Welcome to our weekly newsletter. On Fridays, we share things we've published, popular links from our daily newsletter, and a curation of stuff to do over the weekend.


Farmers market spotlight: BZBar

BZBar is an oat-based, gluten-free baked granola bar/energy bar using whole foods ingredients. BZBar was created on a quest to find the most tasty and wholesome snack. BZBar uses local honey and maple syrup with added protein from nuts and seeds. Flavors include almond trail mix and chocolate peanut butter. But shhhh……they are secretly working on adding other flavors. Customers love BZBar for breakfast with their coffee or yogurt. Baked fresh for every market, BZBar is easily portable for breakfast or snack. Follow BZBar on Instagram and Facebook
Come see us in person at the East Isles Farmers Market on July 28, Aug 11, 18, & 25, and Sept. 1.

Do you have a favorite farmers market business? Tell us who they are and we can highlight them here! Email us at info@southwestvoices.news or text us at 612-204-2887.

Here's a roundup of what we published this week

One of our favorite pieces this week is about the streetcars of Southwest Minneapolis. The streetcars shut down in 1954, but it's still fun to dream of what it was like to get around town by a trolley. The piece was written by Josh Biber of The Minnesota Historian.

Charlie tracked down why some zip codes aren't getting mail delivered consistently.

The Southwest Alliance for Equity was a strong presence during the City Council's nomination process of Heather Johnston as the permanent city coordinator. One of its members wrote an opinion piece arguing that her nomination represents the systemic racism in our city government.

Did you know Clausen Servicenter, that small car shop on Franklin Ave. & 1st Ave., has been there before you were born? Anna Koenning talked with the family-run shop about its place in the Stevens Square-Loring Heights neighborhood.

Larue's, an eccentric art-fashion-natural fibers boutique is moving to Linden Hills in September.

The organizer of the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association Pop-Up Markets wrote about 13 reasons why you should check out the market. The second of four markets is happening this Saturday. We will be there in the afternoon for a bit, so come say hi if you see us.


Links that our daily subscribers clicked on a lot this week

A story about 36 Lyn and its use of social media was written up in CSP (aka Convenience Store Press!!).

Ewok, a famous street artist that got his name in Minneapolis, has a beautiful Instagram account that we all checked out (including my dad. Hi Dad!). He helped paint a mural over the weekend on an outer wall of Cub Foods in Uptown, as part of the LynLake Street Art Series.

The Wedge LIVE! podcast visited Hidden Beach and talked to the infamous mud man.

Field & Festival, a new weekly market on Tuesdays at Wagners Garden Center was also a link hit.

A few more businesses seem closed in Uptown.

OUT & ABOUT 🏖️

Our events calendar is filled with unique events happening around town. You can submit events to be added to our calendar here. If you subscribe to the calendar, the events go straight to your personal calendar. Or you can add just the events you like.  🤯

Friday
Go make some airplanes with your kids this morning at Washburn Library. Have fun with those at home...*vase crashes to floor*

Tre Aaron plays at the Lake Harriet Bandshell tonight.

A literal algorithm performance continues at the Walker this weekend.

Saturday
As we discussed earlier in the newsletter, LHENA is hosting a pop-up market this weekend. There will be free ice cream, music, and *the best* vegan food truck & *the best* Salvadorian pupusas. Plus vendors!

Remember the Art Shanties? How could we forget! They are having a beach party and building sand shanties at Lake Harriet. All are welcome.

The Minneapolis Pops Orchestra plays tonight at the Lake Harriet Bandshell.

At the Uptown VFW, a night full of nostalgia playing all the indie pop, rock, and dance songs you know and love from the 2000s to the present.

Sunday
Natania & Ticket to Brasil play at the Lake Harriet Bandshell at 2 p.m., followed by an evening show with the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra.