Arts & Culture from Minnesota Public Radio

'Gran Torino' a movie made in Minnesota, almost

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600

The new Clint Eastwood movie, "Gran Torino," was shot in Detroit. But the heart of the film was born in Minneapolis. The film has launched the career of screenwriter and Twin Cities native Nick Schenk.

A skirmish over words

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:26:43 -0600

Minneapolis writer Dobby Gibson just released a new collection of poetry called "Skirmish." He says it's a reference to the many small battles contained between the covers, including an ongoing battle between himself and his writing.

History on stage

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600

The two starring actors in the road version of Frost/Nixon talk about how they bring their own interpretations to characters who are well known in real life and in a new movie.

Travel is down, but the world is still calling

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Heading into the holiday travel season, AAA predicted the first decline in travel in six years because of the economy. But people still are figuring out ways to take trips. Rudy Maxa has ideas for smarter travel in 2009.

Rising star plays music that's old-timey and new

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:00:00 -0600

Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles conquer the Twin Cities music scene.

Carol O'Connell and the covenant of the crime novel

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:00:00 -0600

Carol O'Connoll's new novel "Bone by Bone" opens with a human jawbone sitting on the front porch of a house in a small California town.

Longtime central Minnesota radio man signs off

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:58:51 -0600

A central Minnesota broadcasting icon retired this week. For the past 56 years, many Minnesotans grew up listening to radio announcer Cliff Mitchell on KASM-AM in Albany. At 80 years old, Mitchell decided it was time to leave the airwaves.

Most memorable stories of 2008

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:31:23 -0600

Midday looks back at some of the year's most memorable stories from Minnesota Public Radio reporters.

Photo exhibit recalls impact of the RNC

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:07:04 -0600

A St. Paul coffee shop will display photographs of the Republican National Convention submitted by members of the public.

Buzz(word)ing in the new year

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:57:34 -0600

Every year has its buzz words, and 2008 was no different. Midmorning word guru Anatoly Liberman takes a look at some of this year's buzz words, and the effort to reform English spelling. And as always, he'll answer listener questions about words and word origins.

Garrison Keillor spins sonnets at Minneapolis Library

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:06:01 -0600

Author and humorist Garrison Keillor talked about poetry, writing and his own relationship with the library at the "Talk of the Stacks" series in November at the Hennepin County Library in downtown Minneapolis.

Ted Turner reflects on a lifetime in the limelight

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:38:20 -0600

Legendary entrepreneur Ted Turner opined on his personal story, the state of journalism, and the state of his pocketbook in a November appearance at the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco.

Minnesota artist finds solace in a small town

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:46:16 -0600

A Minnesota artist who recently won the state's first walleye stamp competition, moved to a small town to seek fame and fortune.

Authors seek new ways to sell their work

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:00:00 -0600

Many authors are finding nowadays that even after they have written their book, had it edited and published, their work is not done. Today's authors are often left with the task of publicizing their work too.

Luverne WWII pilot featured in 'The War' dies

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:26:07 -0600

Quentin Aanenson, a World War Two fighter pilot from Luverne, Minnesota, who was featured in the Ken Burns documentary "The War," has died.