By SH Housing Fair Advisory Committee
“Want to get great ideas and referrals to make your home improvement wish book come true? or be on TV?” ask organizers of the 18th annual South Minneapolis Housing Fair. The fair is Saturday, March 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at South High School, 3131 19th Ave. So.
There will be 80+ home improvement professionals, real estate/finance people, and artisan trades gathered under one roof. One exhibitor, Magnetic Productions, will be recruiting for their “I Hate My Kitchen” and “I Hate My Bath” shows.
Sid Korpi and Anthony Kaczor own a Healy home in the famed block near 35W. They say they wouldn”'t miss the fair, making walking or biking there “almost a pilgrimage. We”'ve gotten new ideas for remodeling, redecorating, conserving energy, and visited with vendors who”'ve helped us maintain and improve our home,” Korpi said.
“We want to do business locally, with people who understand the homes in this area,” say Leslie MacKenzie and Peter Foster. “The fair is the only place we go for contractors” to work on our 1921 home.”
The popular, free information fair is a project of several south Minneapolis neighborhood organizations. In addition to exhibits, several workshops will be offered in two sessions that day. Topics include how-to install glass block windows, tile, and rain gardens; plumbing terminology, the power of color and solar energy. There are sessions by Michael Anschel of Otogawa-Anschel Design+Build on green bath and kitchen makeovers.
As Diana Grundeen says in her seminar introduction, “let”'s go over a few things so you know if you have what it takes to DIY landscape.” Seminars help attendees figure out whether it”'s time to hire professionals.
As a warm-up to the Fair, earlier in the week, on March 6, 6:30 p.m., Bob Buck of Buck Brothers Construction will present “When should I contact a contractor?” at the East Lake library, 2727 East Lake Street, for homeowners who want to make changes but are not sure where to begin, or those thinking of tackling a DIY project. Learn how the pieces of the construction puzzle fit together, and how to work with today”'s professionals to stretch dollars.
“We”'re excited to partner with Hennepin County libraries to highlight the Fair and their helpful home improvement books,” said Fair coordinator Margo Ashmore. “We”'ll have a recommended reading list at the talks and in the South Minneapolis Housing Fair directory. The directory will be available at the libraries nearest the South High School location, as well as local stores and on March 10 at the Fair.”
For more information on the March 10 South Minneapolis Housing Fair, visit www.housingfair.org or Facebook.
