November 20, 1997 - MPR’s Chris Roberts profiles the Gay 90’s and the unanticipated consequences of non-gay crowd changing the scene at Minneapolis bar. Roberts interviews individuals about the reasons and its social impact to LGBTQ community.
November 28, 1997 - Midday presents an NPR recording of Norman Corwin's play The Secretariat. Performers include Hume Cronyn, William Shatner, and Tandy Cronyn (who is Hume's daughter).
December 2, 1997 - Leigh Kamman, long-time host of The Jazz Image, reflects on the artistry of the late great French violinist Stephane Grappelli. Listener also call-in with comments and questions.
December 5, 1997 - Midday presents a special Voices of Minnesota, with Minnesota writer Bill Holm reading from his book Faces of Christmas Past, a collection of essays and reminiscences about Christmas in Iceland and Minnesota.
December 12, 1997 - Nowadays the Lake Mille Lacs region is best known for its walleye fishing, but since the days of Father Hennepin and before, it has had immense historical and archaeological significance...and as a result it's one of the most studied areas in the state. Archaeologists first explored the region back in the 1880s and crews have continued to visit to dig and explore ever since. Despite all the work, there has yet to be a book or single source which brings all this research together...that is, until now.
December 17, 1997 - Minneapolis City officials now say there's hope of saving the historic Shubert Theater in downtown Minneapolis . The classic-revival style Shubert sits vacant on Block E across from the Target Center. City officials are leaning toward approving a retail/cineplex and parking complex on block E that can't accomodate the Shubert. But today, Council President Cherryhomes and Rebecca Yanish, executive director of the Minneapolis Community Development Agency announced a possible solution to the development versus historic preservation fight.
December 19, 1997 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on Penumbra's Black Nativity. Every family has their holiday traditions, but few are as complex as one Minneapolis family, whose season revolves around the Penumbra Theatre's annual production.
December 25, 1997 - This PRI Special, “Voices of the West: A Cowboy Christmas,” presents a collection of thoughts, commentary, and music of the rural great west. Program is hosted by author Hal Cannon.
December 25, 1997 - This PRI Special, “It’s a Wonderful Christmas,” presents the book “The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale” by Philip Van Doren Stern, and read by Andy Williams. Originally created as a Christmas card by author, the story became known as the source material for the classic Capra film “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
December 31, 1997 - A Midday rebroadcast of historian Stephen Ambrose's visit to MPR in 1997. Ambrose is the author of the best-selling books Citizen Soldiers, about D-Day until the end of World War II in Europe; and Undaunted Courage, about the Lewis and Clark Expedition.