Lemke’s Lot – Minnesota Vikings News
September 21, 2010 by Sara · 2 Comments
Minnesota resident Branden Lemke, the writer behind the blog Lemke’s Lot, is currently a freshman at a northern Twin Cities community college. A die-hard Vikings fan, he strives to constantly keep his readers updated on all of the latest Vikings news, stats, and quotes, all year-round! For being a particularly young blogger and having a relatively new blog that was started just in January of this year, Branden seems to land quite a few interviews with big name players. This, along with his dedication to the team and his blog, has been earning him more and more recognition around the Twin Cities sports writer blogosphere.
What was your motivation for starting Lemke’s Lot?
Well, I’ve always been a die hard Vikings fan, and decided I wanted to use this passion as part of my career and persue sports writing. My goal is to gain experience as a writer through Lemke’s Lot, and use the experience I gain towards having a career in sports writing once I am done with college. It’s always nice to have a stepping stone.
Who or what are your top resources for Vikings and general football news and information?
Well, obviously I cannot reveal all of my sources, but NFL network and KFAN are two big ones. On my way to/back from college I’m always listening to KFAN to see what is going on in Vikings nation. If there’s something reported that I feel my viewers should know, I make sure I keep them updated, and that applies to all of my sources. Sometimes, however, I am the first to know certain things as they happen due to friends I have made in the Minnesota Vikings organization.
What is one of your best/favorite memories of the Vikings that you have?
There are two that come to mind. One was a game I went to 2 years ago. It was Sunday night football, and we were playing the Bears in the dome. I remember Gus Frerrote throwing a 99 yard touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian, and because that type of play is such a rare occurrence, it will always be very special to me. The second best memory happened this past may when I had the chance to interview Vikings FS Eric Frampton. He was the first Viking that I interviewed in person, and he is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. The interview itself only lasted about 10 minutes, but we talked for hours after it was over, and I thought that was very cool for him to just hang out with someone he had just met for the first time. I still talk to him a lot, and I guess you could say we became pretty good friends.
You’ve had the chance to interview several Vikings players. What tips would you give to a new sports blogger to help them get players to agree to interviews?
I would definitely recommend using twitter, and simply ask the players if they would like to do an interview with you. Most of them are pretty cool about it. Otherwise, just make yourself known. work with other bloggers who have experience in interviewing players and establish a good reputation for yourself. And if you do get the chance to interview a player, be very professional during the interview, because when you are in that setting you are no longer a fan, you are their friend in a sense, so make sure you don’t let yourself become starstruck.
How has blogging changed your life?
Blogging has made me realize that sports writing is definitely the right career for me, and it gives me a chance to build a resume’ for anyone that may be interested in hiring me for that kind of job in the future.
What other blogs do you enjoy reading? Who are your favorite local Twin Cities bloggers?
The main guy I have to tip my hat to is Adam Warwas over at Vikings Gab. He does a phenominal job of reporting Vikings news as well. I’ve worked with him in the past, and I was very proud to work with someone who shares the same passion in the Minnesota Vikings as I do!
What do you love the most about the Twin Cities / Minnesota and why?
I love the people. Some of the nicest people live in Minnesota, thus the expression “Minnesota nice”. The Twin Cities area is great because there’s never a dull moment. There is always something to do, and it’s hard to find a place liek that. I also love all the die hard Vikings/Twins fans around! I am very proud to live in such a great state.
Unicorns for Socialism
Alexandra Franzen is the brain behind the Unicorns for Socialism blog. She is neither a unicorn nor a socialist, though she is a freelance writer, editor, and self-professed organization freak who works with clients in the Twin Cities, Los Angeles, and New York City. In addition to working with many, many resume clients, some of her current projects include writing for d.trio marketing, guest-blogging for the CRAVEcompany, and managing communications for Danielle LaPorte’s website for inspired living, WhiteHotTruth.com. At Unicorns for Socialism, she blogs about LGBT culture and civil rights, travel, and style, as well as tidbits about her freelance adventures.
What was the inspiration behind starting the Unicorns for Socialism blog?
Back in the fall of 2009, I was deeply entrenched in a full-time “cubicle gig” that required a tremendous amount of intensive copyediting and technical coordination … I desperately wanted a space that was purely creative, with zero editing. A space that could be non sequitur, quirky, queer … and full of sequins. Y’know, like the inside of my brain! Except on the Internet.
So, I launched Unicorns for Socialism. It’s evolved quite a bit over the past year or so — and so have I, for that matter. These days, I mainly blog about LGBT culture and civil rights, style, travel and my adventures as a freelance writer + editor + organization freak. Still plenty of sequins, though.
I have to ask: How did you choose the name “Unicorns for Socialism”?
It was sort of an inside joke … with myself. In my (slightly) younger days, I was fascinated by socialism, and fancied myself a bit of a Marxist. I came to the conclusion that the only group capable of successfully executing a socialistic society would be a group without greed, ego or strife. In other words, a herd of unicorns! And then I started visualizing a bunch of unicorns marching around with Soviet-style signs that said, “Unicorns for Socialism!” I couldn’t get the image out of my head. And thus, my blog was named.
Your blog is about LGBT culture and civil rights, travel, style, and more. What are your favorite sources for news and information on these subjects?
For gay stuff, I love AfterEllen, AfterElton, AutoStraddle and Jonny McGovern’s podcast series.
For travel, I obsessively troll the hotel sales at Tablet Hotels, and I love using the Kayak Explore feature, which Sarah Von Bargen of Yes & Yes introduced to me.
For style, I adore Gala Darling and Nubby Twiglet‘s vibrant personal aesthetics.
And for inspiration / spirituality / targeted butt-kicking, I dig When I Grow Up and White Hot Truth.
How has blogging changed your life?
From a professional standpoint, it’s brought me slews of fascinating, like-minded clients. It’s helped me brand myself as a creative freelancer, and given me a space to hone my writing voice. It’s been a bubbly playground, a companion, an outlet. Oh, my precious blog! I’m feeling very emotional right now. 
In your opinion, what are the most rewarding aspects of blogging? Most frustrating?
Blogging can be a terrific self-promotion tool, ‘specially if you’re launching a business or spreading your name ’round the Internet. It can help you establish credibility within a field, and reach niche audiences. I’m certainly not a social media strategist — and I haven’t been blogging for that long — but it’s already augmented my career in so many ways.
The most frustrating aspect of blogging? Hmm … spambot comments! So gross. And stupid.
What other blogs do you enjoy reading and why? Who are your favorite local Twin Cities bloggers?
My favorite Twin Cities bloggers are Anna Torborg of Twelve22 and Sarah Von Bargen of Yes & Yes … both of whom are my “real-life” friends, too! I’m a lucky lady.
Truth be told, I don’t have a ton of blogs on my daily blogroll, but lately I’ve been digging Zen At Play, The Cherry Blossom Girl and Concrete & Honey.
What do you love the most about the Twin Cities / Minnesota and why?
I love the blooming spring madness, when everyone rushes out into the streets to celebrate the end of winter. I love the sticky, sumptuous summer months. I love apple-picking in the autumn. I love my hipster friends and my entrepreneurial comrades and my public radio coterie. I love the way Minnesotans deeply support the arts — but in a very laid-back, unpretentious way. Oh, and I love being able to afford a house! Haha. That wouldn’t be possible in Los Angeles, where I grew up. Huzzah, Minnesota!
Mom Culture
September 8, 2010 by Sara · Leave a Comment
After moving with her husband from New York City to Minnesota 5 years ago, Mom Culture Founder, Editor and Curator Lenore Moritz longed to receive her culture fix. Though the Minneapolis music, literary, visual and performing arts scene were all a short drive away, she couldn’t find the time to partake in them following the birth of her two children. After going to “moms&movies” in 2007, the chance to see an entire movie in one sitting reminded her of just how much she missed all forms of culture and inspired her to start Mom Culture Live events. The concerts, dance performances, museum tours and more are set up exclusively for Mom Culture parents and their young children. In 2009, she launched the Mom Culture website and blog, dedicated to exploring every medium of art, including music, film, visual arts, design, writing, dance, and more.
What was the inspiration behind starting Mom Culture?
I’ve always loved culture — high to pop and everything in-between. After having kids, I realized I was no longer finding time to fit in the arts and culture I loved…and I missed it! I started Mom Culture to make arts&culture easily accessible to parents.
Mom Culture, which is intended to be “a culture fix for your inner grown up,” began in 2007 as events – I connected with the great cultural institutions around town to create exclusive concerts, museum tours, dance performances and more just for the Mom Culture audience (which is moms and dads, plus their 0-5 year old kids.) These weekday adult-geared events were an opportunity for parents to get a culture fix in a warm environment that was also welcoming to young children.
I realized, though, that parents with kids of all ages needed their culture fixes, too, so in October 2009 I launched the website, Mom Culture. Every week I bring a culture fix to you through q&a’s with nationally-recognized, as well as up-and-coming, artists. The artists work in any medium and live all over the U.S.
The behind-the-art insight and art that comes right to you online gives visitors a fulfilling taste of culture in just a few minutes.
What are your favorite sources to mine when you’re looking for something new to write about?
In part, I rely on what I read. Art publications like ARTnews, Art Forum, Arts Journal and Art Info are great resources. I used to live in New York and still subscribe to The New York Times, New York (magazine) and New York Observer so I can stay connected to the arts scene there. I’ve even tracked down an artist I saw in Coastal Living magazine.
I also rely on what I see in person. If I hear a great band or see a gallery exhibition that resonates with me, I’ll seek out that artist(s).
Additionally, I love recommendations from friends or other artists. For example, I was interviewing the New York video artist Kate Gilmore, whose work was going to be part of the prestigious Whitney Museum Biennial, and she mentioned that I should also interview her sister, Jennifer Gilmore, a critically-acclaimed author. Two highly accomplished artists from one family!
It’s also really helpful when I’m invited to a film screening, particularly when a director, producer or actor is present and I’m offered access to them.
How has blogging changed your life?
It’s made me very busy! After starting my Mom Culture blog, Twin Cities Metro magazine asked me to start a blog for them by the same name. Additionally, Mom Logic – a Warner Bros-owned website based in LA – asked me to be a blogger for them, and Twittermoms.com asked me to be their arts&culture feature contributor.
I’ll also be part of a soon-to-launch blog that The Iveys will start. The Iveys are like the Tony Awards of the Twin Cities.
Having said that, I’m always open to entertaining new opportunities!
What do you hope readers take away from their time spent at Mom Culture?
I hope people who visit momcultureonline.com feel refreshed and fulfilled from having taken a few minutes to do something important and good for themselves. The arts are not a luxury, they are a necessity that feeds our souls and stimulate our minds in new ways.
What other blogs do you enjoy reading? Who are your favorite local Twin Cities bloggers?
I love the Huffington Post – so many categories to peruse! And since I’m an unabashed pop culture junkie (a pop culture junkie can like opera and museums, too!), I admit to checking out tmz.com or popsugar.com.
Some of my favorite Twin Cities blogs include Cribsheet (on the Star Tribune site) – smart and sweet writing, as well as spotart.org (which is also a cool gallery in NE.) And I like to keep up with some of the Twin Cities artists I’ve featured such as Eric Melzer Finae Art, Tong Blog, and Natasha D’Schommer Studio (a mom, gifted photographer and Mom Culture’s first guest blogger; her landscapes are like a mini-vacation for me.)
What do you love the most about the Twin Cities / Minnesota and why?
I’ve only been in the Twin Cities for five years, but I find it to be a warm community with a wide variety of offerings. From nature to culture, the opportunities are high quality.
Labor Day has recently marked the end of a typically event-filled summer. What annual summer arts event in Minnesota do you have to attend every year? What makes it so special to you?
I love the concerts at Peavey Plaza. I’m partial to them because I live downtown, but I think they’re great because the music is always wonderful and diverse. Despite the fact that I spend a good amount of time chasing my kids on the steps, I’m at a live music event outside and that always tops my list of excellent things to do!
The Girl Next Door Grows Up
September 2, 2010 by Sara · 3 Comments
At The Girl Next Door Grows Up blog, Minnesota-native Erika writes about her family. Married to husband Tyler, the couple has two girls: Emily, age 10, and Sarah, age 3. Additionally, her crazy parents live right next door, providing vast amounts of fodder for Erika’s blog. A wind-fearing dog named Jack, a brand-new British black lab puppy named Millie, Sam the cat, and a pair of scissors named George round out the rest of the family. Erika always tries to look on the bright side of life, and that shines through in her writing. Whatever is going on in her life, she puts a humorous spin on it. Read just a few of the quirky, real-life stories of what is happening in her family-filled world, and you’re sure to come back to read more.
What was the inspiration behind starting The Girl Next Door Grows Up blog?
I have always loved to write and tell stories for as long as I can remember. My mom has written all of her life and both her and my dad worked for the Star Tribune so it must be in my blood!
When things happen to me, I will actually write in my head while I am doing chores around the house. Sometimes I would write those thoughts down to submit to magazines or to put into a book, but I never did. It just seemed too overwhelming and unreachable.
Up until last year I had no idea what a blog even was until I stumbled upon one online. After some research, my mouth dropped open and I just knew this was something that I needed to try. I knew that blogging was for me.
It took forever to decide the name of my blog because I am more than just a “mommy.” I feel like I am continually growing up and learning and I wanted potential readers to know that through my blog title. I think because of that I draw in a wide range of readers.
How do you think an avid reader would describe your blog when they recommend it to their best friends?
Ha! I think an avid reader would say that they always leave smiling and with a chuckle. And that is my goal. I want to make people smile or laugh.
Yes, obviously life is not always sunshine and roses, but even during the time when our dog got cancer and had to have her leg amputated, I wrote posts that had a laugh or two amongst the tears.
I also purposely keep my posts short so that it is easy and quick to read. I realize people don’t have all day to read so I want to make coming to my site as enjoyable and easy as possible.
In January I created a series called “Feel Good Friday.” My intention is to get people to focus on the positive things that have happened during the week no matter how many bad things that have happened, I challenge people to find and look for 5 good things. It is something I am really proud of and I love reading what others write.
You started The Girl Next Door Grows Up in October 2009. During that time, what has been your biggest challenge in maintaining it and creating fresh content?
I never have a problem coming up with content… ever! I have lists and lists of things that happen that I haven’t had time to write about yet. My parents are our neighbors and just quick popping over to their house can generate 2 posts in 10 minutes!!
As far as maintaining the blog, my biggest problem has been time. When I was smaller I was able to reply to everyone every single day. Then in April – May I was getting 40+ comments a day and that was hard to do. I only blog during my daughter’s naptime and sometimes at night, so it has been hard to maintain my goals.
When summer came and school let out, blogging became much more difficult, plus I had also switched platforms and found myself spending way more time than was expected on technical issues. It really upset me more than I thought to not be able to just blog. Thankfully I switched platforms again and I am able to get back into a routine and connect with my readers.
How has blogging changed your life?
I never really thought there were people “out there” who thought like I did. With blogging I can tell you that I have a pair of scissors named George and I can tell you all about how it happened, but in real life I am not going to go up to an acquaintance and tell them that or they’d think I was insane!
I am pretty shy in person, but through my blog I will tell the readers anything.
Blogging brings me so much joy, it has amazed me. I lead a very happy life anyway so I had no idea that this would be so powerful.
Frequently I receive emails from non-bloggers who have just found my site. Some are sick, some are sad and they all tell me that whatever random post they read, made their day. I can’t even begin to tell you how that makes me feel. To think that my writing has had an impact on someone is very meaningful to me.
What is the funniest or most outrageous thing one or all of your kids have done that you have blogged about?
I don’t write a lot about my girls. It is my parents who are the lunatics! My 66 year old mom just started dying her bangs red for fun. We did a vlog together that was outrageous, but people loved it so I guess that’s what counts!
Then there is my poor dad who paints portraits. He can do everyone perfectly, but me, and I have had a lot of fun with that.
My 3 year old did go through a phase where she had to have her crocs cooled in the fridge! That was a hum-dinger.
What other blogs do you enjoy reading? Who are your favorite local Twin Cities bloggers?
I love quite a few bloggers and I always hate not being able to include everyone. Laundry Hurts My Feelings is one of my favorites by Joann Mannix.
Also Susan Tipton of Daily Coping Skills is probably the most intellectual, witty and underappreciated bloggers out there. She is a remarkable woman and her posts bring me so much happiness and joy.
I just recently met a handful of Minnesota bloggers and had no idea there were so many out there! I would have to say that I really enjoy the writing of Beth, The Anti-Supermom who is also a delight in person.
What do you love the most about the Twin Cities / Minnesota and why?
I have lived here all of my life and I love it all! The seasons, the lakes, the culture… We truly have it all here, plus the people are so kind and down to earth. I never plan on leaving.
