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Anoka’s sipping and strolling pilot project ends Saturday
The Minnesota Legislature’s experiment with a social district in Anoka has worked well according to community leaders.
ANOKA, Minn. — A town known for antiques and Halloween got on the map for something else in the past month, a legislative experiment in casual drinking known as the Anoka Social District.
State lawmakers and local figures launched the one-month pilot on September 6, allowing people to sip wine, beer, and cocktails in specially marked plastic cups as they stroll through downtown popping in and out of businesses.
“The sip and stroll concept’s been working very well,” Anoka City Council Member Erik Skogquist told KARE.
“It’s interesting to see over the last month who’s been embracing this. There’s been a lot of businesses — antique stores, a quilt shop — and all of them have been saying this is something we think is great.”
Skogquist said visitors have respected the placards in the windows of businesses inside the district. Those signs tell you where you can buy a drink to go, what stores welcome strolling drinkers, and which ones don’t.
“It gets a lot of new people in town. That’s something I’ve heard from a lot of people. And more exposure. Not necessarily more drinking, but more exposure and more new faces.”
At Amore Antiques Friday afternoon owner Brandon Altenweg was working on a window display and planning the big Anoka Vintage Fest that will draw 90 antique and vintage clothing vendors to downtown on Saturday.
The event, which will raise money for the Haven4Heroes charity for veterans, coincides with the final day of the social district experiment.
“The social district has been a great, novel idea. People feel cool sipping their beverages. and we’ve had no issues when they come inside. No one’s spilt anything. People are really respectful,” Altenweg told KARE.
He believes the social district concept will be expanded by the legislature because it has worked so well in this city and other states have established drinking zones.
“The social district is really made for events like Anoka Vintage Fest, or the food truck festival, or River Fest. It’s made for these big events, which, Anoka is set up perfect for those.”
The 2023 legislation that created the experiment also requires the City of Anoka to file a report with the legislature within the next two years. The city must provide details on how the social district was designed, how participating businesses were selected, and how it all worked.
The bill also requires the city to recommend ways to tweak the social district concept before making it available to communities across Minnesota.
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Turns out, Twin Cities realtor and billboard personality Kris Lindahl is in on the joke.
MINNEAPOLIS — The makers of the video game “Call of Duty” launched a new, locally inspired campaign Friday, coinciding with the release of the franchise’s newest installment, “Black Ops 6.”
Motorists might notice real estate agent Kris Lindahl, famously seen with his arms out over every interstate in town, was replaced by *ahem* “The Replacer,” an Activision character played by actor Peter Stormare.
For the next few weeks, The Replacer will step in for Lindahl not only on billboards but also on advertisements across television, streaming and social media platforms.
But why does Lindahl need The Replacer’s help, you might ask?
So he’s free to play “Black Ops 6,” of course.
The Replacer isn’t new to Minnesota. He also once stepped into the shoes of Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards.
Reverend Shawn Morrison, founder and executive director of Good in the ‘Hood, shares his project to connect humanity through stories.
MINNEAPOLIS — In the busy intersections of life, some moments are often overlooked, while others are ignored.
Reverend Shawn Morrison, founder and executive director of Good in the ‘Hood, sees these intersections as opportunities for connecting and understanding.
“Three years ago, I just got a heart for this,” Morrison said, explaining that overlooking these moments was never an option. “Some might say it’s a calling that I was just compelled,” he shared, describing his deep motivation.
This project, “Will You See Me?” shares stories of people who are often unseen, aiming to create connections and build empathy. With each story, photograph and encounter, the team hopes to bring dignity and significance to every life they touch.
Ultimately, they plan to compile these stories and images into a book to serve as a powerful testament to the human experience.
“How can we not make it just an excursion but an encounter? How can we give dignity and significance a listening ear of understanding?” Morrison asked, hoping the project fosters empathy through shared narratives.
One participant, Wade Smith, reflected on the range of life experiences among the project’s subjects.
“I went to radio and television broadcasting school, yeah, and then I went to the service,” Smith shared.
Morrison’s approach includes photographing and recording participants’ words, preserving their voices authentically.
After initial challenges finding collaborators, Shawn Nielsen, owner of Nielsen Studios, and Elizabeth Korth, owner of Narrative Nuance, joined Morrison in his mission. Together, they approach individuals directly, offering respect, gift cards and a chance to be truly seen.
“People don’t even look at me,” Smith said. “It’s a problem for all Americans.”
Through each encounter, Morrison hopes to leave lasting impressions.
“I’m hoping that the people of our community start to see things differently, and they might ask this question, ‘What can I do?’” Morrison said.
Dre Woods, another participant, spoke about his family and dreams. Woods asked for help to take care of his four-legged companion, Oreo.
“I’m trying to feed her, right? That’s my baby,” Woods shared, revealing the motivations that guide him.
Dozens of stories and plenty of surprises, all things that give an often unshared perspective.
“I be asking God what it is why I’m still here. A lot of my friends not hear no more and I think about that,” Woods said.
Each interaction serves as a reminder of humanity’s shared connections.
“I think that it would encourage someone to do just something once. Each person could do something one day at a time, to be profound,” Nielsen said.
For Morrison, these stories are part of a larger mission.
“Boy, has there been a rest of the story for some of these beautiful people,” he said, hoping to inspire others to view their communities with fresh eyes.
Each moment and interaction serves as a call to action: look closer; adjust the community’s vision; and see the intersection they pass by more clearly — as part of their own destination.
Head to the Marcus West End Cinema to see some of this year’s up-and-coming movies.
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — Editor’s Note: This video originally aired on Oct. 12, 2024.
Just in time for Halloween, the Twin Cities Film Fest has arrived and it features a movie perfect for spooky season.
“Don’t Move” will screen as part of the festival at 5:45 p.m. on Friday. Home grown directors Brian Netto and Adam Schindler visited KARE 11 News at Noon to share more about the showing.
The film is a thriller about a woman who is injected with a paralytic agent in a forest. She must fight for her life as her body slowly shuts down, according to a Twin Cities Film Fest release.
Netto and Schindler met at Woodbury Elementary School and have remained friends to this day. This will be their third film shown at the fest.
Tickets are $13 and you can learn more about this movie at this link. All film festival movies will be screened at the Marcus West End Cinema in St. Louis Park .
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