KFAI's MinneCulture Presents

The Miracle of Birth by Ryan Dawes Every year at the Minnesota State Fair, droves of pigs, cows, and sheep give birth before a live audience at the Miracle of Birth Center . In this piece, Veterinarian Florian Ledermann speaks about this one-of-a-kind agricultural education exhibit and perennial State Fair tradition. Front Yard Almond Cakes by Rob McGinley Myers   Rob has always been fascinated by the people who sell refreshments and other things on the streets outside the Minnesota State Fair . He went to talk to those neighborhood vendors - especially one woman who's been selling cake from her front yard for years.  Parking on a Stick by Emily Bright With about 110,000 people squeezing into the Minnesota State Fair every day, finding a place to park can be a drag. Sure, you can take the bus, visit a park-and-ride , or bike. But many people still drive. We will learn how some nearby homeowners rent out their lawns, driveways and garages to the sweaty, ...

MinneCulture Podcast, Ep. 23: Other Duties as Assigned from KFAI There are always parts of a job no one else understands or perhaps even knows about, unheralded tasks that are void of glory and praise. On this episode , we hear from an elementary school principal and the CEO of a hip-hop record label , each fulfilling the last line on their job description: "Other duties as assigned." Red Owl Revival by Anna Stitt The town of Stewart used to be a bustling farm and railroad community. In recent decades, shops have been shuttered and young people have left. But not Jim Pessek. The 34-year-old man is determined to help turn the town's defunct Red Owl  grocery store into a museum. From Fear To Fascination  by Rob McGinley Myers Forty years ago, few people wanted to own snakes or lizards as pets. But since then, the market for geckos, chameleons and bearded dragons has boomed, fueling the success of  Twin Cities Reptiles , the largest reptile-themed pet store ...

MinneCulture Podcast, Ep. 22: Minnesota History, in Their Own Words from KFAI Minnesota's oldest auctioneer reflects on rural life, the Kim Loo Sisters face discrimination in the jazz scene during the 1930s and 1940s, and a rusticly bunking historian sheds light on the history of slavery in Minnesota. The episode was produced by KFAI's Emily Bright . A Short History of Minnesota High Wheel Bikes by Britt Aamodt Mastering a new hobby can be tricky, especially if that hobby is learning to ride a high wheel bicycle from the 1880s. The high wheels, so named because of their giant front wheels (and tiny back wheels), stood as high as a horse and competed with them for space on cobblestone streets. As we'll hear, dismounting from a high wheel bike can be a wobbly adventure.  10,000 Kids Out-Muscle Horses in 6-Mile House Pull by Matthew Schneeman Next to Minnehaha Falls sits an old house that hosts exhibits recalling Minneapolis’s past. The house itself is the site of...

Lady Midnight Live from Minnesota After years of lending her voice to numerous projects, Lady Midnight finds herself ready to step into the solo spotlight. H er collaborating credits have been numerous and deeply rewarding -- acts such as Malamanya,  Parables of Neptune , VANDAAM, P.O.S , Brother Ali, Bon Iver, among seemingly countless others.  In this recent live performance  backed by the brilliant  DJ Sophia Eris ,   MinneCulture  caught Lady Midnight showca sing songs from her newest album at Minneapolis's Icehouse. O ur show was recorded by Ryan Mach , mixed and produced by Tom Garneau for KFAI. L8DMDNT's record release show is this coming Friday at the Turf Club in St. Paul! Malamanya Live from Minnesota Blending original songwriting with traditional rhythms and melodies of Cuba, Central and South America, Malamanya are able to create a classic sound all their own. Their acoustic-driven dance rhythms celebrate salsa and samba, while drawing...