News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Saturday December 20th 2025
A Night in a Walless Church
Seeing AriDy Nox’s A Walless Church at Pillsbury House + Theatre
By MATTIE WONG
We almost didn’t go. Hours before the show we received horrifying news about a friend – the kind of news that starts your ears ringing and you can’t feel your body in the world anymore. We talked on the phone, and we both said we absolutely could not make it. But we spoke a bit longer, circled back, and knew that our friend was as safe as they could be at the moment, and there was nothing either of us could do. Our options were: a) stay at home and let the grief bounce off the walls of our living rooms, or b) go to the show, because, for at least tonight, nothing else could be done.
So that’s how we showed up at the show, a fresh grief webbing between us, not really knowing exactly why we were there, that night. We entered the theater, the stage condensed to a smaller raised circle with the godlings Oru, Nona, and Mo preparing to create a God.… Read the rest “A Night in a Walless Church”
Campfire of North Woods
By OWEN SAARINEN
The campfire knows
the rotten log,
the bending stick, the
meal maker’s hands on
a pile of dew-dropped
kindling. Like a fussy
baby, she won’t eat. He nimbly
crafts the cabin, then the teepee,
then the ring is cleared,
and finally, the touch
is made from birchbark to
sultry wood that starts
to hiss. In momentary joy,
the tender allows his creation
to sputter freely, coaxing
air into the concentrated
flame and ember.
Both know the game, and he
must spoon feed the driest
brush or the agreement
will not hold. The fire to
crackle to life; the pot to
boil on a stable grate of wood;
the flames to lick high; to be
satisfied, satisfied, yes
Cooking on the fire is beans and
rice and water for tea.
Nothing better than black night and
warmed cheeks and knees.
The spoon clinks and another stick is fed.
Cleaned pot, ashes
stomped, now it’s time for bed.
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What is Your Favorite Place in the Phillips Community?
The alley was out basking in the sun with neighbors at Stewart Park for the Phillips Clean Sweep Resource Fair on October 19th. It was an energetic day – food, music, information, and inspiration were shared by all! We asked people to name one of their favorite places in Phillips, here’s what we heard:
Little Earth – Margaret
Stewart Park – Israel
My House in Phillips – Rohan
Venture bike shop!
What I like in the Phillips Community is the thrift store – Christina
Swedish Institute basement – Vivian M H.
Phillips Community Center swimming pool – Molly
Midtown Global Market – Karen
Vincent de Paul Thrift Store – Marie and Brian
Cedar Field – Maya
Lake Street is my favorite place – Laura
My house on 27th and 17th – Rose
Stewart Park. The kids can come and play! – Judith
Is there a place in the Phillips Community that is special to you? Why not send your thoughts to us to share in the alley? Submissions can be sent to copydesk@alleynews.org.
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Keep citizen journalism alive!
