Kenwood

Unique Home: Former Donaldson Mansion for Sale in Minneapolis

It's Friday, a day to cast away seriousness and daydream a little. How about a $6.5 million daydream?

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This 1906 home was built for department-store magnate Lawrence Donaldson. Designed by Kees and Colburn, the same architecture firm that designed Donaldson's downtown Minneapolis office and the Minneapolis Grain Exchange building, the house at one time contained 10 fireplaces, a three-level carriage house with terrazo-marble floors and an ahead-of-its-time central vacuum cleaning system. Over time, the original gold-leafed ceilings had been painted over, the custom-made Tiffany light fixtures were auctioned off, and the once-sprawling yard had been subdivided.

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Minneapolis Parks in July

In Minneapolis, there are lots of free or inexpensive events happening people of all age ranges can enjoy this summer.

A Summer Festival is happening at Brackett Park, 2728 39th Ave South, Tuesday, July 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be clowns, face-painting, a  moonwalk, magician, hot dogs, chips, and drinks. The cost is $2 per person, per $10 family. The After Sunset Shadow Puppet Show begins, fittingly, after sunset and features 3 short stories of shadow puppetry. See fairy tales, legends and experimentation in shadow, “a fusion of traditional Chinese and American shadow play.”

Also on Tuesday, July 14, there is an Ice Cream Social from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Kenwood Park at 2101 Franklin Ave. W. It says that it’s free? That might mean free ice cream, but the information wasn’t specific.

The Phillips Club Youthline is celebrating its One Year Anniversary on Wednesday, July...

Minneapolis Parks, Summer and The Arts

Minneapolis really, really, really, really, REALLY loves two things dearly: Its parks and the arts. So it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of artistic endeavors and other activities happening in Minneapolis parks this summer.

First is Ideawerks. Since 2003, the Institute of Production and Recording (IPR) has facilitated a music recording studio in the Powderhorn Recreation Center. The studio has provided a number of neighborhood youth access to equipment so they could learn to produce and record music. Great interest in the program has resulted in a partnership between IPR the Jackie Lee Robinson Foundation, and the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board to enhance the studio. Additionally, the Ideawerks program will eventually make recording, production, graphic design and multimedia arts available at more community sites throughout Minneapolis.

Second, you don’t need a theater to enjoy theatrical and dance...

Greening Minnesota - May

Because there are so many great environmentally friendly things going on in Minnesota, we like to do these little green updates on the Barker & Hedges blog. May's is inspired by Arbor Day. Okay, if you're up on your earth-friendly observances, you know that Arbor Day is celebrated nationally in April. But this year, some different things have been happening in Minneapolis, I'll get right into explaining it.

First, since last month's Greening Minnesota was so early in the month, I didn't get the chance to tell you about how the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) received the 2009 Celebration Award from the Arbor Day Foundation. The national award is given each year to recognize the community organization whose Arbor Day celebration best represents the spirit of the tree planting holiday. MPRB was acknowledged for its 2008 Arbor Day celebration, “125 Trees for 125 Years” which commemorated the board’s 125th anniversary with the planting of 125 trees just...

July Minneapolis Community Events

Hot town, summer in the City!  The fine City of Minneapolis, that is.  The Parks & Recreation Centers will celebrate the summer with concerts, ice cream socials, festivals, art fairs, neighborhood carnivals, cornfeeds and more! Bring the family and join your neighbors for summertime in Minneapolis Parks!

Bryant Square Park – Ice Cream Social, July 9th, 6-8 p.m. Ice cream, pizza, dunk tank, moon walk, art, environmental activities and music; fees for food and some activities. 3101 Bryant Ave. S.

Kenwood Park – Ice Cream Social, July 15, 6:30-8 p.m. Art, environmental activities, Dunk Your Coach tank, music by KidsDance; free. Co-sponsored by Kenwood Isles Neighborhood Association, WESAC Youth Sports. 2101 W. Franklin Ave.

Brackett Park – Summer Fest, July 16, 6-8 p.m. Clowns, magician, face painting, moonwalk, food; $2 per person, $10 family....

Minneapolis' Calhoun Isle Community Highlights

On the west-central side of Minneapolis, the beautiful Calhoun Isle Community is a dichotomy, with large, lovely, architecturally stunning houses alongside the tree-filled, natural landscapes surrounding the Chain of Lakes. The Calhoun Isle community is best-known for the Uptown district, Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles. Few areas of the city are as readily embracing of nature, with parks and trails running throughout the neighborhoods that comprise this community. The juxtaposition of Uptown’s trendiness with the scenic surroundings of the lakes is an unusual pairing indeed. A supply of well-maintained, older homes contributes to the desirability of this community among families, professionals, singles, and retirees alike.

Bryn - Mawr - In the northwest corner of the Calhoun Isle community lays the neighborhood of Bryn Mawr. The borders of the neighborhood include some parkland, with Theodore Wirth Park as the border to the north and west,...