

National Eating Disorder Organizations
* NEDA, the National Eating Disorders Association
* Something Fishy, a pro-recovery website
* National Institute of Mental Health's facts about eating disorders

UPDATE: In this week's cPod, Ward Rubrecht talks to Kevin Hoffman about the Boy, Interrupted story. Ward and I also speak about creating the audio slideshow as well as future plans for the site.

UPDATE 2: We have now posted a YouTube documentary of Jeremy filmed one year ago.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at November 3, 2007 1:44 PM | Comments (28)

 

Boy, Interrupted: Video

Filed under: City Pages

Because of the tremendous local and national response to "Boy, Interrupted," we have decided to make available this additional material. In November 2006, a college student filmed Jeremy as part of a school project on Eating Disorders.

As you will see, Jeremy was considerably healthier during this time, weighing at least 15-20 pounds more than he did at the time of our photo shoot. For those of you who have read the story, this footage takes place after Jeremy started his blog, but before he stopped going to his gym because of the potential liability issue.

Here's our expanded web content for the story, including MP3s, photos and an audio slideshow.

Posted by Jeff Shaw at November 2, 2007 3:41 PM | Comments (0)

 

Teens invade the local music scene

Filed under: City Pages

In this week's cover story, Teenage Riot, writer Peter S. Scholtes reports on the recent explosion of Minnesota venues catering to the 18+ crowd, and the youthful bands they're booking. An excerpt: "Funk-metal Screaming Mechanical Brain (a.k.a. SMB) and pop-punk Motion City Soundtrack (with a forthcoming album on Epitaph) ... cut their teeth in local teen clubs, namely the still-going Garage in Burnsville and the late Foxfire Coffee Lounge in downtown Minneapolis (respectively). Today both groups play all-ages dates across the country, with MySpace their effective radio station. 'As much as we've sold out, we come from loving bands like Fugazi,' says Josh Cain of Motion City Soundtrack. 'When I was in high school I could really devote my life to a band. Music's for kids, man.'" Read the cover story here and photographer Jayme Halbritter's photos here, then come back to join the conversation.

Posted by Corey Anderson at August 1, 2007 11:15 AM | Comments (3)

 

Is this the end of the daily newspaper?

Filed under: City Pages

In this week's cover story, Trials and Stribulations, G.R. Anderson Jr. and Paul Demko analyze the recent sales, buy-outs, and legal tangles involving the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press. An excerpt: "Avista Capital Partners, a private equity firm with no prior experience in the newspaper business, agreed to buy the Strib for $530 million—less than half what McClatchy had paid for the paper eight years earlier. McClatchy tried to put a positive spin on the shortfall by pointing out that the sale would save the company $160 million in taxes. But the Strib sale nonetheless became a national benchmark for how steeply the value of daily newspapers has tumbled in recent years. 'I was stunned,' says Tim J. McGuire, the newspaper's former top editor. 'I didn't realize that revenues had declined quite as much as they obviously had.'" Can two daily papers thrive in such a small market? Can daily newspapers survive in the internet age? Check out the cover story here, then come back to join the conversation.

Posted by Corey Anderson at July 25, 2007 10:16 AM | Comments (11)

 

Life in the Twin Cities gets graphic

Filed under: City Pages

This week we turn our pages over to the International Cartoonist Conspiracy, based in Minneapolis, for their take on life in the Twin Cities through their words and art. Local cartoonists such as Ken Avidor, Kevin Cannon, Sara Witty, Justin "Spanky" Cermak, and many more contributed comics that can be viewed here. Check them out, then come back to tell us what you think.

Also, one of the artists, Eric Lappegard, was recently injured severely in a car accident near Seattle. Updates on his condition can be found here, and information on an upcoming benefit can be found here. Donations can be sent to: Account of Eric Lappegard, Voyager Bank, 500 Marschall Road, Shakopee, MN 55379.

UPDATE: Steven Stwalley of the International Cartoonist Conspiracy informs us in the comments section that Eric Lappegard passed away at 3:00 am this morning from his injuries. City Pages offers its condolences.

Posted by Corey Anderson at July 18, 2007 11:47 AM | Comments (9)

 

Alternate juror in Jourdain case weighs in

Filed under: City Pages

As fortune would have it, a blogger named Jeremy was an alternate juror in the trial featured in this week's cover story, Devil's Advocate. You can read his thoughts on the case here.

Posted by Jonathan Kaminsky at July 16, 2007 12:00 PM | Comments (0)

 

Blotter going offline while we move servers

Filed under: City Pages

The Blotter will be moving to another server beginning Wednesday afternoon. We hope to begin updating within 24 hours. Thanks for your patience.

The Management

Photo from I Can Has Cheezburger?

Posted by Corey Anderson at July 11, 2007 2:51 PM | Comments (0)

 

What would a lawyer do to clear his client of child sex abuse charges?

Filed under: City Pages

In this week's cover story, Devil's Advocate, writer Jonathan Kaminsky delves into the difficult tasks law enforcement and the medical community face when dealing with alleged victims of sexual abuse by examining the case of Daniel Jourdain, who was accused of abusing his 11-year-old nephew. An excerpt: "As [pediatrician Carolyn Levitt] explains it, the objective of the interview, which is conducted in one of the clinic's two exam rooms, is to collect salient details from reticent children while steering clear of leading questions. 'You have to make sure the child is sturdy enough to tell their own story,' she says. Sturdiness matters because if the child tells of sexual abuse during the interview, and if Levitt and her staff make a finding that is consistent with abuse having occurred, odds are the tape will be admitted as evidence for the prosecution in a subsequent criminal case." Read the cover story here, them come back to join the conversation.

Posted by Corey Anderson at July 11, 2007 9:23 AM

 

Matt Smith joins City Pages as Managing Editor

Filed under: City Pages

Veteran journalist Matt Smith will be the new managing editor at City Pages, Village Voice Media announced today. He replaces Michael Tortorello, who is resigning to pursue other interests.

Smith has nearly twenty years of experience as an editor and writer for major city and regional magazines. He is the former managing editor of VVM's SF Weekly in San Francisco, and before that held positions as news editor of the Los Angeles Times magazine, senior editor of California magazine (owned by Texas Monthly), and associate editor of New West (a sister publication of New York magazine). For several years he made his living as a freelance editor and writer, and he served for six years as the fundraising director of a non-profit employment agency for homeless people in Los Angeles.

"I'm really looking forward to working at City Pages and returning to Village Voice Media," said Smith. "One of the things I like best about alt-weeklies is that there are no restrictions on the stories you can tell. You can write about anything from hard news to the arts, as long as it's a good read. And I know there are a lot of good stories to tell in the Twin Cities."

"I'm thrilled that Matt will be joining the paper," said City Pages editor Kevin Hoffman. "He's a consummate professional, and we're lucky to have found someone with his talent and experience to work with our staff."

Smith has lived in the Twin Cities since 2002. Before his move to City Pages, he worked as a public and media relations specialist for Twin Cities Public Television. He lives in St. Paul.

Smith takes the chair as managing editor on Monday, July 16.

Source: Village Voice Media Press Release

Posted by Corey Anderson at July 10, 2007 3:22 PM | Comments (0)

 

Shane and Amy make a press release

Filed under: City Pages

Kevin Smith's latest film is to be called Zach and Miri Make a Porno. The script is apparently about a pair of 30-something slackers who, inspired by their upcoming 15-year high school reunion, decide to make a porn film. It's slated to begin filming in Minnesota in February.

According to Shane Bugbee, the movie was inspired by his experiences in Ely, Minnesota. Bugbee is the satanist-turned-blueberry-soda salesman who claims to have been run out of bucolic Ely, Minnesota fearing for his life after word of his past surfaced. (See "Sympathy for the Devil".) Bugbee then went to L.A. and produced a porn film, "The Witches Sabbath."

"It's a rare day in Hollywood to actually get paid and get credit for something like this," Bugbee says in a press release touting the purported connection. "This is a real testament to Kevin Smith's character!"

His wife, Amy, also chimes in on the forthcoming film. "The movie is loosely based on our tale of woe," she says, "and we are thrilled to be a part of it."

Of course, according to Smith, this is a bunch of hooey.

Posted by Paul Demko at July 5, 2007 2:07 PM | Comments (0)

 

Is too much water wasted in the creation of ethanol?

Filed under: City Pages

In this week's news feature, Sucked Dry, writer Conrad Wilson looks at the burgeoning ethanol industry in Minnesota, and wonders whether we're depleting one natural resource while trying to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. An exceprt: "The industry uses massive amounts of water. It's a key component during the fermentation and cooling stages of ethanol production. And most plants in the state are much less efficient than Granite Falls, which has the benefit of being located near another water source. Minnesota Energy, a plant in Buffalo Lake, uses 4.5 gallons of water to produce just one gallon of ethanol." Read the story here, then come back to join the conversation.

Posted by Corey Anderson at July 5, 2007 1:05 PM | Comments (11)

 

The b-girls have their say

Filed under: City Pages

In this week's cover story, Where the Ladies at?, writer Peter S. Scholtes profiles local female hip hop artists and the struggles they face in the broader community of MCs. An excerpt: "[Crazy] Amy doesn't remember the name of her attacker. 'I try to forget the bad things that I can't really do anything about,' she says. But the incident illustrates the hard edge of a broader stupidity: the producer who withholds services from a female rapper unless payment is made with sex, the male graffiti writer who spreads rumors about the girl who spent all night spray-painting with the boys, even a well-meaning parent who warns a daughter of the physical risks of breakdancing.'" Check out the cover story here and the gallery of B-Girl Be artists here, then come back to join the conversation.

Editor's note: Our cover story on B-Girl Be misattributed an off-color remark to choreographer Amy Sackett, a.k.a. Suga Mama of the Rhythm QueenZ. In fact, the banter came from another b-girl present at the same photo shoot. At no time did Sackett—a veteran dancer, teacher, and scene supporter—make any sexual joke or gesture. City Pages regrets the error. The online version reflects the corrected text.

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 27, 2007 9:01 AM | Comments (22)

 

Hmong refugees join hundreds of students leaving Minneapolis schools

Filed under: City Pages

In this week's cover story, The Outsiders, writer Paul Demko reports on the exodus of Hmong students from the troubled Minneapolis School District. An excerpt: "The Hmong refugees aren't the only ones fleeing the Minneapolis public schools. In just the last six years, the district's enrollment has fallen from 48,689 to 36,428—a drop of 25 percent. Enrollment in Choice Is Yours has ballooned from 472 students in its initial year, 2001, to 1,878 during the last school year. Charter schools have claimed still more students. Enrollment at North High School has plummeted from 1,274 to 950 over the last five years. The experience of the recent Hmong arrivals provides a telling snapshot of the difficulties and dysfunction that plague the Minneapolis system." Read the cover story here, then come back to join the discussion.

Posted by Corey Anderson at June 20, 2007 9:41 AM | Comments (8)

 

Is Johan Santana one of the best pitchers ever?

Filed under: City Pages