April 11, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Crann interviews U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser. They discuss Kooser winning the Pulitzer Prize. Segment also includes Kooser reading two poems.
April 14, 2005 - MPR’s Karl Gehrke reports on the end of the Minneapolis chamber group Prospect Park Players. Gehrke interviews Prospect Park Artistic Director William Eddins and composer Randall Davidson about the seven year run of of the classical group.
April 15, 2005 - When the nominees gather tomorrow night to hear the winners of the Minnesota Book Awards they'll have several things in common. Many of the nominees have spent time at a writers retreat at a little-known campus just outside Red Wing. The Anderson Center is the largest artist residence in Minnesota, and the writers who have been there say it changed their lives and their work. Minnesota Public Radio's Greta Cunningham has more.
April 28, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Crann interviews Dr. Jon Hallberg about the intersection of poetry and medicine. Segment includes Halberg reading a William Carlos Williams poem. Williams, sustained his medical practice throughout his writing career.
April 29, 2005 - MPR’s Karl Gehrke interviews local jazz saxophonist Jeremy Walker, founder of the band Jazz is Now! Orchestra. Walker discusses the band and his love for jazz. Gehrke also interviews jazz saxophonist Ted Nash about group.
May 4, 2005 - Duluth cookbook author Bea Ojakangas has won an award from the James Beard Foundation in New York City. Chefs and food writers around the country voted to induct Ojakangas into the Cookbook Hall of Fame. They cited her "Great Scandinavian Baking Book" as having lasting impact in the field. She published it 15 years ago, after research on recipes in the Scandinavian countries.
May 13, 2005 - MPR’s Toni Randolph explores The Illusion Theater’s latest production "Undesirable Elements: Ten Years Later." The downtown Minneapolis theater explores the mixed reception immigrants and other minorities have received upon arriving to the U.S.
May 16, 2005 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports on a new instrument, called a cleophone. Minneapolis inventor, Dave Krejci, talks about design of his new creation and the unique sounds it emits.
May 16, 2005 - MPR’s Jeff Horwich looks at lessons learned about global marketing. Horwich reports on a snafu from company giant Nike, to the success story of Minnesota company Aveda.
May 17, 2005 - Malena Handeen, a mother, farmer, musician and painter says she finds inspiration in the scenery around Milan.