Enjoy this short slideshow of pictures from the Taste of Northfield.

Many of you are aware that we are going to experience the reconstruction of 4th Street this summer, not unlike the recent reconstruction of 5th Street.  Monday’s meeting will be an opportunity to hear more about it.

The meeting will also be a chance to offer input on the final design.  Apparently there have been some different opinions expressed during the design process regarding street trees, bump-outs, and flower pots.

If you have thoughts on these design elements or just want to hear more on the project, head down to City Hall, Monday, March 15th, at 6:00 p.m., to join the discussion.

Photo courtesy of Griff Wigley.

Tonight, Tuesday, December 23rd, there’s an Exhibit Closing Party, a two-day-early ChARTdonnay, and special sneak preview, 3 to 10 p.m., ArtOnWater Gallery, 217 South Water Street and a Blue Grass and Old Time Jam Session, 7:30 to 10:00 p.m., The Contented Cow, 302B Division Street. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to check out the Member’s Show at the Northfield Arts Guild, 304 Division Street, open ’til 5 p.m. today. It’s a delightful offering of cultural activities to wrap around your last-minute shopping and socializing.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 24th, is Christmas Eve. You should probably try to finish your shopping early and spend the rest of the day and night with friends and family. Might I suggest one of the many fine shops in Downtown Northfield, as well as the fun eating and drinking establishments. The next day, December 25th, is Christmas.

Friday, there’s Karaoke, 9 p.m., at the Rueb-N-Stein, 503 Division Street, and Chris Herriges, at the Tavern Lounge, riverside of The Archer House, 212 Division Street. Saturday, there’s DJ Music at the Rueb, one of my favorites, Marty Anderson and the Goods, at The Contented Cow, and Norwegian Cowboy at the Tavern Lounge. Then Sunday, there’s the usual line-up of Politics and a Pint, Northern Roots Session, and Quiz Night at The Cow.

Ho, ho, ho…and have a Happy Holidays…from the folks at the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation and the people who make it all possible, the building and business owners of Downtown Northfield. Please support them as they support our community.

The featured stories are about Liveable Communities. No, it’s not the Met Council concept skeptically reviewed by Chamber President David Ludescher, it’s the AIA’s 10 Principles for Liveable Communities.

The first article in the series focused on Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak’s efforts to restore greatness to Washington Avenue, the city’s principal east-west corridor that connects the University of Minnesota , the Guthrie Theater, the Mill City Museum, the Downtown Library, and the city’s new downtown residential neighborhood in the warehouse district. The vision is to make it vibrant and pedestrian-friendly (much like Mayor Gary Nickels’ Seattle) through greening the sidewalks, quality street lighting, way-finding signage, public art, benches, and waste receptacles. Seems like a good idea to me, except they left out the bike racks.

Another article looks at a project in Duluth. Development pressure threatened the Upper Amity Creek, a popular trout stream. Citizens helped turn scenarios into a plan to be presented to the city council. The final plan preserved the most sensitive areas, reduced impervious surfaces, offered a variety of housing types, and preserved access to the natural amenities. The citizens, the city, the county, and the developers are now talking about making the plan a reality.

Finally, there was an article about Wilmar. The citizens of that town are working to revitalize their historic downtown. Interestingly, they view the real challenge for downtown renewal not being design and preservation but long-term political support. They also need to counter the perception that there’s quicker profits through opening a business in a pole barn than in downtown. The approach that the planning team is taking is to enhance downtown’s role as the central gathering place while assuring a variety of transportation choices and connections to other parts of the town.

There was also an article about the AIA’s 10 Principles for Liveable Communities with each principle illustrated by an example from a famous or almost-famous person. They include: Design on a Human Scale, Provide Choices (in housing, shopping, recreation, transportation and employment), Encourage Mixed-Use Development, Build Vibrant Public Spaces, and Protect Environmental Resources.

I was struck with the similarities between the AIA’s Principles and the Values expressed by Northfield’s citizens in the Comprehensive Plan Revision Process. The case studies reminded me of the NDDC’s efforts to gather stakeholder input for the Downtown Streetscape process. Based on the articles in this issue of Architecture MN, it would appear that including citizens’ values as development principles through early involvement increases the potential for a project’s success.

now it’s time for WHEN.

It’s 6:30 to 9:30 pm on a day where they’ll be doing a little partying down in New Orleans too, also known as the Fat Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. That would be a week from today.

I guess that also hints at HOW…

…let’s just say with great spirit.

I was in Goodbye Blue Monday this morning and noticed a birthday celebration for NDDC Community Advisor Eric Johnson. As I stood in line waiting for my order, some guys in front of me, who looked vaguely familiar, were discussing giving Eric a little birthday thrill by taking his bike for a joy ride.

I suppose in some twisted way, it’s part of making Northfield more “bike friendly“…

Happy Birthday Eric! …and thanks to Margit Johnson for the picture…

The editorial references a series that the paper had published on downtown “liveability” crimes. Apparently, downtown Minneapolis has a far lower number of serious crimes than elsewhere in the city but the area doesn’t feel safe because of the incidence of behaviors like loitering, panhandling, cursing, littering and graffiti.

I referenced an article in the Strib series in my blog entry on westside vadalism. A highlight of the piece, at least in my opinion, was the call to “demand higher standards of public behavior”.

That’s exactly what the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association has done. The group has issued a code of “expectations”. The list includes such radical ideas as “obey the law; be respectful of others; keep storefronts and sidewalks clean; report offensive behavior; and help build a “pedestrian friendly” atmosphere”.

Northfield is following Minneapolis’ example of encouraging people to live downtown, closer to a variety of jobs, cultural amenities and recreational opportunities. Perhaps we should also follow the example of the neighborhood association and demand a higher standard of public behavior in Downtown Northfield.

…and maybe the next expert with whom we should consult is the woman pictured above…

Next thing I know, Sue and Doug were handing me this tray of Alaskan Doughnuts (they were for the window, I didn’t eat them) and taking my picture. Well, I was, of course, happy to participate in any effort to promote Crazy Daze.

…and on my way out, they said to me, “See you Thursday”. Hmmm…

(…except during the breaks.)

Jellystone Yogi (Peter Diggins on guitar, Joel Cooper on bass and George Marich on drums) was laying down the grooves and about twenty spanish teachers at a program at Carleton College were putting up the moves.

The 40-something musicians and dancers were creating such energy that they attracted the attention of some Northfield High School students, who watched in amazement from the pedestrian bridge.

There’s more excitement tonight, when Peter and Joel return to the Cow with the Prairie Creek Group, one of the most buzzed about groups on the local scene.

Come on down(town) and check them out.

Late morning update: Prairie Creek Group’s “Celebrate the Summer” gig–”full sound” 5 member band playing an eclectic mix of styles, from country to rock (Alisa Leonard lead vocals and keys, Tom Leonard drums, Peter Diggins guitar and vocals, Bo Aylin guitar and vocals, Joel Cooper bass and backup vocals).

Dean Kjerland, developer and occupant of neo-traditional building that until recently house Art-on-Water Gallery, has often seemed to be the focus of this vandalism, or at the one to speak up about it most often. Although some people in the community have been quick to blame the kids from The Key for any such activities, Dean believes that the source of much of his suffering has been older “kids” associated with another institution in town, who were letting off a little too much steam at bar closing time.

Perhaps the silver lining in this most recent cloud is that it has gotten the attention of the wider community. Downtown businesses, the Colleges and even the Chamber are aware of this most recent example of behavior that is completely unacceptable in our community.

And, according to the front page story in the Strib’s Opinion Section, that’s the key to stopping this type of behavior, making it clear to everyone that this type of behavior is completely unacceptable in our community. In the list of “12 Ways to Make our City Feel Safer”, number one on the list is “Demand higher standards in public behavior”.

I would encourage you to read the article in today’s Strib and think about what we might do to nip this problem in the bud. More importantly, I would urge you to join me in saying that this type of behavior is completely unacceptable in our community. We set the bar for public behavior pretty high in Northfield and demand respectful behavior from all.