December 6, 2002 - December is a busy month for Minneapolis humorist Kevin Kling. He just released a new compact disc of his National Public Radio commentaries called "Wonderlure" -- a few weeks from now he'll reprise his role of Joseph in what's now become an annual holiday pageant at the Southern Theater -- and this Monday, Kling returns to the Guthrie Theater to spin more wacky childhood yarns in "Tales From the Charred Underbelly of the Yulelog." Kling says the Guthrie show takes a somewhat jaded look at the holidays.
December 9, 2002 - The family of the late Marjorie McNeely is honoring her memory with a seven million-dollar donation to the Como Park Conservatory in St. Paul. The donation is seven times larger than the conservatory's one million dollar annual operating budget. The McNeely family runs an industrial real estate company with properties around the country. Marjorie McNeely -- who died in 1998 -- was president of the St. Paul Garden Club and a member of the original Guthrie Theater board. The conservatory will be renamed "The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park." Director Roberta Sladky says about 18 months ago the McNeely family approached the Conservatory about the gift.
December 10, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews W. Harry Davis, prominent local civil rights activist and educator, about his autobiography, entitled "Overcoming." In it, he describes growing up in poverty, helping found the Minneapolis Urban Coalition, running a local Golden Gloves Boxing organization and serving on the Minneapolis School Board for 20 years.
December 10, 2002 - The December edition of MPR's "Voices of Minnesota" series features conversations with two of the state's most interesting literary figures. Emilie Buchwald is a founder of Milkweed Editions and the winner of this year's McKnight Foundation Distinguished Artist award. We also hear from Mary Winstead, author of the new book, "Back to Mississippi."
December 11, 2002 - Mainstreet Radio’s Cara Hetland reports on modern violin makers who want to unravel the mysteries of how the old great instruments were made. The Stradivari violins are among the most mysterious and most expensive instruments. For centuries, makers have wanted to copy the techniques used by Antonio Stradivari but they don't know how.
December 12, 2002 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson interviews Knut Jørgen Moe, who wrote the libretto for "Olav Tryggvason," and is looking for support in bringing a full-scale touring production to Minnesota. Moe says many Americans are familiar with the Viking hero because he was such an influential and charismatic man.
December 13, 2002 - Award-winning children's book author Mary Casanova takes young readers into the world of 18th century Versailles in her new book "Cecile: Gates of Gold". Casanova's previous books have mostly been set in Minnesota's north woods--a setting inspired by her own backyard near the Canadian border. Her latest book follows 12-year-old Cecile in the court of Versailles in the year 1711. Mary Casanova spoke to Minnesota Public Radio's Greta Cunningham and said it was a challenge to convey the grandeur of Versailles.
December 17, 2002 - MusicMatch Artist on Demand Service.
December 20, 2002 - Well, if you're looking to expose you're child to something other than violent video games, you might consider taking him or her to an exhibit that is about to open at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. "Eternal Egypt Masterworks of Ancient Art from the British Museum" is a rare opportunity to see pieces that are thousands of years old, many of which have never traveled before. The exhibit, which opens Saturday, was planned in part because the British Museum is being renovated and the art would have gone into storage otherwise. I got a sneak preview with Marcel Maree ma-RAY, an Assistant Keeper of Collections at the British Museum. He started our tour with a statue of Egyptian King Sesostris the third which dates from around 1850 B.C.
December 24, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer talks with church bell ringers in the Twin Cities.