Lavender Magazine 803

BY NOAH MITCHELL

The Lion, the Witch and the Editor’s Pitch

Welcome to Lavender’s 2026 Fashion & Style issue! For those who noticed the absence of my column over the last couple of issues, worry not, I’m still here. Or, if you had been enjoying the peace and quiet without me, sorry to burst your bubble.

Our cover feature for this issue is on Winona, Minn.-raised pageant contestant Casely Vang and her journey to competing in Miss International Queen USA 2026, a pageant celebrating trans women. Casely’s story is a poignant reminder of the transformative power of self-expression through clothing and beauty.

However, you don’t need to compete in pageants to actualize your identity through fashion and style! (It’s not easy after all, which is why we’re publishing a story about it.) No matter what your background is, there is so much you can do to express who you are through what you wear.

Maybe you’re thinking of a complete wardrobe overhaul to signal a major change — the entrance to Narnia was in a wardrobe, after all.

Personally, I’ve been investing in a whole lot of button-down shirts and wool sweaters as I attempt to update my closet to reflect my transition from student to freelance writer to managing editor. A major refresh could help demonstrate any change in social position, whether it be a change in job, age, relationship status, social attitude or gender expression.

But let’s be realistic — a complete wardrobe overhaul? In this economy? Unless you win the lottery (or an insider trade on a prediction market), probably not. For the majority of us who aren’t so lucky, there’s still a lot we can do to express ourselves.

If you have the budget for a few new pieces but not a whole new wardrobe, you could consider shopping strategically to choose items that can be spread across many different outfits to maximize their impact. Or, you can even make changes without spending a nickel (the penny no longer being an option, to the great delight of my high school gov teacher). A different cuff on your pants, a different hairstyle with the same hair or new combinations of your same old clothes could help your style feel brand new.

Volume 30, Issue 803 • March 5-18, 2026

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Noah Mitchell (612) 461-8723

Editorial Assistant Linda Raines (612) 436-4660

Editor Emeritus Ethan Boatner

Contributors Lakey Bridge, E.B. Boatner, Bianca Caputo, Stacy Dahl, Natasha DeLion, Alyssa Homeier, Terrance Griep, Shane Lueck, Elise Maren, Jen Peeples-Hampton, Linda Raines, Aspen Rush, Gregg Shapiro, Allie Skarda, Randy Stern, Susan Swavely, Natalie Trimble, Sommer Wagen, Carla Waldemar, Todd P. Walker, Emma Walytka, Spencer White

ADVERTISING

Vice President of Sales & Advertising

Barry Leavitt (612) 436-4690

Account Executives

Nathan Johnson (612) 436-4695

Richard Kranz (612) 436-4675

Sales & Event Administration

Linda Raines (612) 436-4660

National Sales Representatives

Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863

CREATIVE

Creative/Digital Director Mike Hnida (612) 436-4679

ADMINISTRATION

Publisher Lavender Media, Inc.

President & CEO Stephen Rocheford (612) 436-4665

Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Doug Starkebaum (612) 436-4664

Administrative Assistant Michael Winikoff (612) 436-4660

Distribution Metro Periodical Partners (612) 281-3249

Founders George Holdgrafer, Stephen Rocheford

Inspiration Steven W. Anderson (1954-1994), Timothy J. Lee (1968-2002), Russell Berg (1957-2005), Kathryn Rocheford (1914-2006), Jonathan Halverson (1974-2010), Adam Houghtaling (1984-2012), Walker Pearce (1946-2013), Tim Campbell (1939-2015), John Townsend (1959-2019), George Holdgrafer (1951-2024), Julie Dafydd (1951-2025)

editor@lavendermagazine.com.

For our Privacy Policy, go to LavenderMagazine.com/resources/ privacy-policy

Willson Road, Suite 316, Edina, MN 55424

BY E.B. BOATNER

Preludes to Eternity

The old “If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?” is not really a conundrum, merely a difference between scientific fact and human ego. On Earth, swaddled in its ever-present atmosphere, and in the depths of the sea with its ever-rolling waves and tides, there is always movement. And where there is movement, resident creatures have evolved to perceive both the expected motion and the dangers to flee in disruption of the norm.

A tree’s demise, whether elderly and toppling, or felled in its prime by a lightning bolt, creates vibrations, physical “sound waves” by human definition. But our “sound” is perceived only by living beings whose biology is fitted to translate those waves into “noise.” Any human within range of the disturbance will hear a “sound” if their own audio equipment is functioning.

That intricate equipment, installed by birth inside our ears, includes the malleus, incus, stapes, tympanic membrane, a cochlear duct within which fluid waves stimulate hair cells that convert sound into neural signals to the brain’s auditory center, where finally, those signals are interpreted into the sound frequency, pitch and volume, that allows the auditor to differentiate between a lethal Douglas fir and Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.”

Some forest mammals, to return to our fallen tree, also perceive the arboreal event in systems similar to our own. At the same time, non-warmblooded creatures nearby will feel the vibrations in their own manner, digging deeper for safety or surfacing to dine on any remains delivered by the tree’s demise.

If truth be told, we create our own symphonies — not just in those embarrassing sounds emitted inadvertently, but through waves emitted ceaselessly, mere weeks after conception, continuing to the end. We aren’t aware of those, and they couldn’t be precisely determined until the perfection of medical instruments that now allow the performer to participate.

We can feel the beating of our heart, and physicians have been able to hear it thump since René Laennec invented the first monaural stethoscope in 1816. Earlier on, it was the practitioner’s naked ear to your naked chest. Feeling is one thing, viewing the motion and hearing the thump as an amplified noise is another.

It’s possible now through the echocardiogram to learn it’s not even “the” thump, but several. While de-oxygenated blood enters your right atrium through the vena cava, passing through the tricuspid valve to your right ventricle to be pumped on through the pulmonary valve to your lungs, oxy-

genated blood is returning to your left atrium, passing through the mitral valve to the left ventricle to be pumped through the aortic valve into the aorta to circulate through the body. All day, every day, from early in utero to your final breath.

Not only a lot of pathways and purposes, but a lot of noises, now transmitted to you, lying in the dark, shirtless, on a gurney. The vibrations are transmitted via a gel swabbed on your chest via a probe to the machine, which returns the waves as sounds, unsettlingly similar to those suffered through a neighboring wall in a cheap motel…

You may marvel that each of the auricles and ventricles make their own specific music. Luckily, we aren’t privy to that cacophony every waking minute. And watching, listening, one begins to ponder … and what if it stops? One day it will, you know.

“The music of the spheres” comes to mind as the procedure ends with a final shot of your entire heart, still ticking along as the machine’s screen goes black. You hear no more “sound,” but you have broadened horizons concerning falling trees and beating hearts — and a greater empathy with Hamlet’s cautionary, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” 

BY CARLA WALDEMAR

Out Clubbing

There are times — lots of them — when it’s great fun to explore the latest destination darling of the dining world, with its hyper-designed setting and equally out-there menu. But last night wasn’t one of them.

Living in a city under stress for weeks has been hard on all of us, indeed. So we were seeking comfort. And when it comes to comfort — and old-time, tried-and-true comfort food — nothing does it like a supper club.

It’s the kind of dinnertime haven that Wisconsin does best, especially around The Dells, en route to Chicago. No time for that trek tonight, though — instead, we steered toward Chicago Avenue and the welcoming, old-time ambience of Creekside.

It looks like it’s been around forever, and, in restaurant years, it has: since 2021. Its knotty pine rec room walls bleed with a mishmash of memorabilia rather than framed James Beard awards. The welltrodden burgundy carpet hosts a sea of tables, preparing you for a menu that leads one to believe that a corps of grey-haired grannies staffs the kitchen. And the drinks list favors a Brandy Old Fashioned over an Aperol Spritz. Water glasses (the word “goblet” does not apply) would be at home on a Woolworth’s lunch counter. Pro servers are there to serve you, not appear as a Facebook friend.

The menu’s app list ranges from a classic shrimp cocktail ($22) and pretzels with cheese dip and mustard ($17) to $5 soup cups (tonight, broccoli cheddar and creamy potato; both, thick and flavored with comfort). Proceed to the salad list, which offers a choice of sizes ($10/$18). Our classic Wedge, ordered small, was anything but, and we loved it: nearly a full head of iceberg (natch), festooned with bits of tomato, bacon, onion and hearty nuggets of Wisconsin blue cheese bathed in a vibrant, ultra-creamy buttermilk-blue cheese dressing that left me licking the plate (well, nearly, but demanding a doggie bag, for sure.)

If you spot tears on the tablecloth, it’s because, in our lust for meat, we failed to order the popovers (well worth the 30-minute wait). Entrees range from a chicken cordon bleu ($30, including all the trimmings, as do most entrees) to beef short rib ($42), garnished steaks galore ($39 for top sirloin, and up) and a bunch of burgers ($17).

We settled on the pork schnitzel ($34): a thick and burly cut served slightly pink, which proved ultra-tender, juicy and full of sweet, porky flavor. It’s allied with a heap of braised red cabbage, a twice-baked potato (creamy and cheese-frosted) and a cautiously peppy mustard-thyme sauce.

As our second main, we waded into the fish fry side of the menu and summoned the cod ($28, or choose walleye, $35). Beneath its peek-a-boo veil of beer batter, the pearly flesh proved sweet, mild and moist. The fillets arrive accompanied by a mild house tartar sauce, a petite scoop of equally tame coleslaw, with a lemon wedge dancing in attendance.

With doggie bags looming, we bypassed desserts. If you’re better at planning, here’s your choice ($17 each): vanilla bean crème brûlée, chocolate lava cake with ice cream or pavlova with berry compote and crème anglaise. Or, as I usually do here when I’ve succumbed to better planning, summon an old-fashioned cream drink. Your body needs that calcium, remember? That excuse overrules my conscience every time. 

Creekside Supper Club & Lounge 4820 Chicago Ave. (612) 354-3675

creeksidemn.com

Closed Mondays

‘Splash of the Titans’

Writer Peter Moore Imagines the Fictional Meeting of Two Real Gay Icons

No one is sure when musical revues first came to be … but that’s okay, because no one is sure what musical revues actually are. The best guesses usually combine a stage, shovels full of comedy, a pail of song, a scoop of vaudeville-esque dance, perhaps … all brought to life by a handful of chameleon-like performers and loosely bound by a tether ball-like theme.

That ambiguity suits Peter Moore just fine. He’s a Minneapolis-based creator whose own career defies easy definition: his redoubtable talents manifest as a playwright, actor, director and even a fight choreographer. His talents’ latest manifestation is “Mrs. Parker, Mr. Porter,” a soon-to-debut musical revue penned by Moore. Its crafted ambiguity twirls around a hypothetical meeting between two gay icons. One is Dorothy Parker, an early-to-mid-20th-century writer and critic who somehow managed to be simultaneously openly straight and married to a bisexual man while establishing herself through her writing as an ally to the nearly-voiceless queer community. Gay men in the know could safely discover other gay men in the know by asking if the other was a “friend of Dorothy.” (Yes, this Dorothy, not the other one.)

The other gay icon is Cole Porter, the early-to-mid-20th-century songwriter and composer who somehow managed to be simultaneously openly gay and heterosexually married while giving pop culture such vigilante gay anthems as “You’re the Top,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “My Heart Belongs to Daddy,” among many others.

“Mrs. Parker, Mr. Porter” recounts an entirely hypothetical, often-dreamlike rendezvous betwixt the two legends, furthered by careful doses of alternating words and lyrics.

“They were, in a way, misfits,” Peter Moore says of his two revue subjects. “While they were in the middle of things, they were on the edges, as well. That’s why they’re still venerated. They’re two remarkable talents.”

The origin of the revue is remarkable, as well.

“It actually started when Joe Dowling, who used to run the Guthrie Theater, asked me to write a revue featuring Cole Porter and Dorothy Parker,” Moore remembers, “so I said I would.”

Upon completion, the work was greeted with praise and approval … and a bit of bad news: a different Porter-oriented project had been approved for presentation at the Guthrie, leaving “Mrs. Parker, Mr. Porter” out in the figurative cold … for a while, anyway.

and one day I just showed it to a couple of peo ple, and they liked it, so I decided, ‘Let’s do it,’” Moore recalls.

but at first found no takers.

had never been done before,” the writer sup poses.

tial ambiguity, the revue found its launching pad.

company, will debut the revue. According to its mission statement, it “focuses on stories of urban life, bringing live, diverse theater experiences to the community.” Further, the company special izes in “intimate experiences, often focusing on actors with minimal sets.” Therefore, presenting a revue that requires only four singers and two actors is, to paraphrase Mr. Porter, a perfect fit.

Moore received another nod whose absence would have ended the project in its infancy.

“The Cole Porter Estate was very coopera tive,” he asserts. “They even bent some of their rules. They have a rule, for example, that you can’t interrupt the songs with dialogue … but they saw some of the things I was trying to do, and they liked it, so they approved it.”

Of course, Porter’s on-stage presence is only half of the story.

“With Dorothy Parker, we know all the fa mous one-liners, but it was fun and interesting to get into her monologues and her essays and her revues of things and her poems,” Moore de clares. “For anybody who likes literature, she’s still insightful. And some of the stuff she could get away with!”

lis, conveys a literary air that would most likely be approved by the Queen of Snark herself. “Open Book is a community gathering place dedicated to diverse and dynamic creativity, con versation, and collaboration rooted in the liter ary and book arts,” its website states.

his two subjects are simultaneously superficial and deep, despite their never meeting.

“They lived in the same time — they were part of that glitzy time in the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s when they were hobnobbing with very famous people. And they were famous in their own right. It was a unique time. The wit and the talent they both had — they were kind of dazzling.”

ing, most dazzling ambiguity is the one Moore has left unexplored by “Mrs. Parker, Mr. Porter.”

the societal restrictions that they both had?” Moore muses. “It’s interesting to think about.”

ing Thursdays through Sundays from March 6-29 at Open Book, are available on Eventbrite.

Minnesota Advocate

Casely Vang Prepares for Miss International Queen USA 2026

Casely Vang is a Hmong American transgender woman born in Montana and raised in Winona, Minn. She is the youngest of 10 siblings. Growing up, Vang developed a love for music and theater, discovering early that both were her passions. Those creative outlets helped shape her confidence and sense of identity.

“Going through all my trials, tribulations and adversity of realizing who I am as an individual, I had the courage to come out and transition at the age of 17,” Vang says. “That really gave me a boost of confidence and empowerment.”

Vang said her early years were challenging. Her father was a well-known shaman, and cultural expectations within the community led her to distance herself from family traditions as she navigated her identity.

Vang later became a professional makeup artist and hairstylist, working throughout Minnesota and beyond. In 2020, she created Build Me Beautiful, a platform centered on mental health, self-love and empowerment. Through beauty therapy sessions, she helps clients build confidence and cultivate unconditional self-acceptance.

Over the past several years, Vang has also worked as a motivational and inspirational speaker, focusing on bridging gaps in professional spaces for transgender women. She has spoken at companies including 3M and Ecolab, as well as corporate headquarters across Minnesota and in high schools.

In 2022, Vang competed in her first pageant and earned the title of Miss Posh World 2022. Being the only transgender contestant in the competition, Vang initially questioned whether the space was right for her.

“At first, I wasn’t sure that space was meant for me,” she says. “It took me a while to really find my own voice so that I wasn’t doubting every step I made.”

She said the shared passion and understanding among contestants ultimately helped her build friendships, sisterhood and lasting connections.

Following the experience, she became a pageant trainer, helping young women find their voices and build confidence on stage.

Vang is now preparing for her next chapter and will compete in Miss International Queen USA 2026, a national pageant for transgender women that celebrates beauty, resilience and empowerment. The competition will take place on March 26 and 27 in Atlantic City, N.J.

More than 30 contestants from across the country will compete for the opportunity to represent the U.S. at the international competition in Thailand. This year’s theme is “A Portrait of Possibility.”

“It’s a big self-discovery process,” Vang says. “Sometimes people don’t understand what goes on behind the scenes of pageants. People may only see beauty standards on stage, but you learn so much about yourself and how to use your voice throughout the process.”

Vang credits her older sister as her strongest supporter.

“I’m so fortunate to have such a great support system that believes in my dreams and goals,” she says. “To have someone in my life who wants me to dream big and achieve it has meant everything. She’s been my backbone.”

Vang said both Miss Posh World and Miss International Queen USA have provided supportive platforms, though preparation requires extensive planning, including wardrobe and presentation.

Her current focus is on strengthening her advocacy and platform before stepping onto the national stage.

“When you want to make a change and have that advocacy, it’s important to make sure it’s a strong foundation before you step into a big role like that,” Vang says.

Mental health and self-love remain central to Vang’s advocacy, particularly within the transgender community.

“We go through so many trials and tribulations, and sometimes we don’t know where to go or what resources are available,” she says. “Listening to other stories helps you make sure you’re doing the right thing for yourself.”

Vang also works with Transforming Generations, a nonprofit that provides support services to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault within Hmong and Southeast Asian communities. Through her work as a makeup artist, hairstylist and photographer, she has helped empower youth involved with the organization.

“This time around, I want to implement everything I truly believe in and the voice I want to create for this pageant,” Vang says. “I’m ready and excited, and I hope to bring the crown back to Minnesota.” 

King Brothers Clothiers: Minnesota’s Only Master Bespoke Clothier

In 2011, twin brothers Danny and Kenny King took formal attire to an entirely new level for residents of Minnesota when they established King Brothers Clothiers.

Located in Edina, Minn., King Brothers Clothiers is more than just a tailoring company. According to their website, King Brothers Clothiers is “the only certified Master Bespoke Clothier” (MBC) in the state of Minnesota.

To be certified as an MBC requires comprehensive training on fabric manipulation and pattern drafting. As such, King Brothers Clothiers offers expert-level knowledge in designing and fitting custom-fit formal and business attire. Each garment made by the King brothers is crafted through an individualized plan fashioned to the different interests of the client.

To the King brothers, clothing is not just a reflection of style, but also a reflection of selfhood and identity. According to their website, King Brothers Clothiers came into fruition because of the way the brothers utilized clothing as a tool.

Growing up as twins, Danny and Kenny King fashioned their clothing in a way that would help others tell them apart. By making their clothes the defining difference between one another, the brothers understood that clothing can be more than just fashion, but also a statement that helps inform others about who the wearer is.

As a result, taking time to connect with each client and understand how clothes fit into their lifestyle is an essential step in their business practice. The King brothers are determined to create pieces that fit smoothly into the lives of the purchaser and reinforce the individuality of the wearer of the clothes. Because of this, they have developed a thorough process that ensures that each piece they create is a reflection of their values and quality standards.

Unlike other tailoring practices that often focus on offering the client an array of options to choose from and countless customizations, King Brothers Clothiers provides direction in choosing the best option. Understanding that it can become frustrating and overwhelming to be presented with numerous modifications, the brothers take time to connect with the client and offer

“Project Hail Mary”

Andy Weir

Ballantine Books

$22

Our sun is dimming, and without a cure, humanity and all Earthly life have only years to live. Neighboring stars, save one, are similarly infected by this single-celled, fast-replicating nano-dot, drawing energy from starlight. A draconian American, female taskmaster is given universal, unlimited powers to fabricate a ship and select a three-man crew to sleep aboard, drugged, for 13 years on a one-way mission to immune Tau Ceti. Three embark, only one awakes; a shanghaied secondary-school biology teacher, now rendered amnesiac to his very name (Ryland Grace). He and the reader learn together. Grace navigates alone, until — and that’s the kicker — while the backstory fills us both in flashback. Solo survivor, yet the book revolves around friendship and loyalty as well as star-eating amoebae. A knob- and emotion-twisting read.

“Broken Truths”

Alessandro Robecchi, tr. Gregory Conti

Other Press

$17.99

Acclaimed film director Manlio Parrini abandoned cinema following his masterpiece, “Broken Truths,” declaring the film industry “a place without truth.” Now over 70, he’s planning a comeback concerning crime novelist Augusto de Angelis, ruined by fascist censorship and brutally murdered in 1944, a case Parrini believes remains unsolved. Grotesquely, the widow in the adjoining villa is herself brutally murdered, strangled, just steps away. Reality, police investigations, publicity hounds and reporters become threaded through Parrini’s life as he insists on hewing to the truth of De Angelis’ murder and to the truth of his own cinematic vision. But further research discovers a witness at the site of De Angelis’ fatal beating, while the nextdoor murder becomes as complex and shrouded as that of the mystery author. Where is the truth?

“To Kill a Queen”

Amie McNee

Crooked Lane

$19.99

London, 1579. Young Jack, slum crime-lord Axe’s eldest, yearns to atone for earlier criminality. Living hand-to-mouth, he gathers evidence for JP Ben and mentor Damian, the coroner. Opportunity arises from an attempt on QEI while enjoying a Thames outing. Safe, but a guard was killed. By bullet or crossbow? No matter; wanted is a Scots perp’s arrest to thwart the Queen’s imminent marriage. Oh. Jack was born Jacqueline, raised a lad, and lives so. If you’re looking for a tidy plot, this isn’t your read. McNee stirs theater, family tensions, class, gender, murder and deceit into a fine labyrinth. And there’s love — always lurking — and truth, as fragile, malleable and illusory centuries ago as it is today. You think you’ve unraveled the mystery? Believe me. You haven’t. A real page-turner.

“Witch of the Shadow Wood”

Tori

Anne Martin

Alcove Press

$19.99

Hansel and Gretel as you never heard it in childhood. The pair does enter the Witch’s wood, but herded by their taciturn dad. Pa barters his little girl for a single witch’s wish, turns, flees, Hans following, not attempting to protect his little sister as he’d promised. This twisted family dynamic is the foundation for a tale of loyalty, love and witchcraft. Renamed Miria, the child enters willingly into an eager apprenticeship with the witch Yali. Years pass. One day, out searching for mushrooms, Miria encounters a beautiful young woman (you don’t need magic to predict). She’s Adaline. Lady Adaline. About to be married off, unwillingly. The plot — and emotions, desires, old rages and fears — thickens. And her betrothed? Who might Miria least want him to be? 

Community Connection brings visibility to local LGBTQ-friendly non-profit organizations. To reserve your listing in Community Connection, email advertising@lavendermagazine.com.

ANIMAL RESCUE

Second Chance Animal Rescue

Dedicated to rescuing, fostering, caring for, and adopting out dogs and cats into forever homes.

P.O. Box 10533

White Bear Lake, MN 55110 (651) 771-5662 www.secondchancerescue.org

BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS

Quorum

Minnesota's LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce working to build, connect, and strengthen for a diverse business community.

2446 University Ave. W., Ste 112 St. Paul, MN 55114 (612) 460-8153 www.twincitiesquorum.com

ENVIRONMENT

The Nature Conservancy

TNC is an environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature thrive. 1101 W. River Pkwy., Ste. 200 Minneapolis, MN 55415-1291 (612) 331-0700 minnesota@tnc.org www.nature.org/minnesota

EVENT VENUES

Landmark Center

A classic venue, with a grand cortile and beautiful courtrooms, accommodates celebrations of all sizes.

75 W. 5th St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 292-3228 www.landmarkcenter.org

FOUNDATIONS

University of Minnesota Foundation

Connecting passion with possibility to transform the future through philanthropy. 200 Oak St. SE, Ste. 500 Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612) 624-3333 giving@umn.edu www.give.umn.edu

GRANTMAKERS/FUNDERS

PFund Foundation

PFund is the LGBTQ+ community foundation that provides grants to students and grants to non-profits. PO Box 3640 Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 870-1806 www.pfundfoundation.org

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Aliveness Project

Community Center for individuals living with HIV/AIDS – on-site meals, food shelf, and supportive service. 3808 Nicollet Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55102 (612) 824-LIFE (5433) www.aliveness.org

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS

Radio K

Radio K is the award-winning studentrun radio station of the University of Minnesota. 330 21st. Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612) 625-3500 www.radiok.org

MEDICAL SERVICES

Red Door Clinic

HIV and STI screening, treatment, education, and referrals. Doxy PEP, nPEP, PrEP, and Reproductive Health. 525 Portland Ave., 4th Fl. Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 543-5555 reddoor@hennepin.us www.reddoorclinic.org

MUSEUM

Bell Museum, University of Minnesota

Discover Minnesota’s rich natural history through engaging exhibits, wildlife dioramas, and an exciting planetarium experience!

2088 Larpenteur Ave. W. St. Paul, MN 55113 (612) 626-9660 bellinfo@umn.edu www.bellmuseum.umn.edu

Minnesota Historical Society

Create your own adventure at MNHS historic sites and museums around Minnesota. www.mnhs.org

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Home to masterpieces from around the world and through the ages. Always free. Everyone welcome.

2400 3rd Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 870-3000 www.artsmia.org

Science Museum of Minnesota

Mississippi Riverfront Museum featuring dinosaurs, hands-on exhibits, Omnitheater films, and interactive science performances. Café onsite. 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 221-9444 www.smm.org

PERFORMING ARTS

ARENA DANCES

ARENA DANCES presents innovative contemporary dance, fostering community, dialogue, and inclusion through performance and education 711 W. Lake St., Studio 308 Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612) 804-0238 www.arenadances.org

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

The nation's largest professional dinner theater and Minnesota's own entertainment destination.

501 W. 78th St. Chanhassen, MN 55317 (952) 934-1525 www.chanhassendt.com

Children’s Theatre Company

Children’s Theatre Company excites the imagination with world-class family-friendly theatre for kids, teens, and adults.

2400 3rd Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 874-0400 www.childrenstheatre.org

Guthrie Theater

Open to the public year-round, the Guthrie produces classic and contemporary plays on three stages. 818 S. 2nd St. Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 377-2224 www.guthrietheater.org

Minnesota Opera

World-class opera draws you into a synthesis of beauty; breathtaking music, stunning costumes & extraordinary sets. Performances at the Ordway Music Theater - 345 Washington St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (612) 333-6669 www.mnopera.org

Minnesota Orchestra

Led by Music Director Thomas Søndergård, the Minnesota Orchestra, one of America’s leading symphony orchestras. 1111 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 371-5656, (800) 292-4141 www.minnesotaorchestra.org

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

Leading performing arts center with two stages presenting Broadway musicals, concerts & educational programs that enrich diverse audiences. 345 Washington St. St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 224-4222 info@ordway.org www.ordway.org

Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

An award-winning chorus building community through music and offers entertainment worth coming out for! 1430 W. 28th St., Ste. B Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612) 339-SONG (7664) chorus@tcgmc.org www.tcgmc.org

RELIGIOUS & SPIRITUAL

All God's Children Metropolitan Community Church

A welcoming, inclusive, safe place to explore and discover God's love for ALL God's children. 3100 Park Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55407 (612) 824-2673 www.agcmcc.org

Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church

Everyone is welcome at Hennepin Church! Vibrant Worship. Authentic Community. Bold Outreach. 511 Groveland Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 871-5303 www.hennepinchurch.org

Spirit Garage

A Christian community of creative, quirky, curious folx where All Means ALL. Sundays, 10:30am.

100 W. 46th St. Minneapolis, MN 55419 bigdoor@spiritgarage.org www.spiritgarage.org

Westminster Presbyterian Church

An open and affirming congregation, welcoming persons of all sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities. 1200 Marquette Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 332-3421 www.westminstermpls.org

SENIOR LIVING

Lyngblomsten

Offering caregiver education, resources, support groups, and The Gathering (daytime respite, memory-loss enrichment program).

1415 Almond Ave. St. Paul, MN 55108 (651) 632-5320 caregiving@lyngblomsten.org www.lyngblomsten.org/CServices

SOCIAL SERVICES

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

Serving all Minnesotans with individualized services that promote full and abundant lives.

lssmn.org | (651) 642-5990 | (800) 582-5260

Foster Care and Adoption | chlss.org | (651) 646.7771

PICS (Partners in Community Supports) | (651) 967-5060

Pooled Trust | (888) 806-6844

Supported Decision-Making | (888) 806-6844

SPORTS & RECREATION

The Loppet

Minneapolis nonprofit connecting people to the outdoors through experiences that grow community.

1301 Theodore Wirth Pkwy. Minneapolis, MN 55422 (612) 604-5330 www.loppet.org

TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

Westopolis

Minnesota’s Sweet Spot! St. Louis Park & Golden Valley offer exceptional dining, attractions, shopping, hotels and event space.

1660 Hwy 100 S., Ste. 501 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 (952) 426-4047 www.westopolis.org

their expert advice based on the specifics of each individual’s lifestyle and taste.

With the slogan, “From measurement to complete confidence,” listed on their website, King Brothers Clothiers offers patrons a three-step plan for how their attire is made. Beginning with a fitting, the brothers use an hour and a half to guide a client through choosing the fabric they want, presenting the design plan and taking measurements. For fabric options, clients are able to select from an entire line of premium textiles sourced from the best mills across the globe. After, the brothers work on executing the composition of the piece by ordering materials and bringing the concept to life. Once completed, there is a final fitting that ensures customer satisfaction with the product, before the client’s order is considered complete.

Being a truly bespoke clothing company, the King brothers craft each garment from concept to creation. Unlike other forms of custom clothing, bespoke clothing does not follow a pattern template or general design. Instead, bespoke clothing requires the creation of a personal pattern tailored to the unique shape and composition of one’s body. Because of this, King Brothers Clothiers caters to a diverse clientele. Photos on their website depict consumers of all ages, races and backgrounds, highlighting the inclusivity and diversity that King Brothers Clothiers offers. Because of the level of personalization, an appointment is required to be fitted at King Brothers Clothiers.

Not only are the brothers busy at work creating individualized clothing plans and bespoke suits, but they also use their time to serve as Marketing Co-Chairs for the Custom Tailors & Designers Association (CTDA). As a part of the CTDA, the brothers help inform the evolution of bespoke clothing by contributing to the spread of information on the topic.

Since its conception in 2011, King Brothers Clothiers has served hundreds of clients with quality bespoke clothing. And, while the business itself is located in Minnesota, they pride themselves on their contributions to distinguished athletes, leaders and executives nationwide, including NBA star KarlAnthony Towns, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and strongman and actor Hafþór Björnsson. For more information about setting up an appointment, pricing and other common questions, visit their website at kingbrosclothiers.com. 

BOOKSTORES

Love, literature, and lattes

www.inkwellbooksellersco.com

GUN SHOPS

BY RANDY STERN

The ‘Little Mouse’ is Coming to America

If you were at this year’s Twin Cities Auto Show back in January and happened to be near Camp Jeep in the Stellantis exhibit, you may have noticed a very small minty green vehicle. A cute little two-seater that would be fun to drive anywhere.

Except that you can’t. Not yet, at least.

The vehicle in question is called the Fiat Topolino. Apparently, it is coming to the U.S. sometime this year.

Before you get too excited, we should talk about what it really is.

The name Topolino means “little mouse” in Italian. It has quite a history, dating back to the original in 1936. The city car roamed European streets until 1955, when Fiat was developing the Cinquecento — commonly known as the 500. These cars were not only the smallest of their time, but they also served as basic transportation at a very affordable price. It also helped restart the Italian economy in the aftermath of World War II.

Flash forward to this new Topolino. It was co-developed within Stellantis as an urban mobility solution. It shares its platform and most of its body shell with the Citroen Ami. Both vehicles were developed as battery-electric city vehicles that are limited by speed and range. This vehicle made sense for personal mobility within cities, such as Paris, Milan, London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Madrid … you get the idea.

In Europe, the Topolino is classified as a quadracycle — not an automobile. Therefore, it is not beholden to stringent regulations on crash protection and occupant safety. When it arrives in the U.S., it will be classified as a low-speed vehicle. LSVs are required to be equipped with such equipment as seat belts, head and brake lights, mirrors, turn signals, a conforming windshield for protection, a backup camera and a parking brake.

This quadracycle, weighing around 1,050 pounds, is powered by a single sixkilowatt electric motor with a rated eight horsepower, fed by a small battery pack. The average range on the Topolino is 47 miles on a full charge. It is also limited to going no more than 28 mph.

The 128-inch-long Topolino only seats two people. It does not provide the practicality you expect in, say, a Smart Fortwo or a Scion iQ. A simple fabric storage band does the trick. Grocery shopping is best accomplished without a passenger, so you can load up their seat with your haul. Although there is a storage area across the top of the dashboard/bulkhead area locked down by two straps, almost like a satchel.

One version of the Topolino currently sold in parts of Europe does not come with any doors. The Dolcevita model shown at the Twin Cities Auto Show does seem a bit unsafe in most U.S. cities. You could possibly get away with this model at a resort or, maybe, Provincetown during one of our weeks there.

Not to worry, you can get a Topolino with doors. Doors with fold-down windows, that is.

How do they compare with other vehicles of this type? A company called GEM out of California has been offering electric low-speed vehicles that look like golf carts, but they are more classified to be street worthy. They offer models that can seat up to six people.

You could compare a Topolino to a golf cart. They seem to be more practical than the Fiat but are not classified as LSVs. Like some of the GEM models, golf carts can seat more than two people.

How about a Japanese keicar? In comparison, the Topolino is smaller in size and does not adhere to the regulations outlined in Japan for these vehicles.

Being a low-speed vehicle, you simply cannot take the Topolino on the highway. You can drive them on the street, but not above their maximum speed limit. The Topolino is better suited in urban locations, such as in Minneapolis, St. Paul and other Twin Cities communities with higher density and lower speed limits. You could get away with owning one in Rochester or St. Cloud — as long as it stays in town. Plus, you can park them on the street — depending on that neighborhood’s regulations.

Pricing has not been set at this time. The word is that we should expect them in Fiat showrooms sometime this year.

While there is a call for a wave of less expensive vehicles to offset the affordability crisis in the automotive industry, the Fiat Topolino is not exactly what everyone has in mind as a solution to this issue. However, there is a purpose for this quadracycle/LSV that could complement our lives. The Topolino could be a good personal mobility solution to help make our cities more livable.

Would you welcome a thoroughly modern “little mouse” into your garage? Or, at your favorite parking space out in front of your building? Is it the right accessory to match your fit? Only if Stellantis — and Fiat — deliver on their previous hints of bringing it here. 