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 season is in full swing

It's hard to keep track of when and where all the summer farmers markets are, isn't it? We put together a guide of farmers markets in Southwest Minneapolis and beyond!

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

On July 1, hemp-derived THC products were codified into law in Minnesota. Mike Norton reviewed the legislation that got us h̶i̶g̶h̶ there. He also tried out some products sold at Legacy Glass in LynLake. Anna Koenning spoke with the owners of Hemp House about the products they sold before July 1 and how this new law will affect their business. We are also working on a story that explains the difference between delta-8, delta-9, and a host of other products being sold in stores. Look for that next week. 🌿

Josh Martin covered this week's Park Board meeting. On the agenda was a robust discussion about the new tree planting program that will build in carbon offsets. (Spoiler alert: a commissioner that had an amendment to the resolution was absent so the discussion is delayed). Per the Star Tribune, "The idea is to sell credits to businesses to help offset their carbon emissions. The Park Board would use the money to expand the canopy — for every tree that dies, it plants two — and maintain it."  We will cover the next Park Board meeting and let you know the future of the trees. 🌳

Links that our daily subscribers clicked on a lot this week

Racket ranked reading benches around the Twin Cities. Southwest showed up on the list via Lake of the Isles, and coming in at number one, Lakewood Cemetery. The author also suggests books to read at each bench which is darling.

Charlie was able to win a long-standing debate about what the most expensive grocery store is in the area, thanks to this Racket article.

We pointed people to the Lyndale Avenue safety improvement site so everyone can follow along with the summertime changes to a fairly car-centric street. Of note: the 4-3 conversion to parts of Lyndale that begins July 18.

The Wedge LIVE! talked with Molly Burns-Hansen from Move Minnesota, who is seeking out tenants, landlords, condo associations, and neighborhood groups in order to sign buildings up for Metro Transit's residential transit pass program. It's just $14 per month to provide an unlimited ride transit pass to every unit in a building.

A few months ago, we shared a piece with public safety solutions from cities across the country that were making real progress on reducing violent crime. Here's a Twitter thread about what continues to work so well in one of those cities.

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

At Gigi's Cafe from 5-7 p.m. is a neighborhood music showcase featuring Ava Levy and Logan Vagle. Check out the new art on the walls, too.

Malamanaya, a Caribbean and Latin America-inspired group, is performing at Granada Theater. The backstories of the artists are fascinating, by the way.

All weekend, a group of Guthrie students perform "This is Our Youth" at Bryant Lake Bowl.

Saturday

The American Swedish Institute is holding a wood carving class for women and non-binary folks. The instructor founded Fireweed Community Woodshop.

The Uptown VFW hosts "Come as You Are: A 90's Alternative Party" to make you either feel really old or really cool for knowing songs from the 90s.

Sunday

Franklin Open Streets is from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Franklin will be closed to all vehicle traffic from Portland Avenue South to 26th Avenue South. Always a good time.

Attention fellow herbivores, our time has finally come: there is a vegan "meat" raffle at Palmers starting at 3 p.m. Cornbread Harris, father of Jimmy Jam, will be performing inside starting at 5 p.m.