E.R Shaffer
Introducing Joe Charley
Lately, as an artist, I have been struggling a lot. In a world that feels increasingly unsafe and unstable, what role can artists play? There are days where I feel useless, like my contribution to society means nothing. It was fortunate for me then, that I got the chance to interview the multi-talented Joe Charley,…
Lavender Magazine Community Award – Individual: Reverend Doctor DeWayne Davis
Raised by a Pentecostal minister in Indianola Mississippi, Reverend Doctor DeWayne Davis grew up as the youngest of fifteen children. Precocious and determined, he first attended Howard University where he earned a B.A in Economics and Philosophy. It was here he met Kareem, his husband of 31 years. Davis initially pursued a career in government,…
Lavender Magazine Community Award – Small Business: At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Café – Barb Neubert and Carla Blumberg
Back in 1994, Barb Neubert came to Duluth with the vision of creating a coffee shop. On East Superior Street she found a cozy venue within her budget, and here the coffee and book shop At Sara’s Table began in earnest. It wasn’t long before she met Carla Blumberg- who had moved to Duluth from…
Implicit Bias in MN Healthcare – LGBTQ and BIPOC
It is undeniable that the American medical system has long been influenced by racism and homophobia. African Americans and Indigenous people have spent generations suffering harm at the hands of medical professionals, from experimental surgery to forced sterilization. The LGBTQ+ community has struggled with medical care in different ways- mainly for recognition, either of our identities or…
Columbia Heights is Full of Pride
For this Small Town Pride issue of Lavender, I got the chance to interview Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula on what to expect for the 2022 Pride celebration in her city of Columbia Heights. The Mayor has been an integral part of the Columbia Heights Pride organization since its first inception. It was through her work as…
Welcoming Spring with Tangletown Gardens
With the worst of the Winter behind us, many of us are seeking out those first blushes of Spring fun- walks by the lake or a bit of time in the sun. But Minnesota weather is a tricky mistress, and even at the date of this publishing, it may be a bit too soon to…
Lush Lounge & Theater – A Labor of Love
Everyone loves a comeback story. While plenty of businesses have suffered or outright closed due to the pandemic, it is a select few that get the chance for a second life! That is exactly what cherished entertainment venue Lush Lounge and Theater got last December, when they reopened their doors under new management, along with…
Dining Out For A Good Cause
How many times do you go out to eat in a month? The last year? If you’re anything like me, you’ve got to fight the instinct to answer each question with two different numbers- one for how much I went out ‘Before’, and one for ‘After’ COVID. It’s no secret restaurants took a big hit…
Backyard Wedding Sites: From Gardens to Glass Houses
When two people decide to embark on a new life together, there’s always cause for celebration. While media (both past and present) feeds us the idea of a grand wedding fit for royalty, the realities of hosting and paying for these kinds of events gives many couples pause. People want a day they will always…
Overcoming Obstacles with the Minnesota Vixen
While many people associate Vikings or Gophers with Minnesota football, there’s a flipside of athletes working just as hard, just as energetically—but dealing with more obstacles. The Minnesota Vixen, established in 1999, is the longest continuously running women’s full-contact football team in the nation. Over the past week I’ve been able to talk to several…
