The Minneapolis Central Library

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

The largest library in Hennepin County, the Minneapolis Central Library, houses the third largest per capita public library collection of any major city in the United States, with a collection of more than 2.4 million items. A remarkable resource for residents in the area. Education is important for the growth of any city, and libraries have been anchors for many communities throughout Minneapolis.

Before the city’s library system came to be, there was a subscription library founded in 1859 and charted as a corporation in 1860 called the Minneapolis Athenaeum. Other subscription libraries popped up around the area during this time, such as the St. Anthony Literary Society and the Mechanics Library. However, the Athenaeum was the only one able to find success. Years later in 1865 they constructed their own building located in the heart of a fledgling Minneapolis called Centre Block, which is where Gateway Park currently lies. In 1885 the Athenaeum partnered with the newly created Minneapolis Public Library and has been associated with them ever since. Their collection is housed in vaults located on the 4th floor Special Collections Department of the current Minneapolis Central Library.

Original library, 1900

After four years of existence, the Minneapolis Public library opened its first central library in 1889, and it was situated along 10th Street and Hennepin Avenue. The main attraction of this new castle-like building was the art collection of T.B. Walker, the namesake for the Walker Art Center. Just as the city of Minneapolis was rapidly growing throughout the 20th century, so was the library, and in 1961 the Minneapolis Public Library and Information Center opened along 4th Street and Nicollet Avenue. This location was chosen in order to be a cornerstone for a very run-down Gateway District that was in the process of being redeveloped thanks to the 1960’s Urban Renewal project that impacted some of the larger cities throughout the United States.

Second library, 1961

The new building included a library, planetarium, auditorium, and a museum in its basement that was known for its Egyptian mummies. The planetarium was without a doubt a hit with children and adults alike. It was operated by the Minneapolis Planetarium Society, and from 1974-1982 they partnered with the Science Museum of Minnesota to jointly run the planetarium that saw over 170,000 visitors per year during its early years, and over four million during its entire lifespan. Unfortunately, good things come to an end and the city was without a planetarium once the Minneapolis Public Library and Information Center closed its doors in 2002 to make way for a brand-new building. Initially the plan was to construct a planetarium on top of the new building, but plans fell through and in 2011 the Minneapolis Planetarium Society merged with the Bell Museum of Natural History. Everything ended up working out for everyone as a state-of-the-art planetarium is included in the new Bell Museum that opened in July of 2018.

Rendering of the current library with the planetarium on the roof.

Now back to the library. In the 1990s, city and library officials recognized that the downtown community was outgrowing the current building, technology was rapidly improving, and the library’s collection was growing by the day, so the process of planning a new one began. In November of 2000 the citizens of Minneapolis voted to approve a $140 million funding to improve the library. Almost six years later in May of 2006, the Minneapolis Central Library you see today opened to the public. Designed by César Pelli, who is known for designing the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the World Financial Center in New York City, the new library features many windows to allow natural light in, a rooftop garden, an Adaptive Technology Lab, homework tutoring for K-12 students, and a beautiful collection of art that is spread throughout the building. The Minneapolis Central Library has been vital for the educational growth of the city and its residents since it first opened it doors, and three buildings later it shows no signs of slowing down.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 6+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Women Warriors: the Current Issues Facing Women Veterans

Article submitted by Matt Hill and Hill and Ponton Disability Attorneys

Even though only about 10% of all U.S. veterans are women, this demographic often gets ignored and overlooked. Our women veterans have served just as their male counterparts, but women veterans face some specifically challenging obstacles when it comes to acclimating back into daily life after combat. This is why the Minneapolis VA recently sponsored a Women’s Health Week, to celebrate our women veterans and highlight the specific services and programs offered for these warriors. 

Women Veteran Health Risks

For some perspective on the issues facing women vets, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs compiled some statistics.

●     About 20% of women veterans have reported some form of Military Sexual Trauma (MST).

●     PTSD, hypertension, and depression are the top three ailments faced by women veterans.

●     Women veterans are four times as likely to experience homelessness than their male peers.

●     Low-income levels and homelessness directly impact a woman’s access to health care and proper gynecological services.

On a nationwide scale, the U.S. VA offers a variety of different services specifically for veterans including pelvic exams and mammography screening, family planning counseling and contraceptive services, menopause treatment, infertility testing, and sexual trauma therapy.

As a way to spread the word about these services, the Minneapolis VA held their Women’s Health Week. Each day was dedicated to a specific section of women’s health care such as maternity health, breast care, gynecology, mental health, and MST and interpersonal violence.

There are over 300,000 veterans in Minnesota. If you are a woman veteran looking for some additional resources from the VA, please contact the Minneapolis VA Patient Call Center at 866-414-5058.

June 2019 Events at the Hennepin History Museum

Just in from our friends at the Hennepin History Museum:

Friday, June 7, 4 – 6 PM

Field Trip! Dinkytown: Forever Young Walking Tour

Hennepin History Museum's Interim Director, Cara Letofsky, will be your guide on this half-mile walk. This tour explores Dinkytown’s early commercial years, signature buildings, legacy businesses, and its role in the student protests of the 1960s. Because of its proximity to the U of M, Dinkytown has always been subject to the winds of change and cycles of urban growth and decline.

Admission: $12; $10 for HHM members. Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4249039 

Thursday, June 13, 6 – 8 PM

Mapping Prejudice Volunteer Training

You can be part of this important project. Penny Peterson and Maggie Mills will conduct a volunteer training session and guide you through the process of researching documents. Bring along a laptop and learn how you can contribute to building the interactive Mapping Prejudice map of racial covenants in Hennepin County.

Admission: Free for volunteers, but please RSVP: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4246521 

Saturday, June 15, 2 – 4 PM

Walking Tour of Washburn-Fair Oaks Historic District

Author and historian Shari Albers will lead a walking tour of the Washburn-Fair Oaks historic neighborhood where Hennepin History Museum is located. Many fine old homes still stand in what was known as the Miller District. Shari’s tour also points out locations of homes that no longer exist, but were designed to impress.

Shari Albers is a long-time volunteer docent at Hennepin History Museum. She developed this tour and others, which she leads for the Museum and Preserve Minneapolis.

Admission: $12; $10 for HHM members. A tour booklet is included in price. Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4249099

Sunday, June 16, 2 – 4 PM

Fireside Chat: Creating the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Concern about the power the Republican Party exerted on elected offices throughout the state, and an approaching national election, provided incentive for the Farmer-Labor Party and the Democratic Party to merge in 1944. The new party carried the state for Roosevelt that year and elected Hubert Humphrey Mayor of Minneapolis in 1945. Speakers will discuss the political tenor and events leading up to the merger, the forces at work, the key figures involved, and its relationship to Hennepin County. Come for an interesting conversation with artifacts from the time and many historic photographs.

Admission: $8; $5 Seniors/Students; free for HHM members. Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4248960

Thursday, June 20, 6 – 8 PM

Fireside Chat with Marcia G. Anderson, Author of A Bag Worth A Pony

Retired curator Marcia G. Anderson will talk about her book A Bag Worth A Pony: The Art of the Ojibwe Bandolier Bag. As a result of thirty years of study, Marcia shares what she learned from the talented bead artists who keep the form alive, from historical records, and from the bags themselves. From the 1870s to the present day, Ojibwe bead artists of Minnesota have been especially regarded for their lively, creative designs. Neighboring Dakota people would trade a pony for a beautiful beaded bag.

Marcia examines the history, forms, structure, and motifs of the bags, giving readers the tools to understand a bag’s makeup and meaning.

Admission: $8; $5 Students/Seniors; free for HHM members. Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4249058

Save the Date: Thursday, June 27, 6 – 8 PM

Opening Reception - Being Human: Stories from Humans of Minneapolis

In 2010, Stephanie Glaros began walking to work in downtown Minneapolis with her camera in hand, and asked people she encountered along the way if she could take their photograph. It was a means of breaking through the social barriers she felt between herself and others. Originally a personal project called Minneapolis Strangers, it evolved into Humans of Minneapolis, inspired by the storytelling project Humans of New York. She shared her photographs and interviews online, developing a social media following of over 70,000. While preparing a book about the work, published in 2016, she learned how the project had affected the people in the photographs. It is a project that keeps on giving. She relaunched as a nonprofit organization in 2018, with the mission of connecting hearts and minds with storytelling to encourage empathy and build community. Being Human: Stories from Humans of Minneapolis is a curated collection of memorable stories from the project.

In the News - Downtown & the Riverfront Neighborhoods

Our weekly digest of stories about Downtown Minneapolis and the Central Riverfront neighborhoods:

WEEK OF MAY 20, 2019

Minnesota ranked third-best state in U.S. News & World Report survey
The U.S. News & World Report survey ranks states based on 70 metrics, including education, health care, the economy, public safety, roads and the fiscal health of the state's government.

Construction on Minneapolis' new Gateway skyscraper expected to begin soon
City is expected to finalize sale of property by end of June; tower to be one of 10 tallest in Mpls.

Two Hilton Hotel Brands Slated for One Empty Office Building
Projects calls for 201 new rooms in downtown Minneapolis.

Metro Transit to cut Green Line light-rail service in early morning hours
Homeless will have to go, agency acknowledges.

Nice Ride launches discount bike-sharing memberships for lower-income residents
Officials say 65,000 people are eligible to join Nice Ride for All.

Ten Thousand Things' 'The Sins of Sor Juana' doesn't back down from telling a story of a complex woman
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz was a woman, a writer, and an independent thinker in a 17th-century world where it was widely frowned upon to combine any two of those characteristics, let alone all three.

Click to read more ...

The Week Ahead in Mill City

Each week we provide an easy to reference list of events and activities for the week ahead in the Historic Mill District and Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods.  Have an event to share?  Submit your events here...

Monday, May 20

• May 20, 2019, Monday - Craft Club at Central Library
• May 20, 2019, Monday - Paint Your Own Pet at Lakes & Legends
• May 20, 2019, Monday - Pedestrian Work Group Meeting at Central Library

Tuesday, May 21

• May 21, 2019, Tuesday - Open House: Learn about Metro Transit's E-Line at Marcy Open Elementary
• May 21, 2019, Tuesday - Fashion Meets Poetry | Popup Think Tank at A-Mill
• May 21, 2019, Tuesday - Work Redux | BODIES at Machine Shop
• May 21, 2019, Tuesday - Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge Reopening Commemoration
• May 21, 2019, Tuesday - Pull Garlic Mustard at the River Gorge Sand Flats

Wednesday, May 22

• May 22, 2019, Wednesday - GPV Clothing Swap at The Golden Pearl Vintage
• May 22, 2019, Wednesday - Nicollet Makers Market
• May 22, 2019, Wednesday - Springtacular on Nicollet Mall
• May 22, 2019, Wednesday - Keep The Beat: A 2nd Precinct Substation Fundraiser

Thursday, May 23

• May 23, 2019, Thursday - Beer For Better / All Hands and Hearts
• May 23, 2019, Thursday - 6th Avenue SE Care Day!
• May 23, 2019, Thursday - Hidden or Heralded: The History of Local Homes at Central Library
• May 23, 2019, Thursday - ThreeFold at the Southern Theater (3 days)
• May 23, 2019, Thursday - Paint Nite at Aloft
• May 23, 2019, Thursday - Women in Business Awards Expo and Luncheon at The Depot

Friday, May 24

• May 24, 2019, Friday - 30|Gemini : Session and Nice Guy Entertainment Presents at Day Block
• May 24, 2019, Friday - Ten Thousand Things presents: The Sins of Sor Juana at Open Book (3 nights)
• May 24, 2019, Friday - 3 hour guided Trolley Tour of Minneapolis / St. Paul
• May 24, 2019, Friday - AniMinneapolis 2019 at Hyatt Regency (3 days)

Saturday, May 25

• May 25, 2019, Saturday - Pillsbury A Mill Tour at Mill City Museum
• May 25, 2019, Saturday - Free Yoga in Gold Medal Park
• May 25, 2019, Saturday - Mill City Farmers Market
• May 25, 2019, Saturday - Monthly Neighborhood Cleanup

Sunday, May 26

• May 26, 2019, Sunday - Book Club at Number 12 Cider
• May 26, 2019, Sunday - Secondhand Sunday! at Boom Island Brewing Co
• May 26, 2019, Sunday - Washburn A Mill Tour

River Hub: News from the Minneapolis Riverfront

Our weekly digest of news relating to the Minneapolis Riverfront, in collaboration with The Great River Coalition:

WEEK OF MAY 20, 2019

Is Minnesota’s tiny Lake Itasca the true source of the Mississippi River?
The river’s cultural story spans decades of exploration by travelers who followed the Mississippi north into Minnesota in search of its source.

A walk through Deep Time on the Stone Arch Bridge
Here's a thought experiment to put our impact on this world in perspective.

Photos: A rare glimpse inside the Hennepin Island Powerhouse
Across from the humming patios of St. Anthony Main, a tangle of trees and electrical equipment hide a slice of Minneapolis history.

Paddle Share Season Opener (Memorial Day Weekend)
Mississippi River Paddle Share is a new and exciting recreational and transportation opportunity for people who have some kayaking experience, don’t own a boat, and want a safe and enjoyable river experience. This is a first of its kind in a national park and in the country. 

A Newcomer’s TOP 5 List of Minneapolis Park Activities
As a new resident, there is still so much that I’d like to explore. So, after diving into some online resources and talking with new acquaintances, I’ve built a short list of my “Top 5” Minneapolis parks and activities that I’ve made it my goal to get to this summer.

Will Thor Construction’s closure affect plans for the Upper Harbor Terminal?
Long before the change in the development team, the project faced pushback from some community members.

St. Anthony Falls Visitor Center Season Opener
Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam provides panoramic views of the Upper St. Anthony Lock and Dam, St. Anthony Falls, and the surrounding mill district. Exhibits at the visitor center provide information about the falls and its place in Minnesota history.

WEEK OF MAY 13, 2019

‘Share the River Nordeast’ Canoe Event Returns on June 26
Experience the Mississippi River in an evening of community, canoeing and cookies.

Write to the River — Spring 2019 call for submissions
Write to the River is a creative writing project to inspire artistic engagement with our river environment.

Click to read more ...

MacPhail Video Featuring the Mill City Singers

This video from MacPhail Center for Music's 2019 Music Matters luncheon captures the essence of the Mill City Singers, led by J.D. and Fred Steele. 

Cardinals in Love

Mill City Times photographer Ryan Ojard has been following this pair of cardinals, nicknamed Alice and Eugene, throughout the spring. Eugene lovingly tends to his mate, and Ryan was quick to catch this shot of him feeding Alice.

North Loop Paving Update

Editor's note - This is an ongoing series of updates as the North Loop Reconstruction and Pedestrian Improvements project.

North Loop Reconstruction & Pedestrian Improvements

The North Loop Reconstruction & Pedestrian Improvements Project consists of two separate projects:

1. A full street reconstruction along 3rd St N between 10th Ave N and 5th Ave N
2. A pedestrian improvement project generally bounded by 10th Ave N on the north, 1st Ave on the south, West River Parkway on the east, and 4th St N on the west

North Loop Reconstruction Updates

WORK THIS PAST WEEK

Full depth pavement removals on 5th Ave N between 4th St N and 5th St N5th Ave N

• Finished salvaging brick pavers on 5th Ave N
• Finished full depth pavement removals on 5th Ave N.  Local access allowed, once CenterPoint’s work begins, 5th Ave N may become a one-way. More to come.
• CenterPoint Energy is currently at the intersection of Washington Ave and 5th Ave N and working towards 4th St N

7th Ave N

• Began full depth pavement removals between Washington and 4th Ave N, tentatively planning on starting on 4th St N and working towards Washington (skipping 3th St N). As crews progress with pavement removals they will build a gravel access road. 
• Preparing for next week's utility work

WORK ANTICIPATED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK

5th Ave N

• CenterPoint Energy 6” gas line installation

7th Ave N

• Begin utility work on 7th Ave N on Monday May 20th
• Water – there may be some short term, shut offs, the water department will give 48 hours’ notice to impacted businesses, 24 hours’ notice to impacted residences
• Sewer
• Gas
• Electric

MISCELLANEOUS

8th Ave N – Tentatively planning to begin work at this location right after Memorial Day

• Begin salvaging brick pavers on 5-28-19
• Followed by full depth removals

Stakeholder Meeting -These meetings are informal, held biweekly and intended to offer residents and businesses located on the project site an opportunity to get construction updates, ask construction and access related questions.

Date/Time:         May 29th, 7:30 am to 8:30 am

Location:            Corner Coffee 514 N 3rd St #102, Minneapolis MN 55401

As always, feel free to John Benjamin (651-443-1096) or myself (612-673-3365) with any construction related questions or concerns.

For more information on this project, visit the project website.

North Loop Pedestrian Improvements Updates

This project is tentatively scheduled to start on June 17, 2019. More to come.

For more information on this project, visit the project website.

Contact Information

Project Manager:

Stephanie Malmberg, stephanie.malmberg@minneapolismn.gov, 612-673-3365

Chief Field Inspector:

John Benjamin, john.benjamin@minneapolismn.gov, 651-443-1096

Friends of the Mill District's Complimentary Yoga in the Park returns to Gold Medal Park on Saturday, May 25

Article by Claudia Kittock

It has been a long winter, and it seemed as if warm weather would never come. At last, the Friends of the Mill District is happy to announce Mill City Yoga in Gold Medal Park is back! We will be meeting on Saturdays, beginning on May 25th, ending on August 31st.

Each session will begin at 9 a.m. and end before 10. Grab your mat (or a towel), bring a neighbor and meet us by the orange sculpture. The sessions are free of charge and sponsored by the Friends of the Mill District charity. Come salute the sun and enjoy the beauty of our neighborhood with your friends and neighbors. Questions and comments can be sent to cjkittock@gmail.com.

New Exhibit Featuring MNHS Fashion Collections Opens Today at Minneapolis Institute of Art

Via a May 16 News Release from the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS):

Photo: Brocade burgundy velvet two-piece evening dress created by dressmaker Mary G. Worley of St. Paul, ca. 1884-1889A new exhibit co-curated by staff from the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) and Minneapolis Institute of the Art (Mia) traces the rise of Twin Cities couture—high-end, hand-sewn, custom-made clothing—during a pivotal moment for fashion both worldwide and the developing state of Minnesota. 

Opening today in Mia’s Cargill Gallery, the new exhibit “The Art of High Style: Minnesota Couture 1880–1914” features historic dress from the Minnesota Historical Society collection—most never displayed before—set in context with paintings and works on paper from Mia’s collection.

”We’re delighted to share these extraordinary objects that tell the story of Minnesota’s little-known historic couture fashion industry and the talented female artisans who led it,” said Nicole LaBouff, associate curator of textiles at Mia. 

Twin Cities couture ascended during a pivotal time for Minnesota. Abundant natural resources extracted through milling and mining, along with innovations in rail transportation, brought a rapid growth in the state’s population. The economic boom enriched early Minnesotans and attracted industrial tycoons, and this class of wealthy white citizens sought elegant dress to reflect its new status.

Local designers had strong ties to Paris and other fashion centers, and their painstakingly and meticulously tailored clothing kept their clientele in step with tastemakers around the globe.

"The exhibit highlights the interrelationships between the couturieres who created the vision, their clients who dressed for their social occasions, and the workers who constructed the garments. All set within a backdrop of the development of Minnesota's industries,” said Linda McShannock, MNHS textile curator and co-curator of the exhibit.

“The Art of High Style” will be on display at Mia through Aug. 4, 2019, and is free and open to the public.

Expanded Skate Park and Field Lighting Coming Soon at Elliot Park

New project will significantly upgrade skate park and install field lighting at new athletic field

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board announced a new project at Elliot Park that will expand and enhance the skate park and add new athletic field lighting, along with new paths and potentially upgraded picnic facilities.

The Elliot Park skate park was built in 2004. Phase Two, planned for construction this fall, will add a new sidewalk connection to the corner of S Eighth Street and S Ninth Street and a variety of new features, like a a skateable seat wall, quarter pipe, rail and ledges. The Minneapolis Skate Park Activity Plan, approved in January 2018, helped guide the Phase Two design. 

The athletic field, which was upgraded and expanded in 2015, will be outfitted with four new light poles to extend play into the evening. Existing pedestrian and path lighting will also be replaced throughout the park. 

If funds are available within the budget after construction bids are received, the project could include upgraded picnic facilities. One option is a new lunch patio on the west side of the park, another is to relocate picnic tables to shaded areas on the north side of the park.

This project is funded through a $535,000 allocation from Elliot Park neighborhood Park Dedication Funds and 20-Year Neighborhood Park Plan park rehabilitation funds. 

Follow the links below to check out diagrams and renderings of the planned improvements & complete a short online survey.

Aerial Diagram [PDF]

Skate Park Renderings [PDF]

Take Online Survey

Project Page

2018 Pedestrian and Bicycle Progress Report

Via a May 14 e-newsletter from Hennepin County

New pedestrian and bicycle progress report now available 

Biking, walking and rolling are an important part of everyday life for many Hennepin County residents. Whether it is for transportation, recreation or physical activity, we work to create options for getting around that are safe, comfortable and efficient for more people.

Every year, we invest in our growing network of sidewalks, trails and bikeways. In 2018, the county bikeway network grew by 15.6 miles with 22 projectscompleted and two priority gaps in the network closed. We also installed or upgraded 450 sidewalk ramps and added 32 accessible pedestrian signals.

Check out the full report to learn more about how Hennepin County worked to serve people walking, biking and rolling in 2018.

Hennepin County Awards Funding to 20 Housing and Development Projects

Via a May 14 e-newsletter from Hennepin County

The county is designating more than $6.35 million to help fund 20 housing, development and infrastructure projects throughout the county, including along major transit corridors.

Acting as the Housing and Redevelopment Authority Tuesday, the county board awarded $3.5 million from the Affordable Housing Incentive Fund (AHIF), and $2.85 million from the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) program.

Together, these awards will fund the creation or preservation of 733 new affordable units of housing.

AHIF — $3.5 million for 10 affordable housing projects

A total of 438 units of affordable housing will be supported through AHIF in 2019, including:

• 79 units for people experiencing homelessness
• 71 units set aside for households with income less than 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI)
• 246 units with rental assistance, making rents affordable to households below 30% AMI
• 38 units for people with a disability
• 53 units for large families
• 15 units for extended foster care youth
• 31 units for county Health and Human Services clients

The Affordable Housing Incentive Fund is a program unique to Hennepin County that supports the development and preservation of long-term affordable housing for low- and very-low income households. The program is funded through a countywide property tax levy.

Since 2000, about $66 million has been committed to affordable housing projects through AHIF, supporting 8,300 units of affordable housing.

Read more about 2019 AHIF projects and awards.

TOD — $2.85 million for 10 transit oriented development projects

A total of 501 housing units, 295 of which are affordable, and 200,000 square feet of commercial space will be supported through the TOD program in 2019, including:

• Four housing and mixed-use projects
• Two commercial projects
• Four infrastructure projects

Together, TOD funded projects will contribute to:

• 187 new or retained jobs
• $148 million in leveraged private and public funding
• Improved connections to transit

The Transit Oriented Development program supports redevelopment projects that increase housing choices and jobs accessible by transit to grow a more sustainable and economically competitive region.

Since 2003, the TOD program has generated more than 7,000 new or retained housing units, including 3,300 affordable units, more than 2,500 jobs, and more than 2 million square feet of commercial and office space.

Read more about the projects and awards.

Hennepin County Libraries Are Ready to Keep Your Kids Engaged Throughout the Summer

Every summer, Hennepin County Library (HCL) welcomes thousands of youth from across the county to its various Summer Learning programs. Libraries are critical to keeping kids engaged and learning during the summer months.

This past year HCL offered 992 fun, educational, and interactive Summer Learning programs at 41 libraries, with total attendance of more than 18,000. Hennepin County Libraries are a crucial resource for thousands of families seeking to keep their children engaged and learning during the summer months.

Use this link to drill down by location, date range, activity type, age range, etc.

Buses to Replace Blue and Green Line Trains May 17-20

Due to scheduled maintenance, buses will replace trains beginning Friday, May 17 during a partial shutdown on the METRO Blue & Green Line. Customers can board replacement buses near the affected stations. Buses run on similar schedules as trains but can take more time. Customers are urged to plan accordingly. 

.

From 6:30pm Friday, May 17 until 3:30am Monday, May 20, buses will replace Blue and Green Line trains for these stations:

.

Blue Line

Franklin Ave. (Northbound only)

Cedar-Riverside

.

Green Line

Stadium Village (Westbound only)

East Bank

West Bank

.

Downtown Mpls. - Shared stations

U.S. Bank Stadium 

Government Plaza

Nicollet Mall

Warehouse-Hennepin Avenue

Target Field

.

See maps for boarding locations.

.

Work being conducted includes skyway maintenance at the U of MN, Washington Ave. bridge work, floating slab and rail break repair along the corridor. 

The Cohort - Rhythmically Speaking's New Annual Summer Show comes to the Southern Theater in August

Via a May 13 News Release from Rhythmically Speaking:

Rhythmically Speaking (RS) returns this summer with The Cohort, a reimagining of the organization’s annual August production featuring staged works inspired by jazz and American social dance ideas. Running August 15-17 at the Southern Theater, Rhythmically Speaking presents . . . The Cohort celebrates these ideas as innovative and intelligent launch pads for creating community and inspired movement art. Following ten years of annually presenting dance works by eight to nine artists and their varying casts of performers, The Cohort provides more in-depth support to fewer artists creating and performing longer works. This new vision of the RS annual summer production continues support of new work by local choreographers while providing opportunities for artists based outside of Minnesota to show their work here.

.

The inaugural Cohort will feature new works by local dance artists Erinn Liebhard (RS Artistic Director) and Julie Warder, and remounted works by visitors Rohan Bhargava (New York, NY) and Pat Taylor (Los Angeles, CA). Liebhard’s new work Feist(meist)er is an energetic romp considering learning to listen when everyone in the room wants to speak, and Warder’s new piece What’d You Say is a quirky exploration of communication accentuated in rhythm. Visitor Rohan Bhargava is remounting Kool Kids 2.0, a comical beat-box and dance collaboration satirizing the elusive state of “coolness,” and visitor Pat Taylor is setting her work A Love Supreme, an exploration of redemption set to and named for the jazz music masterpiece by legendary saxophonist John Coltrane.

.

In addition to these four choreographers, The Cohort for 2019 includes a group of nine local dancers who will perform all four pieces on the show. Working with a smaller cast is move toward creating opportunities for Twin Cities dancers to engage more deeply with staged jazz and American social dance ideas through work with both local and visiting artists. The dancers performing in this inaugural Cohort include Nora Anderson, Doug Hooker, Erik Hunder, Sara Karimi, RS Artistic Director Erinn Liebhard, Kelli Miles, Kathleen Pender, Betsy Schaefer-Roob and Cheng Xiong.

.

RS engages people in staged works inspired by jazz and American social dance ideas united by a core of rhythmicity. With shared roots of rhythm, social interaction and improvisation, these approaches encourage simultaneous expression of difference and similarity as a means of creating community. RS is proud to be a local and national leader in celebrating the rich history of these forms while nurturing their innovation. Since being founded in 2008, the organization is proud to have presented 91 original and remounted works and engaged 350+ artists and thousands of audience members.

.

Rhythmically Speaking presents The Cohort runs August 15-17 at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis. 

Public is Invited to the May 21 Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge Reopening Commemoration

The Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge was repaired last year

Repair of historic bridge connecting Boom Island Park and Nicollet Island to be celebrated on May 21 at 4 pm

Join Commissioner Chris Meyer and the Northeast Minneapolis community on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at 4 pm to officially celebrate the reopening of the historic Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge after a repair project. The event will feature a brief program featuring local officials, a ribbon-cutting and light refreshments.

Event invitation

The Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge reopened last November after an extensive repair project revitalized the 118-year-old structure. In April, work resumed to complete remaining work at the site, like grading and turf establishment, concrete abutment work, paint touch-ups, and electrical work.

About the Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge

The current trail connection between Boom Island Park and Nicollet Island was originally built in 1901 as a railroad bridge. In the 1970s, the rail yard it served was cleared and the bridge was given to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, which converted it to a pedestrian and bicycle bridge in the 1980s.

In late 2013, the bridge was closed to emergency and maintenance vehicles after significant deterioration was discovered during an inspection. Emergency repairs were completed in July 2015 and permanent repairs were performed May-November 2018.

Project page

April by the Numbers

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

MPRB Announces Women's Golf Day Has Been Expanded to Women's Golf Week

Via a May 10 e-newsletter from Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Last year's response to Women's Golf Day was so great, we expanded it to a week!

Celebrate girls and women playing golf with FREE golf or FREE clinics!

Women's Golf Week has expanded. Instead of just one day, women across Minneapolis can participate in events over five days at six of our seven courses. These three-hour events celebrate girls and women playing golf and learning skills that last a lifetime.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's Play Golf Minneapolis courses are the only golf courses in the state hosting outdoor Women's Golf Week events, with FREE clinics, or a FREE 9-hole round (walking or riding on a cart) offered at six golf courses throughout the city.

Register for FREE Women's Golf Day Clinics at each golf club.