Skip to content

🎸 September rundown: Hook and Ladder Theater issues emergency fundraiser

Plus, upcoming candidate forums, a new tenant in a long-vacant Lake Street space, where to watch the marathon, a new Falls documentary, seasonal business closing dates, free beer brewed from the Community Hops garden, new plantings along the Greenway, fall color updates, and much more.

Longfellow Whatever
— 6 min read
🎸 September rundown: Hook and Ladder Theater issues emergency fundraiser

The Hook and Ladder Theater says it is at risk of closing if it can't raise at least $75,000 in donations by the end of October, citing "rising costs, declining ticket sales, and shifting audience habits."

The music venue opened inside the historic firehouse at Lake and Minnehaha in 2016, taking over from the long-running Patrick's Cabaret. And it keeps a busy schedule, booking events in its 300-person main concert area, a 100-person side room, and the THC-lounge-slash-record-store The Zen Arcade. Plus, it hosts large outdoor concerts in its covered parking lot all summer. In October alone the venue has 27 shows booked, ranging from a John Prine tribute, to a drag fundraiser, to an Atlanta-themed hip hop DJ night, to a comedic lecture on the history of sandwiches.

The Electric Light Orchestra tribute band ELnO performs in the Hook and Ladder's parking lot, as part of the annual "Under the Canopy" series, in 2023.

The Hook operates under a nonprofit called the Firehouse Performing Arts Center. Executive Director Chris Mozena told the Star Tribune that, in addition to the typical challenges facing live music venues, the group recently lost "some critical annual foundation support." Its 2023 expenses were $1.2 million.

The venue has so far raised about $25,000 from 369 donors. You can learn more and donate here.

🗳️ Upcoming candidate forums

The campaign trail is heating up for Minneapolis mayoral, city council, and park board hopefuls, all of whom are up for reelection in November. (Early voting is already open.) Here are a few opportunities, either in the neighborhood or pertaining to it, to hear from candidates:

September 30 (tonight) at Holy Trinity Lutheran: "Home, Health, Hope" mayoral candidate forum. A free community meal begins at 5 and the forum lasts from 6-7:30.

October 4 at Longfellow Park Gymnasium: "New Mayor Forum" featuring the mayoral challengers, organized by a group of Longfellow neighbors. 2:30-4:30.

October 6 at Becketwood Senior Cooperative: Mayoral forum. 10-11:30.

October 6 at AIM Academy: Ward 9 city council candidate forum. 7-8:30. (Also live streamed.)

October 9 at Minnehaha Communion Lutheran Church: Ward 12 city council candidate forum. Forum from 6:30-7:45, followed by a meet and greet until 8:15. (Also live streamed.)

October 29 at Minneapolis Central Library: Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board candidate forum. 3-7:30. Beginning this election cycle, the entire neighborhood will be part of Ward 5, currently represented by Stephanie Musich. Ward 5 candidates will speak from 6:15-7:30. (Also live streamed.)

You can also rewatch two mayoral debates that have already happened: One hosted by the League of Women Voters on September 9, and another by the Citizen League last week.

🏃 Where to watch the marathon on Sunday

More than a quarter-million people are expected to cheer on the Twin Cities Marathon runners on Sunday. The course snakes its way up West River Parkway from mile 15 to mile 19, considered by many the emotional trough of the race before the enthusiasm builds again as it heads toward the State Capitol. Thus, encouragement goes a long way on this stretch.