Seward Profile

Join Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice Partnership for a panel discussion about restorative justice on Thursday, May 24 from 6:30-8:30pm at Gandhi Mahal restaurant (3009 - 27th Avenue S.).

Learn about how restorative justice is being used to help youth in our community get back on track and consider ways to apply restorative justice to your own life.  Panelists will include two representatives from the police department; a founding volunteer of SLRJP; the head of security at Target; and the program manager for SLRJP. This is the first panel in a series called Pathways to a Peaceful Neighborhood, sponsored by Longfellow Community Council.  For more information contact joanna [@] longfellow.org or 612-722-4529.

Neighborhood Notes

Just SOME of What’s (Hip and) Happening in Seward

by Bruce Johansen <bruce.johansen [@] gmail.com>

 

A New Moon. Laura and Jay Fritzke became 2^nd Moon Coffee Café’s new owners on May 1. The coffee-loving couple has never owned a coffee shop, but bring tremendous energy and extensive restaurant experience with them. Changes will be rolled out gradually after a general cleanup. Lots of ideas are swirling around about how to make the venerable business a more inviting, attractive, and environmentally friendly place, but they promise a “slow transition.” From day one the couple has been seeking input from their “amazing staff,” patrons, and the wider community about what works and what could be improved. “The welcome from the neighborhood has been unbelievable,” says Laura, “We really appreciate this community.” One thing the two won’t be messing with: the baked goods from A Baker’s Wife! 2^nd Moon is located at 2225 E. Franklin Ave.

 

“Best hipster neighborhood”? That’s the designation City Pages recently bestowed upon Seward. According to CP’s “Best of” issue, we’ve got the “lumberjack look” down, the “bike obsession” big time, the co-op thing going on, plus a hipper than hip music and theatre scene. A sample of their tongue-in-cheek assessment: “The Seward Co-Op is always a hotbed for dudes in flannel shopping for pomegranate seeds and hummus. And how do they get there? This is the Seward, not the Wedge, so they come by bike, not by gas-guzzling SUV.”

 

Seward’s Zach Combs chronicles Twin Cities hip-hop scene. New MC, aka Big Zach of Kanser and More than Lights fame, recently published Headspin, Headshots & History: Growing up in Twin Cities Hip Hop. It’s Combs’ firsthand account of the local music scene and of growing up in South Minneapolis. The book is available at Electric Fetus, just off of Franklin Ave. at 2000 4th Ave S., and online.

 

Neighborhood history book team grows. In March, after receiving a grant from the Minnesota Legacy Fund, SNG’s history committee put out a call for additional contributors to a Seward history book. After reviewing resumes and writing samples, several talented residents were welcomed aboard. They are Trevor Born, Maddy Edwards, Elina Kolstad, Will Mathews, Ryan McLaughlin, and Michael Pursell. All bring new skills, background, ideas, and enthusiasm to the project.

 

Fancy Ray does Filmzilla. In case you’ve missed it, Filmzilla, the store formerly known as Nicollet Village Video—long known as the Twin Cities’ finest—has produced its very first television commercial. It features Fancy Ray (“the Best Lookin’ Man in Comedy”) McCloney spoofing Prince. Since first airing in the fall, the ad has become a hit around the globe, shared on YouTube and other sites, as far away as India and China. Filmzilla is located at 2701 E. Franklin.

 

Filmzilla inspires book. Filmpocalypse, the first chapbook published by Cloud City Press, is very loosely based on Filmzilla (surely, only the more flattering aspects of the fictional Minneapolis-based video store.) Cloud City is a Macalester College project that will publish works of creative writing students monthly. Filmpocalypse author Luke Marcott, one of those writing students, is a Cloud City Press co-founder.

 

New brewing company launched by Seward resident. Seward resident Jon Messier, along with head brewer Eric Biermann and a small crew, have turned a home brewing hobby into a profession. Lucid Brewing opened in Minnetonka last November, and currently produces three beers: Air, Cammo, and Dyno. It’s the first brewery in the state to complete a successful Kickstarter fund drive, raising nearly $11,000 that way.

 

Donut Cooperative has expanded hours. Speaking of major Kickstarter successes, the Donut Cooperative (located at 2929 E. 25^th Street) is now open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Now you can enjoy their homemade donuts and other fine treats right up ‘til dinner time.

Limitless Minds: The Bright Side of Seward with Illuminous 3
by Maddy Edwards <maddyeds [@] gmail.com>

There are twenty-two “Welcome to Seward” signs outlining the very defined boundaries of the Seward neighborhood. To outsiders, Seward is classified by its diverse demographics, affinity for green gardens and eclectic characters. To an insider though, Seward is a mecca of history in South Minneapolis. A small town in the middle of a metropolis, the Seward neighborhood is literally at the heart of this city.

While it may be difficult to describe the unique nature of this place, it is certain that this space represents a state of mind. I recently sat down in one of Seward’s infamous duplexes to find out more about the mind state. Freez, Franz Diego and Mavin MC, all graduates of Seward Montessori School, make up the group “Illuminous 3.” Local young men who came of age together in the 1990’s, the three are proud to hail from a school that is proud to be unusual. The album, “Montessori,” released last November is dedicated to their time spent there.

Seward Montessori is a small K-8 magnet school that shares its home next to Matthews Recreation Center in Matthews Park. Here, the foundation for the luminous minds of Minneapolis’ greatest rap group were formed. Attributing much of their success to the school, the three collaborated to pay homage to their adolescent alma mater on the album titled, “Montessori.” Each song is biographical, each one highlighting the differences found at Seward. Having met between the first and seventh grades, the mischievous, opinionated and outspoken young men fostered a firm friendship in a predominantly white school, embracing their diverse cultures and absorbing the free and friendly culture that is Seward.

Franz Diego: “Until I got to high school I didn’t know that it was normal to sit at desks.”The Montessori approach uses carpet squares and beanbags for students to do their work. The nontraditional teaching components at school, such as grade integrated classrooms and knowing the hippie teachers on a first name basis, provides for a fun and structurally laid-back learning environment.

Franz Diego: “The biggest difference for me was play learning versus machine learning…you went to school to play and you just happened to learn. You never heard of a Montessori kid hating school.” Mavin MC: “Learning was fun at Seward because we didn’t just sit down and do math worksheets and book reports, our lessons were taught through beads and checkerboards —the teaching tools appears as toys to us.”

Through passing the halls and attending classes at Seward Montessori, Illuminous 3 learned at their own pace. They were conditioned by teachers to strive for advancement, yet they were given the tools to learn the traits of self-discipline. Mavin MC: “Integrated classrooms encouraged acceleration; the older kids would get into leadership positions.”

Freez: [Because of integrated classes] “I’ve always been told I act older than I am.”The value Seward Montessori placed on relationships has stuck with Illuminous 3 throughout the maturation of their careers.

Franz Diego: “Ill 3 couldn’t really exist if we didn’t come together at Seward, what you get is three different personalities, very different minds, very different approaches to music, but we all share the common idea of what quality is.” Mavin MC: “We respect each other and love each other, I feel like that is a direct reflection of Seward.”

All three believe the diversity at Seward to be one of its most valuable aspects. And they also believe that diversity is what the hip hop industry lacks today. Growing up in the 90’s meant coming up at a time where the genre was transitioning. Illuminous 3 came out before the popular formula driven hip hop that is current. Franz Diego: “The 1990’s embraced and loved diversity…everything could be represented in its best light, everything was going on at the same time.”

A lot is different since what Freez considers, “The Golden Era of Hip Hop,” the industry has changed. Lost is the standard of quality once demanded of the MC. Reminiscing on the time period, Illuminous 3 are always aware of their place in hip hop. Mavin MC: “I feel privileged to be a part of that movement, we’re a product of that.”

Seward Montessori, they told me, was about celebrating differences. It was about celebrating diverse cultures within the culture and embracing individuality, independence and thinking critically. The school has influenced their character as artists and as friends. Freez: “We’re always, very, very fair.”

I asked these three, very “keepin’ it real” gentlemen what they thought about City Pages recent assessment of the Seward neighborhood, Minneapolis’ “Best Hipster Neighborhood.” Freez: “I’m still unclear of what a hipster is, but to the outsider it could totally feel that way.”

It could be true that the newer Seward may be all about the survival of the hippest, but the three didn’t seem to agree. Mavin MC: “I think it’s a super inaccurate title. The result of the hipster movement has meant many communities have become gentrified, there are a lot of families in Seward that have been here historically and are not moving from Seward.”

Franz Diego: “Seward isn’t down with gentrification, they will accept anyone.”Mavin MC: “Hipsters tend to go with what’s counterculture and that’s what Seward embodies.”

Franz Diego: “It’s way more of a hippie ethos than a hipster one.” “Montessori” captures the appreciation Illuminous 3 has for the Seward neighborhood and its people. They each feel a sense of ownership over this space.

Freez: “Matthew’s park is like our first stomping ground.” They also feel a responsibility to share their own knowledge and experience. Nobody can represent Seward better than the children raised by this village. Nobody can better describe what is happening here.      

Freez “My little sister and nephew go to Seward, and hopefully I can bring my daughter there.” For the future and the past, the experiences of Freez, Franz Diego and Mavin MC are extraordinarily important. They are an authority on Seward and Minneapolis hip hop, educated and influenced by the vibe suspended within Seward limits. The foundation rooted in Seward school and Southside pride provides for a great story, “Welcome to Seward” as Illuminous 3 tells it. “Montessori” is available for free download at, Illuminous3.com. Find them and find out about upcoming projects at:

Twitter
@franzdiego
@mavinmc
@freezaburnaIlluminous 3 on Facebook

Minneapolis Police 3^rd PCT

Sector 4 Community Bulletin

(Cooper, Hiawatha, Howe, Longfellow, Seward)

Weeks of May 1, 2012 to May 15, 2012

Can you please add these few things to the Seward Profile?
Thanks! 
ErinMay 19th  Seward Garage Sale - 10am-2pm

Saturday is just around the corner. It will be a busy neighborhood garage sale day for sure, and the best one will be at Zipp’s from 10-2! We had a bunch of hard working young men clean out our basement today to clear out all of the promotional crap we have collected over the years and we are going to sell it to you! 
Every price will be negotiable and all of the money goes to the Susan G Komen 3-Day! 
May 31st Rose Tasting - 6-7:30pm - $10 at True Thai

Let’s drink a bunch of rosé and eat tasty appetizers at True Thai. Tom from The Wine Company and myself are planning on doing just that and we would be honored if you joined us. Let’s learn a little more about our favorite summer wines and rediscover just how freaking food friendly they really are.
$10/person. Please call 612 333 8686 to reserve your spots. Space is limited!

The Seward Neighborhood Group has just released two requests for
proposals (RFP) for small consulting services contracts to help in
launching and operating the new community bike walk center (Now named
Spokes—Bike Walk Connect). SNG is specifically looking for help from
a local retail bike store/bike repair shop and a local community bike
center.  If interested, the PDF files are on The Seward Profile
website at http://sewardprofile.posterous.com/ .  Or you can email
Sheldon Mains at smains@visi.com. The deadline for submitting a
proposal is May 30 at 4:00PM (via email).