Written by Donna Seline
Doors Open Minneapolis held its third event on May 17-18 showcasing venues around the city that speak to our city’s history and story. Buildings not usually open to the public open their doors for us to come in and see what goes on behind the scenes. From the Minneapolis sewer system to the Foshay Tower observation deck, folks get to see the insides of our city. I’ve attended all three Doors Open events, one before Covid, and May 2023 and 2024. I’m intrigued by the chance to see places up close, hear the stories and take photos of the incredible historical buildings we have.
There were many Northside sites, including Karl Kroening Nature Center, Homewood Studios, ZaRah Integrated Root Center, Studio Apparatus Arthouse, Plymouth Avenue Art Studio, Pillsbury Urban Farm-Project Sweetie Pie, Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery, Minneapolis Animal Care and Control, and City of Lakes Community Land Trust.
One Northside place I wanted to visit was the Capri Theater on Broadway. I lived near there for a few years and have known about the Plymouth Youth Center for decades, so I was particularly interested in seeing the newly renovated Capri. This theater has been entertaining the community for 96 years! The building received a major overhaul in the last few years and provides numerous forms of entertainment and support for and of the artistic community. They have facilities for every type of entertainment including dressing rooms, green room, wardrobe, community meeting places, wood shop, rehearsal rooms and classrooms.
The guided tour took us through the entire building and explained what each area was for. This theater is really something for Northside to be proud of. It offers so much support and activities for Northside youth interested in the arts. Of particular interest was the Best Buy Teen Tech Center, a space equipped with brand new, state-of-the-art technology. It’s designed to offer and prepare teens a place to use their imaginations and learn skills for future tech jobs.
We read articles every month in Camden News about events at the Capri. I encourage you to go take in some of those events and see it for yourself! It’s a vibrant part of the Northside community and it was really fun to take the tour there!