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Deanna Baxter laughs at a song request at Sporty's Pub and Grill on Wednesday, June 26 for karaoke night. Sporty's closed its doors for good on Sunday, June 30.

Meet Sporty's longtime 'karaoke mom'

Deanna Baxter, who ran karaoke at Sporty’s for almost seven years before its closing on June 30, said her phone has filled up with new contacts and friends since she started at the bar. “That's just my personality; I want to interact with everybody,” Baxter said. 

Businesses on Como Avenue are seen on Saturday, June 15 in Minneapolis.

Egg rolls, burgers and fries to add flavor to Southeast Como

Family-owned Thai Cuisine Xpress is expected to open in early July in Football Pizza’s former location on the corner of Como and 15th Avenue Southeast. Como Tap is expected to open in Sporty’s Pub & Grill’s current location on Como and 22nd Avenue Southeast in August.

A sign for the Sportsmen's Inn hangs inside of Sporty's Pub and Grill on Como Avenue in Minneapolis on Monday, June 17.

Sporty's Pub and Grill in Como closing at the end of the month

Sporty’s Pub and Grill, a longtime haunt in Southeast Como, is closing this summer to make way for a new restaurant. The bar's last day of operation will be June 30, said owner Chris Chistopherson. A new restaurant, Como Tap, is expected to open at the location of 22nd Avenue Southeast and Como Avenue Southeast in late August.

Allen Christian, Abdirahman Mukhtar, Faisal Khalif and Abdinajib Ibrahim talk about the community investment in young adults at the House of Balls in Minneapolis on Saturday, June 8.

Cedar-Riverside art initiative connects community, youth with mentors

Leaders and residents in Cedar Riverside are using art to counteract negative perceptions of the neighborhood. “The main goal of the project was to tackle Islamophobic behaviors that are recently on the rise," said project coordinator for the Connecting Community project Abdurrahman Mahmud. 

Student app to highlight history of UMN campus area

Voy: Audio Tour for Everyday Places, offers users audio tours of the University of Minnesota Foundation Real Estate Advisors Motley development and other areas on campus. The app, created by University students Kiet Ho and Cody Perakslis, has also seen interest from American Public Media. The app aims to launch by the end of the summer.

Legislative forum highlights district policy concerns

Sen. Kari Dziedzic, DFL-Minneapolis, Rep. Mohamud Noor, DFL-Minneapolis, and Rep. Diane Loeffler, DFL-Minneapolis, spoke to constituents about a “driver’s licenses for all” bill, affordable housing, climate change and healthcare and how those issues are being addressed this legislative session. The event, one of about 50 forums statewide hosted by the ISAIAH faith coalition, was held at the University Lutheran Church of Hope.

A view of deteriorated concrete areas of columns, beams and arches of the 10th Ave SE Bridge on Friday, June 15.

10th Avenue Bridge repairs expected to start in the fall

The city of Minneapolis has finalized plans for repairs to the 10th Avenue Bridge, with construction expected to begin this fall. Once contract details are solidified, construction will close the bridge for 12 months starting in 2020. Improvements include additional bike lanes and sidewalk space while reducing traffic lanes from four to two, which officials say will make the bridge safer.