TWIN CITIES LIVE FEATURING L.A. NIK

TWIN CITIES LIVE | KSTP 5

December 21st, 2011.  3PM

In case you haven't seen it yet on television, watch the coverage of my downtown photo contest.

What a great job they did covering the "Take a Pic of L.A. Nik" Downtown Photo contest.  As stated in my previous post, a better recipient could not have won this fun bit of downtown Minneapolis philanthropy.

Officer Pat McCarver (Minneapolis Police Department) received the $1,000 CASH at the Local on Nicollet Mall. He stated that half of the  money will be earmarked to help a needy family that he and his wife had already chosen to help for the Christmas season.  The other half.. well his own family of course !

If you know Pat, congratulate him on a really well composed photo, but also on his contribution to and his love for Minneapolis.  It was a pleasure to help him with his goals this holiday season.

Watch the video right here !

                                                                                                                                                 

L.A. Nik being interviewed by Emily Engberg: Twin Cities Live


Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays.  
L.A. Nik

DOWNTOWN PHOTO CONTEST WINNER !!!

The "TAKE A PICK OF L.A. NIK" Downtown Minneapolis photo contest ended on November 30th at 11:59pm.

The final judges for the contest were:

- Andrea Christenson  (VP http://www.cassidyturley.com)

- Mike Feltault  (http://www.mjffoto.com)

- Valerie Doleman  (VP http://www.guarantytitle.net)

- Nicole Houff  (http://nicolehouff.com)

- Stephen Sugarman  (http://www.gallery13.com)

Results were mutually agreeable on December 9th, 11:59PM.  

I am very pleased to announce the winner of the photo contest.  He took the time to focus on the rules of the contest and integrate the city of Minneapolis into the photo in multiple ways !

CONGRATULATIONS  

Pat McCarver of the Minneapolis Police Department !

Winning Photo.  L.A. Nik with a Nice Ride Bike, Minneapolis PD and City Scape.

Winner Pat McCarver with RockinThisTown.com owners L.A. Nik & Sam Koza

Pat intends to donate half of the $1,000 CASH to his heart-felt charity of choice for the holidays.  The reminder will be ear-marked to his kids for Christmas !

The prize was officially paid to Pat at the Local on Nicollet at 4PM on December 13th 2011.

Twin Cities Live was in attendance.  You may view the coverage on KSTP 5

on Wednesday, December 21st 2011.

Congratulations again to Pat from www.RockinThisTown.com

~ L.A. Nik

NICOLLET MALL: THE RED CARPET TO DOWNTOWN

DO YOU LIVE DOWNTOWN?

There's talk in the news about Minneapolis's Nicollet Mall. As many of you know, Nicollet Mall is my home - Im on the mall every single day and know nearly every small to medium business owner or manager in this area of the city.

You know I love this city; its been really good to me, which is why I launched the "TAKE A PIC OF L.A. NIK" photo contest - to give back and to drive people into downtown businesses. (As a reminder the contest is officially over and we'll be announcing the winner next week). 

It's very important that the small guys stay a central piece to our downtown.  Minneapolis is an eclectic mix of artists, designers, performers and musicians. I also have to mention the blocks of Fortune 500 companies along your journey throughout the 120 blocks of "Downtown Minneapolis" alone.

In early 2009, the MInneapolis DID was formed after 5 years of planning by the downtown council.

Minneapolis DID lives by the noble mission of "To preserve and enhance a vital and attractive Downtown Minneapolis for the people who invest, work, shop, visit and live here". If you've ever been downtown you may have noticed how clean it is. That's because of the downtown ambassadors in lime green. Say hi to them, they'll even help get where you're going.

NICOLLET MALL

Over the course of a year, there are millions of people that both work and play downtown Minneapolis. The city has identified Nicollet Mall as the crown jewel of downtown. What are your thoughts about downtown Minneapolis?

Do you live in the suburbs? Do you come out to play often? If not, why ? Is the city scary, too dark, too expensive? I'm taking a public poll right here to find out how more people can come into the city to have a great time. What would you like to see?

Minneapolis plans to invest $60 Million into the renovation of Nicollet Mall.  Now, nothing has been approved at this point and there's more information to come. The city is calling this Downtown 2025 - that's a long time, but the expected new sidewalks, fixtures and new uses for old buildings will make this place an even better spot to live.

Check out this video released today from Channel 5



What would you like to see downtown? What would make you come out more often?

I challenge you right now to reach out and come "meetMYminneapolis" and let me know what you would change !

~ L.A. NIK

   Eat.  Stay.  Play.  Downtown.

GONG SHOW MINNEAPOLIS

GONG SHOW MINNEAPOLIS & GARAGE SALE SUNDAYS
So you havn't come the Gong Show yet on Sunday night ?? SHAME ON YOU. Check out the promo video for highlights !

The Gong Show runs every single Sunday night. I designed this so that it can align with "industry night". Many people that work in the service industry have their days off on Sunday or Monday. So the idea was to create a fun environment at non-peak times to come out and enjoy some entertainment.

Admission is only $5 ! We encourage entertainers of all kinds so COME ONE, COME ALL. Dancers, singers, poets, interesting instruments, musicians, strange human acts, contortionists, full bodied tattoos, jugglers, puppet acts, you name it ! Here are some photos !

Live music performances by local artists ! 

The world's meanest Clown !

Daryl Horner National Comedian

You can also find him on Facebook 

Make sure you "Like" the Gong Show Page on Facebook for events, photos and updates ! Gong Show Minneapolis


GARAGE SALE SUNDAYS
Now this is a whole other spin that we've taken on Sunday nights and you can only find it at L.A. Nik's Gong Show Minneapolis ! Do you have unwanted items in your house? Old movies or CD collections? Barbie dolls or weird toys? Turn your junk into Booze !

A happy auction winner of a sealed Barbie Doll. His money when to the seller's bar tab ! 

Sunday Nights Only

533 Hennepin Ave

Wondrous Azian Kitchen

in the 

Caterpillar Lounge

LA NIK AT NIGHT

This past weekend was one of great pleasure.  The nightlife writer at the Star Tribune, Tom Horgen, spent an evening on the town with me a while back.  We went on a pretty wild ride that night - he did bring a photographer with him but that didn't really change the course of the evening for me.

Photo taken by Tom Wallace: Star Tribune

Our evening really started at Zelo and carried forward from there.  As an ambassador of all things Downtown Minneapolis, Im really honored to be noted as such in Tom's article, which printed in both Vita.MN and the Variety cover story of the Star Tribune.

Read for your self: http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/dining/134402723.html

~ L.A. Nik