Architect Leonard Parker, 88, designed Minnesota landmarks

Leonard Parker, an award-winning Minnetonka architect who designed many well-known public buildings in Minnesota and other civic structures around the world, died of lymphoma Monday. He was 88.

Parker and his firm, Leonard Parker Associates, designed the University of Minnesota's Mondale Hall, which houses the law school, and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. They also designed the Minneapolis Convention Center and, in St. Paul, the Minnesota Judicial Center and Minnesota Public Radio's headquarters. Parker's 50-year career also included designs of the South Korea embassy in Ottawa and the U.S. embassy in Santiago, Chile.

"All kinds of people in the construction industry can put up buildings," Parker, whose Minneapolis-based firm is now known as Parker Design International, told the University of Minnesota Alumni Association for a 2005 article. "But we architects don't just build buildings. We create works of art."

After earning a master's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Parker worked in Michigan for six years with famed modern architect Eero Saarinen, who designed the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and Christ Church Lutheran in South Minneapolis. It was with Saarinen that Parker learned the ethos he brought to architecture, said his son B. Aaron Parker, a fellow architect.

"He would exhaustively examine design alternatives at the beginning of the design process," B. Aaron Parker said. "He was thorough and exacting in his follow-through

and having the details the way they were supposed to be."
Parker won hundreds of awards, including the American Institute of Architects Fellowship and the Gold Medal from the group's Minnesota chapter. When it was built in 1978, the U's law school building incorporated one of the first known large-scale "green" roofs in Minnesota, B. Aaron Parker said.

Parker, a 1948 University of Minnesota graduate, taught architecture at his alma mater for 34 years.

"Few people have had as big an impact on the School of Architecture as Leonard Parker," said Thomas Fisher, dean and professor in the College of Design. "For decades, he ran a successful architectural practice and taught as an adjunct in the school, showing generations of students not only how to become skilled designers, but also how to work in ways that would help ensure their own success in the profession."

Parker's ambition to become an architect started at age 14 after he and a friend biked from their hometown of Milwaukee to Racine, Wis., according to the U of M Alumni Association article. The destination was a building his friend wanted to see.

"I didn't care about the building," Parker said in 2005. "But I thought riding a bike to Racine sounded good!"

After six hours and 45 miles, Parker and his friend arrived at the Johnson Wax headquarters, whose iconic building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

"I'd never seen a building like that," Parker said. "It was incredible! The building engineer showed us around, and he spoke of Mr. Wright with such deference. I thought, 'Wouldn't it be great to design buildings like this and have people talk about you with such respect!' I made up my mind right there. I was going to be an architect."

Services for Parker will be held at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Temple Israel in Minneapolis. LINK

I Walk for Love: 1 person, 100 days, 2,000 miles

Full Name:
Jordan Dibb

Living in:
Minneapolis, MN

Listening to:

Earth For Foxes

Eating for Breakfast:
Eggs & Toast

Where does your story begin? (Set the scene)
I graduated college in the spring of 2009 and for 6 months attempted to find a job that was worthwhile. After thousands of resumes sent out and countless interviews with nothing to show for it, I decided I wanted to do something constructive with my time. Then the earthquake in Haiti hit and I decided I wanted to go down there to aid in relief efforts. But after calling many non-profits I learned that I needed background experience in Disaster Aid - which I didn't have. When I asked one of the organizations how I was supposed to get down to Haiti to help then, she simply replied, "Well you could always walk". That put the idea in my head that I could fundraise on my own and ended up planning and completing a 2,000 mile journey, where I walked from Minneapolis, MN to Miami, FL in 100 days, raising nearly $40,000 for Action Against Hunger, a non-profit who was supplying disaster relief in Haiti.

Within days of creating my walk's fan page on Facebook, I had thousands of followers. During the 100 days that I walked across the country I gained nearly 12,000 followers, which helped me spread the word about my cause. A lot of the donations that I raised for Haiti came from those Facebook followers. Facebook also allowed me to better plan my walking route. People saw that I would be walking through their town and messaged me, inviting me for dinner as I passed through or even giving me a place to sleep for the night. Of the 100 nights during my walk, I spent more than 80 nights with families I had never met, a lot of them hearing about me through Facebook.

If the story doesn't end there: Did this event spread to impact the lives of other people?
It definitely did! In 3 months my friends, family and Facebook followers raised nearly $40,000 dollars for Haiti! Those donations helped feed and water men, women and children in Haiti. I just couldn't believe so many people could come together and make such a difference for others who they had never even met before. LINK

Peter Graves, ‘Mission: Impossible’ Star, Dies at 83

Peter Graves, the cool spymaster of television’s “Mission: Impossible” and the dignified host of the “Biography” series, who successfully spoofed his own gravitas in the “Airplane!” movie farces, died on Sunday. He was 83.

Born Peter Aurness in Minneapolis, the blond, 6-foot-2 Mr. Graves served in the Army Air Forces in 1944 and ’45, studied drama at the University of Minnesota under the G.I. Bill of Rights and played the clarinet in local bands before following his older brother, James Arness, to Hollywood.

His first credited film appearance was in “Rogue River” (1950), with Rory Calhoun. Mr. Graves’s getting a Hollywood contract for the picture persuaded his fiancée’s family to let her marry him. He changed his name for that movie to Graves, his maternal grandfather’s name, to avoid confusion with his older brother. LINK

Salvation Army to collect donations at KARE 11

I didn't get this posted in time for the drop off site but I am putting the rest of the information on where you can help out.

KARE 11 has teamed up with The Salvation Army to help collect basic needs items for people affected by Sunday's storms.

Items needed:

- Personal Hygiene Items - NEW (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, etc.)
- Diapers
- Non-perishable food
- Men's/Women's/Kids Underwear - NEW
- Clothing
- Blankets/bedding
- Towels

Donations can also be delivered to The Salvation Army's permanent locations:

- Clothing & furniture to 900 N. 4th Street in Minneapolis
- Food & Hygiene items to 2024 Lyndale Ave. N in Minneapolis

KARE 11 is located at 8811 Olson Memorial Highway near Highway 169 in Golden Valley.

They are also accepting text donations. Text "BLESSING" to 85944 to make a $10 donation to the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services efforts. (Standard texting fees apply)

The American Red Cross is accepting donations to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Financial gifts enable the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of disasters. People may also call (612) 460-3700 during business hours or mail donations to the following address:

American Red Cross - Twin Cities Area Chapter
NW 5597
PO Box 1450
Minneapolis, MN 55485-5597

You can make secure online contributions by visiting the Twin Cities Red Cross website.

Financial donations for the metro storm relief may be made online at The Salvation Army website or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or sending a check to the following address:

The Salvation Army
2445 Prior Ave
Roseville MN 55113

Make sure to designate "metro storm." LINK

Related Links
Minneapolis tornado kills 1, devastation widespread
Photo gallery of Sunday's storms.

Human skull found in Minnehaha Park from 19th Century

A human skull found in a Minneapolis park earlier this month is likely a middle-aged man from the 19th century. WCCO reports a Hennepin County forensic team says the skull found in Minnehaha Park’s off-leash dog is that of a man who was of both European and African ancestry. LINK

Why We're Here: Twin Cities

With all the possibilities around the world, what is the “it” that keeps people here in the Twin Cities? We suspected the answer to the question "Why We're Here" was both simple and incredibly nuanced -- worthy of art. We took our camera to the streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul to find people willing to talk, unscripted, on film. The result is our collective love poem to the Twin Cities.

Why We're Here: Twin Cities is a six-minute film that explores what unites us, and unites us here, in the Twin Cities. Filmed on location the spring and summer of 2010 in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, the film features an original score by John Munson of the New Standards, the Twilight Hours, Semisonic and Trip Shakespeare, camerawork by Adam Olson and editing by Sam Heyn. LINK: Vimeo

Minneapolis Architecture

Starting with Philip Johnson's acclaimed IDS Tower in 1972 (which is still, perhaps, one of the best looking skyscrapers in the country) Minneapolis has seen architecture play an increasingly important role in the fabric of the city.

Recent buildings by Jean Nouvel, James Dayton, Frank Gehry, Cesar Pelli and Herzog & de Meuron, as well as classics by Minoru Yamasaki & Associates, Gunnar Birkerts and Ralph Rapson, are making the City of Lakes also the City of Architecture. This video surveys some of the buildings that have transformed the cityscape as a result of the city's considerable investment in its skyline.

John Comazzi, a University of Minnesota Architecture professor, guides us around these Minneapolis landmarks, revealing some of the more interesting architectural details, facts and marvels. We start at the Walker Art Center's new addition by Herzog & de Meuron and conclude, fittingly, backstage at the new Guthrie Theatre building designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel, who had this to say about the project: "At the heart of the city, the Guthrie is a machine for capturing and radiating the enveloping vistas. It condenses the landscape that unfolds around it." LINK: Youtube

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Formerly a military training ground, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is now part of the famed Walker Art Center and the largest urban sculpture garden in the U.S. In this video, tour guide Gary White focuses on seven pieces of the 40 permanent installations, filling in background details and some of the park's history along the way. LINK: Youtube

Drunk Squirrel

This squirrel in a Minneapolis neighborhood was drunk from eating fermented pumpkins. LINK: Youtube

"Live In Minneapolis - Where The Wild Things Are" - Steve Vai

Guitar legend Steve Vai will release his concert film and live album "Live In Minneapolis - Where The Wild Things Are" September 29th, 2009 on Favored Nations Records. The show was recorded and filmed at the State Theatre in Minneapolis, MN before a sold-out audience as part of Vais successful Sound Theories world tour.

Vai is widely known for both his unprecedented guitar playing techniques and the unique design of his signature series Ibanez Jem guitar. But his fans have become inextricably drawn to his melodic depth, and dynamic stage performance. LINK: Youtube

Monster Jam - Pastrana 199 Freestyle In Minneapolis, MN 2006

I really like attending events like this. LINK: Youtube

Famous house in Minneapolis, Mn

Home to a (fictional) television character in the 1970s. LINK

Answer.

Update: Slide show of Damages from the Tornado in Minneapolis, Mn

Portland Avenue in South Minneapolis was one of the worst spots in the city hit by the sudden tornado. PHOTOS BY PHILLIP WERST.

Go to this LINK to see the slide show.

Johnny Rex's super-8 movies from Minneapolis' skid row circa 1960

Mt. Holly Mayor Mike Haeg says:

Visitor's to Minneapolis often remark about how much drinking goes on here.

They point out the few remaining buildings with any character downtown (There are really only one half a blocks worth left) and remark, "What happens in there?" but seldom wander inside.

And I'm glad.

Because, I tend to tipple in these places, to get away from the suits, the college kids, the convention goers, and the suburban sports fans. I enjoy cheap, stiff drinks, earnest conversation, and little or no distraction from either. It's a slice of heaven.

If I had a time machine, I would go back to skid row. Perhaps I'd see my grandpa brawling outside The Sourdough. He worked for the railroad. And from what I hear, he liked to get into his cups.

Enjoy this little slice of permanent happy hour. I hope it makes you as thirsty as it makes me. LINK

Down on Skid Row by Johnny Rex.

Minneapolis , Mn "Holiday Lights"

This holiday display is set to the Run-DMC holiday classic, and here’s a link to the actual Run-DMC video. This should take you back, especially if you were of the MTV-viewing age in 1987. LINK
Troy Lykken and Keith Gettelman Holiday Lights show in south Minneapolis. Via: Youtube