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PHOTOS: Brookfield Zoo animals rep Chicago Bears ahead of first game

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

CHICAGO -- Brookfield Zoo animals are reppin' the Chicago Bears sprit. 28-year-old brown bear, AxhiAxhi, a 28-year-old d brown bear, Carolyn, one of the sealions and Nigerian swarf goats showed up for their home team. Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Home where Marilyn Monroe lived, died, has been saved from demolition — for now

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

(KTLA) – A home in Los Angeles once occupied by Marilyn Monroe has temporarily been saved from demolition after the city council passed a motion Friday to designate it a historic site. The motion, introduced by Councilwoman Traci Park, recommends that the city's Cultural Heritage Commission or the director of planning review the 2,900-square-foot Spanish colonial-style home, located in Brentwood, to determine if can be listed among the city’s historic cultural monuments.Monroe purchased the estate in 1962 for $77,500, according to Architectural Digest. Her body was discovered in the home in August of that year following a fatal overdose. Ted Cruz gets fooled by fake photo of shark swimming on LA freeway “It is imperative that the City’s historic-cultural treasures be celebrated, and foremost, that its historical sites be preserved for future generations," reads the motion introduced by Councilwoman Park. "As such, the historic-cultural merits of this property need to be assessed."...

Fall arts guide: 20 family-friendly festivals and fun to add creativity to your season

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

Make room on your calendars, because there’s plenty to fill up the weekends this fall. From free art festivals and street food fairs to all-ages Halloween haunts — it’s all happening.Here’s a selection of fun stuff worth checking out over the next few months.Now through Oct. 1 — Minnesota Renaissance Festival, Shakopee: One of the nation’s largest, the Minnesota Renaissance Festival takes us back to 16th century Europe — entertainment, artists, characters, jousting. It’s a good time. Fridays through Sundays till Oct. 1; adult tickets are $26.95, kids are $17.95 and seniors are $24.95. Specific dates at renaissancefest.com/tickets.html.Now through Oct. 8 — Take Me To The River, St. Croix Valley: Check out the annual art crawl and open studios throughout the valley on Saturdays and Sundays. Find specific dates and locations online at takemetotheriver.info.Muralist Jordan Hamilton painting at Urban Growler Brewing Company, 2325 Endicott St., St. Paul, during the Chroma Zone 2021 kickof...

Fall arts guide: The Eagles, Aerosmith, 50 Cent and the Jonas Brothers are coming to an arena near you

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

By any measure, it was a blockbuster summer for arena and stadium concerts, with numerous sold-out shows, skyrocketing ticket prices and new attendance records set by Taylor Swift at U.S. Bank Stadium and Pink at Target Field.Things are settling down some this fall, but there is still a lineup packed with Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and more recent acts like the Jonas Brothers and the 1975.Listed ticket prices are subject to change and do not include VIP or other premium packages.Here’s a look at the highlights of the biggest Twin Cities concerts.Eric ClaptonSept. 14: Eric Clapton, the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, will play his first local concert in 14 years with blues guitarist Jimmie Vaughan as his opening act. Clapton began performing as a teenager. In 1963, he joined the Yardbirds, a British band that played Chicago-style blues. He left the group two years later, after their single “For Your Love” became a chart success. He then joined the power ...

Fall arts guide: Twin Cities’ classical music scene remains dynamic

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

From reimagining Vivaldi in the wake of climate change to choral music interrogating masculinity, the classical music scene in the Twin Cities continues to reveal itself as ever-dynamic. Thomas Søndergård begins his tenure with the Minnesota Orchestra in earnest, the popular Sphinx Virtuosi returns to St. Paul, the Minnesota Opera adds a dose of mariachi to its season, and revered guest artists descend into town.Minnesota Orchestra: Søndergård, Debussy and RavelThomas Søndergård (Chris McDuffie)Sept. 28-30: Thomas Søndergård, the Minnesota Orchestra’s new music director, brings that expertise working with singing voices to his first collaboration with the Minnesota Chorale in Maurice Ravel’s “Daphnis and Chloe.” Also on the program are works by contemporary composer Lera Auerbach, “Medea’s Dance of Vengeance,” by Samuel Barber loosely based on Euripides’ tragedy, and Claude Debussy’s “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun.” 11 a.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, Orchestra Ha...

Fall arts guide: With diverse styles and subjects, art galleries explore unsung pockets of culture

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

Artistically speaking, this fall is the season of cultural history.With Indigenous portraiture and beadwork, explorations of Somali dance, underground Soviet and Eastern Bloc art and more, galleries across the Twin Cities are using art as an entry point into discussions of community and identity. And through painting, photography, glass, even religious icons and book covers, the styles are just as diverse as their subjects.Here are some of the many gallery shows and exhibitions coming up this fall in St. Paul and the greater Twin Cities.SeptemberOpeningsMonthlong, “A Rumble in the Twins: Love Conquers All” — Night Club Gallery, St. Paul: The downtown modern gallery presents this collaborative show by artists Nathan Hollis and Gabrielle K. Brown. The exhibition closes Oct. 1, and the duo is hosting a live reception/performance at 3 p.m. that day. Free; 340 N. Wabasha St.Monthlong, “Mankato Community Collage” — Coffee Hag, Mankato: A bit further afield, but this show features a large ...

The Loop Fantasy Football Week 1 Update: Packers’ Watson to miss opener

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

UPDATE: 11:00 a.m. Saturday We’re about 25 hours from the kickoff of the early slate of games, during which time we expect Kansas City’s Kadarius Toney to drop about a dozen more passes.The biggest injury news in the past couple of days involves Green Bay WR Christian Watson, who will miss the opener in Chicago because of an injured hamstring. HIs teammate Romeo Doubs is listed as questionable, also because of a bad hammy. Those injuries make QB Jordan Love even more unstartable, if that’s possible.Carolina WR D.J. Chark will also miss his Panthers debut, which is bad news since former Viking Adam Thielen is listed as questionable.Other questionable players to keep an eye on in the coming hours include three top tight ends (Giants’ Darren Waller, Ravens’ Mark Andrews, 49ers’ George Kittle), New England RB Rhamondre Stevenson, and Denver wideout Jerry Jeudy and RB Javonte Williams.ORIGINAL POST: 9:00 a.m. Wednesday When the wheels of the NFL’s transfer portal stopped spinning this su...

Fall arts guide: See new musicals based on the songs of Bob Dylan and the life of Harold Stassen

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

From “Beetlejuice” to a new Bob Dylan musical, the coming months have numerous options for live theater and musicals. The lineup includes a pair of world premieres, “For the People” and “Re-Memori,” and “The Boy Wonder,” a musical about the late Minnesota governor Harold Stassen.Here’s a look at what’s on tap.‘The Importance of Being Earnest’Oscar Wilde’s most enduring work, the full name of which is “The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People,” was first performed in February 1895. It’s a farcical comedy that pokes fun at the institution of marriage and the social conventions of late Victorian London. Through Oct. 15; Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis; $82-$29; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.‘Cookin”Opens Sept. 12: Directed by Seung-Whan Song, “Cookin'” features four Korean cooks in a cooking competition who “put on a masterful display of food chopping, knife throwing, pot banging and ...

Eight places to enjoy apple picking around St. Louis

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Autumn is right around the corner, and one of the top fall traditions in the St. Louis area is apple picking. Generally, apples grown in Missouri and Illinois are best ripe from early-September to late-October. You may notice apples of all varieties are more fresh, crisp or sweet during this time of year. It's no coincidence. The weather is cooling down after a few August heat waves, and orchards commonly use it as an opportunity to attract large crowds with apple picking events and fall festivals. The apple-picking craze can help orchards earn tens of thousands of dollars in profit each year, according to Countryside. As for apple-picking, it's much different than going to to the produce section of a grocery store and grabbing a bag. It's a family-friendly experience. There are often corn mazes, hay rides and unique photo opportunities associated with apple picking as well. If you're around St. Louis, here are eight places you can enjoy apple picking in the upcoming wee...

Denver weather: “Changes are coming” as Saturday last warm, mostly dry day before cooldown

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:39:28 GMT

After weeks of warmer-than-normal temperatures, a big cooldown is on the horizon for Denver.Saturday will be the last warm day with a high of 88 degrees, then it’s down to the 60s and low- to mid-70s through at least Friday. The warmest high next week is 77 degrees. The lowest high expected is 68 degrees.“Changes are coming in the upcoming week with a hint that fall is right around the corner,” meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Boulder said in their online forecast discussion. “The most notable impacts will be cooler temperatures and a decent shot of rain for late Sunday and early Monday.”Ending this dry week, Saturday has little storm chances during the day, a 10% chance after 3 p.m., then there is a 20% chance of showers or storms Saturday night.The low Saturday night is 56 degrees.Showers and storms are likely Sunday, and especially so on Monday. There is a 60% chance of showers Sunday after noon, and that picks up to a 90% chance ove...