Steve Marsh

Minneapolis, United States

Senior Writer at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine

senior writer @mspmag. I misplaced most of my genius but I still have a stash somewhere.

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Articles

The Timberwolves Cannot Lose Their Cool

1 week ago | mspmag.com | Steve Marsh

Going into Memorial Day weekend, Timberwolves fans all over the city were shell-shocked. After a long, muddy regular season, the Timberwolves surprised everyone by making it all the way back to the Western Conference Finals, only to forget to bring the ability to shoot on their business trip to Oklahoma City. This oversight, paired with some of the most appalling superstar flopping ever committed to tape, resulted in a 114-88 loss, quickly followed by a second one,118-103.
5 Performances to See at TGNP's Icehouse Party

1 week ago | mspmag.com | Steve Marsh

Totally Gross National Product, the label that gave us Lizzo, Poliça, and Marijuana Deathsquads, among many others, returns with its annual party this Saturday at Icehouse. After returning from an 8-year hiatus in 2023, TGNP label boss (and Poliça drummer) Drew Christopherson isn’t sure what anniversary his musical family will be celebrating this year. “It’s gotta be our tenth at least,” he says.
Is This the Year for the Timberwolves?

2 weeks ago | mspmag.com | Steve Marsh

With the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals for the second year in a row, you would think we would know how to act. We were just here, right? And after beating both the Lakers and the Warriors in the first two rounds—in five games each!—you would think we would know how to feel about this team by now. But Timberwolves trauma is real: The Musselman '90s. Missing out on Shaq for Laettner. The multiple slam dunk contest champions. The multiple three-point contest champions.
In Conversation with Swamp Dogg and Moogstar

3 weeks ago | mspmag.com | Steve Marsh

When Magnolia Pictures releases Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted this weekend, it will be the culmination of nearly a decade-long collaboration between Swamp Dogg, the 82-year-old California-based, Southern-raised, psych-soul singer, and the film’s Twin Cities-based directors, Ryan Olson and Isaac Gale.
A Brief History of Minnesotans on Game Shows

3 weeks ago | mspmag.com | Steve Marsh

After Windom’s Johnny Olson rises through Midwestern radio, he moves to New York with his wife, Penny. The couple hosts Ladies Be Seated, a radio game show where contestants compete by identifying popular songs and more. The Minnesota Twins name Peter and Richard King, a pair of identical twin farm boys from Rosemount, the club’s first bat boys. As part of their promotional responsibilities, the King twins appear on CBS’s game show To Tell the Truth.
Twin Citian: Gerry Haeger Sproles

1 month ago | mspmag.com | Steve Marsh

Occupation: Fitness performer Twin Citian since: 1966 What was your first job? Started teaching aerobics when I was 15, when my dad bought Women’s Workout World. What do you consider the highest character trait in a Minnesotan? Humility. The lowest character flaw? Entitlement. Where do you grab a table when you’re celebrating? Ciao Bella in Bloomington. What about when you need to commiserate over a defeat? Over a dirty martini at Bacio in Minnetonka.
A Brief History of Skating in Minnesota

1 month ago | mspmag.com | Steve Marsh

John Strauss, a German immigrant with a locksmithing biz in St. Paul, starts building bicycles. When his bicycle-racing clients tell him they skate in the winter to stay in shape, Strauss starts making skates—the best figure skating skates in the world. John S. Johnson, the fastest bicyclist in the world (he was the first man to race a mile in under two minutes), becomes the fastest man on skates when his world-record time of 2:45 beats Norwegian champion Peter Ostlund.
Home & Design | Connoisseur: Curtiss A

1 month ago | mspmag.com | Steve Marsh

Curtiss A (civilian name Curt Almsted) is the godfather of Twin Cities rock and roll—he was the first artist to headline 7th St Entry, the first to sign to the legendary Twin/Tone label. Without him, there likely wouldn’t be a Replacements or a Soul Asylum. So when he invites you into the East Side home in St. Paul that he’s transformed into a rambler-sized shrine to his own taste, the tour starts with a short history lesson.
Meet the Hype Squad for the Timberwolves

1 month ago | mspmag.com | Steve Marsh

With the Timberwolves set to begin the playoffs on Saturday night (vs. Luka and the Lakers—😬), it's time to reflect on this team’s regular season contributions to the annals of Minnesota sports PTSD. Quick recap: Coming off last season’s magical playoff run, on the eve of training camp, the team traded its second-best player, Karl-Anthony Towns, and received two New York Knicks in return, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
Twin Citian: Lou Nanne

1 month ago | mspmag.com | Steve Marsh

Occupation: Asset management for RBC-GAM Twin Citian since: 1959 What was your first job here? Chemical sales for Archer-Daniels-Midland before turning pro with the North Stars in ’68. What do you consider the highest character trait in a Minnesotan? They’re compassionate and caring. The lowest character flaw? I’d like to make one up but I can’t. I’ve never had a problem. Where do you grab a table when you’re celebrating? At my restaurant, Tavern 23.