Filed under: Minneapolis
After the frigid Operation Metro Surge, May 1 hit differently this year thanks to ICE and ice. Traditionally, May Day has been a celebration of spring and international workers. This year, we leaned into that as we banded together to reclaim the Minnesota May Day spring – led by our community of international workers. Everyone brought their talents to the table.
What the outsider might not see is that people have been bringing their talents to the table since Fall 2025, when the Metro Surge started. Those talents kept our community safe and fed, with laundered clothes and a safe way to get to school and work. Those talents called out ICE agents, brought necessities to recently released detainees from the Whipple Building, planned large and small events. Those talents built a heightened sense of community around the Twin Cities. May Day was an opportunity to show our solidarity with some of our more joyful talents.
My May Day festivities started with a march on Lake Street hosted by MIRAC. The signs were creative. Native dancers led the event. Speakers were eloquent. Crowd was building the whole time we were there.
Happening at the same time was MayDay MayDay a fundraising concert hosted by MN Music Resistance featuring Mary Cutrufello, Surly Grrly, Cindy Lawson, Los Pinches Gueys and Venus de Mars and All The Pretty Horses. It was a nice blend of styles and genres. What was most fun to see was musicians who had never met stay for each other’s shows, jump up on stage and just in general make connections that solidify the community and lift up everyone’s music.
We snuck out between sets to catch the March as they got to the Lake Street Target, where the Minnesota Singing Resistance staged a puppet performance. Turns out Target closed (at 6pm on a Friday night) in anticipation of what the crowd was going to be. I love the courage of doing bold puppetry in a parking lot. They captured the almost obligatory adoration Minnesotans had for Target and their sense of community and how it morphed into cynicism as Target seemed to lean on performative GLBT sales and took a nosedive when Target was the first to tank their DEI programs.
Some of our events were unplanned like the super cute children’s dance in the park. People celebrating their heritage, community and family. Just what we all do when we are (or have) young kids. It gives us a sense of sense, which should give us the generosity to embrace other people who have celebrated their individual heritage, to appreciate their dance steps and delicacies and to learn and thrive together to build a stronger most-American community.
Another semi-planned event was the brass bands playing two doors down from the Hook. So much good music on one block and few genres that hit a resistance button louder than a brass band.
Our final nod to the times was enjoying a projected screenshot commentary on the failures of the current Administration. Whew – what a May Day!
Filed under: Minneapolis
Every year my friend Kevin reminds me that today (the day before the opening of Art in Bloom) is the perfect day to see the flowers at their freshest and least crowded. Every year, I’m thankful. The deal is local artists and florists sign up to create arrangements to suit specific works of art. The artists are meant to be done by 2pm the day before opening; the museum is open for regular hours until 5pm. It’s not too crowded. The parking is not crazy. It’s free.
There are many paid events happening during Art in Bloom, but you can always see the art for free. (According to the MIA newsletter, donations made during Art in Bloom support School Bus Transportation Grants.)
This year I went with my mom and dad. I won’t pretend my dad was as into it but it’s a favorite from me and my mom. We whip through pretty quickly making quick-response decision of what we like and what we don’t. No dissection of the art. (That would slow everybody up!) Just first impressions – yay, nay and why if you’re inspired. Just a couple of natural judges, doling out salient opinions to the marble statues.
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- Love the minimalism
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- Coffin art flowers – chef’s kiss!
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- Observe the two fists
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- Perfect replication
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- Bold, large and majestic
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- Why are the vases such different sizes? A statement on the girls?
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- the swirls of the see caught in the arrangement
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- recapturing of the main print
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- the colors are so engaging
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- repeated composition – nice
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- love the colors and bridge
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- perfect continuation from flower to art
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- another perfect continuation from flower to art
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- we’re thinking about this one
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- look at the building of the art from nature
Filed under: Minnesota
I was honored to be a guest on the Island of Discarded Women last night and even happier to share the night with the whole Women’s March MN team – and delighted to see ERAMN too! Host, Sue Scott curated guests who had leaned into community during Operation Metro Surge, including:
- The main guest was Jillian Hiscock, owner of A Bar of Their Own, which features women’s sports and a great foundation that supports women and kids in sports.
- Musical guest was Sarah Morris, with her amazing voice and forever focus on something good.
- Stephanie March came to speak about The Salt Cure Restaurant Recovery Fund.
- Singing with Katie Eckeberger, from Singing Resistance, brought me back to some Target demonstrations and musical marches to Minneapolis City Hall.
- I always love the stories – in song and prose – by IODW cast Dae Yang & Zippy Laske.
Sue made me feel so welcome and comfortable. Once we got talking, I wasn’t even that nervous. I took away two themes from the night. First, everyone has a talent to share – singing, organizing, showing up, raising money, throwing dildos at the Whipple building and the crazy list goes on. Everyone’s talent is important and valued, often because is unique and always when it’s shared with a full heart. Second, community is our reward and our salvation!
I’ll share the published podcast once it’s done.
Filed under: Uncategorized
MN Abortion Access Committee (MN AAC) and Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) gathered thousands of folks for an IWD March! It included insightful speakers, creative posters, a few frogs, some Handmaids of Minnesota and a huge sense of community. We were pleased to send a speaker from Women’s March MN to the event. You can see first segment of the event below.
It happened March 8 but I’ve been busy helping to plan the No Kings Twin Cities event but I had a minute to catch up. I was honored to be asked to speak at the rally. I thought I’d share my speech (as written, spoken was briefer since I didn’t know there was a time limit. (Big thanks to Langen for the photos!)
Hello! I’m Ann Treacy. I’m on the board of Women’s March MN and ERA Minnesota. I am proud to be here with all of you to celebrate International Women’s Day!
We stand on the shoulders of giants. Did you know the federal Equal Rights Amendment was first proposed in 1923? That means our mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers and for some our great, great grandmothers have been working on this. And for so long (too long) we were at least moving forward.
Lately, we’re moving backwards. We are losing autonomy – reproductive, bodily, financial autonomy. First with loss of Roe v Wade. Now, the SAVE act threatens to take away our right to vote. Created ostensibly to make sure only US citizens can vote; it could also impact people who have changed their name. Statistically, that means married women who took their husbands’ last names. It also means our transgender friends. There are three groups in jeopardy with one issue – immigrants and naturalized citizens, women and transgender people. They will try to pit us against each other for the scraps of that bill. We can’t fall for that – we need to stand strong together.
We can do it because we stand on the shoulders of giants. And we live in a community of heroes. Heck, we are a community of heroes. How can we help with the key topics of today?
- Standing with immigrant women and girls. How can we help – well. Hands up if you are doing mutual aid, packing or delivering groceries, patrolling local school or churches, starting gofundmes for your neighbors’ rent, contributing to gofundmes, rapid response. Give yourself a cheer. That is how we help.
- Demanding money for working families, not ICE. Again, hands up if you have gone to a march or a rally or hold a poster weekly on a street corner in your community or dress up like a frog. Or have you contacted your US reps? That is how we help.
- I’m going to combine the next two. Smash gender-based violence and work for trans liberation now. Hands up if contacted your legislator or you volunteer or work at places that supports and protects victims and/or the trans community. Hands up if you go to the capitol to attend legislative committee meetings or sessions or submit testimony on pertinent bills. That is how we help.
Looking for ideas, I maintain the events calendar for Women’s March MN – we have dozens of events happening daily. I’d like to highlight two:
- March 12: ERA Day on the Hill – starting at 10am in the Rotunda at the State Capitol. Please join us.
- March 28: No Kings 3 Outside of the State Capitol. We are the flagship event for the country. We’re pulling out all of the stops. Official time is noon to 3.
Please join us – stand on the shoulders, be the heroes for ourselves, our community and future of the democracy!
I have started this post a dozen times. Minnesota is at the epicenter of a national emergency. I genuinely feel like what happens here will happen around the country. So we feel both isolated and the weight of the world on our shoulders. But we feel it as a community.
Trump and his lackeys have Minnesota in their sights. Already, ICE agents are shooting US citizens. Vulnerable members of our community are (understandably) afraid to leave their homes. The push from the federal agents is relentless. It started with raids on businesses such as Bro-Tec. It happened slowly enough that even I was able to observe because it was a 10-minute drive from my home. We’ve morphed into numerous daily, often violent, stop-and-grabs of a wide range of people – many of them citizens. Two US citizens have been killed by agents, Renee Good (on Jan 7) and Alex Pretti today (Jan 24). Videos from the events clearly indicate that the victims were not endangering agents. There are also many videos of extremely violent agents in action.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
Despite the obvious and lethal risks, a growing group of thoughtful, committed citizens have risen up to meet the needs of the community. With training, we have a Rapid Response network, we are ready to leave our homes and/or we drive/walk around neighborhoods to blow whistles when we see ICE, record and legally observe what is happening. We have people who patrol at local schools or places or worship, stealthily deliver food, pampers and other supplies. We have people who financially support mutual aid. We have people who protest.
We outnumber the agents. We saw that two weekend ago, when the Proud Boys showed up for what was lauded to be a “big march” and ended up being about a dozen led by one loser who was met with a huge crowd. The intruders ended up getting cornered by the Minneapolis Courthouse, and subjected to silly string and water balloons, albeit in subzero temperatures and were escorted to safety by Minnesotans. We saw that again last weekend, when in even colder weather (-12) , 50,000 people came out to march downtown Minneapolis to get ICE out of Minnesota.
We are in a hard place. We win many rounds, but we lose community members to murder, detention and violence. The war is to keep Marshal Law out of Minnesota. That is a fine line and I’m thankful for my friends who push the envelope and thankful for my friends who reign it in. We see community members show up with all of their talents. No job too big or too small so long as it goes to protect our people, our state and our democracy.
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” – Emma Lazarus (and inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty)
We are the tired, poor huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
Yesterday, I had one last walk around Galway, visited Kate at work and headed on the bus to Dublin.
Then I spent the day walking through Dublin. Now I’m at the airport waiting for my plane. (Not my happy place.) I have fired that since Oct 31, I have walked more than 131 miles, according to Fitbit, which I learned doesn’t work as well in Dublin. According to Google Fit, I walked a lot more.
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- St Ann’s – where Bram Stoker was married
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- Phil Lynott outside of Bruxelles
Filed under: Galway
You know god loves us best when we have perfect weather on an 8-hour tour around the west of Ireland. It rained just enough to give us a few rainbows and only when we were on the bus or inside. The funny thing is, we intended to do a different tour but the bus was too full for our taste, so we took a gamble.
We left Galway around 10am. The bus driver shares info the tour most of the way, but in a way where you can tune in and tune out. We stopped at a few places before the mainliner – the Cliffs of Moher. First stop was Dunguaire Castle. One of several castle/castle ruins we saw on our trip. I’ve grouped them all together. The buildings are amazing. We also saw some thatched cottages. I’m grouping them here too and sharing a fun etymology lesson. The term “raining cats and dogs” comes from cats and dogs slipping off the thatched roofs in the rain. (That theory is unsubstantiated but is the best one I’ve heard.)
We drove through the Burren, which is an interesting patch of land. It’s half rock and half rough grass. Apparently, it’s the limestone in the rain that helps form the unique structure. (Or that’s what I heard when I tuned in.) Absolute bonus was a stop at a dolmen. A dolmen is a prehistoric tomb. We actually lived near to one in Dublin years ago, but it was much smaller. It looks like a large stone table of some sort. We learned that the top slab of the one we saw was 6 thousands tons when it was built. It’s a mazing to think about how (and why!) people who build them back in the day.
We drove by Lisdoonvarna, home to a famous one-month match making festival. (September if you want to mark your calendars.) We had lunch in Doolin. Sadly no music at the pub. Doolin is famous for traditional music sessions.
We got to the Cliffs after lunch. They are stunning. We went when the girls were young and I had terrible memories of there being no safety features whatsoever on top of a stone cliff 200+ meters over the sea for something like 5 miles. It feels much safer now. I didn’t have to hold Kate back at all. We had 90 minutes to walk around and we used up pretty much all of that time walking the path we could. We didn’t see a puffin, which was a great disappointment but it’s really the wrong season. Another memory from our trip when they kids were little was midges – everywhere. Midges flying around blocking the sun! But we didn’t have that either.
A bonus was that we could see Lahinch from the Cliffs, which brough back great memories from a vacation there with Grandma and Grandpa when the girls were little.
We drove home along the Wild Atlantic Way. We stopped in a pub for a drink. (Or a bonus walk for some of us.) And then a peaceful drive.
Kate and I had a really nice dinner then she went off to get ready for her week and I went to an open mic night at Roisin Dubh. It was fun to hear a lot of local musicians at once and to see the community vibe that always supports a good local music scene. As a bonus, The Fynches were playing in the main room and I got to see them too.
(The videos are slowing uploading while I’m on the bus.)
Filed under: Galway
I know the streets of Galway about as well as anyone now. I’ve walk 10+ miles a day while here. Now that doesn’t mean I know the people, history or culture but I know how to get from A to B. I started the cloudy day with lunch with Kate and then a wake down the river and back to the sea. It really is nice to breathe in the sea air and focus on the steps.
I checked out the regular Saturday market as well as the Christmas market.
Then Kate and I met up for a walk around the city and have a very delicious meal at Dela.
Filed under: Galway
Woke up to lots of rain but as soon as I saw a glimmer of sunshine I was out walking. I found myself visiting a cemetery. There was an amazing view of the bay there.
I stopped into the Galway City Museum. I love to see the Galway hanging from the ceiling. I love the views from the top floor.
Then I walked about the bay. The sun was starting to shine, and I even got a glimpse of a rainbow. I walked out the lighthouse. It was windy but nice.
And when I got back to the hotel, they had turned on the Christmas lights. There will be a Christmas market right in front of the hotel. At night, I met up with Kate and her work crew. They were very funny. They seemed very nice and they all seem to like each other, which is nice.
Filed under: Galway
Yesterday I walked about 17 miles around Galway. I started with a walk to Menlo Castle on the River Corrib. It’s nice (and healthy) walk through University College Galway. The campus is an interesting mix of old and new building. It reminds me of University College Dublin in that way.
On the way back, I popped into the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas. It’s a big church and a working church. Lots of hustle and bustle, even on a weekday morning. The art is gorgeous. I really liked the very modern painting of the Nativity.
I got to see the “other” jewelry store where Kate works. It’s in a shopping center near my hotel. Sounds like the shopping center shop does a great business around Christmas and near first communions while the other does well during the tourist season.
In the afternoon, I walked down the Salthill Promenade.
At night Kate and I went to see storytelling at the Crant Bar with Rab Fulton, who also has a podcast of storytelling.
And at night, I found a little music at the King’s Head.
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