October 31, 2005

Rockin' Pumpkins

Happy Halloween, O Vlog Addicts. I was going to post this spooky video for you today, even though it's not from Minnesota. But my man Duane in Cold Spring saves the day with this trippy pumpkin odyssey. More Halloween/Dia de los Muertos videos coming this week. (Do you have any halloween footage? Email me.)

CONTRIBUTOR: Duane Kuss, DigElogROCORI

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 07:20 AM | Comments (2)

October 28, 2005

Day at the Deeps

So you guys want something scary for halloween? This is the scariest thing I've seen lately... jumping off the rocks into the deep of Duluth's Amity Creek.

CONTRIBUTOR: Mark Ryan, Amity Creek

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 09:43 AM | Comments (5)

October 27, 2005

Wizards & Swords

This is what happens when you give cameras to high school kids. Awesome is born.

CONTRIBUTOR: Duane Kuss and ROCORI multimedia students, DigElogROCORI

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 02:55 AM | Comments (5)

October 26, 2005

Nonchalant Jaunt

A Duluth autumn tradition. 3 years makes a tradition, right? Let's say it does.

The first year we took the low road, last year we took the high road.
This year we took the random road. No plan, no maps and no goals.
Just walking on a beautiful sunny October day.

RELATED LINKS:: 2004 jaunt and 2003 jaunt

CONTRIBUTOR: Starfire

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:57 PM | Comments (4)

October 25, 2005

Minneapolis Star-Journal, 1944

Another gem from the Prelinger Archives. This one is called Good Neighbors, and probably taught many-a-schoolkid the wonders of creating the Minneapolis Star-Journal newspaper. Some of those kids would grow up to be MSM-hating bloggers, but let's bask in this PR-fantasy from days gone by, shall we?

The original film is over 20 minutes long, edited down to 6 minutes here. Photo buffs should watch the original for a great piece about photos transmitted internationally in a mere 8 minutes. They actually show a cameraman jumping up a pole, grabbing a phone wire to transmit his photograph of a plane taking off from atop a moving car.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 03:21 AM | Comments (6)

October 24, 2005

The Great Brodini

You believe in magic, right? Meet the Great Brodini, spellbinding kids of all ages at the Selby JazzFest.

CONTRIBUTOR: Allison Herrera, Everybody's Broke

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 03:45 AM | Comments (1)

October 21, 2005

Voltage05

Welcome to the "better late than never" weekend edition!

Twin Cities Fashion Weekend is bursting with shows and happenings for the style-curious. What better time to finally post some video from this summer's Voltage05 - Fashion Amplified show, fusing indie rock and fashion into one of the hottest events of the year.

Voltage is produced by the lovely and talented Anna Lee, who is hosting a "Hats & Cocktails" Party Saturday night with music by Mike Gunther and Suzanne, featured here talking about their sweet western-styled threads.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 11:59 PM | Comments (1)

October 19, 2005

Zombie Pub Crawl

I was so bummed I missed the Zombie Pub Crawl. Especially after seeing the pictures. But fear not, bloodthirsty and brain-hungry denizens. Jeremy Wilker was on the scene with his sweet-ass camera. "What do we want? BRAINS! When do we want it? BRAINS!"

RELATED LINK: Lindsey's City Pages recap

CONTRIBUTOR: Jeremy Wilker, Moonpost

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 09:14 AM | Comments (12)

October 18, 2005

Blogumentary tonight

This is the part where I shamelessly promote my other project, Blogumentary. It's my feature-length documentary about the blog phenomenon, screening at 7pm tonight at Bryant-Lake Bowl.

You'll laugh! You'll cry! You'll be edutained! Oh heck... just read the Mother Jones review or Rex's interview. I hope to see you there.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 06:27 AM | Comments (5)

October 17, 2005

Hawk Ridge

Get your raptor on! Autumn is hawk-watching season. Get up close and personal with a noisy goshawk at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth.

CONTRIBUTOR: Starfire

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:53 AM | Comments (2)

October 14, 2005

Urban Explorers Fundraiser

Urban Explorers: Into the Darkness delves into the underground culture of urban exploration. From Minneapolis to Paris, St. Paul-based filmmaker Melody Gilbert follows young adventure-seekers through the forgotten and abandoned landscapes of our civilization.

Get a sneak-preview of this documentary this Saturday, Oct. 15 at St. Paul's Bobo Club (more details). You'll have the chance to meet the filmmaker and some explorers, bid on silent auction goodies (including a Blogumentary DVD), take in some live tunage, and help this film see the light of day.

RELATED AUDIO: First Crack 64. Urban Exploring with Filmmaker Melody Gilbert

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:26 AM | Comments (2)

October 13, 2005

The King of France

The King of France is technically a New York band. But much like The Hold Steady, Bob Mould, and ol' Bobby Dylan, we just can't let go of our native sons. Singer/songwriter Steve Salett (err, "Salad") once fronted Minneapolis critical darlings Deformo back in the day, not to mention a stint in the Kelley Deal 6000.

That's all in the past. KoF is showing up on the MTV and in movies and stuff. Probably because their brand of loungy geek-crooning is so damn good. This review sums up their live show: Loose, engaging, and liable to charm the pants off you. Even when the lights go out.

(Usual apologies for the terrible DV-camera sound.)

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 08:36 AM | Comments (2)

October 12, 2005

Raking Leaves

Starfire says: "I went back to Austin, MN. my hometown last weekend and did some raking with my Mom and Nephews. It brings back so many memories. Once my brother hit me over the head with a shovel while I was buried in a pile of leaves. It hurt."

CONTRIBUTOR: Starfire

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 01:09 AM | Comments (8)

October 11, 2005

The Cattery

Good things come in small packages, and mew a lot! After losing our sweet grandma kitty Sabby, Lori and I were ready for some new tiny paws skittering around our house. We became quite obsessed with Bengal cats, which are bred from Asian Leopard cats to look wild but are actually playful, curious and sweet. And usually expensive.

Join us on a trip to Pine City, home of Spotogold Cattery and no-kill animal shelter. They're probably the best Bengal breeders in the Upper Midwest. We just went to look, but we fell in love with the sweetest marbled Bengal boy who still needs a name. Any idea'rs? (We've called him Sprinky, Squeakers, Squinky, and now Miso.)

Watch for an all-kitty videoblog soon!

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 09:45 AM | Comments (8)

October 10, 2005

St. Paul Police, 1941

Something from the archives today: "Saint Paul Police Detectives and Their Work: A Color Chartoon." A strange little stop-motion animation touting the various vices tackled by St. Paul Police. My hats off to the brave artistic minds behind this gem, who chose to represent sex crimes as a pair of greasy hands ripping apart a rose bud (!).

Watch for Part 2 sometime soon...

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 09:55 AM | Comments (9)

October 07, 2005

Mallman in St. Cloud

Mark Mallman. The legend. In St. Cloud. Rock.

CONTRIBUTOR: Aaron Cheeley, Cheeley Media, who wins tickets to a Sound Unseen film of his choice for submitting this Minnesota music video!

SEE ALSO: Starfire's Mohawks Mohawks

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 08:00 AM | Comments (2)

October 06, 2005

Farewell, MN Summer

We don't want to turn this into Minnesota's Funniest Home Videos or anything, but I'm left with no choice. Until you folks out there send in your own video, your short film, your ephemeral moment, I must subject you to my own previously private antics.

Come now, and endure this wacky look back at a weekend spent on Lake Francis with too much beer and just the right amount of friends. Because baby, it's cold outside.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 08:36 AM | Comments (9)

October 05, 2005

Draft Horse Days

In case you couldn't tell, I'm a city boy. It's all too easy to be ignorant of our rural past and present. That's why I'm always grateful for our Greater Minnesota vlog hero, Duane Kuss, who bridges the urban/rural divide. He says: "A visit to the nothern Minnesota draft horse days is like taking a 100 year, giant leap back in time."

CONTRIBUTOR: Duane Kuss, DigElogROCORI

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 06:21 AM | Comments (7)

October 04, 2005

Minnesota Stories Calendar

If you missed Chuck talking about Minnesota Stories and video blogging on MPR's Midmorning, you can listen here. Welcome MPR denizens!

Minnesota Stories Calendar of Upcoming Stuff

SOUND UNSEEN CONTEST: That's right folks, we're having a contest. The first person to submit a new video about Minnesota music wins a pair of tickets to a Sound Unseen film. How cool is that? If you've got a video, email me. The fest starts Oct 7, so get crackin'!

MINNESOTA STORIES IN GET REAL: This is very exciting news. We're moving vlogs to the big screen at City Pages GET REAL Documentary Film Festival. Mark your calendars for Thursday, November 10. Most likely starting around 3pm. This is a free screening, and I'm hoping to have all featured vloggers in attendance.

VLOG WORKSHOP: I'd like to teach... the world to vlog. You want in on the fun, right? Well here's your chance. Learn how to get from camera to vlog and RSS feed in this two-part workshop. We'll watch some vlogs and talk about content. Whether you're a filmmaker or just someone who wants to play with video and get it seen, a vlog offers you a global audience for little cost. To register, visit IFP Minnesota and click "Education." Hurry - there's only space for 8 people.

WIRELESS CITIES: Last but not least, check out the Wireless Cities conference at the U of MN this Thursday. Learn what fun we can have when Minneapolis gets a citywide wifi cloud.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 10:11 AM | Comments (1)

October 03, 2005

Ninja Sign

First watch this video. It's short. Are you watching? Good.

J.A. del Rosario happened to see this sign and had his camera handy. A couple of days later, this photo of a man holding the sign was in City Pages. I have to wonder: Did some witty prankster make the sign and leave it in public, hoping a homeless guy would use it? Or had it been abandoned by one witty panhandler, and picked up by another?

CONTRIBUTOR: J.A. del Rosario, Jadelr's Notebook

Hooray, a new vlogger in town! J.A. recently moved here with his girlfriend. See also: Chasing Windmills, "a collection of sketches revolving around a young couple."

SITE HOUSEKEEPING NOTE:

*** ALSO: Listen to Chuck talk about Minnesota Stories and video blogging on MPR's Midmorning this morning (Monday) between 10am-11am.

Posted by Minnesota Stories at 04:17 AM | Comments (8)