Julia Guttenfelder
To Be Determined Ballroom launches monthly tea service
The Duchess of Duluth on the Teebeedeebee dance floor accompanied by DJ Jesscribe. (Photo By Julia Guttenfelder)
As the sun shaded the clouds to pink on a Duluth Tuesday evening, Daniel Benoit’s Central Hillside garage space was transformed into a discotheque. People trickled into the dimly lit room filling it with movement, conversation, steady beats and sobriety.
Dancers and non-dancers, DJs and non-DJs all gathered to celebrate each others company over alcohol-free tea elixirs. The To Be Determined Ballroom — at times referred to as TBDB, TBD Ballroom, Teebeedeebee or Teebeedee Ballroom — held its first tea service on Sept. 15, featuring “groove session” sets from DJs Porb, Jesscribe and MalMe. (more…)
Embracing the Nordic of the North Shore
American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. (Photo by Julia Guttenfelder)
The overall culture of Minnesota connects to a broad array of ethnic backgrounds. From the indigenous Anishinaabe and Dakota people to the influx of European immigrants and more recent growth of Black, Hispanic and Asian populations, the state is becoming more and more diverse.
Still, it seems Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish traditions hold an outsized influence on what’s considered Minnesotan. Those traits — most famously the “Minnesooota” accent — took hold in the 20th century and remain prevalent. (more…)
Quiet Santa preserves tradition for kids with sensory needs
Patrick and Sandy Baumann, dressed and ready for families to arrive at the fourth annual Quiet Santa event in November. (Photo by Julia Guttenfelder)
Each year, as the snow begins to fall, families crowd into chaotic shopping centers and join the staggered lines, waiting for their turn to meet Santa Claus. It’s a beloved holiday tradition, but it can be overwhelming for children with sensory processing challenges.
Among the smiling, happy faces found on a Google image search for “kids on Santa’s lap” are many photos of wailing youngsters squirming on Santa’s knee while he tries to keep a pleasant and slightly strained smile, unsure of what to do next.
Recognizing the need for a more subdued St. Nick to greet children with autism or other sensory needs, Fairlawn Mansion in Superior held its first Quiet Santa event in 2021. (more…)