Category Archives: Economic Development

The concern about the coming “quieter times” in downtown after the holidays and the desire to create somewhat regular and predictable “happenings” in the district (as in “there’s always something happening downtown”) has made me think of the wonderful collaboration between The Art Store, River City Books, The Contented Cow and ArtOrg for the releaseContinue reading “The Kernel of an Idea”

Canterbury is a historic cathedral town in southeast England. As the starting point for Chaucer’s fictional pilgrimage, true site of Roman mosaics and allegedly the site of many a ghost, the town has a thriving tourist industry. In recent years, however, the community has sought to attract a different and younger crowd and their promotionalContinue reading “Selling Canterbury by the Sound”

There are two public hearings taking place at the Northfield Planning Commission on Tuesday evening, December 13. The Planning Commission meets in the City Council Chambers and the hearings will begin at 7 pm. Both hearings have significance for the future of redevelopment in downtown Northfield. Conflicting ordinance provisions exist today in the C-1 zoningContinue reading “Downtown Parking and Density to be Discussed at Public Hearings”

This past Sunday afternoon I drove up to the Bell Auditorium on the East Bank of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The Bell Auditorium bills itself as “The Nation’s First Dedicated Non-Fiction Screen”. That’s knowing your niche. I planned to see “Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt”. Townes wasContinue reading “(the lightbulb goes on and I finally get) Bardwell’s Crazy Idea”

Neil Young and Willie Nelson at Farm Aid In a recent interview* about his new album Prairie Wind, Neil Young talked about his long-term relationship with the environment. My grandfather was from South Carolina, and he moved up to Canada. He used to go duck hunting with my mom and dad, and then he’d comeContinue reading “Seeing Signs with Neil Young”