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10 reasons we must embrace the Northwestern Life Insurance building in Minneapolis

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10 reasons we must embrace the Northwestern Life Insurance building in Minneapolis


To the list of buildings in downtown Minneapolis in need of a new purpose, add the one on 20 Washington Av. S.

Initially built as a seven-story headquarters for the Northwestern National Life Insurance company, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports that it’s currently empty and up for sale. Considering the fire-sale prices that downtown buildings are fetching these days, it’s a bitter fate for a delightful structure that was once the centerpiece of urban revival. One hopes it’s repositioned for a new use.

Here are 10 tales that might make you take another look at the building:

The reflecting pool of the Northwestern National Life building is one of two pools at 20 Washington Av. S. (James Lileks)

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It’s a Roman temple. You could call it an homage, an updated re-creation or a straight-up ripoff, if you were feeling uncharitable. But the building’s distant relative is the Maison Carrée in Nimes, France, a temple that hails from circa 7 A.D. That might be why it’s the best building to come from the Gateway District’s urban renewal program, which leveled vast tracts of downtown for parking lots or undistinguished modern structures.

It permanently sutured the connection between Hennepin and Nicollet. The streets used to merge at Bridge Square, a historic locale where the City Hall — and the Tribune newspaper — stood. The commercial life of the city marched west, and the intersection became old and shabby. In the 1910s, Gateway Park filled the spot, a triangular expanse of grass with a colonnade that opened its arms to people debarking from nearby train stations.

The Nicollet Mall put an end to that. The building was oriented so the view down Nicollet Avenue toward the river would be light and bright, with the marble columns of the portico standing like alabaster trees. Nice idea, but it provided a terminus without actually terminating anything.

Japanese American architect Minoru Yamasaki designed the Northwestern National Life building in downtown Minneapolis. (Gerald R. Brimacombe)

Its columns were a trademark of its famous architect, Minoru Yamasaki, who called his creation as “monumental and dignified, yet graceful.” The flared tops were new in the 1960s, and would spread nationwide in the ‘70s. They often applied to small-town banks. An influential modernist architect, Yamasaki would apply his flared columns in a more subdued form in the building for which he will be most remembered — the World Trade Center towers.

The building next door, 100 Washington Square, was also designed by Yamasaki. But the 22-story office tower has none of the grace or winky kitsch as the NWML building.

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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis salon mixes rock and roll with haircuts: Inside HiFi Hair and Records

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Minneapolis salon mixes rock and roll with haircuts: Inside HiFi Hair and Records


A Minneapolis salon is turning heads by mixing rock and roll with haircuts, creating a one-of-a-kind experience for music lovers.

A salon where music and haircuts go hand in hand

What we know:

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HiFi Hair and Records sits on the edge of downtown Minneapolis, marked by a leopard print awning and a vibe that’s all about community through music. 

“I tried to model it after a barbershop,” said Jonny Clifford, owner of the salon. 

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Clifford opened the shop in 2011, inspired by his father who introduced him to music and was battling terminal cancer at the time.

The salon brings together the hum of blow dryers and the sounds of rock and roll, with Clifford saying, “Music is the uniter. Most everyone who is alive today grew up on rock and roll.” 

He added a record store the following year, letting customers browse new and used vinyl and CDs while waiting for their appointment. 

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“I jokingly refer to it as the coolest waiting room in the city,” said Clifford.

The shop is filled with memorabilia from music legends like Elvis, David Bowie and The Monkees. There’s even a wall dedicated to Minnesota’s local music scene. 

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Clifford said, “We’ve got Bobby V who I think never gets enough credit for his contributions to music in Minnesota.”

Clifford’s journey from punk haircuts to community hub

Why you should care:

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Clifford started cutting hair in the early 1980s because he and his friends in southwest Minneapolis couldn’t afford the punk haircuts they wanted. 

Now, he not only looks the part—”Ronny Wood, Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, I’m always like old Keith Richards or young Keith Richards”—but he helps others feel like rock stars too. 

“People are like make me look like a rock star and that is sort of a universal term right. Everyone wants to look like a rock star,” said Clifford.

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His goal is simple:

“If I can make a living and raise my family, pay my bills, have a business and be a part of a community, that is important to me. I win. That’s everything,” said Clifford. 

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He is passionate about giving a boost to local musicians, saying, “I think they need it more. I love Lady Gaga and The Rolling Stones, but they are doing fine. Our local people haven’t made it national yet. They could use a voice. They could use a boost, and they need to be heard.”

The salon’s rhythm is all about joy, music and community, and Clifford plans to keep it going. 

“Til I kick over. I’ll probably be back standing behind the chair. And someone will complain I didn’t finish their haircut,” said Clifford.

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HiFi Hair and Records continues to be a place where music and style meet, giving Minnesota’s music scene a little extra volume.

Maury’s StoriesMinneapolis



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Minneapolis, MN

Edina shooting leaves 1 dead, suspects on run

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Edina shooting leaves 1 dead, suspects on run


A deadly shooting in Edina sparked a massive police response and forced a lockdown at nearby businesses at Southdale Mall on Wednesday as police are searching for the suspects.

Deadly Edina shooting

What we know:

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Edina police responded around 12:30 p.m. to the report of a shooting along West 66th Street near Southdale Mall.

At the scene, officers found one victim with a gunshot wound. Officers tried to revive the victim but say they ultimately died from their wounds.

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Local perspective:

Police say the suspects ran from the scene. As a precaution, they advised nearby businesses to go into lockdown. FOX 9 learned that MHealth Fairview also went into lockdown procedures as a precaution.

Aerial video from the scene showed the investigation appeared to be focused around an apartment building across from the mall. Police say the apartment building is described as a transitional housing.

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Avoid the area

Big picture view:

Police are asking the public to avoid the area as the investigation is underway. Officers have blocked off West 66th for the time being.

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Police say they are looking for more than one suspect involved in the shooting.

What we don’t know:

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Police say some people were taken into custody at the scene but it’s unclear what their role was in relation to the shooting.

Law enforcement near the 3300 block of W. 66th Street in Edina.  (FOX 9)

EdinaCrime and Public Safety
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Ellison, Minneapolis, St. Paul update lawsuit against Operation Metro Surge with new data

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Ellison, Minneapolis, St. Paul update lawsuit against Operation Metro Surge with new data


(ABC 6 News) – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minneapolis and Saint Paul updated their lawsuit over Operation Metro Surge with new survey data on economic harm.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego conducted two surveys tied to the amended lawsuit. The lawsuit says the federal operation violated the Constitution and caused lasting economic damage.

The first survey was done between February and March and included nearly 1,400 residents. It found workers lost more than $240 million in wages during the operation.

A separate newly released survey of about 900 businesses found more than $600 million in lost revenue. The updated lawsuit from Keith Ellison and the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul adds that new data to its claims.

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