November 4, 1999 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews gay poet Mark Doty about his book “Firebird: A Memoir.” Doty reads a selection from the book, recalling how the lyrics to Petula Clark's song "Downtown" gave him hope.
November 4, 1999 - Over 200 mandolin players from North America and Europe are in Minneapolis to attend annual convention of the Classical Mandolin Society of America. Jack El-Hai formed the Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra in 1991, and talks with MPR’s Bob Potter about mandolins.
November 4, 1999 - The City of Burnsville and the Minnesota Wild hockey team have announced plans to build an amphitheater along the Minnesota River. The Black Dog Amphitheater is one of four proposed amphitheaters in the metro area. Burnsville and Minnesota Wild officials say, if approved, their amphitheater might be the first to open in the Twin Cities area.
November 4, 1999 - Some state lawmakers say changing the way teachers are paid in Minnesota could ease a teacher shortage and improve student achievement. Members of a House subcommittee heard testimony today on the touchy issue of linking teacher pay to job performance, rather than years of service.
November 5, 1999 - Deer hunters are always scheming how to outwit their nervous prey. Some perch for endless chilly hours hidden high up a tree. Others brazenly barge through the woods, to chase the skittish white-tails into a fellow hunter's target range. Some go so far as to douse themselves in doe urine. And a few will be turning to a small battery operated device that draws in the deer with the flik of a fake tail.
November 10, 1999 - A "Minnesota Century" broadcast featuring special reports from the turn of the century, 100 years ago. Program contains pledge drive segments.
November 10, 1999 - MPR’s Katherine Lanpher talks with Minnesota writer Bill Holm and editor Michael Dregni of the book, "Minnesota Days: Our Heritage in Stories, Art and Photos." This Midmorning program includes call-in from listeners.
November 12, 1999 - Concordia college in Moorhead is going into the coffee business in a big way. The college hopes to sell seven tons of African coffee beans to help support a girls school in Tanzania.
November 16, 1999 - New York poet Molly Peacock reads on the issue of privacy.
November 16, 1999 - Cass Gilbert is considered Minnesota's most famous architect, he got his start constructing mansions for St. Paul's elite along with churches, and ultimately, the state capitol. After establishing himself, he set out for New York, where he designed the Woolworth building, and the United States Supreme Court building. Since there has been very little published about Gilbert's EARLY work, the local Cass Gilbert Society is sponsoring a series of talks to expose the public to some of his lesser-known buildings. This evening, Cass Gilbert Society founder Tom Blanck will talk about Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, at the base of Ramsey Hill in St. Paul. Blanck gave me a tour of the church which he describes as a collection of various styles and periods.