‘Cover Stories’ Archives
PPL’s NEW MURAL
A 4,000-square-foot mural has been created on the side of Project for Pride in Living”™s new Career Center at 1021 E. Franklin Ave. (the former Franklin Theater). The mural highlights the history, voices, and priorities of the Phillips neighborhood on a large scale. Attend the mural”™s unveiling celebration on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 2”“5 p.m. Power of Vision (POV), a partnership between Hope Community and Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) and a cohort of 10 artists birthed the mural. >> More within the Ventura Village page.Â
SOUNDS OF SOUL
Phillips musician recalls Black music scene of his youth Alfred Johnson By Tesha M. Christensen Sitting on the front porch one summer day, painting in the sweltering heat, Alfred Johnson reminisced about his early days in music and the burgeoning Twin Cities Black music scene of the 1970s and 80s. He”™s even found his way into a book capturing the scenes from that time, “Sights, Sounds, Soul: The Twin Cities Through the Lens of Charles Chamblis” (published by the Minnesota Historical Society in 2017), although he”™s misidentified in the book on page 33 as Raymond Parker. Paging though the book brings Johnson, now age 66, back to those days when the city”™s 50,000 African Americans, who were denied access to downtown club stages and radio airwaves, were playing at clubs like Cozy Bar and Lounge up north on Plymouth Ave. and Riverview Supper Club in south Minneapolis (now Broadway Pizza). About Chamblis, “We used to [...]
3 GENERATIONS RUN PRINTING BUSINESS
Carlson Printing at Franklin and Chicago rolls with the times, focusing on personalized customer service By Tesha M. Christensen photo submittedStan Carlson started Carlson Printing in 1974 with his two sons, and his granddaughter is now working there. The southeast corner of Franklin and Chicago has been home to a third generation family business since the 1970s. “Although it has it”™s unique challenges, it works well for us,” remarked Christy Crawford, granddaughter of the man who started Carlson Printing Company. “It”™s convenient being close to downtown and the freeways, and also exciting to be surrounded by diversity and so many great non-profits working to improve people”™s lives.” Carlson Printing Company strives to be a good friend and neighbor. “We are proud to be a third generation family business,” remarked Christy. “We feel lucky to have wonderful longtime employees, as well as [...]
