Recent content from Kim Ode
Beer Choir combines love of suds and singing: 'Zero talent is required'
In the words of the official theme song: "The Beer Choir is the choir that sings while drinking beer."
We're more distrusting than we used to be, but expert on lying says all is not lost
Amid fake news and alternative facts, it's funny how trusting we remain.
Carve wood, make potica: Minnesota's folk schools teach heritage crafts
Growing movement enables people to learn traditional skills, as well as connect with others.
REVIEW: 'South Pole Station,' by Ashley Shelby.
FICTION: Science needn't fear scrutiny — that is, if it's any good. Same with people.
As language grows more profane, office talk takes a turn for the curse
As conversations at work get bluer, some people are seeing red. But the shift to more casual profanity may be here to stay.
St. Paul is throwing a big party for F. Scott Fitzgerald, and you're invited
International conference honors native Minnesotan and Jazz Age writer.
Review: 'Anything Is Possible,' by Elizabeth Strout
FICTION: Connections of small-town life weave web that is suffocating and affirming.
Bethlehem Lutheran Pastor Chris Nelson dies at 64
Nelson died June 18 at home in Eden Prairie with family and friends after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in November.
Minnesotan behind viral giant dog Instagrams mauled by a cow — and survives
The Instagrammer of Juji the giant doodle — with more than 100,000 followers — is recuperating and has even posted a photo of the aftermath.
Retired Golden Valley nurse's 'angel gowns' honor stillborn babies
Old wedding dresses are turned into keepsakes for grieving parents.
Lonely? Worried about dementia? Argentine tango finds home in Minnesota
The dynamic Argentine dance improves your social life and can protect your brain from dementia.
Gluten-free food festival coming to Minneapolis this weekend
The largest local fest of its kind showcases more than 70 exhibitors, with food, speakers and demonstrations.
Mysterious Shoe Tree is University of Minnesota's 'weird landmark'
From a distance, the tree appears home to a dense flock of starlings. As you get closer, you can see that it's an artful tossing of shoes. For decades, students have flung them there — but why?
Forgot a bag? Don't want paper or plastic? Boomerang Bags can help
A south Minneapolis woman started the first U.S. outpost of an Australian operation that offers reusable bags to shoppers.
Swirls of light and dark rye dough make a looker of a loaf
The swirls and curves of dark and light rye add some pizazz where it's least expected, especially with sandwiches.
Driver jailed after Andover crash that kills 52-year-old passenger
A 52-year-old Andover man died Saturday afternoon when a car in which he was a passenger crashed into a tree in a residential yard in Andover. His name is being withheld until family is notified.
Minnesotans joining the women's movement in their 60s: 'We're done being quiet'
After a lifetime on the sidelines of activism, many older women are jumping into the game.
Meet the Minnesota Zoo's 'animal mama'
Bottle-feeding four-legged infants is second nature for Diana Weinhardt at the Minnesota Zoo.
'It's important to tell my story': Iowa man sailed the world and witnessed this
With firsthand accounts and photographs of climate change's effects, Thoreson aims to make what still seems theoretical to some people a reality.
Review: 'Ice Ghosts: The Epic Hunt for the Lost Franklin Expedition," by Paul Watson
NONFICTION: What happened to these 19th century voyagers? One mystery is solved, but others remain.
Obituary: Gen McCarthy, who managed landscape and floral associations, loved being Irish
Gen McCarthy’s favorite adjective for people she liked was “peppy.” And because she liked most people, the word got a lot of use. “Mom had…
Black Bride editor: Diversity still a challenge in bridal business
Black Bride editor Mary Chatman is coming to the Twin Cities to lead a discussion about inclusiveness.
Richard Johnson, the "Music Man" of Roosevelt High School, dies at age 92
Richard Johnson felt music in his bones, and enabled countless teenagers to feel it in their hearts. From 1963 to 1983, Johnson led the band…
One, two, three, four! What makes a protest song really soar?
Protest songs have a long history, but the forms and the culture may be changing their purpose.
Think ice is hot? So do the frozen fingers behind a local ice sculpting business
Ice sculptor's frozen gift to her neighborhood falls prey to unseasonable warmth.
Prior Lake bakery invites you to write a valentine the old-fashioned way — on a typewriter
The free event allows customers to write a valentine on several old-school typewriters.
Resistance is futile with one of these luscious Valentine's Day desserts
Making sweets for your sweetie is a piece of cake — and pie — and custard.
Having trouble with Medicare forms? Minneapolis social worker is here to help
A Minneapolis social worker helps boomers learn their Medicare A, B, C and D's.
The joy of reading a familiar book
In the midst of the seasonal bout of decluttering, the question always arises: Why are we holding onto books we've already read?The answer doesn't vary:…
Mary Tyler Moore was an icon of independence for many women
Mary Richards may not be an icon to younger viewers who grew up wanting to sip cosmopolitans with Carrie Bradshaw or vanquish vampires alongside Buffy…
Minnesotans are getting 'hygge' with simple joys of Danish coziness
We're not sure how this happened, but a certain Minnesota lifestyle is trending, much to its devotees' befuddlement. Hygge — a Danish word for a particular atmosphere grounded in the joys of simple pleasures — is hot.
Slow food movement branches out into other aspects of life
The fast-growing Slow Movement isn't about slowing down as much as doing things at the right speed.
Macalester prof. writes about grandmother, other black female 'human computers' at NASA
Macalester professor's book tells story of her grandmother and others who helped U.S. win space race.
Literary pilgrimages bring pages of beloved books to life for Minnesotans
When a book captures your imagination, a literary pilgrimage can bring it to life.
When the clock strikes 12, do you pucker up? Or duck out?
A kiss is just a kiss. Or is it? It's not always clear when the clock strikes midnight.
Obituary: Anthony Minnick was a woodworker, gondolier and father
Anthony Minnick never stopped surprising his friends. “He was like the layers of an onion,” said Stephan Reynolds of Hopkins. “Things you didn’t necessarily know…
At the holidays, Minnesotans want Christmas cookies. In Wisconsin — it's taco dip
State-by-state data shows that Minnesotans are tops in searching for cookie recipes.
How can Dylan inspire teens? Iron Range project is on the case
He won't be in Sweden for his Nobel Prize. Could his ''pre-existing commitment" be in Hibbing?
Minneapolis authors update popular 'Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day'
The "bread-in-five-minutes-a-day" juggernaut launched nine years ago by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoë François continues.
Why stores are better: A traditional experience with Santa and carols
With decorations, Santa and songs, stores offer a traditional experience you can't get online.
Wake up! Guess where Minneapolis rates when it comes to Thanksgiving food comas
We're (burp) a player when it comes to Thanksgiving feasts.
Thanksgiving hot lines offer last-minute help for cooks
Last minute questions as you're putting the early (or final) touch to the big meal? Help is nearby.
Fixing your first turkey? Never made a pie? Pride on the line? Call a hot line for expert advice
Need help for Thanksgiving? There's lots of advice out there for everyone hosting their first Thanksgiving, or even old hands wondering how to rev up…
Vikings team up with Swedish rune expert to reveal Norse myths
The Vikings lured a Swedish rune expert to Minnesota to slip some Nordic history into the NFL experience.
Review: 'Torn in Two,' by Michael Schumacher
NONFICTION: The true story of the Daniel Morrell, torn in half during a storm on Lake Huron.
Minnesota's Firefly Sisterhood provides guiding light for breast cancer patients
When you've been diagnosed with breast cancer, meeting emotional needs is as important as treatment.
Optimize your Halloween haul tonight: What's your neighborhood's Candy Score?
We crunched some data for an unscientific look at where you might find the sweetest results from trick-or-treating.
Are consumer rating surveys driving you nuts? You're not alone — survey fatigue is scoring a 10
"How are we doing? Could you fill out this survey? On a 1-to-10 scale? Unless, um, we're not a 10."
Want latest on Kensington Runestone kerfuffle? A top authority is on his way
Uppsala University's Henrik Williams is coming to the Twin Cities next month to talk about the controversial Minnesota find.
Tarte Tatin is the apple dessert that you literally flip for
Apples get their star turn in a tart that bakes "downside up." A confident flip of the wrist reveals the lusciousness beneath.
Squirrels driving you nuts? Here's all you need to know and — gasp! — recipe ideas
Squirrels, a feature of fall in Minnesota, are a source of both entertainment and frustration. The rascally rodents might even hold the key to weight loss.
Still fighting for feminism, Gloria Steinem talks about her life on the road
At 82, Gloria Steinem, the face of feminism for decades, continues to strive for equal rights.
Baking Central: Onion bialys bring bit of Eastern Europe to Minnesota table
Chewy, savory bialys can jazz up your bread basket, and are a perfect pairing with fall soups.
Obituary: Roger Buffalohead led nation's first American Indian Studies Department at University of Minnesota
Buffalohead was a mentor for countless students over the years, including Hattie Kauffman, a member of the Nez Perce tribe who became a correspondent for CBS News.
Minn. State Fair keeps getting bigger and better, even as other states struggle
Minnesota's Great Get-Together keeps it mass appeal by mixing tradition and surprise
A Bloomington nurse draws upon her own struggle with blindness to help others cope with trauma
A nurse who embraced her blindness now counsels others in trauma to heal by acknowledging their anger.
What's Cooking: Find out how kiwis came to your dinner table at Minneapolis's Movie in the Parks series
‘Fear No Fruit’ at movies Well, here’s some unexpected advice: Viewers who come for the outdoor movie “Fear No Fruit” on Aug. 20 are encouraged…
Minneapolis woman, 88, has birds eating out of her hand
Nancy B. Miller is no stereotype. She feeds her birds with a lively intent, just as she approaches much of life.
How did one of world's largest kimono galleries end up in Wabasha, Minn.?
Wabasha, known as an eagle sanctuary and setting for the 1993 movie "Grumpy Old Men," also is home to what's likely the largest private retail collection of Japanese wedding kimono in the world.
Grand Portage National Monument brings a brief but vibrant period of Minnesota history to life
Grand Portage National Monument pays homage to fur trade and fashion.
Pipestone National Monument offers a glimpse into the past, as it still is practiced today
Pipestone National Monument is a sacred place for Indians, a thoughtful place for all.
New Science Museum of Minnesota CEO says science is your BFF
The Science Museum's new boss wants to make science less scary, more friendly. A T. rex might help.
Review: 'Trials of the Earth,' by Mary Mann Hamilton
NONFICTION: One of the first white settlers in the Mississippi Delta tells her story of hardship, sorrow and love.
Obituary: Tribune photographer Pete Hohn captured daily life, historic moments with keen eye
Through Pete Hohn’s camera lens, newspaper readers saw Rod Carew’s record-setting seventh steal of home plate and Harmon Killebrew’s 500th home run swing. But they…
Easy-to-make pie crusts practically scream summer
Here are three pies that accommodate summer's desire for ease, mostly because their crusts are the essence of simplicity.
Mpls. author Peter Geye soars in a new way with his latest novel
Once author Peter Geye found his muse in the North Shore, his imagination began to soar.
Mound family's stories about suicide offer a way to heal
A book project tracks a family's path out of grief, with art that aims to hear and heal.
Hopkins wellness advocate has a 'fantastic' cure for stress: Laughter
Sarah Routman founded the consulting firm seriousgiggles.com to help people discover the power of humor.
R.T. Rybak here to stay, in a city he loves like a middle-schooler's crush
As R.T. Rybak looks to his new job leading the Minneapolis Foundation, he talks about why he'll stay here forever: "You will never hear the words 'Twin Cities' come out of my mouth. 'Minneapolis' and 'St. Paul' are beautiful words, so why not say them?"
You've seen kouign amann at the bakery; now bake it at home
Say "queen uh-mahn" and stand back for the stampede for a pastry that's both gooey and crackling with crisp edges.
Obituary: Star Tribune's Kristin Tillotson was armed with wit, zest for adventure
Culture and arts journalist "ached to do right by the people she reported on."
At 70, a legendary Minnesota nature photographer shifts focus
You've seen Jim Brandenburg's photos, whether you know it or not. But while the Minnesota nature photographer still listens for loons, the soundtrack is changing.
Dinosaurs are people, too, duo are out to prove
The T. rexes have sneaked through a library, tried ice skating, paid tribute to "Rocky," scrummed with roller girls, shopped for meat at a grocery store to the tune of "Stayin' Alive," and made snow angels.
Pondering pronouns: Are 'he' and 'she' giving way to 'they'?
Gender-neutral pronouns – such as they, ze, hir – are growing more common as identity becomes more fluid.
Want to bake? Here's a list of essential tools you'll need
Whether you're a beginning baker or know your way around a cupcake, here's a list of essential tools for baking success.
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