My Niece Loves Me; I Promise

and how to break in to the Hudson Flower Shop 💐

Author

Ben Thietje
July 31, 2025 • Est. Reading Time: 3 minutes

Hello! I’m Ben, executive director at the Phipps.

Welcome to The Flying P, a weekly newsletter covering your Phipps Center for the Arts and anything else I might want to throw your way.

Celebrate Happy Birthday GIF by Sesame Street

the P turns one

Hey, it’s been one whole year of The Flying P! The very first issue was published on July 29th, 2024.

Time flies when you’re frantically trying to meet a weekly newsletter deadline.

JK. JK. JK.
At the start, I was skeptical about a weekly cadence, but it’s actually easier than I thought it would be. There’s always a truckload of stuff happening at the Phipps, so this thing pretty much writes itself. And let’s be real: I’m not exactly churning out Faulkner-esque material here, so that helps, too.

If you’d like to help me make the P slightly better in the coming year (no promises), click the button below and fill out a quick survey I put together for you. I would very much appreciate your POV.

As always, thanks for reading The Flying P, thanks for sharing The Flying P…and thanks for your interest in the Phipps!

This issue has…

  • 🥺 A Russ Lunch
    we’re gonna miss him

  • 😴 Dream Catcher Classes
    you make ‘em; they catch ‘em

  • 🌹 Flower Shop Photo Ops
    it smelled so great

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SAUSAGE-MAKING

Publici-tease

it’s gonna be cute; you can tell

Big huge Wednesday mega fun was had at our first two publicity shoots of the new season.

First up, we headed over to Hudson High School to snap some pics for the upcoming Children’s Theatre Council production, Miss Nelson is Missing!.

After that, we met at Hudson Flower Shop to cross Little Shop of Horrors off the list. Side note: Hudson Flower Shop is also sponsoring Little Shop of Horrors. Next time you’re in their neck of the woods, pop in and thank them for supporting your favorite arts center.

A very large thanks to Ryan for helping us secure an hour at the high school, Hudson Flower Shop for the use of their back room (and the sponsorship, of course), and Molly for killin’ in behind the camera.

I’ll share the results soooooooon.

funny kid x3

PHIPPS TOP 10
best-selling upcoming events this season by tickets sold…

1. Cinderella, a Phipps ballet (previously: 1)
2. It’s a Wonderful Life (previously: 2)
3. Little Shop of Horrors (previously: 3)
4. Deathtrap (previously: 4)
5. Hornucopia (previously: 7)
6. Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society (series) (previously: 5)
7. Miss Nelson is Missing! (previously: 8)
8. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow: The Music of Amy Winehouse & Carole King (previously: 6)
9. Colleen Raye’s New Year’s Eve (previously: 9)
10. Silent Centennials (previously: 10)

BETTER HURRY LIST
best-selling upcoming events this season by percent sold
(i.e., closest to being sold out)…

1. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow: The Music of Amy Winehouse & Carole King (previously: 1) SOLD OUT — click to join the wait list
2. Cinderella, a Phipps ballet (previously: 2)
3. Hornucopia (previously: 3)
4. Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society (series) (previously: 4)
5. Silent Centennials (previously: 5)

as of 7/31/25

PROGRAMMING

Nieces + Cinderella = popular uncle

it doesn’t get much bigger than meeting Cinderella

Are you an uncle looking to earn brownie points with the nieces in your life? If so, I cannot recommend Cinderella, a Phipps ballet enough.

Not only is the performance truly wonderful, but the Dance Council has done a super job adding little extras throughout: a tiny craft table where kiddos can decorate their very own crown, there was a children’s post-show story time last weekend, kids can meet characters after the show, etc. It’s a ton of fun.

My niece Sabrina (pictured) had a perma-smile the entire time. If it was possible for her to love me more than she already does (it is not), taking her to this production would’ve done the trick. But again: no need, as she clearly already loves me the maximum amount.

Cinderella closes this Sunday. Don’t miss this really fun Phipps dance production!

a crown needs jewels…duh

the maximum amount

artist: Amy Crickenberger Oeth

👆
my favorite gallery piece of the week
I like the lines here.
Did that sound smart? I dunno.
Check out Gallery Two for more of Amy’s work.

COMMUNITY

RiverFest in the River Room

gotta catch those dreams

The PCA threw out a RiverFest assist last weekend by hosting two dream catcher classes taught by Michael “Laughing Fox" Charette, and providing space for artist, Melissa Fowler, in the Rotunda Lounge.

If you’re not familiar, RiverFest is an annual event aimed at building awareness of the St. Croix River. Remember last week’s Scrappy blurb?

Did you partake in any RiverFest festivities? If so, hit reply and let me know what you did and how you liked it. I wasn’t able to attend, so please describe it in great detail. Thanks in advance!

Today was the last day of work for our Maintenance Manager, Russ Jensen. We brought in some pizzas and had a nice little staff “Russ Lunch” to bid him a fond farewell. I was too busy chatting and pizza-eating to grab a pic, so you’ll just have to trust me on this one.

Anyway, Russ is the best and we’ll miss him a bunch.
Enjoy retirement, Russ!

You finally made it to the end. How much did you retain?
Test yourself by completing The Flying C(rossword).
👇

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Talk to you next week!

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