MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – About a block from Lake Nokomis, there’s a coffee shop where customers come to escape the daily grind. But inside the corner cafe sits a tiny tribute to the neighborhood hangout.

How he got his start

The backstory:

Jeff Esler has been coming to Nokomis Beach Coffee for caffeine and conversation every morning for more than two decades.

Since he’s always had a love of Legos, about a year and a half ago, Esler made a small scale replica of his favorite coffee shop, complete with miniature versions of himself and his daily coffee klatch.

“I call it the last supper. It’s a bunch of us sitting around this table and each one of them, you can kind of recognize who the minifigures are. Most of my friends are like that’s great. Some of them are like I don’t look like that,” said Esler.

Mini Monte Carlo

Local perspective:

Another Lego model of the Monte Carlo restaurant in the North Loop is also on display at the coffee shop.

With accurate reproductions of everything from the outdoor signs and patio to the signature bar that goes all the way up to the ceiling, Esler’s attention to detail is jaw dropping.

“It’s one of my favorite restaurants. It’s been in Minneapolis since 1906 so it’s got a lot of history. It’s usually just my perspective. It’s not super accurate but it will end up looking a lot like the real places,” said Esler.

Building a hobby brick-by-brick

Dig deeper:

FOX 9 first met Esler nearly eight years ago, when he immortalized Nye’s Polonaise Room with Legos about a year after the beloved piano bar and restaurant in northeast Minneapolis closed its doors.

“It was a combination of I want something to do and I want one of these little projects so why not do Nye’s or something everyone recognizes. So that’s what I did,” Esler said at the time.

It is now one of a handful of Lego models in his mancave that includes Gluek’s bar in downtown Minneapolis, the home of the Jucy Lucy Matt’s Bar, the Split Rock Lighthouse along Lake Superior and a gas station designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Cloquet.

Esler says each project takes thousands of bricks and 40 to 50 hours to build.

“I’ll sit down here at noon and all of a sudden it will be midnight and it will feel like an hour so its kind of fun to get really into doing things like that,” said Esler.

What’s next:

Esler’s latest Lego creation is the Riverview Theater in South Minneapolis, which is filled with mini figurines, including a row of Jokers from the Lego Batman set.

As much as he wants to keep them, Esler says part of him wants to sell or give his Lego landmarks away.

But he has no plans to stop recreating some of Minnesota’s most recognizable places one brick at a time.

“They are cool enough to be maintained. They have a little Americana. A little bit of history,” said Esler.

Minnesota is celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in a variety of ways this year with plenty of free, family-friendly events to choose from.

St. Paul area

MLK Community Conference:  ‘One Dream. One Minnesota.’

This second annual conference is in partnership with the State of Minnesota and Metropolitan State University, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at Metropolitan State University Founders Hall, 700 E. Seventh St., St. Paul. The event includes speakers, an interactive workshop, networking, resource booths and food. Spots are limited. To register and for more information, visit mn.gov/oeoa.

39th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration: ‘One Dream. One Minnesota.’

This free, state-supported event, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, Jan 20, is hosted at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul. The event features community conversations and performances by Billy Steele and Fellowship Baptist Church, Jamecia Bennett, and Known MPLS. Dr. Yohuru Williams will MC and host a fireside chat by Josie R. Johnson and Reatha Clark King. The event will also be live-streamed on TPT.org. Spots are limited. To register and for more information, visit mn.gov/oeao.

MLK Jr. Day of Service

St. Clement’s and St. John’s Episcopal Churches host a morning of service for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, Jan 20, at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, 901 Portland Ave., St. Paul. The free event will include service projects and “engagement with racism and justice through a faith lens.” Food will be provided, as well as a caregiver’s lounge with coffee and WiFi for adults. For more information, visit saintmarysepiscopal.org.

Conceive Believe Achieve photo gallery

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul, local nonprofit Conceive Believe Achieve is displaying a 30-foot photo gallery display on Dr. King’s life. For more information, visit conceivebelieveachieve.org.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Morning of Service

This event is free and open to the public, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Two Rivers High School South Gym at 1897 Delaware Ave., Mendota Heights. Attendees will participate in multiple volunteer opportunities. Former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page will also visit the site. For more information, visit isd197.org/news/mlk-day.

Hamline’s MLK 2025 Observation

From 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, Hamline University hosts a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration in Anderson Rooms 111 and 112, 1536 Hewitt Ave., St. Paul. Hot beverages and light food will be provided at this free event. A keynote address will be given by Hamline alum and St. Paul City Council Member Anika Bowie, as well as performances by Afro Contigbo, gospel singer Sherri Orr, and a presentation of the 2025 Beloved Community Awards. For more information, visit hamline.edu/news.

Minneapolis area

10th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday of Service: Upholding our beloved community, build comfort pies, stronger ties

Sweet Potato Comfort Pie hosts a celebratory event in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Metropolitan Ballroom and Clubroom, 5418 Wayzata Blvd., Golden Valley. The event will feature 96 sweet potato pies (representing Dr. King’s age) to be given to those determined most deserving, a vocal performance by Jamela Pettiford and GQ Unit, Saxophonist Jerome Richardson and Heart and Soul Drum Academy, led by Baba Jesse Buckner. For more information, visit sweetpotatocomfortpie.org.

44th Annual U of M Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert

The free concert is hosted and curated by the University of Minnesota, 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 S. Fourth St., Minneapolis. U of M alum G. Phillip Shoultz III of VocalEssence will weave the words of Dr. King with reflections and musical performances from Kamoinge Strings of Walker West Music Academy, VocalEssence Singers Of This Age, Jornae Dance Collective led by U of M alum Suzette Jornae Gilreath, Youth Speakers mentored by Joe Davis Poetry, and more. For more information, visit diversity.umn.edu/MLKTribute.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast

The 35th annual breakfast, which host General Mills says is one of the largest in the country, will be held from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (doors open at 7 a.m., with pre-event programming starting at 7:30 a.m.) Monday, Jan. 20, at the Minneapolis Convention Center,1301 Second Ave. S., Minneapolis. The event will feature keynote speaker Michele Norris and multiple musical and art performances. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit MLKBreakfast.com.

MLK Jr. Resale Select Treasure Hunter

At this free event, volunteers can help the Resale Select store sort through and find items to put on the shelves, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Interfaith and Outreach Community Partners, 1605 County Road 101 N., Plymouth. Volunteers are asked to wear comfortable shoes and clothing as they will be standing for the majority of the time. To sign up and for more information, visit handsontwincities.org.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration

The Powderhorn Park Association and Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board host this 27th annual celebration, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Powderhorn Park recreation center. The free artist showcase features storytellers, visual art, performance art, art activities, lunch and giveaways. For more information, visit ppna.org/mlkcelebration.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

The free event hosted by Minneapolis Parks and Recreation, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Recreation Center, 4055 Nicollet Ave. S, Minneapolis includes a keynote address from Dr. Betty Jo Webb. Derreck Robinson will receive the “Living the Dream Award,” which “honors someone who embodies Dr. King’s message of justice for all and commitment to community, and their actions reflect his teachings and legacy.” There will also be performances by Lyrical Youth Dance Group and songs by Nunnabove. For more information, visit minneapolisparks.org.

Unity in Colors: An MLK Commemoration

This free “drop-in” program, 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, at the Sibley Recreation Center, 1900 E. 40th St., Minneapolis, invites people of all ages and backgrounds to contribute to creating a collective piece of art. The hope is to “embrace the spirit of unity, equality and diversity as you express your creativity through coloring pieces of art that will come together to form a stunning commemorative board dedicated to Dr. King’s vision of a harmonious and inclusive society,” according to the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board. To register online and for more information, visit minneapolisparks.org.

Originally Published: January 15, 2025 at 6:27 PM CST

An annual event featuring uniquely designed shanties — all on a frozen-over lake — starts this weekend. The Art Shanty Projects have been taking place since 2004, hosting performances and interactive experiences for attendees.  

“We’re very excited by the beautiful ice that’s out there. It’s absolutely gorgeous,” said Artistic Director Erin Lavelle.

“We are a mix of winter enthusiasts and winter curmudgeons … [we] just want to be out there with the public on this temporary floating sheet of ice.”

This year features 20 projects, from puppet melodramas to daily dance parties at noon. Last year’s event was delayed and then closed early due to warm conditions.

“We have a number of shanties who are returning this year from last year. They only had one weekend [last year]” Lavelle said.  

“Our [ice] measurement a couple of days ago was already 13 inches, and our threshold is 12 to do the program. So that’s very exciting!”

New this year is a formalized mentorship program, where returning artists have been paired with new participants. The process began by having perspective shanty builders submit things they’d like to learn to make the projects successful.

“We selected four of those applicants and paired them with four returning artists … we set it in motion with an initial conversation of what the artists want to learn and what skills can be shared. And then they’ve been off on their own, working together,” Lavelle said.

The Art Shanty Projects can be seen on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis from Jan. 18 through Feb. 9.