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‘Minnesota’s longest ice bar’ now serving in downtown Minneapolis
The Great Northern Ice Bar is part of the Great Northern Festival that’s going on now through Feb. 4.
MINNEAPOLIS — It’s been a long time since Robbie Harrell ran an ice-carving business out of his garage. The business, Minnesota Ice, has since grown large enough to host a popular annual festival.
However, like many events this year, the Minnesota Ice Festival was canceled due to warm weather.
Fortunately, the company is accustomed to providing other organizations and businesses in both Minnesota and Wisconsin with ice sculptures, including a new, 100-foot-long ice bar on Third Street South and Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis.
The more than 30,000-pound icy countertop is part of the Great Northern Festival, which kicked off Thursday, Jan. 25, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 4.
“One-hundred-foot ice bar is really unheard of, especially on Nicollet Mall,” Harrell said.
Madde Gibba is producer of the Great Northern Ice Bar and says although it’s a bar, kids are still welcome.
“This is a wonderful example of how Minnesotans come together, how we create something out of our time,” Gibba said. “This is for the entire family. So, we have spirit-forward drinks, spirit-free drinks. Every single day we have a different bartender, a different taste maker, from all over Minneapolis and St. Paul.”
Beverage director Adam Witherspoon of Mara, Four Seasons and 3Leche curated the menu, which features creations from the visiting bars and guest bartenders.
Harrell says it took a team of about 10 professional ice carvers to assemble the bar in seven or eight hours Thursday night. The crew worked during the night because that’s when temperatures dip.
Already though, the ice dripped during daylight hours Friday.
“My hands are a little wet, yes,” Gibba said after touching the countertop.
The Great Northern Ice Bar opened from 4-7 p.m. Friday, with a celebration involving Mayor Jacob Frey and Former Mayor R.T. Rybak. It’s scheduled to be open through Sunday this week, and Wednesday through Sunday next week, with varying hours each day.
Harrell suggested going this weekend in case too much melting occurs by the second weekend.
“The plan for it was to last two weeks,” he said. “We’re still hopeful because we’re getting overnight lows that are below freezing. We use a lot of different methods to keep it as cold as possible. We’ll use insulated blankets to help keep it below freezing, as well as dry ice.”
The Great Northern Ice Bar is free to attend, but drink tickets cost $5 for kids beverages and beer, $10 for non-alcoholic craft cocktails and $15 for regular craft cocktails.
On Wednesday, Jan. 31, organizers plan to offer free hot chocolate from Caribou Coffee. Metro Transit is also offering free rides to Great Northern events.
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Police are reviewing security camera footage to find those responsible for spray-painting two swastikas at Temple Israel’s entrance.
MINNEAPOLIS — Members of a Minneapolis synagogue arrived Monday to discover their building had been targeted by an act of antisemitic vandalism.
Two swastikas were spray-painted at the entrance to Temple Israel.
“It is heartbreaking to see such a hateful image directly underneath the words emblazoned above our doors, words that have guided us for generations: ‘My house shall be a house of prayer for all peoples,'” Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman said in a letter to Temple Israel members. “Temple has always been a sacred space, a welcoming place to all who enter with a spirit of community and peace.”
Zimmerman said Minneapolis police are reviewing the Temple’s security camera footage, and the Temple’s own security team remains on alert.
“I am proud of our Temple community, and of standing up for our Jewish values even in difficult times,” Rabbi Zimmerman added.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who attends Temple Israel, said he supports MPD in its efforts to find those “responsible for this hateful act.”
“These Nazi symbols were placed on my synagogue, where Minneapolis Jews congregate and deserve to feel safe,” Frey said in a statement posted to social media. “We don’t back down to fear, we stand strong, proud of who we are, and I know that Minneapolis – a city of inclusivity and love – stands with us.”
Temple Israel is home to one of the ten largest Jewish congregations in the country.
Police in Wisconsin’s capitol city descended on Abundant Life Christian School around 11 a.m. following multiple 911 calls reporting an active shooter.
MADISON, Wis. — Police in Madison, Wisconsin are in the early stages of investigating a deadly mass shooting that took place at a private school late Monday morning.
Here’s what we know so far.
Where it happened
Madison Police Chief Dr. Shon Barnes said 911 calls began coming in around 10:57 a.m. reporting an active shooter at Abundant Life Christian School. Officers from Madison and across Dane County arrived at the school, 4901 Buckeye Road, on the city’s east side, just blocks from Lake Monona.
Abundant Life Christian School is described as non-denominational. The enrollment at the school is just under 400.
The victims
During an early press conference with reporters, Chief Barnes said three people are dead including the suspected shooter. At least five others were transported to area hospitals, with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening. Barnes would not confirm how many of the victims are children or staff members, saying authorities are still sorting that out.
At one point in the press conference, police said five people were dead, but they subsequently backed off on that number.
“Today is a sad, sad day, not only for Madison but for our entire country,” Barnes said. “Every child in that building is a victim, and will be a victim forever.”
The shooter
Barnes said officers responding to the incident found the suspected shooter, who he described as a juvenile student at the school, dead of what they believe to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. At this point a motive for the deadly attack is unclear.
The investigation
Reporters on the scene said both state and federal law enforcement are on scene to help with the investigation, including personnel from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Police Chief Dr. Shon Barnes said another press briefing is currently scheduled for 2:30 p.m. KARE 11 will plan on carrying it live on our YouTube channel, with links on our other social channels.
MINNEAPOLIS — No matter how you celebrate the holidays, El Sazon Cocina and Tragos has the seasonal flavors to make it even better.
The restaurant is known for its authentic Latin and Mexican dishes and is located at 5309 Lyndale Ave. S in Minneapolis. Some of its new specialty cocktails include gingerbread, mint, cider and traditional Mexican flavors.
If you’re hungry, El Sazon offers tacos, bowls, enchiladas and more. Cristian de Leon, chef and owner, and Zoilo Ruacho, mixologist and owner, visited KARE 11 News at Noon to share a few of these specialty seasonal items.
