Most of you Minneapolis folks know by now that the summer Music and Movies in Loring Park is on “hiatus” in what was supposed to be its 34th year.  What hiatus means – other than that it for sure won’t happen this summer – I don’t know.  The Walker seems to be shifting it’s priorities to exclusively on-site programming.  (Wolfgang Puck doesn’t have a restaurant in Loring Park, you know…so many lost beer/food sale possibilities.)

This is a sad development for a number of reasons.  One is that Minneapolis has a long tradition of awesome, free, creative events.  It’s one of the reasons people want to live here and talk it up when they’re elsewhere.  These free events build community in ways that paid events simply cannot – if only because the fact that they’re free means anyone can join at any time.

There is serious Minneapolis – and Minnesota – pride in this town.  Just go to I Like You or any of its ilk and you’ll see a wide array of MPLS/Minnesota/Midwest pride things to wear or hang. Adam Turman’s Minneapolis art is incredibly popular. And I saw two girls tonight alone with Minnesota tattoos on their arms. I’ve seen others with the tattoo, either outlined or filled in, with a heart or star in the place where the Twin Cities lie.

This is not an accident or a coincidence. This town has a wonderful quality of life and we know it. We’re proud of it, we’re proud of the businesses that support it, and we’re happy to support it ourselves. So when I see one of the iconic free events of Minneapolis slip away so quickly, it’s saddening and maddening.

Thankfully, the Walker’s (bad) decision probably won’t be the end of Loring Park’s movies and music. People are upset, and people are often willing to organize to support the things that make life special. And people are trying to get the ball rolling.

This has particular meaning for me as Megan and my first date after we met was at the Music and Movies in the park and it was perfect and really set the tone for our relationship from the start. Sourdough bread and brie from the Wedge. A cheap bottle of white wine from Humm’s. A blanket and us under the trees watching an old movie with hundreds of others, laughing along with the crowd. The bridge. The sculpture garden.

It’s an iconic event, and it shouldn’t end. But if it does, I have confidence that Minneapolis will pull things together. I have been to so many community-driven events in the last few years especially that I have great confidence in the creativity and ingenuity of the people in this city. I know we will fix things when organizations break them.